JPS6125163B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a printer device that performs both a serial printer function and a line printer function.

A serial printer performs a printing operation each time print data is input, and when the printing operation is finished, it waits for the next print data to be input. When used, there is a problem that the computer is monopolized by the printer while the printer is operating. Also, with a serial printer, one character's worth of print data is input, and the next print data will not be input until that print data is printed, so for example, the operator's key input operation may be performed at a faster speed than the printing speed. If there is, there is a problem that the printer will not be able to follow it.

In addition, line printers are equipped with a print buffer memory that has a plurality of words, and after storing one line of print data in this buffer memory, when a print start command is issued, all the print data is printed at the same time. Since printing cannot be performed until a print start command is input, for example, if you try to print by key input like on a typewriter, it will not perform its function unless a print start command is input and printing is terminated. I have a problem where I can't.

This invention was devised to solve this problem, and when print data is input at relatively long time intervals, it functions like a serial printer, and print data can be input in a relatively short time. When input is input at long time intervals, it performs a line printer function, and in order to perform the line printer function, it has a buffer memory composed of multiple words, and print data is stored in this buffer memory. , even if it is used as a terminal device for an external computer, there is no inconvenience in having the computer exclusively used for printing operations, and furthermore, even if the computer is used to function as a line printer, it can be used only after the last print data has been stored. To provide a printer device which can start a printing operation even if a printing start command is not input after a predetermined time has elapsed, can be used as a dedicated line printer or a dedicated serial printer, and has improved practicality. The purpose is to

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

In FIG. 1, 1 is a central control unit with a built-in CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), etc., 2 is a printing buffer memory 3 consisting of a plurality of words, for example 100-odd words, and a mode flag memory 4. RAM formed etc.
(Random access memory), 5 is set to start the timer operation, reset to stop the timer operation, and when the timer operation continues for a preset predetermined time, a timer over signal is generated.
This is a timer that outputs TOS. A keyboard 6 serves as a print data input section and is provided with a character key 7, a clear key 8, a command key 9, etc.;
0 is a printer mode selection switch that selects and sets the printer mode to line printer (LP) mode, line/serial intermediate printer (MP) mode, or serial printer (SP) mode; This is an I/O port for inputting a mode designation signal from the printer mode selection switch 10 to the central control device 1. Reference numeral 12 denotes an I/O port for inputting print data, print command signals, etc. input from an external computer into the input buffer memory 13, for example. The I/O port 12
The input buffer memory 13 also forms an input section for print data. Furthermore, 14 is a printer main body for printing print data on paper, and 15 is a drive circuit that is controlled by the central control device 1 and drives the printer main body 14 for printing.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the main processing operations of this printer device. When power-on is started, the central control device 1 first starts initial processing. In this initial processing, RAM 2 is cleared, timer 5 is reset, input buffer memory 13 is cleared, etc. Next, the central control unit 1 reads the mode setting state of the mode selection switch 10 and sets a mode flag corresponding to the setting state in the mode flag memory 4 of the RAM 2. Next, the central control unit 1 reads the mode flag in the mode flag memory 4 and determines whether or not the line printer mode is set. When it determines that it is in line printer mode, it starts performing line printer operation. In this line printer operation, whether print data is input by operating the character keys 7 of the keyboard 6 or from an external computer, when print data is input, the print data is used for printing. One line is stored in the buffer memory 3. When a print start command signal is input by operating the command key 9 of the keyboard 6 or from an external computer, all print data in the print buffer memory 3 is read out, and the drive circuit 15 is controlled to drive the printer main body 14. and simultaneously print one line of print data on the paper. Furthermore, even if no printing start command signal is input, when the printing buffer memory 3 becomes full, the printer main body 14 is similarly driven to simultaneously print one line of print data on the paper. Further, when it is determined that the serial printer mode flag is set in the mode flag memory 4, the serial printer operation is performed. In this serial printer operation, when print data for one character is input by operating the character key 7 of the keyboard 6 or from an external computer, the print data is output to the drive circuit 15 and the printer body 14 is immediately driven. to print the print data. In the above, exactly the same operations as conventional line printers and serial printers are selectively performed.

Now, when it is determined that the line/serial intermediate printer mode is set in the mode flag memory 4, the printer operates to perform both the line printer function and the serial printer function depending on the state. The operation of the timer 5 intervenes in this printer operation. That is, when print data is input from the keyboard 6 or external computer, the central control unit 1 stores the print data in the print buffer memory 3, and sets the timer 5. If the timer 5 times out before the next print data is input, a time over signal TOS is input from the timer 5 to the central controller 1, and the central controller 1 immediately retrieves the print data from the print buffer memory 3. The data is read out, controls the drive circuit 15, drives the printer body 14, and prints one character on paper. In this way, when print data for one character is input and the next print data is not input within a predetermined period of time, the printer performs the same function as a serial printer. Furthermore, when print data is input continuously within a predetermined period of time, the timer 5 is reset every time there is data input, so the timer 5 does not output the time-over signal TOS during this time. Therefore, in such a case, one line of print data can be easily stored in the print buffer memory 3. Then, when a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the last print data for one line was input, a time-over signal is sent from timer 5.
TOS is output, and one line of print data is read out from the print buffer memory 3 and printed on paper by the printer body 14. In this way, when print data for one line is input continuously, it performs the same function as a line printer.
In this case as well, when the print buffer memory 3 becomes full due to continuous input of print data, the print data in the print buffer memory 3 is printed. Furthermore, in this line/serial intermediate printer mode, when a print start command signal is input from the keyboard 6 or external computer, whether it is one character's worth of print data or one line's worth of print data, the print buffer memory 3 It is also possible to read print data from and print it.

In this way, in the line/serial intermediate printer mode, when print data input from the keyboard 6 or input buffer memory 13 is input at relatively long time intervals equal to or longer than a predetermined time interval, print data for one character is input. It can function like a serial printer in that it performs a print operation every time it is printed, and it can also function like a line printer when input print data is input at relatively short time intervals within a predetermined time interval. In addition, in this line/serial intermediate printer mode, even when performing a serial printer function, a print buffer memory 3 is provided to store print data, so even if this printer is used as a terminal for an external computer. After inputting print data to the printer, the computer can be used for other processing completely independently of the printer even if the printer is printing, so system processing using the computer is not possible. It can be done efficiently. Furthermore, in this line/serial intermediate printer mode, even if the input of a print start command signal from an external computer is delayed when a serial printer is operated by inputting print data from an external computer, for example, the input of a print start command signal from that computer may be delayed for a predetermined period of time. The printing operation will end after the elapsed time, so
Thereafter, printing operations can be performed by operating the character keys 7 of the own keyboard 6, so that the efficiency of use of the printer can be improved even when the printer functions as a typewriter. Furthermore, in this line/serial intermediate printer mode, even if the operator operates the character keys 7 on the keyboard 6 faster than the printing speed, the print data resulting from the character key operation is stored in the printing buffer memory 3, and the operator's command keys 9 It is possible to print out all at once depending on the operation, or even if the operator does not operate the command key 9, it can be printed all at once by the timer over signal TOS from timer 5, making the key input operation by the operator more efficient. I can do it well.

In this way, in the line/serial intermediate printer mode, it has various functions such as a serial printer function, a line printer function, and intermediate functions thereof, so that the practicality can be sufficiently improved.

Further, when the printer mode selection switch 10 is set to the line printer mode, print data input from the keyboard 6 or external computer is stored in the print buffer memory 3 for a maximum of one line. When the print buffer memory 3 becomes full or a print start command signal is input from the keyboard 6 or an external computer, the printer body 14 is driven to print the print data stored in the print buffer memory 3. In this way, it operates as a dedicated line printer.

Furthermore, when the printer mode selection switch 10 is set to the serial printer mode, each time one character's worth of print data is input from the keyboard 6 or external computer, the printer body 14 is driven to print that print data. In this way, it operates as a dedicated serial printer. When set to line/serial intermediate printer mode, it functions as a serial printer if print data is input at relatively long time intervals, and functions as a serial printer if print data is input at relatively short time intervals. When used as a line printer, it functions as a line printer, and even when used as a terminal for an external computer, it does not cause the inconvenience of using the computer exclusively for printing operations, and it also allows the operator to input print data. Even if the input operation speed is higher than the printing speed, it can be followed sufficiently, and furthermore, when used as a terminal for an external computer, it can be used efficiently as a typewriter, and it can also be used as a line printer. It is possible to provide a printer device that can be used both as a dedicated machine and as a serial printer.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the main control processing process. 1...Central control unit, 3...Buffer memory for printing, 5...Timer, 6...Keyboard, 13...
...Input buffer memory, 14...Printer body.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1: a print data input section, a printer main body, a print buffer memory having a plurality of words, a printer mode selection switch for selecting and setting line printer mode, serial printer mode, and line/serial intermediate printer mode;
When print data is input from the above input section while the line/serial intermediate printer mode is selected and set with this printer mode selection switch, a timer is set and operated each time that data is input, and times out after a predetermined period of time. When print data is input from the input section while the line/serial intermediate printer mode is selected and set with the printer mode selection switch, the print data is taken into the print buffer memory, and at least this print buffer memory is full. means to drive the printer main body to print all the print data in the printing buffer memory when the timer reaches 0 or the timer times out, and a state in which the line printer mode is selected and set using the printer mode selection switch. When print data is input from the input section, the print data is taken into the printing buffer memory, and at least when this printing buffer memory becomes full or when a print start command is issued, the printer main body is driven to perform the above printing. There is a means for printing all the print data in the print buffer memory, and when print data is input from the input section with the serial printer mode selected and set using the printer mode selection switch, the above is executed every time the print data is input. What is claimed is: 1. A printer device comprising means for driving a printer body to perform printing processing.