US3919935A - Control apparatus for the recording head of a parallel printer - Google Patents

Control apparatus for the recording head of a parallel printer Download PDF

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Publication number
US3919935A
US3919935A US453879A US45387974A US3919935A US 3919935 A US3919935 A US 3919935A US 453879 A US453879 A US 453879A US 45387974 A US45387974 A US 45387974A US 3919935 A US3919935 A US 3919935A
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United States
Prior art keywords
printing
character
elements
printing elements
selection means
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Expired - Lifetime
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US453879A
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English (en)
Inventor
Wolfgang Langnickel
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Olympia Werke AG
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Olympia Werke AG
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Publication date
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J7/00—Type-selecting or type-actuating mechanisms
    • B41J7/54—Selecting arrangements including combinations, permutation, summation, or aggregation means
    • B41J7/68—Selecting arrangements including combinations, permutation, summation, or aggregation means with means for selectively closing an electric circuit for type presentation

Definitions

  • the control arrangement includes a print position selection unit, having a plurality of outputs for selectively supplying printing current to the printing elements of a printing position; and a character selection circuit which is common to all printing positions and has a plurality of outputs, each corresponding to a particular character, for controlling the flow of printing current to the individual printing elements in dependence on the character to be printed.
  • Each output of the position selection unit is connected via respective series connected resistors with the individual printing elements of the associated printing position.
  • the character selection unit is provided with a plurality of normally open short circuit switches, each connected in series between a respective output of the character selection unit and a point reference potential.
  • Each output of the character selection unit is connected to its associated printing element of each printing position via a respective decoupling diode so that closure of the one of the switches will short circuit the current flowing to the associated printing element.
  • the present invention relates to an improved control arrangement for a multi-position printer, particularly a mosaic or raster printer, with a stationary printing head which extends over the entire width of the printing line. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved control arrangement for a printer of the above-mentioned type wherein the switching of the printing currents from a position selection unit to the printing elements representing the desired character are effected in dependence on the output of a character selection unit which is common to all printing positions.
  • Printers and indicator units are known in which the symbols to be printed or displayed are shown in a mosaic pattern by recording heads each comprising a plurality of individual printing elements.
  • the printing elements of the recording head are arranged so as to constitute a line or a column in a matrix, and a certain combination of printing elements is actuated in succession for each symbol in order to either print or display the corresponding symbol on a moving record carrier.
  • the recording head or heads are controlled in the known devices by a special arrangement of a network, possibly in the form of a matrix, which then actuates the respective printing elements of the recording head or heads.
  • German Auslegeschrift (Laid Open Patent Application) No. 1,127,644 published April 12th, l962 discloses that it is advisable in raster printers in parallel operation to produce the special pattern for each individual symbol, corresponding to the characters of one line of the symbol, in succession by means of a suitable distributing arrangement associated with the individual printing positions. That is, a parallel printing process is linked with a serial control. In the disclosed configuration this requires substantial amounts of switching and control circuitry.
  • German Auslegeschrift No. 1,127,644 published April 12th, 1962 discloses a network including AND circuits which are controlled by an electrical distributor, the serially fed-in information and the position information being fed to the AND circuit network which then switches the particular group of printing elements which is associated with the individual printing positions in succession to the next-following group of printing elements.
  • a ring counter in communication with the AND circuit network switches from one group to the next in dependence on the switching state of the ring counter.
  • each output of the position selection unit is connected, via series resistors, with the individual printing elements of the associated printing position
  • the character selection unit is provided with a short-circuit switch in series with each one of its character output lines, and each character output line is connected, via a decoupling diode, with the printing elements associated with this character output of all printing positions.
  • each output of the position selection unit is connected with a group of printing elements and the number of the individual printing elements in the group is equal to the number of short-circuit switches in the character selection unit.
  • the printing elements of two printing positions are combined into a group and corresponding number of short-circuit switches are provided in the character selection unit and connected with these printing elements.
  • a group of ten printing elements are connected to each output of the position selection unit.
  • the short-circuit switches included in the character selection unit can be selectively actuated via a control line as required by the character to be printed.
  • the position selection unit may be a continuous counter which connects one output line after the other in succession with an operating voltage source or the position selection unit may be a multiple access switch which connects those position outputs at which the presently available character is to be printed with the operating voltage source.
  • FIG 1 shows one embodiment of control circuit according to the invention in which each output of the position selection unit is connected with a group of printing elements corresponding to one printing position.
  • FIG 2 shows a further embodiment of a control circuit according to the invention in which each output of the position selection unit is connected with a group of printing elements corresponding to two printing positions.
  • FIG 3 illustrates a counter which may be used as the position selection unit of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • FIG 4 illustrates a multiple access switch which may be used as the position selection unit of FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • FIG. 5 shows a short-circuit switch arrangement which may be used as the character selection unit of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 1 shows a control device for the recording head 7, including a plurality of printing positions 6, of a parallel printer of otherwise conventional design.
  • the printing elements 5 of the respective printing positions 6 are controlled by a position selection unit 1 and a character selection unit 8.
  • the position selection unit 1 includes a plurality of normally open switches 2, each of which can selectively connect a respective output line 3 of the position selection unit 1 to the output of a source of operating voltage 14.
  • the particular switch 2 which is closed in any given time interval is determined by a signal supplied via input 1 l in a well known manner.
  • the switches 2 can be actuated either in succession or randomly by means of the signal at input 11.
  • Each of the output lines 3 of the position selection unit 1 is connected via a respective series connected resistor 4 to the individual printing elements 5 of an associated print position 6.
  • the printing elements 5 of each print position 6 are combined into a group and connected to one output line 3 of the position selection unit 1.
  • the particular one of the output lines 3 which is connected to and controls the respective printing elements 5 is determined by the design of the position selection unit 1.
  • each output 3 is connected to the five printing elements 5 of a printing position 6 via the respective resistors 4, this would normally cause a current to simultaneously flow to each of the connected group of printing elements 5.
  • the character selection unit 8 is provided.
  • the character selection unit 8 includes a plurality of normally open short circuit switches 9, each of which is connected in series between a respective output of the character selection unit 8 and a point of reference potential 13. Each of the outputs 10 is connected to an associated printing element 5 of each printing position 6 via a respective decoupling diode 12.
  • the selective actuation of the short circuit switches 9 is controlled via a signal input 18 of the character selection unit 8.
  • the number of short circuit switches 9, and hence the number of outputs 10 of the character selection unit is equal to the number of printing elements 5 in each group, i.e. in the illustrated case, five switches 9 are provided.
  • FIG. 1 shows the position control of five printing elements 5 during any particular time interval. That is, whenever one of the switches 2 is closed the five printing elements 5 of a printing position 6 are simultaneously controlled.
  • the five printing elements 5 represent one line of the mosaic pattern of a 5 X 7 matrix and consequently by closing a switch 2 of the position selection unit 1 exactly one line of a printing position 6 is actuated.
  • the desired number of short-circuit switches 9 are closed via the signal at input 18 of the character selection unit 8, the information present at input 18 being identical with the information to be printed, and the associated one of the switches 2 of the position selection unit 1 is closed.
  • the current present at output 3 is short-circuited, via the associated decoupling diodes 12, around the associated individual printing elements 5 of the selected printing position 6.
  • the only printing elements 5 of the selected printing position 6 which receive current, and thus produce an indication are those for which the corresponding shortcircuit switch 9 has not been closed.
  • FIG 2 shows a control device for the recording head 7 including a plurality of printing positions 6, in a parallel printer similar to that of FIG 1, in which a group of ten printing elements 5 is provided with current through a single output 3 of the position selection unit 1 during one time interval.
  • the character selection unit 8 contains ten short-circuit switches 9 which can be selectively actuated via input 18.
  • two printing positions 6 are printed at the same time.
  • the printing positions 6 which are printed simultaneously do not have to be in a direct sequence.
  • the first and the third printing positions can be printed in one time interval, etc. This simultaneous actuation of two printing positions has been found to be the optimum mode of operation for a twenty position printer.
  • FIG 3 shows a counter 19 which may perform the function of a position selection unit 1.
  • a counting pulse is given through input 11 to counter 19 so that each output 3 is connected with operating voltage source 14 in succession.
  • each output 3 is connected with operating voltage source 14 in succession.
  • every printing position 6 is successively actuated, independent of the fact whether a character is to be printed at the respective printing position or not. For those printing positions 6 where no character is to be printed, all of the short-circuit switches 9 in the character selection unit 8 are closed.
  • FIG 4 shows a switch 20 with multiple access which may perform the function of the position selection unit 1.
  • each of the switches 2 is controlled via a separate signal input 17. Via the inputs 17 certain of the switches 2 can be selectively closed so that then only the printing positions 6 for which a character is to be printed need be controlled by switch 20.
  • character selection unit 8 has been illustrated as a plurality of selectively actuatable mechanical switches 9, it is to be understood that this is by way of example only and electronic switching circuits may be used if desired.
  • FIG 5 shows an embodiment of electronic short-circuit switches 21 25, which are controlled by the output signals of a character generator 26, well known in the art.
  • the signals are applied to the switches 21 25 via output lines 27 30.
  • a clock pulse generator 32 is connected via lines 33 and 37 to the character generator 26 and the position selector unit 35 respectively and synchronizes the output of character signals from generator 66 to character selection unit 34, and thus the actuation of respective switches 21 25, with the actuation of the position selection unit 35, e.g. of the kind shown in FIG 3.
  • the electronic switches 21 25 of character selection unit 34 are represented by transistors which are connected with their bases to respective output lines 27 31 of the character generator 26, with their collectors to associated printing elements as described before and with their emitters to a common reference potential 36.
  • a control circuit for a multiple printing position printer having a stationary printing head which extends over the entire width of a printing line and has a plurality of individual printing elements for each printing position
  • said circuit including a printing position selection means for selectively applying printing current to the printing elements of a selected printing position, and a character selection means, which is common to all printing positions, for controlling the flow of printing current to the printing elements of the selected printing position in dependance on the particular character to be printed at said selected printing position
  • said position selection means has a plurality of outputs each of which is connected via respective series resistors with all of said individual printing elements of the associated printing position
  • character selection means has a plurality of output leads each associated with only one printing element of each of a plurality of said printing positions, and a plurality of controllable normally open short circuit switches each of which is connected in series between one of said character outputs and a point of reference potential; and, each of said printing elements is connected to the associated one of said character output leads only via a separate decoupling dio
  • each of said outputs of said position selection means is connected with a group of said printing elements including the individual printing elements of a plurality of said 6 printing positions, and wherein the number of said individual printing elements per group corresponds to the number of said short-circuit switches in said character selection means.
  • each of said groups includes the individual printing elements of two of said printing positions, whereby printing may occur simultaneously in said two of said printing positions.
  • each of said printing positions contains five of said individual printing elements
  • each of said groups includes ten individual printing elements
  • said character selection means has ten short circuit switches and ten character output leads, each connected to a respective one of said ten printing elements of each group.
  • the apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means for selectively controlling said short-circuit switches in said character selection means to correspond to the character to be printed.
  • the apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including a source of operating voltage; and wherein said position selection means comprises a continuous counter means for consecutively connecting its outputs, one after the other with said source of operating voltage.
  • each of said printing positions has a like plurality of said individual printing elements and each of said character output leads is connected to the same printing element of all printing positions.

Landscapes

  • Printers Characterized By Their Purpose (AREA)
  • Dot-Matrix Printers And Others (AREA)
  • Printers Or Recording Devices Using Electromagnetic And Radiation Means (AREA)
  • Electrophotography Using Other Than Carlson'S Method (AREA)
  • Facsimile Heads (AREA)
US453879A 1973-03-27 1974-03-22 Control apparatus for the recording head of a parallel printer Expired - Lifetime US3919935A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE2315152A DE2315152A1 (de) 1973-03-27 1973-03-27 Steuervorrichtung fuer den aufzeichnungskopf eines paralleldruckwerkes

Publications (1)

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US3919935A true US3919935A (en) 1975-11-18

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US453879A Expired - Lifetime US3919935A (en) 1973-03-27 1974-03-22 Control apparatus for the recording head of a parallel printer

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US (1) US3919935A (de)
JP (1) JPS49130141A (de)
DE (1) DE2315152A1 (de)
IT (1) IT1003903B (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4224869A (en) * 1977-06-28 1980-09-30 Enertec Parallel line printer
US5674014A (en) * 1996-05-31 1997-10-07 International Business Machines Corporation Printhead driver circuit for line printers

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2842048A (en) * 1956-07-23 1958-07-08 Olympia Werke Ag Electric control arrangement
US3161457A (en) * 1962-11-01 1964-12-15 Ncr Co Thermal printing units
US3283702A (en) * 1964-04-20 1966-11-08 Potter Instrument Co Inc High speed printing and graph plotting machine
US3330208A (en) * 1966-03-31 1967-07-11 Rca Corp Printer having a selectively variable print font
US3488664A (en) * 1965-04-21 1970-01-06 Teletype Corp Ink transfer printer

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2842048A (en) * 1956-07-23 1958-07-08 Olympia Werke Ag Electric control arrangement
US3161457A (en) * 1962-11-01 1964-12-15 Ncr Co Thermal printing units
US3283702A (en) * 1964-04-20 1966-11-08 Potter Instrument Co Inc High speed printing and graph plotting machine
US3488664A (en) * 1965-04-21 1970-01-06 Teletype Corp Ink transfer printer
US3330208A (en) * 1966-03-31 1967-07-11 Rca Corp Printer having a selectively variable print font

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4224869A (en) * 1977-06-28 1980-09-30 Enertec Parallel line printer
US5674014A (en) * 1996-05-31 1997-10-07 International Business Machines Corporation Printhead driver circuit for line printers

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT1003903B (it) 1976-06-10
JPS49130141A (de) 1974-12-13
DE2315152A1 (de) 1974-10-10

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