JPS62278075A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a reduction in the storage capacity for storing left and right margin positions, tab positions or the like and a simpler control of the position of a printing head, by controlling the movement of the printing head by converting column numbers of printing positions in a minimum pitch mode stored into column numbers of printing positions in a pitch mode currently designated. CONSTITUTION:A moving position of a thermal head 5 is controlled in terms of the column numbers of printing positions counted on the basis of an absolute origin in a pitch mode currently designated. In order that left and right margin positions and tab positions can be treated in common in all pitch modes, left and right margin set positions and tab set positions are stored by converting them into column numbers of printing positions counted on the basis of an absolute origin in a minimum pitch mode. When the set position is read according to an operation of a tab key 23 or the like, the column number in the minimum pitch mode is converted into a column number based on an absolute origin in the pitch mode currently designated.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] 3. Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a printing device, and in particular to a printing device for storing positional information such as left and right margins and tab positions that restricts movement of the printing area. The present invention relates to a printing device that can save memory capacity.

(Prior art) In printing devices such as typewriters, left margins and right margins that divide the printing area, normal tabs for aligning printing positions, decimal tabs for aligning decimal points, etc. are set, and these positions are set. It is possible to memorize and print based on the position information.

By the way, for example, in the case of a typewriter, the printing pitch of printed characters is generally 10 per inch.
(characters) and elite pitch (j, 2 characters per inch), and depending on the model, it is also possible to select micron pitch (15 characters per inch).

For example, in the case of a typewriter that allows you to select the pie pitch and elite pitch mentioned above, the left and right margins and tab positions can be set to the pie pitch, and in the middle of the text to be printed, switch to elite pitch and print. In order to be able to use the memory information of the left and right margins and tab positions even when there is a problem, conventional typewriters use positional information that can be used for both picapisochi and elite pitch as shown below. I was starting to remember.

Sokuchi, Baikapisochi: Since the elite pitch is -6:5, the unit is at least 1/6 of the length of Paikapisochi, that is, the length of the greatest common divisor of both pitches, 1/60 inches (hereinafter referred to as common pitch). The printing position of the print head was controlled using the absolute origin at the left end as a reference, and the tab position, etc. was memorized using the value of .
0 to 480 [however, 4
80=8÷(1/60)] is required, and for example, a typewriter that can set 20 restriction positions is provided with 20 such memories.

3 types: pica pitch, elite pitch, and micron pitch
Even in typewriters that allow you to select different printing pitches, the pitch is 6:5:4, so the printing position is controlled using the common pitch as a unit and positional information such as tab position is stored. was.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) When the left margin, right margin, and tab position are expressed in units of a common pitch of 1/60 inch, as in the conventional typewriter described above, the memory for one tab position, etc. Even if one print line is 8 inches, maximum 4
Since a 2-byte memory that can store numbers up to 80 is required, the memory capacity of the multiple memories for left and right margins and tab positions becomes large, making the typewriter control system more expensive. .

Furthermore, if the tab position, etc. is memorized in units of 1/60 inch, it is possible to accurately associate the tab position, etc. after changing the printing pitch. Since printing is performed while calculating, there is a problem that the burden on the CPU (central processing unit) required for the control increases.

(Object of the Invention) An object of the present invention is to provide a printing device that can reduce the memory capacity of a memory that stores left and right margins, tab positions, etc., and can simplify the position control of the print head.

(Means for Solving the Problems) As shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. The apparatus is provided with a pitch specifying means for specifying switching of the printing pitch, a pitch mode memory for storing the pitch mode specified by the pitch specifying means, and a position at which movement of the print head is restricted in the current pitch mode. providing a regulating position setting means for setting the regulating position, and providing a memory converting means for converting the regulating position set by the regulating position setting means into the number of digits of the printing position counted with reference to the absolute origin in the minimum pitch mode, A regulation position storage memory is provided for storing the number of digits converted by the memory conversion means, and the number of digits stored in the regulation position storage memory is converted into the number of digits in the pitch mode designated by the pitch designation means. A reading conversion means is provided, and a restriction command means is provided for restricting the movement of the print head at the restriction position, and the movement position of the print head is counted with respect to the absolute origin in a pitch mode designated by the pitch designation means. a movement control means for controlling the print position according to the number of digits of the printing position, and regulating the movement position of the print head based on the conversion result of the reading conversion means when a command is issued by the restriction command means. It is.

(Operation) Since the printing device according to the present invention is configured as described above,
When one of the plurality of printing pitches is selected and specified via the pitch specifying means, the selected pitch mode is stored in the pitch mode memory.

When positions for regulating the movement of the print head, such as left and right margins and tab positions, are set in the current pitch mode via the regulation position setting means, the memory conversion means sets these regulation positions in the minimum pitch mode with reference to the absolute origin. It is converted into the number of digits of the printing position to be counted, and the converted number of digits is stored in the regulation position memory.

On the other hand, when regulating the movement of the print head via the regulation command means, the number of digits stored in the regulation position memory is converted by the reading conversion means into the number of digits in the pitch mode specified by the pitch command means. Ru.

In the movement control means, the movement position of the print head is controlled by the number of digits of the print position counted with the absolute origin as a reference in the pitch mode specified by the pitch designation means, and the command by the regulation command means is issued. When the print head is converted, the moving position of the print head is controlled based on the conversion result of the reading conversion means.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, the printing apparatus according to the present invention is configured to control the movement position of the print head by the number of digits of the print position in the designated pitch mode.

Then, set the positions that restrict the movement of the print head, such as the left and right margin positions and multiple tab positions, in the currently specified pitch mode, and convert these restriction positions to the number of digits of the print position in the minimum pitch mode. It is configured to memorize. Then, when reading out these stored data and executing print head movement regulation, the number of digits in the stored minimum pitch mode is converted to the number of digits in the currently specified pitch mode to regulate the print head movement. It is composed of:

Therefore, for example, the left and right margins and multiple tabs set in Pikabitch can be used even after changing to elite pitch, and the regulation positions such as left and right margins and tabs can be used in common for multiple pitch modes.

In this way, it is possible to eliminate the operational complexity of resetting the regulation position every time the pitch mode is changed.
In order to store one regulation position, it is only necessary to have a memory with a capacity equal to the number of digits of the print position in the minimum pitch mode, which can significantly reduce memory capacity. Since control is performed based on the number of digits of the print position, effects such as reducing the burden on the CPU (central processing unit) required for controlling the movement of the print head can be obtained.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example in which the present invention is applied to an electronic typewriter will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 2, a platen 2 is supported on the rear side of the main body case 1 of the typewriter, and a guide rod 4 extending parallel to the platen 2 is disposed in front of the platen 2. As shown in FIG. A carriage 3 is supported by the guide rod 4 so as to be movable left and right along the platen 2. Said carriage 3
A thermal head 5 is attached to the platen 2 so that the thermal head 5 can be switched between a printing position where it is pressed against the printing paper P on the front side of the platen 2 and a non-printing position where it is separated from the printing paper P forward. It has become.

A power switch 7 is provided on the side surface of the main body case 1. In addition, a keyboard 10 is provided at the front of the main body case 1.
is provided, and its keyboard lO has 15 lines shorter than one line.
A multi-digit liquid crystal display (LCD) 11 is provided.

Furthermore, the following operating members such as various keys and changeover switches for operating the typewriter are arranged on the keyboard 10. Namely, character symbol keys including alpha key 12 for inputting each character of alpha head, number keys 13 and space key 14 for inputting numbers 0 to 9, bank space key 15, and carriage return key. 16, shift key 17, second shift key 18, left margin set key 19, right margin cent key 20, tab set key 21, tab clear key 2
2. Tab key 23, paper feed key 24 to feed the printing paper P, paper return key 25 to return the printing paper P, repeat key 26, code key 27, first and second mode selection switches 28 and 29, insert key 30, delete key 31, cursor movement key 7 for moving a cursor 33 indicating a data input position on the display 11
8.79, a pica bitch key 69 for making the character spacing of printed characters a pica bitch feed, an elite pitch key 70 for making an elite pitch feed, a micron bitch key 85 for making a micron pitch feed, etc.

Among these keys and switches, the code key 27 is used for other keys, namely auto carriage return mode,
Numerical keys 34 to 34 correspond to various printing functions such as light margin flash mode, centering mode, line-by-line mode, and underline mode.
39, etc., to select each printing function by generating code data different from the code data generated when those keys are operated alone.

The first mode selection switch 28 is a two-position sliding switch for selecting one of two modes: typewriter mode and terminal mode.

The second mode selection switch 29 is a non-print mode,
This is a three-position sliding switch for selecting one of three modes: collection print mode and direct print mode.

Note that the other keys are provided in a normal typewriter, so their explanation will be omitted.

Furthermore, regarding the carriage feeding mechanism for reciprocating the carriage 3 having the thermal head 5 from side to side and the ribbon feeding mechanism incorporated in the carriage 3, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-87
Since the configuration is similar to that shown in Publication No. 085, a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted, and the configuration will be briefly described here.

When the thermal head 5 moves in the printing direction during printing, the take-up spool rotates and the thermal transfer ribbon is wound onto the take-up spool, but when the thermal head 5 is moved in the opposite direction to print, the thermal head 5 is By retreating to the non-printing position, the take-up spool is prevented from rotating.

Next, the control device for the electronic typewriter will be explained with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG.

The CPU (central processing unit) 60 includes a printing mechanism 6I,
a display mechanism 62; an external interface driver/receiver 77 connected to the external interface 63;
Keyboard 10 and ROM (read only memory)
64 and RAM (Random Access Memory) 65
are connected as shown.

The printing mechanism 61 includes a paper feed motor 66 and a paper feed motor driver 72 that drive the paper feed roller, a carriage feed motor 67 and a carriage feed motor driver 73 that move the carriage 3, and the thermal head 5 at a printing position. It includes a switching solenoid 68 and a solenoid driver 74 that selectively switch between a non-printing position, a thermal head 5, a thermal head driver 75, and the like.

The display mechanism 62 is the display (liquid crystal display)
11 and a display controller 76.

The ROM 64 also includes a pattern memory 100 storing pattern data such as characters and symbols, a control program for controlling the printing mechanism 61 and the display mechanism 62, and a left margin position, right margin position and tab set position, which will be described later. The program memory 102 stores a conversion control program for converting the number of digits such as .

The RAM 65 includes at least a print data memory 10G that stores code data input from the keyboard 10 in correspondence with print positions, and a pitch pitch key 69, elite pitch key 70, or micron pitch key 85 for setting the print pitch. a pitch mode memory 108 that stores the pitch mode selected and set by , and a digit counter 110 that counts the current position of the thermal head 5 based on the number of digits of the print position with the absolute origin as a reference in the current pitch mode. , a current left margin memory 112 and a current right margin memory 114 that store the left margin cent position and right margin set position, respectively, in the number of digits of the print position counted based on the absolute origin in the current pitch mode, and the following various types. Memory 118・
A set position memory 116 including 120, 122, 124, and 126, and various temporary storage memories necessary for controlling the printing mechanism 61 and display mechanism 62 are provided.

Each memory of the set position memory 116 stores each cent position by the number of digits of the print position counted from the absolute origin in the micron pitch mode, which is the minimum pitch mode, and the left margin memory 118 and the right margin memory 120 stores the left margin set position and right margin set position, respectively, and the first tab memory 122.
The second tab memory 124 and the third tab memory 126 are for storing a first tab, a second tab, and a third tab, respectively.

However, four or more tab memories may be provided as needed.

The CPU 60 sequentially stores in the print data memory 106 of the RAM 65 code data corresponding to each character and symbol such as alpha vent, number, space, arithmetic symbol, and other symbols inputted from the character symbol keys of the keyboard 10. , pattern data corresponding to these code data are sequentially read from the pattern memory 100 of the ROM 64 and output to the display controller 76, the thermal head driver 75 of the printing mechanism 61, and the carriage feed motor driver 73.

Further, the CPU 60 processes the code data input from various function keys of the keyboard 10 using a control program read from the program memory 102 of the ROM 64 to send control signals corresponding to the input code data to the paper feed motor driver of the printing mechanism 61. 72, a carriage feed motor driver 73, a solenoid driver 74, and a display controller 76.

By the way, in the present invention, the moving position of the thermal head 5 is controlled by the number of digits of the printing position counted with the absolute origin as a reference in the currently designated pitch mode, and the left and right margin positions and tab positions are controlled at all pitches. In order to make it common for all modes, the left and right margin set positions and tab set positions are converted into the number of digits of the print position counted with the absolute origin as a reference in the minimum pitch pitch mode and stored. When the cent position is read out in response to an operation, the number of digits in the minimum pitch mode is converted to the number of digits based on the absolute origin in the currently designated pitch mode to control the movement position of the thermal head 5. be.

The number of characters printed per inch is picapisochi (Pn)
10 characters for elite pitch (En), 12 characters for elite pitch (En), and 15 characters for micron pitch (Mn).

Figure 5 shows the printing positions for pica pitch and micron pitch (
The arrow indicates the position (number of digits) in micron pitch after conversion during the first conversion from picapisoti to micron pitch, and vice versa from micron pitch to pi-force pitch. The position (number of digits) in the converted picapisochi during the second conversion is shown by an arrow.

Figure 6 shows the correspondence between elite pitch and micron pitch printing positions (number of digits). ) is shown by an arrow, and the printed value M (number of digits) at elite pitch after conversion in the fourth conversion from micron pitch to elite pitch is shown by an arrow.

For example, when a position set in pica pitch mode is used in pica pitch mode, the first and second conversions are performed, and when a position set in elite pitch mode is used in elite pitch mode, the third and fourth transformations are performed. When using the cent position in the power pitch mode in the elite pitch mode, the first conversion and the fourth conversion,
When using the position set in the elite pitch mode in the pi-force pitch mode, the third transformation and the second transformation will be used.

Note that when setting the position of a tab or the like in micron pitch or calling up the centered position, the position is stored in micron pitch, so there is no need to convert or inversely convert it.

When the first conversion and the second conversion are expressed in a simple formula corresponding to FIG. 5, the following pitch conversion table 1 is obtained.

Pitch Conversion Table 1 (However, n=o, 1.2,...) Also, if the third and fourth conversions are expressed in a simple formula in correspondence with FIG. 6, the following pitch conversion table 2 is obtained. It becomes like this.

(Margins below this page) Pitch Conversion Table 2 Next, a flowchart of the set position conversion control performed by the control device of the electronic typewriter will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 11.

This control is started as soon as the typewriter is powered on, and the process moves to step Sl (hereinafter simply represented by 31, and the other steps are handled in the same way).

In Sl, it is initialized and moves to S2.

In S2, the current pitch mode corresponding to any one of the pitch keys selected on the keyboard 1o, such as the Picapisochi key 69, Elite pitch key 70, A2, or Micron pitch key 85, is read.

Next, in S3, the pitch mode read in S2 is written into the pitch mode memory 108 of the RAM 65.

Next, in S4, it is determined whether or not a key has been manually operated (whether or not a key has been operated on the keyboard IO),
When the key is not operated, the process is repeated at minute intervals until the key is operated, and when the key is operated, the process moves to 85.

In S5, it is determined whether or not the operated key is the tab key 23. If it is the tab key 23, the process moves to S15, and if it is not the tab key 23, the process moves to S6.

In S6, it is determined whether the operated key is a position set key such as the left margin set key 19, right margin set key 20, or tab set key 21. If it is a position set key, the process moves to S7 and the position set key is pressed again. If not, the process moves to step 322 and the process corresponding to the content of the operated key, for example, if it is character printing or a function key, the process corresponding to the function is executed, and then the process goes to step S2.
Move to.

In S7, the value of the digit counter 110 that counts the number of digits based on the absolute origin in the current pitch mode of the thermal head 5 is read.

Next, at 38, it is determined whether the left margin cent key or the right margin set key has been operated, and the No.
When , the process moves to SIO, and when Yes, the process moves to S9, where the number of digits is written in the current left margin memory 112 or the current right margin memory 114 corresponding to the operated key, and the process moves from S9 to SIO.

Next, in the SIO, it is determined whether or not the current mode is the pitch mode memory 108 based on the data in the pitch mode memory 108, and when the mode is the pitch mode, the mode shifts to Sll and the first
The conversion process is performed, and if the mode is not in the picapisoti mode, the process moves to 312.

In S12, it is determined whether or not the current elite pitch mode is selected based on the data in the pitch mode memory 108.
When in elite pitch mode, it shifts to 313 and the third
Conversion processing is performed, and if the mode is not the elite pitch mode (that is, the micron pitch mode), the process moves to 314.

Here, the routine of the first conversion process will be explained based on the flowchart of FIG. 8. From S10 to 331
In S31, the value read in S7, ie, the number of digits (Pn), is divided by 2, and the quotient is set to n and the remainder to e.

For example, in the case of the fifth digit (P,) in FIG.
=2, el=l. Next, in 332, S31
It is determined whether el obtained in step 1 is 1 or not, and if it is l, the process moves to S33, and if it is O, the process moves to S34.

In S33, 2, which is the value obtained by adding 1 to el, is set as e
Let it be the value of l. Next, in step 334, the value obtained by adding el to nX3 is set as the number of digits in micron pitch (Mn), and the process moves from S34 to S14.

For example, in Figure 5, the 5th digit (P,) of the pi force pitch
is the eighth digit (M8) of the micron pitch.

Further, the routine of the third conversion process will be explained based on the flowchart of FIG. 1O. From S12 to 351
In S51, the value read in S7, that is, the number of digits (En), is divided by 4, and the quotient is set to n and the remainder to e.

For example, in the case of the fifth digit (E5) in FIG.
=1, e3=l.

Next, in step 352, it is determined whether the remainder e3 is 2 or more, and if it is 2 or more, the process moves to S53, and if it is 1 or O, the process moves to 354.

In 353, the value of 03 is the sum of e3 and 1.

Next, in 354, the value obtained by adding 03 to nx5 is set as the number of digits in micron pitch (Mn), and the process moves from S54 to 314.

For example, in Figure 6, the fifth digit of the elite pitch (E5
) is the 6th digit (Ma) of the micron pitch.

In 314, the value of the number of digits (Mn) obtained in 311 or S13 is written to each corresponding memory of the set position memory 116 of the RAM 65, and the process moves from S14 to 32.

As a result of the determination in S5, if the tab key 23 has been operated, the process moves to S15, and in S15, the number of digits counter 1 is
10 data are read. However, this data is used to know which tab it is.

In S16, data (number of digits) is read from the memory corresponding to the currently designated tab in the cent position memory 116.

Next, in 317, it is determined whether or not the current pitch mode is based on the data in the pitch mode memory 108, and if it is the pitch mode, the process moves to 318, where a second conversion process is performed, and the mode is also changed to the pitch mode. If not, the process moves to 319.

In S19, it is determined whether the current elite pitch mode is selected based on the data in the pitch mode memory 108,
When in elite pitch mode, it shifts to 320 and the fourth
The conversion process is performed, and if the mode is not the elite pitch mode (that is, the micron pitch mode), the process moves to S21.

Here, the routine of the second conversion process will be explained based on FIG. 9. The routine moves from S17 to 341.
In , the value read in 316, that is, the number of digits (M
n ) is divided by 3, and the quotient is set to n and the remainder to e2.

For example, in the case of the 8th digit (Me) in Figure 5,
n=2, e2-2.

Next, in 342, e2 calculated in S41 is 2
It is determined whether the number is 2 or more, and if it is 2 or more, the process moves to 34.3, and if it is 1 or O, the process moves to 344.

In S43, the value obtained by subtracting 1 from e2 is set as the value of e2.

Next, in 344, the value obtained by adding 02 to n×2 is set as the number of digits in the pica pitch (Pn), and the process moves from S44 to 321.

For example, in Figure 5, the 8th digit of micron pitch (Me
) is the 5th digit (P5) of the picapisoti.

Further, the routine of the fourth conversion process will be explained based on the flowchart of FIG. 11. From S19 to 561
In S61, the value read in 816, ie, the number of digits (Mn), is divided by 5, and the quotient is set to n and the remainder to 84.

For example, at the 6th digit (M6) in Figure 6, n
”'1-en-1.

Next, in S62, it is determined whether the above-mentioned remainder e4 is 3 or more, and when it is 3 or more, the process moves to S63 and 2
If it is 1 or 0, the process moves to S64.

In S63, the value of 84 is obtained by subtracting 1 from e4.

Next, in 364, the value obtained by adding 04 to nX4 is set as the number of digits in elite pitch (En), and S64
to 521.

For example, in Figure 6, the 6th digit of micron pitch (M6
) is the fifth digit (E5) of the elite pitch.

In S21, the thermal head 5 is moved to the cent position based on the number of digits obtained in 318 or S20 and the data in the pitch mode memory 108, and the S
Transition from 21 to 82.

Note that the set left margin position or right margin position is detected by a step not shown based on the data of the digit counter 110 and the data of the current left margin memory 112 or the current right margin memory 114. It has become.

Since the left and right margins are data that is frequently used, the number of digits stored in the left margin memory 118 and the right margin memory 120 at the time the pitch mode is switched so that it can be read without converting it one by one. is converted into the number of digits in the current pitch mode based on the data in the pitch mode memory 108, and stored in the current left margin memory 112 and the current right margin memory 114, respectively.

Although this embodiment has been explained based on an electronic typewriter equipped with a thermal head, the present invention can also be applied to a printing device equipped with a decimal wheel type printing mechanism or a type ball type printing mechanism. Of course.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention, Figures 2-
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an electronic typewriter, Figure 3 is a plan view of a keyboard, and Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is a block diagram of the control system of a typewriter, Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the correspondence between the pica pitch printing position and the micron pitch printing position, and Figure 6 is the relationship between the elite pitch printing position and the micron pitch printing device. 7 is a flowchart of the set position conversion control routine, FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the routine of step S11 in FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the routine of step S11 in FIG. 7. Flow chart, FIG. 10 is a flow chart of the routine of step S13 in FIG. 7, and FIG. 11 is a flow chart of the routine of step S13 in FIG.
It is a flowchart of the routine of step S20 of a figure. 2...Platen, 3...Carriage, 4...Guide rond, 5...Thermal head, 10...Keyboard, 19...Left margin set key, 20
...Right margin set key, 21...Tab set key, 23...Tab key, 60...CPU (central processing unit), 61...Printing mechanism, 64...ROM (
Read-only memory), 65...RAM (Random Access Memory), 69...Bisochiki, 70...
・Elite pitch key, 85... Micron pitch key, 100... Pattern memory, 102... Program memory, 108... Pitch mode memory, 11
0...digit number counter, 116...cent position memory. Patent applicant: Brother Industries, Ltd. Figure 8 Figure 9

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a printing device equipped with a printing mechanism that prints while the print head moves along the print line, a pitch designation means for designating switching of the printing pitch and a pitch mode designated by the pitch designation means are stored. a pitch mode memory for setting a position at which movement of the print head is restricted in the current pitch mode; and a restriction position setting means for setting a position at which the movement of the print head is restricted in the current pitch mode, and a restriction position setting means for setting the restriction position set by the restriction position setting means to an absolute origin in the minimum pitch mode. A memory conversion means for converting into the number of digits of a print position counted as a reference; a regulation position storage memory for storing the number of digits converted by the memory conversion means; and a digit stored in the regulation position storage memory. reading conversion means for converting a number into a number of digits in a pitch mode designated by the pitch designation means; regulation command means for restricting the movement of the print head at the restriction position; In addition to controlling by the number of digits of the printing position counted based on the absolute origin in the pitch mode specified by the specifying means,
A printing apparatus comprising: movement control means for regulating the movement position of the print head based on the conversion result of the reading conversion means when a command is issued by the regulation command means.