Abstract: A dispenser for a roll of paper, a deflectable paper guide and systems for indicating when a predetermined amount of paper is left on the roll and when the supply of paper is totally exhausted. The paper dispenser is mounted on a printer frame and includes first and second cylindrical rollers having large and small diameter sections which permit the roll of paper to be readily inserted in and removed from the dispenser assembly. The deflectable paper guide is positioned between the paper dispenser and a fixed paper guide and includes a bar oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the roll of paper and biaser which forms a loop in the paper guide. The low paper quantity indicating system includes an infra red transmitter and an infra red receiver which are positioned in axial alignment on opposite ends of the roll of paper. An indicating device indicates when a clear path is established between the transmitter and the receiver which is indicative of a predetermined amount of paper remaining on the roll.

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: Printing apparatus including a multi-phase stepping motor having a shaft rotated thereby, and detecting means opto-electronically coupled to the shaft. A printing stylus is mechanically coupled with the shaft such that the shaft drives the stylus along a path. A control circuit coupled with the opto-electronic detecting means correlates signals to the stylus with the position of the shaft.