JPH0396380A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow a printing means to conduct printing without stop by regulating a printing speed based on a measured value of a data transmission time from an external device. CONSTITUTION:A transmission time for data for one line received by a printing data reception control part 2 is recognized by a transmission speed measuring timer 3. In accordance with this time, timer values of a heating control timer 13, a paper feed control timer 15, and a printing ink sheet feed timer 19 are automatically set without stopping a printing action for every line. The conditions of setting these timer values are determined in accordance with the relative relation between a transmission time from a host 1 and a printing time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a printing device that prints print data transmitted from an external device such as a host device or a print data transmitting device.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, this type of printing device prints at its maximum printing speed or a speed close to it. The data transfer rate t is not taken into consideration at all● [Problem to be solved by the invention] Therefore, in the above conventional example, if the print data transfer rate from the external device side exceeds the printing speed of the printing device, Printing device marks are transferred! By providing a buffer for I1 data, proper printing is possible at its maximum printing speed. b) If the print data transfer speed from the external device side is lower than the printing speed of the printing device, if this printing device is a device that cannot be stopped during printing. , the printing results are not guaranteed.

Furthermore, even if the printing device is capable of stopping mid-print, printing will be interrupted mid-way, resulting in misaligned print positions, changes in print dot (line) width, changes in color tone, and discontinuous lines. Problems such as occurrence of the problem may occur.

For example, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing changes in print width (dots or lines) due to motor stoppage. It can be seen that the print width changed from pwc to fils when the motor stopped. Additionally, stopping the printing paper transport motor causes problems such as a decrease in throughput and an increase in motor temperature due to the motor's hold time and standby time. Note that the hold time here refers to the time required to stop the pulse mode and prevent synchronization, and the standby time refers to the time required to stop the pulse mode and prevent synchronization.
This is the time it takes for paper vibration to subside. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing device that can perform proper printing even when the print data transfer speed from an external device is lower than the printing speed of the printing device. [Thousand Steps to Solve the Problems] The present invention provides a printing device that receives print data from an external device and performs printing, including a measuring device that measures the data transfer time from the external device, and a total of 1! '＋
The present invention is characterized by comprising a control means that adjusts the printing speed of the printing means based on the one value, and enables printing without stopping the printing means. [Function] In the present invention, a measuring means is provided to measure the data transfer speed from an external device, and the transfer speed of each data or each data block is measured, and each printing speed and control speed within the printing device is adjusted when printing is stopped. control to the extent that it does not occur. [Example Go] A line thermal transfer printer will be described as an example below. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a line thermal transfer printer according to this embodiment.

In the figure, print data transmitted from a host 1 is taken into the apparatus by a print data reception control section 2. The received data fetched here is processed by the operation of the MPU 8 according to the sequence written in the ROMS. R.A.
The data is transferred to the line buffer memory 7 in the MS. When the print data for one line is ready, the MPU 8 starts the operation of the paper suction control section 24, and sucks the paper into the apparatus by rotating the paper suction motor 25. The sucked paper is sucked to the printing position by the printing paper conveyance motor l7 by the operation of the printing paper conveyance control unit 16 in synchronization with the paper conveyance timer l5, and is transferred to a predetermined sheet detected by the paper top/bottom edge detection sensor l8. It is transported to the printing start position and stops. Here, the print head drive motor lO driven by the print head UP/DOUN control unit 9 moves the print head 1 to a predetermined position based on the head position sensor 28.
2 moves. Thereafter, the rotation of the printing paper transport motor l7 driven by the output of the printing paper transport control unit l6 synchronized with the paper transport control timer 15, and the printing ink sheet transport timer l9.
Based on the synchronization signal of the heat control timer 13, which is synchronized with the rotation of the printing ink sheet conveyance motor 2l, which is driven by the output of the printing ink sheet conveyance control section 20, which is synchronized with the printing ink sheet conveyance control section 20, the print head is 12 is heated and printing is performed. In this embodiment, the transmission time of one line of data received by the print data reception control unit 2 is recognized by the transmission speed measurement timer 3, and the heat control timer 13 and the paper conveyance control timer 15 are set according to this time. Also, each timer value of the print ink sheet transport timer 19 is automatically set without stopping for each line. The setting conditions for this timer value are determined by the relative relationship between the transmission time from host l and the printing time. FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing the relationship between such transmission time and printing time. Here, the time required for transmission from the host}1 side for each row is E Tn. The printing time is represented by tpn, and the waiting time is represented by twn. As shown in the figure, if t Tn > t pn-1,
Waiting time L @n-1 occurs, and printing paper transport motor 1
7 is in a stopped state. Therefore, such 11+n is eliminated and each timer value is set based on tTn so that jan≦j p−1. Further, FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating the frequency of occurrence of transmission data from the host 1 by transmission time. Determine each timer value based on the maximum transmission time (MAX) value in the figure. In the embodiment, the transmission time for each line is measured and the printing speed is set, but this is just an example, and in reality, it may be measured in units of 1 dot or in units of n lines. [Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, the data transfer speed from an external device is measured and the printing speed is controlled so as not to stop in the middle of printing.
This has the effect of optimizing the print speed and eliminating discontinuous lines that occur due to stopping printing, as well as reducing the temperature rise of the printing paper transport motor.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a line thermal transfer printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing the relationship between the data transmission time from the host and the printing time in the printing device. FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating the frequency of occurrence of data transmitted from the host by transmission time. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the change in printing width based on motor stoppage. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Host, 2...Print data reception control unit, 3...Transmission speed measurement timer 5...ROM, 6...RAM, 7...Line buffer memory, 8...MPU 1l ...Print data transfer control unit, 12...Print head 13...Heat control timer l4...Print heat control timer 15...Paper transport control timer l6...Print paper transport control unit, l7. ...Print paper conveyance motor, 19...Print ink sheet a feed timer 20...Print ink sheet control unit. Figure 2 Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A recording device that receives print data from an external device and performs printing, comprising: a measuring device that measures data transfer time from the external device; and a measuring device that measures the data transfer time from the external device; A printing apparatus comprising: a control means that adjusts the speed and enables printing without stopping the printing means;