JPH0427578A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To save electric oonsumption in a high voltage, high capacity drive power supply part and ensure safety protection by providing a printer power supply part and a drive power supply part separately, and at the same time, installing a device for automatically turning only drive power supply part ON/ OFF at any appropriate time. CONSTITUTION:A printer power supply part 20P which generates various in- device power supplies and a drive power supply part 20D for a drive circuit to drive a printing head are provided at a printer 10 which prints data based on an instruction signal PNT from a host computer as an external equipment. The drive power supply part 20D is automatically turned ON, if a printer power supply part is turned ON by an automatic energization control device consisting of CPU 11 and a closing device 23. If the instruction signal PNT is not entered from the host computer 1 Within a set time Ts, the drive power supply part 20D is turned OFF by an automatic shutoff control device composed of CPU 11, ROM 12 and the closing device 23. In addition, if the printer power supply part 20P is in 'ON' state and the instruction signal PNT is again entered, the drive power supply part 20D is again automatically turned ON by an automatic reenergization control device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a printer that performs a printing operation based on a command signal from an external device.

[Prior Art] Many printers are configured to print based on command signals from an external device such as a host computer.

Such printers generally include a printer power supply unit that generates various types of power, and a drive power supply unit that supplies power to drive circuits such as a print head and a carrier motor. This is because the drive circuit power supply requires a higher voltage and a larger capacity than a control power supply or the like.

Therefore, if you operate the power switch to turn on the printer power supply section and drive power supply section and put the printer on standby, it will generate a print signal based on the command signal input from the external device and drive the print head etc. It is possible to perform predetermined printing.

[The problem that the invention seeks to solve! ! ] By the way, command signals from external devices are not always inputted. Particularly in systems where a large number of printers are connected to one external device, some printers have quite long downtimes.

Therefore, if the printer is always kept on standby, there is a problem in that the drive power supply for the print head has a high voltage and large capacity, so it may cause overheating or burnout of the drive circuit #@ (IC, etc.), and if the operator is not present, This is not preferable from the safety point of view, and is also disadvantageous from the power saving point of view.

On the other hand, in order to avoid such disadvantages, if the printer is turned off by operating the power switch, the problem is that even if a command signal is input from an external device, it cannot respond to it and the desired printing operation cannot be performed. There is.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a printer that can save power while avoiding overheating and ensuring quick response.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention achieves the above object by having a configuration in which only the drive power supply unit is automatically turned on and off in a timely manner based on a renewed recognition of the significance of the existence of the distinction between the printer power supply unit and the drive power supply unit. It is something to be achieved.

That is, the present invention provides a printer that prints based on command signals from an external device, which includes a printer power supply unit that generates various internal power supplies, a drive power supply unit for a drive circuit that drives a print head, and a printer "r&source". automatic power-on control means that turns on the drive power supply section when the printer is turned on; automatic power-on control means that turns off the drive power supply section when the command signal is not input from an external device within a set time; The printer is equipped with an automatic restart control means for turning on the drive power supply unit again when the command signal is input in the printer state.

[Function] According to the present invention, when the printer power supply unit is turned on by operating a power switch or the like, the automatic power-on control means operates to automatically turn on the drive power supply unit. Therefore, the printer can be placed on standby and can perform printing operations whenever a command signal is input from an external device.

However, if the command signal is not input within the set time, the automatic power-on control means automatically turns off only the drive power supply.
do. Therefore, since the printer power supply section is ON, it is always in a state of accepting the next command signal, while the high-voltage, large-capacity drive power supply section is stopped to save power and ensure safety.

Thereafter, when a command signal is input, the drive power supply section is automatically turned on again by the automatic re-on control means. You can immediately print it here.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, this printer performs a printing operation based on a command signal PNT from a host computer 1, which is an external device. Here, the command signal PNT is a so-called strobe signal, and it does not matter whether or not it includes print data.
PUII, ROM 12 in which each program is stored. RAM 13 which temporarily stores various data 14.
Interface 15. Drive time F#116. Printing rad 1f, carrier motor 18. Line feed motor 19. It is composed of a power supply device 20 and the like. These basic configurations are the same as the boat fishing printer. Note that 26 is a printing permission signal (VmON) generating means consisting of a comparison circuit and the like.

Here, automatic input control means, which is a technical feature of the present invention,
In the case of this embodiment, the automatic input control means and the automatic re-loading control means are the basic components CPU11 and ROM12.
It also serves as an opening/closing means 23 and is integrally constructed.

That is, the automatic power-on control means is a means for automatically turning on the drive power supply section 20D when the printer power supply section 20P is turned on by a signal SW output when a power switch (not shown) is operated. It is formed from an opening/closing means 23. The opening/closing means 23 consists of a relay 24 (switch 24S, coil 24C) and a switching transistor 25, and receives a signal Pd from the CPU II.
As a result, the drive power supply system circuit 28 is closed. In other words,
Drive power supply section 20D and drive circuit 16 are connected. This state is defined as a state in which the drive power supply unit 20D is turned on. Note that when the dual power supply section 20P and the 2oD-y power supply device 20 are not integrally formed, and the printer power supply device and the drive power supply device are formed separately and independently, the drive power supply device is turned on by the signal Pd. It means to do something.

By the way, even if the relay 24 is turned on, the drive power supply voltage V
As shown in FIG. 3, since m is supposed to rise to a specified voltage after a certain period of time, printing cannot be permitted until the specified voltage (Vm) rises. Therefore, the drive power supply voltage Vm is monitored and the printing permission signal VmON is set to CP.
A printing permission signal generating means 26 is also provided for outputting to the UII. Therefore, during a period in which the print permission signal VmON is not input, the CPU II outputs the signal BtJSY to the host computer 1 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 to make the host computer 1 wait for transmission of a specific print take. Further, during this period, the print signal S cannot be output.

Note that the reference signals Vref, Vref,' of the means 26 are designed to have a height difference as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 to ensure stable operation.

Next, the automatic power-on control means is a means for turning off the drive power supply unit 20D when the command signal PNT is not input from the host computer 1 within the set time Ts. In this example, CPUII.

ROM12. It is formed from opening/closing means 23.

The set time Ts is rewritable and stored in the ROM 12. Therefore, the CPU II monitors the time Ti from the end of the previous printing operation, and if the command signal PNT is not input again even after the set time TS has elapsed, the CPU II turns the signal Pd to O.
FF and turn off the opening/closing means 23 (switch 24s).

Moreover, the automatic re-input control means is CPUI 1. ROM1
2. The printer power supply device 0
It has a function of turning on the signal Pd, closing the relay 24, and turning on the drive power supply section 20D when the command signal PNT is input again in the PON state.

The operations of each means described above are executed based on the program shown in FIG. 2 stored in the ROM 12.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

When a power switch (not shown) is operated, the CPU 11 outputs the signal SW shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and the printer power supply section 20P is turned on. Here, the printer can accept the command signal PNT from the host computer 1 at any time.

At the same time, the CPU 1l as an automatic closing control means outputs a signal Pd to the opening/closing means 23, that is, the switch 24.
s is turned on (thread path 28 is turned on) to automatically turn on the drive power supply section 20D [step (ST in Fig. 2)].
)10)).

Then, the drive power supply voltage Vm gradually rises and reaches the specified voltage after a certain period of time. This is the printing permission signal generation means 2
The detection is confirmed at step 6, and a printing permission signal VmON shown in FIG. 3 is output to the CPU II.

At this point, the printer is essentially in a standby state. Note that while the printing permission signal VmON is not output, C
PUII outputs a signal BUSY to the host computer 1.

After that, when the command signal PNT is output from the host computer 1 (ST12), the CPU 11 outputs the print signal S generated based on the print data output from the host computer 1 to the drive circuit 16 for printing. (ST14).

By the way, if the command signal PNT is not input within the set time Ts (ST16), the CPLIII as the automatic closing control means turns off the signal Pd, as shown in FIG.
(Turn the opening/closing means 23 to 0FF) and drive power supply section 20
D is blocked (ST18).

Therefore, power saving can be achieved. However, the printer power supply section 20P is @! Since it is in the ON state continuously, it is in a standby state where it can accept the command signal PNT at any time (
ST20).

Therefore, when the command signal PNT is input again (YES in S720), the CPU
As shown in FIG. 4, I turns on signal Pd and switches on relay 2.
4 ONL and automatically re-energize the drive power supply unit 20D (
ST20.10).

The signal BUSY remains until the printing permission signal VmON is output.
is output. Note that the following operations are the same as those described above, and therefore the explanation will be omitted.

According to this embodiment, the printer power supply unit 20P
, drive power supply section 20D, automatic power-on control means (CPUI
1. ROMI 2. Opening/closing means 23).

An automatic input control means (11, 12, 23>) and an automatic re-input control means (11, 12, 23) are provided, and the set time Ts
If the printing command signal PNT from the external device (1) is not input into the drive unit, only the drive power supply unit 20D is automatically shut off, and when the signal PNT is input again, it is automatically turned on again. It is possible to save power while ensuring printing responsiveness by avoiding overheating and burnout of the drive circuit 16 and by constantly receiving the command signal PNT by turning on the printer power supply unit 20P.

Also, to save power, the printer 10 power supply (20P, 20P,
Since there is no need to turn off D), the burden on the operator is reduced and the conventional inconvenience of inability to print due to inability to accept the signal PNT from the external device (1) is also eliminated.

Further, since the drive circuit 16 is in a dormant state during the printing stop period, it is possible to reduce the capacity and simplify the drive circuit 8@16 and reduce costs.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, an automatic closing control means, an automatic closing control means, an automatic restart control means, etc. are provided, and if a command signal is not input from an external device within a set time, the drive power is stopped. Since it is configured to automatically reload it before printing, it is possible to avoid overheating and ensure quick printing response.
This has the excellent effect of simplifying the equipment and J-den.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1 to 4 show one embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is an overall configuration diagram, Figure 2 is a flowchart to explain the operation, Figure 3 is a timing chart to explain the operation when the printer power is turned on, and Figure 4 is the operation when the drive power is turned on again. This is a timing chart for 1... host computer (external device), 10...
Printer, 11...CPU (automatic input control means, automatic input control means, automatic reload control means), 12...ROM (automatic input control means 1 automatic input control means, automatic reload control means), 3. ...RAM, 6...Drive circuit, 7...Print head, 0...Power supply device, OP...Printer power supply section, 20D...Drive power supply section, 23...Opening/closing means (automatic turn-on) Control means, automatic cut-off control means, automatic re-opening control means 24...Relay 26...Printing permission signal generation means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a printer that prints based on command signals from an external device, when the printer power supply unit that generates various internal power supplies, the drive power supply unit for the drive circuit that drives the print head, and the printer power supply unit are turned on. Turn on the drive power supply
automatic power-on control means that turns off the drive power supply unit when the command signal is not input from an external device within a set time; automatic cut-off control means that turns off the drive power supply unit when the command signal is input while the printer power supply unit is on A printer comprising: automatic restart control means for turning on a drive power supply unit again;