JPH05131723A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To minimize the possibility of generating the state of being unable to receive on the printer side while a host device is transmitting a data to a printer. CONSTITUTION:Whether a recording medium is or not is identified by a recording medium sensor 5 of a control section 1. In the case the recording medium is not, the data from a host device is output to another printer 3' through a changeover section 2 according to a content set in a setting section 4 by the control section 1. Also, when the recording medium is confirmed by the recording medium sensor 5, the control section 1 instructs the changeover section 2 that the output of the changeover section 2 is changed over to an original printer 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer device,
In particular, it relates to the control means of the printer device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional printer device, for example, only one printer is built in as a printing unit, and therefore the data received from the host device is only printed by the printing unit of the printer. Therefore, if the printer has some trouble, it is impossible to receive the data from the host device. For example, a conventional printer cannot receive data from a host device when a recording medium runs out. Further, the conventional printer cannot receive the data from the host device when the recording material runs out.

[0003]

In the conventional printer,
There is a problem that the data received from the host device can be used only by one prepared printer.

Further, in the conventional printer, when a state in which the recording medium or the recording agent of the printer does not exist while the upper device is transmitting data, the printer does not receive subsequent data, and the upper device transmits data. There is a problem that the processing is interrupted and the processing efficiency of the host device is lowered.

[0005]

The printer device of the present invention is provided with two printers, and in addition to the means of the conventional printer, outputs the received data from the host device to the first printer, or A means for switching the output to the second unit is provided. In other words, it is provided with a means for switching the output of the received data from the host device from one printer to the other printer. In this case, one of the printers stops printing.

The printer device of the present invention is the first one.
The first printer may be provided with a switching unit capable of stopping the output of data from the host device to the first printer and outputting it to the second printer when the recording medium of the printer runs out.

Further, the printer device of the present invention is the first one.
The first printer may be provided with a switching means capable of stopping the output of data from the host device to the first printer and outputting it to the second printer when the recording material runs out.

[0008]

The present invention is based on the first printer, in other words,
One of the printers has some trouble, or for some reason, the second printer, in other words, the other printer is automatically or manually operated by a signal from the setting unit or the sensor of the one printer. The transmission of received data from the host device can be moved.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment provided with switching means for switching the data received from the host device to one printer 3 and the other printer 3 '.

The control unit 1 outputs the received data from the host device to the one printer 3 or the other printer 3'through the switching unit 2 according to the contents set manually or by the program in the setting unit 4. Although the interface 7 is usually provided in the front stage of the other printer, the interface 7 is omitted below because it is not related to the essence of the invention. Further, it goes without saying that each printer has a printing unit.

Next, in the case where the means for switching the data from the upper device at the time when the recording medium of one of the printers 3 runs out to the one printer 3 and the other printer 3'is provided. A block diagram of the invention is shown in FIG.
In this case, the control unit 1 uses the recording medium sensor 5 to determine the presence / absence of the recording medium of the one printer 3 by the sensor. When this recording medium does not exist, the control unit 1 switches the output of the data from the higher-level device from the one printer 3 to the other printer 3'through the switching unit 2 according to the contents set in the setting unit 4. At this time, it goes without saying that the reception of the data from the host device may be stopped, as in the prior art.

Further, the data from the host device at the time when the recording material of one of the printers runs out, the data of the one printer 3 is transferred.
FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the invention in the case where the means for switching between the output to the other printer 3'and the output to the other printer 3'is provided. In this case, the control unit 1 uses the recording agent sensor 6 to determine the presence / absence of the recording agent in one of the printers 3. When this recording material is not present, the control unit 1 switches the output from the one printer 3 to the other printer 3'through the switching unit 2 according to the contents set in the setting unit 4 through the switching unit 2. Of course, at this time as well, the reception of data from the host device may be stopped, as in the prior art.

Further, in the case shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the control unit 1 confirms by the recording medium sensor 5 or the recording agent sensor 6 arranged in one of the printers that there is a recording medium or a recording agent. Then, the output of the switching unit 2 is sent to the switching unit 2 from the other printer 3 '.
You should instruct to switch to.

Furthermore, if the other printer 3'is also provided with a sensor capable of judging the presence or absence of the recording medium or recording agent, the relationship between the two printers becomes equal, and the third printer 3'is provided. The idea of the present invention can be applied to the case where a printer is provided.

As described above, according to the present invention, the data received from the host device can be output not only to one printer but also to the other printer. The effect is that you can switch. Further, if one of the printers has some trouble, the other printer can be used. Therefore, there is an effect that the possibility of interrupting the data transmission to the printer of the host device can be made extremely small. Furthermore, since the other printer can be used even if the recording medium or the recording material of one printer is exhausted, there is an effect that the maintenance and management of these printers can be facilitated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a printer including a switching unit for switching received data from a host device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention that includes means for switching received data from the host device when the recording medium runs out of the data received from the host device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention in which the means for switching the received data from the host apparatus includes the means for switching the received data from the host apparatus when the recording material runs out.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 control unit 2 switching unit 3, 3'printer 4 setting unit 5 recording medium sensor 6 recording agent sensor 7 interface

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A printer device in which data is transmitted to a printer through a control unit by a higher-level device, another printer is provided, and a switching unit is provided between the control unit and these printers. A setting unit for generating a switching signal to the switching unit is provided so that the switching unit can switch the data transmission so that the data from the higher-level device can be transmitted to either of the two printers. A printer device. 2. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a recording medium sensor for determining whether or not a recording medium of the printer is present, and the output of the recording medium sensor is sent to the switching unit. A printer device characterized in that, when the recording medium of the printer is used up, the data from the host device can be transmitted to another printer. 3. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a recording agent sensor for determining whether or not a recording agent of the printer is present, and the output of the recording agent sensor is sent to the switching unit. A printer device characterized in that when the printer has run out of recording material, the data from the host device can be transmitted to another printer.