JPH0453962Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a printer device, and more specifically, to a printer device that allows a plurality of printers to be operated in parallel.

[Conventional technology] Current, voltage, temperature, illuminance, rotation speed of electric motor, etc.
Examples of measuring instruments that can print out a wide variety of measured values, such as electric power, include the measuring instrument 21 with a printer shown in FIG. 4, and the measuring instrument 31 that can take output data shown in FIG. A configuration in which the cables are combined via a cable 35 is already known.

The printer function provided to these conventional devices not only allows manual printing but also allows data to be printed at regular intervals.

In addition, external start and stop functions can be performed via the terminal 22 disposed on the printer-equipped measuring instrument 21 shown in FIG. 4 or the terminal 33 disposed on the printer device 32 shown in FIG. It also had

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, if we use the configuration of FIG. The first printer device 32 that prints based on output data is the center, and the terminal 33 for external start of this printer device 32 is connected to each terminal 33 of each printer device 32 to be connected. By connecting via cable and turning on the start switch,
Necessary data was printed out from each printer device 32.

However, when connecting multiple printers in this way, there is a limit to the number of other printers that can be connected to the first printer, which is the central printer. There was a problem of being subject to restrictions. Moreover, when trying to synchronize these multiple printer devices in time so that they print simultaneously at fixed time intervals, there are differences in the internal clocks of the individual devices, so
There was also a problem that the timing of each print was different.

[Means for solving the problem] In view of the above problems, this invention eliminates the restriction on the number of printer devices that are operated in parallel due to the relationship with measuring instruments, and also allows multiple printer devices to be operated in parallel. It was designed to provide a printer device that can synchronize the printers with each other during operation and print out data with a unified time axis. an I/O port for taking in output data, an arithmetic control means for arithmetic control of the data taken in through the I/O port, and a printer driven by signals sent from the arithmetic control means. The main body of the device is composed of the drive and the printer section operated by the printer drive, and a start signal can be selectively input to the main body of the device via either the start key or the external start terminal. A selective start means, and a start signal that can output a start signal controlled in relation to the selective start means to an external start terminal of the selective start means of the apparatus main body, which is separately prepared at the next stage. This is because the output terminal is arranged.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, embodiments of this invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a printer device according to this invention, and the main body 1 of the device is constructed with or without a measuring section (framed by a dashed-dotted line) 2.

That is, the device main body 1 includes an I/O port 3 for receiving digitally converted output data from a measuring section 2 having an input terminal T for data receiving, and an I/O port 3 for receiving digitally converted output data. It is composed of a CPU (central processing unit) 4 which is an arithmetic control means for data, a printer drive 5 driven by control signals from the CPU 4, and a printer section 6 which performs predetermined printing.
In addition to the printing function provided by the printer section 6, the main body 1 of the apparatus is equipped with a display device such as an LCD (liquid crystal display) shown as D in FIG. 3, if necessary, for instant reading of data. You can also leave it as possible.

The device main body 1 also includes a selective start means consisting of a start key 7 and an external start terminal 8 that can selectively input a start signal, and a start controlled by the relationship between this selective start means. A start signal output terminal 9 capable of outputting a signal is provided. In this case, the start means and the start signal output terminal 9
A light emitting element 11 such as a light emitting diode is provided between the
By interposing an optical coupling element 10 such as a photocoupler, which is composed of a light receiving element 12 such as a phototransistor, the start key 7, which is the starting means, the external start terminal 8, and the start signal output terminal 9 are electrically connected. It is preferable to connect them in a separated state.

Note that if there is no need to provide insulation between the start means constituted by the start key 7 and the external start terminal 8 and the start signal output terminal 9, the provision of the optical coupling element 10 may be omitted. I can do it.

Next, the operating status of the printer device according to this invention will be explained according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

That is, after starting the operation of the device main body 1,
First, it is determined whether or not there is a trigger signal for inputting an external start via the external start terminal 8. If not, the process loops and waits until this trigger signal is received. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is a trigger signal for external start input, external start output processing is performed, and a trigger signal for external start output can be sent out via the start signal output terminal 9. After such external start output processing is performed, in the next step, data input processing from the measuring section 2 is performed, predetermined calculation control is performed, and then printing processing is performed by the printer section 6. The screen will be displayed as if the screen is moving backwards and the screen will return to the original step.

Also, to explain this series of operations in terms of the device, the operation of the device main body 1 for printing out measured values is started by pressing the start key 7 or by shorting the external start terminal 8 from the outside. can be done. In this case, when you want the main unit 1 to perform printing at regular intervals, the CPU 4 first receives an operation start signal, and then receives the operation start signal and starts printing at preset intervals. When the I/O port 3 and the optical coupling means 10 are provided, the activation signal for starting the start signal can also be output to the start signal output terminal 9 side by passing through the optical coupling means 10 as well. .

Therefore, when trying to operate multiple device bodies 1 in parallel, inputting a trigger signal for external start input to the external start terminal 8 of the first device body 1 allows the start signal to be input. A trigger signal for external start output can be sent to the outside via the output terminal 9, and this trigger signal is sent to the external start terminal 8 of the second device main body 1. The start signal can be further sent to the third machine from the output terminal 9,
Thereafter, the trigger signal can be sequentially outputted to the next device body 1 in the same manner. For this reason, a plurality of apparatus bodies 1 are connected sequentially as shown in FIG. 3, and the time interval for printing by the first apparatus body 1 is set in advance, and the After setting the device body 1 for manual printing, the digitally converted output data from a measuring instrument such as a digital multimeter is taken in based on the same trigger signal, and is synchronized to unify the time axis. and each device body 1
can be printed on.

Further, when attempting to perform manual printing, it can be performed each time the start key 7 is pressed or each time the external start terminal 8 is short-circuited from the outside. In some cases, the signal can be output to the start signal output terminal 9 through the optical coupling means 10 in response to these operations. In addition, if you want to perform manual printing on all of multiple device bodies 1, connect the device bodies 1 to each other as shown in Figure 3, and set all the device bodies 1 to the set state for manual printing. Then, each time the first apparatus main body 1 starts operating, the other apparatus main bodies 1 are also put into a state of parallel operation so that data can be printed separately.

Therefore, depending on the many types of measured values that you want to capture, you can eliminate the restriction on the number of devices and
In addition, the apparatus main bodies 1 can be synchronized with each other in time, and print output with a unified time axis can be obtained.

It should be noted that the operation of terminating the printing of the apparatus body 1 can be performed by individually canceling the printing command by operating the respective stop keys for each apparatus body 1.

[Effects of the invention] As described above, according to this invention, it is possible to connect a plurality of apparatus bodies to each other depending on the type of measurement value to be acquired without any restrictions on the number of units that can be connected. Outputting a start signal controlled in relation to the selective start means from the start signal output terminal of the device main body located at the previous stage to the external start terminal of the selective start means of the same equipment main body located at the next stage. Therefore, by using a common synchronization signal to operate each apparatus main body connected in sequence, it is possible to print many types of data with a unified time axis.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of this invention, Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the operating status of the printer device according to this invention, and Fig. 3 shows the connection relationship of the main body of the device in this invention. The explanatory drawings, FIGS. 4 and 5, are schematic diagrams showing an example of the configuration of a conventional device. 1...Device main body, 2...Measurement section, 3...I/O
Port, 4...CPU, 5...Printer drive,
6...Printer section, 7...Start key, 8...
External start terminal, 9... Start signal output terminal, 10... Optical coupling element, 11... Light emitting element, 1
2... Light receiving element, D... Display device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] An I/O port for taking in the digitally converted output data from the measurement section, an arithmetic control means for arithmetic control of the data taken in through this I/O port, and an arithmetic control means for arithmetic control of the data taken in through the I/O port, and a The main body of the device consists of a printer drive driven by a signal from the printer drive, and a printer unit operated by the printer drive. A selective start means capable of inputting a signal, and a start signal controlled by the relationship with this selective start means to an external start terminal of the selective start means of the apparatus main body, which is prepared separately in the next stage. A printer device characterized in that it is provided with a start signal output terminal capable of outputting a start signal.