JPH064350B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that stores print data to be printed in a print buffer and then prints.

[Prior Art] While storing one line of print data in a conventional printing device, such as a print buffer, and rotating a print drum on which print characters are arranged, the same print data as the print data in the print buffer is in front of the print hammer. When passing, the printing hammer is used to stamp and print, and when the printing drum makes one revolution,
2. Description of the Related Art A printing device that finishes printing lines is known.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in this conventional printing apparatus, a constant time required for one rotation of the print drum is required for always printing one line regardless of the content of the print data stored in the print buffer. Therefore, there is a problem that the printing speed cannot be increased.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of speeding up printing.

[Means for Solving Problems] The present invention includes a print buffer that stores print data corresponding to a print character for one line, and operates the printer mechanism based on the print data of each digit of the print buffer. In a printing device that sequentially prints the print characters of a line, when storing print data for one line in a print buffer, a means for adding specific data to a digit with no print data and storing each print data in the print buffer. There is provided means for changing the printed print data to specific data each time printing is performed, and means for controlling the stop of the printing operation of one line when all the digits of the print buffer become the specific data.

[Operation] In the present invention having such a configuration, first, the print data corresponding to a print character is stored in the print buffer for one line. At this time, specific data is added to the digit having no print data and stored. Then, each print data in the print buffer is sequentially printed, and each time the print data is printed, the print data is changed to specific data. Then, when all the digits of the print buffer become the specific data, the printing operation of one line is stopped.

Embodiments Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the invention is applied to a printer used for an electronic cash register.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the entire electronic cash register, 1 is a main CPU (central processing unit) that constitutes the main body of the electronic cash register control unit, and 2 is a control program for the CPU 1 to control each unit. Main ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores, etc., 3 is a main RAM with a memory backup function that forms the memory required for print data processing
(Random access memory). Further, 4 is a display controller for controlling the display device 5, and 6 is a keyboard 7.
A keyboard controller 8 for controlling the printer controller 8 is an interface for exchanging data with the printer controller 9. The CPU 1, the ROM 2, the RAM 3, the display controller 4, the keyboard controller 6, and the interface 8 are connected via a bus line 10.

The printer controller 9 is a CPU 11, and this CPU
Reference numeral 11 denotes a ROM 12 in which program data for controlling each unit is stored, a RAM 13 in which a data processing memory and the like are formed, and two I / O ports 14 and 15. A printer mechanism 16 is connected to the I / O port 14, and a reset pulse sensor 17 and a character pulse sensor 18 are connected to the I / O port 15.

The printer controller 4 sends a printer motor drive signal S to the printer mechanism 16 via the I / O port 14.
₁ , hammer signal S ₂ , stamp signal S ₃ , cut signal S ₄ , and feed signal S ₅ are supplied respectively.

The printer controller 9, the printer mechanism 16, and the sensors 17 and 18 form a printing device.

The printer mechanism 16 has the structure shown in FIG. That is, 21 is a print drum in which a large number of print characters arranged in a plurality of columns horizontally and a plurality of lines in a row are arranged, 22 is a print hammer provided to face each digit of the print drum 21, and 23 is a receipt issuing port. Stamp mechanism provided on the side of 24, 25
Is a cutter mechanism provided near the receipt issuing port 24.

Further, 26 is a feed roller, 27 is a pinch roller,
These hold the receipt paper 30 guided by the paper guides 28 and 29, and feed the receipt paper 30 to the receipt issuing port 24 through the front of the printing drum 21, the stamp mechanism 23, and the cutter mechanism 25. There is.

The rotation shaft of the printing drum 21 has a reset pulse disk 32 and a gear 3 on which a magnet 31 is attached at one location on the circumferential surface.
3 is fixed and is rotated together with the print drum 21. The gear 33 has a considerably small diameter.
Character pulse disk 3 in which 4 meshes, and magnets 35 and 36 are attached to the rotary shaft of the gear 34 at two locations on the circumferential surface.
7 is fixed and is adapted to rotate with its gear 34.

The reset pulse sensor 17 including a detection coil is provided above the peripheral surface of the reset pulse disc 32.
Each time the magnet 31 of the reset pulse disk 32 passes in front, the magnet 31 is detected and the reset pulse signal RP is generated every time the print drum 21 makes one rotation.

The gear 34 is the print drum 2 while the gear 33 rotates once.
Therefore, the character pulse disk 37 is rotated once each time the character body of the printing drum 21 passes in front of the printing hammer 22. The character pulse sensor 18 including a detection coil is provided above the peripheral surface of the character pulse disk 37.
The magnets 35 and 36 are detected each time 36 passes through the front, and two character pulse signals CP are generated each time the character on the print drum 21 passes in front of the hammer 22.

The typefaces arranged on the printing drum 21 are numbers, letters, and symbols necessary for printing on a receipt or the like. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, there are 11 columns horizontally, 13 columns vertically, and 13 columns vertically.
The lines are designated by print data of "0" to "C". It should be noted that, in this figure, the respective characters are in the normal orientation for the sake of explanation, but they are in the opposite orientation because they are actually printed and are in the normal orientation.

Print save buffer for the said RAM3 for saving print data in the print buffer 3 _1, when a power failure occurs for storing print data edited on the basis of data inputted from a keyboard 7 as shown in FIG. 4 3 ₂ is provided. Incidentally, the area _F 1, _{F 2} for storing the feed flag to be described later are respectively provided in each buffer ₃ 1, _{3 2.}

The RAM 13 of the printer controller 9 has a print buffer 3 for storing print data as shown in FIG.
₁ , a feed flag FF used to distinguish between simple printing and feed printing, a print counter PCT that indicates by count data whether printing is in progress, a character counter CHCT that indicates a character type on the printing drum 21, and a character flag CF A reset pulse counter RPC for counting the reset pulse signal and a feed counter FCT for counting the feed amount are provided.

The CPU 11 of the printer controller 9 is a ROM 12
The processing shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is performed based on the program data of FIG.

FIG. 6 shows the main processing. When the power is turned on, the memory of the RAM 13 is cleared first, and then C
It waits for reception of data such as print data sent under the control of PU1. When print data is received, it is first checked whether the print counter PCT and the feed counter FCT are "0". If one or both of the print counter PCT or the feed counter FCT is not "0", it is determined that printing or feeding is in progress, a print response is returned to the CPU 1 via the interface 8, and the printer waits for reception of print data again. If both the print counter PCT and the feed counter FCT are "0", it is determined that the print is not being performed or the feed is being performed, and the received print data is stored in the print buffer PBF. At this time, the specific data "F" is displayed in the digit without print data.
Is set. Then, it is checked whether or not the feed flag FF is set to "1". The printing by turning the printer motor signal S ₁ and the feed signal S ₅ is set to "4" to feed counter FCT it is determined that the printing with the feed if FF = 1,
Start the feed. When this control is completed, it waits for the reception of print data again. If FF = 0, it is determined that printing is performed without feed and the print counter PC
It is set to "E" to the T to turn on only the printer motor signals S ₁ and to start printing. When this control is completed, it waits for the reception of print data again.

When the data received from the CPU 1 is a power failure command, it is checked whether the print counter PCT and the feed counter FCT are "0", and one or both of the print counter PCT and the feed counter FCT is "0". If not, it is judged that printing or feeding is in progress, and the contents of the print buffer PBF are output to the CPU 1 via the interface 8. Then, the print counter PCT and the reset pulse counter RPC are set to "0" respectively, and the output of the printer motor signal S ₁ , the hammer signal S _2, etc. is stopped, the operation of the motor, the hammer, etc. is stopped and the print data is received again. To wait.
If both the print counter PCT and the feed counter FCT are "0", it is judged that the print data is not being fed and the feed counter FCT is waited for again to receive the print data.

FIG. 7 shows the input interrupt processing of the character pulse CP. When the character pulse signal CP is input, it is checked whether or not the reset pulse signal RP is also input at the same time.
If the reset pulse signal RP is also input at the same time, it means that the printing drum 21 has made one rotation and returned to the start position, so that the character flag CF and the character counter CHCT are reset to "0". Then, it is checked whether or not the reset pulse counter RPC is "3". This is checked because when the reset pulse counter RPC does not reach "3", the printer motor starts rotating and only a short time has elapsed and the print drum 21 does not rotate stably. And the counter R
If PC is not "3", the reset pulse counter RPC is incremented by one. Also, reset pulse counter RP
If C is "3", the counter RPC is left unchanged.

At the same time, if the reset pulse RP is not input, it is subsequently checked whether or not the character flag CF is set to "1". If the character flag CF is set to "1", the character flag CF is reset to "0". And
The character counter CHCT is incremented by 1. After such processing is completed, it is checked whether or not the reset pulse counter RPC is "3". If it is not "3", this interrupt processing is terminated, and "3" is returned. Then, subsequently, it is checked whether or not the feed counter FCT is "0". And the feed counter FC
If T is not "0", feed processing is in progress, so the feed counter FCT is decremented by 1 and it is checked whether the feed counter FCT has become "3". If the feed counter FCT is "3", the feed signal S
₅ is output, the feed magnet is turned on, and this interrupt processing is ended. In addition, to stop the output of the feed signal S ₅ if the feed counter FCT is not set to "3" to turn off the feed magnet. Further, it is checked whether or not the feed counter FCT is "0". If the feed counter FCT is "0", the feed is completed, so the feed flag FF is reset to "0" and the print counter PCT is set to "E". If it is not "0", this interrupt process is terminated.

If the feed counter FCT is "0" in the check of the feed counter FCT following the check of the reset pulse counter RPC, then it is checked whether or not the print counter PCT is "0". Then, if the print counter PCT is "0", this interrupt processing is ended. The sets specific data "F" in each digit of the print buffer PBF the print counter PCT is equivalent to the hammer, which are on, it is under print not "0", and stops the output of the hammer signal S _2. Then, since the printing for one character is completed, the print counter PCT is decremented by one. If all the print counters PCT are "F", the print counter PCT is reset to "0" and the printing operation is completed. If the print counters PCT are not all "F", the interrupt process is terminated.

Further, when there is no input of the reset pulse signal RP and the character flag CF is not set to "1", the character flag CF is set to "1", and subsequently the reset pulse counter RPC is set to "3" or the print counter P.
Check if CT is "0" or "E". Then, only when the reset pulse counter RPC is "3" and the print counter PCT is neither "0" nor "E", that is, only when the print drum 21 rotates stably and is printing, the data which matches the character counter CHCT is printed. P
When in BF, the corresponding hammer is turned on to print.

The CPU 1 performs the processing shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 8 shows a power failure interrupt process when a power failure occurs. When a power failure occurs, it is detected and a power failure command is sent to the printer controller 9. Next, it is checked whether print data (print data remaining in the print buffer PBF) is received from the printer controller 9.
When print data is received, the received data is stored in RAM
3 is set in the print saving buffer _{3 second.} Also, it clears the print saving buffer 3 ₂ Without the reception of print data.

Figure 9 is intended to show the processing at the time of recovery from the power failure, and sends the print data to the printer controller 9 if there is print data in the print saving buffer 3 _2. Then, it waits for key-in from the keyboard 7. When there is a key-in in this state, the display and print data are edited by the pressed key and the print data is sent to the printer controller 9. At this time, if there is a response indicating that printing is in progress from the printer controller 9, the print data is sent again.

In the present embodiment having such a configuration, when the print drum 21 is rotated by the printer motor, the character pulse sensor 18 generates the character pulse CP shown in FIG. Also reset pulse sensor 17
From FIG. 10, two character pulses C generated at a timing as shown in FIG.
One reset pulse is generated every time P is generated 13 times. The character flag CF is reset by the first pulse of the two character pulses CP and set by the next pulse, as shown in FIG. 10 (c). Further, the character counter CHCT indicates "0" to "C" which indicate the rows in which the character bodies of the printing drum 21 are arranged in synchronization with the character bodies passing through the hammer position, as shown in FIG. 10 (d). The data of "is counted cyclically. The print counter PCT counts from the start to the end of printing one line, as shown in (e) of FIG. That is, the typeface of the print drum 21 is composed of 11 digits, so that the print counter PCT is initially set to "E".
As the printing progresses, subtraction counts and finally "4"
And becomes "0" when printing is completed. Therefore, when the count value is "E" to "4", printing is in progress.

For example, at the timing when the character counter CHCT is counting “B”, $ 4567 = “F, F, F, F, C, 4,5,6,7,
When the print data of "F, F" is received, this print data is stored in the print buffer PBF. At this time, "4" is set in the feed counter FCT as shown in FIG. Then, when the feed counter FCT becomes "3", the feed magnet is turned on and (g) in FIG.
When the character pulse CP is generated at the subsequent time, the print data “4” and the character counter CHCT “4” match each other. Therefore, the matched sixth digit hammer is shown in FIG. It operates as shown in (k) and prints "4". Then, the character pulse CP generated at that timing changes the print data “4” in the print buffer PBF to the specific data “F” indicating the end of printing. That is, the data "4" for which printing has been completed has been cleared. Then, the print data of the print buffer PBF is “F, F, F, F, C, F, 5, 6, 7,
F, F ". Hereinafter, (j), (i) of FIG.
As shown in (h), the 5th digit, 4th digit, and 3rd digit hammers sequentially operate to generate data "5", "6",
"7" is sequentially printed, and finally the character counter CH
When CT and the print data "C" match, the hammer of the seventh digit operates to print the data "$" as shown in (1) of FIG. 10, and the character pulse CP generated at the timing of the print buffer PBF. The print data of all becomes the specific data "F", and the printing ends. In this way, the CPU 11 of the printer controller 9 stands by to receive the next print data.

Therefore, depending on the print data, the print may be completed before the print drum 21 makes one rotation. In such a case, the print data in the print buffer PBF is always printed and waits for the next print as in the conventional case. However, the printing operation is completed earlier than the case where the printing drum 21 requires one rotation time. Therefore, in the case of printing a plurality of lines, the time reduction in each line is added, and the printing speed can be considerably increased as compared with the conventional case.

Further, for example, in printing of print data "$ 4567", that is, "F, F, F, F, C, 4,5, 6, 7, F, F", printing of "4" is completed and printing of "5" is completed. If a power failure occurs before performing the above, the print data “F, F, F, F, C, F, 5, 6, 7, F,
F "and the contents of the feed counter FCT" 0 "is sent to CPU1 via the interface 8, it is saved in the print saving buffer _{3 second} RAM 3. Thereafter a power failure retreated once was print data "F to print saving buffer _{3 2} by CPU1 Upon recovery, F, F, F, C , F, 5,6,
7, F, F ”and content of feed counter FCT“ 0 ”
Is returned to the print buffer PBF and the feed counter FCT. Since the printer controller 9 controls the printer mechanism 16 to perform printing based on the print data, the data printed at this time is "5, 6, 7,
"4" that is already printed is not printed. Therefore, unlike the conventional case, the data "4" is not printed twice, and there is no fear that the data "4" becomes difficult to see. In other words, good printing is always possible even when a power failure occurs.

It should be noted that this embodiment has been described by applying the printing apparatus of the present invention to an electronic cash register, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this, and can be applied to various electronic devices. Further, although the printing drum type is described in this embodiment, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus capable of speeding up printing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer mechanism, FIG. 3 is a development view showing a character arrangement state of a printing drum, and FIG. R
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a main memory configuration of the AM, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a main memory configuration of the RAM of the printer controller, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing main processing of the CPU of the printer controller, and FIG. 7 is a CPU of the printer controller. 8 is a flowchart showing the character pulse input interrupt processing of FIG. 8, FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the power failure interrupt processing of the main CPU, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the power failure recovery processing of the main CPU, and FIG. 10 is the control timing of each part of the printer controller. It is a timing chart shown. 9 ... Printer controller, 11 ... CPU (central processing unit), 12 ... ROM (read only memory), 1
3 ... RAM (random access memory), 16 ... printer mechanism, 3 2 _... print save buffer, PBF ... print buffer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A printing device comprising a print buffer for storing one line of print data corresponding to a print character, and operating a printer mechanism based on the print data of each digit of the print buffer to sequentially print one line of print data. In storing the print data for one line in the print buffer, a unit for adding specific data to a digit having no print data and storing the print data each time the print data in the print buffer is printed. A printing apparatus comprising: means for changing print data into specific data; and means for stopping and controlling the printing operation of one line when all the digits of the print buffer become the specific data.