Abstract: In a printing apparatus for printing on printing paper, page by page, wherein print data of each of virtual pages are divided into blocks, print data of effective blocks are stored in an image memory, while print data of empty blocks are not stored in the image memory, and instead information indicating the emptiness is stored. During supply of the print data to a printing section, empty data are generated from the information on the emptiness, while effective data are read out of the image memory. The empty data and the effective data are assembled and supplied to the printing section.

Abstract: A print data generator for modifying bit-mapped image data according to bit-mapped font data includes an image memory for storing image words consisting of L bits each, a font memory for storing font words consisting of L bits each, the number of words in each line of the font being (N-1). A number selecting controller selects a number S representing a bit offset between the image words and the font words, and a width number W which is one greater than the number of font words (N-1) per line. A shift clock generator receives the offset number S and repeatedly generates a series of shift clock pulses of S pulses each. A font shifter receives (N-1) successive font words from the font memory and receives the series of S shift clock pulses and generates shifted font words, the first shifted font word in each line having (L-S) bits at the head of the first font word for the (L-S) bits at the tail of the shifted font word.

Abstract: A printer provided with a font memory card having an outline font ROM for storing data representing outlines of characters and control parameters and a bit map font memory card detachably connected to the printer by way of a connector. This printer generates print bit map font data corresponding to print fonts which is instructed by a host unit such as a personal computer and the thus generated bit map font data are stored in the bit map font memory card in the order of priority of frequent use thereof.

Abstract: A continuous heat treating furnace in which independent sectioned chambers are provided at least in part of a pre-heating/pre-cooling zone in the furnace body, with a cooler or heater being provided in suction ducts of the sectioned chambers so as to rapidly heat or cool the metallic strip through operation of dampers disposed in the suction ducts, thus making it possible to alter heat curves as required for heat treatment of various metallic strips.

Abstract: A heat treating furnace for a metallic strip, which includes a heat exchanging zone and a heating/soaking zone provided within a furnace body by dividing the furnace body with a partition wall disposed in a widthwise direction so as to transport the metallic strip in a confronting state through the heat exchanging zone. The heat exchanging zone is further provided with nozzles for jetting atmospheric gas of the heat exchanging zone onto opposite surfaces of the metallic strip being transported, an atmosphere supply duct for the nozzles, and a circulation fan so as to utilize sensible heat discharged or dissipated from the metallic strip during pre-cooling for pre-heating the metallic strip.

Abstract: Disclosed is a turntable apparatus which comprises a plurality of magnets provided on the inner surface of the turntable so as to be disposed in a state alternately opposite in polarity and a plurality of coils provided on a stationary substrate disposed to face said turntable, in a manner that the disposition of said plurality of coils is in corresponding relation to the disposition of said plurality of magnets, whereby said turntable is rotated by the electromagnetic force between said coils and magnets.There is provided on said stationary substrate position detecting means for detecting the electromagnetic position of the magnets relative to the coils. The output signals from said position detecting means vary in level with a magnetic field variation due to the rotation of the turntable. There is provided means for controlling supply of a DC current to each coil upon receipt of an output signal from said position detecting means thereby to cause a rotating magnetic field to be produced in the coils.