JPS6261437B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention provides a printing machine with a tab function.
The present invention relates to a tab control device for a printing machine that displays the tab position.

Conventionally, in order to print a data table or the like in a predetermined print format, a printing machine such as a serial printer moves the print bed in the row direction to print, for example, by moving a carriage holding the print head to a predetermined position. A tab function that shifts and stops is provided, and for example, to set the tab position, the user operates the space key to gradually move the carriage and then operates the tab set key at the appropriate position.

However, in the past, this work was done using the operator's visual sense, which sometimes caused the tab position to deviate from the planned position, and the need to send the carriage at least once, which took time and made the work tedious. It had the disadvantage of becoming.

Furthermore, in serial printers that have a function to change the print pitch, the set tab position also changes each time the print pitch is changed. A plurality of scale lines are provided, and one of the scale lines must be selected and printed during use, resulting in a drawback that visual confirmation of the tab position becomes extremely troublesome.

This invention allows the print format to be set in advance as numerical data, and the tab position to be directly set using these numerical data.
It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks by simultaneously displaying the current position of the carriage and the next tab position to which the carriage should shift during printing.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a typewriter according to the present invention, which includes a platen 1, a petal-shaped type wheel 3,
A keyboard KB with a plurality of keys, a carriage position display section 4 and a tab position display section 5 that display the carriage position and tab position in three digits by means of an LCD (liquid crystal display) and the action of a drive circuit DSP (Fig. 2).
It has

The type wheel 3 is mounted on a carriage (not shown) supported on the machine frame so as to be movable parallel to the platen 1, and the type wheel 3 is mounted on the carriage.
a type selection control section (not shown) connected to the
A hammer biasing section (not shown) is arranged to act as a hammer (not shown) for pressing the type on the type wheel 3 facing the printing position onto the printing paper 2 disposed on the platen 1.

Furthermore, the carriage is electrically controlled by a movement control unit (SHD in Figure 2) that moves the carriage parallel to the platen 1 inside the machine frame.
is connected to.

As shown in FIG. 2, a print control unit PRD consisting of a type selection control unit and a hammer biasing unit, a carriage movement control unit SHR, and a drive circuit DSP for display units 4 and 5 are built into a typewriter. It is controlled by a computer (microcomputer) MC based on keyboard KB operations or commands from an external control device via interface/0.

At this time, the print control unit PRD and the carriage movement control unit SHD are operated by open-loop control of a stepping motor in the configuration shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 53-6123.
Since the electronic control system including the microcomputer MC sequentially stores the number of pulses output to the stepping motor, the currently selected type and the position of the carriage are always recognized by the electronic control system. Note that these drive controls can be similarly achieved using a closed-loop servo motor.

Next, the tab control operation will be explained. The tab positions are set on the keyboard KB by a program (Fig. 3) stored in the microcomputer MC. Keyboard KB has number keys from "0" to "9",
In addition to the character keys "A" to "Z" command keys such as "line feed" and "space", "FNC", "TAB", "TAB"
SET” “TAB CLEAR” “TAB ALL CLEAR”
It has each key.

Note that these special keys can be replaced by, for example, a combination of control keys and character keys by modifying the program of the microcomputer MC.

In the flowchart of FIG. 3, first, the "TAB SET" routine will be explained. For example, by pressing the keys "FNC", "2", "4", "TAB"SET" in order, the tab position display section 5 will be set to "024". The next tab position "24" is stored in the microcomputer MC, and when the above operation is performed multiple times, the set value appears on the display section 5 each time, and multiple tab positions are set. Then “FNC” and “TAB”
This routine is completed by operating the "SET" key, and the data at the first tab position, that is, the data at the smallest tab position is read out and displayed on the display section 5. Next, the position of the carriage is displayed on the display section 4 by the number of pitches from the left end (FIG. 1), and "TAB CLEAR KEY" is "determined". If "TAB CLEAR KEY" is pressed, the data at the currently read tab position is cleared,
The data at the next tab position, the next smallest tab position after the cleared data, is read, and after that, or when the "TAB CLEAR KEY" is not pressed, "there is a TAB SET in the middle" is "determined". "in the middle
"TAB SET" means to add an additional tab position setting while the carriage is stopped during printing, and when such an operation occurs, the further set tab position is added by the "midway TAB SET" routine. The data is stored and the data of the nearest tab position ahead in the current carriage movement direction is read out to "determine" the "TAB KEY". "TAB
If the "TAB KEY" is pressed, move the carriage to the number of pitches indicated by the data of the currently read tab position, read the data of the next tab position, and then press the "TAB KEY". ``Determines'' that ``a line feed command exists'' when there is no line feed command. Normally, line feed commands are performed using the ``line feed'' key, but when the typewriter is
When controlled by an external CPU or the like via the , it is performed based on external commands. When a line feed command is issued, the carriage returns to the left end (FIG. 1) and the data at the first tab position is read. If there is no line feed command, "TAB ALL CLEAR KEY" is "determined", and if "TAB ALL CLEAR KEY" is pressed, all tab position data stored in the microcomputer MC is cleared and the tab position is set. It returns to the normal printing state with no
If the ``CLEAR KEY'' is not pressed, it is immediately ``determined'' that there is a ``print command''.

Print commands are normally issued by operating numeric keys, character keys, etc., but when the typewriter is controlled by an external CPU or the like via interface/0, the print commands are issued based on external commands.

When there is a print command, the print control unit PRD selects the type to be printed on the type wheel 3 facing the print position.
In response to this command, the hammer makes a mark while the carriage moves to the right (as shown in Figure 1), thereby making a predetermined print.

The present invention has the above configuration, and its operation will be explained next.

Set paper 2 on the typewriter and press the keys, for example, "FNC", "5", and "TAB SET" (Fig. 4).
T ₁ ), "FNC""1""5""TABSET" (Fig. 4
T ₂ ), "FNC""2""5""TABSET" (Fig. 4
T ₃ ), "FNC""3""5""TABSET" (Fig. 4
T ₄ ), "FNC" and "TAB SET" are pressed in sequence, the drive circuit DSP operates and the display section 5 displays "005",
Numbers "015", "025", and "035" appear in order, and tab positions T ₁ to T ₄ corresponding to each of these numbers are set. When the carriage is shifted to the left end position (Fig. 1) and set to start printing, the display section 4
is "000", and since the first tab position in the printing direction is _T1 , the display section 5 shows "005". If you press the "TAB" key, the movement control section
The carriage moves to T ₁ according to the command from the SHD, and the display section 4 shows "005". Since the shift to the tab position T ₁ is completed, the data of the next tab position T ₂ is read out, and the display section 5 shows "005". It becomes "015". When you press the letter keys "M", "O", and "N" in order, the hammer will stamp the letters on the type wheel 3, and "MON" will be printed on the paper 2, and the display 4 will read "008". Since the "TAB" key has not been pressed yet, the display 5 remains at "015" (Figure 4). Next, when the "TAB" key is pressed, the carriage moves to the right position "015" as shown in _FIG . ”. When the character key is pressed to print "TUE", the carriage moves three pitches to the right from the previous tab position (T ₂ ) and the display 4 becomes "018". (Figure 4).

Next, if you want to change the format during printing, for example, change "025" at tab position T ₃ to "031" as shown in Figure 4. In the state shown in Figure 4, press "TAB CLEAR" When the key is pressed, the currently read data at the tab position "025" is cleared, and then the data "035" at the next tab position is read out, so the display section 5 becomes "035". (Figure 4). That is, if the "TAB" key is pressed at this time, the carriage will move to "035". Here, "FNC"
If you press the "3", "1", and "TAB SET" keys,
The tab position data "031" is read into the microcomputer MC by the "TAB SET" routine, and since this "031" is the data closest to the right when viewed from the current carriage position "018", the display section 5 displays "031'', and thus the tab position T ₃ ``025'' is changed to the tab position T <sub>3</sub> ′ ``031''.

As described above, according to the present invention, multiple tab positions can be set only by key operations, making the work easier without having to move the carriage as in the past. Setting the position allows you to get accurate tab positions.

Furthermore, during printing, the current carriage position and the next tab position to which the carriage should move are always displayed, making it easy to visually detect when the number of prints increases too much and exceeds the specified format. This has the advantage that it is possible to prevent this from happening, and that it is also possible to change the tab position setting and format as necessary even during printing without any trouble.

In the above embodiment, the tab position data is input using the print key, but this data may also be controlled by an external CPU or the like.

In addition, although the above embodiments have shown a typewriter with a petal type type wheel, it is also possible to use a serial printer with a dot type print head with a wire, or a fixed print head with the print head parallel to the printing surface. The present invention can also be applied to a type of printer equipped with a platen that is movable in the row direction.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the typewriter of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control circuit, FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a tab position setting program stored in the microcomputer, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the tab position setting state. MC...Storage means, detection means, SHD...Movement control means, KB...Input key, output key, 4, 5...
...display means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A carriage holding a printing means that can print on paper attached to a platen by action, a printing keyboard that individually corresponds to a plurality of characters,
In a printing machine that prints by acting on a printing means while displacing the moving position of the carriage in the line direction relative to the platen in relation to the operation of the printing keyboard, data of multiple tab positions of the carriage can be stored. A storage means, an input means having an input key and capable of sequentially inputting data at a plurality of tab positions into the storage means by operating the input key, and an output means capable of sequentially reading data at a plurality of tab positions of the storage means. and a movement control means for moving and displacing the carriage in the direction of travel in relation to the read tab position data, and a detection means for detecting the movement position of the carriage and generating a different detection signal in accordance with the movement position. ,
a first display means capable of numerically displaying the movement position of the carriage in relation to the detection signal; a second display means capable of numerically displaying the setting tab position one by one in relation to the read output from the storage means; A display control circuit for a printing machine, comprising: a display control circuit that operates an output means when a set tab position and a carriage movement position match, and makes it possible to read out the next set tab position.