JPS6216175A - Printing output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable control for visual confirmation of printed results to be automatically performed and enable power consumption of a lamp to be minimized, by providing a printing output device itself with a lamp means and a controlling means. CONSTITUTION:A data generator 46 generates printing data or reads and output printing data stored therein. A data-discriminating part 47 discriminates whether or not the data received from the data generator 46 are printing data, and a printing unit 49 comprises a printing mechanism 42 such as a printing head and a discharging mechanism 41 for a printed medium 40. A lamp ON/OFF controlling part 50 operates based on the results of discrimination by the part 47, thereby turning ON the lamp means 48 when arrival of printing data is detected, so that a printing surface is illuminated only when printing out data on a medium 40. Accordingly, visible control of a printing medium can be performed without requiring special operations to be performed by the operator.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] When a medium on which printing has been performed is ejected, a lamp means is provided to illuminate the printed surface of the medium to be ejected, and blinking of this lamp means is controlled depending on the presence or absence of print data. means, so that the print output result on the medium can be easily confirmed visually.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a print output device, and more particularly to a printing amount adjustment and injection method that enables automatic visual control of a printout medium regardless of the installation location of the device.

Printing blade devices, such as printers, include a printing mechanism that prints on a medium such as printing paper, and a discharge mechanism that discharges the printed medium. It is then configured to eject the printed medium to a user, such as an operator.

In this case, from the user's point of view, there is often a case where the user wants to confirm the content of the printout one after another even if the printout is currently in progress. For example, when there is a large amount of output data, it may be necessary to check where the current print data is in the overall output data.

On the other hand, printers may be installed in dark places depending on their intended use. Therefore, even in such a printer placed in a dark place, it is desired to maintain the entire visible state of the output medium.

[Conventional technology]

For example, in the case of a printer for issuing slips, this printer is sometimes used by being mounted in the trunk of a car or the like. When using such a so-called military printer, conventionally an interior light provided in the driver's cab is used.

In other words, when issuing a slip, the operator turns on the interior light and visually checks all the printed slips.0 [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above example, For authentication purposes, it is necessary to use a lamp with high luminous intensity as an indoor light. As a result, there is a problem in that the car's battery wears out more quickly. Furthermore, there is a problem in that the operator forgets to turn off the indoor light.

In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention provides a printing output device flLfr that is equipped with a mechanism that allows the snowmaker himself to visually authenticate the printed surface on the output medium regardless of the location where the snowmaker is installed.

[Means for solving problems]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention.

In the figure, 46 is a data generating device that generates print data or reads out and outputs what is stored inside.

Reference numeral 47 denotes a data discrimination unit, which discriminates whether the data received from the data generator 46 is print data (or print commands), 48 a lamp means, 49 a printer unit, and a print mechanism 42 such as a print head. and a discharge mechanism 41 for discharging the printed medium 40.

Reference numeral 50 denotes a lamp blinking control section, which turns on the lamp means 48 when the arrival of print data is detected based on the judgment result of the data judgment section 47, and turns off the lamp means 48 when the print data ends. It is for controlling.

[Effect]

With the above-described configuration, the lamp means 48 can illuminate the printing surface only when printing is performed on the medium 40. Therefore, without requiring any special operation by the operator,
Visible control of print output media becomes possible.

Further, by providing the lamp means 48 near the medium discharge section of the printer unit 49, it is possible to ensure a sufficient amount of light irradiated onto the printing surface while minimizing the total luminous intensity of the lamp itself.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail using Examples.

〔Example〕

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a device to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2(A) is an external view of a data input device as an example of the data generating device 46, and FIG. 2(B) is an external view of the main unit as an example of a print output device.

In Fig. 2 (A), 6 is a data input device, which internally includes an operating battery, a processor (CPU), a memory (RAM), and an interface circuit. Processor 1
It is stored and held in memory under the control of 0. 60 is a main body, 61 is a power switch, which is provided at the upper part of the upper surface of the main body 60, and is used to turn on/off the power; 62 is a display, which is composed of a liquid crystal display, and which is provided at the upper part of the upper surface of the main body 60. , which displays input data, etc., 63 is a part of Ki,
Numeric keypad "0" to "9", input instruction key rENT-ER
In addition to J, necessary alphabet keys and function keys are provided. Data is input using the numeric keypad and alphabet keys, functions are input using the rEN-TERJ key and function keys, and 7 is an optical coupling connector. , is provided on the side of the main body 60, and is connected to an external device to receive charging voltage Bv1 operating voltage ExVcc from the external device.
It is used for receiving and exchanging data and commands.

In addition, in Fig. 2 (B), 8a is a printer device (main device)
is connected to the data input bag #6, and the charging voltage BV and operating voltage ExVcc are supplied to the data input device 6 from the internal power supply.
It also processes the data from the data input device 6 and prints and issues slips and the like. Reference numeral 81 is a lid, which is normally closed and accommodated in the data input device 6, and which is opened (as shown in the figure) to allow the data input device 6 to be taken out. Reference numeral 82 is a holder, which accommodates the data input device 6.
It holds a data input bag *6' that is rotatably supported within a and inserted for connection, and an optical coupling connector to be connected to the optical coupling connector 7 of the data input device 6 on the bottom part 82a. 9, 83 is a printer unit, which has a processor (M-PU), memory (RAM) and a printer therein, and prints and issues slips; 84 is a slip ejection port; The slip printed by the printer is ejected.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown by the broken line, above the slip ejection port 84 inside the printer cover of the printer unit 83,
A lamp 88 is provided.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the use of the device configured in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. , for example, is detachably fixed on a mounting base 89 attached to the upper part of the interior of a vehicle.

The operator takes out all the data input devices 6 from the printer R8a at a business location (supermarket, etc.), holds all the data input devices 6 in his hand, and checks the product, as shown in FIG. All input data such as product type and quantity are operated on the display 62 by operating the key part 63. The input data is processed by a processor within the data input device 6 and stored in memory. When the data input device 6 is used alone, the internal circuit 10 is powered by the battery 11. The operator then returns to the vehicle and
181e of the printer device f8a is opened, the data input device 6 is inserted into the holder 82, and the connector 7 of the data input device 6 and the connector 9 of the holder 82 are connected.

As a result, the input data in the memory in the data input device 6 is transmitted to the processor of the printer device 8a via the connector 7.9, and the printer operates according to the editing result of the processor of the printer device filfi8a to print a slip.
The printed slip is discharged from the discharge port 84. The operator takes out this slip and hands it to the business partner. Also, when the operator returns to his/her office, he/she will be able to use the Figure 3 (C) installed in the office.
) is connected to the communication unit 8b in the same way as the data input bag Pt, 6k is connected to the printer device 8a, and the communication unit 8
The input data in the data input device 6 is communicated to the host computer via b to be used for sales aggregation and the like.

When this data input device 6 is connected to the printer device 8a or the communication unit 8b, charging voltage and operating voltage are supplied from the power supply circuit of the printer device 8a or the communication unit 8b, and the internal battery is charged. , operates according to the supplied operating voltage.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the main unit 8a shown in the second M (81). It is connected to the metal fitting 19.

A briuter unit 83 is further connected to this wiring fitting 19 via connectors 24b and 24c. The wiring fittings 19 are connected to a car battery (not shown) via connectors 24a to 24f. Connector 9 for connecting holder 82
is connected to the interface circuit 22 via the connector 24J by the signal line 6b (connected to the optical coupling connector),
Furthermore, it is connected to the prosensor 21 via this interface circuit 22.

This processor 21 aggregates and edits the data sent from the data input device 6, and generates all output data of predetermined values (for example, date, product code, product quantity, etc.). This output data is sent to the printer unit 83 via the wiring fitting 19 as print data.

20 is a DC-DC converter (transformer) that converts the car battery voltage (usually 34V) to +5V, +12V1 or +
Convert to 26V. The output of the converter 20 is supplied to each circuit in the main unit 18 and also to each circuit in the printer unit 83 via the wiring fitting 19. When the data input device 6 is attached to the holder 82, the output of the converter 20 is connected to the drive power source and the internal Used as a power source for charging batteries. 23 is a display panel, L
It has an ED lamp to display the operating status of the device, such as power on, off, online status, etc.

The printer unit 83 includes a printer interface 35 consisting of a processor 25 and a printer drive circuit 26.
, a printer 27, and an operator panel 28. The processor 25 is the processor 21 of the main unit fft8a.
A drive signal is sent to the printer drive circuit in accordance with the print data sent from the printer 27 to operate the printer 27 and print the data. The operator panel 28 displays errors such as paper out, printer failure, and the operating status of the printer unit. 24a to 240 are all connectors.

Reference numeral 29 denotes a lamp drive circuit, which controls blinking of the lamp circuit 30 based on a signal from the processor 25. This lamp circuit 30 includes a wrap 88 shown in FIG. 2(B).

The operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4 will be described below with reference to the operational diagram shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 mainly shows the functions of the processor 21 in blocks.

First, a message 100 sent from the data input device 6 via the connector 9 includes selecting data 101 indicating that the message is addressed to the main device, a data length 102, a data section 103, a check code 104, and an end code. 105
is included. In this electronic message 100, data edited by a data input device is sequentially sent out as, for example, data in -line units.

The processor 21 first uses the selecting detection unit 211 to recognize the arrival of a message addressed to itself.

The detection output of this detection unit 211 causes a flip-flop (
F'F) 213 is set, and the timer 210
is started. The cent output of FF 213 is provided to processor 25 of printer unit 83.

The processor 25 drives the lamp drive circuit 29 based on this signal input. As a result, lighting control of the lamp circuit 30 is performed, and the lamp 88 is turned on.Meanwhile, the selecting detection unit 211 issues a detection output every time it receives the message 100. This output gives us
The timer 210 is repeatedly reset and restarted.

The print data extraction unit 212 of the processor 21 extracts the message 10.
Print data is extracted from 0 and sequentially sent to the printer unit 83.
Send to. As a result, the slip is printed.

When the data input device finishes transmitting the print data, the timer 210 of the processor 21 times out. The FF 213 is reset by this time-up signal. As a result, the set output of the FF 213 is completed, and the lamp 88 is dimmed (extinguished).

In short, which timer 210 measures the time sufficient for the operator to cut out the slip after printing of the slip is completed.

In the above embodiment, it has been explained that the lamp control signal is sent from the processor 21 via a special control line, but it is also possible to send the lamp control signal in a command format using all the data lines similar to those used for print data. is also possible.

Furthermore, although the processor 21 monitored messages addressed to itself, for example, the processor 25 on the printer unit 83 side
It is also possible to provide print data detection and print data end detection functions and perform lamp blinking control on the processor 25 side. In this case, there is an advantage that lamp control can be performed without increasing the number of interfaces or commands between both processors.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, since the print output device itself is provided with the lamp means and its control means, it is possible to automatically control the visual confirmation of the print output results, and the power consumption by the lamp is also minimized. It is possible to suppress the

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention, FIGS. 2 (A) and (B) are diagrams showing an example of a device to which the present invention is applied, and FIGS. 3 (^) to (C) are FIG. 5, which explains an example of the use of the embodiment device, is an explanatory diagram of the fixing operation. 6. Data input device, 8a Main unit (printer family), 21.25 Processor, 47 Data discriminator, 48 Lamp means, 210 Timer. Fig. 1 σ1 One of the commercially available devices of the present invention 1 [Picture number 2
Diagrams (A) (B) (c) An illustration of the mechanism used to break off the unexploded June into a right circle. 3
figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] A printing mechanism (42) that prints print data sent from a data generation device (46) that generates print data onto a medium (40), and a discharge mechanism (41) that discharges the printed medium.
), the data determining unit (4) determines whether print data has been given from the data generating device.
7), a lamp means (48) for illuminating the printing surface of the medium discharged by the discharge mechanism, and lighting the lamp means when print data arrives based on the determination result of the data determination section; A print output device comprising: lamp control means (50) for turning off the lamp means upon completion of print data;