Dot matrix printer capable of varying character size

Claim 1

A dot matrix character printer capable of varying character size, comprising: a head having a plurality of printing elements; a step motor for moving said head a predetermined distance for each step of said motor; pulse supply means for generating periodic pulses; first counter means for counting the periodic pulses and for generating first and second signals, said first counter means having a first mode of operation for producing a first signal each time n 1 periodic pulses have been counted and a second mode of operation for producing a second signal each time n 2 periodic pulses have been counted, wherein n 1 and n 2 each are greater than one; mode selecting means for selecting one of the first and second modes of operation in accordance with the character size; second counter means for counting either the first or second signals, depending on the selected mode of operation; data storage means for storing data to be printed by said head in the form of a dot matrix; output means for comparing the count value of said second counter means with the content of said data storage means and for providing data stored in said data storage means corresponding to the count of said second counter means; head driving means for causing said head to effect a printing operation to print the data provided by said output means in response either to each of the first signals or to each of the second signals depending on the selected mode of operation; and motor driving means for driving said step motor one step in response to each periodic pulse generated by said pulse generating means to move said head a different number of the predetermined distances between each printing operation, depending on the selected mode of operation.