Abstract: It is intended to expand the recording width of the serial printer by executing the one-directional recording, instead of the two-directional recording, according to the required recording width. For this purpose there is provided a serial recording apparatus comprising a carrier for mounting a recording head for executing recording on a recording medium, a scanning section for causing the carrier to execute a reciprocating scanning motion along the recording medium and a recording section for executing the recording in the scanning motions in two directions of the carrier in case the recording width required for the recording along the scanning direction of the carrier does not exceed a predetermined reference recordable width, and executing the recording in the scanning motion of the carrier in one direction only in case the required recording width is larger than the predetermined reference recordable width.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for performing recording on a recording medium with an ink jet recording head capable of ink jetting is described. The recording head is closed by capping after turning off the power source or during waiting or when no data is provided from a host unit for a predetermined period of time. To ensure reliable capping, the position of the carriage carrying the head is recognized. According to the invention, in a case when jumping of teeth occurs in a carriage motor drive system gear due to external disturbance of carriage running, the error that occurs in the carriage position recognition is held within one step so that there is no adverse effect on the capping executed during non-recording time such as when recording is ended or when absorbing recovering is executed.

Abstract: A higher-performance, energy saving recording apparatus, having a stepping motor as a driving source, presumes an out-of-phase state of the stepping motor. Driving setting parameters of the stepping motor are changed when an out-of-phase state of the stepping motor is presumed.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and control method facilitating the development of application software that can be used with different printers when the horizontal and vertical pitches of their respective mechanical transports vary. Based on a received base pitch calculation command, the printing apparatus calculates and stores a conversion coefficient for converting the minimum physical pitch values of the printer mechanism to virtual base pitch values. Thereafter, the printing apparatus executes motion commands and directs relative motion of the head and/or selected recording medium transport in accordance with this virtual pitch value.

Abstract: The method for driving a stepping motor for printers comprises the generation of first pulses (16A,16B) at n levels recorded in registers and representing a simulation of sinusoidal waves. The maximum level is applied during two consecutive microsteps to one of the phases of the motor, while the level of the other phase changes sign. During a motor stopping command, second pulses (VCA,VCB) are applied to the registers and to the two phases of the motor and are programmed so as to ensure, during the last microstep, an exact stopping position, such that all the stopping positions are kept apart by a whole number of half steps. Very precise, fast and noise-free printing is thus attained. The resolution is doubled, without any loss of precision or speed.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a carriage that relatively moves against a recording medium, on which a recording head for recording an image of input information on a recording region of the recording medium is mounted; and a driving device for driving the carriage. Furthermore, the recording apparatus includes: a control device for driving the carriage by the driving device in accordance with a driving process of: an acceleration step for accelerating the carriage by stepwise changing the carriage's velocity from a rest level to a predetermined level and a retaining step for keeping the carriage's velocity of the predetermined level as a predetermined velocity.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus has a recording head mounted on a carrier which is shifted by a stepping motor in recording. The stepping motor is also utilized as a power source of a recovery system device. The drive mode of the stepping motor for the recovery system is differentiated from that for the recording.

Abstract: A dot matrix printer and motor having hammers forming in part a hammerbank and a counterbalance mechanically linked to the hammerbank with a link to the position of the motor. The motor includes coils positively driven and then negatively driven after current in the coils has at least partially decayed. The current in the coils is allowed to decay further after negatively driving the coil. The motor coils are connected to an H bridge having transistors which can be formed in a full H bridge or half bridge. A controller switches the transistors to cause negative and positive flow through the H bridge for positive current flow from a reference level to an upper reference level, and a decay of current within the coils to an intermediate reference. The coils are then driven with a negative current from the intermediate reference level to a second intermediate reference level afterwhich the current within the coils decays to a lower or initial reference level.

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

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

Abstract: When a DC motor is restarted, a drive signal for the DC motor serves as a pulse signal. Even when a printer is stopped under a maximum load, the DC motor may be restarted a plurality of times, thus vibrating the DC motor and reducing the degree to which the printer is locked. This makes it possible to easily restart the DC motor.

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

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for driving a printer carrier. One power source is connected via a constant current circuit to the carrier motor. Data storing means stores the current command data corresponding to the acceleration, constant speed printing and deceleration of the carrier motor. According to the method, the current command data from the data storing means is latched in synchronism with a clock signal. The latched data is converted to a current reference voltage. The output current of the constant current drive circuit is varied in accordance with the current reference voltage. Changing the current command data as desired makes it possible to adjust freely the torque of the carrier motor for acceleration and deceleration on a constant voltage from one power source.

Abstract: A device for driving optical units for scanning manuscript and provides that movement of the optical units during scanning is achieved by a first pulse motor exhibiting low-noise and high-torque characteristics within a motor speed range suitable for achieving a desired scanning travel speed. Return movement of the optical units is achieved by a second pulse motor exhibiting low-noise and high-torque characteristics within revolving a motor speed range suitable for achieving a higher desired return travel speed. Not only are the optical units moved in both directions, but also noise generated during such movement is reduced as much as possible.

Abstract: This invention discloses a recording apparatus for effecting recording by moving a carriage which supports a recording head, along a recording material. The apparatus is provided with a motor speed controller for a closed-loop control of the rotating speed of a carriage driving motor. The speed control output signal from the motor speed controller is set at a predetermined value when the carriage driving motor reaches a speed of the constant speed control from an acceleration state.

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

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

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

Abstract: A recording apparatus in which the movement of a recording head for recording scanning is effected includes a carriage carrying the recording head thereon, a step motor for moving the carriage, a linear encoder for detecting the amount of movement of the carriage, the linear encoder being installed over the movement range of the carriage and generating pulse signals in conformity with the amount of movement of the carriage, a controller for counting the pulse signals from the linear encoder and outputting a control signal for the starting and stoppage of the carriage in conformity with the count value, and current switch-over device for switching over and controlling an energization current supplied to the coil of the step motor in conformity with the pulse signals from the linear encoder.

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

Abstract: A method for operating a dot-matrix printer to allow printing in the accelerating and decelerating regions of the carriage traverse, which comprises the steps of: firing the wires for registration at the present position of the carriage and stepping the carriage by energization of a stepper motor driving the carriage for the period required to complete the step when accelerating the carriage or the period required to brake the carriage when decelerating the carriage. These times will decrease as the carriage accelerates to the desired velocity and will increase as the carriage decelerates from the desired velocity.

Abstract: In a method and circuit for operating a stepping motor having several windings, and wherein a movement of the stepping motor induces a voltage in a winding which is not required at the time for generating a propulsive force, the induced voltage is evaluated. After the stepping motor is connected, the stepping motor is operated in a predetermined direction, whereupon a stopping of the stepping motor is detected by the absence of the induced voltage. A memory containing the instantaneous position of the stepping motor is then set to a predetermined value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording apparatus wherein recording is performed by reciprocably shifting a carriage on which a recording head is mounted by means of a stepping motor and which comprises a rotational position detection device for detecting a rotational position of a rotor of the stepping motor, and a control unit for performing a closed loop control for the change-over timing of excitation currents to coils of the stepping motor and for the driving speed of the stepping motor, on the basis of the detection signal from the rotational position detection device, and judges whether the initial drive of the stepping motor and the change-over timing are normal, through the control unit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an origin indexing apparatus applicable to a printer. A moving member, such as a printing head mounted on a carriage, is moved by a stepper motor which rotates in stepwise fashion by sequentially changing excited phase by a predetermined number K. An initially set origin of such a moving member is exactly indexed or identified in a later origin indexing operation according to the relationship between the phase difference between excited phases of the stepper motor at the time of initial setting of the origin and the origin indexing operation and the number of phases K of the stepper motor. One of three positions is indexed as the origin based upon this relationship, including a center position corresponding to a subsequent specified phase appearing in the same cycle following the indexed excited phase, and positions downstream and upstream of the center position.

Abstract: A carriage control system for a printer which effects printing by moving the carriage mounted on a print head to reduce the distance on either side of the printing area required for acceleration and deceleration. Various approaches to rapidly and accurately accelerating carriage to a selected constant speed and then decelerating the carriage from the constant speed to a stop are provided. Both open-loop and closed-loop control approaches are utilized.

Abstract: A printer for performing recording successively while a recording head moves backwards and forwards in a predetermined direction with respect to a recording medium such as paper. A paper hold roller for pressing the recording medium against a platen in the vicinity of a recording area opposite to a print head is detachable from the platen in relation to the movement of a carriage for carrying the recording head. The presence and absence of paper is detected to control the paper feed. An ink ribbon is provided which has color zones and an ink absorption zone in the direction of the ribbon width for multi-color printing by shifting the ribbon in the width direction by means of the carriage movement so that a selected color zone faces the recording head. The printer further includes a ribbon cassette, means for controlling paper insertion and feeding and means for cleaning the recording head. Also included are a paper bail control, color zone selector and paper detector.

Abstract: A motor controlling system in which a stepping motor can be always stopped at a constant or predetermined position. During initialization an excitation phase is stored after the motor has been detected to have passed a particular position. During actual operation, after the motor has been detected to have passed that particular position, the excitation phase of the motor is monitored and compared with the stored excitation phase. The motor is stopped upon coincidence of the compared excitation phases.

Abstract: For step motors positioned in response to an external reference location, correction for potential one step misalignment is provided. The method and the apparatus of the invention provide a read/write memory, for storing therein a phase state of the step motor at a particular location, e.g. a home position. The home position may coincide with the external reference location or may be offset therefrom by some predetermined move of the step motor. During cold starts, where memory is not retained, the step motor is moved to its home position and then the phase state of the machine is saved. On subsequent warm starts, after the step motor is moved to the assumed home position, the step motor is controlled to assume the phase state that has been previously stored.

Abstract: A dot matrix printer provided with a printing head having vertically aligned plural printing elements and displaced in the transversal direction of the printing sheet by a stepping motor, in which printing pulses of at least two dots are generated during a same magnetizing phase of the stepping motor and are supplied to the printing head.

Abstract: There is disclosed a printing apparatus provided with a mechanism for erasing printed characters by actuating a type font through an erasing ribbon and a mechanism for selecting characters by rotating the type font, wherein the erasure of a printed character is achieved by rotating a type selected from said type font by a determined amount for printing a character in the overlapping manner on the character to be erased.

Abstract: The printer is characterized by construction adapted to detect the offsetting of the carriage from its intended position by signals of a sensor which detects the carriage offset at a first position spaced by a predetermined distance in the opposite direction of the home position of the carriage and at a second position which is the home position.

Abstract: A serial printer includes a control circuit for driving the printer carriage. The control circuit detects the change of level of a home position signal in synchronism with a print position signal which is produced based upon occurrence of particular data selected out of a cycle of data for driving a step motor so as to increase the permissible range of variation in the change of the level of the home position signal that takes place due to mechanical vibrations differing in mode or phase.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing escapement positioning error by matching the move sequence of a print carrier to the mechanical system dynamic characteristics without the use of a feedback sensor are described. A plurality of constant velocity signals are provided for driving the print carrier to the next print position. The sequential velocity signals comprise an acceleration velocity signal and a deceleration velocity signal, the duration of which are dependent upon the damped natural frequency of the print system. For long escapement moves, a slew velocity command is provided between the acceleration and deceleration velocity commands so as to maintain the velocity of the print carrier at the amplitude it had attained at the conclusion of the acceleration velocity signal. The relative amplitudes of the acceleration, slew and deceleration velocity signals are a function of the damping ratio of the printer system.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a type wheel carrying a plurality of type elements and a platen for mounting and advancing a printing paper. A hammer can strike any one of the type elements against the printing paper and an ink ribbon is positionable between the type elements and the paper to imprint a character on the paper when any one of the type elements is struck. The ink ribbon is advanced by a driving mechanism. First, second, and third selecting systems respectively select one of a plurality of degrees of advancement of the printing paper, one of a plurality of time intervals of actuation of the hammer, and one of a plurality of amounts of advancement of the ink ribbon. First, second, and third counters each count pulses from respectively associated first, second, and third pulse generators to, respectively, first, second, and third set values determined by the selected degree of paper advancement, time interval of hammer actuation, and amount of ribbon advancement.

Abstract: A linear motor shuttling system for shuttling the print head (11) of a dot matrix line printer is disclosed. The print head (11) is supported by a pair of flexures (13, 15) such that the head is free to move back and forth along a print line. One end of the flexure supported print head is attached to the coil (31) of a voice coil linear motor (23). The linear motor (23) is also flexure (27, 29) supported. The linear motor (23) is positioned such that the axis of coil movement is co-axial with the axis of movement of the print head (11). Further, the resonant vibration frequency of the combination of the linear motor and the linear motor flexure support is tuned to the resonant vibration frequency of the combination of the print head and the print head flexure support.

Abstract: A serial impact printer 11 includes a frame 15 mounted drive motor 47 coupled to a print wheel 31 to effect rotation thereof. The print wheel 31 is mounted on a movable print carrier 29 which serially moves from print position to print position along the print line. The motor 47 is coupled to the wheel pulley 51 of the print wheel 31 through a belt 49 which is wrapped about two idler pulleys 57 and 59 located on a sub-carrier 61. The sub-carrier 61 moves one half the distance of the print carrier 29 so that during escapement motion of the print carrier 29, the belt 49 imparts no rotary motion to the wheel pulley 51 and hence to the print wheel 31. The print carrier 29 may be clamped by clamp 77 to the belt 49 to effect the return motion thereof. The motor 47 is also coupled through a clutch 127 to the line feed apparatus of the platen 23.

Abstract: A single stepper motor is utilized in a printing device to lift a print head from the surface of recording material upon the initial angular rotation of the stepper motor output drive shaft and to move the recording material within the printing device upon further rotation of said drive shaft. The print head is returned to the surface of the recording material by operating the stepper motor in the reverse direction until the output drive shaft of the stepper motor traverses an angular displacement equal but opposite to the initial angular displacement. A cam surface couples the output drive shaft of the stepper motor to a drive gear and transforms the initial angular displacement of the output drive shaft into linear motion to lift the print head from the surface of the recording material. Further rotation of the stepper motor drive shaft rotates the drive gear to move material within the printing device.

Abstract: A daisy wheel printer with a low mass carriage is driven by a pair of bidirectional stepping motors mounted on the printer frame. The carriage and print wheel are each driven by their respective motor through a belt and pulley drive extending side to side of the printer frame. The motors and pulleys are proportioned so that a step of either stepping motor rotates the print wheel from one character position to the next, thereby synchronizing print wheel rotation with carriage movement. The motors are driven independently, under control of a microcomputer in the printer, to vary the phase of rotation of the print wheel relative to movement of the carriage. Stops at one end of the printer frame are used to physically position the carriage and wheel to known initial locations.

Abstract: A small and light-weight serial printer adapted to portable electric-powered typewriters and output devices of personal computers. The serial printer of the present invention requires a reduced number of drive sources and is simply constructed. The serial printer further possesses a small and light-weight carriage which does not mount drive sources such as motors or electromagnets and which does not mount a hammering mechanism, either.

Abstract: A method is provided for adjusting to an original predetermined value the natural frequency of the carrier load of a processor controlled stepper motor driving said carrier through a belt and pulley arrangement. The adjustment is performed by having the microprocessor move said carrier back and forth repetitively, at a rate based on the original natural frequency value and by adjusting the belt tension for obtaining maximum amplitude vibrations of the carrier load.

Abstract: A printer for use in an office machine having a keyboard and including a typing element carrying type faces of the characters to be printed and mounted on a carriage for displacement along a line printing path and being rotatable to bring a selected type face into a printing position, and a control device responsive to signals from the keyboard and operative, immediately after a type face is brought into the printing position and before printing of the associated character, for effecting rotation of the typing element in a predetermined direction over a path of predetermined length and then in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction and over a path of the same predetermined length.

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: A teleprinter includes a carriage for conveying a dot matrix-type print head along an operating path parallel to a print-receiving surface. The carriage is mounted on parallel-spaced support rods by means of spaced bearings slidably engaged to one of the support rods, and a pair of perpendicularly-aligned guide rollers which engage the other guide rod. The carriage is advanced by a drive belt which extends along the carriage operating path and is attached to the carriage at either end. A stepper motor coupled to one of the pulleys drives the belt to position the carriage. A removable cartridge on the carriage contains an inked ribbon which is advanced with movement of the carriage by a drive gear engaged to the drive belt. A unidirectional clutch prevents the inked ribbon from moving in a reverse direction during carriage return.

Abstract: A linear motor for a printer has stator teeth which are protected from dust and debris generated when the printing mechanism strikes the recording paper by a downward extension of the stator teeth, by a horizontal extension of the stator teeth, or by a horizontal extension of stator teeth which face away from the printing platen. The translating member of the motor to which the printing mechanism is attached has pole teeth spaced from the stator by mechanical rollers. The motor force acts close to the center of gravity of the moving members to reduce mechanical vibrations.

Abstract: An error correcting typewriter wherein a backspace correction key is operative to read an incorrect character from memory, to in turn reversely move a stepper motor controlled carriage twice the width of a character in error and then forwardly the width of the character in error and then to effect overstrike printing of the character in error.

Abstract: A printing and displaying apparatus for printing characters on a heat-sensitive recording medium and, at the same time, providing a visual display of printed characters to permit visual observation of the state of printing. The apparatus comprises a transparent platen having a surface area larger than the area of one frame of the recording medium which is brought into engagement at its heat-sensitive surface with the associated surface of the platen, and a thermal printing head making printing engagement with the non-heat-sensitive surface of the recording medium. The thermal printing head is carried by a carriage which is mounted on supporting means supporting the carriage so as to be movable in both the row direction and the column direction. This supporting means is controlled by drive means and drive control means so that the printing head can be moved to any desired position within the extent of one frame of the recording medium.

Abstract: A serial printer comprises a carriage 1 movable along a printing line by a motor MC with a feedback transducer FBC signalling increments of carriage advance. A daisy wheel 2 carries characters to be printed and is rotated by a stepping motor MS with a feedback transducer FBS. In order to maximize printing speed without complex control of the carriage speed a control unit signals when the carriage 1 reaches each printing point in response to feedback pulses from FBC, whether fixed or proportional spacing is used. If the motor MS has by then completed character selection, as determined by counting feedback pulses from FBS, the carriage is not stopped and printing takes place on-the-fly. If character selection has not been completed, the carriage is stopped and printing is effected when character selection is completed.

Abstract: A method of, and a system for, controlling a constant current hammer in a carrier type daisy wheel printer. A logic table is utilized and first addressed with a carrier velocity code corresponding to character selection time. The table output is a sync point for determining hammer turn on time. The table is next addressed with a combination code made up of the velocity code and a code corresponding to the desired impact force. The table output this time is the actual turn on time for the hammer from the sync point. The on time of the hammer is then controlled by the desired impact force code. This code is also utilized to control the beginning of selection for the next character.

Abstract: An electronic control circuit is designed for use with a high speed printer having a character generator which is coupled to a print head. The print head is laterally displaced along a print line by a stepper motor and forms characters from a plurality of columns of dots as the print head moves. The electronic control circuit includes an encoder which is coupled to the shaft of the stepper motor to generate count up pulses when the stepper motor displaces the print head in a first direction and count down pulses when the stepper motor displaces the print head in a second direction. The count up and count down pulses permit the control circuit to continuously define the present print head position. A random access memory receives printable characters during a load cycle and reads out printable characters to the character generator during a print cycle.

Abstract: A drive arrangement for a single element typewriter in which the element is mounted on a moving carrier, for facilitating proportional spacing incremental movements of the carrier. The carrier is bidirectionally driven by a servo motor which rotates bidirectionally in response to the output of a digital counter. The counter counts in one direction in response to input stepping pulses as well as pulses corresponding to incremental rotational movements of the drive shaft in a given direction, and counts in the other direction in response to pulses corresponding to incremental rotational movements of the drive shaft in the opposite direction. The pulses corresponding to incremental rotational movements of the drive shaft are optically derived from a rotating disk having alternating transparent and opaque radial striations. Provision is made for automatic carrier return by setting the output of the counter accordingly.