JP4626667B2 - Printing device and history operation frequency confirmation method of the printing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a history operation confirmation method thereof, and more particularly to a maintenance information handling technique suitable for use in a printing apparatus used in a money handling system such as a POS system.

In the conventional printing apparatus, there is no one that counts and stores the operation history of the printing apparatus represented by the number of printed characters and transmits the count value to the host apparatus in response to an inquiry from the host apparatus. Therefore, it is difficult to confirm the operation history of the printing apparatus from the host apparatus to know the content and timing of the maintenance of the printing apparatus and to perform appropriate maintenance of the printing apparatus.
JP-A-6-24102

  In the above prior art, since the printing device cannot store the operation history and notify the host device, the user cannot know the operation history of the printing device away from the printing device via the host device. It was. For this reason, it is difficult to predict the occurrence of a failure due to wear of a part or the like that occurs as the printing operation proceeds. In particular, the POS system has a problem that the operation at the store is stopped due to an unexpected failure. Or, in order not to stop the operation of the store due to the unexpected failure, it is necessary to have an excessive spare printing device in preparation for the failure, resulting in a problem that the inventory cost is increased. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to check at least the operation history of the changeable counter count value and the non-changeable counter count value of the printing apparatus in a state where the host apparatus is not connected. Is to realize a simple printing apparatus.

In a printing apparatus connected to a host apparatus for solving the above-described problem and performing printing by developing print data in a print buffer based on commands and data from the host apparatus.
Non-volatile storage means capable of holding stored contents even when power is not supplied to the printing apparatus;
It is stored in a volatile manner, and includes a plurality of sets of two counters including the operation time of the printing apparatus and counting each operation of the printing apparatus independently for each operation. Means for counting the number of operations;
Operation number storage means for storing each of a plurality of count values of the operation number counting means as a plurality of history operation times of the printing apparatus in the plurality of areas of the nonvolatile storage means, respectively.
The operation number storage means has a timer for measuring the operation time of the printing apparatus, acquires the operation number of the printing apparatus stored in the nonvolatile storage means, and stores the operation number in the operation number count means, The operation count of the operation count counting unit is updated based on the operation of the printing apparatus, and a timer interrupt is generated at a constant time interval based on the timer, and the operation stored in the operation count counting unit Storing the number of times in the non-volatile storage means;
The operation count storage means stores the operation count of the printing apparatus in the nonvolatile storage means in response to the reception of the first command from the host apparatus in addition to the timing of the timer interruption.
When a counter change command is received from the host device, it is independent of one operation of the plurality of areas of the non-volatile storage means , except when there is unprinted print data in the reception buffer. One of the counted two counters is initialized with the number of history operations.

And an operation frequency transmission means for reading out the operation count stored in the nonvolatile storage means in response to reception of the second command from the host device and transmitting the read operation count to the host device. To do.

A method for confirming the number of operations of a printing apparatus connected to a host apparatus and performing printing by developing print data in a print buffer based on commands and data from the host apparatus ,
Obtaining the number of operations of the printing apparatus stored in the non-volatile storage means, and storing it in the operation count counting means;
The operation number counting means stores volatilely, includes the operation time of the printing apparatus, and counts two operations independently for one operation for each of a plurality of operations of the printing apparatus. An operation frequency counting step comprising a plurality of sets of counters constituted by counters and counting and updating the operation frequency;
An interrupt executing an interrupt at predetermined timing corresponding to the measurement result timer means for measuring the operating hours of the printing device,
A first operation count storage step of storing in the nonvolatile storage means based on the count value of the operation count counting means according to the interrupt step;
A second operation count storage step of storing the operation count of the printing device in the nonvolatile storage means in response to reception of the first command from the host device in addition to the predetermined timing;
When a counter change command is received from the host device, it is independent of one operation of the plurality of areas of the non-volatile storage means, except when there is unprinted print data in the reception buffer. Initializing the number of history operations of one of the two counted counters;
Transmitting the number of operations stored in the non-volatile storage means to the host device in response to a second command from the host device;
It is characterized by including.

As a reference example,
Based on the non-volatile storage means capable of holding the stored contents even when power is not supplied to the printing apparatus, the operation number counting means for counting the specific number of operations of the printing apparatus, and the count value by the operation number counting means, An operation frequency storage means for storing the history operation frequency of the printing apparatus in the nonvolatile storage means, and printing based on a command and data from a host device,
The number of history operations is stored in two areas of the nonvolatile storage means by the number of operations storage means, and one history operation number of the two areas is set as a changeable count value by a command from the host device. The other history operation count cannot be changed by a command from the host device as an unchangeable count value.

Further, the printing apparatus includes a test printing mode for the printing apparatus alone, and in the test printing mode, at least the changeable count value and the non-changeable count value are printed. .
A non-volatile storage means connected to a host device and performing printing based on commands and data from the host device, the non-volatile storage means capable of holding stored contents even when power is not supplied to the printing device, and printing An operation number counting unit that counts a specific operation number of the apparatus, and an operation number storage unit that stores the history operation number of the printing apparatus in the nonvolatile storage unit based on a count value by the operation number counting unit. The operation count storage means stores the history operation count in the nonvolatile storage means at each predetermined timing, and when the first command related to the counter is received from the host device, the predetermined timing is In a printing apparatus for storing separately in the non-volatile storage means,
The printing apparatus is provided with a test printing mode for a single printing apparatus, and in the test printing mode, at least printing of a changeable count value and a non-changeable count value is executed.
With this configuration, it is possible to check at least the number of history operations such as a changeable count value and a non-changeable count value of the printing apparatus in a state where the printing apparatus alone is not connected to the host apparatus.

Further, the test print mode is shifted to when the power is turned on while pressing a predetermined switch.
With this configuration, it is possible to shift to when the power is turned on while pressing a predetermined switch such as paper feed of the printing apparatus.
A printing device connected to a host device and performing printing based on commands and data from the host device, the operation number counting unit counting a specific number of operations of the printing device, and the operation number counting unit Operation number storage means for storing the history operation count of the printing device in a nonvolatile storage means based on the count value of the printing device, wherein the operation count storage means sets the history operation count to the nonvolatile memory at a predetermined timing. In the method for confirming the number of history operations in the printing apparatus that stores the first command related to the counter from the host device and stores it in the nonvolatile storage means separately from the predetermined timing when the first command is received from the host device.
In a state where the printing device is not connected to the host device,
Shifting to the test print mode, the number of history operations is confirmed by printing at least a changeable count value and a non-changeable count value.
With this configuration, it is possible to check at least the number of history operations such as a changeable count value and a non-changeable count value of the printing apparatus in a state where the printing apparatus alone is not connected to the host apparatus.

The test print mode may be shifted to when the power is turned on while pressing the paper feed switch of the printing apparatus.
With this configuration, it is possible to shift to when the power is turned on while pressing a predetermined switch such as paper feed of the printing apparatus.
A printing apparatus that is connected to a host apparatus and performs printing based on commands and data from the host apparatus, the operation number counting means for counting a specific number of operations of the printing apparatus, and a count by the operation number counting means Operation number storage means for storing the history operation count of the printing apparatus in a nonvolatile storage means based on the value, wherein the operation count storage means stores the history operation count in the nonvolatile storage at every predetermined timing. In the method for confirming the number of history operations in the printing apparatus that stores the first command related to the counter from the host device and stores the first command in the nonvolatile storage unit separately from the predetermined timing,
When a second command related to a counter is received from the host device, at least a changeable count value and a non-changeable count value are transmitted to the host device;
Shifting to the test print mode, the number of operation histories is confirmed by printing at least a count value that can be changed and a count value that cannot be changed.

The test print mode may be shifted to when the power is turned on while pressing the paper feed switch of the printing apparatus.
With this configuration, it is possible to shift to when the power is turned on while pressing a predetermined switch such as paper feed of the printing apparatus.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to check the history operation count of a printing apparatus in a state where the printing apparatus is not connected to a host apparatus.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing apparatus according to the present invention. 10 is a communication control unit, 11 is a processing control unit, 12 is a ROM, 13 is a flash ROM, 14 is a RAM, 15 is a mechanism control unit, 16 Indicates the mechanism.

The processing control unit 11 operates according to the processing procedure stored in the ROM 12.
The communication control unit 10 is connected to a host device (not shown). Reception of print data and control commands from the host device and transmission of the number of operations of the printing device to the host device are performed through the communication control unit 10. The communication control unit 10 also has a function of resetting the processing control unit 11 by a signal line connected to the host device.

  The processing control unit 11 operates the mechanism 16 through the mechanism control unit 15 based on the data received through the communication control unit 10. The mechanism 16 includes a roll paper feeding unit 17, a roll paper printing head 18, a roll paper cutter 19, a cut sheet feeding unit 20, a cut sheet printing head 21, and a magnetic ink character reading head 22.

  The processing control unit 11 has a timer inside, and generates a timer interrupt at regular intervals. Time is measured by this timer interruption process stored in the ROM 12, and the operating time of the printing apparatus is measured.

  When the process control unit 11 performs the control process of the mechanism 16 to the mechanism control unit 15, the process control unit 11 stores the number of operations in the RAM 14. The number of operations of the mechanism 16 stored in the RAM 14 is stored in the flash ROM 13 at a predetermined timing. At this time, the operating time of the printing apparatus measured by the timer of the processing control unit 11 is also stored.

The flash ROM 13 can be read and written by the processing control unit 11 and can retain its contents even when power is not supplied. In the processing procedure stored in the ROM 12, first, the number of operations of the printing apparatus stored in the flash ROM 13 is copied to the RAM 14, and the contents of the RAM 14 are updated as the number of subsequent operations is counted. With such a configuration, it is possible to continuously count the number of operations of the printing apparatus regardless of whether the power is on or off.

  In the time measurement by the timer interruption described above, the operation time of the printing apparatus is measured and the time for storing the count contents of the number of operations stored in the RAM 14 in the flash ROM 13 is also implemented. In this embodiment, each time it is detected that the time measurement by the timer interruption process has elapsed for 2 minutes, it is stored in the flash ROM 13.

  There are the following operations for counting, and a counter number is assigned to each. This counter number is used in a control command described later. Two counter numbers are assigned to one operation.

・ Number of cut sheet paper feed counter number a = 10
Counter number b = 138
-Number of characters printed on a single sheet Counter number a = 11
Counter number b = 139
-Number of roll paper feed lines Counter number a = 20
Counter number b = 148
-Roll paper head energization counter number a = 21
Counter number b = 149
-Roll paper cutter drive count Counter number a = 50
Counter number b = 178
・ Number of magnetic ink character reading counter number a = 60
Counter number b = 188
・ Product operation time Counter number a = 70
Counter number b = 198
The counter with counter number a and the counter with counter number b are independent counters, and each counter is updated for one operation.

  Here, the counter number a is a counter that can be changed by a control command, and the counter number b is a counter that cannot be changed by a control command.

Next, a control command for changing the count content of the counter number a will be described.
FIG. 2 shows an example of the counter change command.
The change command includes a command code part 30 and a parameter part 31. Further, the command code section 30 is composed of an extension 32 and a function code 33, and the parameter section 31 is composed of a function expansion parameter 34 and a counter number designation section 35. The extension 32 is ASCII notation of the character code table <1DH>. The function code 33 is a code string for designating a counter changing function, and in this embodiment, the changing function is designated by combining two character codes. The function expansion parameter 34 of the change command in this embodiment designates a key for changing the counter. The counter number designating unit 35 designates the counter number to be changed.

  In the counter change command processing, the following processing is performed.

The function extension parameter 34 of the counter change command is compared with a predetermined key, and if the function extension parameter 34 does not match the key, the counter change process is not executed. This makes it possible to prohibit the counter from being changed when the predetermined key does not match.

The counter number specified by the counter number specifying unit 35 is compared with a counter number a that can be changed, and if the counter number specified by the counter number specifying unit 35 corresponds to the counter number a, the specified counter At this time, the contents of the counter are initialized to 0 in this embodiment. If the counter number specified by the counter number specifying unit 35 does not correspond to the counter number a, the counter is not changed. Therefore, the counter of the counter number corresponding to the counter number b is not changed.

When the print mode for executing printing by the print command after the print data transmitted from the host device is expanded and stored in the print buffer for each line is selected and there is unprinted data in the print buffer, Do not execute counter change processing. As a result, it is possible to prevent the disappearance of unprinted data due to the occurrence of an error during the counter changing process, and it is possible to protect the print data that has not been printed.

If the print mode in which print data is transmitted by the print command after the print data transmitted from the host device is expanded and stored in the print buffer corresponding to a plurality of lines is selected, the counter changing process is not executed. Accordingly, it is possible to prohibit the counter change process in a state where a print mode that is not appropriate for the counter change process is selected.

If a “write error” occurs during execution of the write, the error occurrence is displayed by an LED or buzzer, or notified to the host device by sending an error status, changing a signal line, or the like. As a result, the operator or the host device can confirm that the counter changing process has not been completed normally due to an error occurring in the printing apparatus.

  This counter change command also has the following functions.

The contents of the counter stored in the RAM 14 are written into the flash ROM 13 even if the time measured by the above-described timer interruption does not reach the writing time to the flash ROM 13. In the case of not having this configuration, the contents of the counter are changed by the change command, and the contents of the counter are changed when the host device resets the processing control section 11 by the signal line through the communication control section 11 before writing to the flash ROM 13. Will be lost. In order to prevent such a problem from occurring, writing to the flash ROM 13 is performed at the same time when a change command is processed.
It should be noted that the same effect can be obtained by providing a write-only command for the flash ROM 13.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a counter transmission command.
The transmission command is composed of a command code part 40 and a parameter part 41. Further, the command code section 40 is composed of an extension 42 and a function code 43, and the parameter section 41 is composed of a function expansion parameter 44 and a counter number designation section 45. The extension 42 is ASCII notation of the character code table <1DH>. The function code 43 is a code string for designating a counter transmission function, and in this embodiment, a change function is designated by combining two character codes. The function expansion parameter 44 of the transmission command in the present embodiment designates a key at the time of counter transmission. The counter number designating unit 45 designates a counter number to be transmitted.

The following processing is performed in the counter transmission command processing.
The function expansion parameter 44 of the counter transmission command is compared with a predetermined key, and if the function expansion parameter 44 does not match the key, the counter transmission processing is not executed. This makes it possible to prohibit transmission of the counter when the predetermined keys do not match.

If the counter number designated by the counter number designation unit 45 is a counted number, the contents of the counter stored in the flash ROM 13 are read and transmitted. If the counter number specified by the counter number specifying unit 45 is an uncounted number, the transmission command is ignored and data transmission is not performed.

When a “read error” of the flash ROM 13 occurs during transmission, the error occurrence is displayed by an LED, buzzer, or the like, or notified to the host device by error status transmission, signal line change, or the like. Thus, the operator or the host device can confirm that data is not transmitted due to an error occurring in the printing device.

-[Header code] or [Terminate code] can be added to the transmission data. As a result, the host device can easily recognize the start and end of the transmission data.

During the counter transmission command processing, the following processing is also executed.
The count data is converted as the first step of the data transmission process to the host device.
There are two types of contents that are counted, such as those that are easy to understand as numerical values for determining the lifespan, and those that are difficult to understand with the numerical values themselves. The easy-to-understand values may be left as they are, but for the numerical values that are difficult to understand, the contents of the count are converted to those that are easy to determine the lifespan. A description will be given by taking the number of sheet feed lines of a cut sheet as an example.

  The drive source of the cut sheet feeding unit 20 is a stepping motor. Counting by the processing control unit 11 counts the number of steps of the stepping motor. On the user side, it is very difficult to understand how much paper feeding has been performed with this number of steps. The normal paper feed for one line is 1/6 inch, and the cut sheet feed unit 20 is configured to feed 1/6 inch cut sheet when the stepping motor is driven 24 steps. Therefore, a value obtained by dividing the internal count value by 24 and converting it to the number of print lines is prepared.

Data conversion is performed as the second step.
If the counted contents and converted numerical values are sent to the host device as they are, problems may occur such as that some numerical values match other control codes and normal operation cannot be performed, and that data cannot be transmitted by 7-bit data communication. . As an example, when the converted value of the number of paper feed lines of a cut sheet is 00001100H, the transmission data is 4 bytes of 00H, 00H, 11H, and 00H. Here, 11H is the XON code and the handshake is bad. May occur.

Therefore, data conversion is performed. In the data conversion, the count value or the converted value is converted into a decimal character code and transmitted from the upper digit to the host device.
In the case of the above-mentioned value 00001100H, the decimal value is 4864, and 4 bytes 34H, 38H, 36H, and 34H are transmitted to the host device.

  In addition to printing data from the host device, the printing device of the present invention has a test print mode for testing the printing device. When the power is turned on while pressing a paper feed switch (not shown), the test print mode is entered.

In this test print mode, the same content as that transmitted by the counter transmission command to the host device is printed as shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, 50 indicates an item being counted, 51 indicates a count value of a changeable counter belonging to the counter number a, and 52 indicates a count value of an unchangeable counter belonging to the counter number b.
With this configuration, the operation history of the printing apparatus can be confirmed in a state where the printing apparatus is not connected to the host apparatus.

  The count is also advanced by the printing operation in the test printing mode. However, since the test print mode does not continue for 2 minutes, the power may be turned off before the timing for writing the contents of the RAM 14 to the flash ROM 13 comes. Even in this case, if the test print mode is completed even before the time measurement by the timer interrupt process of the process control unit 11 is determined to be the write timing so that the counted contents are not lost, the flash ROM 13 is transferred to the flash ROM 13. To write.

The block diagram which shows one Example of this invention. The figure for demonstrating the counter change command which shows one Example of this invention. The figure for demonstrating the counter transmission command which shows one Example of this invention. The example of a printing in the test printing mode which shows one Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 ... Processing control unit 11 ... Communication control unit 12 ... ROM
13 ... Flash ROM
14 ... RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 ... Mechanism control part 16 ... Mechanism 30 ... Command code part 31 of change command ... Parameter part 32 of change command ... Extension 33 of change command ... Function code 34 of change command ... Function extension parameter 35 for change command ... Counter number specification parameter 40 for change command ... Command code part 41 for send command ... Parameter part 42 for send command ... Extension 43 for send command ... Function code 44 of transmission command ... Parameter 45 for function expansion of transmission command ... Counter number specification parameter of transmission command

Claims (3)

In a printing apparatus that is connected to a host apparatus and performs printing by developing print data in a print buffer based on commands and data from the host apparatus.
Non-volatile storage means capable of holding stored contents even when power is not supplied to the printing apparatus;
It is stored in a volatile manner, and includes a plurality of sets of two counters including the operation time of the printing apparatus and counting each operation of the printing apparatus independently for each operation. Means for counting the number of operations;
Operation number storage means for storing each of a plurality of count values of the operation number counting means as a plurality of history operation times of the printing apparatus in the plurality of areas of the nonvolatile storage means, respectively.
The operation number storage means has a timer for measuring the operation time of the printing apparatus, acquires the operation number of the printing apparatus stored in the nonvolatile storage means, and stores the operation number in the operation number count means, The operation count of the operation count counting unit is updated based on the operation of the printing apparatus, and a timer interrupt is generated at a constant time interval based on the timer, and the operation stored in the operation count counting unit Storing the number of times in the non-volatile storage means;
The operation count storage means stores the operation count of the printing apparatus in the nonvolatile storage means in response to the reception of the first command from the host apparatus in addition to the timing of the timer interruption.
When a counter change command is received from the host device, it is independent of one operation of the plurality of areas of the non-volatile storage means , except when there is unprinted print data in the reception buffer. Initialize the number of history operations of one of the two counted counters.
A printing apparatus characterized by that.   And a number-of-operations transmission unit that reads out the number of operations stored in the nonvolatile storage unit in response to reception of a second command from the host device, and transmits the number of operations to the host device. Item 4. The printing apparatus according to Item 1. A method for confirming the number of operations of a printing apparatus connected to a host apparatus and performing printing by developing print data in a print buffer based on commands and data from the host apparatus ,
Obtaining the number of operations of the printing apparatus stored in the non-volatile storage means, and storing it in the operation count counting means;
The operation number counting means stores volatilely, includes the operation time of the printing apparatus, and counts two operations independently for one operation for each of a plurality of operations of the printing apparatus. An operation frequency counting step comprising a plurality of sets of counters constituted by counters and counting and updating the operation frequency;
An interrupt executing an interrupt at predetermined timing corresponding to the measurement result timer means for measuring the operating hours of the printing device,
A first operation count storage step of storing in the nonvolatile storage means based on the count value of the operation count counting means according to the interrupt step;
A second operation count storage step of storing the operation count of the printing device in the nonvolatile storage means in response to reception of the first command from the host device in addition to the predetermined timing;
When a counter change command is received from the host device, it is independent of one operation of the plurality of areas of the non-volatile storage means, except when there is unprinted print data in the reception buffer. Initializing the number of history operations of one of the two counted counters;
Transmitting the number of operations stored in the non-volatile storage means to the host device in response to a second command from the host device;
A method for confirming the number of operations of a printing apparatus, comprising:

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