JPS61185479A - Automatic margin setter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a printer having simplified operability for preparatory operations by a method in which the front face of a recording paper is scanned by an optical means and the left- and right-handed margins of a recording paper set are automatically set up. CONSTITUTION:The carriage 2 of a printer moves from home position to the right direction, and the left end of a recording paper 9 is detected. Whereupon, the values of counter N are stored in M1 area of RAM. When the right end of the paper is further detected, the value is stored in M2 area, and the carriage 2 is restored to the home position. Arithmetic results (m) of M2-M1 are sent to the main CPU11 by the carriage CPU13. CPU11 makes a reference to paper size data stored previously in ROM table 18 to determine the size of paper inserted into the device, and according to the paper sizes, the values alpha and betaof left- and right-handed margins are sent out to CPU13. In the CPU13, calculation of M1+alpha and M2-beta is made and set in a format memory 19 through CPU11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to a device that can automatically set the left and right margin positions of recording paper inserted along the platen of a printer.

<Prior Art> When inserting recording paper into a printer such as a typewriter, it is necessary to perform accurate positioning (left alignment) and insert it in that position, which makes the setting operation cumbersome. Even when the sizes are different (for example, A4, B5.84, etc.), it is necessary to set the left and right margins each time.

Therefore, the operator is required to manually align the recording paper and specify the line format, which is very cumbersome to operate.

<Purpose> The present invention is intended to provide a printer that is convenient to handle by eliminating the need for accurate positioning (left alignment) and manual setting of left and right margins when setting recording paper, especially in positions along the platen. A printer that detects the positions of the left and right edges of the inserted recording paper from the reference position and the size of the loaded recording paper, and automatically sets the left and right margins by the amount determined by these. We also provide an automatic margin setting device.

<Embodiment> FIG. 1 is an external view showing the main part configuration of a printer according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the configuration of FIG. 1.

In these figures, 1 is a platen connected to a rotation mechanism, 2 is a carriage that faces the platen l and reciprocates on a support shaft 3.3 in the axial direction of the platen l, and 4 is an axis parallel to the platen 1. This paper presser device is equipped with a plurality of presser rollers 6.6 which are rotatable at 5 and slidable in the axial direction.

The carriage 4 is equipped with a rotary wheel 7 carrying type, a hammer means 8 for stamping the desired type in the direction of the recording paper when the desired type on the rotary wheel 7 is positioned at the printing position, and a platen l. Optical means 9 consisting of a light emitting and light receiving element is provided on the front surface of the opposing carriage 2.

This optical means 9 is for detecting the left and right end positions of the recording paper 10 set along the platen 1, and detects the position by optically scanning the front surface of the platen 1 by moving the carriage 2. This is what we do.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the printer that performs automatic margin setting. In FIG.
Print data is input from an external device via an interface thread. A carriage CPU 18 is connected to the main CPU II and controls the movement of the carriage. - i.e. carriage C
The PU 13 controls the carriage drive motor 15 through the carriage drive circuit 14, and also receives a detection signal from the home position detection means 16 that detects when the carriage 2 moves to the home position (reference position). There is.

The carriage CPU 13 is provided with a detection signal from a recording paper detecting means 17 for detecting whether or not a recording paper 10 is set, and a recording paper end detection signal from the optical means 9. Furthermore, this carriage CPU
13 includes counter means N and RAMCM+, M2).

18 is width information In 1 for each paper size (for example, A4, B4, 85, etc.). m2, . . . and left and right margin information α1 predetermined corresponding to the width information. βl.

α2. β2... is a ROM table that is stored in sets, and 19 is the left side for the set recording paper,
Right 7 - This is a format memory where the engine information is stored and held, and these table 18 and memory 19 are connected to the main CPU.
It is connected to the II side.

Next, the operation of the configuration of FIG. 3 is shown in chart 70 of FIG. 4, and this operation will be explained below. 17 detects the insertion of paper, and instructs the carriage CPU 1B to move the carriage 2 to the left. The carriage CPU 1B rotates the motor 15 to the mechanical home position via the carriage drive circuit 14 to move the carriage 2 to the home position. When the home position detection means 16 detects that the home position has been moved,
This time, the carriage CPU13 gives an instruction to the carriage drive circuit 4 to move the carriage 2 to the right, and puts the optical means 9 into operation.

At this time, the counter N of the carriage CPU 1 B starts counting the carriage step signal.

When the carriage 2 moves to the right in this way and the optical means 9 detects the left edge of the paper, the detection signal is transmitted to the carriage CP.
It is transmitted to U13, and the value of the counter N at that time is stored in the M area of the RAM.

Subsequently, when the optical means 9 detects the right edge of the paper, the carriage CPU 13 sets the value of the counter N at that time to RA.
At the same time, a return instruction is given to the carriage 1 drive circuit 14 to return the carriage 2 to the home position and stop it.

Further, the carriage CPtJ I 3 executes the calculation M 2 -M based on the data stored in M and M2, and transfers the calculation result m to the main CPU II.

The main CPU II, which has received this calculation result m, refers to the paper size data stored in advance in the ROM table 18, determines the paper size currently inserted into the device, and sets the values of the left and right margins according to the paper size. The read values α and β are transferred to the carriage CPU13.

Carriage CP that received these left and right margin values α and β
Ul3 is M1+α between the previous storage data of M, , M2
, M2-β is calculated, and the result is sent to the main CPU
Set the format memo to January 9 via I and complete setting the left and right margins. After this operation, a recording operation is performed on the recording paper according to the set format.

Incidentally, although the calculation of the left and right margins was performed by the carriage 13 in the above embodiment, it goes without saying that the calculation of the left and right margins may be performed by the main CPU I1.

Effect> As described above, in the apparatus of the present invention, when recording paper is inserted along the platen prior to data printing, the front surface of the platen is scanned by the optical means to print the set recording paper. This system detects the left and right edge positions of the paper and automatically sets the left and right margins of the set recording paper based on this detection information. Therefore, accurate positioning (left and right margins) is also possible when setting the recording paper. This eliminates the need for manual setting of left and right margins, simplifies preparation operations prior to printing, and provides a printer that is convenient to handle.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing the configuration of main parts of the printer according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the configuration of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram showing the control configuration of the printer, and FIG. 4 is the 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer. l Nibraten, 2: Carriage, 9: Optical means. 10: Recording paper, It: Main CPU, 13: Carriage CPU,! 4: Carriage drive circuit, 16: Home position detection means, 17: Recording paper detection means, +8: ROM
Table 19: Format memory.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In order to detect the left and right edges of the recording paper inserted along the platen, an optical scanning means movable along the platen in front of the platen, and an optical scanning means of the optical scanning means. A first storage means into which position information of the left and right edges of the recording paper from the reference position is introduced by scanning, and left and right margin information is stored in advance in relation to information of each paper size such as B4, B5, A4, etc. Determining the paper size of the set recording paper based on the left and right end position information introduced into the second storage means and the first storage means respectively stored, and responding from the second storage means. a control means for extracting left and right margin information of the paper size; and calculating left and right margin positions from the extracted left and right margin information and left and right edge position information introduced into the first storage means. an automatic margin setting device, comprising: a calculation means for setting left and right margins of a set recording paper based on left and right margin information obtained by the calculation means.