JPH08318632A - Wire dot printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make a printed result readable even if a pin of a driving element has broken by a method wherein OR of dot data of the broken pin-driving element and an alternative driving element is calculated based on outputs from a broken pin-driving element and an alternative driving element selector, and the result is output to the alternative driving element. CONSTITUTION: A driving period-detector 16a detects a driving period between the release of an armature and the strike of the tip of a printing pin on to a printing medium according to output pulses of a sensor circuit 8. A broken pin-driving element detector 16b compares the driving period detected by the driving period detector 16a with the contents of a standard driving period recorder 17a to detect a driving element for a broken pin. An alternative driving element selector 16c selects a driving element adjacent to the broken pin-driving element as an alternative driving element based on outputs of the broken pin- driving element detector 16b. Further, the logical OR of dot data of the broken pin-driving element and the alternative driving element is calculated, and the result is output to the alternative driving element.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a wire dot printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a wire dot printer has a print head having a plurality of drive elements having print pins, a print head moving mechanism for reciprocating the print head in the line direction, and a print sheet in the line direction. A sheet feeding mechanism unit for moving in the column direction intersecting at right angles is provided, and the driving element is driven based on the dot data, and the leading end portion of the printing pin collides with the printing sheet for printing.

[0003]

In the conventional wire dot printer, since the print head is open-loop controlled, the drive element drives even if the print pin is broken, and drives the pin to break. The print area of the element is not printed,
In an extreme case, there is a problem that the printed result is unreadable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a wire dot printer in which the printed result can be read even if the driving element has a pin break.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, in a wire dot printer of the present invention, a sensor circuit for outputting the displacement until the tip portion of the printing pin collides with the printing paper by a pulse, and the sensor thereof. Drive time detection means for inputting the output of the circuit to detect the drive time of the print pin, standard drive time storage means for storing the drive time of the drive element that does not cause pin breakage, output of the drive time detection means and standard Pin break driving element detection means for detecting a pin break driving element by comparing with the content of the driving time storage means, and alternative driving of a drive element adjacent to the pin break driving element based on the output of the pin break driving element detecting means Alternate drive element selection means for selecting an element, and dot data of the pin break drive element based on the output of the pin break drive element detection means and the output of the alternative drive element selection means. Dottode of alternative drive element - motor and Dottode pin break driving elements with taking the logical sum and outputs the result to the alternate driving elements - de converted without data - - the data de and a data conversion unit.

Further, in order to achieve the same object, in the second wire dot printer of the present invention, a sensor circuit for outputting the displacement until the tip portion of the printing pin collides with the printing paper by a pulse, and the sensor circuit thereof. Driving time detection means for detecting the driving time of the print pin by inputting the output of the above, standard driving time storage means for storing the driving time of the driving element that does not cause pin breakage, output of the driving time detection means and standard driving Pin break driving element detecting means for detecting a pin breaking driving element by comparing with the contents of the time storage means, and alternative driving element selecting means for selecting an alternative driving element based on the output of the pin breaking driving element detecting means, Based on the output of the pin break drive element detection means and the output of the alternative drive element selection means, the paper feeding mechanism unit positions the alternative drive element in the print area of the pin break drive element. And alternative drive element positioning means for,
Based on the output of the pin break driving element detecting means and the output of the alternative driving element selecting means, the dot data of the pin breaking driving element is changed to the dot data of the alternative driving element and the data other than the dot data of the alternative driving element is changed. A data converting means for converting without a data, and a print head two-pass driving means for driving the print head moving mechanism based on the output of the data converting means.

[0007]

When a drive signal based on the dot data is applied to the drive element of the wire dot printer constructed as described above, the pin breakage drive element detecting means outputs the output of the drive time detecting means and the contents of the standard drive time storing means. And the pin break drive element is detected, and the alternative drive element selection means selects the drive element adjacent to the pin break drive element as the alternative drive element based on the output of the pin break drive element detection means, and performs data conversion. Means performs an OR operation of the dot data of the pin break drive element and the dot data of the alternative drive element based on the output of the pin break drive element detection means and the output of the alternative drive element selection means, and substitutes the result. Since the dot data of the pin break driving element is converted into data without outputting it to the element, the printing result can be read even if the driving element has a pin break.

Similarly, the pin breakage drive element detection means detects the pin breakage drive element by comparing the output of the drive time detection means with the contents of the standard drive time storage means, and the alternate drive element selection means is detected by the pin breakage drive element. A drive element adjacent to the pin break drive element is selected as an alternative drive element based on the output of the detection means, and the alternative drive element positioning means is based on the output of the pin break drive element detection means and the output of the alternative drive element selection means. The paper feed mechanism positions the alternative drive element in the print area of the pin break drive element, and the data conversion means drives the pin break based on the output of the pin break drive element detection means and the output of the alternative drive element selection means. The dot data of the element is used as the dot data of the alternative drive element, and the data other than the dot data of the alternative drive element is converted into the data-less, and the print head two-pass drive means outputs the data. Since driving a print head moving mechanism unit based on the output of the conversion means, it is printed normally even drive elements cause broken pins.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Elements common to the drawings are given the same reference numerals.

First Embodiment FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the construction of a wire dot printer apparatus according to the first embodiment, FIG. 3 is a plan view of a printing mechanism, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. It is a perspective view.

The wire dot printer device 1 includes a control unit 2,
A print head 3, a spacing motor 4, a line feed motor 6, a sensor electrode 7 provided inside the print head 3, a sensor circuit 8, a head driver 10 for driving a head coil 9 of the print head 3, and a spacing motor. Operation for inputting operation signals to the motor drivers 11 and 12 respectively driving the motor 4 and the line feed motor 6, the centro interface 13 connected to a host device (not shown), the home sensor 14, and the controller 2. It consists of a switch 15.

A spacing motor 4 is a drive source of a print head moving mechanism for reciprocating the print head 3 in the direction of arrow AB, which is the line direction, and the line feed motor 6 includes the platen 5 as shown in FIG. It is a drive source of a paper feeding mechanism unit for rotating the printing paper in the column direction perpendicular to the line direction by rotating the printing paper in the arrow direction as shown in FIG.

The control unit 2 includes a central processing unit 16 (hereinafter CPU
16), a read only memory 17 (hereinafter referred to as ROM 17) as a main storage device, a random access memory 18 (hereinafter referred to as RAM 18), a host device and the CPU 1.
Interface LSI 19 and CPU 16 for connecting to
And a microcomputer composed of an interface LSI 20 for connecting the above-mentioned respective mechanisms and circuits.

The ROM 17 stores a control program, character fonts, standard drive time, etc., and the RAM 18 receives data from the host device and dot data developed so that the print head 3 can print the received data. Data and data related to control processing are stored. The standard drive time is the drive time until the armature of the drive element that does not cause print pin breakage is released and the tip of the print pin collides with the print medium. Used when detecting.

The CPU 16 has bus lines 21, 22, 23.
ROM 29, RAM 30, interface LS via
It is connected to I19 and I20. Interface LSI1
9 has a centro interface 13 connected by a line 24.

The interface LSI 20 has a sensor circuit 8, a head driver 10, motor drivers 12 and 13,
The home sensor 14 and the operation switch 15 have lines 24 to 2
It is connected with 9. The spacing motor 4, the line feed motor 6, the sensor electrode 7, and the head coil 9 are connected to the motor driver 11, the motor driver 12, the sensor circuit 8, and the head driver 10 by lines 30 to 33, respectively. . Stepping motors are used for the spacing motor 4 and the line feed motor 6.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the basic configuration of the first embodiment according to the present invention. Drive time detecting means 16
The reference character a detects the driving time from the output of the sensor circuit 8 until the armature is released and the tip of the print pin collides with the print medium. The pin breakage drive element detection means 16b detects the pin breakage drive element by comparing the drive time detected by the drive time detection means 16a with the contents of the standard drive time storage means 17a. The alternative drive element selection means 16c selects the drive element adjacent to the pin break drive element as the alternative drive element based on the output of the pin break drive element detection means 16b.

The data converting means 16d reads the dot data in the column direction from the dot data storing means 18a,
Based on the output of the pin breakage drive element detection means 16b and the output of the alternative drive element selection means 16c, the dot data of the pin breakage drive element and the dot data of the alternative drive element are OR-operated, and the result is replaced by the alternative drive. The dot data of the pin break driving element is output to the print head 3 with no data.

The above-mentioned means are the CPU 16 and the ROM 1
7 and can be realized by the control unit 2 having the RAM 18.

The print head 3 and the sensor circuit 8 are mounted on a carriage frame 34 which constitutes a print head moving mechanism as shown in FIG. Carriage frame 3
4 is a guide shaft 35 on one end side where the print head 3 is provided.
Slidably mounted on the other end of the guide shaft 36
It is slidably mounted on the. The guide shafts 35 and 36 are supported in parallel with the side frames 37 and 38. A platen 5 is axially supported on the side frames 37 and 38 in parallel with the guide shafts 35 and 36. The side frames 37 and 38 are erected on a base plate (not shown).

An endless toothed belt 39 is fixed to the carriage frame 34.
Is attached to a toothed pulley 41 provided on the side frame 37 and a toothed pulley 42 provided on the spacing motor 4 via a bracket 40. The spacing motor 4 is provided on the side frame 38 via a bracket 43. A home sensor 14 for detecting the home position of the print head 3 is provided on the base plate.
As shown in FIG. 4, the sensor lever 44 provided on the carriage frame 34 detects the light emitted from the light emitting element to the light receiving element.

The CPU 16 outputs the required number of pulses to drive the spacing motor 4, and the carriage frame 34.
Is moved in the direction of arrow AB. And home sensor 1
The spacing signal 4 is stopped by the output signal of 4 to position the print head 3 at the home position. Therefore, the print position can be detected by the number of pulses output from the CPU 16.

FIG. 5 is a half sectional view showing the structure of the print head. FIG. 6 is a front view of the printed circuit board for sensor electrodes, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the sensor section. The print head 3 has a permanent plate 51 and a base plate 5 on one plate surface of the base plate 50.
2, a spacer 53, a biasing leaf spring 54, an armature yoke 55, a sensor electrode printed circuit board 56 provided with the sensor electrode 7, etc. are sequentially laminated, and further a base plate 5 is formed.
A cap 57 is arranged on the other plate surface side of 0 and a wire guide frame 58 is arranged on the sensor electrode printed circuit board 56 side and fixed by a clamp 59.

The biasing leaf spring 54 has a tongue piece 54a extending radially toward the center portion, and an armature 60 is fixed to the tongue piece 54a. The base of the print pin 61 is fixed to the tip of the armature 60, and the tip 61a of the print pin 61 is guided toward the platen 5 by the guide 58a of the wire guide frame 58. A core 62 is erected on the other plate surface of the base plate 50 so as to face the armature 60, and a bobbin 64 around which the head coil 9 is wound is mounted on the core 62. On the other plate surface side of the base plate 50, a print head driving printed circuit board 65 is provided so as to be covered with a cap 57. The lead portion 9a of the head coil 9 is connected to the print board 65 for driving the print head.

When not energized, the armature 60 is the permanent magnet 5
1, base plate 52, spacer 53, armature yoke 5
5, armature 60, core 62, base plate 50
The magnetic flux of the permanent magnet 51 passing through is attracted to the core 62. Therefore, the tongue piece 54a of the bias leaf spring 54 is bent in a cantilever manner, and the tip end portion 61a of the print pin 61 is retracted into the guide 58a.

When energized, the head coil 9 has a permanent magnet 51.
Since the magnetic flux is generated so as to cancel the magnetic flux of, the armature 60 is released from the core 62 by the bias leaf spring 54. The tip portion 61a of the printing pin 61 is a guide 58.
The printing operation is performed by moving toward the platen 5 along a.

As shown in FIG. 6, sensor electrodes 7 are radially provided on the printed circuit board 56 for sensor electrodes so as to face the armature 60, and a pattern extending from the sensor electrodes 7 is provided.
Is connected to the connector terminal 67. The sensor electrode printed circuit board 56 is connected to the adjacent sensor circuit 8 via a connector (not shown), and as shown in FIG. 7, the armature 60 is operated by an electrostatic charge between the armature 60 and the sensor electrode 7. It is captured as a change in capacitance and output to the sensor circuit 8.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view (1) showing the state in the sensor circuit in the case where there is no pin breakage, (A), (B),
(C) is a sensor circuit input section, a differential circuit output section,
The state at the comparator output section is shown. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in the sensor circuit when there is a pin break, and (A), (B), and (C) are a sensor circuit input unit, a differential circuit output unit, and a sensor circuit output unit, respectively. Shows the state of. The capacitance increases as the gap between the armature 60 and the sensor electrode 7 becomes smaller. In the sensor circuit 8, a change in capacitance is converted into a change in voltage as shown in FIGS. 8 (A) and 9 (A) and passed through a differentiating circuit to show in FIGS. 8 (B) and 9 (B). Thus, the voltage is output to the comparator as a voltage proportional to the amount of change in speed. The comparator compares the offset reference voltage with the reference voltage and outputs a voltage corresponding to only the displacement of the armature 60 to the controller 2 as a pulse, as shown in FIGS. 8 (C) and 9 (C).

The control unit 2 captures the pulse width times T1 and T2 as the drive time until the tip portion 61a of the print pin 61 collides with the print medium. Then, in advance, the pulse width time T1
Is stored in the ROM 17 as the standard driving time T1. If the print pin 61 is broken, the mass is reduced by the amount of the break. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9B, the input waveform of the differentiating circuit has no pin break.
Compared to (B), the rising and falling are faster and the damping is faster. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9 (C), the control unit 2 inputs a pulse shorter than that in FIG. 8 (C) from the comparator, so that it is compared with the standard drive time T1 stored in the ROM 17. It is possible to detect whether or not the print pin 61 is broken.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the operation of the first embodiment.

When the power switch is turned on, the CPU 16
Initializes the wire dot printer device 1 and puts it in a printable state.

In step S1, the CPU 16 receives data from the host device through the centro interface 13. In step S2, the CPU 16 develops the received data into a form that can be printed by the print head 3 and stores it in the RAM 18.
In step S3, the CPU 16 determines whether or not the print data for one line is complete. If complete, the process proceeds to step S4, and if not, the process proceeds to step S1. CPU16 in step S4
Is a motor driver 1 through the interface LSI 20.
An instruction to drive the spacing motor 4 is output to 1.
In step S5, the CPU 16 reads out dot data for one column (# 1 pin to # 9 pin) from the RAM 18 and sets it in the print head 3 through the interface LSI 20 and the head driver 10.

In step S6, the CPU 16 makes an interface.
The print head 3 is driven through the LSI 20 and the head driver 10. At this time, the drive time of each drive element is detected and stored in the RAM 18. CPU16 in step S7
Reads the standard drive time from ROM17 and RAM18
The drive times of the respective drive elements are read out from and compared with each other to determine whether or not there is a drive element causing a pin break. If there is, a pin number n (hereinafter referred to as #n) of the pin break drive element is stored in the RAM 18. Then, the process proceeds to step S9, and if not, the process proceeds to step S8. In step S8, the CPU 16 determines whether or not the printing for one line is completed. If it is completed, the printing process is stopped, and if not, the process proceeds to step S5. In step S9, the CPU 16 reads the #n of the drive element causing the pin break from the RAM 18 and determines whether it is an end pin. If it is an end pin, the process proceeds to step S11, and if not, the process proceeds to step S10.

In step S10, the CPU 16 reads the dot data for one column from the RAM 18, and the #n pin and #
Do the OR operation of the dot data with the (n-1) pin and #
Dot data for (n-1) pins, and pins # 1 to # (n
-2) Pins and the dot data of pins # (n + 1) to # 9 are left as they are and set on the print head 3 through the interface LSI 20 and the head driver 10.
In step S14, the CPU 16 causes the interface LSI 2
0, the print head 3 is driven through the head driver 10. In step S15, the CPU 16 determines whether or not the printing for one line is completed. If completed, the process proceeds to step S17, and if not, the process proceeds to step S16. CPU16 in step S16
Reads the next dot data for one column from the RAM 18 and moves to step S10.

In step S17, the CPU 16 makes an interface.
An instruction to stop the spacing motor 4 is output to the motor driver 11 through the monitor LSI 20 to stop the printing process. In step S11, the CPU 16 determines whether or not #n is the # 1 pin. If it is the # 1 pin, the process proceeds to step S12, and if not, the process proceeds to step S13. In step S12, the CPU 16 sets R
The dot data for one column read in step S5 from the AM 18 is read again, the dot data of the # 1 pin and the # 2 pin are logically ORed to form the dot data of the # 2 pin, and the # 3 pin to the # 9 pin While keeping the dot data as it is, it is set on the print head 3 through the interface LSI 20 and the head driver 10, and the process proceeds to step S14.
In step S13, the CPU 16 reads the RAM 18 from step S13.
The dot data for one column read in step 5 is read again, and the dot data of # 8 pin and # 9 pin is ORed to obtain the dot data of # 8 pin, and the dot data of # 1 pin to # 7 pin is read. Interface LS
The print head 3 is set through I20 and the head driver 10, and the process proceeds to step S14.

In the present embodiment, the CPU 16 reads the dot data for one column from the RAM 18 in step S10,
The dot data of the #n pin and the # (n-1) pin is ORed to obtain the dot data of the # (n-1) pin, and the # 1 pin to the # (n-2) pin and the # (n + 1) pin are calculated. ~ Although the dot data of # 9 pin is left unchanged, the dot data of #n pin and # (n + 1) pin is logically ORed to #
Dot data for (n + 1) pins, # 1 to # (n
The dot data of the -1) pin and the # (n + 2) pin to the # 9 pin may be left unchanged. 10 (a) is #
FIG. 10 is an example diagram in which 5 pins are broken and printing is performed by replacing # 4 pin, and FIG. 10B is an example diagram in which # 5 pins are broken and printing is performed by changing # 6 pin.

According to the first embodiment, the dot data of the pin break driving element and the dot data of the alternative driving element are ORed and output to the alternative driving element, and the dot data of the pin breaking driving element is obtained. Since the data is converted and printed without data, the time required for the printing process is almost the same as that without pin breakage.

Second Embodiment FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram showing the basic structure of the second embodiment according to the present invention. The configuration of the second embodiment is largely different from the configuration of the first embodiment in that an alternative drive element positioning means 16e and a print head two-pass drive means 16f are provided. That is, the drive time detecting means 16a detects the drive time from the output pulse of the sensor circuit 8 until the armature is released and the tip of the print pin collides with the print medium. The pin breakage drive element detecting means 16b is the drive time detected by the drive time detecting means 16a and the standard drive time storing means 1
The pin break driving element is detected by comparing with the contents of 7a.
The alternative drive element selection means 16c selects an alternative drive element based on the output of the pin breakage drive element detection means 16b.

The alternative drive element positioning means 16e drives the line feed motor 6 of the paper feeding mechanism section based on the output of the pin break drive element detection means 16b and the output of the alternative drive element selection means 16c to perform the alternative drive. Position the element in the print area of the pin break drive element. Data conversion means 16
Reference numeral d denotes the dot data in the column direction read from the dot data storage means 18a, and the pin breakage drive element detection means 16b.
And the output of the alternative drive element selecting means 16c, the dot data of the pin break drive element is used as the dot data of the alternative drive element, and then the data other than the dot data of the alternative drive element is converted to no data. . Print head 2 pass driving means 1
6f drives the spacing motor 4 of the print head moving mechanism based on the output of the data converting means 16d. Each unit described above can be realized by the control unit 2 including the CPU 16, the ROM 17, and the RAM 18.

The construction of the wire dot printer and the construction of the printing mechanism of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment. Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. Steps S1 to S6 are the same as in the first embodiment.

In step S7, the CPU 16 determines whether or not one line of dot data has been printed, and if so, the printing process is stopped, and if not, the process proceeds to step S8. In step S8, the CPU 16 reads the standard drive time from the ROM 17, reads the drive time of each drive element from the RAM 18, and compares the drive times to determine whether there is a drive element causing a pin break. If yes, the pin break drive is performed. Device pin number n
(Hereinafter referred to as #n) is stored in the RAM 18 and step S
If not, go to step S5. Step S9
Then the CPU 16 uses the RAM 18 for one column (# 1 pin-
Read the dot data of # 9 pin). In step S10, the CPU 16 sets the dot data of the #n pin to 0 (dot data).
No pin), # 1 pin to # (n-1) pin and # (n
The dot data of pins +1) to # 9 are left as they are and set on the print head 3 through the interface LSI 20 and the head driver 10.

In step S11, the CPU 16 makes an interface.
The print head 3 is driven through the LSI 20 and the head driver 10. In step S12, the CPU 16 determines whether or not the printing for one line is completed, and if it is completed, step S13.
If no, go to step S9. In step S13, the CPU 16 instructs the motor driver 11 through the interface LSI 20 to stop the driving of the spacing motor 4. In step S14, the CPU 16 reads out #n of the drive element causing the pin break from the RAM 18 and determines whether it is # 1 or not, and if it is # 1, sets the alternative drive element to # 2 and moves to step S15. The element is set to # 1 and the process proceeds to step S22.

In step S15, the CPU 16 makes an interface.
An instruction to drive the line-feed motor 6 is output to the motor driver 12 through the LSI 20 to reverse the line by one dot. In step S16, the CPU 16 outputs a drive command for the second pass to the motor driver 11 through the interface LSI 20. In step S17, the CPU 16 has a RAM
The dot data for one column, which is the same as that of the first pass from 18 is read. In step S18, the CPU 16 sets # 1 dot data to the # 2 drive element and forcibly sets 0 (no dot data) to the other drive elements. In step S19, the CPU 16 drives the print head 3 through the interface LSI 20 and the head driver 10.

In step S20, the CPU 16 determines whether or not the printing for one line is completed. If completed, the process proceeds to step S21, and if not, the process proceeds to step S17. C in step S21
The PU 16 instructs the motor driver 11 through the interface LSI 20 to stop the driving of the spacing motor 4. In step S22, the CPU 16 makes the interface LSI
Line feed mode to motor driver 12 through 20
An instruction for driving the printer 6 is output, line feed is performed for (n-1) dots, and the process proceeds to step S16.

In this embodiment, in step S14, the CPU 16 causes the RAM 18 to drive the pin #n of the drive element causing the pin break.
It is determined whether or not it is # 1, and if it is # 1, the alternative drive element is set to # 2 and the process proceeds to step S15. If not, the alternative drive element is set to # 1 and the process proceeds to step S22. If there is no driving element, any driving element may be used as the alternative driving element.

According to the second embodiment, by providing the alternative drive element positioning means, it is possible to obtain the same printing as in the state without pin breakage. Also, even if multiple pins are broken, the line feel
Since the printing paper can be moved in the column direction by driving the motor, the multi-pass printing can be used together to cope with the breakage of a plurality of pins.

[0048]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects.

The pin break driving element detecting means detects the pin break driving element, the alternative driving element selecting means selects the driving element adjacent to the pin breaking driving element as the alternative driving element, and the data converting means drives the pin breaking driving. The dot data of the element and the dot data of the alternative drive element are ORed, the result is output to the alternative drive element, and the dot data of the pin break drive element is converted to no data. Due to
Even if the drive element causes a pin break, the print head prints so that the print result can be read.

Similarly, the pin breakage drive element detection means detects the pin breakage drive element, the alternative drive element selection means selects the alternative drive element of the pin breakage drive element, and the alternative drive element positioning means is the paper feeding mechanism section. The alternate drive element is positioned in the print area of the pin break drive element by the data conversion means, and the data conversion means inputs the pin break drive element detection means and the alternative drive element selection means to drive the dot data of the pin break drive element In addition to the dot data of the element, the data other than the dot data of the alternative driving element is converted into no data, and the print head two-pass driving means drives the print head moving mechanism based on the output of the data converting means. Therefore, even if the drive element causes pin breakage, the print head can perform normal printing without pin breakage.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a basic configuration of a first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a wire dot printer device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a printing mechanism.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X-X of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a half sectional view showing a configuration of a print head.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a printed circuit board for sensor electrodes.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a sensor unit.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram (1) showing a state in the sensor circuit.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram (2) showing a state in the sensor circuit.

FIG. 10 is an example diagram showing an example of printing due to pin breakage.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram showing a basic configuration of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 8 sensor circuit 16a drive time detection means 16b pin break drive element detection means 16c alternative drive element selection means 16d data conversion processing means 16e alternative drive element positioning means 16f print head two-pass drive means 17a standard drive time storage means 18a drive data -Data storage means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A print head having a plurality of drive elements each having a print pin, a print head moving mechanism for reciprocating the print head in the line direction, and a print sheet moving in a column direction intersecting the line direction at right angles. In a wire dot printer that is equipped with a paper feed mechanism that drives the drive element based on dot data and collides the tip of the print pin with the print sheet for printing, the tip of the print pin is printed on the print sheet. A sensor circuit that outputs the displacement until a collision as a pulse, a drive time detection unit that inputs the output of the sensor circuit to detect the drive time of the print pin, and the drive time of the drive element that does not cause pin breakage are stored A pin break drive element for detecting a pin break drive element by comparing the output of the drive time detection means with the contents of the standard drive time storage means Output means, alternative drive element selection means for selecting a drive element adjacent to the pin break drive element as an alternative drive element based on the output of the pin break drive element detection means, output of the pin break drive element detection means and alternative drive Based on the output of the element selecting means, the dot data of the pin break driving element and the dot data of the alternative driving element are ORed to output the result to the alternative driving element and the dot data of the pin breaking driving element. And a data converting means for converting the data into a wire dot printer. 2. A print head having a plurality of drive elements having print pins, a print head moving mechanism for reciprocating the print head in the line direction, and a print sheet moving in a column direction intersecting the line direction at right angles. In a wire dot printer that is equipped with a paper feed mechanism that drives the drive element based on dot data and collides the tip of the print pin with the print sheet for printing, the tip of the print pin is printed on the print sheet. A sensor circuit that outputs the displacement until a collision as a pulse, a drive time detection unit that inputs the output of the sensor circuit to detect the drive time of the print pin, and the drive time of the drive element that does not cause pin breakage are stored A pin break drive element for detecting a pin break drive element by comparing the output of the drive time detection means with the contents of the standard drive time storage means Output means, alternative drive element selection means for selecting an alternative drive element based on the output of the pin break drive element detection means, and the above based on the output of the pin break drive element detection means and the output of the alternative drive element selection means. Alternate drive element positioning means for positioning the alternate drive element in the print area of the pin fracture drive element by the paper feed mechanism section, and pin break drive based on the output of the pin break drive element detection means and the output of the alternate drive element selection means Based on the output of the data conversion means and the data conversion means for converting the dot data of the element to the dot data of the alternative drive element and converting the data other than the dot data of the alternative drive element to no data. A wire dot printer, comprising: a print head two-pass drive means for driving the print head moving mechanism section.