JPS6116881A - Electronic typewriter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To omit a time required for returning a printing ribbon to an original printing character position, and to increase the speed of printing as a whole by selectively setting a delay time when the printing ribbon stops at the position of printing after the input operation of a key. CONSTITUTION:When a character code is inputted at a time t0, a printing ribbon is lifted up to the position of printing at a time t1, and a printing wheel motor 15 starts its revolution. A printing wheel 14 is turned, a printing type 12 corresponding to the character code reaches to the position of printing of a platen 3, a hammer solenoid 16 is driven at a time t2, and characters are printed onto printing paper 13. The output operation of printing is completed, a carriage motor 30 starts its revolution at a time t3, a carriage 10 reaches to the next printing output position at a time t4, and the counting of the time elapsed TC is started. When a delay time is set at long TX (500ms), the position of the printing ribbon lowers to the position of waiting at a time t5 after 500ms elapses. When the next character code is inputted before the delay time elapses, the printing ribbon does not lower to the position of waiting at the time t5, and continues to keep the position of printing.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an electronic typewriter in which a grace period during which a printing ribbon remains at a printing position after a key input operation can be selected and set. .

[Technical background of the invention and its problems] Generally, in electronic typewriters that use a printing wheel as a printing mechanism, numbers provided on the keyboard,
When a character key such as an alphabetic character or a symbol is entered, the keyed-in number, alphabetic character, or symbol is once converted into a corresponding character code.

Then, based on this character code, the print wheel is rotated by the print wheel motor so that the print of the character corresponding to the character code faces the print paper set on the platen. At the same time, the printing ribbon hits the type on the printing wheel and the platen! - Raise the ribbon position from the standby position to the printing position so that it is interposed between the printed printing papers. Further, the carriage equipped with the printing mechanism is moved left and right so that the characters on the printing wheel are at the printing position on the printing paper. After that, the hammer solenoid is driven to send the characters on the print wheel to the platen through the print ribbon.
When you tap on the printed printing paper, the key-entered characters] -
The character corresponding to the code is printed on the printing paper.

In an electronic typewriter configured in this way,
To reduce the response time from keystroke to printout, the print ribbon remains elevated in the printing position while successive keystrokes are performed. However, if the next key input operation is not executed within a certain grace period after one key input operation, the printing ribbon is returned to the standby position to make it easier to check the characters that have just been printed out. . Normally, the grace period is fixed to a constant value for each type of electronic typewriter.

However, electronic typewriters with a fixed grace period as described above have the following problems. In other words, the above grace period is such that the printing ribbon remains in the printing position while the expert is continuously keying in one word or sentence at the normal keying speed;
When the key input operation is interrupted at the moment when the key input of one word is finished and the next word is finished, or the moment when one sentence is finished and the key input is moved to the next sentence, the printing ribbon returns to the standby position. Put it away. Usually, the typist checks the printed characters when the printing ribbon returns to the above-mentioned standby position. However, when creating sentences that do not require character confirmation after printing, such as familiar idioms or less important formal sentences, the printing ribbon When the ribbon goes down to the standby position and returns to the printing position, it takes a certain amount of time for the printing ribbon to go down to the standby position and return to the original printing position, so 1. As a result, the response time from the time of key input operation to the time when characters are actually printed out increases. Therefore, there was a problem that the overall printing speed decreased. Further, there was also the problem that the noise accompanying the vertical movement of the printing ribbon became louder than necessary.

On the other hand, with electronic typewriters that have a long grace period in order to achieve the above purpose, an expert who is fast at key input operations should immediately check the printed characters after printing out a certain number of words (111 inches). In this case, since it takes a long time for the print ribbon to come down after a key input operation, the time required to confirm characters increases. Therefore, it is necessary to wait until the ribbon position is lowered, which again poses the problem of lowering the overall printing speed.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and its purpose is to select and set the grace period during which the printing ribbon remains at the printing position after key input operation. The electronic type virtually stops the shifting operation of the printing ribbon for texts that do not require confirmation of printed characters, allowing for high-speed and low-noise printing operations, while allowing immediate confirmation of texts that require confirmation. Our goal is to provide writers.

[Part E of the Invention] The electronic typewriter of the present invention is provided with a selection means for selecting and setting the grace period during which the printing ribbon remains at the printing position after the key input operation, and the key input operation of the key input operation When the elapsed time until the time exceeds the grace period selected by the selection means, the shift mechanism moves the printing ribbon from the printing position to the standby position.

[Embodiment of the Invention] An electronic typewriter according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the electronic typewriter of the embodiment, and numeral 1 in the figure is a housing. A keyboard 2 is provided on the front surface of the housing 1, and a platen 3 for setting printing paper is incorporated inside the housing 1.

The keyboard 2 includes alphabet keys 4. In addition to character keys such as numeric keys 5, various function keys such as a space key 6, a carriage return key 7, and a code key 8 are arranged.

A printing mechanism as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 3 is housed in the housing 1. As shown in FIG. That is, 9 in the figure is a carriage shaft provided parallel to the axis of the platen 3, and a carriage 10 is movably attached to this carriage shaft 9. A print wheel 14 is attached to a frame 11 of a carriage 10 so that printed characters 12 formed at its tip face a print sheet 13 set on a platen 3. This printing wheel 14 is rotationally driven by a printing wheel motor 15. Also, a printing wheel 1 is placed above the frame 11.
Printing paper 13 with printed characters 12 set on platen 3
A hammer solenoid 16 is attached to the hammer solenoid 16 for striking. Further, one end of a support frame 18 on which a ribbon cassette 17 containing a print ribbon is mounted is rotatably supported by the carriage 10. A ribbon feed motor 19 and an electromagnetic solenoid 20 for vertically rotating the support frame 18 are attached to the lower surface of the support frame 18.

When the electromagnetic solenoid 20 is energized, the support frame 1
8 is raised, the ribbon cassette 17 is turned up to the position shown by the dotted line in the figure, and the printing ribbon is interposed between the type 12 and the printing 13 set on the platen 3. The support frame 18, the electromagnetic solenoid 20 and the ribbon force set 1
17 constitute a printing ribbon shift mechanism 21.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electronic typewriter. In the figure, 22 is a CPU (
central processing unit). This CPU 22 is connected to a print wheel 14 corresponding to each character via a data bus 23.
ROM 21 for storing fixed data such as the rotational position of the keyboard 2; RAM 25 for temporarily storing various variable data entered from the keyboard 2; H that drives the hammer solenoid 16
, solenoid drive circuit 26. The printing ribbon shift mechanism 21. Keyboard 2. Controls a motor drive control circuit 27 for driving and controlling various motors. Also, C.P.L.
A clock signal from the clock signal oscillator 28 is input to the clock input terminal GK of the I22, and an interrupt signal having a period TA is input from the clock signal oscillator 28 to the interrupt input terminal TNT.

The motor drive control circuit 27 includes a paper feed motor 29 connected to the platen 3 and for feeding the printing paper 13.
．． A carriage motor 30 for controlling the movement of the carriage 10. Ribbon feed motor 19, printing wheel motor 1
5 is connected.

In addition to the above-mentioned variable data, the RA and M 25 include an elapsed time counter RA1 for measuring the elapsed time T and C after key input operations on character keys such as the alphabetic keys 4 and numeric keys 5 on the keyboard 2. ．． An area RA2 is formed to store a delay flag indicating that the grace period during which the printing ribbon remains at the printing position after inputting a character key on the keyboard 2 is selectively set to TX (approximately 500+ns). .

Note that when the delay flag is not set to 1, the grace period is selectively set to TY (approximately 100+ns).

The CPLI 22 starts the clock signal oscillator 28 . Each time an interrupt signal with a period of TA is input to the interrupt input terminal INT, interrupt processing is executed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, when an interrupt signal with a period TA is input, the elapsed time T of the elapsed time counter RA1 in the RAM 25 is input.
After adding the above period TA to O, select keyboard 2 at Pl.
Check whether key input information from . When key input information is input, it is checked in P2 whether the key input information is a character code by character keys such as alphabet keys 4 and numeric keys 5. If it is not a character code,
It is determined that the keys are various function keys such as code key 8. Then, if the function key is a key for selecting and setting the grace period to the longer TX (500ms), set the delay flag in area 1fiRA2 of RAM25 to 1.
Set to . Also, if the key is to cancel the grace period from 50 (1+s to the normal 10Qa+s), it clears the delay flag in the area RA2 to O.Also, it is not a set key or a cancel key, but a carriage return key 7 or a tab set key. If it is another function key such as , the key input process corresponding to that key is executed.

If the key input information is a character code to be printed out at P2, it is checked from the position of the ribbon cassette 17 via the shifts 1 to m horizontal 21 whether or not the printing ribbon is located at the upper side, which is the printing position, If it is located at the lower standby position, a ribbon raising command is sent to shifter 1 to mechanism 21. Upon receiving the ribbon raising command, the shift mechanism 21 energizes the electromagnetic solenoid 20 to raise the support frame 18 on which the ribbon cassette 17 is placed, so that the printing ribbon moves between the type 12 of the printing wheel 14 and the printing paper 13. to intervene.

Then, the printing wheel 14 is controlled to rotate so that the printed characters 12 corresponding to the character code face the printing paper 13 set on the platen 3. Next, a drive signal is sent to the H, solenoid drive circuit 26, and the hammer solenoid 16 is
is driven to print out characters corresponding to the character code on the printing paper 13. Then, the carriage motor 30 is driven to move the carriage 10 to the next print output position, and the RA
The elapsed time TO of the elapsed time counter RA1 in M25 is cleared to O, and the printing output work for one character code is completed. Therefore, it has an input for the next interrupt signal.

If there is no key input information in Pl, proceed to P3 and store RAM2.
Check the value of the delay flag in area RA2 of No.5. If the delay flag is set to 1, it is checked whether the elapsed time TC of the elapsed time counter RA1 has reached the longer grace period TX (500 ms).

When the printing ribbon reaches the printing position, after confirming that the printing ribbon is located at the printing position, a ribbon lowering command is sent to the shifter 1 and the mechanism 21 to return the printing ribbon to the standby position.

Note that if the elapsed time TC has not reached the grace time TX or if the printing ribbon has already returned to the standby position, the next interrupt signal is input as is.

On the other hand, if the delay flag is cleared to O at P3,
It is checked whether the elapsed time TC of the elapsed time counter RA1 has reached the normal grace time TY (100 ms). When the printing ribbon reaches the printing position, after confirming that the printing ribbon is at the printing position, a ribbon lowering command is sent to the shift mechanism 21,
Return the printing ribbon to the standby position. Note that if the elapsed time TC has not reached the grace time TY or if the printing ribbon has already returned to the standby position, the next interrupt signal is input as is.

In the electronic tie flyer configured in this manner, when a character code is input from the keyboard 2 at time to as shown in FIG. 5, the printing ribbon rises to the printing position and the printing wheel motor 15 rotates at time t1. Start. After the printing wheel 14 rotates and the printed characters 12 corresponding to the character code reach the printing position on the platen 3, the hammer solenoid 16 is driven at time t2 and the characters are printed onto the printing paper 13. When the print output operation is completed, the carriage motor 30 starts rotating at time t3. At the same time as the carriage 10 reaches the next print output position at time t4, measurement of the elapsed time TC is started. When the grace period is set to the longer TX (500 ms), the print ribbon position is lowered to the standby position at time t5 after 500 m5ll has passed. Note that if the next character code is input as shown by the dotted line in the figure before the grace period has elapsed, the printing ribbon does not go down to the standby position at time t5 and continues to hold the printing position.

With an electronic typewriter configured in this way, code key 8, etc. can be used to create sentences that do not require confirmation of characters after they are printed, such as familiar idioms or less important formal sentences. Set the delay flag in area RA2 of RAM 25 to 1 by operating the specified function key.
If set to 500IIIS, the grace period is set to 500IIIS, which has a longer grace period. In this state, the printing ribbon continues to maintain a substantially raised state while the expert performs key input operations continuously. Therefore, even if the key input operation is interrupted for a very short time at the moment when the key input for one sentence ends and moves on to the next word, or at the moment when one sentence ends and moves on to the next sentence, It is possible to prevent the printing ribbon from returning to the standby position. Therefore, the time required for the printing ribbon to go down to the standby position and return to the original printed character position can be omitted, so the overall printing speed can be increased. Further, noise associated with vertical movement of the printing ribbon can also be reduced.

On the other hand, after printing out a certain number of words,
If you need to immediately check the characters that you have written, clear the delay flag in area RA2 to 0 by pressing the function key to clear the delay flag in area RA2 and use the normal T, Y (100n+
Return to s). In this state, when key input operation is interrupted at the moment when one single 8Ii key input ends and moves to the next IN word, or at the moment when one sentence ends and moves to the next sentence, the print The ribbon returns to its standby position.

Therefore, the typist can immediately check the printed characters when the printing ribbon returns to the standby position.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. In the example, the delay flag in the area RA2 of the RAM 25 is set by key input operation of a certain function key or combination key input operation as a selection means for selecting and setting the grace time. , the keyboard 2 is equipped with a separate switch to switch the grace time,
The grace period may be determined based on the closed state of this changeover switch.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to select and set the grace period during which the printing ribbon remains at the printing position after a key input operation. Therefore, by virtually stopping the shifting operation of the printing ribbon for sentences that do not require confirmation of printed characters, high-speed and low-noise printing operations can be achieved. On the other hand, for sentences that require confirmation of the printed characters, the printed characters can be immediately confirmed by moving the printing ribbon up and down within the normal grace period. As a result, the printing speed can be increased in any state.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an electronic typewriter according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a block diagram, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the whole, Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the main parts, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation, and FIG. 5 is a time chart showing the operation. 2... Keyboard, 3... Platen, 4... Alphabet keys, 5... Number keys, 6... Space key, 8...
... Code key, 10 ... Carriage, 12 ... Type, 13 ... Print paper, 14 ... Print wheel, 1
5...Print wheel motor, 16...Hammer solenoid, 17...Ribbon force set 1~. 19... Ribbon feed motor, 21... Shift mechanism, 22... CP
U125...RAM1RA1...Elapsed time counter. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue 171

Claims (1)

[Claims] The characters corresponding to the character code inputted from the keyboard are struck on the printing paper via the printing ribbon that is moved from the standby position to the printing position by the shift mechanism, thereby printing out the characters corresponding to the character code. In the electronic typewriter, the electronic typewriter comprises: a selection means for selecting and setting a grace period during which the printing ribbon remains at the printing position after a key input operation; a time measurement means for measuring the elapsed time after the key input operation; and the time measurement means. and means for sending a command to move the printing ribbon to a standby position to the shift mechanism when the grace period selected by the selection means is counted before the next key input operation. Typewriter.