JPH04115972A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To input numeric characters in the order of dictation at the time of input to realize an easy and rapid numeric character string input by providing a memory means, a mode setting means, a numeric character string memory means, and a command control means. CONSTITUTION:When a numeric character string made of a plurality of numeric characters is inputted, a present position Cp of a carriage 5 is stored in a printing start position memory 24, and numeric codes are stored in a numeric character string memory 22. If numeric data is present in the numeric character string memory 22 at the start of a numeric character string printing process, firstly the carriage 5 is moved to a printing start position for the numeric character string based on the printing start position data Dp stored in the printing start position memory 24. Thereafter, a numeric code stored at the last of the data in the numeric character string memory 22 is read and printed, and the carriage 5 is moved leftward by one digit. Until all the numeric data are printed, this process is repeated. After the data from a lowest-digit numeric character to an uppest-digit numeric character are all printed, a printing of characters is executed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a printing device that prints while moving a carriage to the left. This relates to a device that prints in the printing direction starting from the lower digit number.

[Prior art]

In general, characters are written from left to right in languages such as English and French, whereas characters are written from right to left in Arabic and Berja.

Therefore, typewriters for Arabic and Berja are configured to print input characters while sequentially moving the carriage from the right margin position toward the left margin position.

By the way, in Arabic and other languages, a number string consisting of a plurality of numbers is written so that the leftmost number is the lowest digit and the rightmost number is the lowest digit, just like in English and French. In other words, Arabic typewriters print characters in the opposite direction to the direction in which the number string is written (hereinafter referred to as left-hand printing), and left-hand printing is also applied when printing number strings. Therefore, input from the lowest digit to the highest digit.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

With conventional Arabic typewriters, the reading and writing methods for number strings are different, so when typing out dictation at a meeting, for example, you won't know the number of digits until you have listened to the entire number string. Therefore, after listening to the dictated number string by writing it down, you have to enter the number string in order from the lowest digit to the highest digit. There is a problem that it becomes complicated and slow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a printing device that allows input of a number string consisting of a plurality of numbers easily and quickly.

[Means to solve the problem]

As shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 1, the printing device according to the present invention includes an input means for inputting data of characters and symbols including numbers and various commands, and a printing medium for transmitting the input characters and symbols. In a printing device that is equipped with a printing device that moves a carriage in a predetermined printing direction opposite to the reading direction of a number string consisting of a plurality of numbers to be printed when sequentially printing the number string, the data of the input number string is stored. and a memory means for setting the numeric string input mode when numeric data following non-numeric data is input, and canceling the numeric string input mode when non-numeric data following numeric data is input. mode setting canceling means; and a numeric string for causing the printing means to interrupt printing when the numeric string input mode is set and for storing the data of the numeric string input when and during the setting of the numeric string input mode in the memory means. When the storage means and the number string input mode are released, the data of the number string stored in the memory means is sequentially read from the last lowest digit number to the first highest digit number and printed on the printing means. It is equipped with a command control means.

[Effect]

In the printing device according to the present invention, the mode setting cancellation means sets the numeric string input mode when numeric data is input following non-numeric data based on the input data input from the input means. The number string storage means causes the printing means to interrupt printing, and stores in the memory means the data of the number string sequentially input from the highest digit number to the lowest digit number when and during the setting of the number string input mode. do.

On the other hand, the mode setting canceling means cancels the numeric string input mode when data other than numeric data is input following numeric data. The numbers are sequentially read from the lower digits to the topmost digit and are printed by the printing means. Therefore,
The printing means prints the numeric string from the lowest digit to the highest digit while sequentially moving the carriage in a predetermined printing direction different from the reading direction of the numeric string to be printed.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the printing device according to the present invention, the memory means, the mode setting means, the number string storage means, and the command control means are provided, and when and during the setting of the number string input mode, from the highest digit number to the lowest digit number. Do not print the input string of numbers (-
Once stored, when the number string input mode is canceled, the data for that number string is sequentially read out and printed from the last lowest digit to the first highest digit. The numbers can be entered in roughly the order of the numbers being dictated, making it easier and faster to enter the number string.

〔Example〕 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to an Arabic electronic typewriter that prints while moving the carriage to the left.

As shown in FIG. 2, a keyboard 3 is disposed at the front of the main body frame 2 of the electronic typewriter 1.
A daisy-wheel type printing mechanism PM is disposed within the main body frame 2 at the rear of the main body frame 2.

Further, the main body frame 2 is provided with a liquid crystal display 10 capable of displaying one line of a plurality of words.

The keyboard 3 includes Arabic character keys, Arabic numeric keys (hereinafter simply referred to as numeric keys), symbol keys, etc., character keys for inputting printable character codes, a space key, a return key, and left and right keys for moving the cursor on the display 10. A cursor movement key for moving in each direction and various other function keys are provided in the same way as usual.

The printing mechanism PM includes at least a platen 4 that feeds printing paper, a stepping motor that drives it, a carriage 5 supported by a guide parallel to the platen 4, a stepping motor that drives it back and forth in the left and right direction, and a wheel cassette. A printing ribbon 8 housed in a ribbon cassette 7 and a stepping motor for winding it, a solenoid 9 for striking the printing type on the printing wheel 6, etc. are provided. The stepping motor and solenoid 9 are each driven by a drive signal from a drive circuit.

By the way, since this typewriter 1 is for Arabic only, the printing direction in the printing mechanism PM is different from the normal printing direction, and the carriage 5 sequentially moves to the left (predetermined printing direction) from the light margin position every time a character key is operated. Moving.

Next, the control system of the electronic typewriter 1 is constructed as shown in the block diagram of FIG.

The display mechanism DM includes a liquid crystal display 1o and a display RAM for outputting display data to the display 10.
and a display controller 11 including a character generator ROM storing a large number of dot patterns such as characters and symbols. Incidentally, the symbol AM is an alarm mechanism including a buzzer 12 and its drive circuit 13.

The control device C includes a CPU 16, an input/output interface 14 connected to the CPU 16 via a bus 15 such as a data bus, a ROM 17, and a RAM 20.

The program memory of the ROM 17 includes a display control program that controls the display mechanism DM in response to code data input from the keyboard 3 when in L/L mode, and a control program that stores the code data in the line buffer 21. , a print control program (described later) that controls the print mechanism PM in response to code data input in typewriter mode, a cursor movement control program that moves the cursor according to the operation of the cursor movement keys, and prints immediately after power is turned on. An initial setting control program for initializing the mechanism PM, etc. is stored.

Note that the printing control program stores a printing mechanism control subroutine that actually controls the drive circuit of the printing mechanism PM.

The line buffer 21 of the RAM 20 stores one line of word data input from the keyboard 3 in the L/L mode. The number string memory 22 stores data of number strings input when and during setting of the number string input mode. In the current position memory 23, the current position of the carriage (print head) 5 from the absolute origin is sequentially updated in correspondence with the printing position and stored as current position data.

The print start position memory 24 stores the current position data of the carriage 5 when the number string input mode is set. The flag memory 25 contains flag data of a number string input mode flag F that is set (data is "1") when the number string input mode is set and reset (data is "0") when the number string input mode is released. is stored.

Furthermore, the RAM 20 includes a margin position memory that is always backed up (memory content retained) by a bank-up power source and stores the set left margin position and right margin position, and various memories that temporarily store the calculation results calculated by the CPU 16. A counter, pointer, etc. are provided.

Next, the print control routine performed by the control device C of the electronic typewriter 1 will be explained in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b).
) will be explained based on the flowchart. In addition, Si in the figure
(i=1.2.3...) is each step.

This control is started when the typewriter 1 is powered on, and first, general initial settings are executed (Sl), and then the origin position of the carriage 5 and the origin position of the type wheel 6 of the printing mechanism PM are set. Initial settings of the printing mechanism PM are executed (S2). Next, a key scan is performed on the keyboard 3 (S3), and when a printable character code other than a numeric code is input by operating an Arabic character key or a symbol key (S3/S4: Yes), the carriage 5 is scanned. If printing is possible based on the current position data and margin position data (S5: Yes), and flag F has been reset (S6: No), S
After determining NO in step 7, the input character code is printed (S8), the carriage 5 is moved to the left (printing direction) by one print pitch (one digit) (S9), and the process returns to S3. . Note that if the determination is NO in S5, the buzzer 1 will be activated.
2 (310).

On the other hand, when a number key is operated immediately after the power is turned on or after a character key other than the number key to input a number string consisting of multiple numbers (S3, S4, S5: Yes
s, S6: No, S7: Yes), first the number string memory 22 is cleared (S11), the flag F is set and the number string input mode is set (512), and the current carriage 50 position Cp is the print start position. The code is stored in the memory 24 (S13), and the number code input when setting the number string input mode is stored in the number string memory 22 (S14).
In S9, the carriage 5 is moved one digit to the left and the process returns to S3. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when a numeric key is operated when the carriage 5 is at the print value WHO, that position is stored as the printing restart position CP. Furthermore, the code P
is the printing paper.

When the numeric keys are operated continuously during the setting of the numeric string input mode, these numeric codes are sequentially stored in the numeric string memory 22 (S3 to S6 and 31).
5: Yes, 514), the carriage 5 is moved idly in the printing direction one digit at a time (S9). For example, as shown in FIG. 6, each time a number key in a 3-digit number string is operated from the most significant digit to the least significant digit, the carriage 5 sequentially moves from the print position HO to H1, H2, etc. , H3 and are idly moved in the printing direction.

When a character key other than the numeric key is operated after the numeric key after inputting the numeric string (S3 to S
6: Yes, S15: No), the flag F is reset and the number string input mode is canceled (316), and the number string printing process control (fourth (see figure (b)) is executed (S17)
.

When this control is started, if there is numeric data in the numeric string memory 22 (S30: Yes), the carriage 5 first prints the numeric string based on the printing start position data Cp stored in the printing start position memory 24. is moved to the starting position (S31).

Next, the last stored numeric code among the numeric string data stored in the numeric string memory 22 is read out and printed (S32), and the numeric code is printed on the numeric string memory 22.
(S33), and the carriage 5 is moved one digit to the left (S34).

Then, steps 332 to 335 are repeated until all the numeric data in the numeric string memory 22 has been printed.
When the number string has been printed from the lowest digit to the highest digit (S35: NO), after this control is finished, the print start position memory 24 is cleared (SIB).
Further, printing processing of the characters input when the number string input mode is canceled is executed (S19), and the process returns to S3 via S9.

Note that when this control is started, if there is no print data in the number string memory 22 (S30: No), the buzzer 1
2 is sounded (S36), this control is immediately ended and the process returns. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, after the carriage 5 is moved to the printing restart position Cp, while sequentially moving the carriage 5 in the printing direction from printing positions H1 to H3, the number string in the number string memory 22 is It is printed from the lowest digit number to the first highest digit number.

By the way, when the return key is operated (S3/S
20: Yes), when flag F1 is set (321: Yes), the number string input mode is canceled (S22), and the number string is input by steps 830 to S36 regarding the number data stored in the number string memory 22. The printing process is executed (323), the print start position memory 24 is cleared (S24), and the printing paper is further fed by one line, and the normal line feed process of moving the carriage 5 to the right margin position is executed ( S25), return to S3. If the flag F1 is reset when the return key is operated (S3/S20: Yes, S21:
No), normal line feed processing is executed (S25).

Also, when a function key other than a character key or return key is operated (S3: Yes, S20: No),
Similar to a normal typewriter, the process corresponding to the operated key is executed (S26).

Note that this printing control is designed to print a number string that does not include a decimal point, but in order to be able to print a number string that also includes a decimal point, it is determined Yes in response to the input of a code with a decimal point "," in S15. It may be configured as follows.

As explained above, the data of the numeric string input when setting and during the setting of the numeric string input mode is temporarily memorized without being printed, and when the numeric string input mode is canceled, the data of the numeric string is saved at the bottom of the final column. Since the digits are read out and printed in sequence from the first digit to the highest digit, when inputting a number string, each number can be entered in the order of the dictated number, making inputting the number string easier and faster. It can be done.

It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to various printing apparatuses that print while moving the carriage 5 to the left, such as an electronic typewriter for Bellja.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention, Figures 2-
Fig. 7 shows an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an electronic typewriter, Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the control system of the electronic typewriter, Fig. 4(a), Fig. 4( b) is a schematic flowchart of the print control routine, Figures 5 to 7;
Each figure is an explanatory diagram explaining printing control. 1.Electronic typewriter, 3.Keyboard, 5.
・Carriage, 16...cpu. 17...ROM (program memory), 20...RAM
, 22... Number string memory, C... Control device, PM...
・Printing mechanism. Figure 1 Figure 2 Patent applicant Brother Industries, Ltd. Figure (b) Figure Figure p

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) An input means for inputting character and symbol data including numbers and various commands, and a number string consisting of multiple numbers printed when the input characters and symbols are sequentially printed on a print medium. A printing device is equipped with a printing means for moving a carriage in a predetermined printing direction opposite to the reading direction of the numeral, and a memory means for storing data of an inputted numeric string, and a numeric data following non-numeric data. mode setting canceling means for setting a number string input mode when the number string input mode is input and canceling the number string input mode when data other than numbers following the number data is input; and when the number string input mode is set; a number string storage means for causing the printing means to interrupt printing and storing data of the number string inputted during and during the setting of the number string input mode in the memory means; and when the number string input mode is canceled. , a printing device comprising command control means for sequentially reading the data of the numeric string stored in the memory means from the last lowest digit number to the first highest digit number and printing it on the printing means. .