JPS6137456A - Paper-feed controller for printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To feed paper positively, and to prevent stacked printing by transmitting a paper-feed command signal over an electromagnet again when an elapsed time until the reception of a paper-feed detecting signal from a paper-feed detecting mechanism after the input time of the paper-feed command signal passes a predetermined allowable time. CONSTITUTION:When a paper-feed command signal is inputted, a printing motor 20 is turned and started, and timing pulses TP are transmitted. Paper-feed flags for flag regions ROM4, RAM6 are set to ''1'' at the same time as the transmission of timing pulses TP while the count value FCT of a paper-feed counter 2 is cleared to ''0''. Each electromagnet 12 for several paper-feed mechanism 9 is conducted. A crank arm 16 is operated and a paper-feed detecting signal (b) at an H level is received from a photosensor 30, the paper-feed counter 2 counts eight timing pulses TP, and the operation of the paper-feed is completed when the count value FCT reaches to eight. When there is the paper-feed mechanism 9 in which the photosensor 30 does not transmit a paper-feed signal at the H level though the count value reaches to eight at a time t1 and the operation of paper- feed is completed, excitation currents are flowed again.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention detects that the paper has actually been fed after receiving a paper feed command signal, and when the paper is not actually fed within a permissible time, the paper is restarted again. The present invention relates to a paper feed control device for a printer that executes a feed command.

[Prior Art] In general, a printer incorporated in an information processing system receives a character code signal output from a host computer of the information processing system, and prints the type on the print wheel or the character generator that corresponds to the character code. It is configured to read out the dot pattern and use a print head mounted on a carriage to print out the corresponding characters on a print sheet set on a platen. and,
- When a paper feed command signal is input from the host computer for a line feed, etc., the paper feed mechanism operates and the printing paper is fed by one line.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the paper feed control device for a printer that operates a paper feed mechanism to feed paper in response to a paper feed command signal from a host computer as described above, the following problems occur. There was a problem. That is, the paper feeding mechanism incorporates a large number of electronic members that are movable by a certain amount of current or more, such as an electromagnet 1 paper feeding motor that operates in response to a paper feeding command signal. Therefore, even if a paper feed command signal is input from the host computer, the power supply voltage may drop for some reason and the movable electronic components mentioned above may not operate properly, and the paper may not actually be fed. There are cases. However, since the control circuit that does not involve driving operates normally in response to a slight voltage drop, the paper feed signal is normally received. Then, the host computer determines that the paper has been properly fed and sends a print command for the next line.

As a result, two lines of characters are printed overlappingly on one line.

Also, after the paper feed command signal is input from the host computer, the paper feed mechanism operates to actually print.

If a power outage occurs in this printer before the paper is fed, the paper will not be fed.

However, since the host computer has once sent the paper feed command signal, the printer naturally determines that group feeding has been executed. After the power is restored, a print command signal for the next line is sent. As a result, 1
Two lines of characters will be printed overlapping each other.

The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and its purpose is to detect that paper feeding has actually been carried out and to detect paper feeding in response to a paper feeding command signal from the outside. To provide a paper feed control device for a printer that can reliably execute paper feed even if paper is not fed, prevents overprinting, and improves reliability.

[Means for solving the problem] The present invention drives a crank arm using an electromagnet that responds to a paper feed command signal, and uses the crank arm to rotate a ratchet wheel connected to a paper feed roller. The paper feed control device of the printer that feeds the print paper set on the paper feed roller by one line includes a paper feed detection mechanism that detects that the print paper set on the paper feed roller is actually fed. and when the elapsed time from the input time of the paper feed command signal to the reception of the paper feed detection signal from the paper feed detection mechanism exceeds a predetermined allowable time, the paper feed command signal is sent to the electromagnet again. This is what I did.

In another invention, in addition to the above invention, a power supply detection circuit is provided to detect a power outage and a power outage recovery of the control device, and the above-mentioned elapsed time from the input time of the paper feed command signal is set to a predetermined tolerance. When the time has elapsed, or when the power supply detection circuit detects a power outage and then detects the return of the power outage before the allowable time has elapsed, the paper feed command signal is sent to the electromagnet again.

[Function] If the printer paper feed control device has this configuration,
After the paper feed command signal is input and a predetermined volume correction time has elapsed, if the paper feed detection mechanism that detects that super-feeding has actually been performed does not send out a paper feed detection signal, the paper will not be transferred to the electromagnet again. Since a feed command signal is sent, paper feeding is always executed.

In a paper feed control device for a printer according to another invention,
In addition to the above effects, if this control device experiences a power outage after the paper feed command signal is input and the allowable time has elapsed, and then the power is restored, the paper feed command signal is sent to the electromagnet again. Therefore, even if a power outage occurs, paper feeding will always be performed.

[Example] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a paper feed control device according to an embodiment. In the figure, 1 is a CPU that executes various arithmetic processing based on a paper feed command signal sent from a host computer 2. ). This CPU is connected to a ROM 4 that stores fixed data such as control programs via a path line 3 consisting of a data bus, an address bus, etc.
．． Backed up by battery 5 during power outage, counter,
A RAM 6 for temporarily storing various variable data such as flags. An I10 interface 81 connected to the external host computer 2 via a transmission line 7. A paper feed command signal etc. is sent to the paper feed gate mechanism 9 from this paper feed mechanism. A paper feed drive circuit 10 that receives a paper feed detection signal, etc. The power supply detection circuit 11, etc., which detects power outage and power outage recovery of this control device, is controlled.

In the paper feed control device of the embodiment, assuming an electronic cash register, the paper feed gate mechanism 9 is constructed with two paper feed mechanisms having the same configuration for two printing sheets, a receipt and an internal recording paper. It consists of

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of each paper feeding mechanism 9. As shown in FIG. 12 in the figure indicates that when a paper feed command signal is input from the CPU 1 to the paper feed drive circuit 10, the paper feed drive circuit 10
It is an electromagnet that is excited by the excitation current output from the
When this electromagnet 12 is excited, a stop plate 14 pivoted at a fulcrum 13 rotates in the direction of the arrow. Stop plate 1
4 rotates in the direction of the arrow, the stop shaft 18 of the eccentric cam 17 rotatably attached to the side surface of the crank arm 16 pivotally supported on the fulcrum 15 is removed from the stop plate 14°. Then, the eccentric cam 17 rotates clockwise due to the restoring force of the spring 19 connected to the stop shaft 18, and the pinion 21, which is rotationally driven at a constant speed by the printing motor 20, rotates clockwise.
mesh with. Therefore, the eccentric cam 1 is operated by the printing motor 20.
7 is further rotated clockwise. When the eccentric cam 17 further rotates clockwise, the crank arm 16 rotates counterclockwise about the fulcrum 15, and the paper feed arm 22 pivotally supported on the side surface of the crank arm 16 moves in the direction of the arrow. Then, the claw portion 23 attached to the tip of the paper feed arm 22 rotates the ratchet wheel 25 attached to one end of the shaft of the paper feed roller 24 clockwise by one groove. When the ratchet wheel 25 rotates clockwise, the printing paper 27 inserted between the paper feed roller 24 and the pinch roller 26 is fed by one line in the direction of the arrow.

At the same time, it is fixed to the crank arm 16 and has a long hole 2 in the center.
The shielding plate 29 with holes 8 moved in the direction of the arrow to the position shown by the dotted line. When the long hole 28 drilled in the shielding plate 29 reaches the dotted line position, the two shielding plates are inserted into the long hole 28 from both sides.
An H-level paper feed detection signal is sent to the paper feed drive circuit 10 from a photosensor 30 consisting of a light emitting diode and a phototransistor that are arranged to sandwich the paper.

Note that when the crank arm 16 remains at the fixed position shown in the figure, the light emitting diode of the photosensor 30 and the phototransistor 9 are shielded by the shielding plate 29.
The output signal is at the edge level. These shielding plates 29. long hole 2
8. The A foot sensor 30 constitutes a paper feed detection mechanism.

When the eccentric cam 17 further rotates, the crank arm 16
rotates clockwise in the opposite direction and returns to the position shown in the figure, and the eccentric cam 17 separates from the pinion 21 and the electromagnet 12 is de-energized, so the stop plate 14 comes into contact with the stop shaft 18, and the eccentric cam 17 is stopped at the fixed position shown in the figure.

Incidentally, when the printing motor 20 starts rotating, it sends out a running pulse CT7'C shown in FIG. 6 having a predetermined constant period to measure time to the paper feed drive circuit 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the RAM 6 includes a data area RA1 that temporarily stores various data and command signals input from the host computer 2 via the transmission line 7 and I10 interface 8, as well as 2 to the I10 interface 8 is sent to the paper feed drive circuit 10 until the H level paper feed detection signal is input from the photo sensor 30 of the paper feed mechanism 9 to the paper feed drive circuit 10. A paper feed count RA2, which counts timing pulses (TP) a from the printing motor 20, serves as a timer for measuring elapsed time. Paper feed state memory RA3. which stores the operating state (FD, ST) of each paper feed mechanism 9 with the code [01Ml[2]. A paper feed flag (FE1, FL) indicating that a paper feed command signal has been input to each paper feed mechanism 9
A.G.

FE2. FLAG) is stored in the flag area RA4゜RA
5 is formed.

Note that the operating states FD and S of the paper feeding state memory RA3 are
T [0] indicates a state in which the paper feed command signal has not been input yet or an operating state in which all paper feed operations have been completed, and the operation status flFD, ST [1] indicates the state in which the paper feed command signal has not been input yet. The operating state FD shows the operating state until the electromagnet 12 is energized.

ST[2] indicates the operating state from the first energization of the electromagnet 12 until the end of the paper feeding operation.

The CPU 1 processes each printing paper 2 from the host computer 2.
When a paper feed command signal for No. 7 is input, the paper feed process is executed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. In other words, the paper feed command signal is sent to the I10 interface 8.
When input to , the print motor 2o of the paper feed mechanism 9 is started to rotate via the paper feed drive circuit 10. Print motor 20
When the printing motor 20 starts rotating, the printing motor 20 sends a timing pulse a shown in FIG. 6 to the paper feed drive circuit 10.

Next, the operation status fiFD, ST of the corresponding paper feed mechanism 9 in the paper feed status memory RA3 of the RAM 6 is set to [1]. After that, it is confirmed at Pl that the power supply detection circuit 11 is detecting a power outage or that the voltage has not risen to the normal voltage after detecting the return of a power outage and is not in an unstable state, and the timing pulse a is at the H level. When the value changes to , the count value FCT of the paper feed counter RA2 in the RAM 6 is cleared to O. Then, the application of excitation current to the electromagnet 12 is started. Then, the flag area RA corresponding to the paper feed command signal
4. The paper feed flag of RA5 is set to 1, and the corresponding operating states FD and ST of paper feed state memory RA3 are set to [2].

When the timing pulse TP changes to L level at P2, the photo sensor 30 outputs an H level paper feed detection signal indicating that paper feeding has actually been executed.
After confirming that the paper feed detection signal at the H level has been inputted to 0, the corresponding paper feed flag of RRA4 or RA5 of this H level paper feed detection signal is cleared to O. Furthermore, when it is confirmed that the timing pulse TP has changed to H level again,
The count value FCT of paper feed counter RA2 in RAM6 is increased by one. Next, when it is confirmed that the corresponding operating states FD and ST in the paper feed state memory RA3 are [2], the power to the electromagnet 12 is cut off. When the power supply is cut off, the printing paper 27 corresponding to the paper feed command signal has been fed by one line.

When the paper feeding of the corresponding printing paper 2j is completed, it is checked whether the count value FCT of the paper feeding counter RA2 has reached the allowable value 8 or not. If the timing pulse TP has not reached the L level, the process returns to P2, and after the timing pulse TP changes to the L level, the paper feed detection signal of the photosensor 30 is checked again. This time, this detection signal is L.
Since it has returned to the high level, the count value FCT of the paper feed counter RA2 is increased by 1 again after waiting for the timing pulse TP to change to the H level. As a result, count value FC
When T reaches 8, all flag areas RA4.
Check whether the paper feed flag of RA5 is O or not.
If the flag remains, it is determined that there is a paper feeding mechanism 9 that is not actually feeding paper yet, and similarly to Pl, the power supply detection circuit 11 detects that there is no power outage or unstable voltage, and the timing pulse TP is detected. After confirming that the paper feed flag is at H level, the application of excitation current to the electromagnets 12 of the remaining paper feed mechanisms 9 whose paper feed flags are set to 1 is started, and the process returns to P2, where the photo sensor 30 of the corresponding paper feed Di 419 Waits for the input of the H-level paper feed detection signal output from the terminal.

If all paper feed flags are cleared to O in P3, it is determined that all paper feed operations corresponding to the paper feed command signal input from the host computer have been completed, and the paper feed status memory RA3 is operated. Status! FD and ST are cleared to [0] and this paper feeding process is ended.

Figure 5 shows paper feed control! 11 is a flowchart showing startup processing when the ll device is powered on. That is, when the operator turns on the power or the power supply detection circuit 11 detects a power failure recovery, the normal initial processing is executed first, and then each operating state FD, ST of the RAM 60 paper feed state memory RA3 backed up by the battery 5 is Find out the value of . And all the action BF
If D and ST are [0], it is determined that there is no power outage during the paper feeding operation, and normal work is executed. Furthermore, if the operating states FD and ST are other than [0], it is determined that a power outage has occurred during the paper feeding operation and all paper feeding operations have not been completed, and the printing motor 20 of the paper feeding mechanism 9 is turned off. Start rotation. Then, check the values of the operating states FD and ST, and check [If it is 1, the first electromagnet 1 after the paper feed command signal is input.
It is determined that a power outage has occurred before 2 is turned on, and
Return to Pl in FIG. On the other hand, the operating states FD and ST are [2
], it is determined that a power outage has occurred after the first electromagnet 12 is energized until all paper feeding operations are completed, and the process returns to P3 in FIG.

In the paper feed control device for a printer configured in this manner, as shown in FIG. 20 starts rotating and a timing pulse TP is sent out. At the same time flag area R
A4. The paper feed flag of RA5 is set to 1, and
Count 1 shift FCT of paper feed counter RA2 is cleared to O. Further, each electromagnet 12 of each paper feeding mechanism 9 is energized. Then, when the crank arm 16 operates and receives an H-level paper feed detection signal from the photosensor 30, and the paper feed counter RA2 counts eight timing pulses TP and the count becomes fiaFcTb<s, this paper feed operation is started. finish. However, as shown in the figure, there is a paper feeding mechanism 9 in which the photosensor 30 does not send out an H-level paper feeding detection signal even though the count value reaches 8 at time t1 and the paper feeding operation is completed. Then, the excitation current is again applied to the electromagnet 12 of the corresponding paper feed mechanism 9.

With such a paper feed control device, if paper feed is not actually executed even though a paper feed command signal is input from the host computer 2 due to some factor such as a voltage drop in the power supply, After the permissible time period of counting eight timing pulses has elapsed, the excitation current is applied to the electromagnet 12 again, so that the paper feed in response to the input paper feed command signal is always executed.

Therefore, the paper is not fed and characters are not printed out in a single line.

In addition, if a power outage occurs between the input of a paper feed command from the host computer 2 and the actual completion of the abrasive feeding operation, and the power is restored after a certain period of time, the RA
The paper feeding operation is executed by determining the operating state immediately before the power failure based on the stored contents of the operating states FD and ST of the M60 paper feeding state memory RA3. Therefore, even if a power outage occurs during a paper feeding operation, the paper will be normally fed when the power is restored, so that characters will not be printed out in a single line.

In this way, paper feeding can be reliably executed in response to the input paper feeding command signal, and the reliability of the printer can be improved.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. In the embodiment, the case where there are two paper feeding mechanisms for feeding two types of printing paper, the receipt and the internal recording paper built into the electronic cash register, has been described, but the number of installed printing paper and lick feeding mechanisms may vary. is not particularly limited.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, by detecting that paper feeding is actually performed, even if paper feeding is not performed in response to a paper feeding command signal from the outside, Paper can be fed reliably, preventing overprinting,
The reliability of the entire paper feeding device can be improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figure shows the paper feed control Vl position of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration.
Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of the paper feeding mechanism, Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the main memory of the storage section, Figs. 4 and 5 are flow charts showing the operation, and Fig. 6 is a time diagram showing the operation. It is a chart. 1...CPU, 2...Host computer, 6...
・RAM, 8...I10 interface, 9...
Paper feeding nada structure, 10... Paper feeding drive circuit, 11... Power supply detection circuit, 12... Electromagnet, 14... Stopper plate, 16... Crank arm, 17... Eccentric cam, 2
0... Print motor, 21... Binion, 22...
Paper feed arm, 25... Ratchet wheel, 24...
...Paper feed roller, 27...Print paper, 29...Shielding plate, 30 Photo sensor, RA2...Paper feed counter, RA3...Paper feed state memory. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue No. 1123 2nd v! J 1 day

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A crank arm is driven by an electromagnet that responds to a paper feed command signal, and the crank arm rotates a ratchet wheel connected to the paper feed roller, thereby moving the printing paper set on the paper feed roller. 1
A paper feed control device for a printer that feeds paper by a line includes a paper feed detection mechanism that detects whether printing paper set on the paper feed roller is actually fed, and a paper feed detection mechanism that detects whether the printing paper set on the paper feed roller is actually fed, and a paper feed detection mechanism that detects the paper feed from the input time of the paper feed command signal. a timer for measuring the elapsed time until receiving the paper feed detection signal from the paper feed detection mechanism; and when the timer measures a predetermined allowable time, the paper feed command signal is sent again to the electromagnet. 1. A paper feed control device for a printer, comprising means for controlling the paper feed of a printer. (2) A crank arm is driven by an electromagnet that responds to a paper feed command signal, and the crank arm rotates a ratchet wheel connected to the paper feed roller, thereby moving the printing paper set on the paper feed roller. 1
A paper feed control device for a printer that feeds paper by a line includes a power supply detection circuit that detects a power outage and a recovery from a power outage of this control device, and a power supply detection circuit that detects that printing paper set on the paper feed roller is actually fed. a paper feed detection mechanism; a timer for timing the elapsed time from the input time of the paper feed command signal to the reception of the paper feed detection signal from the paper feed detection mechanism; and the timer to measure a predetermined allowable time. means for sending the paper feed command signal to the electromagnet again when the power supply detection circuit detects the power outage and then detects the return of the power outage while the timer does not measure the allowable time; A paper feed control device for a printer, characterized in that: