JPS6213374A - Printer-controlling system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To ensure that a printing head is located in a home position region without fail when a printing command is subsequently issued and enable a rapid printing operation, by a system wherein when driving of a motor is stopped, the distance between that position and an estimated stopping position of the motor is calculated, and it is discriminated whether or not a carrier can be stopped in a home position region. CONSTITUTION:An end of printing is recognized by a printing area discriminating circuit 161 on the basis of a signal from a CPU 11, a counter 163 is reset, is started counting by a pulse from a pulse generator 162, and when driving of the motor 131f is stopped by the CPU 11, the counter 163 stops counting. The circuit 161 supplied with the count (corresponding to the period of time (t)) obtain the difference between the period of time (t) and a prestored time interval T by calculation, and when the difference is not more than a predetermined number of pulses, it is judged that the position of the carrier at the moment of stopping the motor 131f will lie in a printing region, and a predetermined signal is outputted to the CPU 11. The CPU 11 drives the motor 131f according to the signal, and stops driving the motor 131f at the time the carrier 131a is confirmed by a sensor 132b and is fed into the home position region.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] In a printer control system, when a print head operating motor is stopped after a predetermined printing operation is completed, the stop position is within the home position area at the time of stopping the motor. If it is determined that the printer is entering the print area, the motor is operated continuously until the next home position and then stopped, thereby making it possible to speed up the motor operation with the next print command. .

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a printer control method that determines the stop position when a print head operating motor stops operating and always stops the print head within the home position.

With the expansion and development of information processing systems, various printer devices have been developed and used. Further, printer devices that have been used in the past have rapidly developed with the advancement of the times, and with this, there has been a desire for devices that can print with high quality and high speed.

[Prior art and problems to be solved by the invention] Fig. 4 is a block diagram explaining a conventional example, Fig. 5 is a control diagram of a conventional print head motor, and Fig. 6 is an external view of a printer device. Each is shown below.

The printer device 1 shown in FIG. 4 is connected to a host device 2 that sends print commands, and inside thereof includes a control unit 11 (hereinafter referred to as CPU II) that controls and monitors various operations within the device 1. , a print boat section 12 that is located between the CPL III and the print section 13 and interfaces with each, a printer mechanism section 131 such as a motor, carrier, and platen for printing data, and detects the position of the print head in the carrier. It is composed of a printing section 13 composed of a sensor 132 and the like, a memory 14 that temporarily stores data to be transferred to and from the host device 2, and an interface section 15 that provides an interface with the host device 2.

Further, FIG. 6 shows an external view of the printing section 13 within the printer device I. As shown in FIG. In order to instruct the printing unit 13 to perform a printing operation, a print command (issued in units of - lines) is issued from the host device 2, and this print command is sent via the interface unit 15 to the CPt1l.
This will be done once confirmed by l.

The paper 131c is printed by this print operation instruction from cputi.
A predetermined character or figure is printed on the print head 131d. This print head 131d is mounted on a carrier 131a as shown in FIG.
is the motor 131f driven by instructions from the CPU II.
During this time, the print head 131d prints on the paper 131c.

When the carrier 131a moves to the right end as seen from FIG. 6, the sensor 132a confirms the tongue piece 131e attached to the carrier 131a, and a signal from the sensor 132a causes the CPU II to detect that the carrier 131a has reached the home position area. Check what you have done.

Also, when the carrier 131a reaches the left end, the sensor 132b
The CPU II confirms the completion of printing for one line by the signal from the CPU II and feeds the carrier 131a to the home position area. At this time, the platen 131b is rotated so that the paper 131
Advance c by one line in preparation for the next printing.

Conventionally, when printing one line with the print head 131d, the fifth
As shown in Figure (A), a print command is received, and when printing according to the print command is completed, the drive of the motor 131f is turned off. It should be noted that the interval T from the end of printing of -line to the time when print commands are issued consecutively and the start of printing is usually a certain period of time.

In the case of FIG. 5(A) above, the processing speed during continuous printing is slow, so as shown in FIG. 5(B), the motor 131f is operated for a predetermined time t after the printing process by one print command is completed. A measure has been taken to continue driving the motor 131f and turn off the drive of the motor 131f if the next print command is not issued within a predetermined time.

The predetermined time t is adjusted in advance so that the stop position of the motor 131f is within the home position area when the drive of the motor 131f is turned off, and is stored in the memory within the CPU 11.

Normally, when the drive of the motor 131f is turned off, the motor 131f continues to operate for some time and then stops due to its rotational inertia. This varies depending on the power source for driving the motor 131f and other conditions, and depending on the position where the drive of the motor 131f is turned off, the stopping position may exceed the home position area and enter the printing area.

If the printing head 131d is stopped at the position where it enters the printing area, feed control is performed once before the next printing command is issued and the printing head 131d starts printing, and the printing head 131d returns to the home position area.
There is a problem in that the printing operation is slow because printing starts after setting the .

[Means for solving problems]

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the principle of the present invention.

The principle block diagram of FIG. 1 is based on the CPU11. Print boat section 12. Printing section 13. Memory 14. When the interface section 15 and motor 131f are turned off, their positions and motor 1
The CPU II calculates the distance to the estimated stop position of 31f, determines whether it can be stopped within the home position area, and if it is not possible to stop, performs feed control to stop in the next home position area. and a print area control section 16 that sends a predetermined signal to the print area.

[Effect]

Typically, the home position area has a defined length. This predetermined length is memorized in advance, and the time from the time the motor enters the home position area until the motor stops is counted.
The remaining length of the home position area is calculated from the counted value, and if it is determined that the result exceeds the home position area, feed control is performed to stop at the next home position area.

Since this operation is performed between print commands, the print head is always within the home position area when the next print command is issued, enabling quick printing operations.

〔Example〕

The gist of the present invention will be specifically explained below with reference to embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram explaining the present invention in detail, and FIG. 3 is a motor control operation diagram according to the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals indicate the same objects throughout the figures.

The print area control unit 16 shown in FIG.
A print area determination circuit 161 determines the stop position of the motor 131f based on the count value from , a pulse generator 162 generates a predetermined pulse, and a pulse is generated by a signal sent from the print area determination circuit 161 when the motor 131f enters the home position area. The counter 163 counts the pulses from the generator 162.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained. In this embodiment, the number of pulses until the motor 131f is turned off and stopped is, for example, 40 pulses, and the interval T between the end of one printing and the start of the next printing is 80 pulses.

For example, upon confirming the generation of one print command from the host device 2, the CPU II starts driving the motor 131f.
Along with this, the carrier 131a starts moving to the left in FIG.
When the CPU II receives a predetermined signal from the sensor 132b, the print head 131d performs printing, and when the CPU II receives a predetermined signal from the sensor 132b, it performs feed control and finishes printing based on one print command.

In this way, when the completion of one printing is confirmed, the CPU11 turns off the drive of the motor 131f. On the other hand, the print area determination circuit 161 learns of the end of one printing from a signal from the CPU II, resets the counter 163 with this signal, starts counting with a pulse from the pulse generator 162, and the CPU II drives the motor 131f. When you turn off
The counter 163 also stops counting in response to this signal.

The printing area determination circuit 161 which has input this count value (a count value corresponding to the time shown in FIG. 3) calculates the difference between the count value and the pre-stored count value of the interval T, and calculates the difference by 40 pulses. If it is below, it is determined that the stop position of the motor 131r enters the printing area, and a predetermined signal is sent to the CPU 11.

The CPU II drives the motor 131f based on this signal, and when the carrier 131a is confirmed by the sensor 132b and fed into the home position area, the drive of the motor 131f is turned off.

Also, if the calculation result is 40 pulses or more remaining, the motor 13
It is determined that the stop position of 1f is within the home position area, and the drive of the motor 131f remains off.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention as described above, the print head is always within the home position area at the time when the next print command is issued, and therefore, there is an advantage that a quick print processing operation can be performed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the principle of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram explaining the present invention in detail, FIG. 3 is a diagram of motor control operation according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a block diagram explaining a conventional example, and FIG. FIG. 5 shows a control diagram of a conventional print head motor, and FIG. 6 shows an external view of a printer device. In the figure, 1 is a printer device, 2 is a host device, and 11 is a CPU.
, 12 is a printing boat part, 13 is a printing part,
14 is a memory, 15 is an ink face section,
16 is a printing area control unit, 131a is a carrier,
131b is a platen, 131c for 1
31d is a print head, 131e is a tongue piece, 1
31f motor, 132a and 132b are sensors, 161 is a print area determination circuit, 162 is a pulse generator, and 163 is a counter, respectively. 2 Wednesday, 41 Knee Escape O Board Affair 2 Oshi Sun Moon Professional Soft Figure Figure 2 Invention, l-5L-Evening Practice Figure 2 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] Upon receiving a print command from the host device (2), the print head prints predetermined data line by line in a predetermined print area;
When the print reaches a predetermined area at both ends of the print area, a sensor (132) confirms the print head, stops the printing operation, and moves the print head to either of the predetermined areas at both ends to the home position. In a device that is stopped as an area, when the print head is controlled to stop in the home position area, it is determined whether the actual stop position is in the printing area, and the control is performed until the next printing command. A print area control unit (16) is provided to monitor a predetermined time, and when the print head stops operating, the print head operation motor is stopped by waiting for the next print command for a predetermined time;
A printer control method characterized in that the print area control unit (16) determines whether or not the stop position at this time stops within the home position area to control the stop of the print head operating motor.