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: Disclosed is a printing device such as an electronic typewriter and a wire-dot type printer. With the disclosed printing device, control means is operated in response to depression of a character key, on condition that a bold-face print mode is being set on, to print a character designated by the character key at different three or more print positions, including a first print position, a second print position spaced apart from the first print position along the print line so that a second dint formed in the second print position is not overlapped with a first dint formed in the first print position, and a third print position located between the first and second print positions to form a third dint to fulfil a un-printed area of the print sheet remaining between the first and second dints.

Abstract: A printing device for a continuous strip of tags prints a plurality of lines on each of the tags. The device allows free selection and easy changing of line spacing. The device for a continuous strip of tags has a feed mechanism for feeding the strip of tags, a printing mechanism for printing a plurality of lines on each tag of the continuous strip of tags and a data memory circuit for storing input printing data. The printing data input to the data memory circuit is required to consist of character data corresponding to contents of the plurality of lines, followed by line spacing data for each line, followed by data indicating the number of tags.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for carrying out printing in accordance with a selected one of a plurality of operation modes having their respective control code systems different from each other. Printing information including control codes is inputted from an external instrument into a memory device and is stored therein. The control codes are detected from the printing information stored in the memory device. It is judged with which one of the control code systems the detected control codes are compatible, to select one of the operation modes corresponding to the control code system judged to be compatible.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a printer to print data beginning at a specified distance from the reference edge of a document. Several test documents are moved through a print station and a test symbol is printed on each of them with a preselected set of heating elements from a dot matrix thermal printer. The test documents are then processed through the same print station whereupon a sensor detects the reference edge of the document and the test symbol. A master controller then determines a test symbol distance between the reference edge and the midpoint of the test symbol for each test document. A plurality of test documents is processed in this manner, and the master controller determines an average test symbol distance for the plurality of test documents. Using an average test symbol distance, the master controller determines the distance between the sensor and a given hewating element of the thermal printer.

Abstract: A printer includes a printing unit capable of printing preset characters; a designation unit for designating a character to be printed by the printing unit; and a judgement unit for judging whether a designated character by the designation unit can be printed by the printing unit.

Abstract: A document processing system for laying out text data and image data referred to in the text data, thereby forming a document data. The system comprises a format-data storage section, a reference-data storage section, and a layout section. The format-data storage section stores format data including region-attribute data specifying an image-layout inhibited region in which to lay out no image data. The reference-data storage section stores reference data representing the relationship between the image data and an image-referring part of the text data in which the image data is referred to. The layout section lays out the text data in accordance with the region-attribute data and the reference data, and lays out the image data outside the image-layout inhibited region specified by the region-attribute data, in accordance with the reference data, thereby to form document data.

Abstract: A printing device according to the present invention can be connected to various computers or the like. A large number of data items for setting various functions are already stored in a storing device of the printing device, and these data items are classified into a multi-step hierarchy to enable the selection of data items of different hierarchies, whereby the functions of the printing device can be set. The printing device is characterized in that, when data of a certain hierarchy is determined, at least one data item of the next hierarchy is arranged to be displayed by a display device, so that the number of key operations is reduced to facilitate data selection.

Abstract: A predetermined window height at least three times the height of the normal printed characters can be printed in a single horizontal sweep of the printhead across the page. A page of character oriented data is first sorted vertically; the data is then sequentially processed into a "print window" of horizontally sorted characters until a character is reached that will not fit within the current print window. The symbolic data in the print window is converted into bit mapped image data only slightly in advance of the current printhead position. The average throughout is increased by permitting the velocity of the printhead to vary as a function of the complexity of the image formation process. For a thermal process, this is accompanied by an appropriate adjustment in the current passing through the activated printhead electrodes. The vertical positioning of the pixels within the print window is varied to better distribute head wear.

Abstract: A printer capable of mounting various emulation integrated circuit (IC) cards storing control programs for matching the printer with various host computers and identifying the name of an IC card mounted therein. When it is determined by a central processing unit (CPU) in the printer that an IC card is attached to an IC card terminal and that the printer is being operated in a maintenance mode, data stored at a predetermined address in the card is printed and the type of card can be identified on the basis of the printed output.

Abstract: A word processing apparatus is capable of logotype printing with a standard dot matrix pattern, and is controlled as to provide zero spacing between characters at logotype printing.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus of the present invention provides a plurality of equipping portions to be equipped with a memory card for storing a plurality of information, detect means for detecting the equipping portion equipped with the memory card from among the plurality of equipping portions, memory means for previously storing corresponding relationships between the equipping portion to be equipped with the memory card and one of information of the plurality of information stored in the memory card and select means for reading out the corresponding relationship from the memory means in response to the detection of the detect means and for selecting the corresponding one of information in the memory means in response to the corresponding relationship, which the apparatus allows it possible to easily select the information from among the plurality of information stored in the memory card with a simplified structure.

Abstract: An electronic typewriter equipped with a personal computer has a first processing unit which includes hardware capable of receiving software, such as a word processor program, so that the electronic typewriter can serve as a personal computer; a second processing unit which includes hardware capable of receiving software of an electronic typewriter; and a keyboard. A selection switch is provided for selecting between a personal computer mode and a typewriter mode. The selection switch allows the user to interrupt the personal computer mode to allow the insertion of a typewritten word onto the document being produced without destroying the process being carried in the personal computer mode.

Abstract: A word processing apparatus is capable of detecting the entry of a function or operation during keying of the text into memory, which requires an operator intervention such as the changing of the print element or the changing of the format parameters. Upon the detection of that condition, an automatic operation is invoked by the software process to insert into the text string and memory a stop code. This insures that the playout of the stored text will be interrupted to permit the operator to perform the same or related operation at the same relative position in the text.

Abstract: A character inputting electronic equipment includes a tabulation setting device for setting tabulation, a mode selection device for selecting one of a plurality of character input modes, a memory for storing a tabulation position to be set by the tabulation setting device, and a mode memory for storing a mode designated by the mode selection device for the tabulation stored in the memory by the tabulation setting device.

Abstract: A serial printer control system with printing head position control for outputting signals to feed paper and to move a printing head in a direction perpendicular to the paper feed direction for controlling coordinates of the printing head relative to the paper. The system includes cursor keys for outputting a signal to the head position control to move the printing head and to feed the paper set to the printer. There is print control for controlling the printing head while printing on the paper. A print format control data storage stores a position of the printing head and a feed quantity of the paper in sequential order, each time the printing head moves to a desired print position, by driving the position control according to the cursor key operation. The system receives print data composed of plural unit print data. This data is printed at each position stored in the print format control data storage and is sent from a host computer.

Abstract: An improved keyboard assembly is provided wherein a partition is positioned between adjacent keys and prevents an inadvertent simultaneous operation of two or more keys. The paartition can be advantageously utilized to control the cursor moving keys on a word processor keyboard thereby permitting the keys to be closely positioned adjacent each other while insuring only the desired key will be activated.

Abstract: A word processor includes a work station having a keyboard and a display device, a main unit for forming a text file in accordance with input commands entered by the keyboard, an external memory unit for storing the text file, a standardized character memory for storing dot patterns of characters having standardized style, a modified character memory for storing dot patterns of characters having modified style, and a printer for printing out a document in accordance with the text file. When a plurality of documents to be delivered to different addresses are formed in accordance with the same text file, different characters in respective documents are replaced by modified characters to form text files having different modified characters. Then the plurality of documents are printed in accordance with respective text files having different modified characters, so that these documents can be distinguished from one another.

Abstract: A label printing system includes an input device, a memory, a CRT display device, a printing mechanism, registration means and label printing means. The input device has manual data input means, for entering label creation data, and edits the data to provide an entry of label creation information. The memory stores the input data and the label creation information after by editing, and the information is displayed on the screen of the CRT and printed by the printing mechanism. The registration means is adapted to register the label creation data and information in the memory. The label printing means causes the information to be displayed on the screen of the CRT and causes the printing mechanism to print out the information on a label.

Abstract: A printer with a main body having a printing head, motors, a plurality of circuits driving the printing head and the motors, a processor and a random access memory. The printer also includes a cartridge for containing memory devices for storing the data for at least one character font set and for storing the printing operation control program. A connector removably connects the cartridge mechanically and electrically to the main body of the printer. As a result, the print operation control program and character font set data can be selectively set by connecting an appropriate cartridge to the main body of the printer.

Abstract: A data output control system which comprises a first storage unit for storing data to be printed, an output unit for printing the data on an output medium, and a second storage unit for sotring a program. A third storage unit is provided for storing position information indicative of a line position and a column position on the printing medium from which the printing of the data is to be started. The system further comprises a first output control unit for renewing the position information in the third storage unit on the basis of first information of the program and printing the data, specified by a data output instruction of the program, on the printing medium from the line and column position specified by the position information in the third storage unit.

Abstract: A controller for a Chinese character printer, or the like, includes a pattern buffer into which character pattern data is written by an input control unit transferring the character pattern data from a temporary input buffer. The character pattern data is transferred from the character pattern buffer into a font memory by an output control unit only during a non-printing period, such as during a paper feed, of the printer. Print data, including character codes, are transferred by the input control unit from the input buffer to a page buffer. During a printing period, the output control unit selects character pattern data in the font memory in accordance with the character codes in the page buffer and transfers the corresponding character pattern data to a pattern converting unit which sends appropriate print signal data based on the character pattern data to the printer.

Abstract: A word-processing system or memory typewriter has the usual keyboard, input display and/or printer; together with a spelling dictionary stored within the memory, and an error signal generating device activated upon entry of an incorrect word. For greater efficiency and ease of use by the operator, the memory also stores several kinds of correction information--e.g., typographical correction, transposition reversal, phonetic substitutions, etc.--suitable for amending the incorrect word to display a trial word which matches one from the above-mentioned stored dictionary, the amending occurring by depression of a special key whenever entry of an incorrect word activates the error-signal device. Statistical control of selection of the class of correction information is provided, the order of utilization of the various classes depending upon the relative extent of the operator's prior successful usage of each class of information.

Abstract: A print zone setting system has a key input device for inputting print format and the width and height of the area available for printing on a print sheet, and a processor for calculating the lateral and vertical dimensions of the print zone in the area available for printing with reference to the information received from the input means. Since it is not necessary for the operator to calculate the print zone, efficiency in printing operation is remarkably enhanced.

Abstract: A recording system including a recording apparatus and an information storage cartridge detachably attached to the recording apparatus. The information storage cartridge includes a first memory in which a first group of dot patterns adapted to be recorded by the recording apparatus are stored. The cartridge also includes a mechanism for manually selecting whether the first dot pattern is to be recorded when the cartridge is attached to the recording apparatus. The recording apparatus includes a recording device for recording on a recording medium, a second memory for storing a second group of dot patterns adapted to be recorded by the recording apparatus, and a control device for actuating the recording device to effect recording of the second group of dot patterns when the information storage cartridge is not attached to the apparatus. Further, the control device also discriminates the state of the selecting mechanism when the information storage cartridge is attached to the recording apparatus.

Abstract: A print compressor connected to a printer for printing output data from a computer or the like so as to selectively change the printer from one mode of printing to another. The output data is stored temporarily and then read in accordance with selected print compression ratio and printing direction thereby converting the data to a corresponding compressed character font. In accordance with the character font, the printer prints characters in compressed form in the selected printing direction.

Abstract: A drug dispensing apparatus which is arranged to form divided separate packets during intermittent transport of a packaging sheet in its longitudinal direction and to print messages for predetermined items on the separate packets. The print format may be edited as desired by an operator. Portions of the packaging sheet which are not part of the separate pockets may be printed with the cumulative status of the drug dosage which is accommodated in the printed pockets.

Abstract: A printer having a control circuit device adapted to be connected to a host computer through a cord for drivingly controlling operating sections which includes a printing mechanism and a sheet feeding mechanism.A control part of the control circuit device is formed by a control circuit section in the form of cassette having an outer end portion to which one half portion of a connector is secured. This half portion of the connector is adapted to be connected with the other half portion of the same connector mounted on an associated end of the cord. In an internal space of the printer, a receiving section for accommodating therein the cassette type control circuit section is defined, so that the control circuit section is detachably mounted through an insert port which opens at a first side of the printer different from a second side thereof along which a printing sheet is fed to the printer.

Abstract: A recording apparatus having character keys, and selector keys for selecting one of a plurality of recording modes for each of at least two recording conditions selected from a plurality of conditions such as a recording direction, a character size, a recording color, and a line spacing. The apparatus includes a primary indicator, responsive to an operation of one or more of the selector keys to change at least one of the at least two recording conditions from one recording mode to another, for displaying a single special symbol to indicate the change of the at least one recording condition, without specifying the changed recording condition or conditions and the newly selected recording mode or modes of the changed condition or conditions.

Abstract: A printer operatively associated with an electronic weigher includes an input unit having numeric keys or format keys, a memory device storing a plurality of programs for controlling positions at which data are to be printed on a label as well as the size of the printed data, each program corresponding to a different label format, reading means for reading out of the memory device a program corresponding to a format designated by operating the keys of the input unit, and a printing mechanism for printing predetermined data on a label at a predetermined position of the label on the basis of the program read out of the memory device.

Abstract: This invention provides an electronic scale printer, and more particularly an electronic scale printer in which a printer is connected electrically to the electronic scale used in a department store or supermarket etc., and required data are printed on a printing sheet under an instruction from the electronic scale and issued from the printer. The invention provides a printer capable of issuing both a label and a receipt through one printing means and more particularly an electronic scale printer in which either a label or a receipt corresponding to the kind of printing sheet stored in a cassette is printed and issued under proper replacement of the cassette having printing sheet for label stored therein with a cassette having a printing sheet for receipt stored therein.

Abstract: A computer based word processor or text editor is provided with a technique for defining line unit spacing which is particularly useful in a multi-font environment. A pop-down panel showing a miniature vertical scale line is displayed for the user. Adjacent the scale line is a handle which the user can select with a cursor. When the handle is selected, it may be moved up or down the scale line to the desired line unit spacing, at which time the handle is deselected. A numeric display of line unit spacing is also provided, and this display is continuously updated as the handle is moved. If the handle is moved to the top or bottom of the scale line, the scale line is moved up or down.

Abstract: Spelling errors are detected through the comparison of the keyed word with previously stored words of known spelling. The operator is immediately alerted upon the detection of a lack of comparison between the keyed word and the words available in the storage for operator consideration. When the operator is notified through an alerting device of a "no match", the operator may then modify the spelling of the word if it is incorrect or accept the word if it is correct but not found in the dictionary storage. Words previously not located in the dictionary storage are then stored in a random access memory for subsequent use and the word most recently verified as correct and stored in the random access memory may be maintained at the top of a stack while the most infrequently used words will eventually be removed from the random access memory as the memory fills and overflows.

Abstract: An electronic typewriter, comprising: (a) a keyboard (2) generating a signal corresponding to a depressed key and comprising at least a plurality of character keys (5) for inputting character data, a space key (4) for separating said character data into words and a release key (6), a dictionary memory (12) for storing a plurality of words, a working memory (13) for sequentially storing said plurality of words, a spelling check control means (11) for reading out word data from said dictionary memory (12) as well as said plurality of words inputted via said keyboard, comparing the spelling of said words with said word data, and judging whether or not the spelling of said words is correct, means for disabling said spelling check control means (11), said means disabling said spelling check control means (11) only for a first word inputted after the depression of said release key (6) of said keyboard (2), and visible outputting means (8), (9) for outputting input data visibly.

Abstract: An electronic typewriter including a memory storing therein text data which is printed as printing signals are produced. The electronic typewriter enables the operator to pass judgment as to whether printing can be performed on a portion of a sheet of paper between the last printed line and the trailing end of the sheet when the sheet of paper has been set in the typewriter in a usual manner, so that printing can be continued when it is possible to do so. When it is judged that it is impossible to continue printing due to a lack of space, printing is stopped and the existence of the condition of "paper empty" is indicated, prompting the operator to insert a new sheet of paper.

Abstract: A dot-matrix printer of the invention uses a font cartridge unit storing in advance character pattern data corresponding to characters other than standard characters. The font cartridge unit has a memory area divided into a plurality of page areas, and comprises memory groups consisting of ROMs and RAMs storing character pattern data in units of page areas. A CPU sets a predetermined page address in a page address register in the font cartridge unit when dot printing of characters other than standard characters is performed. The CPU reads out desired character pattern data from the page area of the memory group corresponding to the preset page address. The CPU recognizes that no ROM is mounted at a position corresponding to the page area when predetermined data cannot be read out from the ROM.

Abstract: A dot-matrix printer of the invention uses a font cartridge unit storing in advance character pattern data corresponding to characters other than standard characters. The font cartridge unit comprises a ROM or RAM storing character pattern data in a storage area in units of pages. A CPU sets a given page address in a page address register in the font cartridge unit in the case of dot printing of characters other than standard characters. The CPU reads out desired character pattern data from the storage area of the ROM or RAM corresponding to the preset page address, and stores the readout data in a work memory. A printing mechanism controller controls a printing mechanism including a print head in accordance with the character pattern data stored in the work memory so as to execute dot printng of, e.g., high-density characters other than standard characters.

Abstract: In a serial printer in which character patterns for one line are image-developed in a line buffer and are printed, when the number of dots along a subscanning direction of a dot pattern obtained by expanding a standard character exceeds that of a printing head along the subscanning direction, the expanded character pattern is divided into a plurality of zones along a scanning direction, and the dot pattern for each zone is image-developed in the line buffer. Since a relative distance between a development start position and a printing head position for each character in one line is stored in advance, if character patterns are sequentially image-developed from one having a smaller relative distance, a character string including different dot structures can be printed in a desired format.

Abstract: An electronic typewriter with data storage and editing capability having a keyboard for entering printing data including character data representative of a text, a text memory for storing the character data from the keyboard, and a printing assembly for printing the stored text according to the printing data. The typewriter comprises a first control device for printing all lines of characters of the text stored in the text memory, a designating device for designating in an editing mode a group of character data corresponding to a desired line of characters of the stored text, a second control device for printing only the desired single line of characters designated by the designating device, and a third control device for printing the designated and all subsequent lines of the stored text.

Abstract: A printing device of a construction wherein operation checking program data for checking various operations of a printing mechanism and a display unit are memorized in a memory unit, into which print data for editing, memory, correction of sentences, etc. are memorized, and, on the basis of the operation checking program data, the printing mechanism and the display unit are caused to perform predetermined operations to effect the operation checking. In the above-described memory unit, not only the checking program data, but also the print completion of the memory operation of which the printing operations can be effected.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printing unit, an operation panel including a plurality of switches, a first memory, and a control unit which stores the print control data corresponding to the states of the switches of the operation panel into the first memory when a power source is turned on, changes the print control data in this first memory in accordance with an external command, and drives the printing unit in accordance with the input print data and with the print control data in the first memory, thereby printing the input print data. A second memory is provided to store the switch data corresponding to the states of the switches.

Abstract: A document indexing method and apparatus facilitates access to sequentially stored documents in a word processing system. The invention uses random access memory in the word processor to build a page index when the sequential data stream is first processed. The page index is then available so that subsequent access to previously processed pages is faster than conventional sequential access. The page index has associated with it an offset index having pointers to the actual entries in the page index. If the page index proves too small to store a index entry for every single page of a document, the offset index is reorganized to point to every other entry in the page index. Reorganization effectively doubles the span of pages covered by the page index and may be repeated a plurality of times to allow a sequentially stored document of arbitrary length to be indexed by a fixed length page index.

Abstract: A logic network and method for processing columns of vertically oriented imaging data bits to produce control signals for operating a linearly slanted print head, includes writing different equal byte segments of each such column into a RAM memory while pre-skewing successive bytes, respectively, from one another by the equivalent of the number of columns of print resolution capability between successive print elements of the print head represented by each byte. Thereafter, skewing of the imaging data bits is completed during readout from memory, by fetching in columnar order the bits required for operating the print elements to print the image data under the print head during a given print cycle.

Abstract: Data entered from a keyboard of a typewriter is stored in a text memory, and then, the data stored in the text memory is read out and printed on a paper. In order to fully print the data stored in the text memory, a first printing control means is operated. In order to stop the printing operation at a position which was not intended when the text was created, the printing operation is stopped by a second printing control means every time one line is printed.

Abstract: A computer-controlled machine for printing business documents, such as, checks, check vouchers, check registers and other forms used in quantity. Paper stock of varying dimensions, color or other characteristics is loaded into individual hoppers or trays in a paper input module. Under computer control, predetermined numbers of sheets are extracted from the plural hoppers in a prescribed sequence and transported, in proper alignment, to a first printing station where alpha/numeric characters are printed on the paper sheets by means of a non-impact xerographic printer in accordance with preprogrammed instructions. Next, the partially completed documents are serially transported, again in proper alignment, to a further printing station where MICR characters are impressed on the sheets using a drum and hammer-type printer, again with format, spacing and positioning controlled by a preprogrammed microcomputer system.

Abstract: An electronic control system for apparatus of the type used for imprinting or marking nameplates and other similar workpieces. The control system of the present invention has particular application for use with electrically operated marking machines of the type which utilize a keyboard and a marking member which may be displaced to imprint or mark characters or symbols carried by the marking member on metal or plastic nameplates or other similar workpieces.

Abstract: The keyboard of an electronic typewriter with a daisywheel print unit on a carriage includes a CENTER key and REPEAT key. With the print unit positioned where an insertion is to be made in a line being set up blind, these keys are actuated and the character to be inserted are typed in. The usable area for typing is continually shown on a two-digit display device. When a service key is then depressed, the line is printed with the inserted character entered by appropriate compression or expansion of empty spaces adjacent the characters to be inserted. The typewriter further comprises a line space memory and a control circuit which signals the number of line spacing commands which can still be carried into effect before the last line to be typed on the sheet.

Abstract: A data processing system or printer subsystem is provided with facilities for detecting emitter changes that have occurred during operating intervals. In a typical operation, a microprocessor initiates a command to a moving assembly, such as a forms feed assembly, then once the operation is initiated the microprocessor transfers to other program responsibilities, meanwhile periodically checking the status of the forms feed assembly. The forms feed assembly supplies emitter signals to the processor which are utilized by the microprocessor to determine whether or not any emitter changes have occurred during the intervals between the checking operations. The microprocessor has a stored data table and logic responsive to emitter signal conditions that had previously occurred (WAS) and that is further responsive to emitter signals that are presently occurring (IS) to supply an output in numbers of emitters indicative of both the extent and direction of movement of the assembly during the intervening interval.

Abstract: A driving circuit for printing devices in an electric cash register comprising a pair of first diodes which are connected in series in the normal direction respectively with a journal printing magnet and receipt printing magnet paired with each other and are connected with each other, a first switching transistor connected between the connecting point of the pair of first diodes and a negative (-) terminal of a current source, a second diode connected in the reverse direction between said connecting point and a positive (+) terminal of the current source, a second switching transistor connected between a common feeding line to the journal printing magnets and the positive (+) terminal of the current source and a third switching transistor connected between a common feeding line to the receipt printing magnets and the positive (+) terminal of the current source, to simplify the circuit formation and reduce the manufacturing cost.

Abstract: Actuators are positioned over the rows of keys in a keyboard to drive the keys in response to coded information from a computer or other source of digital signals. The mechanical driving force is transferred from solenoids positioned at one end of each row simultaneously to all of the actuators of that row. Additional solenoids positioned across the bottom of the keyboard sequentially unlatch selected actuators allowing them to drive their associated keys in response to the driving force. Additional solenoids are used to drive the shift mechanism and, if necessary, other individual keys.