JP2017001398A - Electronic apparatus and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic apparatus and a printer which can prevent deformation of a platen roller due to continuous pressing of a fixed portion of the platen roller by a thermal head.SOLUTION: An electronic apparatus comprises a connection part, monitoring means, a reception part, a notification part and platen deformation prevention means. The connection part connects a printer which brings a thermal head into pressure-contact with a platen roller in printing. The monitoring means monitors the power ON/OFF state of the printer or the connection state of the connection part. The reception part receives a shutdown request. The notification part provides information to a user. The platen deformation prevention means causes the notification part to transmit a message requesting a state where the thermal head is not brought into pressure-contact with the platen roller in a case where the monitoring means is switched from the power ON state to the power OFF state or switched from the connected state to the non-connected state, or in a period from reception of the shutdown request by the reception part to shutdown.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an electronic apparatus and a printer.

  Conventionally, there is a printer that prints on roll paper by heating with a thermal head. The roll paper is a roll of belt-shaped paper, and the paper drawn from the roll paper is pressed against the thermal head with a platen roller, and printing is performed while the platen roller is rotated to convey the paper.

  The platen roller has a layer made of an elastic material on the outer periphery of a hard core. The outer layer is dented elastically when pressed by a thermal head or the like.

  Since the platen roller rotates during printing, the location pressed by the thermal head is not constant, but when printing is not being performed, a fixed location on the outer peripheral surface of the platen roller continues to be pressed by the thermal head. If this state is long and lasts for many days, for example, the dents at the above-mentioned portions of the platen roller may be difficult to recover. If the platen is dented, the paper conveyance state will not be stable and the print quality will deteriorate.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an electronic device and a printer capable of preventing the deformation of the platen roller due to the thermal head continuing to press a certain part of the platen roller.

  The electronic device according to the embodiment includes a connection unit, a monitoring unit, a reception unit, a notification unit, and a control unit. The connecting portion has a main body that has an opening at least in part and that stores roll paper, and a lid that opens and closes the opening. The platen roller is provided in one of the main body and the lid, and the thermal head is provided in the other. At least during printing, a printer that presses the thermal head against the platen roller is connected. The monitoring unit monitors a power ON / OFF state of the printer or a connection state of the connection unit. The accepting unit accepts a shutdown request. The notification unit provides information to the user. The control unit determines whether the monitoring unit switches from a power-on state to a power-off state or from a connected state to a non-connected state, or until the receiving unit receives a shutdown request and then shuts down. In addition, when the thermal head and the platen roller are not in pressure contact with each other, the notification unit is notified of a message requesting that the lid unit be left open.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an external appearance of a measuring instrument and a printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the electrical connection between the measuring instrument and the printer according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a vertical right side view illustrating the internal structure of the printer according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a partial process included in the stop program of the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing executed by the control unit of the measuring instrument when the connection of the printer to the measuring instrument of the embodiment is disconnected.

  Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the external appearance of a measuring instrument (electronic device) 1 and a printer 2. FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the electrical connection between the measuring instrument 1 and the printer 2.

  The weighing instrument 1 includes a tray 11 on which an object to be weighed is placed, a monitor (display unit) 12, and an operation panel 13. Further, the measuring instrument 1 has a built-in load cell (not shown) that changes the output according to the load received by the tray 11. The measuring instrument 1 further includes a control unit 31, a speaker 32, a connection unit 33, and a switch (accepting unit) 34.

  The monitor 12 displays various images for providing visual information to the user. The operation panel 13 receives various operations from the user through the touch panel 13a and the numeric keypad 13b. The touch panel 13a is provided so as to be stacked on the monitor 12, and receives an operation corresponding to the display content of the monitor 12. The speaker 32 provides audio information to the user. The monitor 12 and the speaker 32 are included in a notification unit 35 that provides information to the user.

  The connection unit 33 is realized by, for example, a USB connection terminal and connects an external device such as the printer 2.

  The control unit 31 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory) (all not shown), and the like. The ROM stores various programs executed by the CPU and various data. The RAM temporarily stores data and programs when the CPU executes various programs. Such a control part 31 comprehensively controls each part of the measuring instrument 1 according to a program. For example, the control unit 31 calculates the weight of the measurement object placed on the pan 11 from the output of the load cell by executing a measurement program that causes the control unit 31 to function as a measurement unit.

  The switch 34 receives an operation for instructing starting (ON) and stopping (OFF) of the measuring instrument 1 from the user. If the switch 34 is operated at the time of stop, the control part 31 will perform a starting process according to a starting program. When the weighing program is executed after each part is initialized by the startup process, the weighing instrument 1 becomes operable. When the switch 34 is operated during the operation of the measuring instrument 1, the control unit 31 performs a stop process according to the stop program, assuming that there is a shutdown request. Each part of the measuring instrument 1 is brought into an appropriate state and stopped in an appropriate order by the stop process, and the control part 31 stops at the end of the stop program.

  FIG. 3 is a vertical right side view showing the internal structure of the printer 2. The printer 2 performs printing on roll paper stored in the housing 20. The housing 20 is divided into a main body 21 and a lid 22. The main body 21 has a top opening and stores roll paper. The lid 22 opens and closes the opening of the main body 21. On the front surface of the housing 20, a paper discharge port 23 for discharging the printed roll paper is provided. The paper discharge port 23 is formed between the main body 21 and the lid 22.

  The printer 2 performs printing with the thermal head 24. The thermal head 24 is attached to the lid 22. A platen roller 25 that presses the roll paper against the thermal head 24 is disposed in the main body 21.

  In such a printer 2, when the opening of the main body 21 is closed, the platen roller 25 is pressed against the thermal head 24, and the printing operation is enabled.

  The printer 2 further includes a control unit 41, a switch (accepting unit) 42, a connection unit 43, a cover open switch 44, an operation button 45, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) (display unit) 46, and a buzzer 47.

  The control unit 41 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM (all not shown), and the like. The ROM stores various programs executed by the CPU and various data. The RAM temporarily stores data and programs when the CPU executes various programs. Such a control unit 41 controls each unit of the printer 2 according to a program.

  The switch 42 receives an operation for instructing activation (ON) and stop (OFF) of the printer 2 from the user. If the switch 42 is operated at the time of stop, the control part 41 will perform a starting process according to a starting program. The printer 2 is operable by executing the printing program after each part is initialized by the startup process. When the switch 42 is operated during the operation of the printer 2, the control unit 41 performs a stop process according to the stop program, assuming that there is a shutdown request. Each unit of the printer 2 is brought into an appropriate state in an appropriate order and stopped by the stop process, and the control unit 41 stops when the stop program ends.

  The connection unit 43 is realized by, for example, a USB connection terminal and connects an external device such as the measuring instrument 1. The cover open switch 44 detects a state where the opening of the main body 21 is opened, that is, a state where the main body 21 and the lid 22 are separated and the thermal head 24 and the platen roller 25 are separated. Note that the detection result of the cover open switch 44 is also communicated to the measuring instrument 1 via the connecting portions 43 and 33.

The operation button 45 receives various operations from the user.
The LED 46 provides visual information to the user by blinking. The buzzer 47 provides audio information to the user by a beep sound. The LED 46 and the buzzer 47 are included in a notification unit 48 that provides information to the user. The notification unit 48 is used to issue a warning to the user, for example, when the cover open switch 44 detects the opening of the lid 22 during printing.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the printer 2 is used in a state where it is connected to the measuring instrument 1 through the connection of the connection unit 43 and the connection unit 33. The printer 2 includes the switch 42 described above, but the switch 42 is used in an ON state during normal use. When the meter 1 is activated, the printer 2 is activated by the meter 1, and when the meter 1 is stopped, the printer 2 is also stopped by the meter 1. That is, in this embodiment, the printer 2 is ON / OFF controlled by the measuring instrument 1.

  When the switch 34 is operated during the operation of the measuring instrument 1, the controller 31 performs various stop processes according to the stop program when stopping the measuring instrument 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of partial processing included in the stop program. In this embodiment, this process is performed by the control unit 31 of the measuring instrument 1.

  When there is no operation to the switch 34 during operation of the measuring instrument 1, that is, there is no shutdown request (No in step S1), the control unit 31 waits for execution of this processing. Then, when there is a shutdown request (Yes in Step S1), the control unit 31 displays a message for requesting that the thermal head 24 and the platen roller 25 are not in pressure contact with each other on the monitor 12 (Step S2). Here, platen deformation preventing means is realized.

  As a specific example of the message, for example, “Please open the printer cover” can be considered. The control unit 31 may change the content of the message from the detection result of the cover open switch 44. For example, "Open the printer cover" when the lid 22 is closed, and "Do not close the printer cover" when the lid 22 is open. In addition, if the control unit 31 does not grasp the detection result of the cover open switch 44 or whether or not it grasps, the message “Check if the printer cover is open”, “Printer cover” If it is not open, please raise it. "

  There is another case where it is recommended to open the lid 22 at the time of shutdown. When the connection of the printer 2 is disconnected when viewed from the measuring instrument 1, that is, when the measuring instrument 1 is continuing to operate but the printer 2 is turned off or when the connecting section 43 is separated from the connecting section 33, It is. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the control unit 31 of the measuring instrument 1 corresponding to these cases.

  The control unit 31 of the measuring instrument 1 monitors the ON / OFF state of the printer 2 via the connection unit 33 realized by, for example, a USB connection terminal. Further, the control unit 31 monitors whether or not the printer 2 is connected to the connection unit 33 (connection state). Thus, the control unit 31 functions as a monitoring unit.

  If the switch 2 of the printer 2 is operated and the printer 2 is stopped during the operation of the measuring instrument 1, the control unit 31 as a monitoring unit cannot recognize the presence of the printer 2. Further, when the connection state between the connection unit 33 and the connection unit 43 of the printer 2 is released during the operation of the measuring instrument 1, the control unit 31 as a monitoring unit cannot recognize the presence of the printer 2.

  When the control unit 31 as the monitoring unit as described above cannot recognize the presence of the printer 2 (Yes in Step S11), a message requesting the monitor 12 to make the thermal head 24 and the platen roller 25 not press-contact with each other. Is displayed (step S12). Also here, platen deformation preventing means is realized. The execution of this process is on standby when the control unit 31 recognizes the presence of the printer 2 (No in step S11).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a message is issued each time the power of the measuring instrument 1 or the printer 2 is turned off, so that the user can be habituated to open the lid 22 when stopped, that is, when not in use. This prevents a specific portion of the platen roller 25 from being continuously pressed against the thermal head 24 when not in use, so that deformation of the platen roller 25 due to long-time continuous pressure contact of the thermal head 24 can be prevented.

  In the present embodiment, the message is displayed on the monitor 12. However, in the implementation, a sound for reading out the message may be emitted by the speaker 32. Further, the user's attention may be alerted by the LED 46 or the buzzer 47 of the printer 2.

  Next, a modified example will be described. In the said embodiment, the case where the control part 31 of the measuring instrument 1 implement | achieves a platen deformation | transformation prevention means was demonstrated. In the present modification, platen deformation prevention means realized by the control unit 41 of the printer 2 will be described. The control part 41 implement | achieves a platen deformation | transformation prevention means by performing the process which shows a flow in the flowchart of FIG.

  This process is performed when the printer 2 is operating without being connected to the measuring instrument 1 and when the printer 2 is connected to the measuring instrument 1 and the printer 2 is turned off by the switch 42 on the printer 2 side. When it is broken, it is executed.

  When the switch 42 of the printer 2 is operated during the operation of the printer 2 (Yes in step S1), the control unit 41 of the printer 2 determines that the control unit 41 has stopped the printer 2 according to the stop program even if there is a shutdown request. I do. In the stop process, the notification unit 48 is notified of a message for requesting that the thermal head 24 and the platen roller 25 are not in pressure contact with each other (step S2).

  As described above, according to this modification, a message is issued each time the printer 2 is powered off, so that the user can be habituated to open the lid 22 when stopped, that is, when not in use. This prevents a specific portion of the platen roller 25 from being continuously pressed against the thermal head 24 when not in use, so that deformation of the platen roller 25 due to long-time continuous pressure contact of the thermal head 24 can be prevented.

In the above-described embodiment and modification, the weighing instrument 1 is described as an example of an electronic device. However, the weighing device 1 may be applied to other electronic devices such as a personal computer instead of the weighing device 1.
In the above-described embodiment, the platen roller 25 is provided on the main body 21 side of the printer 2 and the thermal head 24 is provided on the lid 22 side. However, the location of the thermal head and the platen may be reversed. .

The program executed by the measuring instrument 1 and the printer 2 according to the present embodiment is provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like.
The program executed by the measuring instrument 1 and the printer 2 according to the present embodiment is an installable or executable file, such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), or the like. It may be configured to be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.
Furthermore, the program executed by the measuring instrument 1 and the printer 2 of the present embodiment may be provided by being stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network. Further, the program executed by the measuring instrument 1 and the printer 2 of the present embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

Electronic devices include control devices such as a CPU, storage devices such as ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM, external storage devices such as HDDs and CD drive devices, display devices such as display devices, keyboards and mice, and the like. And a hardware configuration using a normal computer.
The program executed by the electronic device in that case is an installable or executable file that can be read by a computer such as a CD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, or DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). Recorded on a simple recording medium.
Further, the program executed by the electronic device may be provided by being stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network. Further, the program executed by the electronic device of the present embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

1 ... Weighing instrument,
11 ... Dish,
12 ... Monitor,
13 ... operation panel, 13a ... touch panel, 13b ... numeric keypad,
2. Printer,
20 ... Case, 21 ... Main body, 22 ... Lid, 23 ... Discharge port,
24 ... thermal head, 25 ... platen roller,
31 ... control unit,
32 ... Speaker, 33 ... Connection part, 34 ... Switch, 35 ... Notification part,
41. Control unit,
42 ... Switch, 43 ... Connection, 44 ... Cover open switch,
45 ... operation buttons, 46 ... LED, 47 ... buzzer, 48 ... notification section.

JP-A-4-325269

The electronic apparatus according to the embodiment includes a connection unit, a monitoring unit, a reception unit, a notification unit, a detection unit, and a control unit. Connecting portion has a lid for opening and closing the body and the opening for accommodating the roll paper has an opening at least in part, provided with a support Maruheddo one to the platen roller of the main body and the lid to the other At least during printing, a printer that presses the thermal head against the platen roller is connected. The monitoring unit monitors a power ON / OFF state of the printer or a connection state of the connection unit. The accepting unit accepts a shutdown request. The notification unit provides information to the user. The detection unit detects a state where the thermal head and the platen roller are separated. Control unit, in response to said shutdown request, the notification unit, causes informed a message requesting that you the lid left open, depending on whether been contacted detection result from the detection unit, Switch the message to be notified .

Claims (6)

A connecting portion for connecting a printer that has a thermal head and a platen roller, and that at least presses the thermal head against the platen roller at the time of printing;
Monitoring means for monitoring the power ON / OFF state of the printer or the connection state of the connection unit;
A reception unit for receiving a shutdown request;
A notification unit for providing information to the user;
When the monitoring unit switches from a power-on state to a power-off state, or from a connected state to a non-connected state, or between when the receiving unit receives a shutdown request and shuts down, the notification A control unit that informs a different message according to the pressure contact state between the thermal head and the platen roller;
In an electronic device comprising:
The printer includes a main body that has an opening in at least a part thereof and stores roll paper, and a lid that opens and closes the opening. The platen roller is provided in one of the main body and the lid, and the thermal head is provided in the other. ,
The control unit causes the notification unit to notify a message requesting to keep the lid open when the thermal head and the platen roller are not in pressure contact with each other. . The said control part makes the said alerting | reporting part alert | report the message which requests | requires opening of the said cover part, when the said thermal head and the said platen roller are in a press-contact state. Electronics. The notification unit includes a display unit that provides visual information to the user.
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays the message on the display unit. A printer having a thermal head and a platen roller, wherein the thermal head is pressed against the platen roller at least during printing;
A reception unit for receiving a shutdown request;
A notification unit for providing information to the user;
Between the time when the reception unit receives a shutdown request and before the shutdown, the control unit causes the notification unit to notify different messages according to the pressure contact state between the thermal head and the platen roller,
In a printer comprising:
A main body that has an opening at least in part and that stores roll paper; and a lid that opens and closes the opening; the platen roller on one of the main body and the lid; and the thermal head on the other.
The control unit causes the notification unit to notify a message requesting to keep the lid open when the thermal head and the platen roller are not in pressure contact with each other. The said control part makes the said alerting | reporting part alert | report the message which requests | requires opening of the said cover part, when the said thermal head and the said platen roller are in a press-contact state. Printer. The notification unit includes a display unit that provides visual information to the user.
The printer according to claim 4, wherein the control unit displays the message on the display unit.

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