JPH0319871A - Printer equipped with automatic paper width adjusting function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the efficiency when a paper is changed while a power switch is turned OFF by moving an automatic adjusting mechanism for adjusting the thickness of a paper to the maximum position thereby to turn OFF a switch when a printer control part detects that an ON/OFF signal of said power switch is in the OFF state. CONSTITUTION:A printer control part 14 is provided with a moving means for moving a platen 19 to the maximum position of the thickness of a paper while an end signal 12 is in the ON state. When said means detects that an ON/OFF signal 13 of a power switch is in the OFF state, it turns ON the end signal 12 for ending the power-off process for a preset time. A control circuit 9 which controls the ON/OFF state of the power switch is provided with a means for outputting a command to a power source part 7 thereby to turn OFF a DC output signal 10 for driving a motor and a DC output signal 11 for a logic circuit when it detects that the signal 12 is turned from the ON state to the OFF state. Accordingly, when the power switch 8 is turned OFF, the platen 19 is once returned to the position suitable for the paper, of the maximum thickness, and then the power is turned OFF. Therefore, while the power is OFF, the paper is easily inserted without being made dirty. The operating efficiency or convenience of the printer is good and no errors are brought about in adjust the printer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a printer with an automatic paper thickness adjustment function. (Prior art) Conventionally, when performing printing operations using a wire dot print head,
A drive mechanism within the print head drives the dot wire in response to the print signal, causing its tip to protrude from the front end of the print head. At this time, the tip of the dot wire hits the paper on the platen through the ink ribbon,
Print characters, symbols, etc. on paper using a dot arrangement.

In this type of impact printer, it is necessary to make the operating stroke of the dot wire as small as possible in order to speed up the printing operation. However, there are many different types of paper used in impact printers.
The thickness ranges from as thin as 0.05m+a to 1.5m.
The print head tip and platen gamut must be adjusted to the optimum value depending on the thickness of the paper.

Therefore, in order to automatically adjust the gap to accommodate printing paper of various thicknesses, the stepping motor is driven to move the print head and bring it into contact with the paper placed on the platen. After letting the motor step out, and then continuing to send the prescribed input pulse to the stepping motor, ignoring the stepping motor step out,
A predetermined non-return rotation pulse was applied to the stepping motor, and the gap was set to a predetermined amount.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the conventional printer with an automatic paper thickness adjustment function.

In the figure, a power switch 8 is connected to a power supply unit 7, and its ON/OFF signal controls the power supply unit 7 connected to an AC power source, and outputs a motor drive DC output signal IO to a motor drive circuit 15. At the same time, the DC output signal 11 for the rosin circuit is output to the printer control section 14. The space motor 16, print head 17, LP motor 18, and platen motor 20 installed on the printer mechanical section are driven via the motor drive circuit 15 by commands from the printer control section 14 based on print data received from the host computer. Perform printing.

As mentioned above, in conventional printers with automatic paper thickness adjustment function, 1! A power switch 8 is connected to the power supply section 7, and is configured to directly turn on or cut off the AC power source. (Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the Mizokai printer with automatic paper thickness adjustment function, when the power switch 8 is turned off, the AC power input is cut off and all DC outputs are immediately cut off. Moreover, while printing on thin paper, it
! When J is turned off, the automatic paper thickness adjustment mechanism remains in a thin paper state, that is, the route through which the paper passes is narrow.

Therefore, when replacing paper with the power off, especially when attempting to load thick paper such as copy paper, the paper may not enter the paper route and stain the surface of the paper. be. Also, the feed unit opens when replacing paper and closes after replacing paper. In horizontal printers, thick paper must be inserted into the narrow gap between the print head and printer, which places mechanical stress on the print head and printer, which can cause adjustment errors. The present invention solves the problems of conventional printers with an automatic paper thickness adjustment function, allows paper to be inserted easily and without contaminating the machine even when the power is off, and has good operability. An object of the present invention is to provide a printer with a highly reliable automatic paper thickness adjustment function that does not cause adjustment errors.

(Means for Solving the Problems) For this purpose, in a printer with an automatic paper thickness adjustment function of the present invention, a printer with an automatic paper thickness adjustment function that has an automatic paper thickness adjustment mechanism that adjusts the gap between the print head and the platen. , a TL source ON/OFF control circuit that outputs a power switch ON/OFF signal based on a signal from a power switch, and a DC output signal for motor drive and a DC output signal for logic circuit based on commands from the power ON/OFF control circuit. A power supply section that outputs a power supply section, a printer control section that receives the power switch ON/OFF signal and the logic circuit DC output signal and outputs a motor drive command signal and a power-off processing end signal, and a motor drive DC output signal and motor drive. and a motor drive circuit that receives a command signal and drives the m-lateral section, and the printer control section has a power switch ON/OFF.
When the off state of the F signal is detected, the power off processing end signal is turned on for a certain period of time, and the automatic paper thickness adjustment mechanism is moved to the paper thickness maximum position while the power off processing end signal is on. The power supply ON/OFF control circuit detects that the power-off processing end signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state, issues a command to the power supply section, and outputs the DC output signal for driving the motor and the DC output signal for the logic circuit. A means to turn it off is provided. (Function) According to the present invention, as described above, {S
A power switch that outputs a power switch ON/OFF signal according to the
1ON/OFFIt4 control circuit, a power supply section that outputs a DC output signal for motor drive and a DC output signal for logic circuit according to commands from the power supply ON/OFF control circuit, and a DC output signal for the power switch ON/OFF signal and logic circuit. A printer control unit that receives an output signal and outputs a motor drive command signal and a power-off processing end signal, and a motor drive D
and a motor drive circuit that drives the mechanical unit in response to a C output signal and a motor drive command signal, and when the printer control unit detects the off/off state of the power switch ON/OFF signal, it performs a power-off process for a certain period of time. The power-off processing end signal is turned on, and the automatic paper thickness adjustment mechanism is moved to the maximum paper thickness position while the power-off processing end signal is on. It detects that the processing end signal has changed from the on state to the off state, and sends a command to the power supply section, and the motor drive D
Since the device is equipped with means for turning off the C output signal and the DC output signal for the logic circuit, when the power switch of the printer is turned off, the automatic paper thickness adjustment mechanism temporarily returns to the maximum paper thickness state. The power is turned off.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the mechanism of the printer with automatic paper thickness adjustment function of the present invention. In the figure, a carriage 3 carrying five print heads 4 is shown.
is the base unit l, which is the foundation of the entire printer mechanism.
Printing is performed by moving left and right in the figure along a carriage shaft 2 provided above.

At the same time, a feed unit 5 installed at the front of the carriage 3 feeds the printing paper upward in the figure.

The feed unit 5 has a structure that opens and closes in the direction shown by the arrow B with point A in the figure as a fulcrum, and paper exchange is performed with the feed unit 5 open. Further, a platen 6 mounted on the feed unit 5 at a position facing the printing hand 4 is arranged so as to be movable back and forth as shown in C in the figure, and has an automatic paper thickness adjustment mechanism to adjust the thickness of the paper to be used. The gap between the print head 4 and platen 6 is automatically adjusted accordingly.

Figure 1 is a block diagram of a printer with an automatic paper thickness adjustment function according to the present invention. In the figure, a power switch 8 is connected to a power ON/OFF control circuit 9, and the power ON/OFF control circuit 9 is connected to a printer control section 14, and outputs a power switch ON/OFF signal 13 to the printer control section 14. At the same time, the power-off processing end signal l2 is received. The power supply unit 7 connected to the AC input is controlled in accordance with the operation of the printer, and a motor drive DC output signal 10 is output to the motor drive circuit 15. Further, the power supply unit 7 outputs a DC output signal 1l for the logic circuit to the printer control unit 4. The space motor IG, print head l7, LF motor 18, and platen motor 20 installed on the printer mechanical part are driven via the motor drive circuit 15 by commands from the printer control part l4 based on print data received from the host computer. Perform printing. Next, the operation when the power is turned on/off in the above block diagram will be explained.

FIG. 3 is a time chart of each signal when the power is turned on/off.

First, when the power switch 8 is turned on while the printer is in the power off state, the power supply on/op pll control circuit 9 turns on the power switch ON/OFF signal l3, and at the same time issues a command to the power supply unit 7 to control the logic circuit. Turn on the DC output signal 1l and the motor drive DC output signal lO.

When the logic circuit DC output signal 11 rises to a predetermined value, the printer control unit 14 resets, performs a predetermined power-on process, waits for the motor drive DC output signal 10 to rise, and then turns on the space motor l6 and the LP motor l.
8 is initialized, and the platen motor 20 moves the platen 19 to a position that matches the thickness of the paper to be used.
Then, it prints according to the instructions from the host computer. Further, the printer control unit 14 always monitors the power switch ON/OFF signal l3 while the power is on. Next iIt
When the R switch 8 is turned off, the power ON/(ll?F control circuit 9 immediately turns off the power switch ON/OFF signal l3 and waits for the power off process end signal 12 to change from on to off. The printer control unit 14 outputs a power switch ON/OFF signal 1
When the off state of 3 is detected, the power off processing end signal 12 is output.
is turned on, the platen l9 is moved to the position where the paper thickness is maximum, and the power-off processing end signal l2 is turned off. When the power ON/OFF control circuit 9 detects the on->off state of the power-off processing end signal l2, it supplies the power supply unit 7 with a DC output signal lo for motor driving and a DC output signal lo for the logic circuit.
A command is given to turn off the output signal l1, and the printer enters the power-off state. Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments,
Various modifications are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and these are not excluded from the scope of the present invention. (Effects of the Invention) As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the power supply ON/OPP control circuit outputs the 1tR switch ON/OFF signal based on the signal from the power switch;
A power supply section that outputs a DC output signal for motor drive and a DC output signal for logic circuit according to the command from the OFF control circuit, and a power supply section that receives the above ms switch ON/OFF signal and DC output signal for logic circuit and outputs a motor drive command signal and power. A printer control door unit that outputs an off processing end signal, and a motor drive control unit that receives a DC output signal for motor drive and a motor drive command signal.
and a motor drive circuit for driving the printer structure, and the printer control section has a TM. When the off state of the B switch ON/OFF signal is detected, the power off processing end signal is turned on for a certain period of time, and the automatic thickness adjustment mechanism is moved to the paper thickness maximum position while the power off processing end signal is on. The power ON/OFFM control circuit detects that the power-off processing end signal changes from an on state to an off state, and issues a command to a power supply unit to output a DC output signal for driving the motor and a DC output signal for the logic circuit. Since a means for turning off the DC output signal is provided, when the power switch of the printer is turned off, the automatic paper adjustment Iat1 returns to the maximum paper thickness state and then turns off. Therefore, the operability of replacing paper while the power is off is improved, and unnecessary stress is not applied to the mechanism.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a printer with an automatic paper thickness adjustment function of 8L according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the mechanism of the printer with an automatic paper thickness adjustment function of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a diagram of the printer with an automatic paper thickness adjustment function of the present invention. The time chart of each signal and Figure 4 are block diagrams of a conventional printer with an automatic thickness adjustment function. ■... Base unit, 2... Carriage shaft, 3... Carriage, 4.17... Print head, 5
...Feed Unisoto, 6...Platen, 7...
Power supply section, 8...Power switch, 9...Power ON/O
FF control circuit, 10... DC output signal for motor drive,
11... DC output signal for logic circuit, 12... Power-off processing end signal, l3... Power switch ON/
OFF signal, l4...Printer control unit, l5...Motor drive times N, l6...Space motor, 18...
LF motor, l9... platen, 20... platen motor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a printer with an automatic paper thickness adjustment function that has an automatic paper thickness adjustment mechanism that adjusts the gap between the print head and the platen, (a) the power switch is turned on by a signal from the power switch;
a power supply ON/OFF control circuit that outputs a /OFF signal;
(b) a power supply section that outputs a DC output signal for motor drive and a DC output signal for logic circuit according to a command from the power supply ON/OFF control circuit; (c) a DC output for the power switch ON/OFF signal and logic circuit; (d) a motor drive circuit that receives the motor drive DC output signal and the motor drive command signal and drives the mechanical unit; (e) The printer control section is configured to turn the power switch ON/OFF.
When the OFF state of the F signal is detected, the automatic paper thickness adjustment mechanism is provided with means for turning on the power-off processing end signal for a certain period of time and moving the automatic paper thickness adjustment mechanism to the maximum paper thickness position while the power-off processing end signal is on. f) The power supply ON/OFF control circuit detects that the power-off processing end signal is turned on and then turned off, and issues a command to the power supply section, and outputs a command to the power supply unit to control the motor drive DC output signal and logic. A printer with an automatic paper thickness adjustment function, characterized by comprising means for turning off a circuit DC output signal.