JP3170554B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to printer mode selection.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional impact printer, when a printer power switch serving as power detection means is turned on, a carrier on which a head is mounted moves along a carrier support shaft. The carrier is brought into contact with the home position Jishon switch, when turned on the home position Jishon switch, head to the print start position is moved. At the same time, the printer enters a normal mode in which a printing operation is performed by transmitting / receiving data or a command to / from the host computer.

Next, in order to set the special mode of the user test mode and the serviceman test mode, a power switch and a plurality of operations provided on an operation panel used in the normal mode are set. The special mode is entered by combining the operation switches as the detecting means and turning them on simultaneously.

For example, when the operation panel has an A switch, a B switch, a C switch, an E switch, and the like, the user wants to obtain a printer by simultaneously turning on the power switch, the A switch, and the B switch. This is the user test mode for outputting information.

Next, a power switch and a user test mode are described.
By simultaneously turning on the C switch and the E switch, which is a combination of switches different from the switch, the printer is set to a serviceman test mode in which only the serviceman outputs the information desired. Was. For this reason,
The serviceman had to learn another combination of operation switches different from the user test mode, and the combination of operation switches was complicated.

[0006]

As described above, the mode selection between the user test mode and the serviceman test mode of the conventional impact printer is performed by a combination of the operation switches arranged on the operation panel. Therefore, if the user accidentally turns on the operation switch dedicated to the serviceman, there is a problem that the user may enter an unintended mode.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has been described in connection with an accidental operation of an operation switch by a user.
It is intended to provide a mode selection that prevents entry into the mode.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a printer of the present invention performs printing by reciprocating a carrier having a print head with respect to recording paper. Power-on detecting means for detecting, operating means for giving an instruction to the printer, home position detecting means for detecting the position of the carrier,
Among the operating unit, provided with a predetermined operation detecting means for detecting the operation of a predetermined operation unit, upon detection of power-on detecting means
Detection of predetermined operation detection means and home position detection
When the detection of the stage, become a serviceman test mode to output the information to be obtained only serviceman, power-on test
When the predetermined operation detecting means is detected when the output means is detected, the home
User test when the position detection means is not detected
It is characterized by becoming a mode .

[0009]

In the above arrangement, the carrier is manually moved and the home position switch is turned on before turning on the printer power supply as the power-on detecting means.
By simultaneously turning on a predetermined operation switch, which is a predetermined operation detection means, and the printer power supply, and detecting the simultaneous ON state,
The printer is in a serviceman test mode, which is a special mode for serviceman.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external structure of an impact printer according to one embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 11 denotes a print head, which is a power-side plate fixed to a rotating shaft (not shown) of a carrier motor. It is placed on a carrier 14 fixed to a belt 13 erected between a reel 12 and a fixed pulley (not shown) rotatably supported by a shaft. On the other hand, it is reciprocated in the orthogonal direction R. A platen 16 is provided at a position facing the print head 11.

The paper 15 is a paper feed motor (not shown).
By driving a feed roller (not shown), the sheet is conveyed in the conveying direction P.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a power switch serving as power-on detecting means, which is disposed on a side surface of the printer main body 2. Reference numeral 21 denotes an operation panel on which operation switches, which are operation means for giving instructions to the printer 1 when a user or the like uses the printer 1, and various indicators are attached.
Is a shift switch (hereinafter referred to as "LF switch") for sending the head to the beginning of the next digit, 23 is a continuous feed switch (hereinafter referred to as "TOF switch") for sending the head to the beginning of the next page, and 24 is paper. And a paper feed switch 26 for conveying the paper to a predetermined position.
Reference numeral 7 is provided with an indicator light or the like for displaying a power-on state.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a home position switch attached to the left end of the printer body.
The carrier 14 moves to the left (in the direction of the arrow L) with the rotation of, and when it moves to the left end, the carrier 14 comes into contact with the home position switch 31 and the home position switch 31 is turned on. Home position switch 3
When 1 is turned on, the CPU detects the position of the print head 11. In addition, the position of the home position switch is not limited to the left end described in the embodiment, but may be the right end.
The intermediate position may be at a position where the home position switch is turned on by the movement of the carrier 14.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a circuit configuration of a main part of the printer. Reference numeral 51 denotes a CPU (central processing unit) constituting a control main body, and 52, an RO as serviceman information storage means.
M and 53 are RAMs, 54 is a head drive circuit for driving the head, and 55 is a paper feed motor 5 for driving a transport roller and the like.
6 and a motor driving circuit for driving a carrier motor 57 for driving the carrier, respectively, and 58 is an I / O to which the operation panel 21 and the home position switch 31 are connected.
It is a port.

The CPU 51 is connected to a ROM 52, a RAM 53, a head drive circuit 54, a motor drive circuit 55 and an I / O port 58 via a system bus 59, respectively.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the CPU.
The CPU 51 transmits data to the host computer.
A normal mode in which printing is performed by transmission and reception of data or commands, a user test mode in which information desired by the user is output, and a serviceman test mode in which information desired only by the serviceman is output. The operation procedure is shown.

That is, the CPU 51 first determines in step ST1 that the power switch 20 has been turned on, and in step ST2, for example, the LF switch 22 (hereinafter referred to as the "A switch") disposed on the operation panel, and , ST3, when it is determined that the TOF switch 23 (hereinafter, referred to as “B switch”) is not on,
When only the power switch 20 serving as the power-on detecting means is on, the carrier motor rotates and the power side pulley 12 is turned on.
When the belt 13 rotates with the rotation of the carrier 13, the carrier 14 fixed to the belt 13 moves in the R direction, and when the home position switch 31 is turned on, the CPU 51
The position of the carrier, that is, the head position is detected, and this
A predetermined pulse carrier is moved from the system position switch 31, and the print head 11 is set to the print start position and set to the normal mode.

Next, when the A switch and the B switch are turned on in ST2 and ST3, in ST4,
Judge whether the home position switch is on or not,
If the home position switch is not on, that is, if the power switch and the A switch and the B switch are on, the user test mode is set.

Further, if it is determined in ST4 that the home position switch is on, that is, if the power switch, the A switch, the B switch and the home position switch are on, the serviceman is turned on. The test mode is set.

A flowchart for explaining the operation of the CPU will be described.
The switch is not limited to that shown in FIG. 1, and when the printer is set to the service test mode, a set of a home position switch, a power switch and an A switch or a home position switch, a power switch and a B switch is used. It may be a combination, or a home position switch, a power switch, and an operation switch other than A and B. That is,
When the user uses the printer, any combination of a home position switch, a power switch, and an operation switch that is not an operation switch for giving an instruction to the printer may be used.

FIG. 5A shows a print sample printed on a sheet using the user test mode.

FIG. 5B shows service data printed on paper using the serviceman test mode. The printed numbers and the like are checked to check for abnormalities in the printer. Check for presence.

By the above procedure, the printer can be set in the normal mode, the user test mode and the serviceman test mode.

That is, the normal mode and the user test mode
The normal mode is automatically set by turning on the power switch without turning on the home position switch. In addition, user test mode
The switch is set by simultaneously turning on the power switch and the A switch and the B switch arranged on the operation panel.

In the service test mode, before the power switch is turned on, the carrier is manually moved and the home position switch is turned on, and then the power switch of the same combination as the user test mode is set. And the A switch and the B switch are turned on at the same time. In other words, by simultaneously turning on the home position switch, power switch, A switch, and B switch, the printer enters the serviceman test mode.

With this configuration, the serviceman can turn on the power switch before turning on the power switch without remembering the special operation switch combination other than the operation switch combination used in the user test mode. Then, the home position switch is turned on, and the operation switch used in the user test mode may be operated.

Further, the home position switch is not an operation switch for operating the printer, but a detection switch for detecting the head position when starting use of the printer.
Based on this detection, the head is moved to the printing start position. Thus, the home position switch is
Since the user does not operate the switch when using the printer, the user is less likely to make an erroneous operation selection.

The printer is connected to a serviceman test model.
When the switch is set to the operation mode, operation switches other than the combination of the home position switch, the power switch, and the operation switches used in the user test mode (A switch and B switch), for example, A switch, B switch, C switch, or AC It may be a switch or the like.

With this configuration, if a combination of a home position switch that is not an operation switch for giving an instruction to the printer, a power switch, and an operation switch, the user erroneously operates the switch. And
It is possible to prevent the user from entering the unintended serviceman test mode.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, the home position switch used in the serviceman test mode instructs the printer when the user uses the printer. Since it is not an operation switch, it is possible to provide a printer capable of preventing a user from erroneously selecting an operation and entering an unintended serviceman test mode.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of a CPU of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the printer in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a home position switch in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a main part of the printer in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows a print sample in the embodiment.
(A) is a user test mode print sample. (B) is a serviceman test mode print sample.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference numeral 20: power switch (power detection means), 22: LF switch (operation detection means), 23: TOF switch (operation detection means), 24: paper feed switch (operation detection means), 31: home position switch ( Home position detecting means).

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shinichiro Hida 570 Ohito, Oni-cho, Takata-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture Inside the Tech Ono Office Co., Ltd. In-house (72) Inventor Oichi Sugiura 6-78, Minamimachi, Mishima-shi, Shizuoka Tec Mishima Plant Co., Ltd. References JP-A-5-278303 (JP, A) JP-A-4-313773 (JP, A) JP-A-8-185090 (JP, A) JP-A-6-143555 (JP, A) 6-24098 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 29/46 B41J 19/18 B41J 29/38 G06F 3/12

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printer for performing printing by reciprocating a carrier equipped with a print head with respect to recording paper, a power-on detecting means for detecting power-on of the printer, an operating means for giving an instruction to the printer, Home position detection means for detecting the position of the carrier, and predetermined operation detection means for detecting an operation of predetermined operation means among the operation means, wherein the predetermined operation detection means is provided when the power-on detection means is detected.
Is detected and the home position detecting means is detected, a serviceman test mode for outputting information desired only by a serviceman is set, and the power on detecting means is detected.
Upon exit, the predetermined operation detecting means detects the
If the user test mode is not detected by the
A printer characterized in that it becomes a password.