JPH0212320A - Cartridge number detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately detect a cartridge number by detecting repetitively and in plural times the code showing the cartridge number to decide the presence of the code when the code detecting frequency is higher than a prescribed level and recognizing the cartridge number. CONSTITUTION:A detection executing means 6 detects in plural times the presence or absence of a code 3 set at a prescribed area of a cartridge 1 with use of plural pulse signals produced by a pulse signal generating means 5 and corresponding to the shift of the cartridge 1. The number of detection signals detected in the timing of the pulse signal are counted by a counting means 7. When this count value is larger than a prescribed frequency, the presence of the code 3 is decided and the number of the cartridge 1 is prescribed. Thus it is possible to accurately detect the cartridge number despite the timing error caused between the shift and the reading of the cartridge 1 or the soil of a sheet containing the code 3.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] Regarding a cartridge number detection device that reads the cartridge number of a roll-type item key by optical means, the present invention aims to accurately detect the cartridge number, and includes a cartridge moving means for moving the cartridge; , a code detecting means for optically reading the presence or absence of a code provided at a predetermined location on the cartridge; and a pulse signal generating means for generating a plurality of pulse signals corresponding to movement of the cartridge. and a detection execution means for performing detection of the code a plurality of times according to the timing of the pulse signal, and a counting means for counting the number of detected detection signals using the pulse signal, and the counting means counts the number of detected signals. When the number of detected signals exceeds a predetermined number of times, the code is determined to be valid and the number of the cartridge is defined.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a cartridge number detection device, and more particularly to a cartridge number detection device for reading the cartridge number of a roll-type item key by optical means.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, rolled item keys have been used as a keyboard for processing multiple items.

This roll-type item key is connected to an office computer, a personal computer, etc., and allows each key on the keyboard to correspond to a plurality of items.

Incidentally, the page sheet in each cartridge is selected by operating a function key on the keyboard and is transmitted to the host system, but each cartridge is replaced by an operator.
The cartridge number is sent to the host system by detecting a code provided at a predetermined location on each cartridge by a number detector on the roll-type item key body. As for reading the cartridge number, for example, a method is known in which a code indicating the cartridge number is provided on the sheet of the 20th page, and the code is read by a sensor when the 20th page appears on the item keyboard.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As mentioned above, the conventional cartridge number detection device
For example, when the cartridge is inserted and the 20th page sheet is mounted on the keyboard, the code indicating the cartridge number provided on the 20th page sheet of each cartridge is detected by a photo ink printer. being done. This conventional cartridge number detection device has problems with inaccurate cartridge number detection due to a lag in the timing of cartridge movement and reading, or dirt on the sheet on which the optical code is attached, such as a sticker. There are issues to be solved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the problems of the prior art described above, it is an object of the present invention to accurately detect cartridge numbers.

[Means to solve the problem]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of a cartridge number detection device according to the present invention.

According to the present invention, there is provided a cartridge number detecting device comprising a cartridge moving means 2 for moving a cartridge 1, and a code detecting means 4 for optically reading the presence or absence of a code 3 provided at a predetermined location on the cartridge L. , a pulse signal generating means 5 that generates a plurality of pulse signals corresponding to the movement of the cartridge l; a detection execution means 6 that executes the detection of the code 3 a plurality of times according to the timing of the pulse signal; and a detection execution means 6 that uses the pulse signal. and counting means 7 for counting the number of detection signals detected by the counting means 7, and when the number of detection signals counted by the counting means 7 exceeds a predetermined number of times, it is determined that code 3 exists and the number of the cartridge 1 is determined. A cartridge number detection device is provided, characterized in that the cartridge number detection device is configured as follows.

[For production]

According to the cartridge number detecting device of the present invention having the above-described configuration, the detection executing means 6 is installed at a predetermined position of the cartridge L by the plurality of pulse signals generated by the pulse signal generating means 5 and corresponding to the movement of the cartridge 1. The presence or absence of code 3 is detected multiple times. The number of detection signals detected at the timing of the pulse signal is counted by the counting means 7.
When the counted number of detection signals exceeds a predetermined number of times, it is determined that code 3 exists and the number of the cartridge I is specified.

This makes it possible to accurately detect the cartridge number even if the timing of cartridge movement and reading is out of sync, or even if the sheet to which the optical code is attached, such as a sticker, is dirty.

〔Example〕

First, before describing an embodiment of a cartridge number detection device according to the present invention, an outline of a roll-type item key to which the present invention is applied will be explained.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a roll type item key to which the present invention is applied. As shown in the figure, the roll-type item key 8 is connected to an office computer, a personal computer, etc., and each key on the keyboard corresponds to a plurality of items. Function key section 82. A program function key part 83 and a basic key part 84 are provided. The item key portion 81 is a key for selecting a predetermined item corresponding to each page sheet of the cartridge 1 inserted from the cartridge insertion slot 85. Each page sheet of the cartridge 1 is translated into II by operating the page key part 84 and is transmitted to the host system. Here, each cartridge is replaced by an operator, and the number of the cartridge is sent to the host system by detecting a code provided at a predetermined location on each cartridge by a number detector on the main body of the roll-type item key. There is. In addition, Besiki part 84 is
The user selects an arbitrary page in each cartridge, and also operates the loading and unloading of the cartridge when replacing the cartridge.

The cartridge 1 is composed of, for example, 20 page sheets, and a code display section (code) 3 indicating the cartridge number is provided on the last 20th page sheet. The code display section 3 is composed of, for example, a plurality of light-shielding stickers, and when the cartridge L inserted from the cartridge insertion port 85 is installed, the 20th page sheet is displayed. Code 3 (presence or absence of seal) by photo interrupter 86 of main unit
is detected. The code content detected by the photointerrupter 86 is then supplied to the host system, so that the host system can recognize the cartridge number corresponding to code 3. Here, each page sheet of the cartridge can specify, for example, 160 items each, and by replacing and using this one cartridge for 64 items, 204.8 items can be specified.
The item 00 can be associated with each key of the item key part 81 to determine the purpose.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a cartridge used in the roll-type item key of FIG. 2. As described above, the cartridge 1 includes, for example, 20 pages of sheets, and the last 20th page sheet 120 is provided with a code 3 indicating the cartridge number. This code 3
is composed of, for example, six stickers 3a to 3f, and whether or not these stickers 3a to 3f have been peeled off is read by a photo ink label 86 provided on the roll type item key body. In the figure, reference numeral 1a is a place where items corresponding to each key of the item key part 81 are written, and for example, 160 items can be written on one page sheet.

Further, reference numeral 1b is a stop mark, which is used for positioning when each page sheet is selected and displayed at the position of the item key part 81.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing how the code of the cartridge shown in FIG. 3 is read. As described above, when the cartridge 1 is inserted through the insertion slot 85 of the roll-type item key, for example, the sheet of the last 20th page is displayed on the item key part 81, and the item key is in the installed state.

A photo interrupter 86 provided in the main unit
The code 3 provided on the 20th page of the cartridge 1 is read in synchronization with the movement of the cartridge 1 when the cartridge 1 moves to the corresponding position in the item key part 81. There is. That is, the photointerrupter 86 is configured to detect the presence or absence of each of the stickers 38 to 3f of the code 3 indicating the number of the cartridge number of the present invention.
When detecting the presence or absence of the seals 38 to 3f, detection is performed multiple times based on the timing of a plurality of pulse signals corresponding to the movement of the cartridge 1, and when the number of detections is a predetermined number or more, the seal (code code) is detected. ), the cartridge number is recognized.

FIG. 5 is a block circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the cartridge number detection device of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a timing diagram of each signal in the cartridge number detection device of FIG. As previously explained, the cartridge 1 inserted through the insertion slot 85 of the roll-type item key 8 is moved by the pulse motor 2 to a predetermined position in the item key part 81 and is in the installed state. In the cartridge number detection device, when the cartridge 1 is moved, the photointerrupter 4 detects the presence or absence of the code 3 stickers 3a to 3f and reads the cartridge number.

The pulse motor 2 is controlled by a motor control circuit 5 via a motor drive circuit 2a, and the motor drive pulse output from the motor control circuit 5 is applied not only to the pulse motor 2 but also to one input of an AND gate 6. Supplied. The output signal of the photointerrupter 4 is supplied to the other input of the AND gate 6, so that when the motor drive pulse and the output signal of the photointerrupter 4 both become high level, the shift register (counter) 7 It is designed to output a detection signal to the That is, as shown in FIG. 6(a), the sensor signal (output signal of the photointerrupter 4) becomes a medium-high level signal while each of the seals 38 to 3f of the code 3 is being detected. This sensor signal is a signal that is directly affected by a timing shift between the movement of the cartridge 1 and reading, or by dirt on the optical code 3 such as a seal.
This sensor signal is detected multiple times depending on the timing of the motor drive pulse. That is, the sixth
As shown in Figure (b), the sensor signal is sampled according to the timing of the motor drive pulse. Specifically, at the timing when both the motor drive pulse and the sensor signal become high level,
A detection signal is output to a shift register (counter) 7.

The shift register 7, as shown in FIG. 6(d),
A seal detection signal is output when the number of detection signals exceeds a predetermined number of times. Here, code 3 is determined by the timing of the motor drive pulse.
(Seals 38 to 3f) are detected in synchronization with the cartridge 1 moved by the pulse motor 2.
The process is repeated a plurality of times when the photointerrupter 4 reaches the position where it should be detected.

Moreover, FIG. 6(c) shows the reset pulse, code 3
A reset pulse is supplied to the shift register 7 every time the detection of each of the seals 3a to 3f is completed. As a result, a seal detection signal indicating whether or not the seal is attached to each of the seals 38 to 3r is output.

It goes without saying that the cartridge number detection device of the above-described embodiment can be configured by software.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described in detail above, the cartridge number detection device according to the present invention repeatedly detects a code indicating a cartridge number multiple times, and determines that a code exists when the number of detected codes is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of times. By recognizing the cartridge number, the cartridge number can be detected accurately.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of the cartridge number detection device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a roll-type item key to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the roll-type item key of FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing how the code of the cartridge shown in FIG. 3 is read; FIG. 5 is a block circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the cartridge number detection device of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a timing diagram of each signal in the cartridge number detection device of FIG. 5. [Explanation of symbols] ■... Cartridge, 2... Cartridge moving means, 3... Code, 4... Code detection means, 5... Pulse signal generation means, 6... Detection execution Means, 7... Counting means, 8... Roll-type item key National affairs indicating a roll-type item key to which the present invention is applied.
2 Figure 8... Roll-type item key Block diagram showing the principle of Cartlitz number detection 1ffii according to the present invention Figure 3 showing an example of Cartlitz Figure 3 Figures 30 to 3f... 120... Seal 20th peno sheet

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Cartridge moving means (2) for moving the cartridge (1), and code detection means (4) for optically reading the presence or absence of a code (3) provided at a predetermined location on the cartridge. A cartridge number detection device comprising: a pulse signal generating means (5) that generates a plurality of pulse signals corresponding to the movement of the cartridge; and a detection execution unit that detects the code multiple times according to the timing of the pulse signal. and a counting means (7) for counting the number of detection signals detected using the pulse signal, when the number of detection signals counted by the counting means is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of times. A cartridge number detection device characterized in that the number of the cartridge is defined by assuming that there is a code in the cartridge. 2. The code is a light-blocking sticker provided on a predetermined page of the cartridge of the roll-type item key, and the pulse signal generating means is also used as a pulse generating circuit for a pulse motor that moves the cartridge. 1. A device according to claim 1.