JPH08112943A - Dot printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To reduce the difference in the printing load between respective printing heads by setting the changeover of the mounting pitch of the printing heads and the changeover of printing data distributing function in an alterable manner corresponding to the width of printing paper to be used in a figure direction. CONSTITUTION: In such a case that the printing load on the side of a printing head 1 is higher than that on the side of a printing head (n) or in the case of a user mainly using only printing figure width of about L/2-2L/3 with respect to the total printing width L on the basis of a printing start figure, the mounting pitch of the printing heads is set to a pitch (m) equal to or less than L/n. By this constitution, the mounting pitch of the printing heads can be allowed to approach that fitted to actually printed printing figure width and the unbalance of the printing load between the respective printing heads due to a use method of a user can be reduced. When printing figure width is (m×n) or less, the stroke quantity of one scanning is reduced by (L/n-3) and a scanning time is shortend.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dot printer adopting a multi-head system, and more particularly to a dot printer in which the mounting pitch of a print head can be set and changed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 shows a print paper width and a print digit width of a dot printer adopting a conventional two-head system, and further shows a print area of each print head 1, 2.

As shown in the figure, the print head 1 and the print head 2 are mounted on the print head reciprocating means 5 at equal intervals L / 2 with respect to the entire print digit width L, and left and right by the print head reciprocating means 5. 1 line is printed by moving the print heads 1 and 2 by a distance capable of printing the print area L / 2. Then, the print heads 1 and 2 are moved to the left end or the right end of the print area, and when the printing of one line is completed, a predetermined amount of paper is fed. Similarly, the next line is printed. The movement of the print heads 1 and 2 from the left end (right end) of the print area to the right end (left end) is referred to as one scan.

In the above printing method, the printing paper width (L
+ Α) print data of all print digit width L is always printed on the print paper, the length of L is divided into two, and scanning is performed. Compared with a single-head printer that prints with, printing of one line can be performed with a moving distance of about 1/2 of the print head, and the scanning time per scan is about 1/2, resulting in a processing capability. improves.

Similarly, the processing capacity is sequentially improved to 3 heads and 4 heads.

It should be noted that the overload due to the printing of the dot printer adopting the multi-head system is detected by the temperature or the number of printed dots per unit time, and when the overload occurs, one line is printed by two scans to set the duty. Overload prevention control such as lowering has also been performed conventionally.

[0007]

As described in the above-mentioned prior art, when a full print digit width L is printed on a print paper having a print paper width (L + α), the two-head type dot printer is a single head. The scanning time per scan is about 1/2 of that of the printer of the type, and the processing capability is improved.

However, as shown in FIG. 3, when it is considered to print a print digit width L / 2 on a paper having a print paper width (L / 2 + α), a two-head system dot printer and a single-head system are used. Since the stroke amount of the print head per scan is almost the same as that of the dot printer, there is a problem that it has substantially equivalent processing capacity and cannot fully utilize the merit of the two-head system.

Further, in the two-head type dot printer, when the print head 1 and the print head 2 are compared, the high duty is biased to a specific head and the overload prevention control is activated to significantly reduce the processing capacity. Sometimes.

Further, due to the difference in the print load amount between the print heads 1 and 2, the life of the print heads 1 and 2 and the change in the performance due to the difference in the usage amount are significantly different.

More specifically, for example, depending on the user, a form with a specific paper width (such as a slip in the distribution industry) or a print duty may be concentrated in the vicinity of a specific digit and processed in a large amount continuously. In such a case, the problem as described above becomes remarkable.

According to the present invention, when the print processing within a certain specific range within the entire print digit range is executed, the processing capacity is improved and the difference in the print load between the print heads is reduced. It is an object of the present invention to provide a dot printer adopting a multi-head method, which can achieve the average life thereof.

[0013]

The object is to mount the n print heads with respect to the head reciprocating means at L / n pitch with respect to the entire print digit width L, and
The head reciprocating means is provided with mounting means capable of mounting at an arbitrary pitch m of L / n or less, and the set value of the controller having the print data distribution function is changed to change the print data according to the mounting pitch of the hammer. The distribution can be switched, and the setting of the mounting pitch of the print head and the switching of the print data distribution function can be changed mainly depending on the width in the digit direction of the printing paper used and the size of the printing load of each print head. It is achieved by

In other words, the above-mentioned object is that the mounting pitch of the n print heads with respect to the print head reciprocating means can be mounted at an L / n pitch with respect to the entire print digit width L, and can be set to any value less than L / n. When the print head reciprocating means is provided with mounting means that can be mounted at the pitch m, and the setting value of the control device having the print data distribution function is changed, all printing is performed when the print head mounting pitch is L / n. A print data distribution function that evenly divides print data with a digit width L into n print heads into L / n widths, and if the print head mounting pitch is m, print data with a full print digit width L , The print data of each area width m from the print start digit side is distributed to the 1 to (n-1) th print heads counted from the print start digit side, and the remaining area width is about the nth print head. L- (n-1) m Character data distribution function can be switched, and the print head mounting pitch and print data distribution function can be switched mainly by the width of the printing paper in the digit direction and the print load of each print head. This is achieved by making the setting changeable.

In changing the setting of the mounting pitch of the print head and the distribution function of print data, the main usage mode of each user, that is, the width in the digit direction of the printing paper mainly used by each user, and each printing In order to grasp the size of the print load of the head, by adding a control circuit that counts the maximum temperature of each print head within a certain period or the cumulative number of strokes for each print head, the data of that control circuit is set as described above. It is also effective to use it as a criterion for making changes.

[0016]

In FIG. 1, for example, when the print load on the print head 1 side is higher than that on the print head n side or when the print start digit side is used as a reference, the total print digit width L is mainly L / 2 to L / 2. For a user who uses only a print digit width of about 2 L / 3, by setting the print head mounting pitch to a pitch m of L / n or less, the print head mounting pitch conforms to the print digit width for actual printing. It is possible to reduce the imbalance of the print load between the print heads due to the usage method by the user, and when the print digit width is (m × n) or less, the stroke amount of one scan becomes ( L / n-m) and the scanning time is shortened. As a result, the processing capacity can be improved more than when the print head mounting pitch is L / n.

On the other hand, when the print heads are mounted at the pitch m and the entire print digit width L is printed, the stroke amount of one scan is extended by (L-mn) to obtain 1
Although the scanning distance of scanning is increased and the processing capability is lower than that when the mounting pitch of the print head is L / n, the entire print digit width L can be printed by n print hammers.

On the contrary, for a user who uses the entire printing digit range L substantially evenly, the mounting pitch of the printing hammer is L / n.
By so doing, this is the same as before and there is no reduction in processing capacity in that case.

As described above, the switching of the mounting pitch of the print head and the switching of the print data distribution function are set according to the width in the digit direction of the print paper mainly used by each user and the size of the print load of each print head. By making it changeable, it is possible to execute printing most suitable for the usage mode of each user.

In order to grasp the main usage mode of each user, that is, the width in the digit direction of the printing paper mainly used by each user and the size of the printing load of each print head,
By adding a control circuit that counts the maximum temperature of each print head within a certain period or the cumulative number of strokes for each print head, the data of that control circuit can be used to determine the print head mounting pitch and print data distribution function. It can be used as a criterion for changing the setting.

[0021]

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings of the embodiments.

FIG. 2 shows a three-head type dot printer. The total print digit width L is L = 13.6 inches (345.44
mm), and the mounting pitch L / n of each print head is 1
3.6 inches / 3 heads = 4.53 inches (115.1
5 mm).

By the way, when processing printing paper with a width in the digit direction of about 10 inches, which is mainly used in delivery slips in the distribution industry, the actual printing digit width is about 9 inches, and the printing start digit side is used as a reference. Considering the actual print digit width of 9 inches, the actual print digit width of 9 inches can be printed only in the print areas allocated to the head 1 and the head 2, and the head 3 becomes completely unloaded. It becomes something that does not exist. Further, between the head 1, the head 2, and the head 3, a difference in print load amount causes a great difference in processing capacity, life, and the like. For users who mainly use the above-described usage modes, by setting the mounting pitch of the print heads to a pitch m = 3 inches, which is equal to or smaller than L / n, with reference to the print head on the print start column side, The head 3 receives an equal printing load, and when the actual print digit width is 9 inches or less, the scanning time for one scan is longer than when the mounting pitch of the print head is L / n = 4.53 inches. It is reduced to about 1 / 1.5 (moving stroke ratio, 3 inches / 4.53 inches), resulting in improved throughput.

However, the mounting pitch m = 3 as described above.
When the actual print digit width is 9 to 10.53 inches, the print head mounting pitch is L / n = 4.53.
At 10.53 inches or more, which is almost the same as in inches, the print digit width shared by the head 3 becomes 4.53 inches or more, and the reciprocating stroke amount of the head is the mounting pitch L / n =
Since the time is 4.53 inches or more, the scanning time per scan also increases, and the processing capacity is the mounting pitch L / n =
It is lower than at 4.53 inches. Maximum print digit width 1
The processing capacity at 3.6 inches is about 1.7 times that when the print digit width shared by the head 3 is 7.6 inches and the mounting pitch L / n = 4.53 inches, and as a result, the stroke per scan. Although the amount and the scanning time are also increased by about 1.7 times and the processing capacity is reduced to about 60%, the entire print digit width L can be printed by three print hammers.

On the contrary, for a user who uses the entire print digit range L substantially evenly, the mounting pitch of the print hammer is L / n.
By so doing, this is the same as before and there is no reduction in processing capacity in that case.

As described above, the switching of the mounting pitch of the print head and the switching of the print data distribution function are set depending on the width in the digit direction of the printing paper mainly used by each user and the size of the printing load of each print head. By making it changeable, it is possible to perform printing that is most suitable for the usage mode of each user, and it is possible to improve the processing capacity of each print head and average the service life.

Incidentally, in order to grasp the main usage mode of each user, that is, the width in the digit direction of the printing paper mainly used by each user and the size of the printing load of each print head,
By adding a control circuit that counts the maximum temperature of each print head within a certain period or the cumulative number of strokes for each print head, the data of that control circuit can be used to determine the print head mounting pitch and print data distribution function. It can be used as a criterion for changing the setting.

[0028]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, in the dot printer adopting the multi-head system, by setting the mounting pitch between the print heads to be changeable, the entire print digit range can be obtained. In the case of executing the printing process within a certain specific range, it is possible to improve the processing capability thereof, further reduce the difference in the printing load between the print heads, and average the service life thereof.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a dot printer having n print heads, which illustrates the concept of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a dot printer that employs a three-print head method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a dot printer that employs a two-head system according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 to 4 and 1'to 4 '... print head, 5 ... print head reciprocating means, 6 and 7 ... print paper.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A single print head reciprocating means,
The n print heads are mounted at a pitch of L / n with respect to the entire print digit width L, and the print areas of the L / n width allocated to the print heads are printed in parallel by at least all print heads. It has a print data distribution function for distributing print data having a print digit width L to each print head, and determines and controls the reciprocating stroke of the print head reciprocating moving means from the width in the digit direction of the print data assigned to each print head. A dot printer having a control device for controlling the head reciprocating means, wherein the mounting pitch of n print heads with respect to the head reciprocating means can be mounted at an L / n pitch with respect to the entire print digit width L, and can be any L / n or less. The head reciprocating means is provided with mounting means that can be mounted at the pitch m, and the setting value of the control device having the print data distribution function is changed to distribute the print data according to the mounting pitch of the hammer. The switching of the mounting pitch of the print head and the switching of the print data distribution function can be changed depending on the width of the printing paper used in the digit direction and the print load of each print head. Dot printer characterized by. 2. A single print head reciprocating means,
The n print heads are mounted at a pitch of L / n with respect to the entire print digit width L, and the print areas of the L / n width allocated to the print heads are printed in parallel by at least all print heads. It has a print data distribution function for distributing print data of print digit width L to each print head, and determines and controls the reciprocating stroke of the print head reciprocating means from the width in the digit direction of the print data assigned to each print head. A dot printer provided with a control device for controlling the print head reciprocating means, wherein the print head reciprocating means can be mounted at a pitch of L / n with respect to a total print digit width L, and can be mounted at an arbitrary pitch of L / n or less. The print head reciprocating means is provided with mounting means capable of mounting at a pitch m of
By changing the setting value of the controller that has the print data distribution function, if the mounting pitch of the print head is L / n, the print data of the entire print digit width L can be changed to L / n width for n print heads. When the print data is distributed in equal parts and the print head mounting pitch is m, the print data of all print digit width L is printed from 1 to (n-1) th from the print start digit side. The print data of each area width m is distributed to the head from the print start digit side, and the n-th print head is
It is possible to switch the function of distributing the print data of the remaining area width L- (n-1) m, and to switch the mounting pitch of the print head and the switch of the print data distribution function, which are mainly used for the digits of the printing paper. A dot printer characterized in that the setting can be changed depending on the width in the direction and the print load of each print head. 3. The maximum temperature of each print head within a fixed period,
3. The dot printer according to claim 1, further comprising a control circuit for counting the cumulative number of shots for each print head.