JPH0584990A - Printer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To rapidly and simply register a printing pattern and the like in a printer device capable of registering and printing an arbitrary printing pattern and the like formed by the user. CONSTITUTION:A title device is formed by containing a light-transmitting plate 1 on which an arbitrary printing pattern and the like to be registered is drawn by a user; a light source 3 for irradiating the light-transmitting plate with a light; and a graphic pattern light receiving part 2 for optically detecting a shadow projected through the light-transmitting plate 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer device, and more particularly to a printer device which allows a user to easily input a print pattern such as external character registration.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional printer device, as shown in FIG. 4, an external personal computer 18 is used to input data of an arbitrary print pattern to be registered including external character registration created by an external personal computer 18. A data input unit 17, a control device 16 having a control function for performing registered print data and a printing operation as a printer, and a data conversion device 14 for converting data into a storage device 15. Here, print pattern data is created by commercially available software or a program created by a user using the personal computer 18, which is a higher-level device, and is transferred to the printer device main body 19 and then stored in a fixed storage area of the storage device 15. Memorized / registered. As a method of creating an arbitrary print pattern that the user wants to register, there is a method of creating a print pattern using a data statement in a program, for example.

[0003]

In this conventional printer device, as a method for the user to create, register, and print an arbitrary print pattern, registration using a commercially available software using a personal computer or the like, In order to input print data, or to create, register, and print a print pattern by the same method in a program execution environment created by the user, there is a disadvantage that the program must be created as well.

[0004]

According to the printer device of the present invention, in the printer device, a transparent plate on which an arbitrary character pattern or figure is drawn with a light-shielding ink or the like, and the transparent plate are irradiated. A light source, a figure pattern light receiving section for photoelectrically converting after projecting a character pattern and a figure drawn on the translucent plate by the light of this light source, and a data signal of this figure pattern light receiving section are sequentially scanned column by column. And a scan circuit that outputs a data signal.

[0005]

The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a projected state of a figure pattern of a figure pattern light receiving portion of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a printer apparatus of the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a present embodiment. FIG. 3 is an external view of the printer device showing a state in which the figure pattern light receiving unit is inserted. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the transparent plate 1, the graphic pattern light receiving portion 2, the light source 3, the light receiving elements 4 arranged in a matrix, the graphic 5 drawn on the transparent plate, and the graphic pattern light receiving portion 2 are projected. It consists of a shadow 6. When light is applied from the light source 3 in this state,
Since the light is blocked on the figure 5 drawn with the light-shielding ink or the like, a shadow 6 is formed on the figure pattern light receiving portion 2. In the figure pattern light receiving portion 2, small light receiving elements 4 are arranged in a matrix, and the light receiving elements 4 are connected so that light receiving and light shielding information can be individually taken out.

FIG. 2 shows the system configuration of the present embodiment. The transparent plate 1, the figure pattern light receiving portion 2, the light source 3, the scan circuit 12 of the figure pattern light receiving portion 2, and the data of one column on each scanning line are shown. Data latch circuit 1 for temporary temporary storage
3, a data conversion device 14, a storage device 15 for graphic pattern data, and a control device 16 for each unit. In FIG. 2, the information stored in the individual light receiving elements 4 arranged in a matrix of the graphic pattern light receiving unit 2 is transferred to the data latch circuit 13 in order from the left end in units of one column in the vertical direction by the scan circuit 2. .. Data latch circuit 1
The data for one vertical column transferred to No. 3 is the data conversion device 1
4 is converted to data suitable for actual printing. After all the data is converted, it is transferred and stored in the storage device 15. These data detection processes are sequentially processed by the control device 16 including a program.

Next, in FIG. 3, a transparent plate 1 (a plate-shaped member made of a polymer material such as acrylic) on which an arbitrary figure is drawn by the user is provided outside the printer device 21. The insertion slot 23 is inserted into the printer device 21. In this state, the user presses the switch 25 on the printer control panel 24 to activate the internal control device 16,
It is possible to register automatically in just a few seconds. Figure 4
Is pattern data registered according to the present invention, and 2
The pattern registered as a print pattern of 4 × 24 dots is schematically displayed. The gap between the transparent plate 1 and the surface of the light receiving element 4 in FIG.
The light emitted from the light source 3 need not be parallel rays. In addition, there is almost no possibility of erroneous detection of a pattern due to blurring of the contour of a shadow due to light interference or diffraction. If the number of light receiving elements is too small, the pattern detection capability is poor, but if too many, the dot configuration density of the printer device is limited, so 24 to 96 vertically and 24 to 96 horizontally.
A suitable number is about 48 (preferably 48 vertically and horizontally).

The graphic pattern detection device according to the present invention does not need to be installed inside the printer device, and can be input to the printer device main body using an external interface.

[0009]

As described above, according to the present invention, by providing the translucent plate, the light receiving portion for the graphic pattern, and the light source, the user can use the personal computer to generate data such as arbitrary characters and print patterns that the user wants to define. Then, it is possible to eliminate the work that has to be created over time by using a commercially available program or a program created by the user. Therefore, it is possible to easily and quickly register and print the external character pattern including the figure and the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system of a printer device to which this embodiment is applied.

FIG. 3 is an external view of the printer device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a conventional printer device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Translucent plate 2 Graphic pattern light receiving part 3 Light source 4 Light receiving element 5 Graphic 6 Shadow 12 Scan circuit 13 Data latch circuit 14 Data conversion device 15 Storage device 16 Control device 17 External data input part 18 Personal computer 21 Printer device main body 22 Transparent Light plate 23 Insertion slot 24 Operation panel 25 Operation switch

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. In a printer device, a transparent plate on which an arbitrary character pattern or figure is drawn with ink having a light-shielding property, a light source for irradiating the transparent plate, and the light from the light source. A graphic pattern photoreceptor for performing photoelectric conversion after projecting a character pattern or a graphic drawn on the characteristic plate, and a scan circuit for sequentially scanning the data signal of the graphic pattern photoreceptive column by column to output the data signal. A printer device having: 2. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the number of light receiving elements forming the figure pattern light receiving portion is arranged at least 24 in the vertical direction and 24 in the horizontal direction.