JPS6280056A - Dot printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make printer characters easily legible and improve printing quality without impairing the neat look of printed sentence by printing out either one of two different preset characters and providing a space expressed by the number of dots for character width adjustment between two different characters. CONSTITUTION:The case where 'Chinese character mode' is stored in a printing mode area R4 represents the provision of a space for dot space amount Ds stored in a dot space amount region R after the print-out of Chinese characters 1. In the meantime, the case where 'non-Chinese character mode' is set represents the provision of dot space amount Ds stored in a dot space amount region R after the print-out of a single character of non-Chinese characters such as alphabet, numerical or kana character. The printing mode can be selected and set to either 'Chinese character mode' or 'non-Chinese character mode' by turning ON/OFF the highest digit switch of eight-digit dip switches.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Application in Business A] The present invention relates to a dot printing device that prints out a mixture of kanji and non-kanji characters such as alphanumeric characters with different character widths, and particularly relates to This invention relates to a dot printing device that aligns printing positions between lines of characters.

[Prior art] RO the dot pattern corresponding to the input character code
Some dot printing devices read characters from a character generator such as M and print them out on printing paper set on a platen using a dot print head mounted on the carriage while moving the carriage at a constant speed.

There are devices that can print out multiple types of characters such as katakana.

In general, such dot printing devices take into account the aesthetic appearance and balance of the printed text, the complexity of the dot pattern, etc., and adjust the character width of the printed kanji characters and non-kanji characters such as alphabets and numbers. I try to make the width different. In other words, the character width of kanji is set larger than that of non-kanji.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the following problems occur in the above-mentioned dot printing device that prints out a mixture of two types of characters having different character widths. That is, as shown in Figure 7,
For example, when printing out kanji, the dot pitch number that indicates the distance from one kanji to the next is 24 dots, whereas when printing out non-kanji characters such as alphabets, numbers, and kana, the dot pitch number is 24 dots. It's 16 bits. Then,
As shown in the figure, when kanji and non-kanji characters are mixed and printed over multiple lines, the printing positions (printing digit positions) of each character do not match between the first and second lines. When the printing position differs between lines in this way, the appearance becomes unsightly and the text becomes difficult for readers to read, resulting in a decrease in print quality.

In order to avoid such a problem, a space corresponding to the difference in character width may be inserted after a non-kanji character with a small character width in order to align the printing start positions of the kanji character and the non-kanji character.

Conventionally, as a means of inserting this space, it was considered that when the host computer sends the character code to the dot printing device, it performs complicated processing and adds a space code only to a specific character code. . However, since the size of the space varies greatly depending on the type and specifications of the dot printing device connected to the host computer, it has been difficult to universally assign a space code to the host computer. Also, if you dare to do it, will it be very difficult? It requires an extensive control program.

The present invention has been made based on these circumstances, and its purpose is to insert a space for character width adjustment after one type of character among the two types of characters, thereby making it easier for a host computer to Dot printing allows you to easily align the printing positions between lines without creating a complicated control program on the side, making it easier to read without compromising the aesthetics of the printed text, and improving the overall print quality as a result. The goal is to provide equipment.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a dot printing device that prints out a mixture of two types of characters with different character widths over multiple lines.
After printing out one of the predetermined characters among the two types of characters, a space expressed by the number of dots is left between two types of characters for character width adjustment.

[Operation] With a dot printing device configured in this way, when one of the two types of characters is printed out, a space for character width adjustment is inserted after this character. As a result, the character width of the other type of character can be matched. Therefore, the deviation of the printing position between lines is suppressed.

[Example 1 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 dot printing device according to an embodiment. That is, 1 in the figure is a CPU (central processing unit) that executes various calculation information processing based on print data and various commands input from the host computer. A ROM 3 stores fixed data such as various control programs and a character generator storing dot patterns corresponding to input character codes, and a RAM temporarily stores variable data such as input print data.
4. It controls the I10 boat 5 to which various constituent electronic parts are connected.

This I10 boat 5 has an external host computer 6.
Interface control circuit 8 to which print data and various commands are input. For example, an 8-digit dip switch 8 for setting the mode for inserting spaces and setting the number of spaces to be inserted. A CA motor control circuit 10 that drives and controls the carriage motor 9 that controls the movement of the carriage along the platen on which printing paper is set. A paper feed control circuit 12 that drives and controls a paper feed motor 11 that rotates the platen and feeds the printing paper. A dot head control circuit 14 for sending a head energization signal is connected to a dot head 13 which is mounted on the carrier and outputs a dot character on a print sheet.

In the RAM d, as shown in FIG. 2, there is a print data buffer R1 which temporarily stores various print data such as character codes and line feed codes input from the host computer 6 to the interface control circuit 7. In addition to the one-line print buffer R2 that stores one line of character code to be read and printed on printing paper, there is also a dot space ff1Ds that indicates the length of the space to be inserted after a kanji, alphabet, number, or kana character in dots. A dot space ff area R3 in which is stored, a print mode area R4 in which a print mode indicating a mode for inserting a space is stored, etc. are formed.

In the print mode area R4, if [Kanji mode 1 is stored, it indicates that the dot space fiDs stored in the dot space amount area R3 is opened after printing out one kanji character, and [Non-kanji mode] is displayed. Alphabetic character if set.

This indicates that a space in the dot space IDs stored in the dot space area R3 is to be opened after printing out one non-kanji character such as a number or kana character.

The printing mode is selected and set to Kanji mode or non-Kanji mode by turning on and off the uppermost digit of the 8-digit dip switch 8 mentioned above. Also, the dot space l D in the dot space amount area R3
Similarly, s is set in advance by operating the remaining digits of the burp switch 8.

The CPU 1 is configured to perform print output processing on input print data according to the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, when the device is powered on, various initial processing for the RAM 4, I10 port 5, etc. is executed. When the initial processing is completed, the operation status of each of the eight switches making up the burp switch 8 is read via the I10 port 5.

And if the switch of the highest digit is turned on, the RA
Set [Kanji mode 1] in print mode m area R4 of M4, and if it is turned off, set [Non-kanji mode]. Furthermore, read the status of each switch in the remaining 7 digits. From this state, the dot space l D s is read and stored in the dot space amount area R3 of the RAM 4. For example, [00010
In the case of 003, dot space fjlDs=8.

When the reading of the setting data from the burp switch 8 is completed, one piece of print data stored in the print data buffer R1 of the RAM 4 is read out at Pl.

Note that the operation of storing the print data input from the boss 1 to the computer 6 into the print data buffer R1 is performed every time one piece of print data is input from the host computer 6 to the interface control circuit 7, as shown in FIG. This is done by time interrupt processing.

When one print data is read from the print data buffer R1 at Pl, the type of the read print data is checked.

If the print data read at P2 is a character code, it is further checked whether the character code is a kanji code indicating a kanji character or a non-kanji code. If it is a kanji code, the print mode in the print mode area R4 of RAM 4 is checked in P3. If the kanji mode is set, the read kanji code and the dot space code corresponding to the dot space amount D R of the dot space denryo 1aR3 are stored in the one-line print buffer R2 of the RAM 4. If the print mode of the print mode area R4 is not the kanji mode, only the read kanji code is stored in the one-line print buffer R2.

When the process of storing Kanji-do in the one-line buffer R2 is completed, the character code stored in the one-line buffer R2 at P4,
Check whether the space code, etc. has reached one line of data output. Then, if the data for one line has not been reached, the next print data is read out from the print data buffer R1 to Pl. When the data interval in the one-line print buffer R2 reaches a data gap for one line, this 111-minute data is printed out. That is, this one line of data is converted into dot pattern data using the character generators RO to 13, and while the carriage motor 9 is driven to move the carriage at a constant speed, the dot head 13 transfers the data to the platen and the cellar 1. Print out as dot characters on printed paper. When the printout process for one line of data is completed, the process returns to Pl again and the next print data is read from the print data buffer R1.

If the read character code is not a Kanji code, it is a non-Kanji code such as an alphabet, number, or kana character, so the print mode in the print mode area R4 is checked in R5. If this printing mode is a non-kanji mode, the read non-kanji code and the dot space ff in the dot space m area R3 are
i D s worth of driver l-space codes are stored in the one-line print buffer 2.

If the print mode of print mode l[R4 is the kanji mode, only the read non-kanji code is stored in the one-line print buffer R2.

Note that if the print data read at R2 is not a character code but another command code such as a line feed code or page feed code, processing corresponding to that code is executed.

With a dot printing device configured in this way, for example, when printing out kanji characters, the number of dot pitches is set to 24,
Set the dot pitch number of non-kanji characters such as alphabets, numbers, and kana characters to 1.
In the case of 6, the difference between the number of dot pitches for Kanji characters and the number of dot pitches for non-Kanji characters is 8. Then, [Non-kanji mode]
When printing, set the dip switch 8 to [00001000] before turning on the power of the device. Then, Figure 5 (
As shown in a), 8 dots of space are inserted after alphabetic and numeric characters are printed out. On the other hand, no spaces are inserted after the Kanji is printed out.

As a result, the printing start positions of kanji and non-kanji characters are aligned in each line.

Also, when printing kanji and non-kanji with the above dot pitch numbers in Kanji mode, the difference in the number of dots 8 is the same, so set the dip switch 8 to [10001].
000]. Then, as shown in FIG. 5(b), eight dots of space are inserted after the kanji characters are printed out. Also, no spaces are inserted after non-kanji characters such as alphabets, numbers, and kana characters. Therefore, non-kanji 2
The number of dot pitches for a character and the number of dot pitches for one kanji character, including spaces, match. As a result, the printing start position of a kanji character always coincides with the printing start position of a non-kanji character.

FIG. 6 is a printout diagram when kanji and non-kanji characters are mixed in one line and the print mode is set to [non-kanji mode]. In this way, even when Chinese characters and non-kanji characters are mixed in one line, it is possible to change the printing position between the lines.

By inserting spaces equal to the number of character width adjustment dots after printing out kanji or non-kanji in this way, even if the text contains a mixture of kanji and non-kanji, the printing position between the lines of each character can be aligned. Is possible.

Therefore, it becomes easier for the reader to read the printed text, and the aesthetic appearance of the text can be improved. the result,
The overall printing quality in this driver 1-printing device can be improved.

In addition, since the process of inserting a predetermined number of space codes for each kanji or non-kanji character is carried out on the printing device side, the host computer only needs to send out normal print data. good. Therefore, there is no need to change the control program on the host computer side.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. In the example, the number of dot pitches for kanji and non-kanji characters is set to 24 and 16, respectively, so regardless of whether the printing mode is set to [kanji mode] or [non-kanji mode], the amount of dot space set in dot space m area R3 is is 8, but if you change the dot pitch number of kanji and non-kanji, dot space ff1Ds set in dot space m area R3 depending on the print mode.
have different values.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, a space for adjusting the character width UA is inserted after one of the two types of characters. Therefore, the printing positions between lines can be easily aligned without creating a complicated control program on the host computer side, making the printed text easier to read without spoiling its aesthetics, and improving the overall print quality. You can improve.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a dot printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the main memory of the storage section of the same embodiment, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are the same. FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the operation of the embodiment, FIGS. 5 and 6 are print output format diagrams of the same embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a print output format diagram of a conventional dot printing device. 1...CPU, 2...Pass line, 3...ROM
, 4...RAM, 5...I10 boat, 6...host computer, 7...interface control circuit, 8...dip switch, 9...carriage motor, 11...paper feed Motor, 13... dot head. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 5 C

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a dot printing device that prints out a mixture of two types of characters with different character widths over multiple lines,
A dot printing device characterized in that after printing out a predetermined one of the two types of characters, a space expressed by the number of dots for character width adjustment is created between the two types of characters. . (2) The dot printing device according to claim (1), wherein the number of dots in the space is a number of dots corresponding to a character width difference between the two types of characters.