Abstract: A label printing apparatus for printing characters on a label. The apparatus includes a controller operable to perform various functions, such as (1) recalling stored common font data for each character selected and being operable to apply a scaling factor to the font data to produce print pixel data for printing the character; (2) deriving characters from the font data to determine sequentially intersections of lines and/or curves of the character with a print line extending heightwise to generate therefrom a set of pixel data for directly printing a column of dots corresponding to the set of pixel data defined at that print line; and/or (3) implementing a preview function which enables all characters of an entire label to be displayed at one time on a display even when the length of the label is greater than the size of the display.

Abstract: A method and software program for determining printability of a defect on a reticle or photomask onto a substrate during processing. That is performed by creating a pixel grid image having a plurality of individual pixel images showing the defect. A gray scale value is assigned to each pixel image of the pixel grid image and a probable center pixel of the defect is selected. Then the polarity of the defect is determined, with a coarse center pixel of the defect optionally selected using the probable center defect and polarity of the defect. If a coarse center pixel is selected, then a fine center of the defect can optionally be selected from the coarse center pixel and polarity of the defect. From the center pixel the physical extent of the defect can be determined followed by the determination the transmissivity energy level of the physical extent of the defect.

Abstract: A digital still camera combines a display pattern received from a printing apparatus and a photographed image with each other, and displays the resultant image on a viewfinder. A user adjusts the balance between the display pattern and the image of the object both being displayed on the viewfinder, and depresses a shutter release button. The digital still camera fetches the photographed image. The digital still camera sends to the printing apparatus the fetched image and a pattern name specifying the display pattern used at the time of photographing. The printing apparatus combines the decoration pattern specified by the pattern and the image received from the digital still camera into composite image data. The printing apparatus prints the composite image data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a new printing apparatus and process for inkjet printers which incorporates spectral modeling of ink mixing and the technology of halftoning in device-independent color space. In addition no colormap building or color mapping processing is necessary, because color correction is conducted in device-independent space and is built into the halftoning process. also disclosed is an automatic self-calibration by the printer without user intervention or user preferences by using an optical sensing unit on the printer. The procedure corrects for print cartridge to print cartridge variance, and variance of print cartridges over time and also provides for faster processing of color images.

Abstract: In case of printing a stamp logotype in a constitution in which a distance from a printing position to a cutting position is relatively short, it is designed to prevent useless space from being formed at the top region of a receipt and to appropriate relatively wide area for a stamp logotype printing region. A printer controller controls a head and a cutter so that, when a length of the stamp logotype is longer than a distance L from the printing position of the head to the cutting position of the cutter, the image of the stamp logotype is divided into a first logotype A equal to the distance L and a remaining second logotype B, so as to have the logotype A printed on the receipt before a preceding receipt is cut, and the logotype B printed on the receipt after the preceding receipt is cut.

Abstract: A printer has a print head with multiple nozzles and an encoder to encode print head data into firing bits used to determine various firing patterns of the print head nozzles. A decoder is integrated on the print head to decode the firing bits into firing pulses used to fire selected print head nozzles. The encoder encodes the print head data in such a manner that there are fewer firing bits than there are possible firings controlled by the firing bits. For instance, the encoder encodes the print head data such that "n" firing bits define 2.sup.n firing levels (where "n" is an integer), with each firing level defining a different number of firings. With the multi-level encoding, the encoder is able to control more than n possible firings with each n firing bits.

Abstract: In a double-side printing control method, a printing request transmitted by a host computer is received, the printing request including print data and a given resolution of the print data. The print data is expanded to image data at the given resolution. The image data is stored in a system control part of a printing apparatus. A double-side printing is performed with the stored image data when the printing request is a double-side printing request. Before performing the double-side printing at the given resolution, it is determined whether an image memory area of the system control part that stores two pages of image data is held, and it is determined whether an image memory area of an external storage part that stores one page of image data can be held.

Abstract: There is provided an output apparatus for outputting an image pattern by dots on the basis of a vector font. The apparatus comprises: a memory to store coordinate point data indicative of an outline of a pattern; a first mode to arrange into dots on the basis of the coordinate point data stored in the memory; a second mode to reduce the number of outline points than that in the first mode and to arrange into dots; a mode indicating device to indicate the first or second mode; and an output device to output dots in accordance with the first or second mode on the basis of the indication from the mode indicating device. By properly selecting the first or second mode, an image pattern can be displayed or printed by dots at a desired quality and a desired speed on the basis of the vector font.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for driving and controlling a thermal head used in a printing device, such as a tape printer, in response to the temperature variations of the printing device environment and the thermal head. According to the present invention, in the printing operation of the tape printer, measurements are made of the initial temperature T1 immediately after the power is switched on, the temperature prior to printing T2, and the ambient temperature of the thermal head each time the thermal head prints T3 (i). If the temperature difference between the initial temperature T1 and the temperature prior to printing T2 is small, the duration of the current signals provided to the thermal head is controlled in accordance with the temperature prior to printing T2, which is the most recently measured thermal head ambient temperature best reflecting the printing device environmental temperature.

Abstract: A printer and method of printing including in a feedback mechanism having an imaging head for imaging, digitizing, or sampling at least a portion of a symbol, a comparator for comparing the imaged portion to a print command provided by a print logic print driver so as to generate print logic update information, whereby the print logic is updated in real time in response to the print logic update information.

Abstract: An apparatus for demonstrating printers is provided. Associated with each printer is a demo control box having at least one button that may be pressed to initiate the printing of a demonstration page by that printer. Each demo control box for each printer is connected to a printer control that contains a set of demo images stored in memory. The printer control receives signals from each of the demo control boxes and selects a demo image from the set of demo images to send to the printers which are connected to printer control outputs. Multiple printers can be printing demo pages at the same time. The controller has a download input for updating the set of demo images to reflect changes in the printers and to provide customized demo pages for the retailer.

Abstract: A host computer checks the frequency of type data such as a character code or a graphic pattern in print data. Type data with a high frequency is registered in a registered character management area in correspondence with a data ID and sent to a printer. The printer registers the received ID and data in a print data registration area. Thereafter, the host computer sends print data obtained upon replacement of the type data with the ID to the printer. The printer identifies an ID included in the print data, replaces the ID with the corresponding type data, and outputs the print data. With this processing, data with a high use frequency can be registered in the printer. Therefore, the data transfer amount from the host computer can be decreased, and the printing processing speed is increased. In addition, since the frequency is totalized, the memory in the printer can be effectively used.

Abstract: A mail handling system includes a printhead for printing a postage indicium on a mailpiece; a transport mechanism that moves the mailpiece past the printhead during printing of the postage indicium; a postage meter including means for accounting for a value of postage associated with the postage indicium; an image generator in operative communication with the postage meter, the image generator producing a synchronous image data stream for use by the printhead in printing the postage indicium; a buffer which receives and stores the synchronous image data stream from the image generator; apparatus for switching the image generator between an ON status whereby the image generator produces the synchronous image data stream and an OFF status whereby the image generator does not produce the synchronous image data stream based upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition; structure for transferring the stored synchronous image data stream to the printhead in an asynchronous manner; and wherein the switching appa

Abstract: A method of forming a high-quality image on an elongated recording medium, such as a roll of paper sheet. When an image includes a character which stretches between two print regions, a blank line portion of the image is detected. When image forming operation is performed for forming a portion of the image up to the blank line, sheet feed operations are performed. Then, image forming operation for a remaining portion of the image is performed. Because the sheet feed operation will not be performed in the middle of printing of such image, undesirable broken line or gap will not be formed on the printed image.

Abstract: A method of processing page description data for printing on a printing device having a print engine for printing on an output media. The method includes receiving page description data comprising objects to be placed on the output media where each object has a position on the output media. An area to be printed on the output media is divided into a first and subsequent bands. The objects are interpreted one object at a time to produce display list data. When all objects that intersect the first band have been interpreted, display list data for the first band is rendered without regard to whether objects or portions of objects in subsequent bands have been interpreted.

Abstract: A label printing device comprises a housing having a printer and a scanner disposed therein. The housing further includes a window permitting light to transmit therethrough to an optical sensing element of the scanner. The optical sensing element generates image data representative of a previously printed label brought into proximity with the window. A central processor controls the functions of the printer and the scanner. The central processor receives the image data generated by the optical sensing element and commands operation of the printer to print a label corresponding to the previously printed label.

Abstract: In an image processing device, when image data is expanded to width K corresponding to one-third of width L of a band buffer 26, the band buffer in which the width K image data is expanded is divided into square blocks each having side length K. When expansion of the image data in the square blocks into which the band buffer is divided is complete, the resultant image data is compressed for each square block. Thus, occurrence of generation can be prevented and the image data can be compressed efficiently. The locations of a final output image to which the compressed data corresponds are managed with a compressed page buffer management table, etc., so that the final output image can be restored based on the managed location information and image quality degradation can be avoided.

Abstract: A method and system for printing new material onto a designated area of a randomly oriented data storage substrate involves determining the orientation of the data storage substrate and electronically generating printer data that compensates for the specific orientation of the substrate. The preferred printing system includes an imaging device, a printing device, and a computer system. The printing method involves imaging a randomly oriented target substrate, such as an optical disk, having a visible pattern and a designated area for receiving new printed material. The new material, text and/or graphics to be printed onto the target disk, is normally oriented in a reference position, but, in order to account for the randomly oriented nature of the target disk, the orientation of the new material is electronically adjusted relative to the printing system. The electronically adjusted new material is then printed onto the designated area of the target disk without having to rotate the disk.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a label printer that has a plurality of keys for defining a label to be printed. Such keys include keys for defining the format of the label. The label printer also includes a display for displaying an image of the label, a printing unit for printing the label and a control unit for controlling the label printer to operate in a layout mode. In the layout mode, the control unit causes the display to display an image of the label in a selected label format and a plurality of layout parameters for defining the label format. Each of the layout parameters is alterable. Thereby, the label image displayed on the display alters with each selection of one of the layout parameters by actuating the format keys.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a character information processor which can operate either in an ordinary state in which ordinary operations are performed or in a demonstration state in which demonstrating operations, including demonstration display and demonstration printing, are performed. The character information processor according to the present invention includes: a first operation state switch for switching the ordinary state to the demonstration state when receiving operation signals of a first number during the ordinary state; and a second operation state swtich for switching the demonstration state to the ordinary state when receiving operation signals of a second number during the demonstration state, the second number being smaller than the first number.

Abstract: A printing apparatus capable of feeding standard and non-standard sheets so that image data can be printed on various types of sheets with the need for increasing the number of internal components. One embodiment for achieving this includes a sheet setting unit that permits selection of one of a plurality of predefined sheets, a sheet width sensor unit that senses whether sheets in a sheet supply member meet a predefined width, and a controller coupled to the sheet setting unit and the sheet sensor unit. The controller is responsive to either the selected one of the plurality of predefined sheets or user input of dimensional data of the sheets in the supply member. Based upon the set sheet type or input dimensional data, the controller then adjusts the magnification of the image to be printed and prints the image on the sheets.

Abstract: An automatic photographic processor apparatus automatically produces a strip of photographic prints, e.g. identification photos or self-portraits, in a short period of time with cutline markings.

Abstract: A method for printing in a draft mode of a serial printer includes a first printing step for printing information data in a first direction on a first line, and a second printing step for printing information data in a second direction opposite to the first direction on a second line. The second printing step includes checking the number of dots corresponding to the data to be printed, and aligning the dots to be printed corresponding to the first and second lines in a predetermined form by determining dots to be printed according to the checked number of dots. According the principles of the present invention, every other dot is skipped and printed in turns, that is, a first dot is printed and a next dot is not printed when the number of the adjacent dots is an odd number. To the contrary, when the number of the adjacent dots is an even number, a first dot is not printed and a next dot is printed.

Abstract: Output apparatus and method of a printer, a display, or the like for receiving a group of commands from a host computer and for changing subsequent data processes. The output apparatus comprises: a substituting circuit for substituting another discrimination information for discrimination information to be changed in accordance with an input of instruction information to instruct a change in discrimination information stored; and an executing circuit for executing a predetermined operation shown by the discrimination information before it is substituted by the substituting circuit in accordance with an input of the discrimination information substituted by the substituting circuit. A command table of an output unit is rewritten by a special command from the host computer, thereby enabling a desired outputting process to be selectively executed while the host computer easily discriminates the output unit.

Abstract: A printer buffer unit is connectable to one or a plurality of host computers and one or a plurality of printers. The printer buffer unit has a unit for detecting a break of print job data sent from a host computer, and a unit for adding a job offset command at the time of the break in sending the print job data to a printer.

Abstract: A printer buffer unit is connectable to one or a plurality of host computers and one or a plurality of printers. The printer buffer unit has a unit for detecting a break of print job data sent from a host computer, and a unit for adding a job offset command at the time of the break in sending the print job data to a printer.

Abstract: A tape printer includes a keyboard (4) that inputs character strings to be printed on each printed block that is defined in a label tape or a label tube and inputs control commands by which an output format of the character strings is controlled; a display portion (10) that displays the character strings and the control commands that have been input, a memory portion (8) that stores the character strings and the control commands that have been input; a thermal head (13) for printing the character strings stored in the memory portion on each block of the label tape or the label tube on the basis of the control commands stored in the memory portion; a memory (58) that registers printing data that is displayed on the display portion in correspondence with a specific key; and a CPU (7) that causes the printing data registered by the memory to be displayed following an end of the character strings displayed on the display portion and, at the same time, storing the printing data in the memory portion by operating t

Abstract: The invention relates to a printer which can print both text and bar code data on an elongated web-like tape. The printer is provided with a display having a first display mode in which both text data and bar code data are displayed. A bar code display unit is provided to advise the user when the cursor is assigned to bar code data in the first display mode. A second display mode can also be provided. In the second display mode, only the bar code data is displayed and only it can be entered and edited. When characters comprising either text data or bar code data are entered, they are placed sequentially in an input buffer, which comprises a first area of a storage device. The start and end positions of the bar code data within the input buffer are stored in a second area of the storage device. During printing operations, the position of each character in the input buffer is compared to the start and end positions to determine whether that particular character is to be printed as text or as a bar code.

Abstract: A print data storing unit connected to a printing mechanism of a printer for storing print data and sending the data to the printing mechanism. The storing unit includes a buffer memory which has a data storing region A having a storage capacity capable of storing therein data of one line and a temporary data storing region B having a storage capacity half the storage capacity of the data storing region A. The data storing region A is divided into two storage sections, and each storage section is divided into right storage section A1, A3 and left storage section A2 and A4. Print data of a first line are stored in the data storing region A, and when printing is started based on the print data, storage of print data of the front half portion of a second line in the temporary data storing region B is started. When the half portion of the first line is printed, storage into the empty section A1 and A3 of print data of a remaining rear half portion of the second line is started.

Abstract: In a tape printing apparatus capable of printing character strings over a plurality of lines on a tapelike printing medium, printing, in which print positions of input lines are reversed or interchanged, can be easily performed.In printing input character strings over a plurality of lines, print data of each line is unfolded by an amount corresponding to one line of a thermal head 15 (S13, S14). When unfolding of data of all lines is completed (S15), data of each line is rearranged in a line buffer 50 according to a line-corresponding table. A print result in which the print positions are reversed or interchanged can be obtained by printing information in the line buffer.

Abstract: A franking machine stores first data relating to a first impression second data relating to a second impression. Printing of both impressions or omission of the first impression and printing of only the second impression may be selected by a user. When both impressions are to be printed, the printing means is controlled to print the first impression in a first location on a mail item and to print the second impression in a second location on the mail item adjacent said first location. When omission of printing the first impression is selected the printing means is controlled to print the second impression in the first location.

Abstract: In a method for generating a print format that is printed onto a carrier in a postage meter machine, the print format being composed of picture elements in the fashion of an xy-matrix to which picture element data are allocated in a memory, a microprocessor controlling the generation of the print format accesses a number of picture element datafiles. Picture element data that define an image element or a text element of the print format are combined in each picture element datafile. Each picture element datafile also has an identification code allocated to it under which the appertaining image element or text element can be found. The microprocessor also accesses a control datafile that contains a number of sub-image datafiles that respectively contain sub-image data that define a sub-image of the print format.

Abstract: A printing unit prints ordinary images on multiple sheets of paper, the printing unit further printing at least one cutting mark on one of the multiple sheets of paper. The at least one cutting mark is printed at a periphery of a relevant one of the ordinary images printed on the one of the multiple sheets of paper. The at least one cutting mark is used as a reference for cutting off peripheries of the multiple sheets of paper. A top sheet detecting unit detects a top sheet of the multiple sheets of paper. An ejecting unit ejects the multiple sheets of paper after the printing unit prints the ordinary images and the at least one cutting mark on the multiple sheets of paper. The ejecting unit thus creates a stack of the multiple sheets of paper. The top sheet is located at the top of the stack of the multiple sheets of paper when the stack of the multiple sheets of paper is in a state in which a relevant one of the ordinary images printed on the top sheet faces upward.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing money orders at a plurality of retail establishments is provided, including one or more data collector devices connected to a host device. Preferably, each of the money order dispensers include a digital processor for controlling the overall operation thereof, a keyboard for entering transaction data to request the printing of a money order, a display for displaying the transaction data, and a dot matrix printer for printing the requested money order. Each dispenser further includes an electrically-eraseable programmable read only memory (E.sup.2 PROM) for storing a security inhibit printing code, this code being automatically changed to prevent actuation of the printer when the security of the dispenser is compromised.

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: A method and system for individually labelling a recording medium at the time that digital information is recorded thereon is provided. The method provides for transferring at least a portion of the digital information in the form of a digital data stream to the medium from a storage location. Title information is extracted from the data stream and used to create a visual label that is placed on the recording medium. The title information on the recording medium uniquely identifies the digital information that is recorded on the medium. In an exemplary embodiment, the system of the invention will use a controller to receive a portion of the digital data stream stored in the storage location. A recorder is in communication with the controller for receiving the data stream from the controller and for recording the data stream on the recording medium.

Abstract: An output apparatus provided with an input unit for entering character information, a printing unit for printing the character information entered by the input unit, a memory unit for storing the character information entered by the input unit, and a selection unit for selecting a part of the character information printed by the printing unit, wherein the part, selected by the selection unit, of the character information can be re-printed by the printing unit.

Abstract: After initialization (S1), the cassette signal is retrieved (S2). Then the tape width of the tape in the tape cassette mounted in the tape printer is determined by tape TB1 (S4). The width of the image display zone is calculated using the tape width and using the table TB5 (S7). The data of standard format information is stored in the start address of the text memory (S8). A text input screen is displayed set with the image display zone corresponding to the tape width calculated in S2 for the display. A cursor is also displayed having the size of the display character size, which was determined based on the print character size, which has been calculated using the tape width, the number of lines "1," and the table TB3. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a grasp of the relation between tape width and the situation at which characters will be printed.

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: An accounting book automatic entering device, by which, when it is used for business processing in an accounting system, linked with an output device of a computer, trade data can be recorded in lines directly succeeding the last line of the preceding recording also on the rear side of book sheets of all the relating books and they can be conserved in the form of books after recording only by inputting one assortment so that they can be accessed at any time. A book holding shelf driving device locates a shelf of a book holding shelf corresponding to a shelf code, based on the shelf code in positional data stored in a memory device and an entry page selecting device driving section drives an entry page selecting device so as to select a specified book to fix it by means of a book selecting mechanism, to open the book at a target page by means of a page turning mechanism and for a printer to record output data on that page.

Abstract: A LBP system having a Hangle, Chinese character and alphabetical character printing function, including a video controller in a LBP body including a main circuit for providing address and data, a memory access control logic unit connected to the main circuit, for accessing common external memories and first and second cartridge connectors connected respectively to the main circuit and the memory access control logic unit. An alphabetical character emulation software cartridge and an alphabetical character font cartridge are connected in parallel to the first cartridge connector. A specific cartridge is provided for including a cartridge memory control logic unit for controlling only corresponding data in the cartridge memory. The specific cartridge may be any one of a Hangle font cartridge, a Chinese character font cartridge, a Hangle/Chinese character font cartridge and a Hangle/Chinese character emulation cartridge.

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 system and method which compares document requirements to the printer capability and determines the best match therebetween. When a mismatch occurs, the system determines the best match between size, color, weight and type by determining a mismatch magnitude between the job paper requirements and the printer's paper capabilities or stocks. The paper with the lowest mismatch magnitude is designated. The system also determines the best match between the document requirements and the printer capability for stapling, folding, duplexing and stacking. The operator is given an opportunity to correct any mismatches and the best match is used to configure the printer for the job if the user has specified a best match print strategy.

Abstract: A font storage management and control arrangement which allows the addition of fonts to font storage and includes a font filter which provides a multilevel control of font information stored, to allow optimum use of limited font storage facilities. As font information is stored to font storage in printer controller, the font characteristics are examined for comparison with a predetermined list of font storage requirements. Font information is stored in accordance with user determination of whether particular font information is useful for the user.

Abstract: An electronic word processor comprises a memory storing print data, a print wheel, and a check circuit for checking whether the type of the print wheel is suitable for printing out the print data. In the second form, the processor may store word data accompanied with hyphenate data in a selected group of words. In the third form, the processor may comprise a message memory for storing message sentences, and a modification circuit for modifying the message data. In the fourth form, the processor may comprise a control circuit featured in that one or more specific letters can be retrieved and replaced by one or more new letters in the unit of chapter.

Abstract: An electronic typewriter has a reduced number of electrically-powered actuators and comprises a motor powering a differential motion transmission unit having first and second output members. Transmission control means powered by a solenoid moves a slider to engage stop members selectively with the first and second output members to permit the second and first output members respectively to rotate. The first output member drives the carriage transport mechanism. The second output member drives the character carrying element and also powers function devices, namely a correction device, through a motion switching mechanism controlled by a switch control mechanism including another solenoid. The typing ribbon feed is driven by reciprocation of the slider between its two states. The motor is mounted on the frame and drives the motion transmission unit on a carriage through a belt; it also drives a line spacing mechanism through a clutch operated by a further solenoid.

Abstract: A printer with a main body having a printing head, motors, a plurality of circuits driving the printing head and the motors, a processor and a random access memory. The printer also includes a cartridge for containing memory devices for storing the data for at least one character font set and for storing the printing operation control program. A connector removably connects the cartridge mechanically and electrically to the main body of the printer. As a result, the print operation control program and character font set data can be selectively set by connecting an appropriate cartridge to the main body of the printer.

Abstract: A documentation system having a multilingual function, including a keyboard; a keyboard mode selecting device for setting at least a standard language mode and a multilingual mode wherein one keyboard mode (an optional language mode different from the standard keyboard language mode) can be selected from a plurality of selectable optional language keyboard modes; an optional language keyboard mode selecting device for selecting one optional language mode from said plurality of selectable optional language keyboard modes according to an operation of certain predetermined keys on the keyboard while in the multilingual mode; a selected keyboard mode storing device for storing an optional language mode selected by the optional language keyboard mode selecting device; and a selected keyboard mode reading device for automatically reading the optional language mode selected from the selected keyboard mode storing device when the multilingual mode is set by the keyboard mode selecting device so as to automatically co

Abstract: A printer used as an output unit for a personal computer or the like is characterized by having a memory unit including a first memory area for storing input data and a second memory area for storing image data obtained by developing the input data, the first memory area and the second memory area being arranged within one and the same memory space to form the memory unit, and by having an area control unit for changing a proportion of the capacity of the second memory area within the memory unit to alter the relative proportions of the first memory area and the second memory area in the memory space forming the memory unit. A print unit included in the printer fetches the image data from the second memory area and performs printing in accordance with the fetched image data.

Abstract: A print control mechanism for a dot matrix printer for effecting normal printing speed relative to response time of the print elements. The mechanism includes a memory for storing the status of a previous printing operation by one print element prior to a subsequent printing operation by the same print element. The mechanism includes print inhibiting means coupled to the memory and adapted to compare a print command signal with a memory signal and to output a signal forbidding the subsequent printing operation by the same print element when it receives a print command signal following the previous printing operation. The effect of this mechanism is to inhibit continuous printing of dots in very dot position in the lateral direction for those characters which can be printed with dots in every other dot position to enable normal printing speed.