US3361057A - High speed superscript-subscript printer - Google Patents

High speed superscript-subscript printer Download PDF

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Publication number
US3361057A
US3361057A US388908A US38890864A US3361057A US 3361057 A US3361057 A US 3361057A US 388908 A US388908 A US 388908A US 38890864 A US38890864 A US 38890864A US 3361057 A US3361057 A US 3361057A
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United States
Prior art keywords
drum
characters
code
character
printed
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US388908A
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English (en)
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Pitt Solomon Harold
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Sperry Corp
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Sperry Rand Corp
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Priority to US388908A priority Critical patent/US3361057A/en
Priority to GB32479/65A priority patent/GB1063546A/en
Priority to DE1965S0098661 priority patent/DE1237817C2/de
Priority to CH1104465A priority patent/CH432901A/de
Priority to NL6510400A priority patent/NL6510400A/xx
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K15/00—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers
    • G06K15/02—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers
    • G06K15/06—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers by type-wheel printers
    • G06K15/07—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers by type-wheel printers by continuously-rotating-type-wheel printers, e.g. rotating-type-drum printers
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S101/00—Printing
    • Y10S101/42—Means for tensioning webs

Definitions

  • drum printers of the type described and depicted in US. Patents No. 2,978,977 to J. P. Bckert, Jr., et a1. and No. 2,915,967 to A. J. Gehring, Jr., et a1. employ type drums upon which are placed character printing type.
  • the character type is arranged around the periphery of the type drum in a plurality of columns equivalent in number to the columns of the record to be printed out, and in a plurality of rows related to the number of the separate and distinct character types which are available for printing.
  • the characters in any one row of type on the drum surface are all the same, and are positioned along the row so as to be available in some forms of the type drum for every columnar position in the row.
  • a row contains the same character in every other columnar position (first, third, etc.) so that a second row of the same character is necessary wherein characters are in columnar positions two, four, six, etc.
  • the arrangement of character type upon the drum would be such as to place 130 of the same character, for example, the characters a in one or two adjacent rows along the length of the drum. This would permit in any one or possibly two printing times the printing of a character a in each of the 130 columns of the record.
  • the number of rows around the circumference or periphery of the type drum will depend upon the number of characters to be printed. Assuming it is desired to print 26 alphabetical characters, 10 numerical characters and a plurality of special symbols and punctuation marks, giving a total of 63 possible characters, 63 rows of char acters on the drum would be necessary in the first mode described above. Further 126 rows of characters around the periphery of the drum would be necessary in the second form wherein every other columnar position in a row is occupied by the same character type.
  • the type drum is rotated continuously at a constant speed so that the character type pass repeatedly and in a definite order past a position, called the printing line at which are located a plurality of hammers, one hammer for each columnar position.
  • a record to be printed upon is moved in discrete steps past the printing line where after a complete revolution of the type drum all the characters in the line to be printed have been impressed upon the paper.
  • the firing of a print hammer is caused in response to coincidence between a stored character, which represents the character to be printed and the character next available for printing.
  • the character next available for printing is identified by a means operated in synchronism with the type drum which produces signals that indicate the next character about to arrive in the printing position at the print line.
  • sprocket pulses are also generated by apparatus which is in synchronism with the type drum.
  • One sprocket pulse is generated for each row of characters on the type drum.
  • the purpose of the sprocket pulse is to supply a signal to operate the printing ham- 3,361,057 Patented Jan. 2, 1938 mers either serially or in parallel at a time when the characters to be printed are in a horizontal line which is spaced at a fixed distance from the last imprinted line.
  • prior art devices generated a sprocket and a code representation for each row of character type on the type drum at a fixed time prior to the arrival of that row of character type at the printing line.
  • certain logical operations would take place, namely, the comparison of the coded representation produced in synchronism with the type drum and all the characters in a memory which stored the data to be printed in a line. Every character in the memory which was in agreement with. the code representation being produced would be printed in its correct position in the line at a time related to the previously generated sprocket pulse.
  • the operation of each printing hammer was so controlled by the sprocket signal or other timing signal so that every character printed in a row was centered about the same horizontal line.
  • the line rate for printing is inversely related to the drum circumference and in order to maintain the same printing line rate, the speed of the type drum would have to be increased. But, by increasing the drum speed, the print quality deteriorates since it is inversely related to the peripheral speed of the drum.
  • the present invention obviates the aforementioned difficulties by providing a means for expanding the capabilities of presently available equipment to allow for printing superscripts or subscripts without an increase in the type drum diameter, an increase in drum speed, or increasing the number of rows of characters on the type drum.
  • the invention employs a novel timing technique to determine when the print hammers are to be actuated so that printing occurs either early, on time, or late in regard to normal printing. Since the print drum is rotating, this controlled change in print time will cause the character to be impressed in the superscript, normal, or subscript position.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a high speed printer having a moving type drum with the capability of printing characters in a variety of positions about the center line of a row of characters to be printed.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a technique for readily modifying existing high speed printers having movable type drums so that they are capable of printing characters in the super or subscript position.
  • Yet another object of this invention is to provide a high speed printer operating in the serial or parallel printing mode with the ability to print characters in a variety of positions about a center line of a row of data to be printed.
  • Still another object of this invention is to provide a high speed printer having a moving type drum with rows of characters thereon with timing means for producing a plurality of timing pulses, one such pulse for each row of characters as said characters pass a predetermined position.
  • Still another object of this invention is to provide a high speed printer having a moving type drum with rows of characters thereon, wherein each character in a row is the same, with a code generating means for producing a plurality of difierent code representations for each row of said characters.
  • FIGURE 1 is a generalized logical block diagram showing the organizational layout of a portion of a high speed printer.
  • FIGURE 2 is a diagram of the print drum illustrating one form of code and sprocket generating means associated with said drum.
  • FIGURES 3a, 3b, and 3c are cross sectional views of the print drum and hammer.
  • FIGURE 4 is the generalized logical block diagram illustrating the organizational layout of a portion of a high speed printer for the second embodiment of the invention.
  • FIGURES 4a and 4b illustrate details for the block diagram of FIGURE 4.
  • Memory 10 may be of the core-storage, character-oriented type. That is the memory 10 may comprise a 6 x 130 core memory array, wherein each of the memory locations stores 6 bits comprising a character and all of the bits of a character are read out simultaneously.
  • the buffer memory '10 receives additional information from a source such as an internally programmed computer 16, or other source of data such as a card reader or tape mechanism.
  • the buffer memory 10 is addressed by the address counter 18 which produces 130 outputs, one for each of the memory locations.
  • the address counter 18 may comprise a plurality of bi-stable elements connected in cascade all of which drive a decoding matrix (included within the block 18). Since in this embodiment 130 memory locations are addressed the print counter 18 may comprise 8 flip flops and be internally wired to reset itself after counting 130 impulses. Address counter 18 is electrically stepped by the output of clock pulse generator 20. The pulses from clock pulse generator 29 are transmitted to the counter 18 via a gate which in turn is rendered operative by a signal from the computer when printing is to take place.
  • Each setting of the counter 18 in response to a pulse from the clock causes the buffer memory 10 to be addressed at a location corresponding to the value in counter 18.
  • the 6 bit character so addressed is transferred to the comparator 12.
  • Comparator 12 may typically comprise a gating array which receives the 6 bits of a character from the memory 10 and compares them with 6 bits representative of a character which is about to be presented by the type drum (FIGURE 2) to the print line. If the two sets of bits representing the two characters are identical the comparator 12 produces a signal which is applied to the decision storage matrix 22.
  • the signals representing the next character available for printing are generated as shown and described in connection with FIGURE 2 and they are applied to the code register 14, the outputs of which are in turn applied to the comparator 12.
  • each character representation in the code register is compared against all the characters stored in the buffer memory 10 for a complete line of print.
  • the comparator 12 applies a signal to decision storage matrix 22.
  • the storage matrix 22 is also controlled by the address counter 18.
  • the storage matrix 22 may comprise magnetic cores in the case where the print drum has a character type in every column position or may comprise 65 cores if the character types are in every other columnar position on the drum. In this embodiment, the matrix 22 comprises 130 cores and the drum has type characters in every column position.
  • Each one of 130 outputs of the address counter 18 is coupled to an associated core in the matrix 22 to prime it for read in. Accordingly, each core 22a in matrix 22 is associated with one memory location in memory 10. Thus, for example, if the characters for memory locations '1, 5 and 126 of memory 10 are the same as the character in the code register 14, the cores of matrix 22 associated with these locations will be set. As is well known each of the cores in matrix 22 has associated therewith an output winding. Each one of the output windings is connected through a suitable power amplifier (not shown) to a hammer actuator of the print mechanism shown in FIGURE 2.
  • the output winding of the core of matrix 22 associated with location one of memory 10 drives a print hammer for the first columnar position of the printer and the rest of the cores in matrix 22 bear the same relationship to the locations in the memory 10 and the print hammers.
  • the contents of memory locations 1 through 130 will be printed in columnar positions 1 through 130, respectively.
  • the readout of the decision storage matrix 22 is controlled by the timing or sprocket signal produced in synchronism with the rotation of the print drum and the production of each of the signals representative of the next character available for printing.
  • a sprocket signal from the print drum is applied through a suitable delay 24 to the cores of decision storage matrix 22.
  • the sprocket pulse may be applied to the output windings of all of the cores in the matrix so that there is a simultaneous readout of the previously set cores in which case parallel printing takes place; or if desirable the sprocket pulses may be applied to the cores in the matrix in series so that serial printing takes place.
  • the printing of superscript or subscript characters, however, in the manner taught by this invention is applicable to a serial or parallel printer.
  • FIGURE 2 where there is shown the print drum assembly.
  • This assembly comprises the sprocket wheel 32, the code drum 34, and the font or type drum 36, all mounted on a common shaft 38, and adapted for rotation in the direction indicated by the arrow 41.
  • the drum 36 is arranged in this embodiment.
  • Each column of type contains a full set of characters comprising the font, and each row contains 130 of the same characters.
  • the character type A in row 46 appears 130 times, once for every columnar position of printing.
  • a print hammer 44 Associated with each column of type on the drum 36 is a print hammer 44, so that 130 hammers are adjacent the drum 36 at what has been designated the print line.
  • the hammers 44 are actuated by solenoids 47 which are in turn connected at terminals 48 through suitable power amplifiers (not shown) to the output of the decision storage matrix 22 (FIG. 1).
  • the code generator in this embodiment comprises a code drum 34 having its periphery covered with a magnetizable coating. At intervals about the circumference of code drum 34, discrete portions of the code drum 34 along the width thereof are magnetized according to a pre-sele-cted 8 bit code in the columns marked 51 through 57.
  • the surface 46a of drum 34 has discrete portions thereof magnetized in a code (00010100) which is representative of the character A.
  • a column 50 stores the least significant bit and a column 57 stores the most significant bit.
  • the presence of a one bit is represented by a dash (e.g. dash 60), and the absence of a dash indicates a zero bit.
  • dash e.g. dash 60
  • the sprocket wheel 32 Rotating along with drums 34 and 36 is the sprocket wheel 32 which also has its periphery covered with a magnetizable material.
  • the sprocket wheel 32 is magnetized at discrete portions thereof; in particular this wheel contains a magnetized spot positioned alongside every code representation on the code drum 34.
  • the sprocket wheel 32 has at least one magnetized spot, associated with each code position on the drum 34.
  • spot 71 is associated with the code for the letter A.
  • three magnetic marks are employed to generate three separate sprocket pulses.
  • three magnetic marks 66, 67 and 68 are employed and these marks are associated, respectively, with the subscript one, the regular one, and the superscript one.
  • transducers 40 and 42 are placed adjacent to the wheel 32 and drum 34 respectively.
  • Transducer 42 is an 8 channel magnetic read head and responds to the magnetic spots across the tracks 50 to 57 to produce electrical signals which are applied to the code register 14 (FIG. 1).
  • Transducer 40 is a single magnetic read head which produces a. timing or sprocket signal in response to the magnetic spots on sprocket wheel 32. The sprocket signals are applied as a read pulse to the storage matrix 22 via delay element 24.
  • FIGURES 3a, 3b, and 3c are illustrated in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • FIGURES 3a, 3b and 30 all illustrate the print hammer 44, the type drum 36 having a row of type characters 82 thereon, the inked ribbon 84 and the record arranged so that the ribbon 84 and record 80 to be printed upon are between the drum 36 and the hammer 44.
  • the hammer 44 When the hammer 44 is actuated it moves toward the drum 36 causing the record 80 to press against the inked ribbon which is in turn forced against the font 82.
  • FIGURES 3a, 3b and 30 that the hammer is broad enough to force the record 80 and the inked ribbon 84 against the font in either the subscript position (FIG. 3a), the regular position (FIG. 3b) or the superscript position (FIG. 3c).
  • the code drum 34 When a character such as the letter A is to be printed, the code drum 34 will have reached the position such that the area 46a having the code for the letter A will be under the transducer 42.
  • the transducer 42 in response to the magnetic spots on area 46a generates electrical signals representative of the letter A which are applied to the code register 14.
  • the sprocket wheel 32 causes a pulse to be generated by transducer 40 which is applied to the delay element 24.
  • the A characters on the drum 36 are not yet at the print line, but will be the next row of characters to arrive at this point underneath the print hammers.
  • the code for the letter A will remain in the code register 14 and will not be replaced by a new code until all of the characters stored in the memory constituting a line of print have been transferred in a serial fashion to the comparator 12 where at the same time, the output of code register 14 is applied.
  • the clock pulse generator 20 is set to have a repetition rate sothat the address counter 18 is stepped through all of its 130 counts at least, in this embodiment, three times in the period that it takes one row of character type on the drum 36 to fully replace another at the print line. That is, in this particular case the address counter 18 is cycled three times before the characters A reach the print line underneath the hammers.
  • the memory 10 While it is only necessary for the memory 10 to be completely read out once in the time period just specified for characters that are only printed in one position along the line of type, it is necessary to read out the memory in the period just defined a number of times equal to the number of positions any character in the font may assume. Since some of the characters can be printed in the regular, super and subscript positions, the memory is read out three times in the period it takes one row of characters to replace another at the print line.
  • the address counter 18 not only causes the readout from the serial addresses in memory 10 but also primes the cores in storage matrix 22 for read-in in synchronism with the locations being read out from the memory 10.
  • the comparator 12 For each location in the memory 10 which has the letter A therein, the comparator 12 produces an output to set a core in matrix 22 associated with that memory location. Assuming that memory locations 1, 5 and 130 are storing the letter A, the cores associated therewith would be set. Now when the sprocket pulse has passed the delay element 24 the outputs will be read from these cores and applied to their associated print hammers for columnar positions 1, and 130.
  • the delay element 24 delays the sprocket pulse read from sprocket wheel 32 for such a time that it takes the character A to reach the print line. Accordingly, when the readout pulse from delay 24 produces outputs from the storage matrix 22 which are applied to the print hammers 44, the letter A will be in line for printing. More particularly, the letter A will be printed at a fixed distance from the row of characters ahead of it just previously printed and will be printed in the regular position.
  • the sprocket pulses for the letters A, B, etc., and the codes therefor are spaced on the sprocket wheel 32 and the code drum 34, respectively, in such a position that the line of characters that are printed in response to these pulses are printed in uniformly spaced lines.
  • the sprocket pulse is generated early the characters printed in response thereto will be in the subscript position and if the sprocket pulse is generated late, the characters printed will be in the superscript position.
  • An early sprocket may be generated by increasing the distance between the magnetic spot on wheel 32 producing the sprocket pulse and the character on the drum 36 with which it is associated.
  • a late sprocket pulse may be generated by decreasing the distance between the magnetic spot on wheel 32 producing the sprocket pulse and the character on the drum 36 with which it is associated.
  • sprocket pulses and codes must be associated with that character. That is, the character to be printed will have an early, regular and late sprocket pulse associated therewith as well as a different code for each of its positions. For example, if a subscript one is to be printed, the print drum 36, code drum 34, and sprocket wheel 32 will have advanced to a position where the early sprocket pulse 66 associated with the character one is detected by transducer 40, and the code for the subscript one in response to magnetic spots 61 and 62 is generated by transducers 42. At this point, code register 14 will contain the code for the subscript one.
  • the clock pulse generator 20 generates pulses which step the address counter 18 so that all of the characters stored in 130 locations of memory may be compared against the character representing the subscript one. It will be appreciated by examining area 70 on sprocket wheel 32 and area 50 on code drum 34 that three sprocket pulses and three separate codes are produced over the same time period that one sprocket pulse and one code are produced for letters that are to be printed only in the regular position.
  • the clock pulse generator 20 must cycle the address counter 18 through its 130 positions between each of the sprocket pulses 66, 67 and 68 associated with the three printing positions for the character one.”
  • the entire line of characters stored in the 130 memory locations of buffer memory 10 are read out and compared only once against the subscript one character in register 14 before the new code representing the character one in the regular position is transferred to register 14. Again for each memory location that is storing the character for the subscript one a corresponding core in the decision storage matrix is set, to ultimately actuate its associated print hammer.
  • the magnetic spot 66 which produces the early sprocket pulse associated with the subscript one is generated at such time with respect to the font one on drum 36 that when the pulse produced by transducer 4% in response to spot 66 passes through delay element 24, the character one is not quite at the center of the print line, but is adjacent the bottom portions of hammers 44. Therefore, the readout from the cores in matrix 22 storing a subscript one occurs at such times that the ones are printed below the center of the print line and in a subscript position, as shown in FIG. 3a.
  • the next code to be produced is that representing the one to be printed in the regular position.
  • This code is produced in response to the magnetic spot 64 at the same time the sprocket pulse is generated in response to magnetic spot 67.
  • the code for the one in the regular position is placed in register 14 and the delay element 24 receives a regular sprocket pulse.
  • Both the code drum 34 and the print drum 36 have rotated slightly such that the character A on drum 36 is now closer to the print line or more precisely one character position away therefrom.
  • the positions of the memory 10 are read out and compared against the code representing the character one to be printed in the regular position.
  • the cores in matrix 22 that are set in response to the output of comparator 12 are read out by the pulse produced in response to magnetic spot 67 after it has passed through delay element 24.
  • This latter magnetic spot is positioned on wheel 32 with regard to the character font one on type drum 36 such that a pulse produced in response thereto at the output of delay 24 reads out the cores in matrix 22 when the character one is centered about the print line or in the regular print position as shown in FIG. 3b.
  • the next code to be stored in code register 14- is that representative of the superscript one which is produced in response to magnetic spots 63 and 65 at the same time as a late sprocket pulse is produced in response to spot 68 on code wheel 32. It will be appreciated that the drum 36 has rotated such that the character one is very close to the print line and now any comparisons with the code representing a superscript one are read out in response to a pulse produced by spot 68 after it passes delay 24 at a time when the character one is above the print line as shown in FIGURE 3c.
  • the address counter 18 is cycled three times for each of the characters on the drum 36 that may be printed. More particularly, it will be recalled that the memory is read out three times for each line of characters as it reaches the print line, and that a complete line of type is printed after one revolution of the print drum 36. In high speed applications, this cycling period required of the address counter or the memory, for example, may exceed the capabilities of the logical elements used or it may not be economically feasible to use high speed elements. In such cases, an alternate embodiment of my invention can be used, which is now to be described.
  • all characters that may be printed in the subscript position contain a magnetic spot in column 57 of the code drum 34, and all characters that may be printed in the superscript position contain a magnetic spot in column 56. It is, therefore, readily possible to detect the arrival of codes for the superscript or subscript characters from the code drum 34 and to delay the comparison of these characters until a later rotation of the print drum 36.
  • the memory 10 will only be read out once for each row of characters on the drum 36 as that row approaches the print line.
  • means are provided which allow only those codes from drum 34 representative of characters to be printed in the regular position to be transmitted to the comparator during the first revolution of the print drum 36.
  • the second embodiment apparatus indicating the number of rotations of the print drum 36 for any given print operation and there is aso provided apparatus which allows only codes for the characters to be printed in the regular position to be transmitted to the comparator (via the code register 14) in the first revolution of the drum 36; codes representing characters for the superscript position in the secnd revolution of the drum; and finally codes representative of characters in the subscript position in the third revolution of the drum 36.
  • FIGURE 4 there is shown a generalized logical block diagram for the second embodiment of my invention.
  • FIGURE 4 is very similar to the block diagram of FIGURE 1, but has the addition of the blocks numbered 11, 13 and 15. No changes are necessary in the make-up of the print drum 36, the code drum 34, or the sprocket Wheel 32 shown in FIGURE 2.
  • Block 11, labeled the code detector is shown in greater detail in FIGURE 4A and is inserted between buffer memory and the comparator 12.
  • the code detector 11 transmits the output of the butter memory 10 to the comparator 12, but also comprises apparatus which detects bits in the seventh and eighth most significant positions of the characters being transmitted from the memory 10 to the comparator 12. If a hit is detected in these positions, indicating a superscript or subscript character, a signal is transmitted to the sprocket and rotation counter (shown in more detail in FIGURE 4A).
  • the sprocket and rotation counter 15 is connected to receive sprocket pulses which are selectively transmitted by the code selector 13 from the sprocket wheel 32.
  • Sprocket and rotation counter 15 also is connected to the computer 16 to give an indication that the printing operation has ended as Well as for receiving from the computer 16 a signal indicating that the printing operation is to take place.
  • the sprocket and rotation counter 15 applies the signals via line 17 to the code selector 13 which control the operation of this latter device such that in the first revolution of the print drum 36 (after a print operation commences), only codes and sprockets associated therewith for characters to be printed in the regular position are transmitted to the code register 14; during the second revolution only codes for the superscript characters are transmitted and; finally in the last revolution only codes for the subscript characters are transmitted.
  • the sprocket and rotation counter 15 contains apparatus which Will end the print operation after one revolution of the print drum if there are no superscript or subscript characters to be printed.
  • the code selector 13 (as shown in more detail in FIG- URE 4B) is a gating matrix inserted between the code register 14 and the output from read heads 42 associated with the code drum 34.
  • the code selector 13 normally inhibits all codes containing a 7th or 8th bit from being transferred to the code register during the first revolution of the print drum 36.
  • the code selector 13 receives the signals from the sprocket and rotation counter 15 ind1- eating the number of revolutions that the print drum 36 has made for any given line of print. Accordingly, if there is present on input line 17 a signal indicating that the drum is in the second revolution, then the code selector 13 allows codes (and sprockets associated therewith) with the 7th bit in them to pass to the code register 14. If the signal on the input line 17 indicates that the print drum is in the third revolution, then the code selector 13 allows only codes having an 8th bit therein (and sprockets associated therewith) to be transmitted.
  • FIGURES 4A and 48 along with FIGURE 4. From FIGURE 4A, it can be seen that two of the eight signal lines which transmit the output of the buffer memory 10 to the comparator 12 are also connected to the seven flip-flop 104 and to the eight flipflop 102. If any of the codes representing characters to be printed in a line from the buffer memory 10 contain a 7th bit indicative of a superscript character, the flip-flop 104 will be set to produce the 7 signal and likewise if any of the characters to be printed contain an 8th bit indicative of a subscript, the flip-flop 102 will be set to produce the 8 signal.
  • flip-flops 102 and 104 are reset by the end of line signal (EOL) produced by the sprocket and rotation counter 15 when the printing operation is over.
  • EOL end of line signal
  • the outputs of the flip-flops 102 and 104 are normally and 7.
  • These two latter outputs (7 and 8 are used to indicate that none of the characters to be printed in a line is either a superscript or a subscript.
  • flip-flops 102 and 104 will register the condition of the information to be printed. That is, the flip-flops 102 and 104 are still producing the 8 and 2 signals respectively, none of the characters to be printed is either in the super or subscript position. If fiipflop 104 is set, some of the characters to be printed (or at least one) is in the superscript position and if the flip flop 102 is set to produce an 8 signal, then at least one of the characters to be printed is in the subscript position.
  • the outputs of flip-flops 102 and 104 serve to control gates 106, 108, 110, and 112. These aforementioned gates are all AND gates and hence, in order to pass a signal, all the inputs thereto must be present simultaneously. Gates 106, 108, 110 and 112 all drive OR gate 114, the output of which produces the end of line (EOL) signal on line 23. When this signal is produced it indicates that the entire line has been printed and that the print drum has made the number of revolutions necessary to print all of the characters therein.
  • the EOL signal not only serves to reset flip-flops 102 and 104 as previously indicated, but is used to signal the computer that the print operation is over and is used to reset counters 116 and 118 (FIG. 4b).
  • the sprocket and rotation counter 15 is shown in more detail in FIGURE 4A and comprises a counter 116 which is connected via gate to receive the sprocket signals from the sprocket wheel 32 (FIGURE 2).
  • the gate 100 is rendered operative by a signal from the computing unit 16 when printing is to take place.
  • all the sprocket pulses produced by the sprocket wheel 32 are not transmitted to the counter 116. For example, in the first revolution of print drum 36 (after print order is initiated) only those sprocket pulses associated with characters to be printed in the regular position are transmitted to counter 116.
  • Sprocket counter 116 may be a conventional ring type counter which in this case can count to a maximum value equal to the number of rows of type on drum 36. In this embodiment there are assumed to be 63 rows of type on the drum 36 (i.e. the drum contains 63 different characters) and thus counter 116 will count to a value of 63 before it recycles.
  • the output from counter 116 indicative of a count of 63 is applied as an input to AND gate 112 'as well as to the step input of rotation counter 118.
  • Gate 112 also receives the 7 and 8 outputs from flip-flops 104 and 102 respectively. These two signals, 7 and g, indicate that butfer memory 10 contains no characters in the line that are to be printed in super or subscript positions, and a sprocket count of 63 indicates that the drum has completed one revolution. According-1y, if AND gate 112 produces an output, it indicates that all the characters in the line have been printed. The output of AND gate 112 is transmitted through an OR gate 114 to line 23 and is there used as the end of line (EOL) signal.
  • EOL end of line
  • the rotational counter 118 is a 3 stage counter which is normally set to produce a count of 1.
  • the output of counter 118 indicates the number of the revolution the print drum is making, and as shall be seen, controls the transmittal of codes and sprockets from the code drum 34 and sprocket wheel 32.
  • the rotation counter 118 is stepped and produces a count of 2.
  • the end of the line (EOL) signal produced thereby is supplied to reset the sprocket counter 116 to zero and rotation counter 118 back to 1, and is also applied to the computer 16 to end the print operation.
  • the computer 16 Upon receipt of the EOL signal the computer 16 removes the permissive signals to gate 100 (FIG. 4a) and gate 19 (FIGS. 1 and 4).
  • gate 112 will not produce an output; the sprocket counter 116 will recycle; and the rotation counter 118 will produce a count of 2.
  • the rotation counter 118 In response to the count of 2 from the rotation counter 118 (as shall be later explained) sprockets and codes associated with superscript characters are transmitted from the sprocket wheel 32 and code drum 34 to the apparatus of FIGURE 4.
  • Gate 106 receives the 7 and 8 outputs of flipflops 104 and 102 respectively, and gate 108 receives the 7 and 8 signals from these flip-flops.
  • the 7 and 8 signals together at gate 106 indicates that the line of characters from buffer memory 10 to be printed has at least one superscript and no subscript characters.
  • gate 106 produces an output which is transmitted via buffer 114 to produce the EOL signal on line 23.
  • the EOL signal is also applied to reset the sprocket counter 116 from the count of 10 to its initial count so that the counter 116 is ready :for future printing operations.
  • the EOL signal is also applied to reset the rotation counter 118 for the same reason.
  • gate 106 will not be rendered operative since the 8 signal will not be present.
  • subscript characters are printed on the third revolution of the print drum 36.
  • the rotation counter 118 In order for sprocket and codes associated with the subscript characters to be transmitted from sprocket wheel 32 and code drum 34, the rotation counter 118 must be set to a count of 3. It will be appreciated that after the superscript characters are printed, the sprocket counter 116 produces an output at its 10th output line and rotation counter 118 produces a signal at its 2nd output line.
  • AND gate 122 which is connected at its output to the step input of the rotation counter 118 receives these two aforementioned input signals and steps the rotation counter 118 to a count of 3.
  • the sprocket counter 116 now receives all the sprockets associated with the characters to be printed in the subscript position. As previously pointed out, there are in this embodiment 10 such characters. Accordingly, when the sprocket counter 116 has been advanced from the count of 10 to a count of 20, all characters which can be printed in the subscript position have passed by the print line.
  • Gate 110 is connected to detect the th output of the sprocket counter 116 as well as the 8 output of flipflop 102 and 3 output of rotation counter 118. Gate 110 then operates on the third rotation of print drum 36 after characters to be placed in the subscript position on the record are there printed. Gate 110 transmits an EOL signal to line 23 via OR gate 114 and this signal ends the print operation as previously described.
  • gate 124 steps the rotation counter to a count of 3.
  • the characters for the subscript positions can be printed.
  • the end of line signal in this case will be produced via gate 108 and buffer 114.
  • Gate 108 receives the 3 output rom rotation counter 118, the ten output from sprocket counter 116, and the 7 and 8 outputs from flip-flops 104 and 102. With these inputs gate 108 transmits a signal when counter 116 reaches a count of 10 indicating that all the subscript characters have been printed.
  • the end of line signal produced via OR gate 114 acts to reset the various counters and flip-flops so that the apparatus is again ready for a new print operation.
  • the code selector 13 comprises eight gates, 138a to 138k which are connected through delay elements 136a to 136k respectively, to the eight outputs of read head 42 associated with code drum 34 (FIG. 2).
  • the outputs of gates 138 are connected via the code register 14 to the input of the comparator 12 (FIG. 1 or 4).
  • gate 140 Also included in the code selector 13 is gate 140, which is connected via delay element 141 to the output of read head 40 (FIG. 2) associate-d with sprocket wheel 32.
  • the output of gate 140 is connected to gate and delay element 24 so that the sprocket pulses from wheel 32 may be selectively counted by sprocket counter 116 and also selectively transmitted to read out the decision storage matrix 22. (FIG. 4.)
  • OR gate 142 receives inputs from 3 AND gates, 130, 132 and 134 illustrated in the form of a gating matrix. Each of these AND gates has a plurality of inputs, one of which is derived from the rotation counter 118. In particular, gates 130, 132 and 134 receive the first, second and third outputs respectively from the rotation counter 118. Additionally, delay flops 126 and 128 are connected at their outputs to the input of these gates. The delay flops 126 and 128 are monostable devices and in the absence of the signal applied at their inputs produce a 77st and 8E signals respectively.
  • Delay flops 126 and 128 are connected respectively at their inputs to that portion of read head 42 (FIG. 2) which detects the presence of bits in the columns 56 and 57 of code drum 34. These latter two bits are indicative of a superscript or subscript character.
  • the delay flop 126 receives an input and the 7d signal is produced; and when the code indicative of subscript character is detected by head 42, the delay flop 128 receives an input, and the 8d signal is produced.
  • the 7d and the 8d signals are produced by delay flops 126 and 128 for a time which is shorter than the period between the detection of any two sprocket pulses by head 40 (FIG. 2).
  • Delay elements 136a through 136k and delay element 141 are long enough to delay the application of signals from read heads 40 and 42 to gates 138 and 140 until delay flops 126 and 128 can respond to the signals at their inputs.
  • gate 130 In operation, with rotation counter 118 producing a signal at its first output, gate 130 is rendered operative and produces a signal for each code representative of a character to be printed in the regular position.
  • the output of gate 130 is transmitted via OR gate 142 to gates 133a through 138k and to gate 140 to render them operative wherein codes and sprockets for characters to be printed in the regular position are transmitted. That is, the codes from the drum 34 are transmitted to the comparator 12 (via the code register 14) and the sprockets associated therewith are transmitted to gate 100 and delay element 24.
  • the rotation counter 118 is in the aforementioned state, the codes and sprockets for subscripts and superscript characters are not transmitted.
  • a high speed printing apparatus comprising: a cylindrical type drum adapted for rotation having a plurality of character type elements on the surface thereof in uniformly spaced rows substantially along the axis of said type drum, wherein all the type elements in one row are the same character, code means associated with said type drum and controlled thereby for producing a plurality of different sets of signals representative of a character in a row of type elements, each set of signals being produced as said row of type elements of the same character is at a different predetermined position, sprocket means associated with said type drum for producing a timing signal for each of said set of signals representative of a character, said code means comprising a cylindrical code drum mounted for rotation with said type drum, said code drum having a plurality of different indicia in spaced relationship in a circular channel on the surface thereof, each one of said indicia representing the same character in a row of type elements on said print drum and code reading means disposed in spaced relationship to said code drum for producing a different set of electrical signals for each of said different indicia
  • a sprocket means comprises a cylindrical timing drum having a timing indicator thereon for each of said indicia on said code drum and timing reading means in spaced relationship to said timing drum for producing a timing signal for each set of signals representative of a character in a row of type elements.
  • a high speed printing apparatus for printing char acters in uniformly spaced lines on a record and for printing superscript and subscript characters at least partially between said uniformly spaced lines of characters
  • a cylindrical type drum adapted for rotation having a plurality of character type elements on the surface thereof in uniformly spaced rows substantially along the axis of said type drums, wherein all the type elements in a row are the same character
  • code means associated with said type drum and controlled thereby for producing a plurality of different sets of signals representative of a character in a row of type elements, each set of signals being produced as said row of type elements of the same character is at a different predetermined position
  • sprocket means associated with said type drum for producing a sprocket signal for each said set of signals representative of a character in a row of type elements
  • memory means storing sets of signals representative of a plurality of characters to be printed in a line on said record, said memory storing a plurality of different sets of signals representative of the same character
  • comparator means coupled to
  • said printing means prints a portion of the characters rep resented by said sets of signals stored in said memory in uniformly spaced lines of characters on said record and selected characters represented by said sets of signals stored in said memory are at least partially printed between said uniformly spaced lines of characters in a super or subscript position.
  • a high speed printing apparatus for printing characters in uniformly spaced lines on a record and for printing superscript and subscript characters at least partially between said uniformly spaced lines of characters
  • a cylindrical type drum adapted for rotation and having a plurality of character type elements in uniformly spaced rows substantially along the axis of said type drum, wherein all the type elements in a row are the same character
  • code means associated with said type drum and controlled thereby for producing a first set of signals representative of the character in a row of type elements as said row on said.
  • sprocket means associated with said type drum for producing a timing signal for each row of character type elements on said type drum as the row passes said first predetermined position
  • memory means storing sets of signals representative of a plurality of characters to be printed in one of the uniformly spaced lines on said record and storing different sets of signals representative of the same characters to be printed at least partially above or below one of the uniformly spaced lines on said record
  • comparator means coupled to said memory and said code means for comparing all sets of signals representative of characters from said memory with each set of signals from said code means and printing means controlled by said comparator and said sprocket means for printing in a line on said record the character represented by the signals from said code means at positions along said line which are related to the location of said character in said memory
  • said printing means printing rows of characters in equally spaced lines, an improvement for printing characters between said uniformly spaced lines which comprises means associated with said type drum for causing said code means to produce a second set of signals representative of said character in a row of type elements
  • a high speed printing apparatus for printing characters in uniformly spaced lines on a record and for printing superscript and subscript characters at least partially between said uniformly spaced lines of characters
  • a cylindrical type drum adapted for rotation having a plurality of character type elements on the surface thereof in uniformly spaced rows substantially along the axis of said type drum, wherein all the type elements in a row are the same character
  • memory means storing sets of signals representative of a plurality of characters to be printed in a line, said memory storing a different set of signals representative of the same character to be printed above or below the center of a uni formly spaced line of characters
  • sprocket means associated with said type drum for
  • control means comprises apparatus for producing an in line signal indicating that all the character representations in said memory are to be printed in one of said uniformly spaced lines and no character representations are to be printed above or below said line
  • code selection means comprises signaling means for producing an ending signal indicating that all the characters in said memory have been printed
  • signaling means comprising first detection means coupled to said control means and rendered operative when said control means produces said in line signal for producing said ending signal after all the characters in the line are printed.
  • said signaling means comprises a second detection means cou pled to said control means and rendered operative when said control means produces a signal indicating the presence of characters in said line to be printed above or below said line for producing an ending signal after all the characters in the line are printed and all the characters above and below said line are printed.
  • the apparatus defined in claim 6 further comprising sprocket selection means coupled to and controlled by said control means and connected to receive sprocket signals from said sprocket means for selectively transmitting said sprocket signals to said printing means, counting means coupled to said sprocket selection means to count sprocket signals selectively transmitted by said sprocket selection means, said control means operating said sprocket selection means for transmitting sprocket signals associated with codes representative of characters to be printed in a uniformly spaced line, and signals from said control means indicating that characters are to be printed above or below said line thereafter conditioning said sprocket selection means to transmit sprocket signals associated with characters to be printed above or below said line to said counting means, said counting means having a first output terminal for transmitting a signal after all the sprocket signals associated with said characters to be printed in line are counted, and a second output termial for transmitting a signal after all the sprocket signals are generated associated with characters to be printed above

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Printers Or Recording Devices Using Electromagnetic And Radiation Means (AREA)
  • Dot-Matrix Printers And Others (AREA)
  • Record Information Processing For Printing (AREA)
US388908A 1964-08-11 1964-08-11 High speed superscript-subscript printer Expired - Lifetime US3361057A (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US388908A US3361057A (en) 1964-08-11 1964-08-11 High speed superscript-subscript printer
GB32479/65A GB1063546A (en) 1964-08-11 1965-07-29 High speed superscript-subscript printer
DE1965S0098661 DE1237817C2 (de) 1964-08-11 1965-08-05 Schnelldrucker mit rotierender Typentrommel zum Abdrucken von hoch- und tiefgestellten Schriftzeichen
CH1104465A CH432901A (de) 1964-08-11 1965-08-05 Schnelldrucker zum Abdrucken von hoch- und tiefgestellten Zeichen
NL6510400A NL6510400A (de) 1964-08-11 1965-08-10

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US388908A US3361057A (en) 1964-08-11 1964-08-11 High speed superscript-subscript printer

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US3361057A true US3361057A (en) 1968-01-02

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US (1) US3361057A (de)
CH (1) CH432901A (de)
DE (1) DE1237817C2 (de)
GB (1) GB1063546A (de)
NL (1) NL6510400A (de)

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US3604347A (en) * 1969-02-11 1971-09-14 Ncr Co Print hammer impact tip
US3731622A (en) * 1970-03-18 1973-05-08 California Electro Scient Intermittent type drum advancing means in a high speed printer

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DE243906C (de) *
US1690826A (en) * 1924-10-23 1928-11-06 Underwood Elliott Fisher Co Typewriting machine
US2776618A (en) * 1953-06-11 1957-01-08 Hughes Aircraft Co Printing cylinders for high-speed printing systems
US2915966A (en) * 1955-06-13 1959-12-08 Sperry Rand Corp High speed printer
US2915967A (en) * 1958-08-06 1959-12-08 Sperry Rand Corp Information reproducing system
US3024723A (en) * 1960-05-27 1962-03-13 Potter Instrument Co Inc Logical system for a high speed printer
US3072047A (en) * 1960-01-22 1963-01-08 Solartron Electronic Group Printing apparatus
US3120801A (en) * 1961-03-29 1964-02-11 Int Computers & Tabulators Ltd Apparatus for recording characters
US3142247A (en) * 1962-03-08 1964-07-28 Anelex Corp Control system for high speed printers
US3158090A (en) * 1960-10-05 1964-11-24 Potter Instrument Co Inc High speed hammer printers with code signal means
US3220343A (en) * 1960-11-25 1965-11-30 Potter Instrument Co Inc High speed printers with column spanning hammers

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US2978977A (en) * 1955-02-04 1961-04-11 Sperry Rand Corp High speed printer
NL256523A (de) * 1959-10-05
FR82556E (fr) * 1961-01-12 1964-03-06 Ibm Dispositif d'impression à vitesse élevée

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE243906C (de) *
US1690826A (en) * 1924-10-23 1928-11-06 Underwood Elliott Fisher Co Typewriting machine
US2776618A (en) * 1953-06-11 1957-01-08 Hughes Aircraft Co Printing cylinders for high-speed printing systems
US2915966A (en) * 1955-06-13 1959-12-08 Sperry Rand Corp High speed printer
US2915967A (en) * 1958-08-06 1959-12-08 Sperry Rand Corp Information reproducing system
US3072047A (en) * 1960-01-22 1963-01-08 Solartron Electronic Group Printing apparatus
US3024723A (en) * 1960-05-27 1962-03-13 Potter Instrument Co Inc Logical system for a high speed printer
US3158090A (en) * 1960-10-05 1964-11-24 Potter Instrument Co Inc High speed hammer printers with code signal means
US3220343A (en) * 1960-11-25 1965-11-30 Potter Instrument Co Inc High speed printers with column spanning hammers
US3120801A (en) * 1961-03-29 1964-02-11 Int Computers & Tabulators Ltd Apparatus for recording characters
US3142247A (en) * 1962-03-08 1964-07-28 Anelex Corp Control system for high speed printers

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3604347A (en) * 1969-02-11 1971-09-14 Ncr Co Print hammer impact tip
US3731622A (en) * 1970-03-18 1973-05-08 California Electro Scient Intermittent type drum advancing means in a high speed printer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL6510400A (de) 1966-02-14
DE1237817C2 (de) 1967-10-12
CH432901A (de) 1967-03-31
DE1237817B (de) 1967-03-30
GB1063546A (en) 1967-03-30

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