Patent ID: 6109802
Filing Date: 2000-08-29
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A dot line printer comprising:a hammer bank that moves back and forth along a print line and accommodates a plurality of print hammers capable of printing a plurality of dot lines simultaneously with one scan of the hammer bank moving from one extreme to another;a shuttle mechanism for moving the hammer bank back and forth;printing means for performing a printing operation wherein the plurality of print hammers are selectively driven based on print data supplied on a block basis;a timer operating to measure a prescribed time when started;print restriction detecting means for starting the timer at specified intervals, counting the number of times each print hammer is driven while the timer is operating, and determining when the number of drive times counted reaches a reference value;print halting means for halting the printing operation from the time the print restriction detecting means detects the number of drive times for a print hammer has reached the reference value until the timer has completed measuring the prescribed time;expected drive number counting means for counting the number of times each print hammer is expected to be driven;print hammer changing means for changing the dot lines originally assigned for printing to the plurality of print hammers according to the number of drive times and the expected number of drive times for each print hammer; andsheet feed controller means for changing the line pitch at which paper is fed through said printer based on the change in dot lines.