JPS5935445B2 - Print control method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a printing control method for printing the side of a continuous form used as a terminal device of an electronic computer.

Printing machines that are generally used as computer terminals (hereinafter referred to as printing machines) use various types of printing paper depending on the processing content of the computer. It is necessary to set various types of paper.

However, when an operator sets paper in a printing press, it often happens that he or she sets paper other than the prescribed paper, that is, sets the paper incorrectly.

As a result, paper is wasted due to meaningless printing, computer processing time is wasted, the printing mechanism of the printing machine is soiled due to printing at a position that is off the paper, and furthermore, the printing mechanism is damaged. Various problems occur. The present invention proposes a print control method that eliminates the above-mentioned problems caused by incorrectly setting paper by using paper position detection means, print prohibition means, and print prohibition notification means newly installed in the printing machine. It is.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below by taking as an example a type drum type line printer device which is generally used as an output device for electronic computers. A conventional device of this type is shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, 1 is a computer main body, 2 is a line printer device that prints output information based on print commands from the computer main body, and 3 is a timing generation circuit that generates various timing signals used to control the line printer device. , 4 is a print buffer (hereinafter referred to as PLB) that stores one line of print data consisting of, for example, 132 characters sent from the computer main body, and 5 is a print shift register (hereinafter referred to as PSR) that determines the column to be printed at each print timing. ), 6 is a printing hammer driver circuit (hereinafter referred to as PHD) that drives a printing hammer based on PSR5 at each printing timing, T is a printing mechanism unit (hereinafter referred to as PHD) consisting of a type drum, a printing hammer, and an ink ribbon. 8 is a paper feed control buffer (hereinafter referred to as FCB) that holds paper feed control data sent from the computer main body 1 to control the print paper feed, and 9 is a paper feed that controls the print paper feed based on the contents of Fa38. Control register (hereinafter referred to as FCR).
), 10 is a feed motor driver circuit (
Hereinafter referred to as FMD. ). 11 is a feed motor. Feed tractor. This is a printing paper feed mechanism (hereinafter referred to as FM) consisting of a feed tractor 1 drive shaft. Figure 2 is. This shows the configuration of PM7 and FMll of line printer device 2. In Fig. 2. 12 printing papers.
13 is a printing hammer module (hereinafter referred to as PH).

). 14 is a type drum. 15 is the printing paper feed tractor 1 drive shaft. Reference numeral 16 denotes a right side feed tractor configured to allow a printing paper feed tractor and a drive shaft 16J to be moved left and right. 17 is a printing paper feed tractor 5 drive shaft 16. I:. The left feed tractor is configured to be able to move left and right. Reference numeral 18 indicates feed holes provided at both ends of the printing paper 12. A feed motor 19 drives the feed tractors 16 and 17 via the feed tractor 1 drive shaft 15. Figure 3 is. This is a diagram explaining the configuration of PHL3 in FIG. 2. For example, PHL3 consists of 132 columns. It consists of 132 electromagnetically driven printing hammers from column 0 to column 131. Each column is driven by 5 drive currents from the corresponding printing hammer 1 drive circuit.

Next, the operation of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 will be explained.

Generally, to start the printing operation of a line printer device. Include blank character data for columns that do not require printing. Should character data be provided for the maximum number of print columns for the line printer device? Or. Indicate the end of that line. The remaining columns are. One line is created by embedding blank character data in the line printer device. For example, it is necessary to prepare 132 character data in PLB4 in FIG. on the other hand. The format of the printing paper used for printing output from a computer. It is set according to the business content processed by the computer. Various sizes of printing paper are used.

in particular. The width of the printing paper. The number of lines printed per page depends on the business content processed by the computer. Individually configured. In line printer equipment. To enable printing on printing paper of various sizes. The following two mechanisms are provided. The first mechanism is. FCB8 in Figure 1 and FC in Figure 1
It is composed of R9. When computer processing operations require a specific printing paper format. To the operator.
Along with instructing you to change to a specific printing paper. Paper feed control information for specific printing paper. The data is transferred from the computer main body 1 shown in Figure 1 to the FCB 8 shown in Figure 1. By updating the contents of FCB8 so that it corresponds correctly to the format of the printing paper. Control of the number of paper feed lines during replacement page operation. Automatic page change control when the maximum number of print lines per page is exceeded. It enables page management such as skipping to specific lines. The second mechanism is. The printing paper feed tractor shown in FIG. 2, with the drive shaft 15. Right feed tractor 1 in Fig. 2
6 and. It consists of a left feed tractor 17. It differs depending on the format of printing paper. Print paper width. Match the print position.
Move the left and right feed tractors 16 and 17 in FIG. 2 to the printing paper feed tractor drive shaft 15J. Printing paper 12
The printing paper is held by the feed holes 18 provided on both the left and right ends of the . This allows the printing paper 12 to be set at the printing position.

next. The printing paper 12. For the printing mechanism section of the line printer device 2. An example of the printing operation when the printers are set in the positional relationship shown in FIG. 2 will be explained with reference to FIG.

PHL3 and .PHI3 in Figure 2. The type drum 14. For example 13
When it is composed of two columns. This is the D column. The printable area of the printing paper 12 is shown in column B. From the left end of the printable range of printing paper 12 to column O of PHL3 is column A. The area from the right edge of the printable range of printing paper 12 to column 131 of PHL3 is defined as column C. PLB4 in FIG.
PSR5. PHD6. Printing paper 12 in Figure 2. PH13
of. The fourth one is schematically displayed corresponding to each column.
It is a diagram. first. The character data for 132 columns including blank characters transferred from the computer main body 1 is... In PLB4 of Figure 4. Column 0 to column a1 as shown in the figure
Blank character data up to . Column A2 shown with diagonal lines
The same printed character data from column C to . It consists of blank character data from column C2 to column 131. When a printing operation is started for each character data stored in PLB4. The type drum 14 in FIG. 2 rotates. Each time the type rotates to the position corresponding to PHl3. Whether or not the print data corresponding to that type exists in the PLB is determined. All columns from column O to column 131 were inspected. If the corresponding print data exists in the PLB, logic '1' is set in the corresponding column of PSR5 in FIG.

In addition. The type drum of the line printer device used in this explanation is. A method is adopted in which the same characters are placed at the same rotational position in each column. Column A2 to column C of PLB4 in Figure 4 in the position corresponding to PHL3 in Figure 2.
When the printed characters corresponding to the printed character data stored up to 1 are rotated, the PSR5 is as shown in the shaded area in FIG.
Logic '1' is set from column A2 to column C1.

after that. Based on the print timing from the timing generation circuit 3 in Figure 1. PHD6 is the shaded area from column A2 to column C1 shown in Figure 4. Logic '1 of PSR5 in Figure 4
The columns corresponding to the column in which `` is set flow a printing hammer drive current respectively. Then, PHL3 is driven by 1 by PHD6 as shown in Fig. 4. The printing hammers from column A2 to column C1 in the shaded area operate. However, as shown in Fig. 4, the printable paper 12 only has a printable area of B columns from column b1 to column B2.Column A2 is off the printing paper.
and the printing hammer in column C1 is. Defacement. This will result in dry firing which may cause damage.

This kind of problem. If you set the printing paper in the wrong format in the line printer device. This occurs when you set it in the wrong position. In this example of operation. The printed character data from column A2 to column C1 was defined as character data. Even if they are not the same, when the corresponding type rotates to the printing position, the printing hammers of the corresponding columns are driven. When one line has finished printing. By then, all printing hammers from column A2 to column C are . It will be driven at some printing timing. Column A2 and Column C1
A blank firing action occurs in the same way.

As explained above, with conventional printing control methods. It is not possible to prevent printing on areas that are off the printing paper. or. Even if printing occurs on an area that is off the printing paper. ,I: Because there is no means of reporting to the device. An electronic computer operator. There is no way to detect incorrectly set printing paper other than visually inspecting the printing status. Waste of printing paper if discovery by the operator is delayed. Waste of computer processing time. Physical contamination of printing equipment.
There was significant damage such as breakage.

This invention... This was done to eliminate the drawbacks of conventional printing control methods as described above. To the conventional print control method. Position of printing paper. and paper position detection means for detecting the width. Printing prohibition means for prohibiting printing to a printing position that is off the printing paper. The printing prohibition means described in J. is activated. By adding a means to notify the computer that printing is prohibited. Even if the printing paper is set incorrectly in the printing device. Preventing staining and damage to the printing mechanism of the printing device. Reducing printing paper waste. This paper proposes a print control method that can reduce wasted computer processing time.

below. An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In Figure 5. The same symbols as in Figure 1 indicate the same or equivalent parts. Reference numeral 20 denotes a paper position detection mechanism (hereinafter referred to as PLS) as a paper position detection means added to carry out the present invention. Reference numeral 21 denotes a print prohibition logic circuit (hereinafter referred to as PIL) as a print prohibition means used to implement the present invention. Reference numeral 22 denotes a print prohibition notification line as a print prohibition notification means added to implement the present invention. In addition. P.L.
S2O has printing paper. With respect to the column position of the printing hammer module PH in the printing mechanism section of the line printer device. It detects the positional relationship. By applying various position detection methods that have already been proposed. This is something that can be easily achieved.

Figure 6 is an example of this. As shown in Figure 6. The positions of the left and right feed tractors 16, 17 set at both ends of the printing paper 12 with respect to PHL3. Using a detector configured as a potentiometer. After obtaining the two voltage values corresponding to the position. 2 corresponding to the left and right feed trata positions
From two voltage values. It may be a method of obtaining the printing paper position corresponding to the column position of PH. In Figure 6 A. The same symbols as in Figure 2 indicate the same or equivalent parts. 23 is a constant voltage power supply with a voltage value of E volts. 24 is an R ohm sliding resistor made of a resistor with a constant resistance value per unit length.
25 (1) Fixed to the left feed tractor 17. As the left feed tractor 17 moves, the sliding resistor 24E is slid. Voltage value e corresponding to the left feed tractor position
The left slider 626 that obtains 1 is the right feed tractor 16
Fixed to . As the right feed tractor 16 moves, the sliding resistor 24L slides. This is a right slider that obtains a voltage value E2 corresponding to the right feed tractor position.

Figure 6: The mouth is. This shows the electrical equivalent circuit of the position detector shown in Figure 6A. Figure 6 C is. 3 is a graph showing the voltage Es at each part of the sliding resistor 24 corresponding to the column position of the printing hammer module 13. FIG.

For example, if the position detector is configured like this. When the right feed tractor 16 and the left feed tractor 17 move the printing paper feed tractor and drive shaft 15E. The voltage value e1 generated at the left slider 25 and the voltage value E2 generated at the right slider 26 are . Corresponding to the column position as shown in Figure 6C. It has a voltage value shown by the straight line Es. From the voltage values e1 and E2 corresponding to the left and right feed tractor positions obtained in this way. FIG. 7 shows an example of a conversion method into a form that allows the position of the printing paper to be directly determined in correspondence with columns.

In Figure 7. 27 is a counter circuit that increments by 1 every clock from 0 to 131. 28 generates an output voltage of 0 volts when the output value of the counter circuit 27 is O. Every time the Kaunota circuit output value increases by 1? Increase power D by ×E bolts. A ladder circuit that generates an output voltage of E volts when the counter circuit output value is 131. 29 compares the output voltage Er of the ladder circuit 28 and the voltage value E generated at the left slider 25. A left position voltage comparator that outputs logic 01e1 at E,>E and logic 2 at Er. 30 compares the output voltage Er of the ladder circuit 28 and the voltage value E2 generated at the right slider 26, and if 6e2>Er, the logic 'o''.
A right-position voltage comparator that outputs a logic value at e1 and Er. 3
1 is an exclusive OR circuit of the logic output signal from the left position voltage comparator 29 and the logic output signal from the right position voltage comparator 30. Reference numeral 32 denotes a shift register (hereinafter referred to as PLR) having a 132-bit structure corresponding to one column from column O to column 131, respectively.

). When starting the conversion operation. First, the output value of the counter circuit 27 is reset to 0. The contents of PLR32 are all set to logic 'O'.

Next, 132 clock signals are applied to the counter circuit 27 and the PLR 32 at regular time intervals. Counter circuit 27
The output value increases by 1 for each clock signal. Due to this. The output voltage Er of the ladder circuit 28 changes as shown in the graph at the beginning of FIG. The output voltage E of the ladder circuit 28 and the voltage e1 of the left slider 25 are compared by a left position voltage comparator 29. The output voltage Er of the ladder circuit 28 and the voltage E2 of the right slider 26 are compared by a right position voltage comparator 30. The logical outputs of these left and right position voltage comparators 29 and 30 are exclusive ORed by an exclusive OR circuit 31.
The result is provided to the shift input terminal of PLR 32. P.L.
R32 is shifted for each clock signal, and finally, logic 1'' is set in the column position shown by diagonal lines in PLB32 in FIG. 7A.A pattern corresponding to the printing paper position is obtained. PLS2O can also be configured as shown below.Next, the specific configuration of PIL2l shown in Figure 5 will be explained.PIL2l can be configured with a simple logic circuit, and PIL2l is shown in Figure 8. An example of a logic circuit for one column is shown in FIG. 8. In FIG. 8, .33 is a logic signal from the corresponding column of PLS2O in FIG.
1 Logic'o when there is no printing paper in the corresponding column
The printing paper presence signal line with the value ``.34 is the PS in Figure 5.
This is a logic signal from the column corresponding to R5. The print data of the corresponding column. A print active signal line which has a logic value of '1'' when it corresponds to the type at the print position on the type drum. 35 is a logical NOT circuit. 36 is an AND circuit. 37 is an AND circuit. 38 is each column An OR circuit with 132 input terminals that ORs the print operation prohibition signals from and creates a logic signal for notifying the computer main body of the print operation prohibition.
is logic '1'' and print active signal line 34 is logic '1''
When. Printing hammer, drive command signal that activates the corresponding column of PHD 6 in Figure 5. Reference numeral 22 denotes a print prohibition notification line to the computer main body 1 in FIG.

As for the action. When the printing paper presence signal line 33 is at logic 'O', that is, when there is no printing paper in the corresponding column, the printing hammer drive command signal is prevented from being transmitted to the PHD 6 in FIG. 5, and the printing active signal is output. 34
When becomes logic ``1'', it notifies the computer main body 1 that the printing operation is prohibited.

The operation of the line printer device configured as described above will be explained with reference to FIG.

In Figure 9. PLB4. PSR5. PHD6. PM
Printing hammer module PHl3, which is a component of 7.
6PIL2l. and P which is a component of PLS2O
LR32 is a schematic representation of each configuration shown in Figure 5. Each column structure corresponds to, for example, 132 print columns. First of all. The printing paper 12 is arranged from column b1 to column B2 as shown in FIG.
When set to the range of . The print data from the computer main body 1 is . Blank character data from column O to column a1. Same printed character data from column A2 to column C1. If it is blank character data from column C2 to the last column. As shown in FIG. 9, the same printed character data is stored in the shaded area from column A2 to column C1 in PLB4.

On the other hand, the printing paper 12. Column b shown with diagonal lines for PLR32
1 to column B2 is detected. Accordingly. Printing operation is started in this state. P
When the printed characters corresponding to the same printed character data from column A2 to column C1 of LB4 appear at the printing position due to the rotation of the type drum, PSR5 displays column A2 in the shaded area in FIG.
Logic '1'' is set from column C1 to column C1.PIL2l in FIG. Only the print hammer drive command signal in the range of column B2 is transmitted to the PHD 6. Therefore, the PHD 6 sends the drive current of the print hammer only in the range where the printing paper exists.
By driving PHL3 shown in the figure only in the area where the printing paper exists. Prevents the hammer from hitting dry. Furthermore, the ninth
A print prohibition notification signal generated by the PIL 2l shown in the figure is sent to the computer main body 1 through the print prohibition notification line 22 shown in FIG. In addition. In the above example. A print command is issued from the computer main body 1. When the printing paper set in the printing machine exceeds the possible printing range. Only printing operations outside the printable range are prohibited. Printing operations within the printable range are as follows. It is configured to run as is. When the print command from the computer main body 1 exceeds the printable range of the printing paper set in the printing machine. After that, press the print prohibition release finger + from the computer main body 1. Or until the operator performs an operation to cancel printing inhibition. Prohibit all printing operations. It may be configured to notify the computer main body 1 that printing is prohibited.

Also. P, in the example described. As a means of detecting the width of printing paper and the setting position for the printing machine. We have explained the case of a position detector that indirectly detects the printing paper position and width from the positions of the left and right feed tractors used to feed the printing paper. By multiple sets of photocouplers. It may also be a position detector that uses a method to detect the position of printing paper. The same effects as in the above embodiment are achieved.

As above. According to this invention. Prohibits printing operations based on print commands outside the printable area outside the printing paper. We adopted a print control method that notifies the computer itself that printing has been prohibited. The printing mechanism of the printing device. It is possible to prevent staining and damage to the printing mechanism section caused by performing a printing operation on a portion where there is no printing paper.

or. The computer control program can detect the occurrence of a print command on a part that is off the print paper using the print prohibition notification line. Cancel printing commands and save print data. Instructing operators to replace printing paper, etc. By enabling appropriate treatment. So far. Printing by one computer processing task. There were many things I didn't notice until it was all over. For errors in loading printing paper into the printing machine. This makes it possible to respond quickly. Wasteful printing. Computer usage time required to re-execute computer processing. Wasted time such as computer operator work time. It becomes possible to significantly reduce the amount.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a configuration diagram of a line printer device using a conventional printing control method. Figure 2 shows the configuration of the printing mechanism and printing paper feed mechanism of a typical type drum type line printer. Figure 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the printing hammer module of the printing mechanism section of the line printer device. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the operation of each component of a conventional line printer during printing operation. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a line printer device to which a printing control method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a printing paper position detection method. Figure 7 shows the voltage signal corresponding to the detected printing paper position. A diagram showing an example of a method of converting into a print paper position signal corresponding to a print column. Figure 8 shows 1 of the print prohibition logic circuit.
A diagram showing an example of a logic circuit for a print column. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the operation of each component of the line printer device to which the print control method according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied during printing operation. In the figure. 20...Print paper position detection mechanism as paper position detection means. 21...Print prohibition logic circuit as print prohibition means. 22...Printing prohibition reporting line as a printing prohibition reporting means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a device that controls a continuous form printing machine used as a computer terminal device, a paper position detection means for detecting the position and width of the printing paper, and a paper position detection means for detecting the position and width of the printing paper from this detection means. a comparison means for comparing the data corresponding to the data and the data length to be printed for one line transferred by the computer; a printing prohibition means for prohibiting the printing operation of the printing mechanism section based on the comparison result; It consists of a printing prohibition reporting means that notifies the electronic computer that the means has been activated, and when the printing command from the computer is a printing command outside the printable area, the printing mechanism section prohibits the printing operation, and the electronic A printing control method characterized by notifying a computer of prohibition of printing operation of a printing mechanism section.