JP2008265220A - Printing control method of dot impact printer and dot impact printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing control method or the like of a dot impact printer which can well perform impact printing on an object of printing even if a plurality of recording wires are unevenly worn. <P>SOLUTION: The printing control method of a dot impact printer which performs printing by impact printing by selectively projecting and withdrawing a plurality of wires provided in the recording head, has a wear measuring process to measure the amount of wear of the recording wires and the impact printing timing correction process to correct the impact printing timing of the recording wires. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a dot impact printer printing control method and a dot impact printer that perform printing by stamping a plurality of recording wires selectively with respect to an object to be printed.

Conventionally, as a dot impact printer of this type, a print head equipped with a plurality of print wires, a platen provided to face the print head via an ink ribbon and print paper, and the print head is separated from the platen The thing provided with the separation mechanism to make it known is known (for example, refer to patent documents 1). By the way, since the printing surface of the printing wire is worn by the printing, in this dot impact printer, the gap between the print head and the platen is separated by the separation mechanism based on the total number of times of printing of the plurality of printing wires. The interval is adjusted.
JP-A-5-77520

  However, according to the above configuration, it is effective when a plurality of printing wires are worn evenly. However, when a plurality of printing wires are worn unevenly, that is, a worn printing wire and a print that is not worn. When printing on an object to be printed with a mixture of wires, the gap between the platen and the worn print wire is different from the gap between the platen and the unworn print wire. If stamping is performed at the timing of the stamping, a time difference occurs in the stamp arrival time on the printing object. For this reason, when printing is performed by scanning the print head, the dots printed with a worn print wire and the dots printed with a non-worn print wire are misaligned, resulting in a print object. On the other hand, there is a problem that it cannot be printed well.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a dot impact printer printing control method and a dot impact printer that can satisfactorily stamp a print target even when each of a plurality of recording wires wears unevenly. And

  The dot impact printer printing control method of the present invention is a dot impact printer printing control method in which a plurality of recording wires provided in a recording head are selectively protruded and projected to perform printing by stamping. It is characterized by comprising a wear amount measuring step for measuring each amount, and a stamping timing correcting step for correcting the stamping timing of each recording wire based on the measured wear amount.

  Further, the dot impact printer of the present invention is a dot impact printer that performs printing by stamping by selectively projecting a plurality of recording wires provided in a recording head, and measuring the wear amount of each of the plurality of recording wires. It is characterized by comprising quantity measuring means and stamping timing correcting means for correcting the stamping timing of each recording wire based on the measured wear amount.

  According to this configuration, by correcting the printing timing of each recording wire in accordance with the wear amount of each of the plurality of recording wires, there is no time difference in the arrival time of the printing object. For this reason, even if it is in the state where the recording wire which was worn out and the recording wire which is not worn out are mixed, it is possible to make a good stamp on the printing object.

  In the former case, it is preferable that the stamping timing correction process corrects the stamping timing of each recording wire with a large amount of wear earlier than each recording wire with a small amount of wear.

  In the latter case, it is preferable that the stamping timing correcting means corrects the stamping timing of each recording wire with a large amount of wear earlier than that of each recording wire with a small amount of wear.

  According to this configuration, for example, when each recording wire with a large amount of wear takes a longer time to reach the printing object than the recording wires with a small amount of wear, the amount of wear is small. By making the printing timing of each recording wire with a large amount of wear earlier for each recording wire, it is possible to allow a time difference in the time to reach the printing object.

  In the former case, the wear amount measuring step includes a stamping number measuring step of measuring the cumulative number of stamps of each recording wire, and a wear amount setting step of setting an estimated amount of wear of each recording wire based on the cumulative stamping number. It is preferable to have.

  In the latter case, the wear amount measuring means includes a stamping number measuring means for measuring the cumulative number of stamps of each recording wire, and a wear amount setting means for setting an estimated wear amount of each recording wire based on the cumulative stamping number. It is preferable to have.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to determine the estimated wear amount of each recording wire only by measuring the cumulative number of stamps of each recording wire, so that the wear amount measuring means can have a simple configuration.

  In the latter case, it is preferable that the stamping timing correcting unit corrects the stamping timing of each recording wire when the cumulative stamping number measured by the stamping number measuring unit exceeds a predetermined number.

  According to this configuration, the predetermined number is set to the number of stamps estimated to have worn the recording wire, and the stamping timing of each recording wire is corrected when the cumulative number of stamps exceeds the predetermined number. Can do. That is, the stamping timing of each recording wire can be corrected when it is estimated that the recording wire is worn.

  In this case, each recording wire has a guaranteed number of stamps that guarantees the number of stamps that can be stamped. If the cumulative number of stamps by the stamp number measuring means exceeds the guaranteed number of stamps, the recording head must be replaced. It is preferable to further include an exchange calling means for notifying that.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to notify the user of an appropriate replacement time of the recording head by inducing the replacement of the recording head by the replacement inducing means.

  Hereinafter, a dot impact printer printing control method and a dot impact printer according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This dot impact printer selectively prints a plurality of recording wires mounted on a recording head so as to print on a printing paper.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the dot impact printer 1 has an outer shell formed by an apparatus case 5, and an operation liquid crystal panel 6 is provided on the upper front right side of the apparatus case 5. The opening / closing cover 8 that covers the printing mechanism 10 is formed with a paper opening 7 for feeding printing paper and discharging printed printing paper. Then, the printing mechanism 10 stored inside the apparatus case 5 performs printing on the printing paper S that has been input from the paper opening 7 and discharges the printed printing paper S from the paper opening 7. Although details will be described later, the liquid crystal panel (replacement urging means) 6 is configured to display a message for urging the replacement of the recording head 17.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the printing mechanism 10 stored in the apparatus case 5 includes an apparatus frame 15, a recording head 17 on which a plurality of recording wires 16 are mounted, and a carriage 18 on which the recording head 17 is mounted. A pair of carriage guide shafts 19 laid in parallel to the apparatus frame 15 so as to reciprocate the carriage 18 in the width direction (main scanning direction) of the printing paper S, and a carriage that moves the carriage 18 in the main scanning direction. A moving mechanism 20 and a platen 21 that is disposed to face the recording head 17 and span the apparatus frame 15 are provided. One end of the platen 21 is connected to a paper feed motor 26 via a gear train 25 and feeds the printing paper S in the sub-scanning direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the printing mechanism 10 is provided with a paper guide 27 that guides the loaded printing paper so as to face between the platen 21 and the recording head 17.

  The carriage moving mechanism 20 includes a carriage motor 28 serving as a driving source, a driving pulley 29 supported by an output shaft of the carriage motor 28, a driven pulley 30, and a timing belt stretched over the driving pulley 29 and the driven pulley 30. The carriage 18 is fixed to the timing belt 31. Although not shown, the carriage moving mechanism 20 is provided with a linear encoder that detects the head position of the recording head 17 and performs printing by the recording head 17 based on head position detection by the linear encoder. It is configured as follows.

  The plurality of recording wires 16 provided in the recording head 17 are configured to protrude and retract from the head surface of the recording head 17 using a plurality of solenoids provided so as to correspond to these as driving sources. In other words, each recording wire 16 appears and disappears by applying a current to each solenoid. An ink ribbon faces the front of the plurality of recording wires 16 in the protruding direction. The recording head 17 moves forward in the main scanning direction via the carriage 18 and moves to the platen 21 via the ink ribbon and the printing paper S. The ink of the ink ribbon is transferred to the printing paper S by hitting each recording wire 16. As a result, printing by stamping is performed on the printing paper S for one line, and then the printing paper S is sub-scanned by the platen 21, and then printing is performed while the recording head 17 is moved backward. Is repeated, printing is performed on the printing paper S.

  As shown in FIG. 3, for example, 24 recording wires 16 are provided, and are arranged in parallel with respect to the recording head 17 in a total of two rows, ie, the front row and the rear row in the main scanning movement direction. Further, the recording head 17 is rotated in the θ direction on the head surface so that each recording wire 16 in the rear row faces the center between the recording wires 16 in the front row.

  Here, the head control of the recording head 17 will be described with reference to FIGS. A head control circuit 40 that controls the recording head 17 is detected by a stamping start signal generation circuit 41 that generates a stamping start signal, a power supply voltage detection circuit 42 that detects a head drive power supply voltage, and a power supply voltage detection circuit 42. An energization pulse generation circuit 43 that generates a drive pulse signal for each recording wire 16 based on the power supply voltage, and wire correction data for correcting the printing timing of each recording wire 16 based on the wear amount of each recording wire 16 A wire drive data correction circuit (printing timing correction means) 44 for generating The stamping start signal generation circuit 41 generates a stamping start signal corresponding to the stamping density of each recording wire 16 based on the encoder signal received from the linear encoder, and the control unit 45 of the dot impact printer 1. Request print data.

  The head control circuit 40 counts the number of stamps on each recording wire 16 based on the print data sent from the control unit 45 of the dot impact printer 1 in response to the print data request from the stamp start signal generation circuit 41. The number-of-printing-counting circuit 46, the wire distribution circuit 47 that distributes the dots printed by the recording wire 16 in the front row and the dots printed by the recording wire 16 in the back row based on the print data, and the recording wire in the back row A rear row wire drive delay circuit 48 for delaying the 16 printing timings, and a wire for driving the plurality of recording wires 16 based on the printing timing of the front row recording wires 16 and the delayed printing timing of the recording wires 16 in the rear row. A wire drive data generation circuit 49 for generating drive data and a wire drive data generation circuit 49 A wire drive signal output circuit 50 that outputs a wire drive signal for driving each recording wire 16 based on the generated wire drive data and the wire correction data generated by the wire drive data correction circuit 44. Yes.

  Here, the stamping timing of each recording wire 16 based on the wire drive signal will be described with reference to FIG. First, based on the encoder signal, the stamp start signal generation circuit 41 generates a stamp start signal and outputs a print data request signal to acquire print data. The acquired print data is sent to the stamp count circuit 46, and the stamp count circuit 46 counts the stamp number of each recording wire 16 based on the print data. Thereafter, the print data is temporarily stored (buffered), and the wire drive data is generated via the wire distribution circuit 47, the rear wire drive delay circuit 48, and the wire drive data generation circuit 49 based on the stored print data. To do. Thereafter, the wire drive data and the wire correction data generated by the wire drive data correction circuit 44 are output to the wire drive signal output circuit 50. When the generated stamping start signal is received, the wire drive signal output circuit 50 outputs a wire drive signal to excite the solenoid and drive each recording wire 16. At this time, the stamping timing of each recording wire 16 differs depending on the wear amount of each recording wire 16, and the larger the wear amount, the earlier the stamping timing after receiving the stamping start signal. It is configured.

  Next, correction of the stamping timing based on the wear amount of each recording wire 16 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, each recording wire 16 is provided with a guaranteed number of stamps that guarantees the number of stamps that can be stamped. This guaranteed number of stamps is a ROM (not shown) provided in the control unit 45 of the dot impact printer 1. ) And the cumulative number of stamps of each recording wire 16 is stored in this ROM.

  When the power switch of the dot impact printer 1 is turned on, the dot impact printer 1 reads each accumulated stamp number stored in the ROM (S1), and each read accumulated stamp number exceeds the guaranteed stamp number. If there is a recording wire 16 exceeding the guaranteed number of stamps, a message indicating that the recording head 17 needs to be replaced is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 6 (S3). Next, the estimated wear amount of each recording wire 16 is set based on the read cumulative number of stamps. This estimated wear amount is an amount that is estimated to be a predetermined amount of wear if the cumulative number of stamps exceeds a predetermined number (threshold), and is determined in advance by experiments or the like. When the estimated wear amount of each recording wire 16 is set, the printing timing of each recording wire 16 corresponding to the estimated wear amount is set (S4). That is, as described above, the wire correction data is generated so that the printing timing of each recording wire 16 having a large amount of wear is earlier than that of each recording wire 16 having a small amount of wear (see FIG. 5). After the wire correction data is generated, the count value of the stamp count circuit 46 is cleared (S5), and printing by stamping is started based on the wire driving signal generated based on the wire correction data (S6). ).

  When printing by stamping is performed, the stamp count circuit 46 counts the number of stamps on each recording wire 16 based on the print data (S7). Thereafter, when the power switch is pressed (S8), the dot impact printer 1 adds the counted number of stamps to the read cumulative stamp number and stores the latest cumulative stamp number in the ROM (S9).

  According to the above configuration, a time difference occurs in the stamp arrival time on the printing paper S by correcting the stamping timing of each recording wire 16 according to the wear amount of each of the plurality of recording wires 16. Absent. For this reason, even if the recording wire 16 that has been worn out and the recording wire 16 that has not been worn out are mixed, the printing paper S can be printed well.

It is an external perspective view of a dot impact printer. It is a schematic diagram of a printing mechanism. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a recording head. It is a block diagram in a head control circuit. FIG. 6 is a timing diagram of head drive signal output. It is a flowchart figure in correction | amendment of a recording wire.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Dot impact printer 16 ... Recording wire 17 ... Recording head 44 ... Wire drive data correction circuit 46 ... Stamp number count circuit S ... Printing paper

Claims (8)

In a print control method of a dot impact printer that selectively prints a plurality of recording wires provided in a recording head and performs printing by stamping,
A wear amount measuring step of measuring the wear amount of each of the plurality of recording wires;
A printing timing correction method for a dot impact printer, comprising: a printing timing correction step for correcting a printing timing of each recording wire based on the measured wear amount.   2. The stamping timing correction step according to claim 1, wherein the stamping timing of each recording wire with a large amount of wear is corrected so as to be earlier than each recording wire with a small amount of wear. The printing control method of the dot impact printer of description. The wear amount measuring step includes a stamping number measuring step of measuring a cumulative stamping number of each recording wire,
The dot impact printer printing control method according to claim 1, further comprising a wear amount setting step of setting an estimated wear amount of each recording wire based on the cumulative number of stamps. In a dot impact printer that selectively prints a plurality of recording wires provided in a recording head and performs printing by stamping,
Wear amount measuring means for measuring the wear amount of each of the plurality of recording wires;
A dot impact printer comprising: a stamping timing correcting unit that corrects a stamping timing of each recording wire based on the measured wear amount.   5. The stamping timing correcting means corrects the stamping timing of each recording wire having a large amount of wear earlier than that of each recording wire having a small amount of wear. The listed dot impact printer. The wear amount measuring means includes a stamping number measuring means for measuring a cumulative stamping number of each recording wire,
The dot impact printer according to claim 4, further comprising: a wear amount setting unit that sets an estimated wear amount of each recording wire based on the cumulative number of stamps.   7. The stamp timing correcting means corrects stamp timing of each recording wire when the cumulative stamp count measured by the stamp count measuring section exceeds a predetermined number. The dot impact printer described in 1. Each recording wire has a guaranteed number of stamps that guarantees the number of stamps that can be stamped,
8. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising an exchange urging means for notifying that the recording head needs to be replaced when the measured cumulative number of stamps exceeds the guaranteed number of stamps. Dot impact printer.

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