US 4,026,403 AGranted

Automatic printer with plurality of replaceable printing members

AssigneeHitachi, Ltd.

InventorsFumiyuki Inose, Akio Komatsu

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Abstract

An automatic printer assembly capable of printing a large number of characters from a plurality of replaceable printing members and valuable in printing characters in a foreign language, such as Japanese Kanji, and the like. The printing member support carriage can align with a storage device, such as a carousel holder, to exchange printing members. A character memory storage receives an appropriately coded signal indicating a predetermined amount and location of characters that are to be printed on a predetermined area of a medium. A controller addresses the memory storage to select the appropriate character printing member. The input character information can be appropriately coded to minimize the scan time of the printing members by a sequential selecting of the printing members based on the respective character use of each printing member. The controller controls the position of the paper, the carriage, and the striking of a hammer so that the characters on the printing member are coordinately printed as a first group across the predetermined area of the medium. The controller can then sequentially activate the exchange device to replace the first character member with a second character printing member for rescanning the same predetermined area of the medium to interpolate the printing of a second group of characters. Subsequent printing members can be utilized in a similar fashion until all the stored characters are printed out.

In a printer assembly for printing a large number of characters on a medium from at least three replaceable character printing members, each character printing member containing a plurality of characters with at least some characters not contained on another printing member, the improvement comprising:

a carriage means for operatively supporting a character printing member relative to the medium;
storage means for holding a plurality of character printing members;
exchange means for returning a character printing member from the carriage means to the storage means and replacing it on the carriage means with another character printing member;
character memory storage means for receiving and storing a predetermined amount and location of characters that are contained on at least three separate printing members including means for designating all of the characters to be printed from each character printing member;
control means for addressing the memory storage means and to select a first printing member and to scan the memory storage means to determine the character and location of all of the characters to be printed from the first printing member;
means for moving the medium relative to the carriage means to provide a predetermined area of the medium for printing;
means for moving the carriage means with an operative first character printing member across the predetermined area of the medium to coordinately and completely print all of the first group of designated characters from the first printing member;
and
means for sequentially activating the exchange means and control means to replace the first character printing member with a second character printing member for rescanning the previously printed predetermined area of the medium to interpolate the printing of all of a second group of designated characters from the second printing member and to further replace the second character printing member with a third character printing member to interpolate the printing of all of a third group of designated characters from the third printing member of the medium.

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Abstract

Claims15