JPH1170721A - Printer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the delay of printing treatment even when a printing unit breaks down by a method in which when the breakdown of a printing unit is detected by a breakdown detecting means, switching is done to a printing unit which is not used by a means for switching correspondence relationships between a control part and the printing unit. SOLUTION: A personal computer 21 has functions to analyze/treat a command input through an interface device 22, to connect it to a controller 23 for controlling a color printer, to drive the first-fourth platen, head, ribbon magazine, and printing controller, and to actuate printing of printing data stored in the first - fourth picture buffers 26a-29a. The buffer 26a, a controller 26b, a head exothermic resistance disconnection detecting device 26c are connected to a system bath 23a and connected to a unit 11-1 by wiring 30-1, other units 11-2-11-4 are treated similarly, disconnection detection is done by a command from the computer 21, and in case of disconnection, switching to another unused unit is done.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer for printing by a plurality of printing units arranged in series on a sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Printers using thermal heads have been widely used. In the thermal head, a plurality of heating resistors are arranged in a row, and a current is selectively passed through the heating resistors to cause the heating resistors to generate heat. The heat is transferred to an ink ribbon conveyed over the thermal head by a paper. The desired printing is performed on the paper by transferring the image to the paper.

As described above, since the paper is conveyed on the thermal head, the heat generated in the thermal head may be disconnected due to friction generated when the paper is conveyed. In particular, in the case of a device for printing a bar code, if a part of the bar code is not printed, the bar code is accurately printed.
Cannot read the password.

As described above, when the heating resistor provided in the thermal head is disconnected, one dot printed by the heating resistor is not printed. Therefore, printing becomes inaccurate.

For this reason, when a disconnection occurs, the user
He called the serviceman to replace the broken thermal head.

Here, if the serviceman has the stock of the head, if the thermal head is replaced immediately, it does not take much time, but if the thermal head is not in stock, it is necessary to order the thermal head. Therefore, there is a problem that it takes more time.

In order to prevent such a situation from occurring,
Some users prepare a loaner machine.

[0008]

As described above, the rotor is
If a machine is provided, there is a problem in that it is costly to prepare a rotor machine and a storage place for storing the rotor machine is required, which is not preferable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printer for performing printing by controlling a plurality of printing units arranged in series when a failure occurs in a thermal head. Another object of the present invention is to provide a printer device that performs printing with another printing unit.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer for performing printing by controlling a plurality of printing units arranged in series, wherein failure detecting means for detecting a failure of each printing unit; Drawing storage means provided for each printing unit for storing the printing contents to be printed by each printing unit, and controlling the corresponding printing unit based on the printing contents stored in the drawing storage means to perform printing. A print control unit provided corresponding to each print unit to be performed; switching means for switching the correspondence between each print control unit and the print unit controlled by the print control unit; and failure of the print unit by the failure detection means. Means for switching to a printing unit that is not being used by the switching means when the is detected.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer for performing printing by controlling a plurality of printing units arranged in series, wherein a storage means for storing a used / unused state of each printing unit; Failure detection means for detecting a failure of the image, drawing storage means provided corresponding to each printing unit for storing the printing content to be printed by each printing unit, based on the printing content stored in the drawing storage means A print control unit provided corresponding to each print unit for performing printing by controlling the corresponding print unit; switching means for switching a correspondence relationship between each print control unit and a print unit controlled by the print control unit; If the failure detection means detects a failure in the printing unit, the switching means refers to the storage means to indicate the unused mark. Characterized by comprising a means for switching the unit.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic main configuration of a color printer 1 to which the present invention is applied. The first head 2-1, the second head 2-2, the third head 2-3, and the fourth head 2-4, each of which is a thermal line head constituting a printing unit, are arranged at a predetermined interval on the paper transport path 3. Are arranged in series. The first platen 4-1 to the fourth platen 4-4 are arranged to face the first head 2-1 to the fourth head 2-4 via the transport path 3, respectively.

The paper 5 is wound around a paper holder 6, and a paper transport roller 7 is disposed in the transport path 3 between the paper holder 6 and the first head 2-1. The transport speed of the paper 5 supplied from the paper holder 6 to the transport path 3 is controlled by a paper transport roller 7, and the first head 2-1, the second head 2-2, and the 3 heads 2-3, the fourth head 2
-4.

A paper end sensor 8 composed of an optical transmission sensor is provided between the paper holder 6 and the paper transport roller 7 in the transport path 3, and the paper end sensor 8 wound around the paper holder 6 is provided. The end of the paper 5 is detected.

Between the paper transport roller 7 and the first head 2-1 in the transport path 3, that is, immediately before the first head 2-1, when the paper 5 is a label paper,
A label gap sensor comprising an optical transmission sensor for detecting a gap between labels, and an optical reflection sensor for detecting a marker printed at a predetermined interval on the back surface of the tag when the paper 5 is a tag paper. A paper detection sensor 9 having a tag marker sensor is provided.

The first head 2-1 to the fourth head 2
The first ribbon magazine 10-1 to the fourth ribbon magazine 10-4 are set (attached) to the respective head magazines 2 to 4 from the respective ribbon magazines 10-1 to 10-4. The ink ribbon is supplied to -1 to 2-4.

For example, in a normal color printer, a black ink ribbon is set in the first ribbon magazine 10-1, a cyan ink ribbon is set in the second ribbon magazine 10-2, and the third A magenta ink ribbon is set in the ribbon magazine 10-3, and a yellow ink ribbon is set in the fourth ribbon magazine 10-4. The first print unit 11-1 is composed of the first head 2-1, the platen 4-1 and the first ribbon magazine 10-1.
2. The platen 4-2 and the second ribbon magazine 10-
2, the second printing unit 11-2, the third head 2-
3, the platen 4-3 and the third ribbon magazine 10-
3, the third printing unit 11-3, the fourth head 2-
4, the platen 4-4 and the fourth ribbon magazine 10-
4 constitutes a fourth printing unit 11-4.

Next, the color printer shown in FIG.
A system configuration diagram when connected to a sonar computer will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a personal computer. The personal computer 21 is connected via an interface device 22 to a control device 23 for executing command analysis, drawing processing, and printing activation. The control device 23 controls the color printer 1 as a whole, and includes a microcomputer and its peripheral circuits. The control device 23 is provided with the interface device 2
2 is analyzed and the processing of each command is performed. For example, when a command "draw the character" abc "in black" is received, "abc" is drawn in a first drawing buffer 26a described later.

When receiving the issuance command, the control device 23 receives the first platen 4-1 to the fourth platen 4-4, the first head 2-1 to the fourth head 2-4, and the first ribbon. A first print control device 26b to a fourth print control device 29b to be described later for controlling the magazine 10-1 to the fourth ribbon magazine 10-4 and the like are driven to drive a first print unit 11-1 to a
In the fourth printing unit 11-4, the first drawing buffers 26a-2
A print start function for printing the print data stored in 9a is provided.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a used printing unit designating device for designating which printing unit among the first to fourth printing units described above is to be used. The designated printing unit designating device 24 includes a keyboard.
And a display unit. The used printing unit designating device 24 performs the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.

The designation unit 24 is connected to a printing unit storage unit 25 for storing printing units to be used.

The storage device 25 is connected to the system bus 23a of the control device 23.

The system bus 23a has a first drawing buffer 26a for storing black print data to be printed by the first printing unit 11-1, and a first printing unit 11-1.
Print control device 26b for controlling the printing operation in the
The first disconnection detecting device 26c for detecting disconnection of the heat generating resistance of the first head 2-1 constituting the printing unit 11-1 is connected. The first drawing buffer 26a, the first print control device 26b, and the first disconnection detection device 26c are connected to the control switching device 3
0 is connected to the 1a terminal. Here, the first disconnection detecting device 26c performs a disconnection check according to a command from an external device. For example, once a day, when a command for checking when the external device is started is issued, the first disconnection detecting device 26c is activated by the control device 23, and the first disconnection detecting device 26c is activated.
The disconnection of the heating resistance of the head 2-1 is checked. The terminal 1b of the control switching device 30 is connected to the first printing unit 11-1, and the terminal 1a and the terminal 1b are connected by a wiring 30-1.

Further, on the system bus 23a, a second drawing buffer 27a for storing red print data to be printed by the second print unit 11-2, and a second print unit 1 are provided.
A second print control device 27b for controlling the print operation in 1-2,
A second disconnection detecting device 27 for detecting disconnection of the heating resistor of the second head 2-2 constituting the second printing unit 11-2.
c is connected. The second drawing buffer 27a, the second print control device 27b, and the second disconnection detection device 27c are connected to the terminal 2a of the control switching device 30. Here, the second disconnection detecting device 27c performs a disconnection check according to a command from an external device. For example, once a day, when a command for checking when the external device is started is issued, the second disconnection detecting device 27c is started by the control device 23,
The disconnection of the heating resistor of the second head 2-2 is checked. The 2b terminal of the control switching device 30 is connected to the second printing unit 11-2.
The terminal 2a and the terminal 2b are connected by a wiring 30-2.

Further, on the system bus 23a, a third drawing buffer 28a for storing unused print data to be printed by the third print unit 11-3, and a third print unit 11-3. Third print control device 28 for controlling printing operation
b, the third head 2 constituting the third printing unit 11-3
A third disconnection detecting device 28c for detecting disconnection of the heating resistor of -3 is connected. The third drawing buffer 28a, the third printing control device 28b, and the third disconnection detecting device 28c are connected to the terminal 3a of the control switching device 30. Here, the third disconnection detecting device 28c performs a disconnection check according to a command from an external device. For example, once a day, when a command to check when the external device is started is issued,
The controller 23 activates the third disconnection detecting device 28c to check for disconnection of the heating resistor of the third head 2-3. The 3b terminal of the control switching device 30 is connected to the third printing unit 11-3, and the 3a terminal and the 3b terminal are connected to the wiring 30-3.
Connected by

Further, on the system bus 23a, a fourth drawing buffer 29a for storing unused print data to be printed by the fourth print unit 11-4, and a fourth print unit 11-4. Fourth print control device 29 for controlling printing operation
b, fourth head 2 constituting fourth printing unit 11-4
A fourth disconnection detecting device 29c for detecting disconnection of the heating resistor of -4 is connected. The fourth drawing buffer 29a, the fourth print control device 29b, and the fourth disconnection detection device 29c are connected to the terminal 4a of the control switching device 30. Here, the fourth disconnection detecting device 29c performs a disconnection check according to a command from an external device. For example, once a day, when a command to check when the external device is started is issued,
The controller 23 activates the third disconnection detecting device 29c to check for disconnection of the heating resistor of the fourth head 2-4. The 4b terminal of the control switching device 30 is connected to the fourth printing unit 11-4, and the 4a terminal and the 4b terminal are connected to the wiring 30-4.
Connected by

In the control switching device 30, the wiring 30
-1 to 30-4 are arranged at positions as shown in FIG. 2 in a normal state. The control switching device 30 can arbitrarily switch the connection between the terminals 1a to 4a and the terminals 1b to 4b.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described. When performing color printing, black, magenta (red), cyan, and yellow ribbons are set in the first printing unit 11-1 to the fourth printing unit 11-4, respectively, and the first printing unit 11-1 is set.
~ First drawing buffer 26a in fourth printing unit 11-4 ~
By superimposing and printing the print data stored in the fourth drawing buffer 29a, a large number of colors are displayed.

Some users need only two colors, black and red (magenta).

In this case, the flow chart shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the first printing unit 11-1 is black and the second printing unit 11
-2 designates that the third printing unit 11-3 and the fourth printing unit 11-4 are unused (Step S
1).

Then, the printing unit to be used set in step S1 is stored in the used printing unit storage device 25 (step S2). Specifically, the first print unit 11-1 is black, the second print unit 11-2 is red, and the third print unit 11-3 and the fourth print unit 11-4 are unused. Is done.

Thus, the initial setting is completed.

Then, the operation of the personal computer 21 is started, and commands and data are input to the control device 23 via the interface device 22. Control device 2
3 analyzes this command and outputs the result to the first drawing buffer 26.
The black print data is stored in a, and the red image data is stored in the second drawing buffer 27a.

Then, the first print control device 26b and the second
By driving the printing control device 27b, the first printing unit 11
-1 and the second print unit 11-2 print the print data stored in the first drawing buffer 26a and the second drawing buffer 27a.

The disconnection detection is activated by a command from the personal computer 21. For example, when the personal computer 21 starts up, disconnection is detected.

More specifically, the first disconnection detecting device 26c is activated by the control device 23 to check the disconnection of the heating resistor of the first head 2-1 and to check the second disconnection detecting device 2c.
7c is activated, and the disconnection of the heating resistor of the second head 2-2 is checked.

When the disconnection is detected, an error is displayed on the display unit of the printing unit specifying device 24 (step S11). Specifically, the second printing unit 1
Since the disconnection of the second head 2-2 of 1-2 has been detected, an error display prompting an operation to set a red ribbon on the third printing unit 11-3 is performed.

Then, the used print unit storage device 25 is searched to check whether there is an unused unit (step S12).

In the determination in step S12, "YES"
If it is determined that the printing unit has been changed, processing for switching the printing unit is performed (step S13).

More specifically, when a disconnection occurs in the second print unit 11-2, the third print unit 1
When 1-3 is unused, a process of connecting the terminals 2a and 3b by the wiring 30-2 in the control switching device 30 and switching between the terminals 3a and 2b by the wiring 30-3 is performed.

The operator is the third printing unit 1
Set the red ribbon on 1-3.

By doing so, the control device 23
When the second printing control device 27b is driven, the third printing unit 11-3 prints the print data stored in the second drawing buffer 27a in red from the third printing unit 11-3.

As described above, when disconnection is detected in the head of one of the plurality of printing units,
Printing can be performed by another printing unit. Then, while printing is being performed by another print unit, the disconnected head can be replaced,
Even when the head of a certain printing unit is disconnected, it is possible to prevent a delay in the printing process.

By the way, in the determination of step S12, "N
If it is determined to be "O", it is awaiting recovery from the error.
That is, when there is no unused printing unit, a process of waiting until the head whose disconnection is detected is replaced is performed.

The above processing is performed when a disconnection is detected in the head of the printing unit. The same effect can be obtained when printing is performed using an ink ribbon. That is, when the ink ribbon of the second printing unit runs out, the red ink ribbon may be set in another printing unit to perform printing. In the meantime, the ink ribbon of the second printing unit may be replaced.

By doing so, the ink ribbon has been replaced twice with a time lag, but by replacing the two ink ribbons at once, the ink ribbon can be efficiently replaced. Can be replaced.

When the printer is used in a factory line, when the ribbon ends, the ribbon is replaced between the ribbons.
The line may stop. By switching to another printing unit, printing can be continued. Then, when the line becomes free, the ribbon which has just been completed may be replaced, so this is a perfect condition. This is effective when the used amount of the ribbon is not constant for each color. When a plurality of printing units are provided, the outer shape becomes large, so that the length of one ribbon of the ribbon is reduced to a certain extent, which is effective.

[0049]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, when a failure of a printing unit is detected, printing is performed by another printing unit. However, a delay in the printing process can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a printer device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system in which the printer device of the embodiment is incorporated.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing wiring switching in the control switching device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11-1: First printing unit, 11-2: Second printing unit, 11-3: Third printing unit, 11-4: Fourth printing unit, 23: Control device, 24: Used printing unit, 25: Used Printing unit storage.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A printer for performing printing by controlling a plurality of printing units arranged in series, a failure detecting means for detecting a failure of each printing unit, and a printing device for storing printing contents to be printed by each printing unit. Drawing storage means provided corresponding to the unit, and printing control provided corresponding to each printing unit for performing printing by controlling the corresponding printing unit based on the printing content stored in the drawing storage means A switching unit for switching a correspondence relationship between each printing control unit and a printing unit controlled by the printing control unit; and, when a failure of the printing unit is detected by the failure detecting unit, the switching unit is used. Means for switching to a non-printing unit. 2. A printer for printing by controlling a plurality of printing units arranged in series, a storage means for storing a used or unused state of each printing unit, and a failure detection for detecting a failure of each printing unit. Means, drawing storage means provided for each printing unit for storing the printing contents to be printed by each printing unit, and controlling the corresponding printing unit based on the printing contents stored in the drawing storage means. A printing control unit provided corresponding to each printing unit that performs printing by using the printing unit; a switching unit that switches a correspondence relationship between each printing control unit and a printing unit that is controlled by the printing control unit; Means for switching to an unused printing unit by the switching means with reference to the storage means when a failure of the unit is detected; A printer device comprising: