JP4522165B2 - Printer with memory card and its operation history saving method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printer with a memory card and an operation history storage method thereof, and more particularly to a printer with a memory card capable of storing an operation history effective for printer maintenance work and an operation history storage method thereof.

In various conventional printers, the user inputs various data to be printed on printing paper while performing a printing operation while viewing the display screen by key operation or touch panel operation.
Various setting information and registration data for the printing operation are stored in an attached memory card that can be attached to and detached from the printer. Especially in a stand-alone type printer that is not connected to a host computer such as an external personal computer, using such a memory card makes it possible to supplement the storage capacity of the printer and ensure versatility and convenience. . In addition, when maintenance staff of the printer carry this memory card, various data for maintenance work can be stored, and good workability can be secured.

However, in recent years, the operation of printers has become complicated, and at the time of trouble or maintenance, the trouble that occurred is a hardware failure caused by a failure of the machine itself, or a software failure caused by a user operation error There is a problem that it is becoming difficult to judge.
Furthermore, why the user ’s registered data is lost is unknown, or in the food processing industry, whether the date setting (calendar setting) is changed to a different date, etc. Alternatively, there is a problem that it is difficult to determine whether the printer itself is defective.
Therefore, there is a problem that it may be difficult to take an appropriate and prompt measure at the time of user complaint or maintenance.

JP 2002-283658 A

    The present invention has been considered in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printer with a memory card and an operation history storage method thereof that can relatively easily pursue the cause of a printer failure.

    The present invention also relates to a printer with a memory card that can utilize a memory card to determine whether the problem that has occurred is due to a user's operation error or a mechanical failure of the printer itself, and a method for storing the operation history thereof. It is an issue to provide.

    Another object of the present invention is to provide a printer with a memory card capable of referring to an operation history from a memory card when a failure occurs, improving maintainability, and capable of handling the best and promptly, and a method for storing the operation history. .

    Further, the present invention provides a printer with a memory card and a method for storing the operation history that can determine the importance when storing the operation history so as not to place a burden on the storage capacity of the data storage unit. Let it be an issue.

That is, the present invention provides a printing unit capable of printing various information on printing paper, an operation unit for performing various operations for printing operations in the printing unit, and data capable of storing various operation histories in the operation unit. An operation history storage method for a printer with a memory card, comprising: a storage unit; and a memory card that is detachable from the printer and capable of storing various setting information for the printing operation on the printing paper. , An importance determination step for determining the importance of the operation history in the maintenance work of the printer for a predetermined ratio of the history storage area in the data storage unit, and the operation determined as a low importance in the importance determination step wherein the operation history that has been determined to a high degree of importance with a history to be deleted from the data storage unit with data compression Day A memory card comprising: a high-importance data storage step capable of storing in a storage unit; and a card storage step capable of storing the operation history stored in the data storage unit in the memory card. This is a method for saving operation history of the printer.

    The memory card storing the operation history can be examined by the maintenance staff connecting to his / her personal computer or the like, and the cause of the trouble occurring can be pursued.

    In the printer with a memory card and the operation history storage method according to the present invention, various operation histories can be stored in the memory card attached to the printer. By examining the operation history in the memory card, it is possible to quickly grasp whether the malfunction or failure is caused by the user's key operation or mechanical failure, and adopt appropriate and best countermeasures. be able to.

    In particular, according to the first invention, since the operation history in the data storage unit can be stored in the memory card, the necessary data (operation history data) is sucked into the memory card when necessary, and the key operation history is stored. Can be considered.

In particular, according to the second invention, the importance determination step for determining the importance of the operation history, and the high importance data that enables the deletion of the operation history of the low importance and the storage of the operation history of the high importance. Since the storage step and the card storage step that enables the operation history to be stored in the memory card are provided, the necessary data can be stored in the memory card by effectively using the storage capacity of the data storage unit.

    In the present invention, since various operation histories stored in the data storage unit of the printer can be stored in a memory card, by examining the operation histories, a memory capable of appropriately grasping and coping with the cause when a failure occurs can be obtained. A printer with card and its operation history saving method have been realized.

Next, a printer 1 with a memory card according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printer 1 with a memory card. The printer 1 with a memory card includes a CPU 2 (control unit), a motor 3 for transferring printing paper, a thermal head 4 (printing unit), and a program storage. Unit 5 (flash ROM), data storage unit 6 having RAM 6A (work data storage area) and SRAM 6B (history storage area), memory card 7, LCD 8 (display unit), numeric keypad and touch panel 9 (operation unit) And an LED 10 (power on / off display unit) and a communication interface 11.

    The CPU 2 controls the above parts according to various programs stored in the program storage unit 5.

    The printing paper transfer motor 3 rotates the platen roller 12 facing the thermal head 4 to transfer the printing paper 13 to the thermal head 4 at a predetermined transfer speed.

The data storage unit 6 stores various data on the printing operation.
The RAM 6A temporarily stores data.
The history storage area 6B can retain data without losing data even when the printer 1 with a memory card is turned off, and stores various operation histories described later in the history storage area 6B.

    The memory card 7 can be attached to and detached from the printer 1 with a memory card, and can store data stored in the data storage unit 6, that is, the history storage area 6B. In addition, there are various data related to the operation history described later based on FIGS.

    The LCD 8 can display the contents when various keys are operated by the numeric keypad and the touch panel 9, and the contents can be visually recognized by the user.

    The numeric keypad and the touch panel 9 are used for inputting various setting information and registration data by the user operating the various keys, and the operation history is stored in the data storage unit 6 (history storage area 6B).

    The LED 10 is for displaying on / off of the power supply and for displaying confirmations and alarms necessary for data input operations and printing operations.

    The communication interface 11 enables data transmission / reception with an external device (for example, the personal computer 14).

FIG. 2 is a chart showing a configuration of key operation history data on the numeric keypad and the touch panel 9.
For example, no. Reference numeral 1 denotes an item of screen numbers from 0001 to 9999 on the LCD 8.
No. An item 3 indicates whether the operated object is a touch panel or a sheet key.
No. Reference numeral 5 denotes an item, which will be described later with reference to FIG. 4, for identifying whether the priority or importance of the operation is high importance (indicated by “A”) or low importance (indicated by “B”).
No. 7 is an item indicating types of operation keys on the numeric keypad and the touch panel 9 (operation unit).
No. Reference numeral 9 denotes an item indicating the date and time when each key is operated (accessed) on the numeric keypad and the touch panel 9 (operation unit).
No. above. One operation history from 1 to 10 is stored in the data storage unit 6 (history storage area 6B) for each operation as operation history data.

FIG. 3 is a chart showing the structure of calendar history data.
No. Reference numeral 1 denotes an item indicating the date and time that are set before the user accesses any key on the numeric keypad and the touch panel 9, that is, already set.
No. 2 is an item indicating the date and time when the user accesses any key on the numeric keypad and the touch panel 9, that is, the actual operation, and can be stored in units of year, month, day, hour, minute, and second, respectively. It has become.
No. above. One operation history from 1 to 3 is stored in the data storage unit 6 (history storage area 6B) for each operation as operation history data.

FIG. 4 is a chart showing the priority order of key operations.
The operation items of high importance (A) include, for example, operations for inputting characters such as various characters and numbers, operations related to registration modes such as insertion, deletion and replacement, operations for setting environment settings for calendar settings and other data settings.
Low-importance (B) operation items include, for example, an operation on a startup screen, a menu-related operation, an issue mode-related operation, and a history output operation.
The chart indicating the priority order is stored in the ROM 5 or the SRAM 6B.

A history storage flow in the memory card-equipped printer 1 having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of control in the normal mode in which the user actually uses the printer 1 with a memory card using the numeric keypad and the touch panel 9. In step S1, the key operation on the numeric keypad and the touch panel 9 is performed. It is determined whether or not there is a key operation, and if there is a key operation, it is confirmed whether or not a capacity for storing the data (operation history) of this key operation remains in the history storage area 6B (step S2).

If there is not enough space to store data in the history storage area 6B, in step S3, among the key operation history data stored in an arbitrary ratio of the capacity of the history storage area 6B, for example, 80% capacity, the operation Is checked for priority (importance) (step S3).
That is, it is determined in step S4 whether or not each operation has an importance level “A” (importance level determination step).
If the importance level is “B”, that is, the low importance level, in step S5, the data is deleted from the history storage area 6B, and the data stored in the history storage area 6B is adjusted.
If the degree of importance is “A”, that is, the degree of importance is high, in step S6, the data is compressed to, for example, about half the capacity, and adjusted so that the data stored in the history storage area 6B is filled. (High importance data storage process).
Note that the importance of the operation history data can be further classified as necessary.

In step S7, after confirming all the importance of data in the capacity 80% of the history storage area 6B, in step S8, a memory (in the history storage area 6B) that stores the history data of the operation that was initially operated in step S1. The operation history data is stored in the storage position (history data storage step). In step S9, the storage position in the history storage area 6B is updated, and the process returns to step S1. Of course, if the capacity for storing key operation data (operation history) remains in the history storage area 6B in step S2, the history data storage step is executed in step S9.
If the history storage area 6B is of high importance (A) in the determination in step S4, the history data is controlled so as to be deleted sequentially from the oldest date as processing in step S6. .

    As described above, the history of each operation in the normal key operation by the user is stored in the history storage area 6B.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for transferring data to the personal computer 14 in the maintenance mode. When the history transfer key of the numeric keypad and the touch panel 9 is pressed (step S11), the data is stored in the history storage area 6B. All the history data is sent to the personal computer 14 (step S12).
Therefore, the maintenance worker examines the history data on the personal computer 14 to determine what kind of key operation caused the current malfunction or failure state, or with a memory card instead of key operation. It is determined whether the problem is a hardware problem of the printer 1 itself, and appropriate measures are taken.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for storing data in the memory card 7 in the maintenance mode. When the history data storage key of the numeric keypad and the touch panel 9 is pressed, the data is stored in the history storage area 6B. All the history data items are stored in the memory card 7 (card storage step).
A maintenance worker connects the memory card 7 to the portable personal computer 14 or the personal computer 14 of the central management unit, examines the history data, and what kind of key operation indicates the current malfunction or failure status. It is determined whether it is caused by the problem or whether it is a hardware problem of the printer 1 with a memory card rather than a key operation, and an appropriate countermeasure is taken.

1 is a block diagram of a printer 1 with a memory card according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a chart showing the configuration of key operation history data on the numeric keypad and touch panel 9; 4 is a chart showing the configuration of calendar history data. It is a chart which shows the priority of key operation similarly. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control flow in a normal mode in which the user actually uses the printer 1 with a memory card using the numeric keypad and the touch panel 9; FIG. 6 is a flowchart when data is transferred to the personal computer 14 in the maintenance mode. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for storing data in the memory card 7 in the maintenance mode.

Explanation of symbols

1 Printer with memory card 2 CPU (control unit)
3 Motor for printing paper transfer 4 Thermal head (printing part)
5 Program storage (flash ROM)
6 Data storage unit 6A Data storage unit 6 RAM (work data storage area)
6B SRAM of data storage unit 6 (history storage area)
7 Memory card 8 LCD (display section)
9 Numeric keypad and touch panel (operation unit)
10 LED (Power ON / OFF indicator)
11 Communication Interface 12 Platen Roller 13 Printing Paper 14 Personal Computer

Claims (1)

A printing unit capable of printing various types of information on printing paper, an operation unit for performing various operations for printing operations in the printing unit, a data storage unit capable of storing various operation histories in the operation unit, An operation history storage method for a printer with a memory card, comprising: a memory card that is detachable from a printer and that can store various setting information for the printing operation on the printing paper, the data storage unit The degree of importance of the operation history in the maintenance work of the printer for a predetermined ratio of the history storage area in the printer, and the operation history determined as low importance in the importance judgment step for saving the data the operation history that has been determined to a high degree of importance as to allow removed from parts to data compression can be stored in the data storage unit An operation history storage method for a printer with a memory card, comprising: a high importance level data storage step; and a card storage step that allows the operation history stored in the data storage unit to be stored in the memory card. .

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