JPH01157878A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a variety of tests to be performed without providing a multiplicity of specifying switches by a method wherein when a test function item displayed on a display device is selectively specified by a test item specifying switch, a test function relevant to the item selectively specified is executed. CONSTITUTION:A controlling circuit 1 reads one of a plurality of test items stored in a ROM 2, and displays the read item on a display device 5. In this condition, an operation of an online key 42 is monitored, and when the key 42 is operated, the operation is judged as a shift key operation, another test item is read from the ROM 2, and is displayed on the display device 5 in place of the test item being displayed. Thereafter, each time the online key 42 is operated, a different test item is read from the ROM 2, and is displayed on the display device 5. Therefore, even when a multiplicity of test items are present, each of the items is displayed on the display device 5 without fail, thereby enabling the operator to find a desired test item surely and easily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a printing device such as a dot printer or a digiwheel printer that prints character information sent from a host computer or the like.

[Prior Art] This type of printing device generally has a test function for maintenance and adjustment of the device itself. This test function is
For example, there are many types of tests, such as an incremental print test in which character codes are sequentially read from a memory and printed, and a test pattern print test in which a preset test pattern is printed.

However, conventional printing devices are configured such that, for example, each of these tests is assigned to a key switch in advance, and a desired test can be performed by selectively operating these key switches and turning on the power switch. ing. Therefore, in order to be able to perform various types of tests, it is necessary to provide a large number of key switches corresponding to the number of tests, which leads to an increase in the size of the apparatus.

In addition, small equipment may only have a small number of key switches, which limits the types of tests that can be performed and, as a result, requires sufficient maintenance and adjustment. This was not desirable as it sometimes made it impossible to do so.

[Problem to be solved by the invention 1 As mentioned above, the conventional device must be provided with designation switches corresponding to the test items. year,
In addition, if the number of specified switches that can be installed is limited, the types of tests that can be performed must be limited, which poses the problem of increasing the size of the fruiting device or reducing the test function. The present invention has focused on this point, and aims to provide a printing device that can perform many types of tests without providing a large number of designation switches, and thereby has a compact size and extensive testing functions.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a printing device equipped with a plurality of test functions and a display for displaying information related to the operation of the device, in a test mode as shown in FIG. It is equipped with a test mode designation switch A for designating the test mode designation switch A, a test item display control means B, and a shift switch C for scroll operation. The test item display control means B causes a fixed number of items of the plurality of test functions to be displayed on the display while scrolling according to the operation of the shift switch C, and the test item designation switch D and the test function execution control means E and
When the test function item displayed on the display is selected and specified by the test item designation switch D, the test function execution control means E executes the test function for which the item is selected and specified. It is.

[Function] As a result, all of the items for a wide variety of test functions are displayed on the display, and by selecting and specifying the desired item from among them, the corresponding test function will be executed, so a small number of switches can be used. By simply doing this, it becomes possible to selectively execute various test functions. That is, it is possible to provide an apparatus that has a compact configuration and has extensive test functions.

[Embodiment] FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing device in an embodiment of the present invention. This device consists of a dot printer and has a control circuit 1 including a microprocessor (CPU) as a main control section and a drive circuit. This control circuit 1 includes a ROM 2 that stores control programs for the CPU, character code data, test data, etc., a RAM 3 that temporarily stores control data, print data, etc., an operation panel 4, and a display 5 made of a liquid crystal. are connected to each other. Among these, the operation panel 4 includes, for example, a test key 41 for specifying a test mode as shown in FIG. 4, an online key 42 that is operated when performing an online operation, and a paper feed key 43 for inputting recording paper conveyance instructions. , a next page key 44 which is operated to change the recording paper to the next page, and a stop key 45 which is operated to stop the printing operation.

The control circuit 1 also includes an interface 6 for data transfer.
is connected to this interface 6, and a host computer (not shown) which is a print data generation source is connected to this interface 6 via a data transmission cord 7. The control circuit 1 further includes a head unit 8, a carriage motor 9 for moving the carriage, a paper conveyance motor 10 for feeding recording paper, and a carriage sensor for detecting whether the carriage is at the home position. 11 and a paper-out sensor 1 for detecting paper-out are respectively connected. Of these, the head section 8 includes a dot head 83 that operates according to the character code output from the control circuit 1 to print data on recording paper, a ribbon break sensor 82 that detects the end of the ink ribbon, and drives the heads. It is composed of a head motor 81.

By the way, the CPU of the control circuit 1, as its control means,
In addition to the data transmission control means with the host computer, the control means for printing and recording the data sent from the host computer, etc., as shown in FIG. 3, there are test item display control means 1a and test execution control means 1b. It is equipped with Among these, the test item display control means 1a shifts to the test mode and displays one of the plurality of test items stored in the ROM 2 on the display 5 when the test key 41 is operated when the power switch is turned on. , and when the online key 42 is pressed in this state, this key operation is regarded as a shift key operation, and the test items displayed on the display 5 are scrolled. On the other hand, when the next page key 44 is operated while the test item is being displayed, the test execution control means 1b determines that this key operation is a test item designation operation and executes the test corresponding to the test item being displayed. It is something that makes you

Next, the control circuit 1 controls the operation of the device configured as described above.
This will be explained according to the control procedure. When the power switch is turned on, the control circuit 1 initializes each part of the device in step 5a, as shown in FIG. 5, and then proceeds to step 5b, where it determines whether or not the test key 41 has been operated. If the test key 41 is not operated, the process directly proceeds to step 5c and normal printing operations are started; however, if the test key 41 is operated, the process then shifts to the test mode.

That is, the control circuit 1 first moves to step 5d,
Here, one of the plurality of test items stored in the ROM 2 is read out and displayed on the display 5. In this state, the operation of the online key 42 is monitored in step 5e, and when the online key 42 is operated, the operation is determined to be a shift key operation and the process moves to step 5f, where another test item is read from the ROM 2. The test items are read out and displayed on the display 5 in place of the test items currently being displayed. Thereafter, each time the online key 42 is operated, a different test item is read from the ROM 2 and displayed on the display 5.

That is, according to the operation of the online key 42, the display 5
Scroll the test items displayed on the screen. Therefore, even if there are a large number of test items, these test items are always displayed on the display 5, so that the operator can reliably and easily search for the desired test item.

Now, the desired test item is displayed on the display 5:;, and when the operator operates the next page key 44 in this state, the control circuit 1 controls the operation of the next page key 44 in step 5g.
“Q is detected and it is determined that it is a test item specification operation, and step 5
Move to h. Then, in step 5h, a test corresponding to the test item currently displayed on the display 5 is selected, and this test is executed thereafter.

In this embodiment, when the test mode is entered by operating the test key 41, the O-line key 4
2 and the next page key 44 are operated as a shift key for scrolling and a test item designation key, respectively, and a plurality of test items are scroll-displayed using the existing display 5 according to the operation of the online key 42, and the next page key 44 is operated, the test corresponding to the test item displayed on display 5 is selected and executed.
Many types of tests can be selectively specified and executed without providing any new keys for testing. Therefore, although the device is small, it is possible to carry out extensive tests.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the above embodiment, the test items are displayed on the display 5 (; one by one and scrolled. However, if the display area of the display is large, multiple test items may be displayed at the same time and scrolled. In addition, in the above embodiment, the scroll shift operation and test item selection designation operation are performed using the online key 42 and the next page key 44.
However, other keys may also be used. Furthermore, if a transparent electrode switch called a touch screen is provided on the display surface of the display, operating this switch An operation for specifying test items may also be performed.

In addition, the content of the test, the form of the test item (for example, test name and number), the configuration of the test mode designation switch, shift switch, and test item designation switch, the control content and control procedure of the test item display control means and the test function execution control means. etc., can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, a test mode can be specified in a printing device that is equipped with a plurality of test functions and a display for displaying information related to the operation of the device. a test mode designation switch, a test item display control means, and a shift switch for scroll operation; when the test mode is designated by the operation of the test mode designation switch, the test item display control means A fixed number of items of a plurality of test functions are displayed on the display while being scrolled in accordance with the operation of the shift switch, and includes a test item designation switch and a test function execution control means, and is displayed on the display. When a test function item is selected and specified by the test item designation switch, the test function execution control means executes the test function for which the item is selected and specified, thereby providing a large number of designation switches. It is possible to perform many types of tests without any trouble, and thereby it is possible to provide a printing device that is compact and has extensive test functions.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the printing device of the present invention, FIGS. 2 to 5 are for explaining the printing device in an embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the printing device. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the control means of the control circuit, FIG. 4 is a front view showing the structure of the operation panel, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control procedure and control contents of the control circuit. It is. A...Test mode designation switch, B...Test item display control means, C...Shift switch, D...Test item designation switch, E...Test function execution control means, 1...Control Circuit, 1a...Test item display control means, 1b...Test execution control means, 2...ROM
, 3... RAM, 4... Operation panel, 5... Display, 6... Interface, 7... Data transmission code, 8... Head section, 9... Carriage motor, 1
0... Paper transport motor, 11... Carriage sensor, 12... Paper out sensor, 41... Test key,
42...Online key, 43...Paper feed key,
44...Next page key, 45...Stop key, 81...
Head motor, 82...Ribbon break sensor, 83...
・Dot head. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 1

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a printing device equipped with multiple test functions and a display for displaying information related to the operation of the device, there is a test mode designation switch for designating the test mode, and a test mode designation switch for designating the test mode. a test item display control means for displaying a fixed number of items of the plurality of test functions on the display when a test mode is designated by an operation; and a test function displayed on the display by the test item display control means. a shift switch for scrolling through the items of the test function, a test item selection switch for selecting and specifying the test function item being displayed on the display, and a test function for which the item is selected and specified by the test item selection switch. 1. A printing device characterized by comprising a test function execution means for performing a test function. (2) The shift switch and test item selection switch operate as a shift switch and test item selection switch only when test mode is specified, and specify other operations when an operation mode other than test mode is set. The printing device according to claim (1), which operates as a switch for printing.