Apparatus for space synchronizing carrier and rotatable print disk

Abstract

A rotatable print disk is mounted on a carrier which traverses along the print line. The disk is moved from each character position to the next by the shortest distance at a constant velocity; thus, the time for the disk to move from a given character position to the next will be variable dependent on this distance. The carrier is moved from one print position to the next, a fixed distance, at a variable speed selected in order that carrier reach the next print position in synchronization with the disk reaching the next character position. Upon such synchronization, a print hammer is fired to print the character while the carriage continues on-the-fly towards the next print position. The apparatus includes means responsive to a synchronization failure for reversing the movement of the carrier towards the previous printing position while permitting the continued movement of the print disk to the next character position, and means for then reinitiating the forward movement of the carrier towards the next print position while retaining the print disk at said next character position until the arrival of the reinitiated carrier at the next print position.