Method and apparatus for coordinated control of dot matrix printer head and carriage
US4468140A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 16, 1982 |
| Grant date | Aug 28, 1984 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 16, 2002 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06K15/10
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A dot matrix printer has a programmable interval counter which produces motion control pulses for stepping the stepper motor of a print head carriage and/or of a paper advance system. The same motion control pulse which is used to control the carriage step motor is also input to a microprocessor, in an open loop fashion, to request further print head data for driving the wire array(s) of the dot matrix print head. A programmed time delay may be introduced between the programmable interval counter and the carriage step motor to compensate for wire flight time of the print head wires in a manner which is substantially independent of carriage velocity. A variable delay may also be introduced between the programmable interval counter and the microprocessor to compensate for carriage motor shaft lag/lead. The number of print operations per control pulse and the number of control pulses per print operation may be independently controlled to increase the print density and quality by inserting programmable divider/counters between the programmable interval counter and the microprocessor and/or the carriage stepper motor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.