GB1124832A - Printer control system - Google Patents

Abstract

1,124,832. Selective signalling. RANK XEROX Ltd. 19 Nov., 1965 [18 Dec., 1964], No. 49211/65. Heading G4H. In an electrostatic page printer a line of data to be printed is recorded, 62, on a magnetic tape 60 and then read out repeatedly, by heads 64 spaced one line apart, in synchronism with the movement of a paper sheet 12 past a rectangular array of electrostatic printing type, the timing being such that while a particular line of paper is adjacent the first row of type-the As-the entire line of data is read by the first head 64, while the line of paper is adjacent the second row of type-the B's-the entire line of data is read by the second head 64, and so on for the remaining rows of type and the remaining heads, and selection of a particular character for printing is effected by applying a half-write pulse to a selected column of characters and a half-write pulse to a selected row conductor arranged behind the characters. In operation the columns of characters are sequentially pulsed, 70, with half-write pulses in synchronism with the reading of successive characters by any one of heads 64, and decoder and pulse generator circuits 66, each of which corresponds to a different character, apply half-write pulses to appropriate row conductors at appropriate times. Thus, in effect, any particular line of paper is presented first to the "A" row of characters and any A's in the line of data are printed, then it is presented to the "B" row and any B's are printed and so on.