JPH10287029A - Apparatus for detecting state of printer apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To turn OFF a light-emitting element when a state detection is not necessary, thereby increasing a life of the element, by detecting a recording medium by an optical detecting means in a predetermined set time, and turning off a power source for the light-emitting element of the optical detecting means when the recording medium is not set in a printer apparatus. SOLUTION: When a state detection is completed, a control part 3 resets flags corresponding to photosensors S1 -Sn of a memory means 5 to '0' and transmits all flags held in the memory means 5 to an operation part 4. The operation part 4 performs an OR to values of the flags, and the control part 3 reads an output of the operation part 4, i.e., a result of the OR. If the output is '0', the control part 3 judges that the state detection by all photosensors S1 -Sn is not conducted, and turns off a power source switch 1. Accordingly, LEDs of all the photosensors S1 -Sn connected to the power source switch 1 are turned off. When the output is '1', the LEDs are kept ON.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a state detecting device provided with an optical detecting means for detecting various states in a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A printer device has a state detecting device for detecting a state such as presence or absence of a set recording medium and a position of a print head. The state detection device includes a plurality of optical detection means, that is, photosensors installed near each detection target, and detects the state of the target based on an output from each photosensor. That is, the state detection device detects whether or not the printer is in a printable state by reading the output of each photosensor at a predetermined time interval by a request for status information from the host or a timer. Here, the photosensor receives light from a light-emitting element such as an LED by a light-receiving element such as a phototransistor, and determines whether a current generated according to the amount of received light exceeds or does not exceed a predetermined threshold. Is to determine the presence or absence of

[0003]

However, in the conventional printer device, the light emitting element of the photo sensor is kept on while the power of the printer device is turned on even when the state detection by the photo sensor is not necessary. Is lit. As a result, there is a problem that the light emitting element is easily deteriorated and the life of the photo sensor is shortened. That is, when the light emitting element is deteriorated and its light emission amount is reduced, even when the detection target is not on the optical path of the photo sensor,
A current exceeding a predetermined threshold cannot be obtained on the light receiving element side, and the photo sensor does not function properly.

On the other hand, a method is also conceivable in which a switch is provided for each photosensor, and the power of the photosensors that do not need to be detected is turned off to extend the life of the light emitting element. However, in this case, a switch is required for each photosensor, which increases the cost of the printer device and complicates the control thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a state detecting device for a printer, which can turn off the light emitting element when the state detection is not necessary, and extend the life of the light emitting element.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple state detecting device which can turn on / off the power of a plurality of the optical detecting means with only one switch means.

[0007]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a state detecting apparatus for detecting whether a recording medium is set in a printer based on the amount of light received by a light receiving element. There is provided switch means for turning on or off the power of the light emitting element of the detection means, and control means for controlling the switch means. The control means detects the recording medium by the optical detection means at predetermined time intervals, and when the recording medium is not set in the printer device, switches the switch means to switch the light emitting element of the optical detection means. Turn off the power.

The specific control by the control means is executed according to the following procedure. That is, after the power supply of the printer device is turned on, the state where the power supply of the light emitting element of the optical detection means is off is maintained. When the state detection of the recording medium by the optical detection means is required, for example, when a status request or a print request of the printer device is sent from the host to the printer device, the following steps are performed at predetermined time intervals. It is repeated sequentially. That is, the step of turning on the power of the light emitting element of the optical detection means to detect the state of the recording medium, the step of determining the result of the state detection, and the step of turning off the power of the light emitting element of the optical detection means Repeated.

In the step of judging the result of the state detection, if it is judged that the recording medium is set in the printer device, the process exits the above-mentioned repetition step, and
And performing a printing process on the recording medium. As a result,
The light emitting element of the optical detection means is turned on only when the recording medium is detected, and is turned off when the detection is not necessary, so that the light emitting element is hardly deteriorated.

In the control of the state detecting device, the present invention further includes a step of continuously detecting the state of the recording medium for a predetermined time after exiting the repeating step, and as a result of the detection, the recording medium Turning off the power supply of the light emitting element of the optical detection means when it is determined that the light detection element is set in the printer device. The present invention is also applied to a state detection device having a plurality of optical detection means for detecting various states in a printer device. The state detection device of the present invention has one switch means for turning on / off the power of the plurality of optical detection means. By the switching of the switch means, the light emitting elements of all the optical detection means are turned on or off.

[0011] The state detection device is further provided with storage means, calculation means and control means. The storage means holds the state of a flag set for each optical detection means depending on whether the detection of the state by each of the optical detection means is necessary. The state of this flag is set when it is necessary to perform state detection by the optical detection means, such as a request for status information from the host or state detection at predetermined time intervals, and when the state detection based on these requests is completed. Is reset to For example, the storage means may be configured to hold the flag state "1" when the state detection needs to be performed, and to hold the flag state "0" when the detection is no longer necessary. Can be.

The calculating means calculates the logical sum of the states of the flags held in the storage means and outputs the result to the control means.
The control means switches the switch means according to the result of the logical sum obtained by the calculation means. Therefore, when all the flags held in the storage means are reset (that is, when they are "0"), the logical sum is "0", and the switch means is turned off by the control means. Thereby, the power of all the optical detection means connected to the switch means is turned off.
On the other hand, if any one of the flags is set (that is, if the flag is "1"), the logical sum is "1", the switch means is turned on, and all the optical detection means are turned on. Is turned on.

In the present invention, the storage means, the arithmetic means and the control means can be realized by a known technique capable of realizing the functions. For example, a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), a flip-flop circuit, a magnetic memory, or the like can be employed as the storage unit, and the arithmetic unit and the control unit include, for example, a microprocessor mounted on a printer and a microprocessor. Can be constituted by a program executed by the program.

Although the present invention is not limited by the object detected by the optical detection means, the plurality of optical detection means includes an optical detection means for detecting that a carriage on which a print head is mounted is at a reference position. And an optical detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a recording medium set in the printer device. Here, in the present invention, all the optical detection means mounted on the printer device may be turned on / off by the switch means, or some specific optical detection means may be made the target. .

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a state detection device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram corresponding thereto. In these figures, each photosensor S ₁ to S _n is to carry out a variety of state detection in the printer device, is disposed in the vicinity of each detection target. The target of the state detection by the photo sensor _S 1 to S _n,
For example, detection of various states involving physical changes, such as detection of the presence or absence of a recording medium such as validation paper or roll paper, detection of the home position of the print head, detection of the presence or absence of ink in the cartridge, detection of opening and closing of the outer cover, etc. are considered. Can be Each photosensor S ₁ to S _n are (see FIG. 2) are configured with LED6 and phototransistor 7, a current which is generated in accordance with the received light amount of the phototransistor 7 does not exceed or exceeds a predetermined threshold value Then, the presence or absence of the detection target is determined.

As shown in FIG.
The ED 6 is connected to one power switch 1. Therefore, all the LEDs 6 connected to the power switch 1
Is turned on or off by switching the power switch 1. The switching of the power switch 1 is performed by a microprocessor 2 built in the printer device. The microprocessor 2 includes a control unit 3 and a calculation unit 4, and the control unit 3 switches the power switch 1 based on a calculation result of the calculation unit 4. The operation unit 4 executes a logical sum operation on the flag in the storage unit 5 connected to the microprocessor 2 with respect to the control of the power switch 1.

The storage means 5 stores each of the photosensors S _1.
To S _n depending on whether it is necessary to detect the state by,
State of the flag to be set for each photosensor S ₁ to S _n is held. Specifically, the state to the storage unit 5, when each photosensor _S 1 to S _n are necessary state detection by the flag "1" is written, also, by each photosensor _S 1 to S _n When the detection is completed and the state detection becomes unnecessary, a flag “0” is written. For example, when there is a request for status information from the host side, by the respective photosensors S ₁ to S _n, the presence or absence of validation paper, the presence or absence of ink, performs detection of such closed state of the outer cover, the host side and the results Need to be sent to At the time when the status request from the host is transmitted to the printer, the flags corresponding to the photosensors installed on the respective detection targets are set to “1” and held in the storage unit 5. On the other hand, when the detection by the photosensors S ₁ to S _n ends, the flag corresponding to each photosensor is reset to "0". Each flag held in the storage means 5 is independently rewritten according to the presence or absence of the corresponding state detection.

The microprocessor 2 includes a storage unit 5
Are read out, and the arithmetic unit 4 calculates the logical sum of them. Here, the OR has two or more inputs and one output, and one of the inputs is "
It outputs "1" when it is "1", and outputs "0" otherwise, so that one of the flags held in the storage means 5 is set to "1". In this case, the arithmetic unit 4 outputs “1” to the control unit 3. On the other hand, if all the flags are “0”, the arithmetic unit 4 outputs “0”. The OR operation can be performed each time any of the flags in the storage unit 5 is rewritten, but it is also possible to control the operation to be performed at a predetermined time interval by a timer independently of the rewriting of the flags. it can.

The control unit 3 controls the power switch 1 of the LED according to the result of the logical operation. That is, when “1” is output from the arithmetic unit 4, the control unit 3 turns on the power switch 1 so that the LED is turned on, and when “0” is output from the arithmetic unit 4, The power switch 1 is turned off so that the LED is turned off.

Next, the flow of control in the state detection device will be described with reference to FIG. When a request for detecting the condition of the subject from the host side is given to the printer side, the flag of the storage means 5 corresponding to the photosensor S ₁ to S _n for the target is set to "1" ( S301).
Then whether LED of the photo sensor _S 1 to S _n is lit is determined (S302), when the LED is off at that time, the power switch 1 is turned on, LE
D is turned on (S303). When the LED is turned on, the state is detected by the photo sensor (S304),
The result is notified to the host (S305).

When the state detection is completed, the control unit 3 resets the flag corresponding to the photo sensor in the storage unit 5 to “0”, and transmits all the flags held in the storage unit 5 to the arithmetic unit 4. (S306). Arithmetic unit 4
Performs a logical OR operation on the values of these flags (S30).
7). Controller 3 determines that the read result in the form of the output of the arithmetic unit 4 of the logical sum, when the output value is "0", is not performed state detection by all of the photo sensor S ₁ to S _n Then, the power switch 1 is turned off (S309). Thus, LE all photosensors _S 1 to S _n which is connected to the power switch 1
D is turned off. If the output value of the arithmetic unit 4 is “1”, it means that any state detection has been performed (S
(NO in 308), the state where the power switch 1 is on is maintained, and the LED remains lit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the state of the power switch 1 with respect to the necessity of the state detection by the photosensors S _{1 to} S ₃ . Here, three photo sensors S _{1 to} S ₃
The case where the state detection is performed by using is described as an example. In the figure, a line segment 10 indicates a period during which state detection is required by each of the photosensors S _{1 to} S ₃ . Start point A of each line segment 10
Thus, the state detection by each photo sensor is required, and the corresponding flag in the storage means 5 is set to "1". Next, considering the case where the state detection by each of the photo sensors S _{1 to} S ₃ is completed, at the point B where the detection by the photo sensor S ₁ is completed, the state detection by the photo sensor S ₂ is performed. Are maintained at "1". Therefore, the logical sum of the flags becomes "1", and the power switch 1 is kept on.

[0023] However, in the point C is detected by the photo sensor _{S 2} has been completed, the flag is reset to "0", the other photosensors _S 1, the flag of _{S 3} also "
Since it is "0", its logical sum becomes "0" and the power switch 1 is turned off.
This state is maintained until the state detection by ₃ is performed. Similarly in the point D where the state detection completed by the photo sensor S _3, the logical sum of the flag is "0",
The power switch 1 is turned off.

In the above-described embodiment, the state detection device of the present invention is configured to include the arithmetic unit 4 and the storage unit 5 of the microprocessor 2 built in the printer.
However, according to the present invention, the function of holding the flag in the storage means 5 is provided by an output port,
A well-known logical operation element having a function of performing a logical sum operation in
For example, each can be realized by an OR gate.

That is, the input / output port (I / O port)
A microprocessor 2, between the input and output apparatus including a power switch 1 is for transmitting and receiving data and control signals, after setting the output port, the corresponding to the photosensors S ₁ to S _n If the output state is output, the state is latched. The latch is a storage unit 5 configured by a flip-flop circuit, and can hold the state of the flag at that time. Therefore, if the signal from the output port is input to the OR gate and the output thereof is used to control the power switch 1, the present invention can be configured. In addition, as the OR gate, 7
A TTL such as 402 can be used, and a switching transistor can be used as a power switch.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the state detection device includes one photosensor that detects whether the validation paper is set in the printer device. Hereinafter, this is referred to as a validation sensor in the specification. The LED of the validation sensor is provided with another power switch (not shown) different from the power switch 1 for exclusive use, and when the power switch is turned on or off,
The LED is turned on or off independently of the LED of another photo sensor. The switching of the power switch is controlled by the control unit 3 of the microprocessor 2.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the control of the validation sensor. The procedure for controlling the validation sensor will be described with reference to the drawings. When the printer is powered on, the power switch turns off the LED of the validation sensor (S50).
1). The control unit 3 receives a print request from the host side,
Until it is necessary to detect the validation paper, the other parts of the printer are controlled, for example, printing on roll paper (NO in S502). When the printer waits for insertion after receiving a request for printing on validation paper from the host (YES in S502), the control unit 3 waits at a preset time interval until the validation paper is detected in the processing of S505. , S503 to S507 are repeated.

[0028] In other words, it sets the timer _{T 1} (S5
03) After turning on the power switch to turn on the LED (S504), it is detected whether or not the validation paper is set in the printer (S505). If it is determined that the validation paper is not set as a result of the detection, the power switch is controlled to be turned off, and
The ED is turned off (S506). When the timer _{T 1} is reached in a predetermined time, the timer _{T 1} is reset, the processing is repeated again (S507).

If it is determined in step S505 that the validation paper has been set, the processing exits from the repetition processing and proceeds to the processing of the next block.
₂ is set (S508). Next until the timer _{T 2} has reached the predetermined time, the detection of repetitive validation paper (S509, S510). The reason why the detection of the validation paper is performed continuously for a certain period of time is to cope with a case where the inserted validation paper is pulled out for some reason. If the validation paper has been pulled out, the process returns to the loop from S503 to S507 (S509).

If the validation paper has been set for a certain period of time, the control unit 3 switches the power switch to LE
D is turned off (S511), and the inserted validation paper is nipped by the feed roller to prepare for printing (S512). Next, the host is notified that the preparation for printing is completed, and waits for the print data to be transmitted to the printer (S513). In the above series of processing steps, the LED of the validation sensor is turned on only during detection by the sensor, and is turned off at other times.

Next, the control of the LED during printing on the validation paper will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of LED on / off control during printing. The printing method shown in this flowchart is based on the assumption that printing is performed by a line printer such as an impact dot system or a thermal transfer system, and performs printing one line at a time while sequentially sending validation paper.

The print data is sent from the host, and the first line is printed on the validation paper (S60).
1). When printing of one line is completed, the validation paper is fed by one line by the feed roller (S602). Next, the power switch is switched, the LED of the validation sensor is turned on (S603), and the detection of the validation paper is performed (S604). Here, the validation sensor is installed near the starting end in the feeding direction of the validation paper. When the paper is sequentially fed together with the line-by-line printing and the validation paper deviates from the detection position of the sensor, the control unit 3 completes the printing on the validation paper and needs to insert the next validation paper. Is notified to the host side (S605). When the detection by the validation sensor ends, the control unit 3 turns off the power switch and turns off the LED (S60).
6). The control unit 3 repeats the processes of S601 to S606 until all the print data is printed on the validation paper (S607). By the above control, the LED of the validation sensor is turned on during printing for the time when the detection is performed by the sensor, and is turned off at other times.

As described above, one embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the matters described in the above embodiment, and is described in the claims and the detailed description of the invention. The range in which those skilled in the art can make changes and applications based on well-known techniques is included. For example,
The number of optical detection means to be subjected to the logical sum operation and the type of target state detection are not limited to those described in the above embodiment. In practicing the present invention, a part of the plurality of optical detection means for performing state detection may be a target of the logical sum operation, and the detection means other than the optical detection means may be a target of the logical sum operation. It may be included as a target.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, when it is not necessary to detect the state, the light emitting element of the optical detection means is turned off to suppress its deterioration and extend the life of the optical detection means. it can. In this case, according to the present invention, the above-described effect can be realized without providing a switch for each optical detection unit, so that an increase in the cost of the printer device can be suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a state detection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram of the present invention corresponding to the configuration of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of control in the state detection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the state of a power switch with respect to the necessity of state detection by a photosensor.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of control of a validation sensor in a printing preparation stage.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of control of a validation sensor during printing.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Power switch 2 microprocessor 3 control unit 4 operation unit 5 storing unit 6 LED 7 phototransistor S ₁ to S _n photosensor

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An optical detecting means comprising: a light emitting element and a light receiving element, wherein the optical detecting means detects whether or not a recording medium is set in a printer device based on the amount of light received by the light receiving element. Switch means for turning on or off the power of the light emitting element; detecting the recording medium by the optical detection means at predetermined time intervals; and switching the switch means when the recording medium is not set in the printer. Control means for turning off the power of the light emitting element of the optical detection means. 2. A method for controlling a state detection device having an optical detection means for detecting whether or not a recording medium is set in a printer device, the method comprising the steps of: Maintaining the state in which the power of the element is turned off; and, when the state of the recording medium is required to be detected by the optical detecting means, turning on the power of the light emitting element of the optical detecting means at predetermined time intervals. Detecting the state of the recording medium, determining the result of the state detection, and sequentially turning off the power of the light emitting element of the optical detection means; and determining the result of the state detection. And when the recording medium is determined to be set in the printer device, a step of executing a printing process on the recording medium, bypassing the repetitive steps. A method for controlling a state detection device, comprising: 3. The control method according to claim 2, wherein after the step of repeating, the state of the recording medium is continuously detected for a predetermined time, and as a result of the detection, the recording medium is used in a printer device. And turning off the power supply of the light emitting element of the optical detection means when it is determined that the state is set to (1). 4. A plurality of optical detecting means, comprising a light emitting element and a light receiving element, for detecting various states in the printer device based on the amount of light received by the light receiving element; One switch means for turning on or off a power supply, and the state of a flag set for each optical detection means is held in accordance with whether or not the state detection by each of the optical detection means is necessary. A printer, comprising: a storage unit; an operation unit that obtains a logical sum of states of the flags held in the storage unit; and a control unit that switches the switch unit in accordance with a result of the logical sum. State detection device. 5. The state detecting device for a printer device according to claim 4, wherein the optical detecting means detects that a carriage on which the print head is mounted is at a reference position,
An optical detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a recording medium set in the printer device. 6. A method for controlling a state detection device having a plurality of optical detection means for detecting various states in a printer device, wherein a state detection by each of the optical detection means is necessary. Holding the state of the flag set for each optical detection means, obtaining the logical sum of the held flag states, and the optical detection means according to the result of the logical sum. Controlling the power supply of the light emitting element to ON or OFF.