Serial printing apparatus having two character generators, one which

Abstract

A printing apparatus having two character generators, one which generates characters common to a plurality of countries, comprises a keyboard for entering character codes, a first character generator for producing certain character patterns representing certain character codes common to a plurality of countries, and a second character generator for producing other character patterns representing other character codes. A buffer stores the character codes entered by a keyboard and a selection signal generator generates a selection signal in dependence on each character code stored in the buffer. The selection signal indicates that the second character generator is to be utilized to produce the other character patterns represented by the other character codes. A processor controls the operation sequence ofthe apparatus. The buffer is responsive in the absence of generation of the selection signal by the generator to access the first character generator to produce one of the certain character patterns and the processor is responsive to generation of a selection signal by the generator to access the second character generator to produce one of the other character patterns.