Head image generator for a matrix printer

In a dot matrix printer for printing a pattern of dots in a matrix format on a record medium including a plurality of operable print elements moveable across said medium along a given line, first memory means for storing bit patterns defining said pattern of dots, an improvement for obtaining signals to be applied to operable said print elements as they move across said medium, wherein said print elements are positioned along a path which is non-perpendicular to said given line, said improvement comprising:

• read/write memory means;
• means for reading said first memory means to obtain data therefrom defining said bit patterns in a row or column order;
• means for storing said data in said read/write memory means in an order such that adjacent locations in said read/write memory means define the operatonal state of said print elements at any incremental point as said print elements move;
• means for reading the data stored in adjacent locations of said read/write memory means to obtain said signals to be applied to operate said print elements;
• wherein said read/write memory means includes at least two portions, one portion having data stored therein by said means for storing while the other portion has data read therefrom by said means for reading;
• and
• wherein said printer further includes portion control means to control said means for storing and means for reading to alternate between said one and said other portions after all data has been stored and read.

In a dot matrix printer for printing a pattern of dots in a matrix format on a record medium including a plurality of operable print elements moveable across said medium along a given line, first memory means for storing bit patterns defining said pattern of dots, an improvement for obtaining signals to be applied to operate said print elements as they move across said medium, wherein said print elements are positioned along a path which is non-perpendicular to said given line, said improvement comprising:

• read/write memory means;
• means for reading said first memory means to obtain data therefrom defining said bit patterns in a row or column order;
• means for storing said data in said read/write memory means in an order such that adjacent locations in said read/write memory means define the operational state of said print elements at any incremental point as said print elements move;
• means for reading the data stored in adjacent locations of said read/write memory means to obtain said signals to be applied to operate said print elements;
• wherein said means for storing includes first programmed processor means and said means for reading includes second processor means;
• wherein said read/write memory means is addressable by bytes, each block of bytes representing a column consisting of a plurality of bit columns and corresponding successive bytes within each column representing a row, and
• wherein said means for reading said read/write memory means reads one bit column at a time.

In a dot matrix printer for printing a pattern of dots in a matrix format on a record medium including a plurality of operable print elements moveable across said medium along a given line, first memory means for storing bit patterns defining said pattern of dots, an improvement for obtaining signals to be applied to operate said print elements as they move across said medium, wherein said print elements are positioned along a path which is non-perpendicular to said given line, said improvement comprising:

• read/write memory means;
• means for reading said first memory means to obtain data therefrom defining said bit patterns in a row or column order;
• means for storing said data in said read/write memory means in an order such that adjacent locations in said read/write memory means define the operational state of said print elements at any incremental point as said print elements move;
• means for reading the data stored in adjacent locations of said read/write memory means to obtain said signals to be applied to operate said print elements;
• wherein said printer prints a plurality of characters on a line as said printing elements move, each character including a pattern of dots definable in a matrix format;
• wherein said means for reading said first memory means reads the data corresponding to one row of the pattern of dots for one character to be printed;
• wherein said read/write memory means has a plurality of sequentially addressable multibit locations, said locations being divided into blocks having an initial addressed location, said blocks representing columns of a matrix and said initial locations and corresponding locations from said initial locations of each block representing rows of said matrix, each row of said represented read/write memory matrix being associated with one print element and each bit column of said represented read/write memory matrix relating to the operational definition of said print elements at a particular location as said print elements move across said medium;
• and
• wherein said means for storing stores said data read from said first memory means relating to one row of dots for one character in a row of said represented read/write memory matrix in the columns of said row related to the position of said character in said line.