JPH04286668A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a printer small in size capable of printing for the number of digits over a printable area which is limited mechanically, wherein printing with a predetermined pitch can be carried out on a paper having the number of digits of characters over a movable range of a print head. CONSTITUTION:In a host device, a line buffer 10 for storing the maximum number of digits of printing information to be printed, a print area selection means 12 for selecting a desired printing area out of the printing information for one line stored in the line buffer 10, and a print head 14 for printing pertinent printing information on the area selected by a control of the print area selection means 12 are provided.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a printer device.
In particular, the present invention relates to a printer device capable of printing over a number of digits greater than a mechanically limited printable area.

[0002] Generally, a serial printer device sequentially prints print information using a print head that moves back and forth along a print line. Therefore, the printable area is limited by the print head movement limit.

[0003] Such printer devices usually use printing paper of a predetermined standard or desired size. Therefore, printer devices that are compatible with standard printing paper such as 5, 4, 3, . . . in column A, 5, 4, . . . in column B are available.

0004

[Prior Art] In a serial printer device, a predetermined number of digits,
It is required that printing over a predetermined pitch is possible. For example, in a general-purpose printer device, a 136-digit ANK (
alphanumeric) pica pitch (10 characters/
inches) and similar pitches of 80 digits are often used.

On the other hand, personal computers, word processors, and the like, which are host devices for printer devices, are also becoming smaller and lighter, from desktop types to laptop types and even notebook types.

[0006] Many of these small-sized host devices have excellent portability as their catchphrase, and for example, notebook-type devices are manufactured with external dimensions of approximately A4 size or less. In addition, various electronic notebooks are becoming more and more capable of processing, and are now equipped with unique document processing functions, so that it is possible to input information that users wish to print on their own.

[0007] These small printer devices used in combination with a host device are required to be as small as possible. This is because there is a strong demand to simultaneously move the host device without reducing its portability.

However, despite the miniaturization of external dimensions, there is a strong demand for printing at a predetermined pitch on print paper of a predetermined size, that is, so-called standard printing on standard paper. Since the print area of a typical printer device is limited by the maximum movable range of the print head, it must necessarily be smaller than the external dimensions.

[0009] Conventionally, there have been ultra-small printer devices that have been reduced in character size and printing pitch, but they cannot be used at least for formal documents, letters, and the like. Therefore, the use of such small printer devices has been limited to internal memos and the creation of manuscripts.

0010

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a small printer capable of printing at a specified pitch on paper with a number of character digits greater than the range within which the print head can move. The purpose is to provide equipment.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the configuration of a printer device according to the present invention. code 10
is a line buffer, which is usually constructed from a RAM which is a readable/writable storage device, and has a capacity capable of storing n-digit print information for one line.

The print area selection means 12 is a circuit that controls to selectively print only the print information existing in a preselected area among the print information of the line. The print head 14 prints the print information existing in the area selected by the print area selection means 12 on a printing paper (not shown).

[0013]

[Operation] The line buffer 10 can store one line (up to n digits) of print information transferred from a host device (not shown). Selection of which part of the print information stored in this way is to be printed is performed by the print area selection means 12. The printing area selection means 12 is set by the operator or automatically so that the area is less than or equal to the area that can be printed by the print head 14.

The settings in this case are determined by the condition of the paper to be printed. For example, if the printing paper is limited to half or 1/3 of the total printing digits,
The print area is set according to these.

As a result, by dividing the desired length of the print digit into areas smaller than the printable area of the print head 14, printing is performed the required number of times, and the printing paper is printed over an area exceeding the movement range of the print head 14. It becomes possible to print on.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of the main parts of a printer device according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the print head 14 is reciprocated by a belt 16. Note that the belt 16 is driven by a print head drive motor 18.

The print head 14 prints on a print paper 24 placed on a platen 22 via a print ribbon 20. Note that the platen 22 is rotated by a line feed motor 23. The printing paper 24 is fed along left and right paper guides 26 and 28 whose positions are adjustable.

Further, the operation panel 30 performs various operations necessary for printing operations and displays related displays. Operation panel 3
At 0, it is possible to set expanded printing or wide printing in which printing is performed with a number of digits greater than the movement range of the print head 14. In this widening printing, in particular, a switching operation is performed for either print area 1 (L: left side) or print area 2 (R: right side).

The operation panel 30 is also provided with switches or operation buttons and indicator lights that can control and set various functions such as paper size selection, paper feeding, and print position setting.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the printer device according to the present invention. line buffer 10
, the print head 14, the print head drive motor 16, the line feed drive motor 23, and the operation panel 30 correspond to each element in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The code buffer 32, font character generator (font CG) 34, control ROM 36, and interface (I/O) circuit 38 are connected to a control circuit (MPU) 42 via a bus 40. Note that the print head 14
is activated via print head driver 15. Furthermore, a print head drive motor 16 and a line feed motor 2
3 is operated in a required manner by a motor driver 17.

The normal printing operation of the printer device according to the present invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is performed as follows. Print information received from a host device (not shown) via the I/O 38 is temporarily stored in the code buffer 32.
is stored in The control circuit 42 analyzes the received information stored in the code buffer 32.

Based on this analysis result, the control circuit 42 generates a corresponding character pattern from the font CG 34. The character pattern generated in this way is expanded into the line buffer RAM 10.

Here, when the print head drive motor 16 and the line feed motor 23 are driven, a printing operation is executed according to the printing information in the line buffer 10.

Next, an explanation will be given of the operation of so-called widening printing, which spans an area exceeding the printable limit of the print head 14. In this case, on the operation panel 30 (see FIG. 2), following the setting of enlarged printing, setting of printing area switching is performed, and the printing area switching circuit 12 is set to the first area,
For example, the printing operation state is in the range of 1 to 68 digits.

Next, the first printing area of the printing paper is set on the platen 22. For example, in a configuration in which a print sheet is divided into two parts and printed, the sheet is folded in half along the boundary line between the first print area (left side of the sheet) and the second print area (right side of the sheet). The paper thus folded in half is wound around the platen 22 with the left side thereof as the front surface and the fold abutting against the paper guide 26 on the right side.

After such preparations are completed, the control circuit 42 of the printer device retrieves the print information sent from the host device from the code buffer 32 in accordance with the instruction to start printing. A pattern corresponding to the code of the print information extracted in this way is developed from the font CG 34 to the line buffer 10, and a printing operation for the first print area is executed.

After printing in the first printing area (for example, 1st to 68th digits) is completed, the operation panel 30 is set to print in the second printing area, for example in the range of 69th to 136th digits.

The printing paper has a second printing area, here 6
The right side of the paper is the front surface so that printing of 9 to 136 digits is possible, and the printing paper is folded in half and wound around the platen 22 so that the fold line runs along the left paper guide 28.

The control circuit 42 of the printer device takes out the corresponding data in the previously received print information from the code buffer 32 and expands it from the font CG 34 into the line buffer 10.

In this case, 1 to 68 of the line buffer 10
Data corresponding to the 69th to 136th digits of the print information is developed in the portion corresponding to the digit, and printing of the corresponding area is executed.

When the printing paper that has been divided into the first and second areas by this operation is spread out from the fold, the print head movement range, here twice the number of digits by the 68-digit compact printer, is expanded. It is possible to print all sizes of 136 digits.

Although the operation of two-part printing has been explained here, it is also possible to control the paper to be folded into three parts, such as the right area, center area, and right area, and execute three-part printing. . By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to downsize the printer device or further expand the printing area.

Note that instead of folding and printing on one sheet of printing paper, it is also possible to perform divided printing using special printing sheets 44 and 46 that have been divided in advance as shown in FIG. For example, it is possible to form an extremely small and highly portable printer device and perform printing for an electronic notebook or a notebook host device.

In this case, it is convenient to apply an adhesive to the edge 47 of the paper 46 in advance so that it can be easily attached by removing the anti-adhesive sheet after printing is completed. According to this configuration, printing in three or more divisions is also possible, thereby further reducing the size of the printer device.

In the previous embodiment, the operator sets wide printing, printing in the first area, printing in the second area, etc. on the operation panel 30, but these setting operations are automatically performed, and the It is also possible to display the necessary information.

The control circuit 42 identifies that one page of data received from the host device exceeds the first printing area, and displays a message indicating that widening printing is necessary. In the case of printing information that spans the second printing area, wide printing (WIDE) is displayed on the operation panel 30 as shown in FIG. 5 to make the operator aware that split printing is necessary.

Next, the first printing operation is performed in the first printing area, in which a display indicating that there is printing data of 1 to 68 digits is performed. In accordance with this display, the operator sets the printing paper so that the first area can be printed, and prints this area.

When printing in this first printing area is completed,
A display indicating that printing is to be performed in the second printing area is performed. In accordance with this instruction, the operator sets the printing paper so that the second area can be printed, and prints this area.

If the print information received by the printer device can fall within the first print area, normal printing is sufficient, and wide print (WIDE) is not displayed. Therefore, the operator finishes printing the corresponding page with a single action.

[0041] In this case as well, it is optional whether the printing paper is folded into two or more parts for printing, or whether pre-divided printing paper is used.

Furthermore, in such printing, following the printing operation in the first printing area, printing may be performed in the second printing area of the printing paper. In addition, the first
It is also possible to print only on the second printing area and then move on to printing only on the second printing area.

FIG. 6 shows a printer device according to the present invention,
12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when an operator sets whether or not to perform widened printing and prints.

Upon reception of print information, this information is stored in the code buffer (step S1). Next, it is determined whether a page break is necessary (step S2).

If a page break is not necessary, the print information stored in the code buffer is developed into the line buffer (step S3), and the printing operation is performed (step S4).
.

Next, it is determined whether one page is finished (step S5), and steps S3 to S5 are repeated until the page is finished.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that a page break is necessary, the process branches to step S6, where it is determined whether or not printing paper has been set, and the process waits until it is set.

Here, if it is determined that paper has been set, it is determined whether it is the first printing area or the second printing area (step S7). If the printing area covers two or more printing areas, the required number of columns may be determined here.

If it is determined in step S7 that printing is to be performed in the first printing area, the operator manually sets the first printing area (step S8).

Then, the print information of the first area is transferred to a portion of the line buffer corresponding to the first print area, for example, 1 to 68.
A character pattern is expanded into digits (step S9).

The character pattern developed in this way is printed (step S10), it is determined whether printing of the first printing area is finished (step S11), and steps S9 to S9 are carried out until the printing is finished.
Repeat S11. When printing in the first printing area is completed, a message to that effect is displayed (step S12).

If it is determined in step S7 that the printing area is the second or higher printing area, the operator manually sets the printing area to the second printing area (step S7).
13), the same processing as in the first case is performed (steps S14 to S16). Note that the print information belonging to the second print area is, for example, 69 to 136 digits, but the line buffer 1
The character pattern for 0 is developed in a region corresponding to the first printing area, for example, a region of 1 to 68 digits.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are flowcharts for automatic switching and display within the printer device. The received print information is stored in the code buffer (step S21).

[0054] Then, it is determined whether a page break is necessary or not (step S22). If it is determined that a page break is not necessary, it is determined from this stored printing information whether widening printing is necessary (step S23).

If it is determined that widened printing is necessary, "widened printing (WIDE)" is displayed (step S24), and the flow advances to step S30 and subsequent steps.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S22 that a page break is necessary, the process waits until paper is set (step S25). Next, it is determined whether "widening printing" is to be performed (step S26).

If it is determined that the printing is not widened, the data in the code buffer is developed into the line buffer (step S27), and a printing operation is performed (step S28).

Note that even if it is determined in step S23 that widening printing is not necessary, the operations from step S27 onwards are performed.

Next, in step S29, it is determined whether or not printing of one page has been completed, and the process continues in step S27 until printing is completed.
After repeating steps .about.S29, the process ends.

If it is determined in steps S23 and S26 that widening printing is necessary, the process branches to step S30, and a display indicating that printing is to be performed in the first printing area is performed.

Next, the data in the code buffer is developed into a line buffer (step S31), and the first printing area is printed (step S32). Then, it is determined whether printing for one page has been completed (step S33), and if the printing has not been completed, steps S31 to S33 are repeated.

If it is determined that printing for one page has been completed, the display in the first print area is turned off and the display in the second print area is turned on (step S34).

Next, the process reaches the flow shown in FIG. 8 and waits until the printing paper for the second printing area is set (step 35).
).

If it is determined in step S35 that the paper has been set, the print information in the code buffer is developed into the line buffer (step S36), and printing is performed using the data in the second print area (step S37). .

After that, it is determined whether one page has been completed (step S38), and step S is continued until printing is completed.
36 to S38 are repeated.

If it is determined that printing of one page has been completed, the display indicating widening printing and the second printing area are turned off (step S39), and the series of printing operations is completed.

[0067]

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention,
Although the printer device is small in size and the movement limit of the print head is less than or equal to the desired print digit, it is possible to print a sufficient number of digits. Such a printer device is small and lightweight and suitable for use with a small host device.

Further, such a printing mechanism is not only suitable as a portable printer device, but also suitable for use with a suitable MOD, for example.
It is also possible to form a portable facsimile in combination with EM.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of a printer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a device configuration diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a printer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electrical circuit of an embodiment of the printer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of a split-type printing paper.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of main parts of an operation panel.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment of the printer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of a second embodiment of the printer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of a second embodiment of the printer device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Line buffer 12 Print area selection means 14 Print head

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A line buffer (10) that stores the maximum number of digits of print information that can be printed by a host device, and a line buffer (10) that stores desired print information from one line of print information stored in the line buffer (10) It is characterized by comprising a print area selection means (12) for selecting an area, and a print head (14) for printing print information corresponding to the area selected under the control of the print area selection means (12). printer device. 2. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein wide printing is performed over a number of printing digits exceeding an area that can be printed by the print head (14).