JPS61143172A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the kind of a character generator currently fitted to be known, by a method wherein a specified symbol peculiar to a character generator is stored at a specified address in the character generator, and the specified symbol is printed in an area preceding a test printing region when performing test printing. CONSTITUTION:In an initial setting routine, clearing of a RAM10, reading of dip switches 5 and the like are performed, and it is judged whether or not test printing is to be performed. With a paper-feeding switch 4 depressed and a test printing command given when a power source is thrown in, a test printing mode is set, and an expression 'PRINTER 2154 REV:435 (0)' is printed on a recording paper 19. The symbol '(0)' printed last is the specified symbol 18 indicative of the content of a character generator ROM8, and is changed when the ROM8 is replaced. The symbol is obtained by printing the content of a specified address in the ROM8 at which a character '0' is stored in ASCII code.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer equipped with a test printing function.

2. Description of the Related Art In general, many printers are capable of performing test printing in order to check the overall operating state of the printer. The content of this test printing is a combination of specific characters and symbols, which are printed solidly over the entire surface of the recording paper.

In addition, there is a desire to use a variety of characters in printers, so a plurality of types of character generators can be exchanged.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention The fact that the character generator is replaceable means that it can meet various user demands. When it becomes unknown, a computer must be used to find out the type of character generator, which is cumbersome.

Measures to solve the problem: Store a specific symbol unique to the character generator at a specific address on the character generator, and when test printing on recording paper, print the character currently attached to the previous stage of the test printing area. Print the specific symbol of the generator.

To know the type of character generator installed in the machine, perform test printing in the test print mode, and a specific symbol for the character generator will appear in front of the test print area, allowing you to easily know the type.

Embodiment First, the printer body 1 shown in FIG. 2 has an 0N10FF line switch 2 on the top surface for setting whether or not to use it in online specification, a form feed switch 3 for feeding form paper, and a paper feed switch 4. It is arranged. Further, a dip switch 5 covered with a cover (not shown) is provided on the side surface of the printer main body 1.

This DIP switch 5 consists of a set of eight Swl and a set of four SW2.

Next, the internal circuit will be explained based on FIG.

First, master CPU6 and CPU2 displayed as CPUI
A slave CPU 7 is provided. The master CPU 6 receives and edits print data, generates test data, reads various switches, and processes the same, and converts the print code into a dot pattern and sends it to the slave cPU 7. It also sends feed commands. Further, connected to the master CPU 6 are a replaceable ROM 8 that functions as a character generator, a program ROM 9 and a RAM 10, a receiving circuit 11 that receives print data from an external circuit, and an input circuit 12. The ON/○FF line switch 2 is connected to this human power circuit 12 via a flip-flop 13, and the form feed switch 3, the paper feed switch 4, and the DIP switch 5 are connected, respectively. There is.

Further, a driver 14 is connected to the slave CPU 7, and a print head 15, a carrier motor 16, and a paper feed motor 17 are connected to this driver 14.

The operation of such a configuration will be explained based on FIG. 4. First, in the initial setting routine, RAM 10 is cleared, dip switch 5 is read, etc. Then, it is determined whether test printing is to be performed or not. This test print setting is done without using a special switch, and if the paper feed switch 4 is pressed when the power is turned on,
Test printing is performed, and test printing is not performed unless the paper feed switch 4 is pressed.

Now, if it is not a test print, then in the normal routine,
When online, it receives data, prints the data, and feeds paper. Moreover, if it is not online, the paper is fed by operating the paper feed switch 4, and the form paper is fed by operating the form feed switch 3.

Next, as mentioned above, if the paper feed switch 4 is pressed and a test print command is given when the power is turned on, the test print mode is entered and the PRINTER2154REV
:43 is printed on the recording paper 18.

Here, rPRINTER2154J is the link number, and rREV:435J is the program number.

The last printed r(0)J is a specific symbol 18 indicating the contents of the ROM 8 of the character generator, and changes by replacing this ROM 8. This is a part where the characters rOJ are stored in ASCm at a specific address in the ROM8. Therefore, if the ROM 8 is replaced, the displayed contents will change. For example, "0" is the standard character generator,
Different contents are displayed using specific symbols such as "rl" and "r2".

Next, on the recording paper 19, an open/close display section 20 for displaying the on/off open/close state of the dip switch 5 and an explanation section 21 for displaying the contents thereof are printed.

Now, it will be explained separately into SWI and SW2.

First, the opening/closing display section 20 of the dip switch 5 called SWl
If the explanation part 21 and the explanation part 21 are shown in succession, it will be as follows.

Here, rcR==cRJ means carriage return, and is a state in which line feed is not performed during printing. Further, rCR=CR+LFJ means a state in which a line feed is performed together with a carriage return.

Since the first DIP switch 5 is now set to "1", the specifications are set to allow line feed.

Next, "rb it" is the number of bits, and since the second dip switch 5 is set to "1", it is set to 8 bits.

Furthermore, the third to fifth dip switches 5
The transfer rate (bit/5econd) is shown by . Now, this transfer rate is roOOJ, so ll
It is 0 BPS.

Further, the sixth to eighth dip switches 5 are used to set the destination country, and in this case, rll
Since it is lJ, it is destined for Spain.

Next, the setting state of the dip switch 5 of SW2 will be explained.

Here, the first dip switch 5 represents the line feed amount, and the second and third dip switches 5 represent the length of one page.

Furthermore, the fourth dip switch 5 indicates the degree of perforation skipping.

In this way, in test printing, after printing the status of the dip switch 5 and its explanation, a normal test pattern is printed on the test printing area 22 of the recording paper 19.

Effects of the Invention The present invention stores a specific symbol unique to the character generator at a specific address of the character generator as described above, and prints the specific symbol of the character generator at the front of the test printing area during test printing. Therefore, it is possible to easily know which character generator is currently installed, which eliminates the need for a host machine such as a computer, and allows anyone to check the character generator.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of recording paper on which test printing has been performed, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the printer, Fig. 3 is a block diagram, and Fig. 4 is a flow chart. . 8...ROM (character generator), 18...
・Specific symbol, 19...Recording paper, 22...Test printing area Application Person: Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd.-420 = Procedural amendment band (voluntary) January 22, 1985 Patent application by Manabu Shiga, Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office Showa 59-2
65996 No. 2, Title of invention Printer 4, Agent No. 107 No. 6, Amendment subject to patent application No. 1987-265996 Regarding this application, the statement in the description is amended as follows. . Note 1, page 8, line 6 of the main text, "1" is corrected to rOJ. 2. In the 7th line of the main text on page 8, "will be done" will be corrected to "will not be done." 3. Correct the "1" in the 10th line of the text on page 8 to "0". 4. Correct "8 bits" in the 11th line of the text on page 8 to "7 bits".

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a printer that can replaceably install a special character generator in addition to a standard character generator, and performs test printing based on a test printing command,
A specific symbol unique to the character generator is stored at a specific address of the character generator, and the specific symbol of the character generator currently installed is printed on the front stage of the test printing area of the recording paper. printer.