Automatic printer with plurality of replaceable printing members

Abstract

An automatic printer assembly capable of printing a large number of characters from a plurality of replaceable printing members and valuable in printing characters in a foreign language, such as Japanese Kanji, and the like. The printing member support carriage can align with a storage device, such as a carousel holder, to exchange printing members. A character memory storage receives an appropriately coded signal indicating a predetermined amount and location of characters that are to be printed on a predetermined area of a medium. A controller addresses the memory storage to select the appropriate character printing member. The input character information can be appropriately coded to minimize the scan time of the printing members by a sequential selecting of the printing members based on the respective character use of each printing member. The controller controls the position of the paper, the carriage, and the striking of a hammer so that the characters on the printing member are coordinately printed as a first group across the predetermined area of the medium. The controller can then sequentially activate the exchange device to replace the first character member with a second character printing member for rescanning the same predetermined area of the medium to interpolate the printing of a second group of characters. Subsequent printing members can be utilized in a similar fashion until all the stored characters are printed out.