Recording position adjuster

Claim 2

A printing apparatus comprising: (a) beam forming means which, by application of character dot signals, forms a beam modulated by the character dot signals; (b) deflecting means which deflects the modulated beam; (c) a recording medium on which the modulated and deflected beam is irradiated; (d) dot signal forming means which, by application of character signals, scanning line instructing signals and character size signals forms character dot signals corresponding to the character signals and the character size signals, and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; (e) memory means having a plurality of unit memory regions for storing a plurality of character signals corresponding to characters to be recorded on said recording medium and character size signals indicating the size of the characters to be recorded; (f) character size converting means which converts character size signals read from said memory means to converted character size signals indicating a different character size; (g) instructing means which instructs whether the character signals stored in said memory means are to be utilized for recording on said recording medium in a first mode or in a second mode; and (h) control means which, when said instructing means instructs recording in the first mode, reads out the character signals and the character size signals from one of said unit memory regions in said memory means and applies the read-out signals to said dot signal forming means, and which, when said instructing means instructs recording in the second mode, reads out the character signals and the character size signals from a plurality of said unit memory regions, drives said character size converting means to obtain simultaneously converted character size signals from the character size signals read-out from said plurality of unit memory regions and applies the read-out character signals and the converted character size signals to said dot signal forming means.

Claim 3

A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said size converting means converts character size signals to converted character size signals indicating a smaller character size.

Claim 4

A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dot signal forming means includes character dot signal forming means which, by application thereto of character signals, scanning line instructing signals and character size signals, forms a plurality of character dot signals corresponding to said character signals and character size signals and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; dot signal accommodating means for accommodating a plurality of character dot signals from said character dot signal forming means; clock signal generating means which generates clock signals; and sequential read-out means which reads out sequentially the character dot signals in said accommodating means by application to said dot signal accommodating means of the clock signals obtained from said clock signal generating means.

Claim 5

A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each unit memory region has sufficient memory capacity to accommodate therein the character signals and the character size signals for recording one page of characters.

Claim 6

A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising size latch means to latch the character size signals read out of said memory means, wherein said size converting means consists of a size decoder controlled by said instructing means, said size decoder producing an output in response to application of the character size signals latched by said size latch means.

Claim 7

A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means includes read-out region selecting means to select the unit memory region from which the character signals and character size signals are to be read out.

Claim 8

A printing apparatus comprising (a) beam forming means which, by application of character dot signals thereto, forms a beam modulated by the character dot signals; (b) deflecting means to deflect the modulated beam; (c) a recording medium on which the modulated and deflected beam is irradiated; (d) dot signal forming means which, by application of character signals, scanning line instructing signals and character size signals, forms character dot signals which correspond to the character signals and character size signals and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; (e) memory means having a plurality of unit memory regions, for storing a plurality of character signals corresponding to characters to be recorded on said recording medium and character size signals indicating the size of the characters to be recorded; (f) character size converting means which converts a first character size signal read out from said memory means into a second character size signal which differs from the character size indicated by said first character size signal; (g) instructing means which instructs whether said character signals stored in said memory means are to be recorded on said recording medium in a first mode or in a second mode; (h) control means which, when said instructing means instructs recording in the first mode, reads out the character signals and the character size signal indicating the character size of the character signals from one of the unit memory regions and applies said signals to said dot signal forming means; and which, when said instructing means instructs recording in the second mode, reads out character signals and character size signals, when indicating the first character size, from a plurality of the unit memory regions, and, at the same time, drives said character size converting means to convert the first character size signals into second character size signals and applies the character signals and the associated converted second character size signals to said dot signal forming means; and (j) character dot signal suppressing means which, when the character size signals read out of said memory means indicate the second character size and said instructing means instructs the second mode, suppresses the application of character dot signals to said beam forming means.

Claim 9

A printing apparatus comprising (a) beam forming means which, by application of character dot signals thereto, forms a beam modulated by the character dot signals; (b) deflecting means to deflect the modulated beam; (c) a recording medium on which the modulated and deflected beam is irradiated; (d) dot signal forming means which, by application of character signals, scanning line instructing signals and character size signals, forms character dot signals which correspond to the character signals and character size signals and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; (e) memory means having a plurality of unit memory regions, for storing a plurality of character signals corresponding to characters to be recorded on said recording medium and character size signals indicating the size of the characters to be recorded; (f) character size converting means which converts a first character size signal read out from said memory means into a second character size signal which differs from the character size indicated by said first character size signal; (g) instructing means which instructs whether said character signals stored in said memory means are to be recorded on said recording medium in a first mode or in a second mode; (h) control means which, when said instructing means instructs recording in the first mode, reads out the character signals and the character size signal indicating the character size of the character signals from one of the unit memory regions and applies said signals to said dot signal forming means; and which, when said instructing means instructs recording in the second mode, reads out character signals and character size signals, when indicating the first character size, from a plurality of the unit memory regions, and, at the same time, drives said character size converting means to convert the first character size signals into second character size signals and applies the character signals and the associated converted second character size signals to said dot signal forming means; and (j) character dot signal suppressing means which, when the character size signals read out of said memory means indicate the second character size and said instructing means instructs the second mode, suppresses the application of character dot signals to said beam forming means.

Claim 10

A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said beam forming means consists of a semiconductor laser oscillator.

Claim 11

A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said recording medium consists of a photosensitive drum.

Claim 12

A printing apparatus comprising: (a) recording means which, by scanning a recording medium, records a character on said recording medium with dots corresponding to character dot signals; (b) dot signal forming means which, by application of character signals, scanning line instructing signals and character size signals forms character dot signals corresponding to said character signals and character size signals and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; (c) memory means which stores character signals corresponding to characters to be recorded on said recording medium and character size signals indicating the size of the characters to be recorded; (d) character size converting means for converting a first character size signal read out of said memory means into a second character size signal indicating a character size different from that represented by said first character size signal; (e) instructing means which instructs whether the character signals stored in said memory means are to be utilized for recording on said recording medium in a first mode or in a second mode; (f) control means which, when said instructing means instructs recording in the first mode, applies the character signals from said memory means and the character size signal to said dot signal forming means; and which, when said instructing means instructs recording in the second mode, converts said character size signal, when a first character size signal, into a second character size signal through said character size converting means and applies the read out character signals and converted second character size signal to said dot signal forming means; and (g) suppressing means which, when the character size signal read out of said memory means indicates a second character size and said instructing means instructs recording in the second mode, suppresses recording by said recording means.

Claim 13

A printing apparatus comprising: (a) recording means which, by scanning a recording medium, records a character on said recording medium with dots corresponding to character dot signals; (b) dot signal forming means which, by application of character signals, scanning line instructing signals and character size signals forms character dot signals corresponding to said character signals and character size signals and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; (c) memory means which stores character signals corresponding to characters to be recorded on said recording medium and character size signals indicating the size of the characters to be recorded; (d) character size converting means for converting a first character size signal read out of said memory means into a second character size signal indicating a character size different from that represented by said first character size signal; (e) instructing means which instructs whether the character signals stored in said memory means are to be utilized for recording on said recording medium in a first mode or in a second mode; (f) control means which, when said instructing means instructs recording in the first mode, applies the character signals from said memory means and the character size signal to said dot signal forming means; and which, when said instructing means instructs recording in the second mode, converts said character size signal, when a first character size signal, into a second character size signal through said character size converting means and applies the read out character signals and converted second character size signal to said dot signal forming means; and (g) suppressing means which, when the character size signal read out of said memory means indicates a second character size and said instructing means instructs recording in the second mode, suppresses recording by said recording means.

Claim 14

A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said second size signal indicates a smaller size character than that indicated by said first size signal.

Claim 15

A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said recording means comprises: beam forming means which, by application of character dot signals, forms a beam modulated by the character dot signals; deflecting means for deflecting the modulated beam; and a recording medium on which the modulated and deflected beam is irradiated.

Claim 16

A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said suppressing means comprises conversion-suppressing means which prevents the output of a converted character size signal when a second character size signal is applied thereto.

Claim 17

A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said dot signal forming means includes character dot signal forming means which, by application of character signals, scanning line instructing signals and character size signals, forms a plurality of character dot signals corresponding to the character signals and character size signals and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; dot signal accommodating means which accommodates a plurality of character dot signals from said character dot signal forming means; clock signal generating means which generates clock signals; and sequential read-out means which, by application of clock signals from said clock signal generating means to said dot signal accommodating means, sequentially reads out the character dot signals in said accommodating means.

Claim 18

A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said memory means consists of a memory having a plurality of unit memory regions for storing a plurality of character signals and character size signals.

Claim 19

A printing apparatus comprising: (a) recording means which, by scanning a recording medium, records on said recording medium characters formed by dots corresponding to character dot signals; (b) first dot signal forming means which, by application of character signals, scanning line instructing signals and character size signals, forms character dot signals corresponding to the character signals and character size signals and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; (c) second dot signal forming means which, by application of character signals, scanning line instructing signals and character size signals, forms character dot signals corresponding to the character signals and character size signals and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; (d) first memory means for storing a plurality of character signals corresponding to characters to be recorded on said recording medium and character size signals indicating the size of the characters to be recorded; (e) second memory means for storing a plurality of character signals corresponding to characters to be recorded on said recording medium and character size signals indicating the size of the characters to be recorded; (f) character size converting means which converts the character size signals read out of said first and second memory means into converted character size signals indicating a different character size; (g) first applying means which reads out character signals and size signals from said first memory means, and applies the read out character signals and converted character size signals, obtained by applying the read out character size signals to said character size converting means, to said first dot signal forming means; (h) second applying means which reads out character signals and size signals from said second memory means and applies the read out character signals and converted character size signals, obtained by applying the read out character size signals to said character size converting means, to said second dot signal forming means; (i) signal applying means for applying the character dot signals obtained from said first dot signal forming means and the character dot signals obtained from said second dot signal forming means to said recording means; and (j) synchronizing means for synchronizing the operations of said first and second applying means.

Claim 20

A printing apparatus comprising: (a) recording means which, by scanning a recording medium, records on said recording medium characters formed by dots corresponding to character dot signals; (b) first dot signal forming means which, by application of character signals, scanning line instructing signals and character size signals, forms character dot signals corresponding to the character signals and character size signals and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; (c) second dot signal forming means which, by application of character signals, scanning line instructing signals and character size signals, forms character dot signals corresponding to the character signals and character size signals and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; (d) first memory means for storing a plurality of character signals corresponding to characters to be recorded on said recording medium and character size signals indicating the size of the characters to be recorded; (e) second memory means for storing a plurality of character signals corresponding to characters to be recorded on said recording medium and character size signals indicating the size of the characters to be recorded; (f) character size converting means which converts the character size signals read out of said first and second memory means into converted character size signals indicating a different character size; (g) first applying means which reads out character signals and size signals from said first memory means, and applies the read out character signals and converted character size signals, obtained by applying the read out character size signals to said character size converting means, to said first dot signal forming means; (h) second applying means which reads out character signals and size signals from said second memory means and applies the read out character signals and converted character size signals, obtained by applying the read out character size signals to said character size converting means, to said second dot signal forming means; (i) signal applying means for applying the character dot signals obtained from said first dot signal forming means and the character dot signals obtained from said second dot signal forming means to said recording means; and (j) synchronizing means for synchronizing the operations of said first and second applying means.

Claim 21

A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said character size converting means includes a first character size converting means which converts size signals read out of said first memory means to converted character size signals indicating a different character size; and a second character size converting means which converts size signals read out of said second memory means to converted character size signals indicating a different character size.

Claim 22

A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said signal applying means comprises a logic circuit which adds together the character dot signals obtained from said first dot signal forming means and those obtained from said second dot signal forming means.

Claim 23

A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said recording means comprises: beam forming means which, by application of character dot signals, forms a beam modulated by the character dot signals; deflecting means which deflects the modulated beam; and a recording medium on which the modulated and deflected beam is irradiated.

Claim 24

A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first dot signal forming means includes first character dot signal forming means which, by application of character signals, scanning line instructing signals and character size signals, forms a plurality of character dot signals corresponding to the character signals and character size signals and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; first dot signal accommodating means which accommodates therein a plurality of character dot signals from said character dot signal forming means; clock signal generating means which generates clock signals; and first sequential read-out means which, by application of the clock signals from said clock signal generating means, sequentially reads out the character dot signals in said first accommodating means.

Claim 25

A printing apparatus comprising: (a) beam forming means which, by application of character dot signals, forms a beam modulated by the character dot signals; (b) deflecting means which deflects the modulated beam; (c) recording medium on which the modulated and deflected beam is irradiated; (d) first dot signal forming means which, by application of character signals, scanning line instructing signals and character size signals, forms character dot signals corresponding to the character signals and character size signals and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; (e) second dot signal forming means which, by application of character signals, scanning line instructing signals and character size signals, forms character dot signals corresponding to the character signals and character size signals and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; (f) first memory means for storing character signals corresponding to characters to be recorded on said recording medium and character size signals indicating the size of the characters to be recorded; (g) second memory means having a plurality of unit memory regions for storing a plurality of character signals corresponding to characters to be recorded on said recording medium and character size signals indicating the size of the characters to be recorded; (h) first character size converting means which converts the character size signals read out of said first memory means into converted character size signals indicating a different character size; (i) second character size converting means which converts the character size signals read out of said second memory means into converted character size signals indicating a different character size; (j) instructing means which instructs whether said character signals stored in said second memory means are to be utilized for recording on said recording medium in a first mode or in a second mode; (k) repetitive read-out control means which, when said instructing means instructs recording in the first mode, reads out the character signals and the character size signals from one of the unit memory regions of said second memory means and applies the read-out signals to said second dot signal forming means, and which, when said instructing means instructs recording in the second mode, reads out the character signals and the character size signals from a plurality of the unit memory regions of said second memory means and simultaneously obtains converted character size signals by driving said second character size converting means and applies these character signals and converted size signals to said second dot signal forming means, and further reads out the character signals and the character size signals repetitively from said first memory means, and simultaneously obtains converted character size signals by driving said first character size converting means and applies these character signals and converted character size signals to said first dot signal forming means; and (m) applying means which applies both the character dot signals obtained from said first dot signal forming means and the character dot signals obtained from said second dot signal forming means to said beam forming means.

Claim 26

A printing apparatus comprising: (a) beam forming means which, by application of character dot signals, forms a beam modulated by the character dot signals; (b) deflecting means which deflects the modulated beam; (c) recording medium on which the modulated and deflected beam is irradiated; (d) first dot signal forming means which, by application of character signals, scanning line instructing signals and character size signals, forms character dot signals corresponding to the character signals and character size signals and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; (e) second dot signal forming means which, by application of character signals, scanning line instructing signals and character size signals, forms character dot signals corresponding to the character signals and character size signals and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; (f) first memory means for storing character signals corresponding to characters to be recorded on said recording medium and character size signals indicating the size of the characters to be recorded; (g) second memory means having a plurality of unit memory regions for storing a plurality of character signals corresponding to characters to be recorded on said recording medium and character size signals indicating the size of the characters to be recorded; (h) first character size converting means which converts the character size signals read out of said first memory means into converted character size signals indicating a different character size; (i) second character size converting means which converts the character size signals read out of said second memory means into converted character size signals indicating a different character size; (j) instructing means which instructs whether said character signals stored in said second memory means are to be utilized for recording on said recording medium in a first mode or in a second mode; (k) repetitive read-out control means which, when said instructing means instructs recording in the first mode, reads out the character signals and the character size signals from one of the unit memory regions of said second memory means and applies the read-out signals to said second dot signal forming means, and which, when said instructing means instructs recording in the second mode, reads out the character signals and the character size signals from a plurality of the unit memory regions of said second memory means and simultaneously obtains converted character size signals by driving said second character size converting means and applies these character signals and converted size signals to said second dot signal forming means, and further reads out the character signals and the character size signals repetitively from said first memory means, and simultaneously obtains converted character size signals by driving said first character size converting means and applies these character signals and converted character size signals to said first dot signal forming means; and (m) applying means which applies both the character dot signals obtained from said first dot signal forming means and the character dot signals obtained from said second dot signal forming means to said beam forming means.

Claim 27

A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said beam forming means consists of a semiconductor laser oscillator.

Claim 28

A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said recording medium consists of a photosensitive drum.

Claim 29

A printing apparatus comprising: (a) recording means which, by scanning a recording medium, records on said recording medium characters formed by dots corresponding to character dot signals; (b) dot signal forming means which, by application of character signals, scanning line instructing signals and character size signals, forms character dot signals and character size signals corresponding to the character signals and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; (c) memory means having a plurality of unit memory regions for storing a plurality of character signals corresponding to characters to be recorded on said recording medium and character size signals indicating the size of the characters to be recorded; (d) write-in means which writes recording information consisting of the character signals and the character size signals into said memory means; (e) blank code signal generating means for generating blank code signals; (f) blank code signal write-in means which writes blank code signals from said blank code signal generating means into the remainder of said unit memory regions, when the write-in operation by said write-in means does not fill a predetermined number of unit memory regions; (g) instructing means which instructs whether said character signals stored in said memory means are to be utilized for recording on said recording medium in a first mode or in a second mode; and (h) memory region control means which, when said instructing means instructs recording in the first mode, reads out the character signals and the character size signals from one of said unit memory regions of said memory means to apply the same to said dot signal forming means, and which, when said instructing means instructs recording in the second mode, reads out the character signals and the character size signals indicating the character size of the character signals from said predetermined number of the unit memory regions for application of character signals and character size signals to said dot signal forming means.

Claim 30

A printing apparatus comprising: (a) recording means which, by scanning a recording medium, records on said recording medium characters formed by dots corresponding to character dot signals; (b) dot signal forming means which, by application of character signals, scanning line instructing signals and character size signals, forms character dot signals and character size signals corresponding to the character signals and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; (c) memory means having a plurality of unit memory regions for storing a plurality of character signals corresponding to characters to be recorded on said recording medium and character size signals indicating the size of the characters to be recorded; (d) write-in means which writes recording information consisting of the character signals and the character size signals into said memory means; (e) blank code signal generating means for generating blank code signals; (f) blank code signal write-in means which writes blank code signals from said blank code signal generating means into the remainder of said unit memory regions, when the write-in operation by said write-in means does not fill a predetermined number of unit memory regions; (g) instructing means which instructs whether said character signals stored in said memory means are to be utilized for recording on said recording medium in a first mode or in a second mode; and (h) memory region control means which, when said instructing means instructs recording in the first mode, reads out the character signals and the character size signals from one of said unit memory regions of said memory means to apply the same to said dot signal forming means, and which, when said instructing means instructs recording in the second mode, reads out the character signals and the character size signals indicating the character size of the character signals from said predetermined number of the unit memory regions for application of character signals and character size signals to said dot signal forming means.

Claim 31

A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein said dot signal forming means forms no character dot signal when a blank code signal is applied thereto.

Claim 32

A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein said blank code signal write-in means includes end detecting means which detects the end of said recording information and gate means which applies an output from said blank code signal generating means to said memory means after detection of the end of said recording information by said end detecting means.

Claim 33

A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein said write-in means includes first detecting means which detects recording information for storage in a single unit memory region and second detecting means which detects recording information for storage in a plurality of unit memory regions.

Claim 34

A printing apparatus comprising: (a) recording means which, by scanning a recording medium, records on said recording medium characters formed by dots corresponding to character dot signals; (b) dot signal forming means which, by application of character signals, scanning line instructing signals and character size signals, forms character dot signals corresponding to the character signals and character size signals and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; (c) memory means having a plurality of unit memory regions for storing a plurality of character signals corresponding to characters to be recorded on said recording medium and character size signals indicating the size of the characters to be recorded; (d) instructing means which instructs whether said character signals stored in said memory means are to be utilized for recording on said recording medium in a first mode or in the second mode; and (e) read-out means which sequentially reads out said character signals and character size signals from one of the unit memory regions in said memory means, when said instructing means instructs recording in the first mode, and which alternately reads out character signals from a plurality of said unit memory regions, when said instructing means instructs recording in the second mode.

Claim 35

A printing apparatus comprising: (a) recording means which, by scanning a recording medium, records on said recording medium characters formed by dots corresponding to character dot signals; (b) dot signal forming means which, by application of character signals, scanning line instructing signals and character size signals, forms character dot signals corresponding to the character signals and character size signals and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; (c) memory means having a plurality of unit memory regions for storing a plurality of character signals corresponding to characters to be recorded on said recording medium and character size signals indicating the size of the characters to be recorded; (d) instructing means which instructs whether said character signals stored in said memory means are to be utilized for recording on said recording medium in a first mode or in the second mode; and (e) read-out means which sequentially reads out said character signals and character size signals from one of the unit memory regions in said memory means, when said instructing means instructs recording in the first mode, and which alternately reads out character signals from a plurality of said unit memory regions, when said instructing means instructs recording in the second mode.

Claim 36

A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein said recording means comprises: beam forming means which, by application of character dot signals, forms a beam modulated by the character dot signals; deflecting means which deflects the modulated beam; and a recording medium on which the modulated and deflected beam is irradiated.

Claim 37

A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein said read-out means reads out character signals from different unit memory regions during a single scanning when said instructing means instructs recording in the second mode.

Claim 38

A printing apparatus comprising: (a) beam forming means which, by application of character dot signals, forms a beam modulated by the character dot signals; (b) deflecting means to deflect said modulated beam; (c) a recording medium, on which the beam deflected by said deflecting means is irradiated, (d) dot signal forming means which, by application of character signals and scanning line instructing signals to instruct the scanning line, forms character dot signals corresponding to said character signals and belonging to the scanning line instructed; (e) memory means having a plurality of unit memory regions for storing a plurality of character signals to be recorded on said recording medium; (f) instructing means which instructs whether said character signals stored in said memory means are to be recorded on said recording medium in a first mode or in a second mode; (g) first control means which, when said instructing means instructs the first mode, reads out the character signals from one of the unit memory regions in said memory means and applies the read-out signals to said dot signal forming means, and which, when said instructing means instructs the second mode reads out the character signals from a plurality of said unit memory region and applies the read-out character signals to said dot signal forming means; and (h) second control means which, when said instructing means instructs the second mode, controls said dot signal forming means to form on said recording medium characters smaller in size than that when said instructing means has instructed the first mode.

Claim 39

A printing apparatus comprising: (a) beam forming means which, by application of character dot signals, forms a beam modulated by the character dot signals; (b) deflecting means to deflect said modulated beam; (c) a recording medium, on which the beam deflected by said deflecting means is irradiated, (d) dot signal forming means which, by application of character signals and scanning line instructing signals to instruct the scanning line, forms character dot signals corresponding to said character signals and belonging to the scanning line instructed; (e) memory means having a plurality of unit memory regions for storing a plurality of character signals to be recorded on said recording medium; (f) instructing means which instructs whether said character signals stored in said memory means are to be recorded on said recording medium in a first mode or in a second mode; (g) first control means which, when said instructing means instructs the first mode, reads out the character signals from one of the unit memory regions in said memory means and applies the read-out signals to said dot signal forming means, and which, when said instructing means instructs the second mode reads out the character signals from a plurality of said unit memory region and applies the read-out character signals to said dot signal forming means; and (h) second control means which, when said instructing means instructs the second mode, controls said dot signal forming means to form on said recording medium characters smaller in size than that when said instructing means has instructed the first mode.

Claim 40

A printing apparatus comprising: (a) beam forming means which, by application of character dot signals, forms a beam modulated by the character dot signals; (b) deflecting means for deflecting the modulated beam; (c) a recording medium on which the modulated and deflected beam is irradiated; (d) dot signal forming means which, by application of character signals, scanning line instructing signals and character size signals forms character dot signals corresponding to the character signals and the character size signals, and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; (e) memory means having a plurality of unit memory regions for storing a plurality of character signals corresponding to characters to be recorded on said recording medium and character size signals indicating the size of the characters to be recorded; (f) character size converting means which converts character size signals read from said memory means to converted character size signals indicating a different character size; (g) instructing means which instructs whether the character signals stored in said memory means are to be utilized for recording on said recording medium in a first mode or in a second mode; and (h) control means which, when said instructing means instructs recording in the first mode, reads out the character signals and the character size signals from one of said unit memory regions in said memory means and applies the read-out signals to said dot signal forming means, and which, when said instructing means instructs recording in the second mode, reads out the character signals and the character size signals from said unit memory regions, drives said character size converting means to obtain converted character size signals from the character size signals read-out from said plurality of unit memory regions and applies the read-out character signals and the converted character size signals to said dot signal forming means.

Claim 41

A printing apparatus comprising: (a) beam forming means which, by application of character dot signals, forms a beam modulated by the character dot signals; (b) deflecting means for deflecting the modulated beam; (c) a recording medium on which the modulated and deflected beam is irradiated; (d) dot signal forming means which, by application of character signals, scanning line instructing signals and character size signals forms character dot signals corresponding to the character signals and the character size signals, and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; (e) memory means having a plurality of unit memory regions for storing a plurality of character signals corresponding to characters to be recorded on said recording medium and character size signals indicating the size of the characters to be recorded; (f) character size converting means which converts character size signals read from said memory means to converted character size signals indicating a different character size; (g) instructing means which instructs whether the character signals stored in said memory means are to be utilized for recording on said recording medium in a first mode or in a second mode; and (h) control means which, when said instructing means instructs recording in the first mode, reads out the character signals and the character size signals from one of said unit memory regions in said memory means and applies the read-out signals to said dot signal forming means, and which, when said instructing means instructs recording in the second mode, reads out the character signals and the character size signals from said unit memory regions, drives said character size converting means to obtain converted character size signals from the character size signals read-out from said plurality of unit memory regions and applies the read-out character signals and the converted character size signals to said dot signal forming means.

Claim 42

A printing apparatus comprising: (a) recording means which, by scanning a recording medium, records on said recording medium characters formed by dots corresponding to character dot signals; (b) first dot signals forming means which, by application of character signals, scanning line instructing signals, forms character dot signals corresponding to the character signals and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; (c) second dot signal forming means which, by application of character signals, scanning line instructing signals, forms character dot signals corresponding to the character signals and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; (d) first memory means for storing a plurality of character signals corresponding to characters to be recorded on said recording medium; (e) second memory means for storing a plurality of character signals corresponding to characters to be recorded on said recording medium; (f) first applying means which reads out character signals from said first memory means, and applies the read out character signals, to said first dot signal forming means; (g) second applying means which reads out character signals and size signals from said second memory means and applies the read out character signals and converted character size signals, obtained by applying the read out character size signals to said character size converting means, to said second dot signal forming means; (h) signal applying means for applying the character dot signals obtained from said first dot signal forming means and the character dot signals obtained from said second dot signal forming means to said recording means; and (i) synchronizing means for synchronizing the operations of said first and second applying means.

Claim 43

A printing apparatus comprising: (a) recording means which, by scanning a recording medium, records on said recording medium characters formed by dots corresponding to character dot signals; (b) first dot signals forming means which, by application of character signals, scanning line instructing signals, forms character dot signals corresponding to the character signals and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; (c) second dot signal forming means which, by application of character signals, scanning line instructing signals, forms character dot signals corresponding to the character signals and belonging to the instructed scanning lines; (d) first memory means for storing a plurality of character signals corresponding to characters to be recorded on said recording medium; (e) second memory means for storing a plurality of character signals corresponding to characters to be recorded on said recording medium; (f) first applying means which reads out character signals from said first memory means, and applies the read out character signals, to said first dot signal forming means; (g) second applying means which reads out character signals and size signals from said second memory means and applies the read out character signals and converted character size signals, obtained by applying the read out character size signals to said character size converting means, to said second dot signal forming means; (h) signal applying means for applying the character dot signals obtained from said first dot signal forming means and the character dot signals obtained from said second dot signal forming means to said recording means; and (i) synchronizing means for synchronizing the operations of said first and second applying means.