JPS6225320A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the versatility of a printer by providing a writing control means which controls writing to a programmable ROM by a ROM writer. CONSTITUTION:The master microprocessor 82 of a main controller 80 performs initialization processing according to an initialization program stored in a ROM 86 when powered on. Then, data of a printer control program are received from a host according to a write control program stored in the ROM 86, and the received data of the printer control program are sent to the ROM writer 85 and written in a programmable ROM 84 by the ROM writer 85. Control is started according to the program stored in the ROM 84 after the printer control program from the host is all written in the programmable ROM 84.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Gikopi Station The present invention relates to a printer.

Main users are generally type printers, dot impact printers,
In various printers such as thermal printers, thermal transfer printers, and inkjet printers, the hardware interface with the host is Centronics I/F, serial ■/F (R3-232, etc.), and GPI.
The degree has been standardized by B, etc.

However, printer controls, including protocols, function commands, etc., differ depending on the host.

Therefore, a printer compatible with a certain host cannot be controlled by a host of another model, and there is a problem that the printer lacks versatility.

Purpose This invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to improve the versatility of a printer.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is provided with a programmable ROM, a ROM writer, and a write control means for controlling writing to the programmable ROM by the ROM writer.

Hereinafter, a detailed explanation will be given based on one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an example of a dot impact printer embodying the present invention.

The outer casing of this printer consists of a lower case 1 and an upper case 2 that house a mechanical section and a control section, and a cover 3 that can be opened and closed for replacing replacement parts such as a ribbon cassette.

In addition, the operation panel 4 provided on the front of this printer has
For example, various switches such as a form feed switch, an online/offline switch, a pause switch, and various indicators such as a ribbon end indicator and a paper end indicator are attached.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are a schematic plan view and a front view showing the mechanism of this printer.

In this mechanism section, the frame 11. A platen 12, which wraps and feeds paper to be printed, is rotatably mounted between l1.

This platen 12 is moved by a motor gear 14. An idle gear 15, a gear 16° which moves together with the idle gear 15, is rotationally driven via a timing belt 17 and a platen gear 18 to automatically feed the paper.

Additionally, knobs 1 for manual operation are provided at both ends of the platen 12.
By turning these knobs 19.19, the platen 12 can be manually rotated to, for example, load or remove paper.

Furthermore, in front of this platen 12, a frame 11.
A paper pail 22 having a pail roller 21 (see FIG. 1) fitted between a pail frame 20 and 20 rotatably attached to the paper pail 11 is swingably disposed.

Furthermore, a platen gear 23 is fixed to the opposite side of the platen 12 from the platen gear 18 for transmitting driving force to a paper feeding mechanism of a paper feeder such as a form tractor.

And the guide rod 2 fixed to the frame 11.11
5 and the stay 26, the carriage 27 is placed on the platen 12.
It is placed so that it can move in parallel in the axial direction.

The carriage 27 includes a print head 28, a ribbon cassette 2 loaded with an ink ribbon, a ribbon feed mechanism 30 for feeding the ink ribbon 2 into the ribbon cassette, and the like.

Note that as the ink ribbon, a film ribbon such as a fabric ribbon or a multi-strike ribbon can be used.

A timing pulley 33 is connected directly to the rotating shaft of a space (carriage feed) motor 32 consisting of a stepping motor fixed to the subframe 31, and a timing pulley 33 is connected to the frame 11.
and a guide pulley 35 which is held under tension with a spring plate 34.

A timing belt 36 is mounted and fixed to the lower part of the carriage 27, and the carriage 27 is moved by a space motor 32.

In addition, a wire holder 41 attached to the frame 11.11
．． 41, a wire 42 for converting the movement of the carriage 27 into a ribbon feed force by the ribbon feed mechanism 30 has one end fixed directly to the wire holder 41, and the other end fixed to the wire holder 41 via a spring 43. It is fixed and upholstered.

Further, a light shielding plate 44 is attached to the left frame 11 to detect when the carriage 27 is located at the home position, and a home sensor 45 consisting of a transmission type photosensor attached to the carriage 27 detects the home position. do.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a paper end sensor 46 consisting of a reflective photosensor is attached to a deflector (not shown) for guiding paper at the rear left side of the platen 12.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a control section of this printer.

This printer controller 80 is a circuit that controls the entire printer, and is connected to the host system side via an interface (I/F) connector 81, and receives character code data, carriage movement data, and line feed from the host system side. Exchanges various I/F data such as data.

Further, this printer controller 1-roller 80 is connected to the operation panel 4 via a connector and cable (not shown), and sends and receives status signals of various panel switches attached to the operation panel 4. Sends lighting control signals for various indicators.

Next, the configuration of this printer controller 80 will be explained.

This printer controller 80 includes a mask microprocessor 82 that controls controls other than line feed control and space control among the printer controls, and a slave microprocessor 83 that controls line feed control and space control.

The printer controller 1-0-ra 80 also includes a programmable ROM 84 that stores printer control program data from the host side, and a programmable ROM 84 that stores printer control program data from the host side.
A ROM writer 85 consisting of a D/A converter 8SA and a programming circuit 85B that write data to M84, and a programmable ROM 8 by this ROM writer 85
The ROM 86 stores a write control program and the like for writing to 4.

Furthermore, this printer controller 80 has a ROM (character generator) that stores character pattern information.
87, a RAM 88 and a RAM 89 with I10 used as a working area and a data area, and a T109Q for inputting data from the host side.

The mask microprocessor 82 receives various data imported into the I10 boat 90 from the host system side and operation information from the operation panel 4.

Detection signals etc. from various sensors are read and processed based on the printer control program and write control program stored in the programmable ROM 84 and ROM 8G, and various controls are performed according to the processing results.

That is, when this master microprocessor 82 receives printer control program data from the host system side, it writes data into the programmable ROM 8 using the ROM writer 85 according to the write control program.
Write it to 4.

Also, this mask microprocessor 82.

Print data from the host side is converted into image data using a ROM 87 that stores basic pattern information, and is developed on a data buffer 88.

Further, when one line of image data is developed on the data buffer 88, this mask microprocessor 82 reads out the image data developed on the data buffer 88, transfers it to the 1/○ port of the RAM 89, and transfers it to the head Controls the drivers 91 and 92 and prints the print head 2.
8 pins (printing elements) are driven and controlled.

In addition, this microprocessor 82 controls the magnet driver 93 via ■/○ baud)-90 depending on whether unidirectional printing or bidirectional printing is performed, and operates a ribbon escape magnet S4 that cancels ribbon feeding during unidirectional printing. Performs drive control.

Furthermore, this mask microprocessor 82 has ■/
○Head temperature detection thermistor 28A provided on the print head 28 input to port 90, ribbon end sensor 95. By inputting detection signals from various sensors such as the paper end sensor 46 and the cover open switch 96,
Based on these detection results, for example, the print head 28
control of drive time (temperature control), lighting control of various indicators provided on the i-series panel 4, control of stopping and restarting printer operation, etc.

Furthermore, this mask microprocessor 82 generates carriage movement data indicating the amount and direction of carriage movement and paper feed data indicating paper feed and direction based on carriage movement data, line feed data, etc. from the host system side. It is generated and sent to the slave microprocessor 83.

The slave microprocessor 83 controls the line feed driver 98 to drive the line feed motor 13 based on the paper feed data from the mask microprocessor 82, and controls the rotation of the platen 12 to feed the paper. Do this.

Further, this slave microprocessor 83 controls the space driver 9 based on the carriage movement data from the mask microprocessor 82 to drive and control the space motor 32.

Move the carriage 27 to the required position.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained with reference to FIG. 5 as well.

When the power is turned on, the mask microprocessor 82 of the main controller 80 executes initialization processing according to the initialization program stored in the ROM on the 8th day.

Thereafter, according to the write control program stored in the ROM 86 from the host side, data of the roll program for the printer controller 1 from the host is received, and sent to the ROM writer 85 as booter write data of the received printer control program. The data of the printer control program is written into the programmable ROM 84. 'The writing of all printer control programs from the host to the programmable ROM 84 is completed.
After that, control according to the printer control program stored in the programmable ROM 84 is started.

Therefore, by transferring printer control program data corresponding to its own functions from the host side to the printer, the printer becomes compatible with the host.

As described above, since this printer is provided with a programmable ROM, a ROM writer, and a write control means for controlling writing to the programmable ROM by the ROM writer, it is possible to store a printer control program compatible with the five hosts in the printer. This increases the versatility of the printer.

In the above embodiment, an example was described in which a printer control program is stored in a programmable ROM, but in addition to this, specific information within the printer such as fonts (character pattern information) and code tables may also be written. I can do it.

It is possible to easily set the printer to functions compatible with the host.

Further, in the above embodiments, the present invention has been explained using a dot impact printer as an example, but it can be similarly implemented in various other printers such as a type printer, a thermal printer, a thermal transfer printer, an inkjet printer, etc. .

Furthermore, the present invention can be similarly applied to terminal devices other than printers.

Effects As explained above, the present invention improves the versatility of the printer.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an example of a printer embodying the present invention. FIGS. 2 and 3 are a schematic plan view and a front view showing an example of the mechanism, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control unit. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation. 80... Main controller 84... Programmable ROM 2S... ROM writer 86... ROM Figure 1 P, control by ROM program

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Programmable ROM and ROM writer, and the RO
A printer comprising a write control means for controlling writing to the programmable ROM by an M writer.