JP2005212363A - Printer device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer device which recognizes each low dc battery corresponding to two printer sections, which can perform printing made required for the time being even if there is no preparation of a battery to interchange and which does not make printed matter useless by failure of the printing by making it printing operation not stop in the middle of the printing of the printer section even after the recognition of the low dc battery of the printer section whose power consumption is larger, in the printer device having the two printer abilities by the two printer sections. <P>SOLUTION: The low battery is recognized from the reference value corresponding to the first printer section which performs the printing to an optical disk and the second printer section which performs the printing on a tape (steps S6, S7). When the first printer section is operated, the low dc battery is recognized corresponding to the first printer section. When the low dc battery is not recognized corresponding to the second printer section, it is made a power-saving mode and the printing operation of the first printer section is performed (step S13). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer apparatus that includes a first printer unit and a second printer unit that are driven by a battery power source in a housing of the apparatus body, and that has a low battery detection function.

  Recently, small printers can be driven by battery power. Normally, a printer device driven by a battery power source has a low battery detection function, and when a low battery is detected, a warning for prompting replacement of the battery is issued.

  Also, the printer device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-32668 has a printer function and a scanner function, sets a reference value corresponding to each function, and performs a printer operation and a scanner based on the reference value. The low battery in operation is judged.

  In this printer device, the printer operation consumes more power than the scanner operation. Therefore, for example, if the low battery in the printer function and the scanner function is determined based on the reference value according to the printer operation, the battery capacity usage efficiency for the scanner function is deteriorated, and the printer is determined according to the reference value according to the scanner operation. If the low battery is determined in the function and the scanner function, there is a risk of causing a malfunction in the printer function.

Therefore, in this printer apparatus, by setting a reference value according to each of the printer operation and the scanner operation, the use efficiency of the battery capacity is improved and the malfunction of the printer function is prevented.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-32668

  When the low battery of the printer apparatus is determined, the battery having a reduced capacity is usually replaced with a new battery. However, there is a case where the battery cannot be replaced because there is no battery to be replaced at hand. In such a case, the printing operation is continued after the determination of the low battery if the printing is stopped until the replacement battery is ready or if the printed matter is to be obtained quickly.

  In the above conventional printer apparatus, if the printer operation is continued even after the low battery is determined corresponding to the printer operation, there is a risk that the printing operation stops halfway and the printing is incomplete and the printed matter is wasted. . In particular, in the case of a printer device that performs printing on the label surface of an optical disk that records electronic data, if the printing operation stops during label printing and the printing fails, the optical disk on which electronic data is recorded is wasted. There's a problem.

  The present invention solves such a problem. In a printer apparatus having two printer functions by two printer units, the low battery corresponding to the two printer units is determined and more consumed. Even after judging the low battery of one printer unit with high power, the printing operation will not stop during the printing of that printer unit, so that the printing that is needed for the time being can be done even if the battery to be replaced is not prepared. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer device that can be performed and does not waste printed matter due to a printing failure.

  The invention of claim 1 includes a first printer unit and a second printer unit that are driven by a single battery power source, and the power consumption of the first printer unit is the power consumption of the second printer unit. A voltage detecting means for detecting a voltage of the battery power supply before starting printing or during a printing operation of the first printer section or the second printer section; Is compared with at least one or more reference values determined corresponding to each of the first printer unit and the second printer unit, and a low value corresponding to each printer unit is compared. Determining means for determining a battery; and control means for controlling the first printer unit and the second printer unit, wherein the control unit is configured to operate the first printer unit when operating the first printer unit. When the determination unit determines the low battery corresponding to the first printer unit and does not determine the low battery corresponding to the second printer unit, the power consumption is reduced and the first printer is reduced. This is characterized in that the printing operation is performed for each copy.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when the control means performs a printing operation of the first printer unit while reducing power consumption, the first printer is thinned out by printing data. This is characterized in that the printing operation is performed for each copy.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, when the control means performs the printing operation of the first printer unit while reducing power consumption, the print density is switched to a lower density. The first printer unit is controlled to perform the printing operation.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first to third aspects of the invention, the first printer unit prints on a label surface of a recording medium on which electronic data is recorded, and the second printer unit includes the recording medium. A label used for a storage case is printed on a print medium.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the printer device having two printer functions by the two printer units, it is possible to determine the respective low batteries corresponding to the two printer units before starting printing or during the printing operation. When the low battery is determined corresponding to the first printer unit with higher power consumption, the printing operation of the first printer unit is performed in order to reduce the power consumption and perform the printing operation of the first printer unit. Printing can be performed without stopping the printer, and even if there is no battery to replace, printing can be performed for the time being, and waste of printed matter caused by printing failure due to operation stoppage during printing can be eliminated. it can.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to perform the printing operation of the first printer unit with reduced power consumption by operating the first printer unit by thinning out the print data.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, it is possible to perform the printing operation of the first printer unit with reduced power consumption by switching the printing density to a lower density and operating the first printer unit.

  According to the invention of claim 4, among the first printer unit that prints on the recording medium and the second printer unit that prints on the print medium, the low battery is determined particularly for only the first printer unit. However, since the printing operation can be continued, the recording medium on which the electronic data is recorded is not wasted due to the printing failure due to the printing stop.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a printer apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the printer apparatus.

  The printer apparatus 1 includes a casing 2 as a main body of the apparatus, a first printer unit 3 for printing on a label surface of a recording medium such as an optical disk, and a second printer for printing on a tape. A printer unit 4 is provided.

  On the front side of the housing 2, a keyboard 10 including a key input unit 11 and a liquid crystal display unit 12 is attached to the front panel 2 a of the housing 2 via a hinge 13 so as to be able to move up and down. In addition, an opening 5 is provided in the side panel 2 b of the housing 2, and a tray 21 of the first printer unit 3 on which the optical disk is mounted is movably provided outside the housing 2 from the opening 5. Further, a second printer unit 4 covered with an openable / closable printer cover 6 is provided on the back side 2c of the housing 2.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a battery cover that covers a battery storage chamber (not shown) provided in the housing 2, and a battery serving as a driving power source for the printer device 1 is stored in the battery storage chamber. Reference numeral 8 denotes a cover provided on the side panel 2b and the front panel 2a for covering the opening for exchanging consumables of the first printer unit 3. Reference numeral 9 denotes an operation for ejecting the tray 21 of the first printer unit 3. This is an operation button.

  The key input unit 11 includes a character input key for inputting characters, symbols, and the like, a cursor key for moving a cursor displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 12, confirmation of various input data and selection data, an instruction to start a specific function, etc. Specific function keys to be operated when performing the operation, a power key for turning on / off the power of the apparatus, and other control keys necessary for other operations.

  FIG. 3 is a front configuration diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the first printer unit 3 provided in the casing 2 of the printer apparatus 1, and FIG. 4 is a side configuration diagram.

  A base 20 is provided inside the housing 2, and a tray 21 that supports an optical disc D as a printing object is provided on the base 20. In addition, a printer mechanism 35 is provided inside the housing 2 for printing a title or the like related to electronic information recorded on the optical disc D on the label surface of the optical disc D supported by the tray 21. Yes.

  The tray 21 includes a rectangular and plate-like tray main body 22, and the tray main body 22 is provided with a turntable 24 that supports an optical disc D so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 23. A cushioning material sheet 25 is affixed to the surface of the turntable 24, and a plurality of engaging claws 26 that engage with the inner edge of the circular hole of the optical disk D are provided at the center thereof.

  The tray 21 is guided along a pair of guide rails 27 provided on the base 20 at the upper and lower positions in the housing 2, and a predetermined storage position in the housing 2 for printing on the optical disk D, and the optical disk D It is provided so as to be movable between a discharge position outside the housing 2 that can be attached and detached.

  A rack 28 is provided on the lower side edge of the tray body 22. A tray movement motor 31 that rotates the drive gear 29 forward and backward via a drive gear 29 and a gear train 30 that mesh with the rack 28 is provided in the housing 2. Then, by operating the eject operation button 9 provided on the side panel 2 b of the housing 2, the motor 31 is rotationally driven in one direction so that the tray 21 positioned in the housing 2 opens the opening of the housing 2. It is discharged from the unit 5 to the outside of the housing 2. Further, the motor 31 is rotationally driven in the reverse direction by the operation of the operation button 9, and the tray 21 located outside the housing 2 is moved to the storage position in the housing 2.

  The turntable 24 provided on the tray 21 uses a tray rotation motor 32 provided on the back side of the tray main body 22 as a drive source, and the driving force of the motor 32 is transmitted to the rotary shaft 23 via the gear train 33 so that It is driven to rotate around.

  The tray main body 22 is provided with a rotation angle detection unit 34 including a switch for detecting the rotation angle of the turntable 24 and controlling the drive of the motor 32. The detection unit 34 is actuated by switch operating projections (not shown) provided at two positions opposite to each other at 180 ° on the outer peripheral edge of the turntable 24, and the rotation position of the turntable 24 is determined by the operation of the detection unit 34. It is configured so that it can be detected.

  A printer mechanism 35 formed of a thermal transfer printer is provided in the housing 2 so as to face the turntable 24 of the tray 21.

  The printer mechanism 35 includes a bridge-shaped printer frame 36. The printer frame 36 supports a carriage 38 on which a thermal head 37 is mounted, and constitutes a traveling path in which the carriage 38 reciprocates along the rotary table 24 in the vertical direction.

  The printer frame 36 is provided with a guide shaft 39 that slidably guides the carriage 38, and a rack 40 that meshes with a drive gear (not shown) provided on the carriage 38 when the carriage 38 travels. The carriage 38 is a self-propelled system that reciprocates along a guide shaft 39 by driving a drive gear that meshes with the rack 40 by a carriage motor 41 mounted thereon.

  A ribbon cartridge 43 containing an ink ribbon for thermal transfer printing is mounted on the front side of the carriage 38.

  Although not shown, the carriage 38 includes a head moving mechanism that moves the thermal head 37 between a printing position and a non-printing position by a cam mechanism or the like using the motor 41 as a driving source, and a carriage that uses the motor 41 as a driving source. A ribbon take-up mechanism for taking up the ink ribbon by driving the ribbon take-up shaft 42 provided at 38 is provided.

  In the first printer unit 3, the head moving mechanism is operated by the forward rotation of the motor 41, and the thermal head 37 is moved to a printing position where it abuts against and presses the label surface of the optical disk D on the rotary table 24. While maintaining the position, the carriage 38 is moved upward from the lower initial position in FIGS. 3 and 4 while the rotary table 24 is stopped and the optical disk D is stationary, thereby performing printing. During this printing, the ribbon take-up shaft 42 is driven by the forward rotation of the motor 41, and the ink ribbon used for thermal transfer is taken up.

  When the printing is finished, the thermal head 37 is moved to the non-printing position separated from the label surface of the optical disk D by the reverse drive of the motor 41 and is held at that position, and the carriage 38 is moved as shown in FIGS. The return movement is made from the upper side to the lower initial position. The ribbon winding mechanism is provided with a one-way clutch mechanism, and the ribbon winding shaft 42 is not driven when the carriage 38 returns.

  In the first printer unit 3, rectangular printing corresponding to the width (printable width) of the heating element array of the thermal head 37 and the moving distance (printable length) of the thermal head 37 by one printing operation is performed. Printing can be performed in the area. Here, 128 heat generating elements are arranged on the thermal head 37, the printable width is 16 mm, and the printable length is 74 mm.

  Further, the first printer unit 3 can perform printing on one or two printing areas on the label surface of the optical disc D by one or two printing operations. When printing is performed at two places on the label surface, the tray rotating motor 32 is driven to return the turntable 24 to 180 ° after completion of printing at the first place after the carriage 38 is returned to the initial position or during the return. After the rotation, the second printing operation is performed by moving the carriage 38 in the printing operation direction from the initial position and performing the second printing operation in the same manner as the first printing operation.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1, A on the label surface of the optical disc D indicates a first print area, and B indicates a second print area. If printing is performed at only one place, printing is performed on the printing area A, and if printing is performed at two places, printing is performed sequentially on the printing areas A and B.

  The letters “CD-R” on the optical disc D represent the pre-printed portion P. In the optical disk D having the pre-printed portion P, the pre-printed portion P is used as a reference for alignment when the pre-printed portion P is mounted on the turntable 24 of the tray 21.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the optical disc D is mounted on the turntable 24 of the tray 21 with the pre-printed portion P facing down. After the tray 21 loaded with the optical disk D is housed in the housing 2, before the start of printing, the turntable 24 rotates 180 ° so that the printing area A on the optical disk D corresponds to the printer mechanism 35. Printing is performed in the printing area A. In the case of printing in two places, the turntable 24 is further rotated by 180 °, and printing is also performed on the B printing region.

  FIG. 5 is a front configuration diagram showing a configuration of a second printer unit 4 provided on the back side of the printer apparatus 1 for printing on a tape.

  The second printer unit 4 includes a tape cartridge loading unit 50 covered with a printer cover 6 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. A tape cartridge 51 containing a tape-shaped printing medium and a printing medium (ink ribbon 52 and thermal transfer printing tape 53) is loaded. Note that the printing tape 53 is configured by printing on the front surface and attaching image receiving paper having an adhesive on the back surface to the release paper.

  The tape cartridge loading unit 50 transports the ink ribbon 52 and the thermal transfer printing tape 53 by being thermally driven by a thermal head 56 that performs printing by thermally transferring the ink on the ink ribbon 52 to the printing tape 53 and a driving mechanism (not shown). A tape printer mechanism 55 including a platen roller 57 and a ribbon take-up shaft 58 that takes up the ink ribbon 52 that is used while being rotated together with the platen roller 57 by the drive mechanism is provided.

  The thermal head 56 has 128 heating elements with a width of 16 mm, and this heating element array is arranged in the width direction of the print tape 53 loaded in the tape cartridge loading section 50.

  The tape cartridge loading unit 50 is provided with a receiving base 60 that receives a corner portion of the tape cartridge 51 and an alignment protrusion 61 that engages and positions the tape cartridge 51. The receiving cartridge 60 has a tape cartridge loading unit 50. There is provided a tape cartridge detector 62 for detecting the type of tape cartridge 51 loaded in the cartridge, that is, the width of the tape by a combination of a plurality of switches. The tape cartridge 51 is formed with a tape width identifying portion 51a having a shape corresponding to the width of the tape accommodated in the corner portion, and a plurality of switches of the tape cartridge detecting portion 62 are turned on / off by the tape width identifying portion 51a. The tape width can be detected by the operating combination.

  In addition, a conveyance path 63 is formed from the tape cartridge loading unit 50 to the outside of the housing 2, and the printing tape 53 after printing is discharged at an end portion of the conveyance path 63 located at the side surface of the housing 2. A discharge port 64 is provided. In the vicinity of the discharge port 64, there is provided a fixed cutter 66 and a movable blade 67, and a full cutting cutter 65 for cutting the printing tape 53 by moving the movable blade 67 toward the fixed blade 66 by a drive mechanism (not shown). Furthermore, a movable blade 69 and a blade receiving portion 70 for receiving the movable blade 69 are provided, and a half cutter 68 for cutting the image receiving paper portion while leaving the release paper portion of the printing tape 53 is provided.

  The tape cartridge 51 loaded in the second printer unit 4 includes a tape spool 53a around which a printing tape 53 is wound, a ribbon supply spool 52a around which an ink ribbon 52 is wound, and a ribbon around which the ink ribbon 52 is wound. A take-up spool 52b is incorporated. As this tape cartridge 51, for example, a plurality of different types such as tape widths of 6 mm, 9 mm, 12 mm, 18 mm, and 24 mm are prepared.

  In the second printer unit 4, when the platen roller 57 is driven during the printing operation, the thermal head 56 is in a state where the print tape 53 and the ink ribbon 52 are overlaid from the tape cartridge 51 loaded in the tape cartridge loading unit 50. After the thermal transfer printing is performed by the thermal head 56, the printing tape 53 is discharged out of the housing 2 from the discharge port 64 through the conveyance path 63.

  At the same time, the ribbon take-up shaft 58 is driven, and the ink ribbon 52 used for printing is taken up by the ribbon take-up spool 52b. When printing is completed, the full cutting cutter 65, or the half cutter 68 and the full cutting cutter 65 are operated to cut the printing tape 53 and separate it as a label.

  FIG. 6 shows a configuration of an electric circuit of the printer apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. The printer apparatus 1 includes a control unit (CPU) 80 that controls the first printer unit 3 and the second printer unit 4, and the control unit 80 includes a ROM 81 and a RAM 82.

  The ROM 81 stores program data such as a system program for controlling the operation of each unit of the printer apparatus 1. The ROM 81 also stores energization time table data for setting energization times for the heating elements of the thermal heads 37 and 56 of the first printer unit 3 and the second printer unit 4.

  The first printer unit 3 is capable of printing operation in two modes, a normal mode and a power saving mode. The energization time table for driving the thermal head 37 of the first printer unit 3 includes the normal mode and the power saving mode. It is provided corresponding to each of. In this power saving mode, compared with the normal mode, the energization time of the thermal head 37 is shortened to reduce power consumption. For this reason, the printing density in the power saving mode is lower than that in the normal mode, but the energization time is set to such an extent that there is no practical problem.

  The ROM 81 stores reference voltage value data a, b, c, d for determining low batteries of the first printer unit 3 and the second printer unit 4. This reference voltage value is used for determining the low battery when the voltage of the battery 93 is checked using a pseudo load before the start of printing and when the voltage of the battery 93 is checked during a printing operation. Reference voltage value data b and d are provided corresponding to the unit 3, and reference voltage value data a and c are provided corresponding to the second printer unit 4.

  In the voltage check before starting printing, the thermal heads 37 and 56 and the motors 41 and 88 of each printer unit are used as pseudo loads, and half of all the heating elements of the thermal heads 37 and 56 are energized and the step motor 41 is used. The battery voltage is checked in a state where excitation to the magnetic poles of 88 and 88 is held. In the case of the first printer unit 3, the low battery is determined based on the reference voltage value b, and in the case of the second printer unit 4, the low battery is determined based on the reference voltage value a.

  In the voltage check during the printing operation, the battery voltage is detected during printing of one line of the thermal heads 37 and 56, and the reference voltage value d of the first printer unit 3 or the reference voltage value of the second printer unit 4 is detected. The low battery of each printer unit is determined based on c.

  The RAM 82 includes an input data memory for storing input data, a print data memory for storing print pattern data, and the like, and temporarily stores operation mode flags and data necessary for the print operation. .

  Further, the key input unit 11 and the display unit 12 are connected to the control unit 80, and a font ROM 83 that generates character fonts for display and printing is connected to the control unit 80.

  The tray moving motor 31 and the tray rotating motor 32 provided in the first printer unit 3 are connected to the control unit 80 via motor drivers 84 and 85, and are rotated and driven under the control of the control unit 80. Is moved in and out of the housing 2 and the turntable 24 is rotated.

  A carriage motor 41 provided in the first printer unit 3 is connected to a control unit 80 via a motor driver 86 and is driven under the control of the control unit 80 to move the carriage 38, and the thermal head 37 It is connected to the control unit 80 via the head driver 87. A detection signal from the rotation angle detection unit 34 of the tray 21 is supplied to the control unit 80.

  The second printer unit 4 is provided with a tape transport motor 88 and a cutter motor 90, which are connected to the control unit 80 via motor drivers 89 and 91, respectively. The tape transport motor 88 rotates the platen roller 57 to transport the printing tape 53, and the cutter motor 90 operates the full cutting cutter 65 and the half cutter 68 to perform full cutting and half cutting of the printing tape 53.

  The thermal head 56 provided in the second printer unit 4 is connected to the control unit 80 via a head driver 92. The control unit 80 is supplied with a detection signal from the tape cartridge detection unit 62.

  The printer apparatus 1 includes a battery 93 as a driving power source. In FIG. 6, 94 is a power switch, and 95 to 98 are voltage converters. The voltage converter 95 converts the battery voltage of DC12V to DC3.3V, and the voltage converter 96 converts the battery voltage to DC20.5V. The voltage converter 98 converts the battery voltage into DC5V. The voltage converter 97 always maintains a DC voltage of 12 V and outputs it because the battery voltage decreases with consumption.

  Reference numerals 99 to 101 denote switching circuits which are inserted between the battery 93 and the voltage converters 95 to 98 and are controlled by the control unit 80. When the first printer unit 3 is driven, the switching circuits 99 and 101 are turned on. The switching circuits 100 and 101 are turned on when the second printer unit 4 is driven, and the switching circuits 99 to 101 are turned on when the first printer unit 3 and the second printer unit 4 are driven in parallel. . Reference numeral 102 denotes a voltage detector for monitoring the battery voltage by the controller 80, which detects the voltage across the battery 93 and outputs a voltage detection signal to the controller 80.

  In this printer apparatus 1, a voltage of 3.3 V DC output from the voltage converter 95 is supplied as an operating voltage to each unit of the control unit 80, ROM 81, RAM 82, ROM 83, key input unit 11 and display unit 12. The In addition, a DC voltage of 20.5 V output from the voltage converter 96 is supplied as an operating voltage to the thermal head 37, the carriage motor 41, and the motor driver 86 of the first printer unit 3.

  A DC 12V voltage output from the voltage converter 97 is supplied as an operating voltage to the thermal head 56, the tape transport motor 88, the motor driver 89, the cutter motor 90, and the motor driver 91 of the second printer unit 4. . Further, a voltage of DC 5 V is supplied from the voltage converter 98 to the head driver 87 of the first printer unit 3 and the head driver 92 of the second printer unit 4.

  In the printer apparatus 1, the power consumption of the first printer unit 3 is 10.5W, and the power consumption of the second printer unit 4 is 7.5W. The reference voltage values for determining the low battery are set to a = 7.2V, b = 8.0V, c = 7.0V, and d = 7.8V. In this printer apparatus 1, if the battery voltage is b or d or higher as a result of checking the battery voltage using the first printer unit 3, the first printer unit 3 is operated in the normal mode, and the first printer As a result of checking the battery voltage using the unit 3, if the battery voltage is less than b or d and the result of checking the battery voltage using the second printer unit 4, the battery voltage is a or c or more, 1 printer unit 3 is operated in the power saving mode. Further, as a result of checking the battery voltage using the second printer unit 4, the second printer unit 4 can operate if the battery voltage is a or c or higher, and if the battery voltage is less than a or c. The first printer unit 3 and the second printer unit 4 become inoperable because the battery is consumed greatly. As described above, the values of the reference voltage values a to d are determined so that the first printer unit 3 and the second printer unit 4 can ensure the above-described operations.

  Next, the printing operation by the printer apparatus 1 will be described.

  7 to 10 are flowcharts showing the control flow of the printer apparatus 1.

  The apparatus is turned on, data to be printed is input from the key input unit 11 and editing is performed (step S1), and the printer that prints the data is either the first printer unit 3 or the second printer unit 4. This is selected by designating (step S2). The selection of the printer unit is performed by selecting either “optical disk” or “tape” displayed on the selection screen of the display unit 12. This “optical disk” means the first printer unit 3, and “tape” means the second printer unit 4.

  When there is an instruction to start printing by operating the key input unit 11 (step S3), the voltage detector 102 is used for each of the first printer unit 3 and the second printer unit 4 using a pseudo load before starting the printing operation. To detect the voltage values V1 and V2 of the battery 93 (steps S4 and S5), determine whether the detected voltage value V2 corresponding to the second printer unit 4 is equal to or higher than the reference voltage value a, and then the first printer unit 3 It is determined whether the detected voltage value V1 corresponding to the reference voltage value b is greater than or equal to (steps S6 and S7).

  When the voltage value V2 is greater than or equal to the reference voltage value a and the voltage value V1 is greater than or equal to the reference voltage value b, that is, the low battery is determined for both the first printer unit 3 and the second printer unit 4. If the battery capacity is sufficient, it is determined whether the printer unit selected in step S2 is the first printer unit 3 for optical disk printing (Yes in step S6, Yes in S7, S8). .

  If it is determined that the printer unit selected in step S8 is the first printer unit 3, the thermal head 37 is driven in accordance with the energization time determined by the normal mode energization time table provided in the ROM 81, and the first printer unit 3 is driven. The printer unit 3 performs printing on the optical disk (Yes in step S8, S9).

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the printer unit selected in step S8 is not the first printer unit 3, thermal processing is performed according to the energization time determined by the energization time table corresponding to the second printer unit 4 provided in the ROM 81. The head 56 is driven and printing is performed on the tape by the second printer unit 4 (No in step S8, S10).

  On the other hand, when the detected voltage value V2 is greater than or equal to the reference voltage value a and the detected voltage value V1 is less than the reference voltage value b, that is, the low battery is not determined corresponding to the second printer unit 4. If the low battery is determined corresponding to the first printer unit 3, a warning that the remaining battery level is low is displayed on the display unit 12, and then the printer unit selected in step S 2 It is determined whether the printer unit 3 is one (Yes in step S6, No in S7, S11, S12).

  If it is determined that the printer unit selected in step S 12 is the first printer unit 3, the thermal head 37 is driven according to the energization time determined by the energization time table in the power saving mode provided in the ROM 81. The printer unit 3 performs printing on the optical disk (Yes in step S12, S13). That is, the low battery is not determined corresponding to the second printer unit 4, but in the state where the low battery is determined corresponding to the first printer unit 3, the battery capacity is less than the first printer unit 3. Since it is insufficient to operate in the normal mode, the power saving mode is used to suppress the power consumption.

  If it is determined that the printer unit selected in step S12 is not the first printer unit 3, the thermal process is performed according to the energization time defined by the energization time table corresponding to the second printer unit 4 provided in the ROM 81. The head 56 is driven and printing is performed on the tape by the second printer unit 4 (No in step S12, S14).

  If the detected voltage value V2 is less than the reference voltage value a according to the determination in step S6, the battery is consumed and the battery needs to be replaced. The process ends (No in step S6, S15, end).

  Next, the printing operation in the normal mode of the first printer unit 3 in step S9 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The thermal head 37 and the carriage motor 41 of the first printer unit 3 are driven, and the battery voltage is detected by the voltage detector 102 during printing of one line of the thermal head 37 (step S91).

  In step S92, it is determined whether the detected voltage value V1 in step S91 is greater than or equal to the reference voltage value d. If the detected voltage value V1 is greater than or equal to the reference voltage value d, it is determined whether printing of data to be printed has been completed, If not completed, the process returns to Step S91 (Yes in Step S92, No in S93, S91). Then, the processes in steps S91 to S93 are repeated, and if it is determined in step S93 that printing has ended, the process returns to FIG. 7 and ends (Yes in step S93, return).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S92 that the detected voltage value V1 in step S91 is less than the reference voltage value d (No in step S92), it is determined whether printing of data to be printed has been completed. The battery voltage is detected using the second printer unit 4 as a pseudo load (No in step S94, S95). Then, it is determined whether the detected voltage value V2 is equal to or greater than the reference voltage value a. If the detected voltage value V2 is equal to or greater than the reference voltage value a, a warning that the remaining battery level is low is displayed on the display unit 12. Thereafter, the first printer unit 3 is caused to perform a printing operation in the power saving mode (Yes in steps S96, S97, and S98). That is, the thermal head 37 is driven according to the energizing time determined by the energizing time table in the power saving mode provided in the ROM 81.

  In this way, during the printing operation in the normal mode of the first printer unit 3, a low battery is determined corresponding to the first printer unit 3 (No in step S92), and the second printer unit 4 is checked. Correspondingly, when the low battery is not determined (Yes in step S96), the normal mode is switched to the power saving mode, and the printing of the first printer unit 3 is continued according to the energization time table corresponding to the power saving mode. .

  If it is determined in step S94 that printing of data has been completed, the process returns to FIG. 7 and ends (Yes in step S94, return). If it is determined in step 94 that the detected voltage value V2 is less than the reference voltage value a, a warning that the battery needs to be replaced is displayed on the display unit 12, and the process returns to FIG. No in S96, S99, return).

  Next, FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second printer unit 4 shown in steps S10 and S14 of FIG.

  The tape transport motor 88 is driven, and the thermal head 56 is driven according to the energization time determined by the energization time table corresponding to the second printer unit 4 provided in the ROM 81, and the voltage is detected during printing of the one print line. The battery voltage is detected by the device 102 (step S101).

  In step S102, it is determined whether or not the detected voltage value V1 is greater than or equal to the reference voltage value c. If the detected voltage value V1 is greater than or equal to the reference voltage value c, it is determined whether or not printing of all print lines has been completed (Yes in step S102). , S103).

  If printing of all the print lines is completed, the process returns to FIG. 7 and ends (Yes in step S103). If it is determined in step S102 that the detected voltage value V1 is less than the reference voltage value c, a warning message for prompting battery replacement is displayed on the display unit 12 and the process returns to FIG. 7 and ends (No in step S102, S104). ,return).

  Next, FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first printer unit 3 in the power saving mode shown in step S13 of FIG.

  The carriage motor 41 is driven, and the thermal head 37 is driven according to the energizing time determined by the energizing time table of the power saving mode provided in the ROM 81, and printing is performed on the optical disc by the first printer unit 3 (step S131). .

  In step S132, it is determined whether printing of all the printing lines is completed. If printing of all the printing lines is not completed, the process returns to step S131 to print the next one line (No in step S132, S131). When the printing of all the printing lines is completed, the process returns to FIG. 7 and ends (Yes in step S132, return).

  In this printer apparatus 1, as described above, the power saving mode for the optical disk in step 13 even after the low battery determination (No in step S 7) is made corresponding to the first printer unit 3 in step S 7. The low battery reference values a, b, c, and d are set so that printing can be performed.

  Further, as described in step S13 and step S98, the first printer unit 3 enables the printing operation in the low battery state by driving the thermal head 37 by the energization time table corresponding to the power saving mode. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and operation may be performed while reducing power consumption by thinning out print data. The print data of odd dots or even dots of the heating elements for one line of the thermal head 37 is uniformly thinned out. For example, pattern data for thinning out odd data for black data and white data for even dots is provided in the ROM 81, and the print data for power saving obtained by ANDing each line of the pattern data and the print data is stored in the RAM 82. These are sequentially produced, and these are sequentially transferred to the thermal head 37 and driven. Although even dots are missing and the printing quality is lowered, it can be used practically without any problem.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of printing by the processing of FIGS. 7 to 10, wherein FIG. 11A is an example of printing on an optical disk, and FIG. 11B is an example of printing on a label created by a printing tape. Show.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, the first printer unit 3 performs printing on the label surface of the optical disc D in the two areas of the printing area A and the printing area B in accordance with the direction of the pre-printing portion P. In each print area, a title relating to electronic data recorded on the optical disc D and a heading of data content are printed.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 11B, the same data as the data printed on the label surface of the optical disk D is used, and this is printed on a printing tape and cut into a predetermined length to produce labels L1 and L2. This is used by being affixed to the outer surface of the case C for housing the optical disk D.

  As described above, the printer apparatus 1 includes the first printer unit 3 for printing the optical disk D and the second printer unit 4 for printing the printing tape (label) in the same casing, and thus is related to each other. Conveniently, direct printing on the label surface of the optical disk and label printing for the disk storage case can be performed by a single device.

  In the description of FIGS. 7 to 10, the battery voltage is detected and the low battery is determined in steps S4 to S7 before the printing operation of the first printer unit 3 or the second printer unit is started. During the printing operation of the first printer unit 3 or the second printer unit, the battery voltage is detected and the low battery is determined in steps S91, S92, S95, S96, S101, S102, etc. The battery voltage detection and the low battery determination may be performed only before the start of printing or only during the printing operation.

  As described above, according to the printer device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the low batteries corresponding to the first printer unit 3 and the second printer unit 4 are installed before starting printing or during the printing operation. When the low battery is determined corresponding to the first printer unit 3 that can be determined and consumes more power, the printing operation of the first printer unit 3 is performed in the power saving mode that saves power consumption. The necessary printing can be performed without interrupting the printing and even when the replacement battery is not prepared at hand.

  In addition, since printing can be continued without stopping the printing operation of the first printer unit 3, it is possible to eliminate waste of printed matter due to printing failure due to operation stop during printing. In particular, since the first printer unit 3 is a printing device for printing on an optical disc, the optical disc on which electronic information is recorded is not wasted due to a printing failure, and has a great practical effect.

1 is an overall perspective view of a printer apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The side view of the printer apparatus. FIG. 3 is a front configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a first printer unit of the printer apparatus. FIG. 3 is a side configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a first printer unit of the printer apparatus. The front block diagram which shows the structure of the principal part of the 2nd printer part of the printer apparatus. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electric circuit of the printer apparatus. 6 is a flowchart showing a control flow of the printer apparatus. 6 is a flowchart showing a control flow of the printer apparatus. 6 is a flowchart showing a control flow of the printer apparatus. 6 is a flowchart showing a control flow of the printer apparatus. Explanatory drawing of the example of printing of the 1st printer part and the 2nd printer part.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer apparatus, 2 ... Housing | casing, 3 ... 1st printer part, 4 ... 2nd printer part, 10 ... Keyboard, 11 ... Key input part, 12 ... Liquid crystal display part, 20 ... Base, 21 ... Tray, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 23 ... Rotating shaft, 24 ... Turntable, 25 ... Buffer material sheet, 27 ... Guide rail, 31 ... Tray movement motor, 32 ... Tray rotation motor, 34 ... Rotation angle detection part, 34 ... Detection part, 35 ... Printer mechanism, 37 ... Thermal head, 38 ... Carriage, 41 ... Carriage motor, 42 ... Ribbon take-up shaft, 43 ... Ribbon cartridge, 50 ... Tape cartridge loading section, 51 ... Tape cartridge, 52 ... Ink ribbon, 53 ... Printing tape for thermal transfer, 55 ... tape printer mechanism, 56 ... thermal head, 57 ... platen roller, 65 ... full cutting cutter, 68 ... half cutter, 80 ... control unit (CP ), 81 ... ROM, 82 ... RAM, A, B ... printing region, C ... storage case, D ... optical disk, L1, L2 ... label,

Claims (4)

A printer apparatus comprising a first printer unit and a second printer unit driven by a single battery power source, wherein the power consumption of the first printer unit is greater than the power consumption of the second printer unit Because
Voltage detection means for detecting a voltage of the battery power supply before starting printing or during a printing operation of the first printer unit or the second printer unit;
The voltage value detected by the voltage detection means is compared with at least one reference value determined corresponding to each of the first printer unit or the second printer unit, and each printer unit is compared. A determination means for correspondingly determining a low battery;
Control means for controlling the first printer unit and the second printer unit;
With
When the first printer unit is operated, the control unit determines that the low battery is determined by the determination unit corresponding to the first printer unit, and the low printer corresponds to the second printer unit. A printer apparatus, wherein when the battery is not judged, the first printer unit performs a printing operation while saving power consumption.   2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the printing operation of the first printer unit is performed while reducing power consumption, the printing operation of the first printer unit is performed by thinning out print data. The printer device described in 1.   The control means controls to perform the printing operation of the first printer unit by switching the printing density to a lower density when the printing operation of the first printer unit is performed while saving power consumption. The printer apparatus according to claim 1.   The first printer unit prints on a label surface of a recording medium for recording electronic data, and the second printer unit prints a label used for a storage case of the recording medium on a printing medium. The printer device according to claim 1.

Images