DE2115141A1 - Method and apparatus for printing continuously received data arranged in series - Google Patents

Description

Dr E. Wiegand. D! P! .- ln ?. W. WlPir.an-i

Hamburg 50 - Königstrasse 28

W. 2442 VTO 12 / Sch 2115141

March 26, 1971

Mohawk Data Sciences Corporation
Stoneham, Massachusetts (V.St.A.)

Method and apparatus for printing
continuously received data arranged in series.

The invention relates to printing and, more particularly, to the printing of serially arranged input information in consecutive lines.

Numerous printing devices have been developed
has been used for line printing of information in the form of coded electrical signals which are supplied in series to the printing device from a data processing system. Such printing devices, commonly known as
Teleprinters, called teleprinters, are used extensively to print information that has been transmitted over communication lines. Their printing mechanism is usually attached to a sled or carriage which, when the data is received, is from
moved left to right across the document
which should be printed. However, at the beginning of a new line, the carriage must return to the left side of the document. Since during this process a printing

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cannot take place, the input data received during this time must in some way saved or lost. Storage registers or buffer registers are usually for intended for this purpose.

Other [teleprinters do not use a moving one Instead they create a stationary printing mechanism for (each column in the printed line. In these printing devices, therefore, the time required for the carriage return is not needed and it is the problem caused by the return of the car is also avoided. However, if a new line is started, the document being printed on must be moved such that the printing mechanisms a space is presented. This process, known as a line feed, requires carriage return, as does the carriage return a certain period of time. Accordingly, characters fed to the printing device must also during this period of time because otherwise they will also be lost.

It is the main purpose of the invention to provide a method for printing and a teleprinter or a teleprinting device with minimal memory circuitry for printing serially arranged and continuously received input data.

According to the invention, continuous input data containing characters arranged in series is printed in successive lines on a document. Those characters to be printed in a predetermined group of columns at the beginning of each line are stored so that the printing device can perform its line feed or carriage return at the beginning of a new line without losing characters. Individual printing devices _s each one

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The columns assigned to the beginning are provided to display the stored characters upon termination of the above operations (line feed or carriage return).

One or more memory circuits are provided for the remaining columns, each of which is consecutive the character stores in a plurality of the remaining columns should be printed ^

Furthermore is a moving one

Type carrier provided in order to present type characters to the document. Preferably in the memory circuit for the remaining columns only a number of characters are stored which is essentially equal to the ratio the time it takes the wearer to present a complete set of characters to the time interval is between consecutive input characters. Through this the memory circuit required to print in the remaining columns is minimized.

The invention is explained below with reference to the drawing, for example.

Pig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printing apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Pig. 2a and 2b together form a schematic c

Logic diagram of part of the pressure control circuit used in Pig. 1 shown as a block is.

Pig. Fig. 3 is a schematic logic diagram of that portion of the print control circuit that incorporates characters into those shown in Pig. 2 enters the register shown.
Pig. Figure 4 is a schematic logic diagram of a

typical hammer pick circuit used in Pig. 2 is shown as a block.

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5 is a schematic logic diagram of the same Part of the print control circuit that controls the paper advance

Fig. 6 is a waveform diagram in which the Operation of the parts of the pressure control circuit shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5 is explained.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the operation of the hammer selection circuit shown in FIG is explained.

Fig. 1 shows schematically a printing device with a conventional printing drum 1, which bears type symbols on its periphery. The type characters are arranged in rows parallel to the drum axis and in eighty columns corresponding to the columns that are to be printed on a document 2 in one line. Each column of the drum 1 contains a complete set of type characters and a space in which no character appears. The drum Λ is rotated at »constant speed by means of a drive device (not shown). The document 2 is incremented line by line out of the plane of the drawing by a schematically illustrated paper feed device 3. The paper feed device 3 moves the document 2 after each line has been printed so that the following line can be printed. Any conventional paper feed device can be used, for example a device which has two pulling elements with movable endless chains which support Eettenradstifte with Kantsnperforätionen in The document 2 "engage" A row of eighty hammers 4 is placed near the drum 1 and the paper 2 passes between them tosL of the drum 1. For each column of

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Type mark on the drum 1 is a hammer. The hammers can be of any design used with on-the-fly impact printing. When a hammer is operated, it depresses unillustrated ribbon and the document 2 against the type mark on the drum 1, which is printed shall be.

To determine which row on the drum 1 is approaching the hammers at any given time, a circular code disk 5 of conventional design is attached to a shaft which extends from the drum 1 and rotates with it. The code disk 5 is arranged between a light source 6 and a light-sensitive device 7. As is customary, the code disk contains 5 radial rows of coded openings. The rows correspond to different rows of characters on the drum 1, and each contains a sufficient number of openings to present a character in accordance with a binary code. An additional radial row is provided in the code disk 5 . The openings in this row do not represent a symbol on the drum 1 , but instead the space in which no symbol appears. Light arrives from the light source 6 through the coded openings and onto a part 7a of the light-sensitive device 7. When responding, this part of the light-sensitive device 7 creates unambiguous binary-coded signals which represent the particular series of type characters or the series of empty spaces on the drum 1 . This output is led via a cable 8, which contains enough conductors to transmit binary-coded signals.

As is also customary, the code disk 5 contains a number of radially spaced apart openings, each of which at one of the

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coded rows of openings arranged in the disc is. Light which passes through these openings and onto a second part 7b of the light-sensitive device 7 arrives, causes this to create a series of strobe pulses S. Each strobe pulse S indicates when a row of the drum 1 passes the row of hammers 4-.

The outputs indicating the rows and the strobe pulses S from the light-sensitive device 7 are led to a pressure control circuit 9. The circuit 9 receives the input data to be printed and creates output signals for controlling the hammer 4 and of the paper feed device 3

Before proceeding with the description of the logic diagrams according to the figures, the meaning becomes of the widely used circuit logic symbols. Of course the logical ones work Circuit elements according to FIGS. 2a, 2b, 3, 4- and 5 in the usual way on the basis of binary voltage levels, where the inputs of the elements and their outputs are iamer at one of sw «i discrete voltage values, namely the «positive voltage value or the negative voltage value of the system.

An AHD stroke circle is represented by a D-shaped block containing the symbol "& ^M β. The input lines are connected to the straight side of the block, and the output line is connected to the curved side of the block. The function This circuit consists in creating a «positive AK output voltage only when the positive voltage value is present in all of the input lines.

Sin OB-StxoalOPti * Ut d * y * h tllMO »filiform Block shown, which esthält the 870 * 01 03. Input lines are in bits on the concave side of the block,

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and the output lead is always with the tip connected · The function of this circuit is to provide a positive output voltage only create when any or more of the input lines are at the positive voltage level.

A delay circuit is represented by an elongated oval block near its input end shows two stripes or horizontal stripes. The puncture of this circuit is to get an output level to create, which follows the input level, but which its state after a certain fixed Time period after the input changes state changes.

A flip-flop circuit is represented by * a block labeled FF. This circuit is any bistable circuit in which a positive voltage signal at the S input or setting input causes the 1-output to go positive and stay positive, while the 0-output goes negative at the same time and remains negative. A positive voltage signal at the R input or reset input causes the 0 output goes positive and stays positive while the 1 output goes negative and stays negative at the same time. Once set, a flip-flop changes its initial state only when it responds a positive signal at the input. When the flip-flop is in the reset state, it only speaks a positive signal at the S input or setting input.

A block labeled "COMP" represents a comparator which is a known circuit element which has a positive at its output Creates tension, when applied to its inputs encoded signals represent identical data.

A block divided into sections 1, 2, 4, etc. represents a binary counter. Each Stage of the counter has two outputs, only one of which is energized at a time, and the outputs each stage represents one bit of a binary number. A positive voltage signal at the ADV UP input causes that the binary number displayed on the output lines advances by a count of one. In contrast for this purpose, a positive signal at the ADV DWN input causes that shown on the output lines Binary number is decreased by a payment of one. A positive signal at a RESET input causes the initial state of the counter returns to 0, what means that all O output lines are positive Signals are present.

According to prop. 2a are the input data to be printed The print control circuit is supplied in character and bit rows or series. Such an entrance can be created by a long-distance transmission line. These Input data are initially fed to a register 10, which converts the serially arranged bits of each character into parallel arranged bits. Each Character, which is in parallel bit form, is then eight single-character storage registers via a cable 11 12a to 12d and 14d and a function decoder 16 are supplied.

Generally, a function decoder of any kind of circuit design that when it is made effective manages ₉ positive signals to one or more outputs, when presenting their input coded signals punctures that are to be applied from the printing apparatus, instead of characters to be printed _s for example signals that command that the

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Device starts a new print line. The function decoder 16 has according to the illustration two such function-indicating output lines up for a positive carriage return signal to initiate a new print line and for a positive one Line feed signal for stepwise feeding of the paper according to a line spacing · When the the function decoder 16 supplied signals do not display a function but instead a function to be printed Character, the function decoder 16 creates a signal 5 on another of its exits

It should be noted that the illustrated remote printing device is not of the type that does one Has a print mechanism carriage that moves across the document when printing a line. For each column is a separate stationary hammer is arranged. Accordingly, the carriage return audible signal is only an instruction to start a new line of print and it takes an actual print mechanism carriage to return to the first column not to initiate.

The function decoder 16 is made effective by the 1 output of a flip-flop 18. The flip-flop 18 receives its exit input signal from the output of a bit counter 20. The bit counter 20 receives its Input the data to be printed, represented as bits arranged in series. This is chosen to be a create positive signal when enough bits are sensed or detected in the data input to indicate that a character has been supplied to the printing device, i.e. that a positive level signal (hereinafter called positive signal for the sake of simplicity) for every 6 bits if that of the printing device supplied data is encoded according to a code using 6-bit characters. In this way

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the bit counter 20 provides an output signal for each character in order to cause the 1 output of the flip-flop 18 to go positive and to make the function decoder 16 effective. The output of the bit counter 20 is also fed via a delay device 22 to the reset input R of the bit counter, so that the bit counter 20 resets itself _f after it has detected a character. The output of the delay device 22 is also fed to the reset input of the flip-flop 18 in order to thereby terminate the positive signal at the 1 output of the flip-flop 18 and to reset the flip-flop 18.

As mentioned above ₉ ^ each & it characters represented by parallel bits is supplied to the registers 12a to 12d and 14a to 14d ^ Each of these registers can store encoded data _δ representing a character to 19ä entered in the © register.

Each of these AMMPore 1? _c 19 has three Aktivierungseingämge ₉ it from that in Fig circuit shown "3 receives _β Each of AKD Ütore 17a is 17d receives two of its inputs of a binary counter 21 and its third input from the Q output of a flip-flop 25. Each the AND gates 19a to 19d receives two of its inputs from the binary counter 2J according to FIG. 3 and its third input from the 1 output of the flip-flop 25 ·

When a Bruok process is initiated, both counters are reset to their G status with positive signals A, S, U and U on their O output lines. The flip-flop 25 is in its reset statej where its 0 output line is positive and the signal Έ creates · The output lines of the counter 21 are connected to the AHD-Toa? 17a connected in such a way

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that the gate is conditioned by the signals A and B. Since the AND gate 17a receives its other input from the O output of the flip-flop 25, which initially creates the signal Έ , the AND gate 17a is originally activated and enters the first character to be printed in * the register 12a.

In response to this first character, the function decoder 16 (FIG. 2) creates a signal T. After a time period created by a delay device 27 which is sufficient for the first character to be entered into the register 12a, this signal Ψ is applied, to increment the counter 21. The counter 21 then provides output signals A and E. The AND gate 17b is connected to the counter 21 in such a way that it is activated by these signals together with a signal E from the O output of the flip-flop 25. Since flip-flop 25 continues to provide signal E, AND gate 17b is activated to enter the second character into register 12b.

Similarly, the subsequent signal T, which is created in response to the second character, switches is, the counter 21, by one step, so that it now creates outputs A and B to operate the AND gate 17c and enter the third character in register 12c. The register 12d is loaded in a similar way, when the counter creates signals A and B.

However, as shown in Fig. 3, the outputs of counter 21, which provide signals A and B, continues to be supplied to make an AND gate 27 effective. According to "one determined by the delay device 29 Time period sufficient for the fourth character to be entered into register 12d becomes the output of the AND gate 27 to the setting input of the Flip-flop 25 applied to the signal E at its O output

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to terminate and to initiate a signal E from the 1 output of the flip-flop 25. Since the AND gates 17a to 17d not so conditioned by the signal E. that are entered into the registers 17a to 17d subsequent characters in the line cannot be entered in these registers.

However, AND gates 19a through 19d have signal E from flip-flop 25 as one of their conditioning inputs. The output lines of the counter 23 are connected to the AND gate 19a so that the gate is conditioned by the signals D and ü which occur when the counter 23 is in its 0 state · Since the counter 23 initially shows 0, the AND gate 19a is activated when the flip-flop 25 is on State changes to create its E signal. In this way, the fifth character is entered in the register 19a. Like the counter 21, the counter 23 is incremented by successive Signals F switched gradually. These signals are fed via an AND gate 31, which conditioned by the signal E from the 1 output of the flip-flop 25 is «The delay device 29 is still selected so that the pulse ¥ that when responding appears on the fourth character, has ended before the AND gate 31 is conditioned by the E signal is. An undesired advance of the counter 23 would otherwise result.

The signal F, which appears when responding to the fifth character, goes through a delay device 33 to switch on the counter 23 so that it now creates outputs G and D. The output lines of the counter are connected to the AND gate 19b, so that the gate is activated to enter the sixth character in the legister 14b.

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Similarly, the seventh and eighth characters are entered in registers 14e and 14d, respectively.

When the eighth character is entered, the counter 23 creates signals D and O, which via an AND gate 35, a delay 37 and an OR gate 39 can be supplied back to its set input. The delay device 37 is provided to enable AND gate 19d to be energized and register 14d charged before signals D and C have ended. The delay 37 is further selected so that the Pulse ¥, which occurs when responding to the eighth character, is terminated before the counter 23 is reset to 0 is.

As the flip-flop 25 continues to output a signal E and To not create a signal E, the AND gates 19 remain and the AND gates 17 are not conditioned. On return in its 0 position, the counter 23 gives the next one, that ninth character in the register 19a, as he did before with the fifth character. The tenth, eleventh and twelfth characters are entered in the registers 19b, 19c and 19d, respectively. Similarly, that will thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth and the following characters in sequence entered into registers 14 to 14d.

In this way, the fifth, ninth ... through the 77th characters on the line become consecutive entered in register 19a. The sixth, tenth ... and 78th characters are sequentially inserted into the Entered register 19b. The seventh, eleventh ... and 79th characters are entered in the register 14c. The eighth, twelfth ... and 80th characters are sequentially entered into the register 14d. Each fourth character (starting with the fifth character) is entered in the same register 14a to 14d.

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As shown in FIG. 3, at the beginning of a new line, the signal CR from the function decoder 16 (Fig. 2a) to the RESET inputs of the flip-flop 25 and applied to counters 21 and 23 · This means that these Elements set to cause the characters for the new line to be placed in registers 12a through 12d and 14a to 14d are input as previously described.

According to FIGS. 2a and 2b, each register 12 and 14 · coded data are assigned and which are supplied display the character stored in it, via a cable to a comparison device 28a to 28h (Fig. 2b). Each of these comparators 28 receives the coded signals via a cable 8 from the light sensing device 7 (Fig. 1). The comparison device thus receives signals which contain the particular series of type characters (or the series of spaces) indicate on the rotating drum which is approaching the hammers. When the encoded signals from a register 12 or 14 or from the light sensing device 7 represent identical type symbols, the drum is in such a position that the special Type mark on the drum, which corresponds to the mark in the register, by a hammer when excited the hammer is struck at this point. Each comparison device then creates one at its output positive signal. The delay period that occurs between the time the light sensing device 7 (Fig. 1) senses light indicating a character to be printed and the time at which the Hammer actually hits the character, is compensated by the fact that the disc 5 the character different Drum leads or leads by a suitable distance »

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If the inputs to a comparison device are identical and a match occurs, the comparison device supplies its output signal to one of eight AND gates 30a to 30h. Each of these AND gate 30 is assigned to one of the registers 12 or 14 as are the comparators 28. If one This AND gates 30 is activated, it creates a firing pulse to a hammer driver circuit 32 or 34 to activate a hammer.

Because the voltage levels used in common logic systems are relatively low and typical +4 volts and -2 volts, the outputs of the AND gates 30 (the ignition pulses) cannot be used directly for driving the hammers are used. Accordingly, driver circuitry is required to create an exit of sufficient size to allow the hammers to respond to drive the output signals from AND gates 30. The driver circuits shown in Fig. 2 as Blocks 32 and 34 * shown create one of negative to positive to negative right pulse output of fixed duration when excited by an ignition pulse will. The driver circuits labeled 32a through 32d are associated with registers 12a through 12d and therefore assigned to columns 1 to 4. The ones with 34a to 34d. designated driver circuits are the registers 14a to 14d and therefore columns 5 to 80 in the sequence assigned, in which the registers 14 the in these Columns of character memory to be printed. The hammers assigned to columns 5 to 80 share the four Driver circuits 34 via four hammer select circuits 40a to 4Od, which are described below.

Each of the AND gates 30 receive conditioning inputs the strobe pulses from the photosensitive device 7 (Fig. 1) and the output of one Comparison device 28.

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A strobe pulse S is fed to each AND gate JO, so that it creates its ignition pulse or its ignition signal only when the rotary drum 1 is in is in such a position that a number of type symbols are adjacent to the hammers, when the hammers strike drum 1.

Each of the AND gates 30a to 30d, which creates ignition pulses for the first four columns, has one Signal FG as an additional activation input. The signal FO (feed complete) indicates that the paper feeding process, which occurs just before the printing device starts printing a new line is completed. Obviously it is not desirable to ignite the hammer in the columns at the beginning of a row (columns 1 to 4 in the illustrated embodiment) until the paper is advanced so that a new line to be printed is presented. The FC signal is not fed to the AND gates 3Oe to 30h, since it is assumed that the paper has already been advanced before printing in the column begins

The function decoder 16 provides a signal LF when it is desired to advance the paper. Each Signal LF is applied to the ADV UP input of a binary counter 42 of FIG. 5 to increase it by a count of 1 upstream. The number of signals LF is counted by the counter 42 and this information becomes the Paper feed is fed to advance the paper the specified number of times · At each advance the paper feed creates a signal LC (line complete), which indicates that the paper is accordingly is advanced one line spacing. The LC signal is applied to the ADV DWN input of the counter 42 applied to decrease its count by 1. on

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In this way, the paper feed 3 is instructed via the counter 42 to advance by one to execute the required number of line spacings, and if the counter 42 is reset to 0 again is (positive signals on all 0 output lines), the paper feed device 3 has advanced the document by the required amount. This condition is sensed by an AND gate 44, whose input lines are connected to the three O output lines of the counter are connected. When positive signals on all O output lines occur, the AND gate 44 creates an activation signal PC for the AND gates JQa to 30d, the assigned to columns 1 to 4; are.

With reference to SIg. 2b it should be noted that each of the driver circuits 32 and 34 has an input which is connected to an empty decoder 41. The empty decoder 41 receives the coded at its input Signals over the cable 8 from the Lichtabfuheinrichtung 7, which the positions of the various rows of Display characters and the series of spaces on the drum. When these coded signals indicate that As the row of empty spaces on the drum 1 approaches the hammers 4, the empty decoder 41 provides a positive output signal. This signal is supplied so that all driver circuits 32 and 34 are blocked, and these Blocking function is shown in Fig. 2b by a small circle where the output line of the dummy decoder 41 connects to the spring input of the driver circuits. If thus the coded signals represent in a register 12 or 14 a space within the line to be printed and the signals the cable 8 also represent an empty space, the driver circuits are blocked and nothing occurs Print on even if there is a match in one

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of the comparison devices 28 occurs and an ignition pulse is delivered through one of the AND gates 30 will.

Pig · 2a and 2b further indicate that the Ignition pulse from each AND gate 50 is fed back to the associated register 12 or 14-. The ignition pulse clears the data stored in the register when the AND gate gives an ignition pulse to print the character has delivered. If there is a space, the AHD gate still delivers an ignition pulse, although printing does not occur. hey indicating the register of this white space Delete character 2ia. By deleting the register in this Art will prevent double printing of signs.

Ia Fig _Q 4 is the circuit 40a, which is shown in Fig. 2b as a block, .unu. which serves to successively switch the feeifoerstromkreis 34a to the Hammermeehanismea in the columns 5 * 9 · * · 77 ^ u, shown sehematiscli «, similar circuits that are shown in - E * igo 2 as blocks 40öf ₎ 40c and 40d, are provided for successive retention of the driver circuits 54b 9 34 © and J4d to those hanger mechanisms $ which are in the columns 6 _f 10 _βθ . 78; 7 »11 ··· 79; respectively*. 8, 12 ».. 80 print * Each driver circuit 34 ·

w is connected successively to every fourth hammer in columns 5 to 80.

The hammer selection circuits do not form part of the invention and are the subject of a pending application entitled "Printer and Control Gircuit Therefor" by Thomas M _e Kearns, dated January 1970 by the same applicant «

The hammer select circuit 40a comprises a network 46 which has two sets of conductors 48 and 50, arranged to intersect and form a matrix. The activation coils 52 in the hammers,

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those that print in columns 5, 9 ··· 77 are respectively connected between a different pair of conductors, the conductors of each such pair of different Sentences are. It goes without saying that the hammers' coils 52 are physical parts of the hammers 4, and they actually become arranged along the length of the drum 1, as indicated in FIG. However, are for ease the illustration shows the traces 52 as if they were physically within the matrix 46 according to FIG Fig. 3 would be arranged. Each coil 52 is with one Conductors in the matrix connected to an isolation diode 54. The diodes 54 fulfill a common function, namely to prevent current flow in an undesired direction within the matrix network 46.

As shown, there are four conductors in that designated 50 Set, and five conductors in the set labeled 48. There are 19 coils 52 available, which are connected to the matrix 46. As the hammer selection circuits 40c to 4Od are similar, they also have 19 coils each. Accordingly, each arouses the Driver circuits 34 consecutively 19 coils.

Two groups, of relays 56 and 58, are provided. The contacts 56a of the relays in the group 56 can with a conductor in set 50. The contacts 58a of the relays in group 58 can be connected to a conductor in set 48. The relays can of any suitable conventional design, of course. They preferably have known tongue contacts on. The relays in the group 56 are merged or combined to form a conductor 60, via the the driver circuit 34a delivers its output pulse, when pressed. When one of the relays in group 56 is closed, the output pulse is from the driver circuit 34a on conductor 60 to one

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the conductor is applied in the set marked 50. The relays in group 58 are. To a negative Voltage potential -V brought together or combined in such a way that this potential is applied to one of the leader in sentence 46 is created when any of the Beiais in that group is closed.

When a Seiais of each of the group 56 and 58 closed _s is a conductive path for any pulse from the freiberstromkreis J4a on the conductor 60, along one of the conductors in the block 50, through a special isolation diode 5% on a special coil 52 ₉ along created one of the conductors in set 4-8 and to the negative reference potential -V. Therefore, by closing a selected pair of Beiais (one Heiais in each group) a conductive path is created from the driver circuit 34a via a special hammer coil 52 to the negative reference potential.

The heaters, and therefore the hammer coils 52, are sequentially energized through a five-stage. Binary counter 62 and two groups of AND gates 64 and "66. There are four AKD iDores in the group labeled 64. The output of each AKD gate in this group is connected to one of the relays in group 56 in such a way that by operation of the door, a relay coil 56b © r-3? is 3GT to sehließen to their associated contact 56a. the AND gates in the group 64 each have two inputs, "each of the inputs is connected to one of the outputs won the lower order stages , 1 and 2. The connections between these ANB gates and the counter 62 are such that

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each gate by a special combination of the two lower order bits in the binary coded Number is operated, which is presented by the outputs of the counter. This way the AND gates 64 operated by the two low order stages of counter 62 in a manner corresponding to that of is similar in which AND gates 1? a through 17d and 19a to 19d (Fig. 2a) activated by the counters 21 and 23 become (Fig. 3) · With different combinations of the two low order bits become different AND gates in group 64 · operated. Progress through the levels or states 1 and 2 of the counters leads to consecutive Activate the AND gates in group 64. As each of the AND gates in this group is a relay closes in group 56, leads consecutive Progression of the counter to successive closing of the relays in group 56.

The other group of AND gates 66 consists of five gates. The output of every AND gate in this group is connected to one of the relays, whereupon by making an AND gate 66 active, a relay coil 58b is energized and its associated contact 58a is closed to connect a conductor 48 to the voltage source -V. The AND gates in this group 66 have three inputs, those with the outputs from the higher order stages (4-, 8 and 16) of the counter 62 are connected. Similar to the connections between the AND gates in the Group 64 and the counter are the connections between the AND gates in group 66 and the counter such that that each gate is actuated by a special combination of the three higher order bits in the binary-coded number represented by the output of the counter. Different combinations of the three higher order bits operate various AND gates. Forward the

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Counter leads to successive actuation of the AND gates in group 66. Successive actuation of these ARD gates leads to successive Activate the relays in group 58.

Each setting of the counter leads to an actuation of an AHD gate in each of the groups 64 and 66. Upward switching of the counter by successive pulses at its ADV UP input leads to successive actuation of selected pairs of the lore, with the gates of each pair in different Groups are. Each of these pairs of AND gates closes a relay in each of groups 56 and 58 to one Current path from the driver to the current circuit 34a via a selected one To create hammer coil 52 to the reference potential.

Each of the AND gates in group 64 and 66 is assigned a small driver loop 68 which is connected to the output of the gate. These act in the usual way to switch the low output of the AND gates to a sufficiently high voltage, to operate the beiais.

As shown in Figs. 2b and 4, the pulses sum forward switching of the counter 62 are a delay means 70a AND gate applied from the JOe _s which provides the Sünaimpuls for the driver circuit 34a and the Haasmerauswahlstromkreis 40a. Thus, each ignition pulse switches the driver circuit 34a energized in order to excite one of the 19 hammer coils 52 in the hammer selection _{circuit 40a, this ignition pulse the counter 62 by one step 9} so that a new hammer coil 52 is selected in the circuit 40a. Tuck new Haiaserspule is the next output of Eaaaiertreiberstrorakreises 34a excited, "Xu similar di ©. ^ Ündimpulse by the AFD-eah? Ox-eii 3of up

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30h via delay devices TOb to 70d applied to switch the counters in the hammer selection circuits 40b to 4Od goalkeepers.

The counter 62 according to FIG. 4 · is reset by the output of an OR gate 72, which is through energizes the output of one of two AND gates 74- * 75 will. The AND gate 74- has five inputs. These are 'on those output lines of the counter 62 are switched which are energized when the counter has the binary number 10010 represents. When the counter represents this number, it becomes the 19th hammer, i.e. the one located in column 77 Hammer, operated. These output lines of the meter excite the AND gate 74-, which creates a signal LF and after one through a delay device 76 during a certain period of time the OR gate 72 is energized to reset the counter 62 AND gate 74 and the delay device 76 that the counter is reset after all hammers in its Hammer select circuit have been energized.

The AND gate 75 has three inputs and is activated in that it simultaneously receives signals A, B and Έ from the counter 21 and the flip-flop 25 shown in FIG. These signals appear when the fourth character of a line is entered in register 17d (FIG. 2). Since the hammer select circuit 40a of Figure 4- is used to print in column 3 , signals A, B and E reset counter 62 so that the hammer coil for column 3 is connected to drive circuit 34-a for a sufficiently long time is to print in the fifth column. Similarly, signals A, B and E are applied to the counters (not shown) in hammer selection circuits 40b to 40d to reset them in sufficient time to print in the sixth, seventh and eighth columns.

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Way of working

An example of the operation of the printing apparatus is described below. Assume that the type drum 1 rotates at 200G revolutions per minute. Since each column of the drum 1 contains a type set, it takes 30 milliseconds to move a complete type set past the hammers 4x. It is further assumed that a complete input character is received by the printing device every) 7 »5 milliseconds. Furthermore, it is assumed that in the remote transmission system used, the commands issued with respect to a new line and fed to the printing device are made up of signals CR, OR ₉ CR, LF consist of three carriage return commands and one line feed command.

The light sensing device 7 shown in Figure 1 continuously provides both periodic strobe pulses S and signals identifying the series of type characters or the series of spaces as they approach the hammers. The series of strobe pulses is fed to the AND gates 30 of FIG. 2b, while. the * signals identifying the characters or the space are fed to the comparison devices 28. According to FIGS. 2a, 2b and 6, the first character of the printed line enters the register 10 (FIG. 2a) in serial bit form. The register 10 converts the bits representing the character from the serial form to the parallel form and supplies this data to the registers 12 and 14 and the function decoder 16. The input data are supplied to the bit counter 20 and the conversion register 10. When enough bits are sensed to indicate that a character has been fed to the printer (for example, six bits for a six-bit

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code), the bit counter sets the flip-flop 18, which makes the puncture decoder 16 effective. The output of the bit counter is also used to reset it and to reset the flip-flop 18 after a delay caused by the delay element 22. The function decoder 16 supplies a signal Ψ on the assumption that a character is to be printed in column 1 of the line.

According to FIGS. 2a, 3 and 6, the counters 21 and 23 are initially located at the beginning of a new line in their O position and the flip-flop 25 is located in its reset state. Appear accordingly initially the signals A, E, ü, U and E. The AND gate 17a is enabled by signals A, B and E to enter the first character of the line into register 12a.

Of course, AND gate 30a receives according to FIG Fig. 2b its conditioning signal FC, since the counter 22 (FIG. 5), which indicates that the line feed instructions LF have not yet been executed, represents zero.

In this way, when the character to be printed in column 1 is stored in register 12a and the AND gate 30 receives its conditioning input, the character is printed when a match is found in the comparison device 28a and the Strobe pulse S is applied to AND gate 30. The match in the comparison device occurs when the light sensing device 7 has a coded output identical to the coded signals representing the character stored in register 12a. at When this appears, the character for column 1 is printed by the AND gate 30a delivering an ignition pulse, to excite the driver circuit 32a corresponding to column 1. This ignition pulse is then on the clear input of the register 12a is applied.

109849/1815

According to FIGS. 2a and J, the signal is 1? ₉ which of the function decoder. 16 is supplied, is applied via the delay device 27 to the ADV UP input of the counter 21 after the AND gate 1? A has been made ineffective in order to enter the first character into the register 12a. This advances the counter so that it now creates signals A and B to activate AND gate 17b and enter the second © character into register 12b. The comparison unit 28b, the AIiD-3Qb and the driver circuit 32b according to FIG. 2b

then the broad character in the same way as it was described above in connection with the first character » has been written »

The characters to be printed in the rest of the beginning columns (columns 3 and 4) are then fed to the baking device and stored in the same way as the characters in columns 1 and 2 _e

Ba, the drum 1 but a complete Tjpensats on äeder column (every 30 milliseconds passes wmL mark of the printing apparatus every 7 * 5 milliseconds weraen supplied _s can not contain the characters su be printed the time su which they are received. Ψ A Yerzögerungsperiode can occur * until the character on the drum which is to be printed reaches the hammers. The characters are stored in registers 12a to 12d until a match is displayed in the corresponding comparison device 28a to 28d.

With reference to the columns 5 to 8 && £ is to be noted that HaiBmerauswahlstrcmkreise 4Oa are set up initially 4OD s ©, that _s if the toeifeerstroiskreise 34a are energized to 34d, the hammer 5, 6, 7 or 8

103849/1615

activate. When the fourth character is entered into register 12d, counter 21 (FIG. 3) provides signals A and B which activate AND gate 27 and set flip-flop 25 to provide an E signal. The output of the AND gate 27 is passed through the delay device 29 so that the flip-flop 25 can continue to supply its signal E until the fourth character is entered in the register 12d. When the signal E appears, it activates the AND gate 19a _f since this gate already receives its conditioning inputs 3 and D ~ from the counter 23, which is in its 0 position. In this way, the AND gate 19a loads the register 14a with the next or fifth character.

The signal F * which appears when responding to the fifth character is applied in order to switch the counter 23 forward, so that it delivers signals C and D ", the AHD gate 19b is activated and the sixth character enters the register 14b. This signal 1? is via the AND gate 31 (which is conditioned by the signal E from the flip-flop 25 is) and the delay device 33 is applied, which delays the forward switching of the counter 23, until it has delivered the signals (J and D.

The registers 19c and 19d become the seventh and the eighth character in the same way as registers 19a and 19b. The information in columns 5 up to 8 characters to be printed are, after being entered in the registers 19a to 19d, printed in the manner as described in connection with columns 1 to 4.

After each driver circuit 34a to 34d through Ignition pulses from the AHD gates 3Oe to 30h are excited,

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the ignition pulses are applied to the hammer selection circuits 40a to 40d via delay devices 70a to 70d. Each ignition pulse advances the hammer selection circuit so that when the pressing in column 5 has ended, the hammer selection circuit 40a has now selected the hammer to be printed in column 9. Similarly, upon completion of the push in columns 6, 7 and 8, hammer select circuits 40b, 40c and 40d have now selected those hammers that print in columns 10, 11 and 12, respectively. When the eighth character is entered in the register 19d, the counter 23 supplies signals C and D which activate the AND gate 35 (FIG. 3). After a period of time determined by the delay device 37 which is sufficient to enter the eighth character, the output of the AND gate 35 is fed to the reset input of the counter 23 via the OR gate 59. In this way the counter 23 is again in the 0 position and it supplies signals (3 and D. If the flip-flop 25 continues to supply a signal E, the AND gate 19a is activated to the next or ninth The character for the column 9 is then printed via the corresponding comparison * device 28e, the flip-flop 36e, the AND gate 30e, the driver circuit 34a and the hammer selection circuit 40a Elements work as indicated in the description of pressing in the previous columns.

Subsequent columns, i.e. columns 10, 11 and are printed in the same way as the previous columns 6, 7 and 8.

The character to be printed in column 13 is printed like the characters in columns 5 and 9. The Hammer select circuit 40a has selected column 13,

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after being advanced or advanced by the ignition pulse that caused the printing in column 9 Has.

All other subsequent columns are printed in a similar way.

Whenever data indicating a space or a space is supplied to the printing device are treated as any common character to be printed. These data are stored in a register (12 or 14) is entered and fed to a comparison device 28. When the cable 8 of the Comparison device supplies identical data, the comparison device conditions an AND gate 30, which in turn supplies an ignition pulse to activate a driver circuit 32 or 34-.

However, the data supplied via the cable 8 at this point in time continues to be sent to the dummy decoder 41 out, which supplies a signal to block the driver circuit. This is how in no printing on this column and a blank space is left.

There are four character registers 14 which assigned to columns 5 to 80. These allow the printing device to enter every 7.5 milliseconds Character is received even though the printing drum 1 hammers only a full one every 30 milliseconds Type set presents. That is, four characters can be stored and recorded at a time, so that no data is lost. The characters are stored in the four registers 14 until the drum 1 is turns enough to present the character to be printed to the hammers. The amount of memory circuitry required (i.e. sufficient to accommodate four characters) is ensured by the fact that the time that the drum 1 needed to get a full set of hammers

] ü 9 8 4 9/1 6 1 δ

Present characters divided by the time interval in which successive input characters are received.

When a new line is to be printed, the document is fed to the hammers for a new one Present area. In addition, the control circuitry of the printing device must cause the next received Characters in column 1 is printed · In the usual way, a new line is followed by three Signals GR (carriage return) on the incoming data

λ ■>! "* r * ran" ϊ λ «ι ■ £ · λ Ψ *

} line ^ a signal LF (line feed) follows. These four signals each need? »5 milliseconds and therefore a total time of 30 milliseconds. Therefore they create enough time for the printing of a character in the last column of the previous line, since this printing does not take more than 30 milliseconds _s & «h · not more than the time» required for the drum 1 to present a complete set of types can®

When such signals GR and LF introduce a new line, the counters 21 and 25 (FIG. 3) are reset and held reset by each of the signals GR. the flip-flop 25 is also reset to 0 *

* The signal LF switches the binary counter 42 (^ ig. 5) forward _% so that its output lines represent 1. The AND gate 44 determines that the counter 42 is at 0 and it delivers the signal FG to the AMMDore 30a to 30d _9, which are arranged in the beginning four columns,

It goes without saying that the paper feed device 3 requires a period of time to operate. While

I "w 'a O ^ä > · ί f s 15 Ϊ

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this period will be characters from the printing device continue to receive these characters continuously, and accordingly the memory device can record, since printing cannot take place during the paper feed process. These characters at the beginning of a new line are successively entered into the registers 12a to 12d, namely in the same way as the characters for columns 1 to 4 on the previous line. Upon termination of the paper feed, the AND gates 30a to 30d receive their signal FC, which indicates the end of the paper feed. When activated that way are, they supply the ignition pulses that are necessary to the driver circuits 32 for columns 1 to 4 of these to excite new line. In this way the characters in the starting columns (i.e. in the columns 1 to 4) not lost during the paper feed process · They are stored in registers 12a to 12d.

However, there is enough memory circuit in spring Pail provided to store every character which is in one of the beginning columns should be printed.

Those in the remaining columns 5 to 80 of the Characters to be printed on the new line are printed in the same way as on the previous line.

The following is based on the Pig. 4-7 the operation of the hammer selection circuit 40a is described As mentioned above, the circuit 40a sequentially connects the driver circuit 34a to the hammers 4 in columns 5, 9 ·. 77 Although only the operation of the hammer selection circuit 40a is described, the other selection circuits 40b to 4Od operate in an identical manner. For printing in column 5 the counter 62 had to be reset to 0, through the output of the OR gate 72, which was triggered by the

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Signals A, B and E has been activated, which appear when the fourth character in the register 12d (Fig. 2a) is entered. Alternatively, the AND gate 74 is below the requirement that in the last column (column 77) » associated with hammer selection circuit 40a, a character has been printed activated to the counter with a signal IP, via the delay device 76 and the OR gate 72. In each In this case, positive signals now appear on all five O output lines of the counter. The AND gates 66a and 64a in groups 66 and 64 are activated by these outputs and become active to their associated relays to excite. This creates a conductive path over the hammer coil that is assigned to column 5 and is indicated at 52a. In this way, the first output from the driver energizes circuit 34a after a start new line the hammer to print in column 5. The ignition pulse from the AND gate 30e (Fig. 2b), the Driver circuit 34a energized first is applied to the ADV UP input of counter 62 via the delay device 70a created.

Of course, the delay 70a is chosen so that sufficient time is created for the counter 62 is not advanced until the hammer in column 5 has been activated.

This ignition pulse switches the counter 62 forward so that it now energizes the AND gates 64b and 66a. These AND gates energize their associated relays to form a conductive path via the one associated with column 9 52b, which coil is excited when the driver circuit 34a receives its next output pulse supplies.

The remaining hammer coils connected to the hammer selection circuit 40a become more similar

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So excited, Pig. 5 shows the timing relationships between the bits shown on the output lines of counter 62 and AND gates 64 and 66. Only some of the AND gates are indicated as they are explained.

As mentioned above, the 0 outputs of the counter 43 are all positive, so that for printing in column 5 the binary number 000000 (decimal 0) is shown. Consequently Fig. 5 shows for column 5 that the outputs of all Levels in the counter represent 0 bits. These outputs activate AND gates 64a and 66a.

For printing in the ninth column, the binary number 000001 (decimal 1) is transmitted through the outputs of the Counter shown. The outputs of all stages with the exception of stage number 1 represent 0 bits. This means the AND gates 64b and 66a are activated, thereby creating a conductive path over that of the ninth Create column associated hammer coil.

For the 77th column, the counter has moved forward until it shows the binary number 10010 (decimal 18). Thereby, the AND-gates 64c and 66c is activated, creating a conductive path on the designated 52c hammer coil, which is associated with the 77 ^s th column.

In summary, it can therefore be seen that the printing device by means of the method described all characters continuously fed and serially arranged with a minimal amount of memory circuitry prints. Characters to be printed in the beginning columns, i.e. characters to be printed in columns 1 to 4, go not lost during the line feed process. For this purpose, registers 12a through 12d are, of which each one of these starting columns is assigned, intended. For the remaining columns, columns 5

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through 80, only four single character registers 14a up to 14d required, since the memory circuit is only required to store four characters The number of characters to be stored, i.e. four characters, is obtained by using the Time it takes for the drum to present a complete set of types to the hammers, through the Time interval is divided between successive input characters.

Although the remote printing device described above has a separate fixed hammer for each Has gaps, the invention can be practiced in a remote printing device having a hammer mechanism moving across the document on a carriage to print a line. at such a printing device have the columns at the beginning of each line (e.g. the first four Columns) each have a single stationary hammer, and the moving hammer mechanism leads printing only in the remaining columns. This enables characters to be printed in the beginning Columns with no expectation of the carriage return. Memory circuit is provided for those in the beginning

f columns of characters to be printed in order to avoid losing them during the line feed process that occurs at the beginning of each line. This memory circuit preferably comprises single-character registers, that is to say a register which stores a single character, as in the described preferred embodiment of the invention.

The moving carriage contains several hammers and cycles the printing in the remaining columns from j where is printed in several columns by the several hammers during each cycle. the Number of characters that must be saved in each case,

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is essentially equal to the ratio of the time it takes for the! Erommel to complete a Present character set at the time interval between successive input characters Furthermore, a number of registers each storing a character are preferably used, with each register a character to be printed in each cycle and successively in successive ones Saves characters to be printed in cycles. In this way, this requires Perndruckeinrichtung also a minimum of memory circuitry such as the remote printing device described in detail above.

109849/1615

Claims (1)

- 36 - 2 1 Ί 5 H 1 Claims rl J Method for printing continuously received characters arranged in series in successive Lines on a document, characterized in that a) those characters are printed which are in a predetermined number of arranged at the beginning of a line Columns should be printed, b) the characters to be printed in the remaining columns of the line are successively printed, c) at the end of the line, the document is moved to start a new print line, d) the characters are stored in the predetermined number of columns at the beginning of the new Line should be printed if these characters are received while the document is moving, e) the stored characters are printed in the beginning columns, and that f) the above steps of the sequential Pressing, moving, saving and pressing can be repeated. 2 _e device for continuously receiving characters arranged in series and for printing the characters in successive lines on a document, characterized by a) means for storing the characters in a predetermined number of columns that appear on The beginning of each line are arranged to be printed when these characters are received 109849/1615 - 37 - 1 11 5 H 1 b) a first device for printing the characters stored in the memory device in the beginning columns, c) a second printing device for successively printing the characters in the remaining columns each line should be printed, and through d) means for moving the document with respect to the first printing means upon termination each line to start a new line of print, while moving the document while working Device the first printing device is ineffective, whereby those characters that are in the starting columns should be printed in the new line and while the das . Document moving device are received, can be stored in the storage device, until the operation of the document moving device ends and the first printing device takes effect is· 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that that the first printing means comprises a plurality of first printing elements, each of which is one of the beginning or initial columns and can print in this column, and at least a first Means for controlling the first printing elements such that each of the elements has one in the memory means prints the stored character in its associated initial column. 4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that that the second printing device has a plurality of second printing elements for printing in the remaining columns, a second memory device for successively storing those in the remaining columns Columns of characters to be printed, with the second memory 109849/1615 device, can only store a number of characters equal to or less than that at a time Number of remaining columns is, a second means for controlling the second printing elements such that the characters stored in the second storage means by the second printing elements in some of the remaining ones Columns are printed, and comprises means for sequentially connecting the second stacking means with the second printing elements, so that the gefc in the second storage device successively stored characters in the remaining columns are successively printed by the second printing elements will. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that each of the second pressure elements is one of the remaining columns is assigned and that the relevant print element can print in this column. 6. Apparatus for continuously receiving characters arranged in series and printing them Characters in a line on a document, with a moving carrier positioned adjacent the document and bears type symbols in such an arrangement that the movement of the carrier causes a fully '- permanent set of type characters at each column of the line passes, and having a plurality of printing means for printing predetermined characters in the individual columns, characterized in that a storage device is provided, which in a predetermined Multiple columns of characters to be printed can be stored consecutively and which only have a number of characters can store, which is essentially equal to the ratio between the time that the moving Carrier is required to carry a complete set of types across the line, and between the time interval is 1 0 9 Β 4 0 / i G 1 p at which successive characters are received, and that the plurality of printing devices is so designed that it sequentially stores the characters successively stored in the memory means can print. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized by a device for successive loading the memory device with the characters to be printed when these characters are received. 8. A method for printing continuously received characters arranged in series in a line on a document in which a full set of type characters moves across each column of the line and at which one of the type characters that are selected are printed in the columns, characterized in that a plurality of the characters are stored as they are received, and that the number of the plurality of characters is substantially equal to the ratio between the time each Type set needed to go across the line, and between the time interval is to which consecutive Characters are received. 109849/1615 HO Blank page