Dot matrix printer providing multiple print pulses for one energization of a printing head stepping motor

Claim 1

A dot matrix printer with a stepping motor for relatively moving a printing head and a printing sheet, comprising: a printing head having at least one printing element for printing on the printing sheet in response to print pulses; a stepping motor for relatively moving said printing head and the printing sheet once during each excited phase of said stepping motor; motor drive signal generating means for generating a motor drive pulse; motor drive means operable in response to the motor drive pulse for exciting each phase of said stepping motor to drive said stepping motor; timer means having a set time perioid, said timer means being operable in response to the motor drive pulse for generating an additional pulse preceding the next motor drive pulse at the set time period; and head drive means for generating print pulses in response to both the motor drive pulse and the additional pulse, wherein the set time period of said timer means is selected so that the distance between dots produced in response to the print pulses is uniform.