JPH07299946A - Tape printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To cut off a power supply by providing a first power supply cutting-off means through a control means when it is judged that power supply voltage at the time of non-printing operation is equal to or less than first predetermined voltage by a first voltage judging means. CONSTITUTION:After initialization processing, the power supply voltage Ve of a power supply battery E supplied to the analogue port P of an input/output interface 50 at the time of non-printing operation is detected and it is judged whether the detected voltage is equal to or less than first predetermined voltage Va. The first predetermined voltage Va is set to voltage slightly lower than normal power supply voltage by about 3.0V corresponding to two dry batteries obtained as the result of the setting of one dry battery whose voltage is about 1.5V in a reverse direction When the power supply voltage Ve is equal to or less than the first predetermined voltage Va, there is the possibility of the reverse setting of one dry battery or the power supply voltage Ve is warning voltage showing the trouble in printing operation and, therefore, a command cutting off a power supply is outputted and the power supply can be cut off.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape printer which is driven by a power battery composed of a plurality of dry batteries, and more particularly to a device which shuts off the power when one dry battery is set in the reverse direction. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the inventor of the present applicant has been
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 85050, a printing mechanism having a keyboard, a display, and a thermal head is provided, and a tape as a printing medium (for example, tape width 9 mm, 12
mm) is a tape printing device that can print characters such as letters and symbols by attaching dot-shaped ink of an ink ribbon to a tape-shaped label suitable for being attached to the spine of a file. A suitable tape printer was put into practical use, and a tape printer provided with various editing functions was proposed. In this tape printer,
For example, six dry batteries are connected in series and housed in a battery case so that they can be carried and used at a desired place without a commercial power outlet of AC 100V. The power of the power source battery is supplied to each drive circuit and control device of the display and the printing mechanism.

The display processing on the display and the execution of the printing operation gradually consume the power of the power supply battery, and the power supply voltage interferes with the printing function by the thermal head, the tape feeding function, or the character display function. When the warning voltage is low, for example, about 2.0 V, a "dry battery mark" is displayed at the end of the display to prompt replacement of the dry battery. By the way, in the battery case, a positive pole and a negative pole of the dry battery are drawn so that the setting direction of the dry battery can be discriminated.

[0004]

As described above, in the tape printer which is driven by the power supply voltage of the power supply battery, when the dry battery is set in the battery case, for example, one dry battery is mistakenly used. It is also possible to set the positive and negative poles in reverse.
In this case, since only one dry battery is set in the reverse direction with respect to the regular power supply voltage of 9V, this power supply battery can perform character display and printing operation at a power supply voltage of about 6V, but in the reverse direction. There is a problem in that the set dry battery is forcibly charged to generate heat and liquid leakage, and a new dry battery set in the opposite direction may be damaged or the tape printer may be adversely affected.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tape printer capable of shutting off the power supply even when one dry battery used as a power supply battery is set in the reverse direction and reliably protecting the dry battery set in the reverse direction. To provide.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape printer, which is an input means for inputting characters and symbols and various commands, a display means including a display, and a tape for feeding a tape as a print medium. A tape driving means including a feed motor, a printing means having a print head composed of a plurality of dot-shaped heating elements, a power supply battery composed of a plurality of dry batteries, and a display means, a tape drive means and a printing means for displaying the power of the power supply battery. In a tape printer having a control means for supplying and controlling the supply of the voltage to a voltage detection means for detecting a power supply voltage of a power supply battery and a voltage detection during non-printing operation in which the tape driving means and the printing means are not driven. The first voltage determining means for determining whether or not the power source voltage of the power source battery detected by the means is less than or equal to the first predetermined voltage, and the first voltage determining means Supply voltage during character actuated when it is determined to be equal to or less than the first predetermined voltage via the control means,
It is provided with a first power supply cutoff means for cutting off the power supply.

Further, during the printing operation in which the tape driving means and the printing means are driven, whether or not the power supply voltage detected by the voltage detecting means is equal to or lower than the second predetermined voltage lower than the first predetermined voltage. Second voltage determining means for determining
When the power supply voltage at the time of printing operation is determined to be equal to or lower than the second predetermined voltage by the voltage determining means, the print inhibiting means for inhibiting the printing operation is provided through the control means (claim 1). Dependent claim 2), further, at the time of printing operation,
A third voltage determining means for determining whether the power supply voltage detected by the voltage detecting means is equal to or lower than a third predetermined voltage lower than the second predetermined voltage, and the power supply voltage at the time of printing operation by the third voltage determining means. When it is determined that the voltage is equal to or lower than the third predetermined voltage, a second power supply cutoff unit for cutting off the power supply via the control unit is provided (Claim 3 subordinate to Claim 2). Aspects can be configured.

[0008]

In the tape printer according to the first aspect of the present invention, the first voltage determining means displays the input character or symbol on the display by the control means during the non-printing operation in which the tape driving means and the printing means are not driven. When the display drive control is executed, it is determined whether or not the power supply voltage of the power supply battery detected by the voltage detection means is equal to or lower than the first predetermined voltage.
The power supply cutoff means cuts off the power supply through the control means when the first voltage determination means determines that the power supply voltage during the non-printing operation is equal to or lower than the first predetermined voltage.

As described above, when the display drive control of characters and symbols with low power consumption is being performed, that is, when the power supply voltage detected when there is almost no voltage drop of the power supply battery is the first predetermined voltage or less, the power supply Is cut off, the first predetermined voltage can be set to a voltage lower than the regular power supply voltage by a voltage equivalent to two dry batteries. Depending on the setting, it is easy to set at least one reverse battery in the reverse direction. It is possible to make a positive determination, and it is possible to reliably protect the dry battery set in the opposite direction without forcibly charging.

In the tape printer according to the second aspect of the present invention, the second voltage determining means determines that the power supply voltage detected by the voltage detecting means is the first predetermined value during the printing operation in which the tape driving means and the printing means are driven. It is determined whether the voltage is equal to or lower than a second predetermined voltage which is lower than the voltage, and the printing prohibition unit determines, when the power supply voltage during the printing operation is determined to be equal to or lower than the second predetermined voltage by the second voltage determination unit, Since the printing operation is prohibited via the control means, it is possible to prevent the printing operation which causes the feeding failure or the printing failure due to the insufficient power, depending on how the second predetermined voltage is set.

In the tape printer according to the third aspect of the present invention, the third voltage determining means is such that the power supply voltage detected by the voltage detecting means during the printing operation is lower than the second predetermined voltage.
It is determined whether or not the voltage is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage, and when the third voltage determination means determines that the power supply voltage at the time of printing operation is equal to or lower than the third predetermined voltage, the second power supply cutoff means causes the control means. Since the power is cut off, the input of important document data and the like can be surely stored and held in the text memory by the backup with the minimum power supply voltage Ve secured by suppressing the power consumption.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is a case where the present invention is applied to a tape printer capable of printing a large number of characters such as alphabetic characters and symbols on a printing tape as a printing medium. As shown in FIG. 1, a keyboard 3 is arranged in the front part of the main body frame 2 of the tape printer 1, a printing mechanism PM is arranged in the main body frame 2 behind the keyboard 3, and the keyboard 3 is also arranged. Immediately behind it is provided a liquid crystal display 22 capable of displaying input characters and symbols for three characters. Here, reference numeral 4 is a cutting lever for manually cutting the printing tape 19 printed by the printing mechanism PM.

The keyboard 3 includes a character key for inputting alphabetic characters, numbers and symbols, a space key, a line feed key, a cursor movement key for moving the cursor left and right, a print character size, a typeface, and the like. Formatting key to change and set information, print key to instruct printing,
A power key for turning the power on and off is provided.

Next, the printing mechanism PM will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 2. A rectangular tape cassette CS is detachably attached to the printing mechanism PM. The tape cassette CS has a laminated film tape. 7, a tape spool 8 on which the print ribbon 9 is wound, a ribbon supply spool 10 on which a print ribbon 9 is wound, a take-up spool 11 for winding the print ribbon 9, and a double-sided tape 12 having the same width as the laminate film tape 7. And a supply roller 13 wound with the release paper on the outside, and a joining roller 1 for joining the laminated film tape 7 and the double-sided tape 12 together.
4 and 4 are rotatably provided.

A thermal head 15 is erected at a position where the laminated film tape 7 and the print ribbon 9 overlap each other, and the platen roller 1 for pressing the laminated film tape 7 and the print ribbon 9 against the thermal head 15.
6 and a feed roller 17 that presses the laminated film tape 7 and the double-sided tape 12 against the joining roller 14 to create the printing tape 19, are rotatable on a support 18 pivotally attached to the main body frame 2. Is pivoted to. In the thermal head 15, a heating element group consisting of 48 heating elements is vertically arranged in a row.

Therefore, by driving the tape feed motor 45 (see FIG. 3) in the predetermined rotation direction, the joining roller 14 and the take-up spool 11 are driven in synchronization with each other in the predetermined rotation direction, and the heat generated by the thermal head 15 is generated. When the elements are energized, characters or symbols are printed on the laminated film tape 7 by a plurality of dot rows, and the laminated film tape 7 is used as the printing tape 19 in the tape feeding direction A with the double-sided tape 12 joined. The tape is fed and fed out of the body frame 2 as shown in FIGS. Here, although a manual cutting mechanism for cutting the printed tape 19 which is printed and fed out of the main body frame 2, a description thereof is omitted. For details of the printing mechanism PM, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-106555.

By the way, as the printing tape 19 fed from the tape cassette CS, the tape width is 9 mm, 12
Two types of tapes are prepared, and in order to detect one of these two types of tape width, a protruding piece 20 that combines the presence or absence of two protruding claws is prepared on the bottom wall of these tape cassettes CS. It is provided. And this tape cassette C
The protruding piece 2 is provided on the main body frame 2 that supports the lower side of S.
A cassette sensor 42 (see FIG. 3) for detecting the tape width based on the combination of 0 protruding claws is attached.

Next, the control system of the tape printer 1 is shown in FIG.
The block diagram of FIG. Control device C
The input / output interface 50 of the
Cassette sensor 42 and liquid crystal display (LCD) 2
2, a display controller (LCDC) 23 having a video RAM 24 for outputting display data, a drive circuit 44 for a warning buzzer 43, and the thermal head 1.
Drive circuit 47 for driving 5, and tape feed motor 4
5, and a drive circuit 48 for driving 5 is connected to each.

The control unit C includes a CPU 52 and this CPU.
An input / output interface 50, a display CG (character generator) ROM 53, a print CG ROM 54, and an RO connected to a bus 52 such as a data bus 51.
It is composed of an M55 and a RAM 60. By the way, in this tape printer 1, a power supply battery E in which six dry batteries are connected in series and housed in a battery case BC is provided.
Is built in, and the power of the power supply battery E is the drive circuit 4
The tape printer 1 is configured to be driven by the power supply battery E as well as being supplied to the analog port P of the input / output interface 50 and each of the plurality of electronic components described above. That is, when six new dry batteries are attached to the power supply battery E, the power supply voltage is about 9V.

In the display CGROM 53, for each of a large number of characters such as alphabetic characters and symbols,
Display dot pattern data of a predetermined character size is stored. In the printing CGROM 54, printing dot pattern data for each of a large number of characters such as alphabetic characters and symbols is stored in correspondence with code data for each typeface. Here, each character or symbol is dot pattern data having 24 dots.

The ROM 55 has a display drive control program for controlling the display controller 23 in accordance with character code data such as characters, numbers and symbols input from the keyboard 3, and dot pattern data for each dot row for printing. A print drive control program for sequentially transferring the data to the thermal head 15 or the tape feed motor 45 for printing, a control program for print data transfer control, which will be described later, peculiar to the present application, and the like are stored. Further, the RAM 60 has a text memory for storing code data of characters input from the keyboard 3 as document data, a print data buffer for expanding and storing dot pattern data corresponding to the character code stored in the text memory, In addition, various data memories necessary for inputting, editing and printing of text documents are provided.

Next, the tape print control routine executed by the controller C of the tape printer 1 will be described with reference to the schematic flowchart of FIG. Incidentally, reference numeral Si in the drawing
(I = 10, 11, 12, ...) Is each step. This control is started when the power is turned on by operating the power key on the keyboard 3, and the power supply voltage of the power supply battery E during the non-printing operation is supplied to the analog port P of the input / output interface 50 after the initialization process. Ve
Is detected (S10), and it is determined whether or not the power supply voltage Ve is equal to or lower than the first predetermined voltage Va (S11). Here, the first predetermined voltage Va is set to about "6.6 V" which is a voltage lower than the regular power supply voltage by a voltage corresponding to two dry batteries. That is, the voltage should be about 1.5
One dry cell of "V" is set in the reverse direction, and as a result, the voltage corresponding to the voltage of two is set to a voltage slightly higher than a voltage lower by about "3.0 V".

Then, when the power supply voltage Ve is higher than the first predetermined voltage Va, that is, when the key input and the display process of displaying the input characters or symbols on the display 22 and the printing operation can be executed without any trouble (S11: No), S12
Move to. However, if the power supply voltage Ve is the first predetermined voltage Va
In the following cases (S11: Yes), there is a possibility that one battery may be set in the reverse direction, or the power supply voltage Ve is a warning voltage that interferes with these display processing and printing operations, so a command to shut off the power is output. Then, (S20), the power supply is cut off and the control is terminated.

On the other hand, when the power supply voltage Ve is higher than the first predetermined voltage Va, no keys including printable keys and print keys such as alphabetic character keys, symbol keys, and numeric keys are operated (S12: No), S10 to S12 are repeatedly executed, and when the printable key is operated (S12 / S13: Yes), a document in which the operated printable character code data is stored in the text memory of the RAM 60 as document data. The data input process is executed, and the output process of displaying the character corresponding to the character code on the display 22 is executed (S16), and the process returns to S10. When the print key is operated (S12: Ye
s, S13: No, S14: Yes), the print process control is executed (S17), and after the print process control is completed, if the print prohibition flag HF is not set (S18: No), the process returns to S10.

By the way, when the print processing control is executed, the tape feed motor 45 starts to drive, and when dot pattern data to be used for printing is created, the dot pattern data are arranged in the thermal head 15. The dot row data for each dot row corresponding to the heating element is transferred to the thermal head 15 at each transfer timing. Next, this print processing control will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

When this control is started, the tape feed motor is first driven (S30). Next, at the transfer timing of the dot row data, transfer processing control for transferring the dot row data for one dot row from the print data buffer to the drive circuit 47 is executed (S31). As a result, the drive circuit 47 applies the electric power of the power supply battery E to each heating element of the thermal head 15 corresponding to the dot row data for a minute time (S32). The step S21 is executed by the drive circuit 47. Next, the power supply voltage determination processing control (see FIG. 6) is executed (S33).

When this control is started, first, the power supply voltage Ve of the power supply battery E supplied to the analog port P of the input / output interface 50 during the printing operation is detected (S40), and this power supply voltage Ve is determined by the third predetermined value. When the voltage is neither lower than the voltage Vc (S41: No) or lower than the second predetermined voltage Vb (S42: No), this control is ended and the process returns to S34 of the print processing control. Here, the second predetermined voltage Vb is set to a voltage lower than the first predetermined voltage Va, for example, about 3.8 V, and is a voltage that causes tape feeding failure or printing failure during printing operation. Also, the third
The predetermined voltage Vc is set to a voltage lower than the second predetermined voltage Vb, for example, about 2.0 V, and is a voltage that also hinders character display processing and data input processing.

By the way, when the detected power supply voltage Ve is higher than the third predetermined voltage Vc but is equal to or lower than the second predetermined voltage Vb (S41: No, S42: Yes), the print inhibition flag HF is set ( S43) and returns to S34. On the other hand, the detected power supply voltage Ve is the third predetermined voltage V
If it is less than or equal to c (S41: Yes), it is a warning voltage that interferes with display processing and printing operation, so a command to shut off the power is output (S44), and this control is terminated when the power is shut off.

Next, in the print processing control, when the power supply voltage determination processing control is completed, the print inhibition flag HF
When is not set (S34: No), it is judged whether or not the printing of the document data stored in the text memory is completed (S36), and if the printing of all the document data is not completed, that is, If there is document data to be printed
When (S36: No) and S31 are returned and printing of all the document data is completed (S36: Yes), the drive of the motor is stopped and the printing process is prohibited (S35), and the process returns to S18 of tape printing control. When the power supply voltage determination process is completed and the print prohibition flag HF is set (S34: Yes), a command for stopping the motor drive and prohibiting the print process is output (S35). The control is forcibly ended, and the process returns to S18. Then, in S18 of the tape print control, it is judged whether or not the print prohibition flag HF is set, and if the print prohibition flag HF is set (S18: Yes), a warning message is displayed and printing is performed. Reset the prohibition flag HF (S1
9) Return to S10. On the other hand, if the print inhibition flag HF is not set (S18: No), the process returns to S10. By the way, in the tape print control, when a printable key or a key other than the print key is operated (S12: Yes, S13-
(S14: No), various processes corresponding to the operated key are executed (S15), and the process returns to S10.

As described above, when input control or display control of characters or symbols with low power consumption is being performed,
That is, when the power supply voltage Ve detected when there is almost no voltage drop of the power supply voltage Ve of the power supply battery E is less than or equal to the first predetermined voltage Va which is lower than the normal power supply voltage by a voltage equivalent to two dry batteries, the power supply is Since the battery is shut off and a warning message is displayed, it is possible to easily determine at least one reverse battery set in the reverse direction, and moreover, it is possible to surely protect the dry battery set in the reverse direction from liquid leakage without forcibly charging.

Further, when the power supply voltage Ve during the printing operation of the character is equal to or lower than the second predetermined voltage Vb lower than the first predetermined voltage Va, the printing operation is prohibited. Therefore, the power supply voltage equal to or lower than the second predetermined voltage Vb. By Ve, it is possible to prevent a printing operation that causes a tape feeding failure or a printing failure due to insufficient power. Further, the power supply voltage Ve at the time of printing operation
However, when the voltage is equal to or lower than the third predetermined voltage Vc, which is lower than the second predetermined voltage Vb, the power supply is cut off. It is possible to reliably store and retain the important document data and the like.

The first predetermined voltage Va, the second predetermined voltage Vb, and the third predetermined voltage Vc are the power supply voltage Ve of the power supply battery E, the number of heating elements provided in the thermal head 15, and the tape feed motor 45. An arbitrary predetermined voltage may be set according to the type. It should be noted that, within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, various modifications may be made to the control of the above-described embodiment based on existing technology or technology obvious to those skilled in the art. Of course, the present invention can be applied to various tape printers equipped with a keyboard, a CRT type display, and a printing mechanism.

[0033]

According to the tape printer of the first aspect of the present invention, the voltage drive means, the first voltage determination means, and the first power source cutoff means are provided to control the display drive of characters and symbols with low power consumption. When the battery is being operated, that is, when the power supply voltage detected when there is almost no voltage drop in the power supply battery is equal to or lower than the first predetermined voltage, the power supply is shut off. Depending on the setting, such as setting the voltage lower by the voltage equivalent to two batteries, at least one reverse battery set can be easily determined, and the dry batteries set in the reverse direction can be reliably charged without being charged. Can be protected.

According to the tape printer of claim 2,
Further, a second voltage determining unit and a print inhibiting unit are provided, and when the power supply voltage during the printing operation in which the tape driving unit and the printing unit are driven is equal to or lower than the second predetermined voltage which is lower than the first predetermined voltage, Since the printing operation is prohibited, this second
Depending on how the predetermined voltage is set, it is possible to prevent a printing operation that causes feeding failure or printing failure due to insufficient power.

According to the tape printer of claim 3,
Further, a second voltage determining means and a second power cutoff means are provided, and when the power supply voltage during printing operation is equal to or lower than a third predetermined voltage lower than the second predetermined voltage, the power is cut off. Depending on how the predetermined voltage is set, it is possible to surely store and hold the input important document data and the like by the backup with the minimum power supply voltage ensured by suppressing the power consumption.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tape printer.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a printing mechanism equipped with a tape cassette.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the tape printer.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a tape print control routine.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of a print processing control routine.

FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of a power supply voltage determination processing control routine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Tape Printing Device 3 Keyboard 15 Thermal Head 19 Printing Tape 22 Liquid Crystal Display 45 Tape Feed Motor 52 CPU 55 ROM 60 RAM PM Printing Mechanism C Controller E Power Battery

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An input means for inputting characters and symbols and various commands, a display means including a display, a tape drive means including a tape feed motor for feeding a tape as a print medium, and a plurality of dot-like shapes. The printer includes a printing unit having a print head including a heating element, a power supply battery including a plurality of dry batteries, and a control unit that supplies the power of the power supply battery to the display unit, the tape driving unit, and the printing unit to drive and control them. In the tape printer, the power supply voltage of the power supply battery detected by the voltage detection means during the non-printing operation in which the voltage detection means for detecting the power supply voltage of the power supply battery and the tape drive means and the printing means is not driven. And a first determining whether the voltage is less than or equal to a first predetermined voltage
When the voltage determination means and the first voltage determination means determine that the power supply voltage during the non-printing operation is equal to or lower than the first predetermined voltage, the first power supply cutoff means for cutting off the power supply via the control means. And a tape printing apparatus characterized by including. 2. The power supply voltage detected by the voltage detecting means during the printing operation in which the tape driving means and the printing means are driven is below a second predetermined voltage lower than the first predetermined voltage. If the power supply voltage at the time of printing operation is determined to be equal to or lower than the second predetermined voltage by the second voltage determining means for determining whether or not the printing operation is performed through the control means. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a printing prohibition unit that prohibits printing. 3. A third voltage determination means for determining whether or not the power supply voltage detected by the voltage detection means is equal to or lower than a third predetermined voltage lower than the second predetermined voltage during printing operation. When the third voltage determination means determines that the power supply voltage at the time of printing operation is equal to or lower than the third predetermined voltage, the second power supply cutoff means for cutting off the power supply is provided via the control means. The tape printer according to claim 2, which is characterized in that.