JP2639340B2 - Printer with network function - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer having a network function, and more particularly to a printer having a network function having a bidirectional centroport.

[0002]

An example of a conventional example with in network card extension function printer, shown in FIG.

The prior art shown in FIG. 2 includes a printer control unit 52, a centro port 60 connected to the printer control unit 52, a network card 54 connected to a network and matching its signal to a centro interface, When a network card 54 is connected to a Centro connector 55 for connecting to an external host device by Centronics, a Centro port 60 and a Centro connector 5
And a switching circuit 61 for disconnecting the network card 5 and switching the connection to the network card 54. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 58 indicates a host device, and reference numeral 59 indicates a network host device.

When a network card 54 is added to the printer device 51, a switching circuit 61 determines based on mechanical conditions that the network card 54 is connected, and a centro connector 55 and a centro port 6 are connected.
Then, the connection of the network card 54 and the Centroport 60 is made.

[0005]

In this conventional example, the switching circuit 61 operates according to the mechanical condition that the network card 54 is connected to the printer device 51, and operates according to the mechanical condition that the network card 54 is connected to the printer device 51. In order to make a connection between the network card 54 and the Centro port 60, the connection with the Centro connector 55 is made again.
4 had to be removed.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to improve the disadvantages of the prior art, and in particular, to enable the connection between the Centro connector and the Centro port with the network card attached, thereby improving the operability of the entire apparatus. To provide a printer device with a network function,
With that purpose.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a printer control unit, a bidirectional centroport connected to the printer control unit, and a network card connected to an external network and matching its signal to the bidirectional centroport. And a switching device for connecting a Centro connector or a network card to a bidirectional Centro port.

The switching means operates based on a switching command input via a Centro connector or a network card and selects and switches either the Centro connector or the network card. A switching response function for outputting a switching response command to a host device is provided. This aims to achieve the above-mentioned object.

[0009]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a printer having a network function, reference numeral 8 denotes a higher-level device, and reference numeral 9 denotes a higher-level device on the network side. The printer device 1 with a network function includes a printer control unit 2
A bidirectional centro port 3 connected to the printer control unit 2, a network card 4 connected to the network to match its signal to the bidirectional centro interface, a centro connector 5 for external connection, and a centro connector Or switching means 7 for connecting a network card to the bidirectional centro port.

The switching means 7 operates based on a switching command input via the Centro connector 5 or the network card 4 and selects and switches either the Centro connector 5 or the network card 4. A switching response function for outputting a switching response command to the higher-level device on the transmitting side after the switching operation is completed. The switching means 7 operates specifically based on a switching command input from the outside, and selects one of the centro connector 5 and the network card 4.
B and a switching command input via the Centro connector 5 or the network card 4 are analyzed, and then a predetermined selection command signal is output to the selection circuit 7B. And a switching control unit 7A that outputs a switching response command to 8 or 9.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

First, when a processing command conforming to Centronics is transferred to the Centro connector 5 from an arbitrary higher-level device 8 connected by a Centro cable, it is taken into the bidirectional Centro port 3 from the Centro connector 5 through the selection circuit 7B. Then, predetermined signal processing is performed by the printer control unit 2, and at the same time, command data is output to the host device 8 through the same path.

When the network card 4 is connected and the network card 4 is selected by the selection circuit 7B , a processing command conforming to a network protocol is output from the arbitrary network host apparatus 9 to the printer apparatus 1. Then, the network card 4 converts the processing instruction into an instruction conforming to the protocol of the bidirectional Centronics interface. Network card 4 outputs through the selection circuit 7B the processing instructions in a bi-directional Sentoropo <br/> over preparative 3. The printer control unit 2 executes the processing command without any difference from when the processing command is input from the Centro connector 5. Further, the output of the command data to the network host device 9 is performed in the same manner.

More specifically, first, the selection circuit 7
The case where the connection with the Centro connector 5 is enabled by B , that is, the case where the Centro connector 5 is selected by the selection circuit 7B will be described.

When the network card 4 is connected and a switching request command is input from the network host device 9 to the switching control unit 7A through the network card 4, the switching control unit 7A outputs a switching command signal to the selection circuit 7B. .

A switching command signal for "selecting the network card 4" is supplied from the switching control section 7A to the selection circuit 7B.
, The selection circuit 7B outputs a communication interruption instruction to the bidirectional centroport 3. Upon receiving the communication interruption instruction, the bidirectional centroport 3 immediately terminates the current process if the current process is being executed, and immediately sends a “specific command (switch Communication with the printer device 1 other than the request command) cannot be performed. At the same time, it outputs a processing end signal to the selection circuit 7B .

Upon receiving the processing end signal, the selection circuit 7B switches the connection destination of the bidirectional centro port from the centro connector 5 to the network card 4, and outputs a switching end signal to the switching control unit 7.

When the switching control section 7A receives the switching end signal, it outputs a switching response command to the network host device 9 through the network card, and also sends the switching response command to the host device 8 through the Centro connector 5 by saying "this printer device. Switching the connection destination to another higher-level device. "That is, in this embodiment, the network card 4
And outputs a switch completion command indicating that the connection destination has been switched.

Next, after the above processing, the selection circuit 7
The case where the connection with the network card 4 is enabled by B, that is, the case where the network card 4 is selected by the selection circuit 7B will be described.

When a switching request command is input from the host device 8 to the switching control unit 7A through the Centro connector 5, the switching control unit 7A outputs a switching command signal to the selection circuit 7B. When a switching command signal for “selecting Centro connector 5” is input to the selection circuit 7B from the switching control unit 7A, the selection circuit 7B
Outputs a communication interruption command to the bidirectional centroport 3.

Upon receiving the communication interruption command, the bidirectional centroport 3 terminates the current process if it is currently executing, and immediately if there is no command currently being processed, the host device 8
To the printer 1 except for a specific command (switching request command). At the same time, a processing end signal is output to the selection circuit 7B . Upon receiving the processing end signal, the selection circuit 7B switches the connection destination of the bidirectional centro port 3 from the network card 4 to the centro connector 5. Furthermore,
A switching end signal is output to the switching control section 7A.

When the switching control unit 7A receives the switching end signal, it outputs a switching response command to the host device 8 through the Centro connector 5, and sends the "printing device" to the network host device 9 through the network card. Has been switched to another higher-level device ", that is, in this embodiment, a switch completion command indicating that the connection destination has been switched to the Centro connector 5 is output.

[0024]

Since the present invention is constructed and functions as described above, according to the present invention, a selection circuit for selecting a network signal and a centronics signal, and switching information input from an external host device are analyzed to convert a predetermined switching signal. Since the output switching means is provided, it is possible to switch the connection destination of the printer control unit from the host device according to the convenience of the user while the network card is connected, thereby eliminating the trouble of attaching and detaching the network card. It is possible to provide a printer device with an excellent network function, which has never been achieved before.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer apparatus 2 Printer control part 3 Bidirectional centro port 4 Network card 5 Centro connector 7 Switching means 7A Switching control part 7B Selection circuit 8 Host device 9 Network host device

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printer control unit, a bidirectional centroport connected to the printer control unit, a network card connected to an external network to match its signal to the bidirectional centroport, and a connection to a host device And a switching unit for connecting the centro connector or the network card to the bidirectional centro port. The switching unit operates based on an input switching command.
Operating the relevant Centro connector or network card
A selection circuit for selecting any one of the components, the centro connector or
Is a switching finger input via the network card
Command, a predetermined selection command signal is sent to the selection circuit.
Output and after the switching operation by the selection circuit is completed.
Output switching response command to the host device on the sending side
And a switching control unit for performing the switching .