JPH0299379A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform a self-diagnosis by a printer itself with low cost by a method wherein a diagnostic program is loaded from a set diagnostic program IC card, and the loaded diagnostic program is executed by an execution means. CONSTITUTION:IC cards 21, 22, 23, 24 store character fonts different from each other, and an IC card 3 stores a diagnostic program. When an operator sets, for example, the IC card 21 to a setting part 13, a control part 14 makes a display part 21 display the type of a character font of the IC card 21 and makes a mechanism part 11 print printing data outputted from a host counter 4 with the character font of the IC card 21. When the operator sets the IC card 3 to the setting part 13, the control part 14 makes the display part 21 display a display message 'diagnostic program'. When the operator operates switches 31, 32, 33, 34, the control part 14 executes the diagnostic program and makes the display part 21 display a display message 'end' at the completion of executing the program.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention includes a mounting part into which a character font IC card storing a character font can be mounted, and a mounting part that generates mark data and performs a print test and self-diagnosis. The present invention relates to a printer having an execution means for executing a program called a T&D program (hereinafter referred to as a diagnostic program).

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in this type of printer, character fonts are stored in an IC card, and a diagnostic program is stored in a reprintable memory for the diagnostic program, a floppy disk, or a storage device of a host computer.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional printers described above, if the diagnostic program is stored in a dedicated memory or a floppy disk, the memory capacity required for the printer increases and a floppy disk drive device is required. This has the disadvantage of high costs, and if the diagnostic program is stored in the storage device of the host computer, the diagnostic program cannot be loaded by the printer itself, so if there is a problem with the host computer, the printing test and The drawback is that self-diagnosis is not possible.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The printer of the present invention includes a diagnostic program IC card that stores a diagnostic program and is attachable to the mounting section; and control means for loading a diagnostic program from the diagnostic program IC card and causing the execution means to execute the loaded diagnostic program.

[Operation] A diagnostic program IC card storing a diagnostic program is prepared, and its mounting section is mounted in a mounting section conventionally dedicated to character font IC cards. The control means loads a diagnostic program from the installed diagnostic program IC card. The loaded diagnostic program is caused to be executed by the execution means.

[Example] Next, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the printer of the present invention.

The printer 1 of this embodiment includes a mechanism section 11 and an operation panel 12.
It has a mounting section 13 and a control section 14 inside.

The mechanism section 11 includes a print head, a platen, a motor, and the like. The operation panel 12 has a display 2 on the panel.
1 and switches 31, 32, 33, and 34.

The mounting section 13 has IC cards 2+, 2a, 2s, 2<, 3
When one of the IC cards is installed, the installed IC card and the control unit 14 are interfaced. The control unit 14 reads the contents of the IC card installed in the installation unit 13,
Input the operation of switches 31, 32, 33, 34, input the print data output from the host computer 4,
The mechanical unit 11 is instructed to print based on the input printing data. The IC cards 21-22, 23, and 24 each store a different character font. The IC card 3 stores a diagnostic program. IC card 21%2*,
2s, 24 and the IC card 3 have the same standards required for reading.

In this embodiment, the mechanism section 11 and the control section 14 operate as execution means.

Next, normal printing processing in this embodiment will be explained.

For example, the operator may use an IC card 2. When the IC card is mounted on the mounting section 13, the control section 14 detects that some kind of IC card is mounted on the mounting section 13. Then, the control section 14
The attributes set in advance on the C card 2I are read out. When the attributes are read out, the control section 14 causes the display section 21 to display the type of character font of the IC card 2I. After that, when the print data is output from the host computer 4, the control unit 1
4 causes the mechanical unit 11 to print the output print data using the character font of the IC card 2.

Next, the processing of the diagnostic program of this embodiment will be explained.

The operator inserts the IC card 3 in the same way as the IC card 21 etc.
When the IC card is inserted into the mounting section 13, the control section 14 detects that the IC card inserted into the mounting section is an IC card 3 for a diagnostic program. Then, the control unit 14 displays a message “
The diagnostic program J is displayed on the display section 21. Thereafter, when the operator operates the switches 31, 32, 33, 34, the control section 14 executes the diagnostic program. When the execution of the diagnostic program is finished, the control unit 14 switches the display display unit 21 to
Display the message "End" on the screen.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the present invention provides a diagnostic program IC card that stores a diagnostic program, and shares a mounting part with a character font IC card to store the diagnostic program. This eliminates the need for dedicated memory, a floppy disk drive, or a host computer, making it possible to perform printing tests and self-diagnosis using the printer itself at low cost.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the printer of the present invention. 1...Printer, 21.2□, 23.24.3...IC card, 4...
- Host computer, 11... Mechanism section, 12... Operation panel, 13... Mounting section, 14... Control section, 21... Display section, 31.32.33.34... Switch .

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A loading section into which a character font IC card storing a character font is installed, and an execution means for generating print data and executing a diagnostic program for performing a print test and self-diagnosis. A printer comprising: a diagnostic program IC card that stores the diagnostic program and is attachable to the mounting section;
A printer characterized in that it has a control means for loading the diagnostic program from the installed diagnostic program IC card when a card is installed in the mounting section, and causing the execution means to execute the loaded diagnostic program.