JPS5962160A - Dot printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a dot printer capable of leaving no trace of print by warming-up operation by using a system in which dot pins are driven with a drive force to the extent unable to print to detect that no trace of print is left behind on a printing medium, and normal characters are printed. CONSTITUTION:To a dot printer driver 9, a period signal corresponding to nearly 1/3 of printing timing signal necessary for pinting characters by pressing a slip by dot pins is given, and warming-up operation is made by returning the driver 9 just before dot pins press the slip. After verifying that no print trace is left behind on the slip 21 on the basis of the output of a print detection circuit 19 as a result of pre-printing, a printing permission signal is given to the dot printer driver 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dot printer, and more particularly to a dot printer that prints characters as dots using a print head in which dot bins are arranged, for example, in multiple columns and rows.

Description of the Prior Art A conventional dot printer prints a character for each digit by moving a print head in which dot bins are arranged in a vertical line in the line direction of a print sheet. Each dot bin passes through a hole formed in the guide and presses an ink ribbon or pressure sensitive paper to print a desired character. However, when pressing the ink ribbon, ink particles adhere to the holes in the guide, and when pressing pressure-sensitive paper, paper particles adhere to the holes in the guide, resulting in the dot bin not moving smoothly. . This causes printing defects, particularly when printing characters on the first digit of one line. However, when the dot bin is pressed to return to its original position when printing the first digit character, the ink particles and paper particles adhering to the guide hole are removed, and the characters from the second digit onwards are normal. is printed on.

As described above, in conventional dot printers, only the first digit character is often printed poorly, which is a problem. Therefore, before printing the first digit character, we may consider warming up the dot printer by test hitting a dot bin in a place other than the printing field on the slip, and configuring it so that all characters can be printed correctly. It will be done. However, a new problem arises in that even though it is outside the printing margin, traces of printing that do not represent any meaning other than characters remain and are unsightly. Particularly when a slip can serve as evidence for a commercial transaction, it is undesirable for even a slight print mark to remain, even if it is outside the print margin.

Therefore, when warming up a dot printer, it is conceivable to return the dot bin just before it presses the ink ribbon or pressure-sensitive paper. According to this method, the dot printer can be warmed up without leaving unsightly print marks on the slip.

However, due to changes in ambient temperature, for example, the dot bin may not stop immediately before pressing the ink ribbon or pressure-sensitive paper, leaving print marks outside the print margin. In such a case, even if the method described above is used, unsightly print marks will remain on the slip. Further, such problems occur not only due to the influence of the surrounding density, but also when the dot bins protrude too much due to a malfunction of the dot printer. In this case, when printing regular characters, the printing pressure on the dot bin becomes extremely large, which may cause problems such as the dot bin being bent or the slip being perforated.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer that is free from the possibility of leaving print marks due to warming-up performed before the start of regular printing.

Structure and Effects of the Invention To summarize, the present invention drives a dot bin with a driving force that prevents printing before printing regular characters on a print medium, and the drive at that time leaves print marks on the print medium. This system detects that the characters do not occur, and in response to the detection, allows printing of regular characters.

According to the invention, it is possible to prevent the dot bins from operating smoothly due to ink particles or paper particles adhering to the guides of the bins. Also,
Even if the ton 1 to the bin are driven before printing the characters, no print marks remain on the print medium, so the unsightly appearance can be eliminated. Furthermore, even if print marks are left on the print medium due to changes in temperature or environment or abnormalities in the equipment, further printing will not be permitted, so such unsightly print media can be prevented from being handed over to customers. I can do it.

Hereinafter, this invention will be explained in more detail along with the actual tMI+A shown in the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the structure of a dot bin to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. In the figure, seven dot bins are arranged on the print head 16 in the row direction (11 directions), and one character is printed by moving the print head 16 nine times in the column direction (horizontal direction). That is, one character is printed by printing in nine rows so that the dot bins overlap by approximately 1/2 in the horizontal direction.

Then, the next digit's 17 characters are printed through the space of five columns. After printing characters of a predetermined number of digits, the print head 16 returns to the print start position, and the printing paper is fed to proceed to the printing operation for the next line.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of a driver 1-printer used in a slip issuing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the structure, CPLJl as a control means included in the slip issuing machine controls printing of the driver 1-printer according to a program stored in a read-only memory (ROM) 2. A front Ea ROM 2, a random access memory (RAM>3, a timer 5, and an input/output capotro) are connected to the CPU 1 via a data bus 4.

RAM 3 G, I: Stores print data printed by a dot printer. The print data stored in the RAM 3 is read out by the CPU 1 and given to the input/output capotro. A print initial position sensor 10 and a print end position sensor 1 are installed at the input/output capotro.
1 is connected. The print initial position sensor 10 detects the initial position of the print head 16, and the print end position sensor 11 detects the position when printing of data on each line of printing paper is completed. C.P.
When the LII receives detection signals from the print initial position sensor 10 and the print end position sensor 11 via the input/output capotro, it determines in which direction, left or right, the print head 16 should be moved. Based on the determination result, the CPU 1 provides a print motor signal to the print motor drive circuit 12 via the input/output h-board 6. The print motor drive circuit 12 determines the rotation direction of the motor 13 based on the print motor signal.

A tough generator 14 is directly connected to the motor 13 and derives an output signal according to the rotation of the motor 13. This output signal is given to a waveform shaping circuit 15 and waveform-shaped into a pulse signal. This pulse signal is set so that one pulse corresponds to one dot l-k printed on the dot bin. A pulse signal output from the waveform shaping circuit 15 is given to a counter 7 and a timer 5. The counter 7 counts the pulse signals and outputs the print data of one character to the driver 1.
It is given to the character generator 8 for printing as a count signal for decomposition into -, and a print digit signal indicating that printing of one character has been completed is given to the input/output capotro.

The tie 75 inputs the navigation pulse signal, counts the appropriate time for the dot bin to press the printing paper, and uses the counted output as a print timing signal to be sent to the dot printer driver 9.
give to The print data read from the RAM 3 is input to the character generator 8 via the input/output capotro. The character generator 8 supplies character data decomposed into 'C dots based on the count output signal given from the counter 7 to the dot printer driver 9.

The dot printer driver 9 controls each driver (
- One character is printed by driving the necessary dot bins among the bins.

On the other hand, on the printing paper 21, there are provided a light source 17 that illuminates the outside of the printing margin of the printing M121, and an optical character reading device 18 that reads the light from the light source reflected by the printing paper 21. Therefore, if there is even a slight print trace outside the print margin, the light reflected by the print trace is read by the character reading device 18. A read signal from the character reading device 18 is given to a print detection circuit 19. Based on the read output of the character reading device 18, this print detection circuit 19
This detects whether or not there is a print mark outside the print margin of the print paper 20. The detection output of this print detection circuit 43 is given to the CPU 1 via an input/output capotro. Further, control signals necessary for the operation of the print detection circuit 19 are given from the CPU 1 to the print detection circuit 19 via an input/output capotro.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of printing paper used in an embodiment of the present invention. , with reference to FIG.
A necessary printing column 22 is preprinted in the printing column 22, and a character 23 is printed in this printing column 22 by the driver 1 printer. In the slip 21 shown in FIG. 3, the sensors 11 are arranged corresponding to the print processing position @ 25 and the print end position 26. The slip 21 has a sprocket hole 27 for feeding the slip.
．． 28 is formed. The position of the first character to be printed in the printing field 22 is the 3rd digit (however, the 3rd digit has a frame printed in advance, so it is blank and does not contain 53 characters), and the 1st and 2nd digits are It is considered to be outside the printing area.

When printing one line of characters on such a slip 21, the following operation is performed. However, the print head 16 is always stopped at the initial printing position 25. In this state, a forward rotation signal (not shown in FIG. 2) is given to the print motor 13 to move the print head 16 in the printing direction, and the printing position of the first character, that is, 3.
Wait until you reach the digit. When the print head 16 reaches the print position, print data is given to it and starts printing.

When the required number of digits have been printed, print motor 1
3 continues to move further, and the print head 16 is stopped at the print end position 26. Then, in preparation for printing the next line, the print head 16 is moved back to print 1 to initial position 2.
5 and feed the printing paper 21.

4A and 4B are waveform diagrams of each part of FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a flow diagram for explaining the specific operation of an embodiment of the present invention.

Next, the specific operation of one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. In the initial state, the print head 16 is stopped at the initial print position 25. In this state, the CPIJl provides a command signal to the print motor drive circuit 12 via the input/output capotro. Then, the print motor drive circuit 12 rotates the print motor 13 in the normal rotation direction. In response, the print motor 13 moves the print head 16 in the printing direction.

Further, the CPU 1 provides a blank as print data to the character generator 8, and also provides a print permission signal to the dot printer driver 9.

At this time, the CPU generates a timing signal of approximately 17"3, which is the normal printing timing, based on the program stored in the ROM 2, and sets it in the timer 5. In other words, the dot bin presses the printing paper 21. The timer 5 is set to an II signal that is approximately 1/3 of the period required to print a character.

In this way, the -c1 print l tod moves in the printing direction without the chitractor to print. Print head 1
6 begins to move away from the initial print position M25, the print motor generator 14 outputs a pulse signal as the print motor 13 rotates.

This pulse signal is waveform-shaped by a waveform shaping circuit 15 and then applied to the counter 7. Counter 7 starts counting pulse signals. At this time, CPLJl waits until a print digit signal is given from the counter 7. In this embodiment, the second digit of the print digit signal is the margin position of the slip 21, and in the conventional dot printer, it simply runs idle.

However, in this embodiment, no printing is performed at the 1st digit print character position (blank is printed), and the 1st digit print digit signal does not indicate that the printing for the 1st digit print character position is completed. When the print character position of the second digit is pre-printed, the driver 1-pin of the head (') is driven to perform pre-printing.

Here, pre-printing refers to printing data on the printing paper 21.
This refers to driving the dot bin in an area other than the printing field 22 to remove ink particles or paper particles adhering to the guide of the driver bin before printing the 11th character.

When the CPU i receives a print digit signal from the counter 7, it determines whether the print digit signal is a print signal of the second digit or lower. If the print digit signal is the first digit, pre-print data is given to the character generator 8. and,
At the print character position of the second digit, even if the dot printer driver 9 receives a print timing signal from the timer 5-, the dot printer driver 9 knows the period and prints the document immediately before the print timing signal without the driver 1-bin pressing the slip 21. I'm back. That is, the dot bin performs a printing operation, but pre-prints one character without printing a set number on the slip 21 and completes the so-called warming-up. When the CPU 1 is given the second digit print digit signal, it again gives one rank of print data to the character generator 8. This prohibits any characters from being printed at the third digit print character position on the slip 21.

Next, the CPU 1 determines, based on the output of the print detection circuit 19, whether or not there is a trace of the letter L1 outside the print area of the slip 21. In other words, it is checked whether or not the pre-printing at the second digit print character position on the slip 21 did not leave any unnecessary print marks. If pre-printing is performed normally and there is no printing trace, the waveform diagram of the output of the printing detection circuit 19 will be shown as a solid line in FIG. 4A. On the other hand, if there is an abnormality in the pre-printing and printing traces remain,
The waveform diagram of the output of the print detection circuit 19 is as shown by the dotted line J in FIG. 4A. Here, if there is an abnormality in the pre-printing, the CPU 1 stops further printing on the slip 2] and performs abnormality processing according to a separately prepared program. In this abnormality processing, for example, the slip 21 with a pre-print trace is collected, the slip 21 is updated, and printing is performed this time without performing the pre-print 111 operation.

Subsequently, when the CPU 1 is given the print digit signal of the third digit, it outputs the first data to be printed /i+.

At this time, the CPU 1 calculates the regular printing timing period and sets it in the timer 5 according to the program stored in the ROM 2. That is, a signal for the period necessary for the dot bin to press the slip 21 and print the characters is set in the tire 5. Then, based on the character data given from the character generator 8, the print head 16 is driven at the print timing given from the timer 5 to print a predetermined character. When the count output is given, it is determined whether it is the last digit, that is, the 0 digit.If it is not the last digit, the print data corresponding to the print digit signal output from ly round 7 is set in the input/output capotro, and the print data is When the print digit signal of the last digit is received, the print permission signal applied to the dot blink driver 9 is disabled. When given, a command is given to the print motor drive circuit 12 to stop the pudding mill Tanabata 13.

All of them provide command signals to the print motor drive circuit 12 to reverse the print motor 13.

1;i>U;-U, print motor drive circuit, 1
2 is the print head 16 by reversing the print head 13.
is moved in the direction of pudding 1 to initial position 25. When the print head 16 returns to the initial print position 25, the initial print position sensor 10 detects the print head 16. This detection signal is given to the CPU 1 via the input/output capotro. When the CPU 1 receives the detection signal, it gives a command signal to the print motor drive circuit 12 to stop the print motor 13. The printer 1 to motor drive circuit 12 responds to the command signal to stop the printer 13 and complete the series of operations.

As mentioned above, according to this real 1M example, is the first Ki 1 in kl?
Before printing characters, a signal is given to the dot printer driver 9 for a period of approximately 1/3 of the print timing signal required for the printer driver 9 to press the slip 21 and print the characters. By returning the slip 21 just before pushing it, ink particles, paper particles, etc. adhering to the kite of the drive pin can be removed. Therefore, printing defects of the first character after printing starts can be eliminated, and printing quality can be maintained stably for a long period of time. In addition, when the dot bin is driven 1lIJ-J before printing the first character, the dot bin is pressed with enough energy to prevent the dot bin from pressing the tag 2-1.
Since the bins are driven, there is no possibility that print marks will be left on the transmission M21 during so-called A-ming up. In addition, since we started printing after confirming that no print marks remained on the pre-printing result slip 21, even if there was a change in the temperature or dam, Traces remain - (Also, that Yozuna l11g is MW'
＼You can prevent it from being passed on.

In the above-described embodiment, the slip 2 is printed while the print head 16 is moved during so-called warming).
Although the dot bin is driven so as not to press the dot bin 1, the dot bin may be driven to cover the dot bins with the print head stopped.

In addition, the character reading device 18 can detect 11 characters over 11T of Den B21, or can detect only the characters in the area where the pre-printing operation is performed. -4; 1 may be formed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the overturning of a dot bin to which one embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of printing paper used in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A J3 and FIG. 4B are waveform diagrams of each part of FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the specific operation of one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is the CPU, 2 is the RO to 1.3 is the RAM,
5 is a timer, 6 is an input/output capo, 1-17 is a counter, 8 is a character generator, 9 is a dot printer driver, 16 is a print head, 12 is a print motor drive circuit,
13 is a printed Tanabata, 14 is a tacho generator, 18
1 is an optical character reading device, and 19 is a print detection circuit. Patent applicant Tateishi i! Reki Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A chileractor is constituted by a dot pattern in which a plurality of dots are arranged in a matrix shape in a first direction and a plurality of dots in a second direction, and at least the first
A dot printer that prints the crystallizer by pressing each dot onto a print medium while moving a print head in which a plurality of drive bottles are arranged in the second direction, at least the printing Apply a proper key to the printing area of the media.
Immediately before printing the r character, means for driving each dot bin with a driving force such that printing is not performed on the printing medium, a character reading means for reading the r character printed on the printing medium, and the character reading means. means for detecting, based on the output of the dot bin driving means, that no print marks are generated on the print medium as a result of driving the dot bin by the dot bin drive means; A dot printer equipped with means for allowing printing of regular characters. (2) The driver/bin driving means includes a timer means capable of setting a time; means for setting a signal for a period shorter than the period required for the dot bin to press the printing medium to the timer means; and the timer means. 2. The dot printer according to claim 1, further comprising means for driving said dot bin based on a period signal set in said means. (3) The dot printer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the character reading means includes means for optically reading the characters.