Abstract: A printing system in which an image is printed within multiple printable areas of a recording medium, the multiple printable areas defining an overlapped printing area, includes detection of a break position in image data to be printed within the overlapped printing area using at least one of a plurality of break detection systems on the image data to be printed within the overlapped printing area, selective division of, at the detected break position and among the multiple printable areas, the image data to be printed within the overlapped printing area, and printing of the divided image data within the multiple printable areas.

Abstract: A wide-width format printer having detachable and replaceable paper feed unit components includes an automatic sheet feeder having a feeding width corresponding to standard width print media, a manual sheet feeder having a feeding width corresponding to standard width print media plus an additional width, paper feed unit for feeding print media fed from either the automatic sheet feeder or the manual sheet feeder through a paper path which passes a print position to a media ejection portion, the paper feed unit comprising at least first and second detachable print roller sections, first and second detachable spur wheel sections, at least two detachable friction wheels and a drive roller, wherein the first detachable print roller section and spur wheel section oppose each other, the second detachable print roller section and spur wheel section oppose each other and wherein the first and second detachable printer roller segments are aligned coaxially and the first and second detachable spur wheel segments are a

Abstract: A word-processing system selectably operable with a primary character set or at least one secondary character set. The system includes an input device for inputting a character, a selection device for selecting one of the primary character set and the secondary character set, a processor for generating secondary character graphics data corresponding to the character input by the input device in the case that the secondary character set is selected, a CGROM which stores character graphics data for the primary character set, and a CGRAM which stores the secondary character graphics data generated by the processor in the case where a secondary character set is selected, the CGRAM having a memory capacity which is less than that of the CGROM.

Abstract: A system to scroll a first image inside a window of a second image displayed on a display screen. The system includes storage of the second image in a VRAM, designation of display addresses in the VRAM corresponding to a location of the window on the display screen, storage of the first image in a memory different from the VRAM, definition of a pointer indicating a first portion of the image to be displayed in the window, and copying of the first portion of the first image from the memory to the VRAM at the display addresses based on the pointer. The system further includes display of the first portion of the first image in the window of the second image, acceptance of user interface commands to scroll the first image and changing the value of a pointer in response thereto, the changed value indicative of a second portion of the first image to be displayed in the window, and repetition of the copying step and the displaying step with respect to the second portion.

Abstract: A capping mechanism for an ink jet print head, both of which are mounted on a carrier for lateral movement on a laterally extending guide rail by a motor controlled by a control device in a direction across a recording medium placed in an ink jet printer. The ink jet print head has a plurality of ink ejection nozzles for forming characters on the recording medium as it laterally moves across the recording medium under the control of the control device in response to the inputting of such characters by a keyboard. The capping mechanism is also mounted for sliding movement relative to the ink ejection nozzles of the ink jet print head between a capped position and an uncapped position. In the capped position, the capping mechanism forms an air tight seal with the ink ejection nozzles. A device, such as mechanical stops or an electromagnet, is also provided to slide the capping mechanism between the capped position and the uncapped position.

Abstract: A scalable edit window and position indicators displayable on a display of an electronic typewriter are provided. The width of the scalable edit window adjusts in accordance with the paper size or size of the recording medium selected for printing the keyed-in characters, or in accordance with a value provided by the operator. The height of the scalable edit window adjusts in accordance with the font size of keyed-in characters. The keyed-in characters are displayed in the scalable edit window in a font size and appearance as characters which will be printed on a recording medium. The displayable position indicators include a horizontal ruler and a vertical ruler. The horizontal ruler is adjusted in accordance with the maximum printing capability of the system printer or the width of a recording medium used for printing the keyed-in characters. The vertical ruler is adjusted in accordance with the font size of the keyed-in characters or the length of the recording medium.

Abstract: A dot matrix printing apparatus which designates an area of a memory as a print buffer and which outputs print data from the print buffer to a printer head having print elements for printing the print data. The dot matrix printing apparatus includes a memory, an area of which is designatable as a print buffer, and a processor which (1) executes an application program to generate the print data, (2) determines size data for the print data, the size data comprising a number of columns of print data and an amount of print data per each column, the amount of print data per each column being derived from a number of operable print elements on the printer head, (3) designates an area of the memory as a print buffer based on the size data, the print buffer being defined by address data, and (4) stores the print data in the print buffer.

Abstract: A cursor control stick includes a rigid tube having an outwardly-tapering conical throughbore and horizontal protrusions at its base, and a plunger having an outwardly-tapering conical body shaped in correspondence with the throughbore. The plunger slidably fits inside the rigid tube and includes a neck which extends beyond the rigid tube and which is adapted to be manipulated by the user. Electrically-conductive biasing means is disposed beneath and in contact with the plunger, and pressure sensitive resistive material is disposed beneath and in contact with the horizontal protrusions. A base containing electrical circuitry is disposed beneath both the electrically-conductive biasing means and the pressure sensitive resistive material.

Abstract: A word processing system having a transparent display for previewing printed documents includes a keyboard for inputting character data and format data, a read only memory for storing process steps for displaying and printing input character data in accordance with the input format data, a processor for processing the input character data and the input format data in accordance with the stored process steps, and a display for previewing printed documents. The transparent display comprises a transparent display for displaying characters, a backlight background for supporting a blank form and a printed circuit board connected to the perimeter of the display glass. The transparent display is configured so as to accommodate the passage of a blank form between the front glass and the support plate so that characters displayed on the front glass appear superimposed over the supported blank form.

Abstract: A print position indicator is coupleable to and uncoupleable from a print head so that the print position indicator can continuously indicate the next print position even when the print head is not adjacent that position. The print position indicator is slidably mounted on the same guide rail that carries the print head for left-and-right movement and includes a coupling mechanism so that the print position indicator can be detached from the print head when the print head returns to a home position, leaving the print position indicator correctly pointing to the next print position. In addition, the print position indicator can include plural laterally extending indicators, such as a row of light-emitting diodes (LED's) which are sequentially activated so as to indicate the next print position when plural characters are input before any of them are printed.

Abstract: A hinge fastens a display screen to a keyboard base, and uses a frictional force generated by one or more compressed friction washers to control angular motion of the display screen with respect to the keyboard base. The hinge includes two shoulders defining inwardly-facing flat abutment surfaces separated by a first distance, the two shoulders being disposed on the keyboard base, and a knuckle having a pair of outwardly-facing flat abutment surfaces separated by a second distance which is less than the first distance, the knuckle being disposed on the display screen. Also included in the hinge is at least one compressible friction washer, disposed between the knuckle and the two shoulders, and having a thickness which is greater than a difference between the first distance and the second distance, but which is compressible to less than the difference. Each of the two shoulders, the knuckle, and the at least one compressible friction washer has an alignable throughbore.

Abstract: A spell verification method and apparatus which comprises inputting characters and operational modes by keystrokes, printing input characters, providing a read only memory having plural dictionaries with spelling information, each dictionary including different but complementary dictionary entries, and executing program steps by a single chip microprocessor which includes an internal memory for storing program steps to control functions of the printer via a dedicated interface port and to control a spell verification function of the electronic typewriter. The single chip microprocessor further includes a detector for detecting whether the read only memory is connected to a dedicated interface port of the single chip microprocessor. Upon determining the status of the connection, the single chip microprocessor either enables or disables the spell verification function.

Abstract: An image printer includes a controller for controlling image printer operations, an image storing device for storing image data, an image printer including a print head for printing image data stored in the image storing device and a print position setter for setting a print position of the image printing means. The controller provides current position data to the print position setter, and the left print position is set in accordance with a current position of the print head of the image printer. A right position is set by adding a horizontal printing width of the stored image to the left print position. Alternatively, the controller provides current position data to the print position setter, and the right print position of the stored image is set to a current position of the print head of the image printer and a left position is set by subtracting a horizontal printing width of the stored image from the right print position.