Signal priority logic for serial printer

Claim 2

In a serial printer comprising a carriage movable along a predetermined path, a print member rotatably mounted to said carriage and including a plurality of character elements, first drive means coupled to said print member for rotating said print member to a desired rotational position, second drive means coupled to said carriage for moving said carriage to a desired position along said path, and control apparatus coupled to said first drive means for controlling the direction and speed of rotation of said print member and coupled to said second drive means for controlling the direction and speed of rotation of said carriage, said control apparatus comprising: first means for receiving and storing a first signal indicative of said desired rotational position of said print member; second means for receiving and storing a second signal indicative of said desired position of said carriage along said path; means coupled to said first and second means for receiving and storing for generating a third signal if said first signal was received before said second signal; and means coupled to said means for generating and responsive to said third signal for controlling said first drive means to rotate said print member to said desired rotational position before controlling said second drive means to move said carriage to said desired position along said path.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for generating includes means for generating a fourth signal if said second signal was received before said first signal.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said means for controlling includes means responsive to said fourth signal for controlling said first and second drive means substantially simultaneously in order to effect the substantial simultaneous rotation of said print member to said desired rotational position and movement of said carriage to said desired position along said path.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for generating comprises latch means having a first input coupled to said first means for receiving and storing for receiving said first signal, a second input coupled to said second means for receiving and storing for receiving said second signal, and an output at which said third signal is developed.

Claim 6

The apparatus to claim 2, wherein said means for generating comprises latch means having a first input coupled to said first means for receiving and storing for receiving said first signal, a second input coupled to said second means for receiving and storing for receiving said second signal, and an output at which said third and fourth signals are alternately developed.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said means for controlling includes means responsive to said fourth signal for controlling said first and second drive means substantially simultaneously in order to effect the substantial simultaneous rotation of said print member to said desired rotational position and movement of said carriage to said desired position along said path.

Claim 8

In a serial printer comprising a carriage movable along a predetermined path, a print member rotatably mounted to said carriage and including a plurality of character elements, first drive means coupled to said print member for rotating said print member to a desired rotational position, second drive means coupled to said carriage for moving said carriage to a desired position along said path, and control apparatus coupled to said first drive means for controlling the direction and speed of rotation of said print member and coupled to said second drive means for controlling the direction and speed of movement of said carriage, said control apparatus comprising: first means for receiving and storing a first signal indicative of said desired rotational position of said print member; second means for receiving and storing a second signal indicative of said desired position of said carriage along said path; means coupled to said first and second means for generating a third signal if said second signal was received before said first signal; and means coupled to said means for generating and responsive to said third signal for controlling said first and second drive means substantially simultaneously in order to effect the substantial simultaneous rotation of said print member to said desired rotational position and movement of said carriage to said desired position along said path.

Claim 9

In a serial printer comprising a carriage movable along a predetermined path, a print member rotatably mounted to said carriage and including a plurality of character elements, first drive means coupled to said print member for rotating said print member to a desired rotational position, second drive means coupled to said carriage for moving said carriage to a desired position along said path, and control apparatus coupled to said first drive means for controlling the direction and speed of rotation of said print member and coupled to said second drive means for controlling the direction and speed of movement of said carriage, said control apparatus comprising: first means for receiving and storing a first signal indicative of said desired rotational position of said print member; second means for receiving and storing a second signal indicative of said desired position of said carriage along said path; means coupled to said first and second means for generating a third signal if said second signal was received before said first signal; and means coupled to said means for generating and responsive to said third signal for controlling said first and second drive means substantially simultaneously in order to effect the substantial simultaneous rotation of said print member to said desired rotational position and movement of said carriage to said desired position along said path.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said means for generating comprises latch means having a first input coupled to said first means for receiving and storing for receiving said first signal, a second input coupled to said second means for receiving and storing for receiving said second signal, and an output at which said third signal is developed.

Claim 11

In a serial printer comprising a frame, a record material feed apparatus coupled to said frame and capable when drive of advancing a record material mounted thereon a desired amount, a rotatable print member mounted to said frame and including a plurality of character elements, first drive means coupled to said print member for rotating said print member to a desired rotational position, second drive means coupled to said feed apparatus for advancing a record material mounted thereon a desired amount, and control apparatus coupled to said first drive means for controlling the direction and speed of rotation of said print member and coupled to said second drive means for controlling the direction and speed of advance of a record material mounted to said feed apparatus, said control apparatus comprising: first means for receiving and storing a first signal indicative of said desired rotational position of said print member; second means for receiving and storing a second signal indicative of said desired amount of advance of a record material by said feed apparatus; means coupled to said first and second means for receiving and storing for generating a third signal if said first signal was received before said second signal; and means coupled to said means for generating and responsive to said third signal for controlling said first drive means to rotate said print member to said desired rotational position before controlling said second drive means to advance a record material mounted to said feed apparatus by said desired amount.

Claim 12

In a serial printer comprising a frame, a record material feed apparatus coupled to said frame and capable when drive of advancing a record material mounted thereon a desired amount, a rotatable print member mounted to said frame and including a plurality of character elements, first drive means coupled to said print member for rotating said print member to a desired rotational position, second drive means coupled to said feed apparatus for advancing a record material mounted thereon a desired amount, and control apparatus coupled to said first drive means for controlling the direction and speed of rotation of said print member and coupled to said second drive means for controlling the direction and speed of advance of a record material mounted to said feed apparatus, said control apparatus comprising: first means for receiving and storing a first signal indicative of said desired rotational position of said print member; second means for receiving and storing a second signal indicative of said desired amount of advance of a record material by said feed apparatus; means coupled to said first and second means for receiving and storing for generating a third signal if said first signal was received before said second signal; and means coupled to said means for generating and responsive to said third signal for controlling said first drive means to rotate said print member to said desired rotational position before controlling said second drive means to advance a record material mounted to said feed apparatus by said desired amount.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said means for generating includes means for generating a fourth signal if said second signal was received before said first signal.

Claim 14

The control apparatus of claim 10, wherein said means for controlling includes means responsive to said fourth signal for controlling said first and second drive means substantially simultaneously in order to effect the substantial simultaneous rotation of said print member to said desired rotational position and advance of a record material mounted to said feed apparatus said desired amount.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said means for generating comprises latch means having a first input coupled to said first means for receiving and storing for receiving said first signal, a second input coupled to said second means for receiving and storing for receiving said second signal, and an output at which said third signal is developed.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said means for generating comprises latch means having a first input coupled to said first means for receiving and storing for receiving said first signal, a second input coupled to said second means for receiving and storing for receiving said second signal, and an output at which said third and fourth signals are alternately developed.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said means for controlling includes means responsive to said fourth signal for controlling said first and second drive means substantially simultaneously in order to effect the substantial simultaneous rotation of said print member to said desired rotational position and advance of a record material mounted to said feed apparatus said desired amount.

Claim 18

In a serial printer comprising a frame, a record material feed apparatus coupled to said frame and capable when driven of advancing a record material mounted thereon a desired amount, a rotatable print member mounted to said frame and including a plurality of character elements, first drive means coupled to said print member for rotating said print member to a desired rotational position, second drive means coupled to said feed apparatus for advancing a record material mounted thereon a desired amount, and control apparatus coupled to said first drive means for controlling the direction and speed of rotation of said print member and coupled to said second drive means for controlling the direction and speed of advance of a record material mounted to said feed apparatus, said control apparatus comprising: first means for receiving and storing a first signal indicative of said desired rotational position of said print member; second means for receiving and storing a second signal indicative of said desired amount of advance of a record material by said feed apparatus; means coupled to said first and second means for receiving and storing for generating a third signal if said second signal was received before said first signal; and means coupled to said means for generating and responsive to said third signal for controlling said first and second drive means substantially simultaneously in order to effect the substantial simultaneous rotation of said print member to said desired rotational position and advance of a record material mounted to said feed apparatus said desired amount.

Claim 19

In a serial printer comprising a frame, a record material feed apparatus coupled to said frame and capable when driven of advancing a record material mounted thereon a desired amount, a rotatable print member mounted to said frame and including a plurality of character elements, first drive means coupled to said print member for rotating said print member to a desired rotational position, second drive means coupled to said feed apparatus for advancing a record material mounted thereon a desired amount, and control apparatus coupled to said first drive means for controlling the direction and speed of rotation of said print member and coupled to said second drive means for controlling the direction and speed of advance of a record material mounted to said feed apparatus, said control apparatus comprising: first means for receiving and storing a first signal indicative of said desired rotational position of said print member; second means for receiving and storing a second signal indicative of said desired amount of advance of a record material by said feed apparatus; means coupled to said first and second means for receiving and storing for generating a third signal if said second signal was received before said first signal; and means coupled to said means for generating and responsive to said third signal for controlling said first and second drive means substantially simultaneously in order to effect the substantial simultaneous rotation of said print member to said desired rotational position and advance of a record material mounted to said feed apparatus said desired amount.