JPH0252779A - Printing control system of printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the reliability of a printer by ensuring the certain printing output of printing data by a method wherein the printer is not stopped instantaneously if at least a part of data remains in red printing when the necessity for stopping printing operation arises but changed over to low speed printing to continue printing. CONSTITUTION:When a main control part 2 detects that a printing head cover 6 is opened during operation from the output of a cover sensor 7 or detects that a space motor 5 reaches a predetermined temp. level from the output of a temp. sensor 8, the operation mode of a printer is changed over to a low speed printing mode which is, in turn, instructed to a printer control part 3. The printer control part 3 receives the instruction of the low speed printing mode to extend the driving cycle of the space motor 5 and continues printing. Therefore, the number of rotations of the space motor 5 are lowered and the moving speed of a printing head becomes a speed not injuring a human body and the generation quantity of heat is reduced and the printing of data is certainly performed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] If the printing door cover is opened while the printer is operating,
Concerning the printing control method in the event of an environmental abnormality such as an excessive rise in temperature.

The purpose is to ensure reliable print output of given print data and improve printer reliability when an environmental abnormality occurs, while taking safety measures and without complicating application processing. .

A space motor that controls the print head and its movement, a printer control unit that drives the print head and space motor to print, and controls the entire printer as well as controls for safety protection against environmental abnormalities. In printers equipped with a main control unit, 1) a low-speed printing mode is provided in which printing is performed at a speed slower than the normal printing speed; It has a configuration that switches to print mode, instructs the printer control unit to perform low-speed printing, and continues printing.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a print control method when an environmental abnormality occurs such as a print head cover being opened or an excessive temperature rise while a printer is in operation.

[Conventional technology]

When entries are made in a bankbook at a bank terminal such as an automatic teller machine, print data is transferred line by line from the host to the bank terminal. On the 11 line terminal.

Each line of print data transferred from the host is printed out to the printer each time, and one bankbook entry is made.

Each line of print data transferred to this bank terminal is
After receiving the information at the bank terminal, it must be printed out, otherwise errors such as omissions in the passbook will occur.

On the other hand, conventional printers for bank terminals are usually equipped with a mechanism that immediately stops the printing operation in order to protect one person's safety if the cover of the print head is opened during the printing operation. Furthermore, many printers have a mechanism that generates a mechanical alarm and automatically turns off the printer's power if the temperature inside the printer exceeds a certain limit due to overload or continuous use. It is equipped with

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In conventional bank terminal printers, if the cover of the print head is accidentally opened or the internal temperature of the printer rises above the limit while printing data that should be guaranteed to be printed, the printing operation will immediately stop. Therefore, there was a problem of data being omitted. Therefore, the print data must be saved on the host side and the appropriate recovery process performed.
It was necessary to perform continuous printing, making application processing complicated.

Furthermore, if the internal temperature of the printer rises, the printer may already be in an abnormal operating state, such as printing errors or being unable to print, before a mechanical alarm is generated, reducing printer reliability. There was a problem.

Furthermore, when an alarm occurs due to a rise in temperature, the power to the printer is cut off and the printer cannot be used for a long time until the temperature drops sufficiently.

The present invention provides safety measures when an environmental abnormality occurs, such as the print head cover being opened or the internal temperature becoming considerably high while the printer is in operation, without complicating application processing. The purpose is to guarantee reliable printout of printed data and improve printer reliability.

Means for Solving Problem C] The present invention provides that when the print head cover of the printer is opened or the internal temperature rises and it becomes necessary to stop the printer operation, at least one piece of data that should be guaranteed to be printed is removed. If a red print remains, the printer does not immediately stop, but switches to low-speed printing that is safe for the human body and consumes less power, and continues printing.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention.

In fig.

1 is a printer.

2 is a main control unit, which controls the entire printer 1;
In particular, it monitors the opening/closing of the print head cover and the temperature, and when an abnormality is detected, performs control to switch the normal printing mode to a low-speed printing mode to prevent malfunctions.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a printer control unit, which performs control to print out print data output line by line from the host.

4 is a print head.

A space motor 5 controls the movement of the print head 4 in the row direction.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a print head cover, which has the function of protecting the human body from the print head 4 and its surrounding mechanical parts while the printer is in operation, and also reducing the amount of noise.

A cover sensor 7 detects whether the print head cover 6 is open or closed.

A temperature sensor 8 detects the temperature of the space motor 5 in the example shown in FIG.

[Effect]

The present invention will be explained in detail using FIG.

The main control unit 2 of the printer 1 receives print data line by line from a host (not shown) and sends it to the printer control unit 3.
execute the printing.

The printer control unit 3 drives the space motor 5 to move the print head 4 in the row direction.

Printing is performed by driving the rad 4 to print.

The temperature of the space motor 5 increases as it is continuously driven, and the temperature sensor 8 detects the temperature.

The print head cover 6 is fully operational, and the cover sensor 7 detects its state.

The main controller 2 detects from the output of the cover sensor 7 that the print head cover is opened during operation, or from the output of the temperature sensor 8 that the space motor 5 has reached a predetermined temperature level. If detected, the operation mode of the printer is switched to low-speed printing mode and an instruction is given to the printer control unit 3.

When instructed to enter the low-speed printing mode, the printer control unit 3 lengthens the drive cycle of the space motor 5 to continue printing.

Therefore, the rotational speed of the space motor 5 decreases, the print head moves at a very slow speed that does not hurt the human body, and the power consumption of the space motor 5 also decreases, resulting in less heat generation. The temperature is allowed to decrease. Moreover, the printing speed decreases,
Data that should be guaranteed to be printed is reliably printed.

〔Example〕

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention.

The elements indicated by 1 to 8 in the figure are the same as in FIG. 1,
1 is a printer, 2 is a main control unit, 3 is a printer control unit, 4
5 is a space motor, 6 is a print head cover, 7 is, for example, a light detection type cover sensor, and 8 is, for example, a thermistor type temperature sensor.

Elements 9 to 15 added in FIG. 2 to show details of the embodiment are as follows.

A sensor amplifier 9 amplifies the photodetection signal output from the cover sensor 7.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a sensor reading section, which reads the light detection signal of the cover sensor 7 outputted from the sensor amplifier 9 according to instructions, and performs dark value processing (binarization). Reference numeral 11 denotes a timer interrupt section, which performs dark value processing (binarization). .

For example, a timer interrupt signal for reading the state of the cover sensor 7 is generated every 32s3. In response to this timer interrupt signal, the sensor reading section 10 reads the output of the sensor amplifier 9, and the main control section 2 reads the output of the sensor reading section 10 through interrupt processing, and determines the open/closed state of the print head cover 6.

I2 is a sensor amplifier, /! The temperature detection signal output from the U degree sensor 8 is amplified.

13 is an A/D converter, which converts the temperature detection signal output from the sensor amplifier 12 into a digital signal.

Reference numeral 14 denotes an output level determination unit, which monitors the output level of the A/D converter 13 and determines whether it is normal, requires attention, or abnormal.
determine which of the two level ranges it is in.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a power supply control unit, which turns off the power to the printer l according to instructions from the main control unit 2.

When there is a timer interrupt from the timer interrupt unit 11, the main control unit 2 performs processing to detect the open/closed state of the print head cover 6 from the output of the sensor reading unit 10, and if the print head cover 6 is open, , switches the printer to low-speed printing mode, and sends a command to the printer w control unit 3 to instruct low-speed printing.

The main control unit 2 also monitors the output status of the output level determination unit 14, and when the temperature of the space motor 5 changes from normal to a level that requires attention, the main control unit 2 switches the printer to a low-speed printing mode and causes the printer control unit 3 to perform low-speed printing. Send a command to instruct. When the temperature of the space motor 5 does not drop even with low-speed printing and further rises to an abnormal level, a command is sent to the printer control section 3 to instruct radio wave disconnection.

When the printer control unit 3 receives a command to instruct low-speed printing from the main control unit 2, it controls the space motor 5 to be driven at a low speed, prints at a low speed, and also receives a command instructing to turn off the power. When the command is taken, a command is issued to the power supply control unit 15.

Power off the printer.

In addition to the embodiments described above, the present invention can be applied to any object necessary for protecting the safety of the human body or for preventing damage or malfunction of the printer.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, even if the print head cover is opened or the internal temperature rises considerably during printing operation.

Since the power is not immediately turned off and printing continues at a safe, low-speed printing operation, data instructed to be printed by the host can be reliably printed out, improving reliability.

In addition, with the present invention, there is no need to perform application processing for saving print data on the host side for recovery as in the conventional method, the program on the host side is simplified, and furthermore, there is no need for recovery processing for missing prints. big.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 1. 1: Printer 2: Main 1t11 control unit 3: Printer control unit 4: Print head 5 Nice space motor 6: Print head cover 7: Cover sensor 8: Temperature sensor

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) The print head (4), the space motor (5) that controls its movement, the printer control unit (3) that drives the print head (4) and the space motor (5) to print, and the entire printer. In printers equipped with a main control unit (2) that performs control and safety protection against abnormalities in the environment, etc., a low-speed printing mode that prints at a slower speed than the normal printing speed is provided. When the control unit (2) detects an abnormality in the environment or the like while operating at normal printing speed, it switches to a low-speed printing mode, instructs the printer control unit (3) to perform low-speed printing, and continues printing. Print control method for printers. (2) The print head (4), the space motor (5) that controls its movement, the printer control unit (3) that drives the print head (4) and the space motor (5) to print, and the entire printer. Control and print head cover (
6) In a printer equipped with a main control unit (2) that performs control for safety protection when opened during operation, a low-speed printing mode is provided in which printing is performed at a speed slower than the normal printing speed, The main control unit (2) is characterized in that when the print head cover is opened while operating at normal printing speed, the main control unit (2) switches to low-speed printing mode, instructs the printer control unit (3) to perform low-speed printing, and continues printing. Print control method for printers. (3) The print head (4), the space motor (5) that controls its movement, the printer control unit (3) that drives the print head (4) and the space motor (5) to print, and the entire printer. Printing at a speed slower than the normal printing speed in a printer equipped with a main control unit (2) that performs safety control when the temperature inside the printer exceeds a predetermined level. If the temperature exceeds a predetermined level while operating at normal printing speed, the main control unit (2) switches to the low-speed printing mode and sends the printer control unit (3) to perform low-speed printing. A printer print control method characterized by instructing the printer to continue printing.