JPH0216628A - Printing controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To always and continuously make any one of printers print by switching the printing device to detect the abnormality with another printing device when printing is executed to a recorded medium by the limited printing device and the abnormality of the printing device is detected. CONSTITUTION:A signal sent from a switching device 4 informs an abnormality detector 5 and an action printer limiting device 7 which of printers is during the action presently. At this time, the device 5 receives a status signal sent from two printers 2 and 3. The device 5 selects the status signal of the printers during the action by a signal 410, sends it through a signal 210 to a personal computer side, monitors this, detects the abnormality at the printers 2 and 3, informs the device 4 through the signal 510, changes the information stored in the device 4 and switches a printing printer to other printer. By limiting and sending only to the printer during the present action with an action limiting device 7, only one printer can be always operated.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a printing control device that sends data from a data sending device included in a personal computer (personal computer), etc., and causes a printer, etc., to continuously print. It is related to.

[Prior Art] Currently, when connecting a printer to a personal computer, the connection interface is Centro standard or R5.
232C is used. Through this interface, print data is sent from the computer to the printer for printing, but the printer sometimes encounters various problems such as running out of ink, running out of paper, or paper jams, which forces it to stop printing. There are cases.

Note that the paper out warning is a warning that a normal printer is running out of paper, and does not mean that there is no paper left.

At this time, the printer sends an error signal in the case of a Centro standard interface, and a wait code in the case of R5232C, thereby informing the personal computer that data cannot be received. The computer that received this
It is necessary to wait until the printer side recovers from the error state and becomes ready to receive data again before sending data.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, in the conventional technology, when a printer stops, a personal computer is unable to execute the task until the printer recovers, that is, until the operator resets the printer to a working state. had to be interrupted.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, and
An object of the present invention is to provide a printing control device that connects one or more printers to one interface of a personal computer and always causes one printer to continuously print.

[Means for Solving the Problem] In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides at least two printing means, a limiting means for limiting one of the printing means to be operated, and a limiting means for limiting one of the printing means to be operated. and a switching means for switching the printing means in which the abnormality has been detected to one of the remaining printing means. I can do it.

[Function] According to the present invention, as a means for switching printing from a printer currently printing to a standby printer, there is a means for detecting an abnormal signal from the printer currently printing, and a means for detecting an abnormal signal from the printer based on the detection result. This is realized by providing a signal and a signal switching means for switching the signal sent to the printer from the printer that is printing to the printer that is on standby.

According to the present invention, the printing control device of the present invention can be added to the interface portion of the computer without making any changes to the personal computer as a data sending device, and without making any changes to the printer. This allows the personal computer to continue printing continuously by using a virtual printer, that is, any printer that is operating at the time.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

According to the invention, when a printer that is printing stops due to a failure, one of the other printers automatically and immediately continues printing N1 times after the previous printer. In addition, after the faulty previous printer has been removed by replenishing paper, etc., if a fault occurs in the printer that is still printing, the printer is placed in a timed state so that it can resume printing on its behalf. This allows for continuous printing.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, where 1 is a data sending device. 2 and 3 are a first printer and a second printer, respectively.

In FIG. 1, the directions of arrows indicate the flow of signals. signal 1
10 is a control signal sent from the data sending device 1 to the virtual printer. Signal 120 is a status signal received from the virtual printer.

Signals 210 and 220 are control signals received and received by the first printer and status signals sent from the first printer. Signals 310 and 320 are control signals received and received by the second printer and status signals sent from the second printer.

The feature of the tree invention lies in the part surrounded by the broken line indicated by the reference numeral 11. Reference numeral 4 denotes a printer switching means, which stores which printer is currently in use and switches the printing printer.

A signal 410 sent from the switching means 4 notifies the abnormality detecting means 5 and the active printer limiting means 7 which printer is currently in operation.

An abnormality detection means 5 detects an abnormal state of the printer. The abnormality detection means 5 receives the status signals sent from the two printers 2.3, selects the status signal of the printer in operation using the signal 410, sends it to the personal computer side via the signal 120, and monitors it. .3
detects an abnormality in the printer, notifies the printer switching means 4 through a signal 510, and switches the printing printer to another one by changing the information stored in the printer switching means 4.

7 is an operation printer limiting means, which outputs a control signal 110 to
This is a means of sending only to printers that are currently in operation.

This means 7 allows only one printer to be operated at any time.

FIG. 2 is a detailed circuit diagram of an embodiment in which two printers are connected to a personal computer using a Centro standard interface. In FIG. 2, the same parts as in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals.

Signal line S in the first printer 2 and second printer 3
The TR receives and receives strobe signals sent from the data sending device 1. The signal line ERROR sends an error signal indicating an abnormality in the printer to the abnormality detection means 5. signal au
sy sends a busy signal from the printer 2.3 to the data sending device 1 through the abnormality detecting means 5.

The printer switching means 4 is constructed using a D-type flip-flop 48, and when the output Q is 0, the first printer 2
When the output is 1, the second printer 3 is selected. The value of this flip-flop switches on the falling edge of the ERROR signal from the active printer. Further, the signal 130 is a reset signal from a personal computer (not shown), and is included to fix the selection of the first printer 2 at the start of system operation. Although data signals not directly related to the selection control of the present invention are not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in reality, it is sufficient to input the same data signals to both printers.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, in the present invention, by applying the control device of the present invention to the interface between a personal computer and a plurality of printers, the personal computer can use a virtual printer instead of a specific printer. Printing will be performed on the other party, and an operable printer will always be automatically assigned to this virtual printer. Therefore, the personal computer can continue printing without interruption even if the printer runs out of paper or ink.

Furthermore, since printer switching occurs at page breaks, the printed results are also easier to see.

Furthermore, since no changes are required on the personal computer or printer side, the present invention can be easily applied to existing systems.

It is a diagram.

1... data transmission device, 2.3...Printer, 4... printer switching means, 5...paper-out detection means, 7...Operation printer limiting means.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a specific circuit of the embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) At least two printing means, a limiting means for limiting one of the printing means to be operated, and printing is performed on a recording medium by the limited printing means. A printing control device comprising: abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormality in the printing means; and switching means for switching the printing means in which the abnormality has been detected to one of the remaining printing means.