Cromemco 3355A Technical specifications

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Crornernco
3355A PRINTER
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
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~ CROMEMCO, Inc.
280 Bernardo Avenue
Mountain View, CA 94043
Part no. 023-6007 March 1980
,fM-.-..."
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PROPRIETARY NOTICE
The information and design disclosed herein were originated by
and are the property of Nippon Electric Company, Limited
(NEC)• NEC reserves all patent, proprietary design,
manufactur ing, reproduction use, and sales rights thereto, and
to any article disclosed therein, except to the extent rights
are expressly granted to others. The foregoing does not apply
to vendor proprietary parts.
Speci fications remain subject to change to allow introduction
of design improvements.
Copyright 1979~
NEC Information Systems, Inc.
5 Militia Drive
Lexington, MA 02173
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CONTENTS
Page
CHAPTER 1 GENERAL INFORMATION
1 .1 FEATURES ..................•..•....•....•..••...•... 1-1
1.1.1
1.1.2
1.1.3
1.1.4
Print Element ...•.............••..•..••.• 1-1
Spacing and Forms Positioning ..........•• 1-2
Interface Functions and Maintenace Aids .. 1-3
Paper Handling 1-3
1 •2 0 PT ION S ...................•........................ 1- 5
1.2.1
1.2.2
1.2.3
1.2.4
Forms Handling Options ..........•........ 1-5
Cover Assembly .........................•• 1-6
Printer Stand ............•............... 1-6
Power Supply .............•..............• 1-6
~1.3 SUPPLIES AND ACCESSORIES .....•..•..•............... 1-6
1.3.1
1.3.2 Pr int Rib bons ............•..•..•........• 1- 6
Print Thimble ..................•......... 1-7
1.4 SPECIFICATIONS ...............•..................... 1-7
1.5 RELATED DOCUMENTS 1-7
CHAPTER 2 INSTALLATION
2.1 PRELIMINARY INSPECTION .•......•.................•.. 2-1
2.2 UNPACKING/REPACKING INFORMATION 2-1
2.3 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 2- 4
2.3.1
2.3.2
2.3.3
Operating Environment ............••...... 2-4
Space and Weight Data 2-4
Power Requirements ............•.......... 2-4
2.4 INSTALLATION PROCEDURES ................•........... 2-4
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2.4.1
2.4.2
2.4.3
2.4.4
2.4.5
Visual Inspection .
Power On and Initialization Test .
Diablo-Compatible Interface, Self-Test .
8080 Bus Line Interface Self-Test .
QUME-Compatible Interface Self-Test .
iii
2-4
2-7
2-8
2-9
2-10

CONTENTS (contd)
CHAPTER 3 INTERFACE INFORMATION
Page
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3.2 MODEL 5501 DIABLO-COMPATIBLE INTERFACE .
3.1 MODEL 5502 - 8080 BUS LINE INTERFACE •...••.••••••••
3.3 MODEL 5503 - QUME-COMPATIBLE INTERFACE .........•..
3.1.1
3.1.1.1
3.1.1.2
3.1.1.3
3.1.2
3.1.3
3.1.4
3.2.1
3.2.1.1
3.2.1.2
3.2.1.3
3.2.1.4
3.2.1.5
3.2.2
3~2.2.1
3.2.2.2
3.2.2.3
3.2.2.4
3.2.2.5
3.2.3
3.2.4
3.2.5
3.3.1
3.3.1.1
3.3.1.2
3.3.1.3
3.3.1.4
3.3.1.5
3.3.1.6
Interface Lines ....•.....................
Device Select (DSLO) .•.....•.•...••.•••..
Address Bus (ABOO - AB30) .•..........•...
Data Bus (DBOO - DB70) ....•••.••...•....•
Interface Connector Type, Cable and pin
As s i9 nm e n ts .•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.........•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•...•
Interface Signals Timing .•..•.•...•....••
Interface Logic Elements •....•........•.•
SPINWRITER Input Lines ............•••.•..
Select Printer .
Data Li nes .
Strobe Lines .
Res tor e to .•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•
Ri bbon Li ft .
SPINWRITER Output Lines .•....••.•••...••.
Ready Lines .•.•...••.•...•..•.......•• .I ••
Check 0 .•.•.•
Pa pe r 0ut " .
Cover Open Cl .•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•
Rib bon 0 utc .•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•
Interface Connector Type, Cable, and pin
As s i9 nme n ts .
Interface Signals Timing ...•.•.•.........
Interface Logic Elements .
SPINWRITER Input Lines .
Printer Select .
Data Lines ......................•........
Strobe Lines .
Restore .
Rib bon Li£t .
Top of Form .
iv
3-1
3-1
3-1
3-13-1
3-5
3-53-5
3-7
3-83-8
3-8
3-93-9 ~J
3-10 3-103-10
3-10
3-11
3-11
3-11
3-11
3-11
3-13
3-15
3-15
3-15
3-153-17
3-17
3-173-17 .-.-/

~CONTENTS (contd)
Page
3.3.2
3.3.2.1
3.3.2.2
3.3.2.3
3.3.2.4
3.3.2.5
3.3.3
3.3.4
3.3.5
SPINWRITER Output Lines ............•.....
Ready Lines .
Check ...............•.....•.......•.•...•
Pa pe r 0ut .
Cover Open ..........•.....•.............•
Ribbon Out .
Interface Connector Type, Cable,'and pin
As 5i9 nme nts •••..••••••••..••••.•.••••.••.
Interface Signals Timing ...........•.....
Interface Logic Elements ~ .
3-18
3-18
3-18
3-20
3-20
3-20
3-20
3-20
3-22
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APPENDIX A DC POWER REQUIREMENTS A-I
APPENDIX B INTERFACE PCB SWITCH FUNCTIONS B-1
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Figure
1-1
1-2
2-1
2-2
2-3
2-4
2-5
2-6
ILLUSTRATIONS
Title Page
Print Thimble 1-2
Superscript, Subscript and Plotting Features •• 1-3
Unpacking/Repacking Diagram •.................. 2-2
SPINWRITER Basic Mechanism Dimensions,
Top vi ew 2~ 5
SPINWRITER Basic Mechanism Dimensions,
Fr on tVi ew 0 Cl ••••••••••••••••.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 2--5
SPINWRITER Basic Mechanism Dimensions,
Left Side View 2-6
SPINWRITER Dimensions With Cover, Front View .. 2-6
SPINWRITER Dimensions With Cover, Left Side
Vi ew .•...•...•.•.•...•...•.........•.....•.......•.................•...•...•...•.•...... 2- 7
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2-7
2-8
2-9
2-10
3-1
3-2
3-3
3-4
3-5
3-6
3-7
3-8
3-9
3-10
3-11
3-12
3-13
3-14
3-15
3-16
3-17
3-18
3-19
3-20
3-21
3-22
3-23
A-I
A-2
Diab1o-Compatib1e Interface PCB Switch
Lac at ion .
Model 5500 Test Pattern (Typical) ......•......
Test Switch Location, G9CUQ Board .
Test Switch Location, G9CUT Board .
8080 Bus Interface Lines ..•...................
8080 Bus Interface Character Command •..•....•.
8080 Bus Interface Carriage Command ...•.......
8080 Bus Interface, Line Feed Command .•....•..
8080 Bus Interface, Input Data .
8080 Bus Interface Timing Diagram .
8080 Bus Interface Logic Elements .........•...
Diab1o-Compatib1e Interface Lines .
Diab1o-Compatib1e Interface Character Data ..•.
Diab1o-Compatib1e Interface Carriage
Movement Data .
Diab1o-Compatib1e Interface, Line Feed Data ...
Print Wheel Strobe Pulse Timing, Diab1Q-
Compatible Interface .............•........•...
Space-Before-Print Timing Sequence .
Space-After-Print Timing Sequence .
Diab1o-Compatib1e Interface Logic Elements .
Qume-Compatib1e Interface Lines .
Qume-Compatib1e Interface, Character Data •....
Qume-Compatib1e Interface, Carriage Movement
Data Cl .•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•
Qume-Compatib1e Interface, Line Feed Data .....
Character Strobe Timing, Qume-Compatib1e
Interface .
Space-Before-Print Timing Sequence .
Space-After-Print Timing Sequence .
Diab1o-Compatib1e Interface Logic Elements .
Mother Board Connectors .
Dimensions and Parts Location Area of Board ..~
vi
2-8
2-10
2-11
2-12
3-2
3-3
3-4
3-4
3-5
3-6
3-7
3-8
3-9
3-10
3-10
3-12
3-13
3-14
3-14
3-15
3-16
3-16
3-17
3-20
3-21
3-21
3-22
A-I
A-2
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Figure
A-3
B-1
B-2
B-3
ILLUSTRATIONS (contd)
Title Page
Power On Reset Signal (RST) Timing A-4
Model 5502, 8080 Bus-Interface PCB Switch
Functions B-1
Model 5501, Diablo-Compatible Interface PCB
Switch Functions B-1
Model 5503, Qume-Compatible Interface PCB
Switch Functions ...•..•....................... B-2
TABLES
Parts Required for Paper Handling Systems ..... 1-4
Paper width Accommodations ...............•.... 1-4
Model 5500 Specifications 1-8
8080 Bus Interface Connector pin Assignments .. 3-6
Diablo-Compatible Interface Connector pin
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Table
1-1
1-2
1-3
3-1
3-2
3-3
3-4
A-l
A-2
Title
As si 9 nme nts •••.•••••.•••••.•••••••••••••••••••
Top of Form Length ....•.......................
Qume-Compatible Interface Connector pin
Ass i9nmen ts •.•.•••.•••••••••.••••.•••••.••••.•
DC Voltages and Pin Connections (PCB) .
Current Ratings and Power Regulations .
Page
3-12
3-18
3-20
A-3
A-3
vii

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CHAPTER 1
GENERAL INFORMATION
This document descr ibes the NEC Model 5500 Ser ies SPINWRITER
printer basic OEMmechanism with various options.
The Model 5500 SPINWRITERis a microprocessor controlled serial
impact pr inter which pr i nts fully formed character s bidi rec-
tionally at a rate of up to 55 characters per second (maxi-
mum). It is designed for applications in which impeccable
print quality and multiple copy capability are required. The
SPINWRITER
1Sexcellent pr i nt qual i ty permi ts the pr inter to be
the ideal output device for word processing and Optical Char-
acter Recognition (OCR) applications.
The Model 5500 is the basic SPINWRITERmechanism with control
electronics. Options available include a power supply, cover
assembly, forms handling options, and stand with forms recei v-
ing tray. Interface options include Model 5501, Oiablo-
compatible interface; Model 5503, Qume-compatible interface; or
Model 5502, a unique 8080 bus line interface for low cost
interconnection with a compatible controller or computer.
1.1 FEATURES
The Model 5500 Series SPINWRITERhas a range of standard and
optional features that permit it to operate in most
applications required of character printers.
1.1.1 Print Element·
The SPINWRITER's unique small-diameter, low-mass pr int element
is a low-cost, long-life, fiberglass reinforced plastic
thimble. The thimble, Figure 1-1, is produced by cylindrically
arranging and molding 64 individual spring action fingers on
which two characters may be mounted, one above the other, for a
maximum of 128 characters. Print thimbles that contain up to
125 characters have a cutout so that the last characters
printed are fully visible to the operator.
Pri.nt thimble rotate motion is under servo control for fast,
accurate bidirectional positioning; and microprocessor control
selects the fastest route to the next character to be printed.
During 0geration, the print thimble rotates in a horizontal
plane and is lifted up or down to the selected print position.
1-1

Figure 1-1 Print Thimble
The pr int hammer mounted wi thin the pr int thimble str i kes the
selected finger causing it to flex forward and impact against
the ribbon (print medium) which transfers the character image
onto the form in a manner similar to a standard typewriter ..
The ribbon is contained in a cartr idge which
placed. The ribbons are available in black
colors, and come in fabric and multi-strike film.
is eas ily re-
and red/black
Character pr inti ng intensi ty is automatically controlled by an-----./
internal microprocessor in four steps corresponding to each
character. Thi s feature extends pr int thimble life and pro-
duces high quali ty pr inted characters (regardless of type style
used) . Also, an impress ion control swi tch, access ible to an
operator, can further adjust the character impressions to pro-
duce the desired print intensity.
1.1.2 Spacing and Forms Positioning
Advanced servo motor control design for carriage spacing and
print element positioning, and stepper motor control of the
paper movement and ribbon drive system result in exceptional
print quality.
The SPINW""RITERoffers as a standard fea ture 10 and 12 pi tch,
and proportional spacing with bidirectional printing. The
printer can print 136 positions per line (10 pitch) or 163
positions per line (12 pitch) .
Further versatility is offered by its superscripting and sub-
scripting capabilities (refer to Figure 1-2). Graphics and
plotting capabilities are inherent SPINWRITER features.
Character and line posi tions are directly addressable in four
axes, left and right horizontal with a resolution of 1/120th of
an inch, and up and down ver tical with a resol ution of 1/48 th
of an inch (refer to Figure 1-2).
1-2