Epson LX-80 Benutzerhandbuch

Chapter 3

Elements of Dot Matrix Printing

This chapter is for those of you who want to know something

about how your printer works. It’s a simple, non-technical explana-

tion of the basics of dot matrix printing that will help you understand
some of the later chapters.

The LX-80 uses a print head with nine pins or wires mounted

vertically. Each time a pin is fired, it strikes the inked ribbon and
presses it against the paper to produce a dot. This dot is about 1/72nd
of an inch in diameter. The size varies slightly depending upon the age

of the ribbon and the type of paper used. As the head moves horizon-
tally across the page, these pins are fired time after time in different
patterns to produce letters, numbers, symbols, or graphics.

For example, to print a pica capital T, the head fires the top pin,

moves 1/60th of an inch, fires the top pin again, moves 1/60th of an
inch, fires the top seven pins, moves 1/60th of an inch, fires the top
pin, moves another 1/60th of an inch, and fires the top pin once more
to finish the letter. All this happens in only 1/100th of a second.