A line matrix printer is a computer printer that is a compromise between a lineprinter and a dot matrix printer. Basically, it prints a page-wide line of dots. It builds up a line of text by printing lines of dots. Robert A. Kleist and business partner Gordon Barrus was founded the line matrix printer in 1974, and founded Printronix Inc. They envisioned a new type of printer that could be faster, more consistent and less costly than the cumbersome character printers on the market at the time. The line matrix printing included a unique shuttle-based technology that laid down a matrix of dots and print bar codes and graphics as well as the usual characters. Working out of a garage in Playa Del Ray, Calif.
Line matrix printers are regularly used for printing box labels and also invoices and reports. They print as fast as slow lineprinters, and can print bar codes and other graphics as well. When implemented as impact printers, they can be the least expensive to operate, per page. One of the most successful is to use a consistent stored energy printer arranged as a comb, and then move the comb back and forth. The forward and backward motion is called shuttling; therefore products are often referred to as "shuttle matrix". Speeds increased with products from manufacturer TallyGenicom previously Tally with the first 1,400 LPM machines. This was followed by a 1,800 LPM printer which used a newly invented dual hammerbank system where odd and even lines were printed by separate hammerbanks. Dual hammerbank machines however suffer from un-even performance and print quality, and the design was abandoned, replaced by a single hammerbank 1800 LPM model, the T6218.
TallyGenicom are also known for other significant innovations, adding exclusive features to line matrix technology. The ‘Stay Black’ or ‘Smart Ribbon’ is one. TG was a pioneer of cartridge ribbons, which present longer life and are easier for users to manage then conventional reel ribbons. By adding a unique ink replacement system based on a peristaltic pump mechanism, TallyGenicom produced the only impact printers to offer consistent print quality. The increasing importance of user productivity resulted in innovations such as ‘Auto-Gap’ where for the first time the print mechanism would calculate paper thickness and, rather than the user, set the gap. This maximizes print quality for multi-copies and eliminates user error in this area. Improvements in consistency resulted in the introduction of a shuttle mechanism with no wear parts, with ‘Life Time’ warranty.
Line matrix printers are regularly used for printing box labels and also invoices and reports. They print as fast as slow lineprinters, and can print bar codes and other graphics as well. When implemented as impact printers, they can be the least expensive to operate, per page. One of the most successful is to use a consistent stored energy printer arranged as a comb, and then move the comb back and forth. The forward and backward motion is called shuttling; therefore products are often referred to as "shuttle matrix". Speeds increased with products from manufacturer TallyGenicom previously Tally with the first 1,400 LPM machines. This was followed by a 1,800 LPM printer which used a newly invented dual hammerbank system where odd and even lines were printed by separate hammerbanks. Dual hammerbank machines however suffer from un-even performance and print quality, and the design was abandoned, replaced by a single hammerbank 1800 LPM model, the T6218.
TallyGenicom are also known for other significant innovations, adding exclusive features to line matrix technology. The ‘Stay Black’ or ‘Smart Ribbon’ is one. TG was a pioneer of cartridge ribbons, which present longer life and are easier for users to manage then conventional reel ribbons. By adding a unique ink replacement system based on a peristaltic pump mechanism, TallyGenicom produced the only impact printers to offer consistent print quality. The increasing importance of user productivity resulted in innovations such as ‘Auto-Gap’ where for the first time the print mechanism would calculate paper thickness and, rather than the user, set the gap. This maximizes print quality for multi-copies and eliminates user error in this area. Improvements in consistency resulted in the introduction of a shuttle mechanism with no wear parts, with ‘Life Time’ warranty.
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