EP0417871A1 - Device for adjusting the operation parameters of a printer, in particular of a matrix printer - Google Patents

Abstract

In a device for adjusting operation parameters of a printer, the position of a print head which can be moved reciprocally over the width of the paper tape is used as an index with respect to parameter information which is recorded parallel to the extent of the print head movement path, in a menu arrangement. <??>In order to avoid the need for the constantly repeated print-out of the operating parameters on paper, resetting of the programming at the printer can be carried out to the effect that the operating parameters (3) are visibly presented in the form of a permanent or call-up display (4) on the housing (5) of the printer and that a position detector (6) is provided on the print head (1), the momentary position symbol (7) of which detector can be presented on the display (4) for the operating parameters (3). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a device for setting operating parameters of a printer, in particular a matrix printer, with a print head that can be moved back and forth on paper bandwidth, the position of which serves as an index in relation to parameter information recorded in a menu arrangement parallel to the extension of the print head movement path. which can be permanently programmed by means of trigger elements of a control panel.

Devices of this type for setting operating parameters of a printer serve the user for setting frequently used functions and basic operator settings, such as
Types of paper feed,
Paper feeds,
Fonts (Draft, NLQ, LQ),
Character representations [fonts] and character sets,
Line and paper formats,
Printer options.

This enables the user to take advantage of all possible properties of the printer.

The device mentioned above is known from DE-C1-33 24 424. The known solution relates to a method for setting fixed operating parameters and / or selectable from a group of operating parameters, such as font, character set, display size and print format, specification for a printer sequence control in various operating modes such as BTX and EDP use. The operating parameters can be selected and stored in a function memory and are called individually and one after the other for the purpose of programming the working memory printed out line by line. The operator selects the operating parameters to be transferred to the main memory. For this purpose, in the case of a group of operating parameters of the same type, a large number of print lines must be printed out one below the other. If the user therefore wants to change the operating parameters, he must print them out. As a result, not only is the paper requirement for programming very high, but also an already initiated processing of a text is interrupted. Serial output media such as matrix printers, inkjet printers, thermal printers, type wheel printers and the like. The like. Contain a multitude of functions which are preset for operation of the device via multifunction buttons on a control panel, via so-called DIP switches or by means of menu printouts, or which are changed manually during operation. These settings require an increasing amount of device-specific knowledge. They are time-consuming and are usually difficult for the layperson to see through and handle.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of improving the known device to the effect that the programming can be reset on the printer without any printing of the operating parameter menu.

The stated object is achieved according to the invention in that the operating parameters are visibly attached to the housing of the printer in the form of a permanent or callable display and that a position detector is provided on the print head, the current position of which is shown on the display for the Operating parameters can be reproduced. This solution allows the user to query the existing programming immediately after switching on the printer or to view the operating parameters menu in order to carry out a new programming. Neither paper is required for this, nor is the printer operated. Here can the visible display next to the plain text of the function and the function parameters contain markings and can be divided into logically related functional areas. The subdivision can be selected here according to the frequency of programming and hierarchically subdivided according to programming functions. This solution allows the user greater clarity and quicker access to change the currently applicable program.

A first embodiment of the invention consists in that the operating parameters are attached in the form of attachable tabs assigned to a text scale and that the print head is equipped with a detector for the detection of the current tab positions.

As an embodiment of the invention it is proposed that the permanent or callable display consists of the text scale or an LCD display.

For different programming menus, it is advantageous if the text scale is interchangeable.

As a further improvement of the invention it is proposed that a position-dependent measuring or counting device is used as the position detector and that the position symbol on the display consists of an active or passive lighting element.

The detector advantageously consists of contactless, inductive, capacitive or optoelectronic sensors.

In a further development of the invention it is provided that the print head drive can be controlled with a rotary switch arranged in the control panel, which generates phase-related switching pulses depending on the direction of rotation , which can be evaluated both with regard to the direction of rotation and also with regard to the angle of rotation and the number of revolutions.

A further embodiment of the invention consists in that the rotary switch is formed from contact switches with a knob disk or from contactless inductive, capacitive or optoelectronic sensors.

The device can also be further improved in that a fine positioning of the position detector can be set by means of an additional button in the control panel and at the same time the operating parameter displayed on the permanent or callable display can be programmed.

• Fig. 1 einen schematischen Plan der Einrichtung mit Textskala und Drehknopf,
• Fig. 2 einen schematischen Plan der Einrichtung mit LCD-Anzeige,
• Fig. 3 einen Teil der permanenten oder aufrufbaren Anzeige in natürlicher Größe,
• Fig. 4 den Aufbau eines Druckers mit Textskala und Drehknopf,
• Fig. 5 den Aufbau eines Druckers mit Textskala und Reitern,
• Fig. 6 den Aufbau eines Druckers mit LCD-Anzeige und Drehknopf,
• Fig. 7 Anzeigeblöcke und Betriebsparameter.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and will be described in more detail below. Show it:

• 1 is a schematic plan of the device with text scale and rotary knob,
• 2 is a schematic diagram of the device with LCD display,
• 3 shows a part of the permanent or callable display in natural size,
• 4 shows the structure of a printer with a text scale and a rotary knob,
• 5 shows the structure of a printer with a text scale and tabs,
• 6 shows the structure of a printer with an LCD display and a rotary knob,
• Fig. 7 display blocks and operating parameters.

The device according to FIG. 1 is shown for a serial matrix printer. A print head 1 is moved back and forth over a print head movement path 2 which corresponds to the printable width. The matrix printer has a control panel 13 (FIGS. 4 to 6) from which the print head 1 can be controlled. In addition to its printing function, the print head 1 serves as an index in relation to parameter information recorded in a menu arrangement parallel to the extension of the print head movement path 2. The operating parameters 3 corresponding to the index of the print head 1 can be triggered by means of triggering elements, e.g. Keys 15 of the control panel 13 are permanently programmable (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

The operating parameters 3 are in the form of permanently visible or in the form of a display 4 on the housing 5 of the printer. A position detector 6 with a position symbol 7 is provided on the print head 1. An analog position symbol 7a can be shown on the display 4. For this purpose, the permanent or callable display 4 can consist of a previously printed text scale 8 (FIGS. 4 and 5) or an LCD display 9 (FIG. 6).

The position determiner 6 can be a path-dependent measuring device insofar as it is already present through the digital system of a clock disk for actuating the pressure elements or through the clocks of the driving stepping motor. The position symbol 7 on the display 4 can e.g. be formed from a light spot 10, which is generated by an active or passive light element.

A print head drive 11 for a print head 1 driven by a pull rope system 12 can be moved step by step by means of a rotary switch 14 provided in the control panel 13, depending on the direction of rotation phase-related switching pulses are generated. The switching impulses can be evaluated with respect to the direction of rotation as well as with respect to the angle of rotation and the number of revolutions as control signals comparable to the path-dependent measuring device.

The rotary switch 14 can usually be formed from contact switches with a knob disk or from contactless inductive, capacitive or opto-electronic sensors.

Fine positioning of the position detector 6 can be set by means of an additional key 15 in the control panel 13. At the same time, programming of the operating parameter 3 displayed on the permanent or callable display 4 can be carried out.

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment for the arrangement of the operating parameters 3. Here, a display block 16 for the "character density" has been formed.

An electronic logic 17 is functionally connected between the print head drive 11 and the control panel 13. The logic 17 contains a microprocessor 20, a non-erasable function and program memory 21, a non-volatile read / write memory 22 for the current operating parameters, a peripheral control unit 23 which controls the printhead drive 11, all elements via a data bus 24 and an address bus 25 are linked together.

An assignment table 27 (FIG. 7) between all programmable operating parameters and the possible positions of the position character 7 of the print head 1 is stored in the non-erasable function memory 21. The assignment table "printhead position / operating parameters" corresponds to the text scale 8 on the printer housing 5.

The control program 26 necessary for the sequence is stored in the non-erasable function and program memory 21.

An operating parameter 3 is changed in two steps. In the first step, the currently valid operating parameter is displayed within a display block 16. The print head 1 is controlled in the display block 16 to be changed on the text scale 8 by turning the rotary switch 14. The rotary switch 14 contains two digital switches offset by an angle of rotation, the switching sequences of which are evaluated by the microprocessor 20 in relation to the direction of rotation. A generated clock pair of the rotary switch 14 leads to a displacement of the print head 1 into an adjacent display block 16. The rotary switch 14 can e.g. generate four pairs of cycles per revolution. The logic recognizes the selected display block 16 on the basis of the assignment table 27 from the non-erasable function and program memory 21 and takes the currently valid operating parameter 3 from the non-volatile read / write memory of the print head 1 for the operating parameter 3 generated from the assignment table 27. A control program in the microprocessor 20 generates, by querying the position determiner 6, the necessary feed cycles in order to position the print head 1 and the position symbol 7 on the corresponding operating parameter 3 on the text scale 8. The feed cycles are forwarded by the microprocessor 20 to the peripheral control unit 23 and converted by the latter into feed signals to the print head drive 11. The operator sees the currently valid operating parameter 3 on the text scale 8 based on the position symbol 7.

In the second step, by simultaneously pressing the key 15 to the rotary switch 14 in the control panel 13 within the display block 16 Fine positioning achieved on a new parameter. The clock pulses of the rotary switch 14 are again evaluated by the microprocessor 20 in direction and clock pulses, but only for the operating parameters 3 within the display block 16. Control pulses for head movement are generated via the assignment table 27 (FIG. 7) and passed on to the peripheral control unit 23. which activates the print head drive 11. By releasing the button 15, a pulse edge is generated which allows the displayed operating parameter 3 to be loaded into the non-volatile read / write memory. The new operating parameter is now saved and up to date.

The process is to be clarified again using the example in FIG. 3. The operator wants to change the character density. In the first step, he controls the print head 1, which expediently positions itself as standard on the most frequently used display block, e.g. "Paper feed", in idle state (local or off-line), by turning the rotary switch 14 to the display block "Character density" on the text scale 8. The head position automatically adjusts to the current operating parameters, e.g. 10 CPI, one, the position symbol points to "10 CPI" on the text scale. By pressing the button 15, by rotating the rotary switch 14, the print head 1 can be moved to the right or left within the display block 16 to the adjacent operating parameters. Assuming that the rotary switch generates four cycles per revolution, in the example shown, the rotary head 1 can be set to the position "17.1 CPI" by turning the rotary switch half a revolution. By releasing switch 15, the new character density "17.1 CPI" is saved as the new current character density.

Instead of the text scale, an LCD display 9 can be used, the control of the print head 1 and the text scale 8 being imitated on the LCD display (FIG. 2).

In a further step (FIG. 5), the display 4 can consist of a text scale 8 and tabs 17, which can be moved or inserted. The rotary switch 14 is omitted. Instead of a position sign 7 or a luminous dot 10 on the print head 1, a contactless sensor 28 is adapted, which detects the position of the tabs 18. The tab 18 is queried by moving the print head 1 over the entire printable width. Reprogramming is carried out by repositioning the tabs 18 and re-initializing the query routine, which is started by the button 15.

Claims (9)

1. Device for setting operating parameters of a printer, in particular a matrix printer, with a print head which can be moved back and forth on paper bandwidth, the position of which serves as an index in relation to parameter information recorded in a menu arrangement parallel to the extension of the print head movement path, which means Trigger elements of a control panel can be permanently programmed,
characterized,
that the operating parameters (3) in the form of a permanent or callable display (4) are visibly attached to the housing (5) of the printer and that a position detector (6) is provided on the print head (1) whose current position symbol (7) can be reproduced on the display (4) for the operating parameters (3). 2. Device according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the operating parameters (3) in the form of a text scale (8) assigned, attachable tabs (17) are attached and that the print head (1) is equipped with a detector (18) for detecting the current tab positions. 3. Device according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the permanent or callable display (4) consists of the text scale (8) or an LCD display (9). 4. Device according to claims 1 to 3,
characterized,
that the text scale (8) is interchangeable. 5. Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 4,
characterized,
that a position-dependent measuring or counting device is used as the position detector (6) and that the position symbol (7) on the display (4) consists of an active or passive lighting element. 6. Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 4,
characterized,
that the detector (18) consists of contactless, inductive, capacitive or optoelectronic sensors. 7. Device according to claim 1,
characterized,
that a print head drive (11) can be controlled via a rotary switch (14) arranged in the control panel (13), which generates phase-related switching pulses depending on the direction of rotation, which can be evaluated both with respect to the direction of rotation and with respect to the angle of rotation and the number of revolutions. 8. Device according to claim 7,
characterized,
that the rotary switch (14) is formed from contact switches with a dimpled disk or from contactless inductive, capacitive or optoelectronic sensors. 9. Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 8,
characterized,
that by means of an additional key (15) in the control panel (13) a fine positioning of the position detector (6) can be adjusted and at the same time the operating parameter (3) displayed on the permanent or callable display (4) can be programmed.

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