JPH04201472A - Serial printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To dispense with a DIP switch and to eliminate the complicatedness of initial setting by providing the mark corresponding to control data to recording paper. CONSTITUTION:When the initial setting fitted to machinery to which printing data is supplied is performed, the mark (m) corresponding to control data is preliminarily provided on recording paper P by the hand. Subsequently, a switch 22 is changed over to the reading part of the control data and the recording paper P is inserted in the insertion port 10 of a printer 9. When a carrier 5 is driven while controlled by a control circuit 12 to be guided by guide shafts 3, 4 to be moved, the mark (m) of the recording paper P is read by a reflection type sensor 8 and stored in a set state memory circuit 13. Subsequently, when printing data is supplied from the machinery, the control data stored in the set state memory circuit 13 is called to the control circuit 12 and a printing mechanism. A printing mechanism A is controlled so as to be matched with the machinery to print data.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a serial printer.

[Prior Art] In a conventional serial printer, multiple computers, word processors, etc. are connected to one printer, and in order to print out data from each device from one printer, it is necessary to send data to the device before printing out. At the same time, control data such as initial settings such as font settings and margin settings must be set in the printer. Setting of control data such as initial settings is usually done using Datsubu Sui Sochi, which is complicated and difficult, and when it becomes necessary to print out data from each device, it is necessary to print out data from the device each time. It was done against.

[Problem to be solved] Every time it becomes necessary to print out data from each device, it is necessary to always remember the control data of the device you are using in order to make initial settings that suit the device. Not only that, but also the setting method is complicated, making it an extremely troublesome task.

Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the need for a dip switch, and
Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a serial printer that eliminates the complexity of initial settings.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a carrier that moves back and forth, a print head mounted on the carrier, and a print head that moves in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the print head. This is a serial printer equipped with a printing mechanism consisting of a paper feeding device that feeds the recording paper, and includes a recording paper with marks corresponding to control data such as initial settings written in the width direction of the paper, and either the carrier or the print head. A reading means provided to read the crab mark, a storage means for storing control data read by the reading means, and a control means for controlling the printing mechanism based on the control data stored in the storage means. ing.

Further, it would be more useful if the control data stored in the storage means described above can be printed as marks on recording paper via a printing mechanism.

[Example] An embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a guide shaft 3.4 is supported on the support plate 1.2 of the printer, and a carrier 5 is slidably provided on this guide shaft. A print head 17 shown in the fourth figure is mounted on the carrier 5, and is movable back and forth along a platen (not shown). Paper guides 6.7 are supported by the support plates 1 and 2, and the recording paper P is supported by the paper guides 6.7.
7 and is conveyed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the print head 17. A reflective sensor 8 serving as a reading means is provided on the lower surface of the print head 17 or the carrier 5 so as to be able to face the recording paper P.

As shown in Fig. 2.3, on the edge of the recording paper P that is inserted into the insertion slot 10 of the printer 9, there is a mark m corresponding to control data such as initial settings suitable for each device in the width direction of the paper. It is written in . The mark m is formed by filling in black at a predetermined position so that it can be read by the reflective sensor 8. At first, each person fills in the mark by hand, and from the next time on, the mark m is formed by filling it in with black at a predetermined position so that it can be read by the reflective sensor 8. This is ensured by printing the control data read on the recording paper as a mark.

The internal configuration of the printer 9 of the present invention is as shown in the block diagram in FIG.
1 is converted into a digital signal and supplied to the control circuit 12. This is stored in the setting state storage circuit 13, and based on this control data, the control circuit 12 controls the print head drive circuit 14. The printing mechanism A is controlled via a carrier motor drive circuit 15 and a paper feed motor drive circuit 16. That is, the control circuit 12. Print head drive circuit 14. The carrier motor drive circuit 15 and the paper feed motor control circuit 16 serve as control means B for the printing mechanism A. The printing mechanism A includes a print head drive circuit 14. The print head 17, carrier motor 18, and paper feed motor 1 are controlled by the carrier motor drive circuit 15 and the paper feed motor drive circuit 16.
The carrier motor 18 drives the carrier 5 in a reciprocating manner, and the paper feed motor 191 (therefore, the paper feed device 20) is driven to perform a line feed at the printing position of the recording paper P. Data from computers etc.
Data is printed by the print head 17 by being supplied to the control circuit 12 via the 10 port 21. Further, the switch 22 is a changeover switch, and can be switched between reading control data and printing control data.

To explain the operation, first, when performing initial settings suitable for the device to which print data is supplied, mark I'Il corresponding to the control data is manually set in advance.
It is provided on the recording paper P as explained in FIG. Next, the switch 22 is switched to the control data reading side, and the recording paper P is inserted through the insertion slot 10 of the printer 9 as shown in the third figure. When the carrier 5 is driven under the control of the control circuit 12 and moves guided by the guide shaft 3.4, the mark m on the recording paper P is read by the reflective sensor 8 and stored in the setting state storage circuit 13. Next, when print data is supplied from the device, the control data stored in the setting state storage circuit 13 is called up by the control circuit 12, and the printing mechanism A is controlled to match the device to print the data.

When printing is completed, a mark m is printed on the recording paper P for the next printing. That is, when the switch 22 is switched to the print side of the control data, the control data is called out from the setting state storage circuit 13 by the control circuit 12, the print head 17, carrier 5, and paper feed gflf20 are driven to perform printing, and the second A recording paper P having marks m as shown is obtained. Therefore, if this recording paper P is used next time, there is no need to form marks m again.

By printing only a frame indicating the position where the mark is to be written in the paper width direction of the recording paper P, the mark m can be easily created by writing the mark with a pencil or the like within the predetermined frame corresponding to each device. Recording paper P as described can be formed. When using a plurality of devices, it is sufficient to prepare such recording paper P with marks m for each device.

[Effects] The serial printer of the present invention having such a configuration has the following effects:
By providing marks corresponding to control data on the recording paper, the troublesome initial settings using dip switches for each device are no longer necessary, and data from multiple devices can be printed using a single printer. It is extremely effective in many cases, and can meet the demands of recent customers.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the main parts showing the internal structure, Fig. 2 is a front view of the main parts of the recording paper, Fig. 3 is a perspective view, and Fig. 4 is a printer. FIG. 5... Carrier, 8... Reading means, 13... Storage means, 17... Print head, A... Printing mechanism, B... Contention control means, P... Recording paper, m11. O mark. that's all

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A serial printer equipped with a printing mechanism consisting of a carrier that moves back and forth, a print head mounted on this carrier, and a paper feeding device that feeds recording paper in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of this print head. Recording paper on which marks corresponding to control data such as initial settings are written in the width direction of the paper; reading means provided on either the carrier or the print head so as to be able to read the marks; and the reading means. A serial printer comprising: storage means for storing the control data read by the storage means; and control means for controlling the printing mechanism based on the control data stored in the storage means. (2) The serial printer according to claim 1, wherein the control data stored in the storage means can be printed as the mark on recording paper via the printing mechanism.