Graphic arts printer

Claim 1

Apparatus for printing characters in the form of a plurality of line segments, each character being defined by M columns and N rows, comprising: a rotatable drum having an energy sensitive recording medium placed thereon, an energy system including an energy source, means for scanning said energy system parallel to the axis of said drum, means for modulating said energy source to record line segments on said recording media, each of said line segments having discrete beginning and end points, means for controlling said modulating means, said scanning means, and the rotation of said drum in synchronism, said controlling means including: a. information storage means storing a unique representation of each symbol to be printed; b. buffer storage means storing symbols to be printed in one line on said drum; c. a row counter for counting the N rows for each symbol; and, d. a column counter for counting the M columns for each symbol; and said drum including first and second timing tracks, said first timing track generating signals to increment said column counter and said second timing track generating signals to increment said row counters and to reset said column counter.