Control system for high speed printer

Claim 1

An All-electronic control system for controlling a high-speed dot matrix printer in accordance with a permutation code signal of given pulse rate in which each code word representative of a character or of a non-print function includes a start pulse followed by a given fixed number of data pulses, comprising: an input circuit for receiving said permutation code signal; input clock means, connected to said input circuit, for generating an input clock signal having a frequency equal to a predetermined multiple of n times said pulse rate upon receipt of a start pulse by said input circuit; buffer storage means, comprising a receiving register having a capacity sufficient to store all data pulses in a code word, connected to said input circuit; shift means, connected to said input clock means, for recording the individual pulses in each code word in said buffer storage means in sequence, as received, at a given clock count; operational storage means, having a capacity sufficient to store all data pulses in a code word, connected to said buffer storage means; load means, connected to said storage means and to said input clock means, for applying a load signal to said storage means to transfer recorded data from said buffer storage means to said operational storage means, at a given clock count, upon completion of recording of the data pulses of a complete code word in said buffer storage means; and operational control means, actuated by said load means, for actuating said printer to perform a function determined by data recorded in said operational storage means during a time interval shorter than that required to record a further code word in said buffer storage means, said operational control means comprising: print clock means, actuated by said load signal, for generating a print clock signal having a frequency equal to a predetermined multiple of n times the printing rate of said printer; a step motor for stepping a dot matrix carriage through a predetermined number of column steps in reproducing each printed character; a step motor control for said step motor; a character generator connected to said operational storage means; step and print control means, connected to said print clock means, said step motor control, and said character generator, for actuating said step motor and said character generator, in timed relation to each other, at a print clock count of approximately n/2; print reset means for interrupting operation of said print clock means upon completion of a time interval corresponding to a complete character reproduction cycle; and column signal generating means, connected to said print clock means, for generating a series of distinct column signals and for applying said column signals to said character generator in sequence, to actuate a corresponding series of separate stages in said character generator, corresponding to different print columns, in the reproduction of each character.