Abstract: A document processing device which includes an input device for inputting characters, symbols and various instructions; a display having a cursor; a text memory for storing input data, such as the characters and symbols; a print element for printing the input data stored in the text memory; and a controller for controlling the input device, the display and the print element also includes the ability to set a fixed format mode in order to print the input data in a fixed format; a non-volatile fixed format information memory containing prescribed preset fixed formats such that the input data input in the fixed format mode is stored; a format information memory which is provided in the text memory and serves to store format information to print the input data, and an ability to read in the fixed format information from the fixed format information memory and transmit it to the format information memory.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printing apparatus equipped with inexpensive, scaled-down, lightweight recognition and setting functions. The printing apparatus is capable of setting desired modes of printing, adjustment, etc. by referring to a mode selection menu sheet, in which setting items, mode options for each setting item, and a plurality of marks specifying a mode are listed. A desired mode for each setting item may be set by operating selection keys in correspondence to the marks specifying the desired mode.

Abstract: When an enlargement print key is pressed, a label producing apparatus enters a mode for setting the enlargement magnification used for enlargement printing. Next, a number key is operated to actually set the enlargement magnification. After the creation of print image data, respective data are taken from a table in which the respective data about widths of printing tapes, the number of printing tape segments based on width of tape and enlargement magnification, and "an enlargement start bit position," "an enlargement end bit position," "an enlargement work start bit position 1," "an enlargement work start bit position 2" and "the number of shifts for adjustment" with respect to each tape width which have been specified to thereby create one-dot string data. When it is desired, for example, to scale up and print data associated with a 12-mm tape width in 3.times. magnification, the enlargement print data is printed on the corresponding printing tape by being divided into three at 12-mm width intervals.

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

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

Abstract: An electrographic label system is disclosed whereby flexographic and electronic printing are combined in a modular design to produce multi-color labels. Label stock is unwound from a roll and passes over an automatic shut off roller that shuts down the entire printing process and stops the flow of label stock when it runs out so that a new roll of stock can be sliced to the old roll and rethreading the system is not necessary. A back slitter having a roller cutter cuts the desired height of the label leaving a feed strip between the label and opposite edge. The label stock is fed into a flexographic printer having a drum which imprints a first image, cuts the label to the correct length, and imprints a register mark on the feed strip. The label stock material is next fed into an electronic printer interfaced with a computer or programmable logic controller which imprints a second image upon each label.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus having a printer which can print at a speed according to a key operating speed of the user. A keyboard section KB includes: numeric keys for the user to input numeric data; function keys such as four-arithmetical operating keys such as addition "+", subtraction "-", multiplication ".times.", division ".div.". and total "="; and function keys such as clear key "C", memory key "M+", and the like which are set so as not to perform the printing, where the printing speed of the printer PR is variable. In an arithmetic computation unit AC, a period of time which is required after the numeric key of the keyboard KB was first operated until the function key accompanied with the printing operation is operated is divided by the number of key operation times, obtaining the average value of the key operation time intervals. The printing speed of the printer PR is controlled in accordance with the average operation time interval.

Abstract: A printer control system for a printer apparatus connected to an information processing unit is herein proposed which includes a mechanism for forming a visible image on a sheet medium, a first memory device for storing a first program for diciphering instructions received from the information processing unit for enabling the mechanism for forming a visible image to operate in accordance with the instructions, a second memory device for storing a second program for converting instructions received from the information processing unit into those which can be deciphered by the first memory device, and a control device for executing the first and second programs to control the operation of the printer apparatus, wherein the first and second programs are to be executed at controlled timings.

Abstract: A manual printer has a casing of a shape suitable for mounting on a table, a guide rail installed in the casing, a guide member movably connected to the guide rail, a base supported on the cursor and projecting outwardly through a front opening of the casing, a printing head attached to the base, a controller contained in the casing, a switch panel installed in the casing, a display secured to the casing so as to display printing data, and an ink ribbon cassette arranged in the base. In a printing operation, an operator inputs the printing data to the memory of the controller and the base is moved by hand along the guide rail in order to have the printing head print words and the like onto paper sheets.

Abstract: In a printing device, all the print data is printed out without any print command when a predetermined time is counted after a reception buffer has run out of data. It is also possible to ensure an error-free, proper automatic print operation by providing a facility of discriminating between suspension of data transmission for the reason of processing and real stop of data transmission and another facility of selecting whether or not to carry out the automatic printing.

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: An image display device having print data received from a word processor by a print data receiving circuit, analyzed and written to a display memory. The print data in the display memory is colored and edited for desired color display on a CRT unit using data from a color register and a window generating circuit the edited print data is stored in memory.

Abstract: A passbook printer has a print head movable along a printing station and in opposed relation to a platen for printing data on the passbook. The printer has an optical reading head assembly which is movable independent of the print head and in a direction of the path of the passbook past the printing station. The optical reading head assembly is positioned at the printing station for reading page and line information from the passbook and then is moved to a position adjacent the printing station for permitting the print head to freely move along the printing station.

Abstract: A passbook printing machine which executes a transaction by user manipulation with the use of a passbook, and the passbook is returned to the user after transaction data is printed therein. The machine comprises a printer for printing the transaction data in the passbook and a controller which selects either a brief printing mode or an ordinary printing mode. In the brief printing mode, only the latest transaction data is printed in the passbook, and in the ordinary printing mode, not-printed former transaction data is print-out in addition as the latest transaction data. The controller selectively executes one of the printing modes in response to a user's command.

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 thesaurus feature for finding synonyms of words is provided for use with electronic typewriters having electronic spelling dictionaries for storing words in a data base contained in an electronic memory. Each word in the electronic dictionary which appears in the thesaurus is identified by a special code immediately following the word, so that the dictionary can be scanned quickly to determine if a given input word is in the thesaurus. If the word is in the thesaurus, the search for synonyms can proceed quickly. The input operations required of the typist are patterned after previously known operations to eliminate extensive learning or relearning on the part of the typist. Cascaded scanning of the display and listing operations are utilized to conserve time.

Abstract: A printer has a printing mechanism for printing on printing paper in accordance with data stored in a buffer memory which is divided into a non-overwrite memory region and an overwrite memory region. The data entered from an external device is first stored in the non-overwrite memory region of the buffer memory. If the data in the non-overwrite memory region exceeds the storage capacity during printing, the excess data is stored in the overwrite memory region. When the data stored in the overwrite memory region exceeds the storage capacity, the printer overwrites subsequent data entered from the external device onto the previous data stored therein. Moreover, during reprinting, the data in the non-overwrite memory region of the buffer memory is read to activate the printing mechanism.

Abstract: A multi-format document printer and processor has a plurality of data writing and reading means for data in different formats, disposed along a transport path. Forms are separated from a continuous perforated form supply and advanced along the transport path. Bidirectional drive rollers disposed along the path advance the documents and reverse them for reprocessing as necessary. At the end of the transport path, the documents are routed to an exit hopper or a reject hopper and a sensor at the exit detects already-issued forms manually loaded by an operator, which already-issued forms can be likewise bidirectionally processed for reading, verification, modification and the like. The processor is preferably embodied for transportation tickets and boarding passes, having: optical character recognition (OCR) write and read devices, magnetic strip write and read devices and a dot matrix printer having an array of print heads operable to print a document in one pass.

Abstract: An alterable storage unit is included in a control apparatus to store code conversion tables for transforming type data or type position data into various control data such as a hammer pressure, an amount of ribbon feed and an amount of proportional space. When a type element is replaced with another, code conversion tables concerned with the new type element are stored in the storage unit. This permits the code conversion tables to be altered or renewed concentratedly in the event of type element replacement.

Abstract: Input apparatus including: an input device for inputting a plurality of information codes; buffer apparatus for storing the plurality of information codes input from the input device, and control apparatus for sequentially executing processing in accordance with the plurality of information codes stored in the buffer apparatus and, in response to the temination of continuous input from the input device, for detecting that all of the unprocessed information codes stored in the buffer apparatus are the same, and for clearing the unexecuted information codes stored in the buffer apparatus upon such detection, such that sequential processing of the information codes is inhibited.

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 method and an arrangement for filling out a form by means of a processor-controlled typewriter or similar machine which includes a form memory. The text keyed in, which is to be printed in a text field on the form defined in the form memory, is stored in a text memory of the machine. The size of the area required for printout of the text, considering a given line and character spacing, is compared with the area available in the intended text field. If necessary, the line and/or character spacing is automatically changed before printout so as to adapt the text to the boundaries of the text field. With a suitable printing mechanism, it is also possible to change the size of the characters.

Abstract: An alterable storage unit is included in a control apparatus to store code conversion tables for transforming type data or type position data into various control data such as a hammer pressure, an amount of ribbon feed and an amount of proportional space. When a type element is replaced with another, code conversion tables concerned with the new type element are stored in the storage unit. This permits the code conversion tables to be altered or renewed concentratedly in the event of type element replacement.

Abstract: A printer system is configured as a kit for retrofitting the input consoles of existing letter sorting machines of the type used by the U.S. Postal Service. Such machines require that an operator, stationed at a console, enter sorting information for each mail piece, by way of a manually actuated keyboard. The present invention expands the processing capabilities of the machines by imprinting machine-readable, coded information on the respective faces of the mail pieces simultaneously with the sorting thereof. At the same time, the printing function does not impair or modify the usual operator-controlled console when mail is processed which does not require such coding.

Abstract: An electronic typewriter has a vertical tab key for printing one continuous vertical line, extending in a plurality of printing lines. By operating the vertical tab key, a control unit detects a set paper feed amount and feeds the paper reversely to a position whereat printing of a vertical line is done, in alignment with a vertical line printed in a previous printing line, thereby to print a continuous vertical line. The paper is fed forwards by an amount less than the unit length of vertical line which can be an amount less than a unit length of the vertical line as one character, and then the vertical line is printed. Such operations are repeated so that one vertical line continues from the vertical line of the previous printing line to the present printing line.

Abstract: The specification discloses a method for automatically paginating a data stream in a word processing system. A vertical tracking register is incremented by a value representing the displacement of the vertical print position when a line end code is encountered. The page overflow latch is then interrogated to determine whether a page overflow condition has occurred. If a page overflow condition has occurred, the next character in the data stream following a line end code is interrogated to determine whether the character is a graphic character. If the character is a graphic character, a page end code is copied into the output buffer ahead of the graphic character, the page overflow latch is reset and the tracking register is initialized. The tracking register value is then interrogated to determine whether it exceeds the last typing line. If the last typing line value has been exceeded, the page overflow latch is set.

Abstract: A low profile keyboard actuator for a typewriter in which L-shaped levers are pivotally mounted on a transverse shaft mounted immediately in front of the typewriter. The levers have generally horizontal arms of various lengths, the ends of which contact the keys of the various rows of the keyboard. The levers have depending arms of uniform length and are resiliently biased to depress the keys. A common operating bar bearing against the depending arms cyclically permits the levers to depress the keys and then restores the levers to the original position where no key is depressed; however, depression of all but a selected key is inhibited by a plurality of vertically superposed, transversely shiftable, binary-coded slides having teeth which bear against all depending arms except that one corresponding to the selected key.

Abstract: A daisywheel printer having interchangeable modules for different respective communications with alternate corresponding plug-in connections.

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: This controller may be used to direct operations of a remote station impact line printer whose data source is a host computer. The controller includes a microprocessor (CPU), a memory large enough to accomodate a plurality of lines of textual data, and host computer and printer interfaces arranged in a firmware implementation. A multiline buffering feature includes capability for receipt of incomplete lines and printing of partial lines. An overstrike feature includes capability for printing more than one character at the same print point (e.g., underlining, or "0") without intervening horizontal escapement commands such as backspace or carriage return.

Abstract: Automatic card embossing apparatus includes a rotatable embossing wheel carrying about its periphery punch and die pairs for all characters available for embossing. Each character position of the wheel defines an address and the wheel is controlled for rotation to a desired address for embossing the character there-located. Data identifying all embossable characters is processed to derive three control numbers for each character, the first control number identifying the corresponding wheel address for the corresponding punch and die pair, the second number identifying the horizontal position on the card where the character is to be embossed, and the third control number identifying the line number on the card. The data is sorted into ascending order of wheel addresses. In operation, a card is transported to a reference position relative to the embossing wheel and the embossing wheel is rotated to the address of the first control number.