JPH0480058A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve throughput and to enable printing on the line next to the final line of the last printing by providing a circuit capable of temporarily switching an inch-cut function for feeding an inch-cut continuous printing paper in the forward or backward direction from the effective to ineffective state. CONSTITUTION:An I/O (input/output) port 13 and a ROM 14 are connected with a muCPU 11 through a bus line 12. The I/O port 13 is connected with a paper feed motor drive circuit 16 and a dip switch 17. The dip switch 17 constitutes such a circuit as temporarily switching an inch-cut function between the effective and ineffective states, and includes a common terminal C, terminals A and B. When a movable contact 18 is connected with the terminal A thus making the output signal to the I/O port 13 in a high level, the inch-cut function is judged as the effective state. Meanwhile, when the movable contact 18 is connected with the terminal B thus making the output signal to the I/O port 13 in a low level, the inch-cut function is judged as the ineffective state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a printer device having an inch-cut function for feeding continuous print paper to be cut in inches in the forward direction and the batter direction.

<Prior Art> FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of a general printer device, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of the main parts of the printer device.

In the printer device 1 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a print head 2 is mounted on a carrier V-shape 3, and a platen 4 is arranged opposite to the print head 2. As shown in FIG. Further, the carriage 3 is slidably and rotatably attached to a shaft 5 installed between left and right side frames (not shown).

On the other hand, the platen 4 is rotated synchronously with the bush tractor 6 and the foot roll 7 by the driving force of a motor (not shown), and is in a state where it can transport, that is, feed the continuous printing paper 8 after printing. Further, above the print head 2, an inch cutter 9 is provided for cutting the continuous print paper 8 after printing has been completed.

The continuous printing paper 8 loaded in this printer device 1 passes through the bush tractor 6 and between the foot roll 7 and the platen 4, and then reaches the printing position P between the print head 2 and the platen 4. be fed. Further, the continuous printing paper 8 printed between the print hand 2 and the platen 4 is sent to the inch cutter 9 side and can be cut by this inch cutter.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a control method for the inch cut function of the printer device configured as described above.

Therefore, a control method for the inch count function of the conventional printer device will be explained below with reference to FIG.

First, printing is performed on the continuous printing paper 8 using the print value IP between the print head 2 and the platen 4 (step 5T50).
, when printing is completed, this is determined in step 5T51. When cutting the continuous printing paper 8, if the continuous printing paper 8 is not conveyed after printing is completed, the continuous printing paper 8 will be cut in the line above the last line printed, and the text will be cut. Or some other printed part gets cut off. When the completion of printing is confirmed in step 5T51, the distance from the printing position P to the inch cutter 9 is determined in step 5T52, Q2 (see Fig. 6).
The continuous printing paper 8 is forward fed by a distance L (see Fig. 6), which is the sum of the distance p1 (see Fig. 6) which is the margin area, and then it advances to step 5T53 and waits for the next printing instruction. -)7 Then, it is monitored in step 5T54 whether or not print data for the next print instruction has been received. In addition, when performing the next printing, print on the continuous printing paper 8.
A predetermined margin portion β3 smaller than the above distance ρ2 on the upper side of
and the first one located directly below this margin part g3.
The continuous printing paper 8, which has been fed in the forward direction so that printing can be performed from the line, is fed back by an amount equal to the upper margin ρ3 subtracted from the path MjQ2, and printing is performed from that position.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> Therefore, in the conventional method of controlling the inch cut function in a printer device, the continuous printing paper 8 is not only forced and grated to perform the next printing, but also Even when printing on the next printing paper section, from the distance above when feeding in the forward direction after the previous printing is completed, the margin above the above distance ρ2! Minus 23 ((2-ρ
3) will be back-feeded and printing will be performed from the -th line.

As a result, the packfeet operation must be performed every time the printing paper area changes, and printing cannot be continued immediately to the next line, resulting in a reduction in the amount of processing per unit of paper, that is, throughput. There was a point.

Therefore, a sensor or the like is used to detect whether the continuous printing paper 8 has been cut or not, and if no cutting has been performed, the pack feed distance is calculated by the distance M that was fed after printing was completed. It is also possible to hack feed and print on the line immediately following the last printed line. However, even in this case, the problem of reduced throughput still remains, and the use of sensors and the like creates a new problem of increased cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a printer device that improves throughput and is capable of printing on the line immediately following the last line that was previously printed. Our goal is to provide the following.

・-Problem and means for solving the problem> In order to achieve the above object, the printer device according to the present invention has the following features:
A circuit is provided that can temporarily switch the inch-cut function for cutting continuous printing paper by inches in the forward and backward directions from a valid state to a disabled state.

According to this configuration, when the 1-inch cut function is disabled, even if the printing paper area changes, the continuous paper will not be fed in the forward direction or backward direction for inch-cutting. You can do it like this. As a result, printing can be smoothly performed on the next printing paper portion, and printing can also be performed on the line immediately following the previous printing. On the other hand, when the inch cut function is enabled, the inch cut function can be used.

Therefore, the same printer device can be used not only as a printer device with the inch cut function, but also as a printer device without the inch cut function.

<Examples> Examples of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

In the printer apparatuses of the embodiments of the present invention to be described below, the general mechanical parts shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 may be used as they are. Therefore, in the description of each embodiment of the present invention, the mechanical parts shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 will be used as they are, and the members corresponding to FIGS. 5 and 6 will have the same reference numerals. This will be explained below.

FIG. 1 is a control circuit block diagram showing a first embodiment of a printer device according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, this control circuit has a μCP (central processing unit) 11, and a pass line 1 to this μCPU II.
2 via Ilo (input/output) boat 13 and RO
M14 is connected. Further, the I10 boat 13 is connected to a paper feed motor drive circuit 16 for driving and controlling the paper feed motor 15, and a tip switch 17.

The dip switch 17 constitutes a circuit that can temporarily switch between enabling and disabling the in/out functions, and is equipped with a common terminal C, an A terminal, and a B terminal. ing. Among these, common terminal C is I10 boat 13
At the same time, the A terminal is connected to the power supply E maintained at a high level via the pull-up resistor R, and the B terminal is grounded. The common terminal C can be selectively connected to the A terminal or the B terminal.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a program stored in the ROM 14 for controlling the printer device according to the first embodiment according to a predetermined procedure.

Therefore, the operation of the printer device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained below along with the program shown in FIG.

In addition, in explaining this operation, the movable contact 1 is attached to the A terminal.
8 is connected and the output signal to the I10 boat 13 is at a high level, the inch cut function is enabled, and the movable contact is connected to the B terminal.
The following explanation will be given assuming that when the output signal to is at a low level, it is an inch cut @ function invalid state.

First, a case will be described in which the movable contact 18 of the dip switch 17 is connected to the A terminal, the inch cut function is enabled, and the operator cuts the printed continuous print paper 8 after printing is completed.

In this case, when the printer device having the inch cut function receives print data from a host computer (not shown), etc., it starts a printing operation using this print data (step 5T1), and then in step ST
In step ST2, it is checked whether all printing operations for the print data have been completed, and if not, the remaining print data is printed. Then, when all printing operations for the print data are completed, the μCPU II detects the state of the dip switch 17 via the I10 port [3]. However, in the dip switch 17 here, the movable contact 18 is connected to the A terminal side, and is also connected to the power supply E maintained at a high level via the pull-up resistor R, so that the dip switch 17 is connected to the I10 port 13. The output signal becomes high level, and the μCPU II determines from this signal that the inch cut function is in a valid state. Then, the process proceeds from step ST3 to step ST4. In addition, in this step ST4, in order to perform inch cutting, μC
The PU 41 is connected to the paper feed motor 15 via the I10 boat 13 and the paper feed motor drive circuit 16.
rotate in the forward direction. In addition, by driving this paper feed motor 15, the platen 4 is also rotated in the forward direction, and the printed continuous printing paper 8 is moved over the distance L shown in FIG. &2) in the forward direction. When this step is completed, the process proceeds to step ST5.6, and the standby state continues until the next print data is input from the host computer. In addition, when in this standby state, the printed continuous printing paper 8
Operator or cant. On the other hand, when the next print data is received from the host computer in step ST6, the process advances to step ST7. Then this step S
At T7, to print from the position of the inch cutter 9, that is, from the first line next to the position where the continuous printing paper 8 was cut, from the above-mentioned distance where the feed was performed after the previous printing was completed, to the bottom side of the print. After performing hackfeet for a distance (12-13>) obtained by subtracting the distance p2 of the margin and the distance 13 of the upper margin of the next printing paper section, the process returns to step STI again.

On the other hand, if the movable contact 18 of the dip switch 17 is connected to the B terminal and the inch cut function is disabled, and the operator continues printing the continuous printing paper 8 without canting it after printing is completed, The case where printing is performed on the printing paper portion will be explained.

In this case, step ST1. After passing through step ST2, since the output signal to the I10 boat 13 is at a low level in step ST3, the μCPU detects from this signal that the inch cut function is in an invalid state. Then, in this printer device, after the printing in step ST2 is completed, the process does not proceed to step ST4@, but proceeds to step ST3 and then step ST8.9. And this step S
At T8.9, the standby state continues until the next print data is input from the host computer or the like. On the other hand, when the next print data is received by the host computer or the like in step ST9, the forward feed and hackfeet of the continuous print paper 8 are not performed, and the print operation shown in step STI starts from the next line after the previous print. Also, the same operation will be repeated after this.

Therefore, according to the printer device according to the first embodiment, when the continuous printing paper 8 is not inch-cut, the movable contact 18 of the dip switch 17 serving as a switching circuit is connected to the B contact side. , without performing the forward feed and pack feed that are performed with the inch cut function, printing on the next printing paper section and printing on the line immediately following the previous printing can be performed smoothly.
Throughput can be improved. Further, when performing an inch cut, if the movable contact 18 of the dip switch 17 is connected to the A contact side, the inch cut can be performed.

FIG. 3 is a control circuit block diagram showing a second embodiment of the printer device according to the present invention. In FIG. 3, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 indicate the same components as in FIG. 1.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a non-volatile memory 19 is connected to the I10 port 13 in place of the dip switch 17 connected in the first embodiment.

The nonvolatile memory 19 stores menu contents of the printer device. In addition, the contents of this menu include so-called FTO (rForm Tear 0ffJ) to enable/disable the inch cut function and set the waiting time until the inch cut operation, that is, feeding the continuous printing paper 8 after printing is completed. (abbreviation) Stores time, etc. Then, the operator arbitrarily changes the menu contents by sending commands from the unillustrated operation panel or host computer of the printer device to the printer side, and uses the printer device with the changed menu contents. I am now able to do some things.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a program stored in the ROM 14 to control the printer according to the second embodiment in a predetermined procedure. Therefore, together with the program shown in FIG.
The operation of the printer device according to the embodiment will be described next.

In addition, in explaining this operation, non-volatile memory 1
Inch cut function is enabled in the menu contents of 9.
A case will be described in which the time until the inch cut operation after the end of printing, that is, the FTO time Ts seconds, is set, and the operator cuts the printed continuous printing paper 8 after all the printing is completed.

In this case, the printer device having the inch cut function receives print data from a computer (not shown). Then, a printing operation is started based on this print data (step ST21), and it is checked in step 5T22 whether or not all printing operations for the print data have been completed.

Furthermore, if the printing does not end here, the remaining printing data is printed. Then, when all printing operations of the print data are completed, the process advances to step ST23, and this step ST23
Receives the print data for the next line. At this time, if data expansion is completed, the next printing is performed. On the other hand, if the development of the next line of print data in the received data is not completed or if there is no print data of the next line, the process advances to step 5T24. Then, in step 5T24, μCPU1
1 detects the menu contents of the non-volatile memory 19 via the I10 port 13. Here, as mentioned above,
Since the menu contents of the non-volatile memory 19 indicate that the inch cut function is enabled, the μCPU 11 detects that the inch force/groove function is enabled. Then, proceed to ST25.

In this step ST25, since the FTO time Ts seconds is set in the menu contents, this printer device enters a standby state. When in this standby state, the process advances from step 5T25 to step 5730, and in step 5T30, the print data of the next line is received and it is confirmed whether data development is completed. Further, when the printing data of the next line is received and the data development is completed during the waiting period of Ts seconds set in the menu, the process returns to step ST21 and printing of the next line is started. In addition, graph ink printing and DLL ("Down Line Loa")
When performing printing that requires a lot of time to send, receive, and develop print data,
Even if the FTO time Ts seconds set in the menu is set long and it takes a long time to develop the data while receiving the print data, it is possible to receive the print data and develop the data during the above Ts seconds. I'm trying to be able to finish it.

Also, after the received data has been expanded, the step will start printing the next line.
・Proceed with lp. Then, when all printing is completed, even after waiting for Ts seconds at step 5T25, there is no print data for the next line, so the process proceeds to step 5T26. Then step 5T
26', in order to perform an inch cut, the μCPU II rotates the paper feed motor 15 in the forward direction via the I10 boat 13 and the paper feed motor drive circuit 16. The platen 4 is also rotated in the forward direction by the rotation of the paper feed motor 15, and the printed continuous paper 8 is fed forward by the distance shown in FIG. When this feeding is completed, the process proceeds to step 5T27.28, where the standby state continues until the next print data is input by the host computer, etc. 6 Also, when in this standby state, the continuous printing The operator cuts the paper 8. On the other hand, in step 5T28, when the next print data is received by the host computer or the like, the step
y 7 ST Proceed to 29. Then, in order to print from the first line of the continuous printing paper 8 after the cut position 1, the position of the inch cutter 9 using this step 5T29 is the above-mentioned distance that was fed after the previous printing was completed. From the distance β2 of the lower margin of printing and the distance 13 of the upper margin of the next printing paper section, the distance till<ff12-β3
) Take a back foot, then step 5T again
Return to 21.

On the other hand, if the menu contents of the non-volatile memory 19 indicate that the inch cut function is disabled and the operator continues printing on the next printing paper section without cutting the printed continuous printing paper 8 after printing is completed. I will explain about it.

In this case, after going through step 5T21.22.23,
In step 5T24, the μCPU II detects the menu contents stored in the nonvolatile memory 19 via the I10 port 13. Here, as described above, it is detected that the inch cut function is disabled in the menu contents. Then, in this printer device, after the printing is completed in step 5T23, the process does not proceed to step ST25, but proceeds to step 5T.
24, the process proceeds to step 5T31. And 1. In the second step 5T31, the standby state continues until the next print data is input from the host computer. on the other hand,
When the next print data is received from the host computer in step ST23, the continuous print paper 8 is not forward-feeded or back-feeded, and the printing operation shown in step ST23 starts from the next line after the previous print. Also, the same operation will be repeated after this.

Therefore, according to the printer device according to the second embodiment, the inch cut function can be temporarily disabled using the menu built into the nonvolatile memory 19, as in the case of the first embodiment. As a result, throughput can be improved. In addition, a waiting time is provided between the end of printing and the transition to the inch cut operation, allowing the next line of print data to be established during that time, making it easy to print graphic prints, DLL characters, etc. In this case, even if it takes time to receive and develop print data and the next line's print take cannot be established while printing one line, unnecessary inch cut operations are not performed. In other words, by eliminating this unnecessary operation, there is no possibility that this operation will be mistaken for a malfunction by the operator or the printer.

<Effects of the Invention> As explained above, according to the printing device of the present invention, the same printer device can be used as a printer device that utilizes the inch cut function, or the inch cut function can be eliminated. It can also be used as a printer device. Moreover, if the inch cut function is eliminated, the throughput can be improved, and at the same time, the effect of being able to continue printing on the next line that was previously printed can be obtained.

[Brief Description of the Drawings] Fig. 1 is a control circuit block diagram showing a first embodiment of the printer device according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the control procedure for purchasing the same printer shown in Fig. 1. , FIG. 3 is a control circuit block diagram showing a second embodiment of the printer device according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the printer device shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a general diagram. FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of essential parts of the printer shown in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a control procedure of the conventional printer. 1... Printer device, 2... Print head, 3...
Carriage, 4...platen, 6...button extractor, 7...feed roll, 8...continuous printing paper,
9... Inch cutter, 17... Deep switch (
one non-volatile memory (switching circuit).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A printer device having an inch cut function for feeding continuous print paper to be cut in inches in the forward direction and backward direction, further comprising a circuit capable of switching the inch cut function from a valid state to a disabled state. A printer device characterized by: