JPH1044516A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer capable of arbitrarily setting a starting position of next printing when the printing operation is interrupted whereby inhibition is instructed from a print instruction means. SOLUTION: In a body housing 2 of a printer 1, a printing mechanism 10 having a print head 12, a movement quantity detection mechanism 20 having a timing roller 21, a print instruction button 7 that instructs allowance or inhibition of a printing operation and a selection button 8 that selects and sets a reading address of print data are provided. In a RAM, a print data memory that stores the print data and a reading address pointer are provided. When the printing operation is interrupted, a print start address for the next printing can be selected and set from a top address of print lines, the address at the interruption time and a top address of the next print line corresponding to the number of operation times of the selection button 8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for printing by a print head based on the amount of relative movement of a main body case with respect to a recording object, and more particularly to printing of print data not only from a printing start position but also from a printing middle. However, it relates to a device that allows printing to be continued.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing mechanism having a printing head composed of a thermal head is compactly housed in a main body case, held in a substantially vertical position on a recording medium, and manually moved in the printing direction by moving the main body case in a printing direction. There have been proposed various portable small printing apparatuses for printing on a recording medium. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-259973,
In the main body case, a moving amount detecting means for detecting a relative moving amount with respect to the recording medium via the traveling roller, a printing means having a thermal print head, and a pair of a pair of detecting pressing force for pressing the main body case against the recording medium. A pressure sensor and a print start switch for instructing the start of a printing operation are provided.When the print start switch is operated and the main body case is manually moved in the printing direction, Only a hand-movable printing apparatus has been proposed in which print data is printed on a recording medium from the beginning via a thermal print head.

[0003]

As described above, in the manual moving type printing apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-259973, every time the print start switch is operated, the main body case is manually moved in the printing direction. By doing so, one line of print data is printed from the beginning. For example, one line of print data is divided into two parts, the first half and the second half, and printed at different print positions. In this case, first operate the print start switch to print the first half, then stop the print start switch, move the main body case to another print position different from the print position of the first half, and then print. The start switch will be operated,
There is a problem that the latter half cannot be printed.

Therefore, even in the case where the print start switch is operated a plurality of times, print control may be performed so that printing can be continued from the middle of the stopped printing until printing of one line is completed. For example, if only the first half of the print data for one line is repeatedly printed at a plurality of print positions, the second half of the print process is printed on unnecessary paper, and the desired print portion is printed. There is a problem that a printing operation for repeatedly printing becomes complicated. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus capable of arbitrarily setting a start position at which a next printing operation is started when a printing operation is interrupted by an instruction of prohibition from a printing instruction unit.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus comprising:
In a main body case having an opening at the bottom, printing means having a print head, and movement amount detecting means for detecting a relative movement amount with respect to the recording object via a timing roller rotating while contacting the surface of the recording object, A printing device for printing by a printing means by moving in a printing direction, a printing data memory for storing printing data supplied from the outside, a printing instruction means for instructing permission and prohibition of a printing operation by a printing head, During printing by the printing means, based on a signal received from the movement amount detecting means, an address instructing means for instructing a read address for reading out the printing data from the printing data memory, and the printing instructing means instructing the printing during the printing operation. When the printing operation is interrupted, the read address must be at least the start address of the printing line and the address at the time of printing interruption. It is obtained by a selection switch for power selection set.

[0006] The print data memory stores print data supplied from outside for printing. The print instructing means instructs permission and prohibition of the printing operation by the print head. In addition, based on a signal received from the movement amount detecting means, a read address for reading the print data from the print data memory is specified. When the printing is interrupted, a read address by the address designating means is selected and set from at least a head address of a printing line and an address at the time of printing interruption.

That is, when the printing operation is interrupted, the printing start address for the next printing can be selected and set at least from the starting address of the printing line and the address at the time of interrupting the printing. Thus, the next print start position can be easily selected and set.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the selection switch selects and sets a head address of a print line, an address at the time of interruption of printing, and a head address of the next line. . In this case, the selection means can select and set the start address of the print line, the address at the time of interruption of the print, and the start address of the next line. The desired one can be easily selected from the start addresses. The other operations are the same as those of the first aspect.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printer of the second aspect, the selection switch is configured to select and set a read address according to the number of times of operation. In this case, the read address can be selected and set in accordance with the number of operations of the selecting means, so that the next printing start position can be easily selected only by operating the selecting means a plurality of times as necessary. The other operations are the same as those of the second aspect.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the invention, each time a read address is selected and set by a selection switch, print data corresponding to the read address is displayed on the display. And a display control means for performing the operation. In this case, every time the read address is selected and set by the selection switch, the print data corresponding to the read address is displayed on the display, so that the next print start data can be selected easily and easily via the display. Can be set. The other operations are the same as those of the third aspect.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a manually movable printing apparatus having an ink jet printing mechanism. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a manually movable printing apparatus 1 includes a printing mechanism 10 having a print head 12, a movement amount detection mechanism 20, an infrared photodiode 3 that performs optical communication using infrared light, and A control board 30 provided with an infrared light emitting diode 4 and a control device 31 which controls transmission and reception by the diodes 3 and 4 and drives and controls the printing mechanism 10 based on an encoder signal received from the movement amount detecting mechanism 20; A battery 40, which is a rechargeable secondary battery serving as a power source, is electrically connected and stored compactly in the main body case 2. The recording paper (corresponding to a recording target) 15 is manually moved in , Characters and images can be printed on the recording paper 15.

The main body case 2 is a substantially rectangular tubular synthetic resin case having an opening at the bottom, and an infrared photodiode 3 and an infrared light-emitting element are provided on the upper end wall 2a of the main body case 2. A diode 4 is provided, and a power knob 5 for a power switch 5a is provided on the front wall 2b.
A liquid crystal display 6 for displaying various messages, and a print instruction button 7 for a print instruction switch (corresponding to print instruction means) 6a for instructing permission and prohibition of a print operation.
And a selection button 8 for a selection switch 8a for selecting print data when printing is resumed after printing is interrupted. Further, at the lower end of the body case 2,
Is mounted on the recording paper 15 via a timing roller 21 described later.

The printing mechanism 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, an ink tank 11 containing an ink absorber absorbing recording ink is detachably provided at the lower end of the main body case 2. A print head 12 connected to the ink tank 11 is provided. The print head 12 has, for example, 32 downward jet nozzles (not shown) in one row in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the print direction. Are provided for two rows.

That is, the ink in the ink tank 11 is supplied to each ejection nozzle of the print head 12, and ink droplets are selectively directed from the plurality of ejection nozzles toward the lower recording paper 15. It is designed to be injected.
Next, a moving amount detecting mechanism (corresponding to a moving amount detecting means) 2 for detecting a relative moving amount of the printing apparatus 1 with respect to the recording paper 15.
0 will be described. As shown in FIG.
A rubber timing roller 21 extending in the left-right direction is rotatably supported by a pivot shaft 22 at a lower end portion adjacent to the print head 12.

On the other hand, a gear 23 abutting on a part of the timing roller 21 is rotatably connected to the main body case 2 and a circular encoder plate 24 driven to rotate by the gear 23 is rotatable. Being pivoted. A plurality of slits are formed in the outer peripheral portion of the encoder plate 24, and a photosensor 25 having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion is provided so as to face the outer peripheral portion of the encoder plate 24 from both sides. Here, the lower end of the timing roller 21 projects below the lower end of the main body case 2.

That is, the timing roller 21 moves the recording paper 15
When the main body case 2 is manually moved in the printing direction in a state where the timing plate 21 is rotated, the timing roller 21 rotates in a predetermined rotation direction (clockwise direction in FIG. When the main body case 2 is moved by a predetermined printing pitch based on an encoder signal composed of a pulse train output from the photo sensor 25 and recording data when the main body 24 is rotated, a plurality of ejection nozzles are used. The ink is selectively ejected, and characters and images are printed on the recording paper 15.

Next, the control system of the manually movable printing device 1 provided in the control device 31 is configured as shown in the block diagram of FIG. The control device 31 includes a CPU 32, an RO
M33, a microprocessor having a RAM 34 and an input / output interface 35, an optical communication interface 36 for communicating with external electronic devices (not shown) such as a personal computer by infrared light, and an infrared light receiving circuit 3.
7, an infrared light transmitting circuit 38, a driving circuit 39, and the like. Here, the battery 40 is connected to the power switch 5
Power is supplied to each of the IC chips 32-35 and various circuits 36-39 of the control device 31, various elements, and the like, via a.

The input / output interface 35 is connected to a print instruction switch 7a, a selection switch 8a, a preparation switch 9, a photo sensor 25, and a drive circuit 39 for driving the print head 12. The infrared photodiode 3 is connected to the infrared light receiving circuit 37, and the infrared light emitting diode 4 is connected to the infrared light transmitting circuit 38. The infrared light receiving circuit 37 receives optical data transmitted from an electronic device by infrared light via the infrared photodiode 3, and the infrared light transmitting circuit 38 relates to character size and typeface. The print format data and various data relating to data transfer are transmitted as optical data to the electronic device via the infrared light emitting diode 4.

The ROM 33 includes a print control program for driving and controlling actuators provided for the respective ejection nozzles of the print head 12, a transmission / reception control program using optical data, a control program for printing control specific to the present invention described later,
It stores dot pattern data for each of a plurality of characters and symbols. The RAM 34 has a data memory 34a for storing the received optical data, a character code data included in the optical data, a print data memory 34b for storing dot image data developed for recording, and a print data memory 34b. In addition to a read address pointer (corresponding to an address designating means) 34c for designating a read address for reading print dot image data, various memories necessary for print control and optical communication control are provided.

Next, the control device 5 of the manually movable printing device 1
The print control routine performed at 0 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the figure, Si (i = 1
0, 11, 12...) Are each step. However, description of data reception control for storing optical data received by optical communication and development control for developing dot images for character code data included in the optical data will be omitted. When the power switch 5a of the printing apparatus 1 is turned on, this control is started, and an initial value "0" is set as a selection count value N for counting the number of times the selection switch 8a is operated (S10).

Next, at the time of printing, the main body case 2 is held by hand so as to assume a substantially vertical posture,
Is brought into contact with the recording paper 15, the preparation switch 9 is operated, and when the "H" level preparation signal is inputted (S
11: Yes), if the printing dot image data to be printed is not stored in the printing data memory 34b (S12: No), an error message "printing impossible" is displayed on the display 6 (S29). On the other hand, when the print data is stored in the print data memory 34b (S12:
Yes), "permit" printing operation from print instruction switch 7a
Is not input (S13: N
o), S10 to S13 are repeated.

When the print instruction button 7 is operated,
When the "permit" instruction signal is input from the print instruction switch 6a (S13: Yes), the read address pointer 34c sets the read address YP of the print data for a plurality of lines stored in the print data memory 34b. The head address of the print data stored at the head is set (S14). Next, the first few characters of the print data to be printed (for example, 6 characters that can be displayed on the display 6).
Are displayed on the display 6 (S15). Then, with the "permission" instruction signal input (S16: Ye
s) and when the preparation signal is at "H" level (S17:
Yes), manually move the main body case 2 linearly in the printing direction.

As a result, the rotation of the encoder plate 24 due to the rotation of the timing roller 21 causes the photo sensor 2 to rotate.
5, the encoder signal is input, and when the printing timing comes based on the encoder signal (S
18: Yes), one dot row of dot image data stored at the address designated by the read address YP is read, the corresponding ejection nozzle is driven to execute ink ejection, and the one dot row is read. Printing processing is executed (S19). Next, the read address YP is incremented by one (S20). If dot image data is stored in the read address YP and printing is not completed (S21: No), S16 to S21 are repeatedly executed to execute one dot. Printing is performed for each column.

When the operation of the print instruction button 7 is stopped during the printing of each dot row and an instruction signal of "prohibition" is input from the print instruction switch 7a (S16: No), When the selection button 8 is operated and a selection signal is not input from the selection switch 8a (S22: N
o), the head of the print data after the address specified by the read address YP is displayed on the display 6 (S28), and the process returns to S16. When the selection button 8 is operated and a selection signal is input from the selection switch 8a (S22: Yes), the number N of the selection signal is incremented by one (S23).

Next, when the selection count value N is an odd number (1, 3,.
In the case of (5,...) (S24: Yes), the head address of the print data of the current print line is set as the read address YP (S25), and the head part of the print data after the head address is set in S28. It is displayed on the display 6. By the way, when the selection count value N is an even number (2, 4, 6,...) Other than “0” (S36: Yes),
The start address of the print data of the next print line is set as the read address YP (S27), and the start portion of the print data of the next line is displayed on the display 6 in a similar manner in S28.

Next, when the print instruction button 7 is operated again and an instruction signal of "permit" is input from the print instruction switch 6a (S16: Yes), 1 is set in S16 to S21.
Printing for each dot row is continued. When the printing of the print line is completed (S21: Yes), the process returns to S10 and waits for the next printing process. For example, as one line of print data, the alphabet character string "ABCDE
F ”, as shown in FIG.
1 is brought into contact with the recording paper 15 and held in a substantially vertical posture.
Is manually moved in the printing direction to print the character string "ABCD" at the beginning.

By the way, immediately after printing the character "D",
The movement of the main body case 2 is stopped, the operation of the print instruction button 7 is stopped, the main body case 2 is moved to the printing start position of the next line without operating the selection button 8, and then the print instruction button 7 By moving the main body case 2 while operating, the remaining character string “EF” is printed. On the other hand, after printing the character "D", the user operates the selection button 8 and then moves the main body case 2 to the printing start position of the next line, and moves the main body case 2 again while operating the print instruction button 7. The character string "A"
B ... "is printed.

As described above, in the main body case 2,
In a manually movable printing apparatus 1 provided with a printing mechanism 10 having an ink jet print head 12 and a movement amount detecting mechanism 20 having a timing roller 21, RA
A print data memory 34 for storing print data in M34
b and a read address pointer 34c, a print instruction switch 7a for instructing "permission" and "inhibition" of a printing operation on the main body case 2, and a selection switch 8a for selecting and setting a read address of print data to be printed. Provided,
When the printing operation is interrupted, the printing start address for the next printing is set according to the number of operations of the selection switch 8a.
Since the start address of the print line, the address at the time of interruption of the print, and the start address of the next line can be selected and set, the selection of the next print start position can be abundant, and the selection switch 8a can be selected.
By simply operating, the desired address can be easily selected and set from the printing start address.

Further, every time the read address is selected and set by the selection switch 8a, the print data corresponding to the read address is displayed on the display 6. And can be easily selected and set. Here, a modification of the above embodiment may be configured as follows.

1) The print instruction switch 8a and the selection switch 8a can be composed of various switches having excellent operability such as a touch switch. 2) Instead of the preparation switch 9, various sensors such as an optical system may be used. 3) The manually movable printer 1 may be configured to be directly connected to an external electronic device so as to directly receive dot image data for recording to be printed from the external electronic device. Further, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to various printing devices such as a printing device provided with a thermal head.

[0031]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus having a printing means and a moving amount detecting means in a main body case. When a printing operation is interrupted, a printing start address for the next printing is
Since it is possible to select and set at least from the start address of the print line and the address at the time of interrupting printing, it is possible to easily select and set the next printing start position only by operating the selection switch.

According to the printing device of the second aspect, the same effect as that of the first aspect is obtained, but the selection switch selects the head address of the printing line, the address at the time of interruption of printing, and the head address of the next line. Since the setting is made, the options of the next printing start position can be abundant, and a desired address can be easily selected from the abundant printing start address.

According to the printing apparatus of the third aspect, the same effect as that of the first aspect is obtained, but since the selection switch is configured to select and set the read address according to the number of times of operation, the selection means can be selected. The read address for starting the next printing can be easily selected only by performing the operation a plurality of times as needed.

According to the printing apparatus of the fourth aspect, the same effect as that of the first aspect is obtained, but each time a read address is selected and set by a display means having a display and a selection switch, the read address corresponds to the read address. Display control means for displaying print data on a display, and each time a read address is selected and set by a selection switch, print data corresponding to the read address is displayed on the display. Can be arbitrarily and easily selected and set via the display.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a manually movable printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the manually movable printing apparatus.

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

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Manually movable printing apparatus 2 Main body case 7a Printing instruction switch 8a Selection switch 10 Printing mechanism 12 Printing head 20 Moving amount detection mechanism 21 Timing roller 25 Photo sensor 31 Controller 32 CPU 33 ROM 34 RAM 34b Print data memory 34c Read address pointer

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus having a printing head in a main body case having an opening at a bottom portion, and a relative movement amount with respect to the recording target is detected via a timing roller which rotates while being in contact with the surface of the recording target. A printing device that includes a movement amount detection unit and prints by the printing unit by moving in a printing direction; a print data memory that stores print data supplied from outside; and an instruction to permit and prohibit a printing operation by the print head. Print instructing means for instructing a read address for reading out print data from a print data memory based on a signal received from a movement amount detecting means during printing by the printing means; and a print instructing means in a printing operation Indicates that printing is prohibited and the printing operation is interrupted. Printing apparatus characterized by comprising a selection switch for selecting and setting from among the address at the time of printing interruption. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection switch selects and sets one of a start address of a print line, an address at the time of interruption of printing, and a start address of the next line. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the selection switch is configured to selectively set a read address according to the number of times of operation. 4. A display device comprising a display means having a display, and display control means for displaying print data corresponding to the read address on the display every time a read address is selected and set by a selection switch. The printing device according to claim 3.