JPS63299956A - Electronic cash register equipped with line printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To average the driving currents of printing hammers and to reduce the capacity of a power source apparatus, by dividing the characters of one line into plural times prior to printing when the number of the same characters contained in one line of a receipt exceed the limit number of characters. CONSTITUTION:The sales data (b) from an input apparatus (a) is registered in a memory part (c) and a line printer (d) is used to apply printing output to a receipt (e). A main printing buffer (f) stores a plurality of character data to be outputted for the purpose of printing over one line of the receipt (e) and a detection means (g) detects whether the max. value of the number of the same characters contained in said character data exceeds the limit number of characters. When the detection means (g) detects surplus, a dividing means (h) divides a plurality of character data into a plurality of character data groups and a dividing printing output means (i) successively outputs the divided character data groups to the same line of a receipt (e) for the purpose of printing. Therefore, the max. number of characters subjected to printing output in the same timing become less than the limit number of characters and the driving currents of printing hammers are averaged and the capacity of a power source apparatus is reduced and printing noise can be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an electronic cash register with a line printer that prints out sales data on a receipt using a line printer.

[Prior Art] When each product sold to one customer is registered for sale using an electronic cash register, a receipt 1 shown in FIG. 10 is generally issued. That is, on this receipt 1, the department code 2 and sales amount 3 of each sold product are sequentially printed out in a horizontal line. Then, when you press the total key,
The total amount 4 is printed out.

A line printer shown in FIG. 11 is employed as a printer that prints out each character on the receipt 1 in such a printing format. As shown in the figure, this line printer has a plurality of printed characters 6 arranged circumferentially on the outer surface of a cylindrical printing drum 5.
is engraved, and a row of type is also formed in the axial direction. Each digit of the circular character string corresponds to a lateral digit of the receipt 1. Printing hammers 7 corresponding to the number of digits are arranged below the type drum 5 in the axial direction. Then, the receipt 1 is inserted between the type drum 5 and the printing hammer 7, and the printing drum 5 is rotated so that the type 6 of the character to be printed faces the printing hammer 7. When the printing hammer 7 is driven, characters are printed on the receipt 1.

Therefore, while rotating the printing drum 5, the receipt 1 is
If the printing hammer 7 of the corresponding digit is driven at the timing when the corresponding type 6 faces the printing hammer 7 corresponding to each digit,
One line of characters is printed on receipt 1.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the electronic cash register using the line printer as described above has the following problems. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, since most of the characters in each digit forming one horizontal line of the receipt 1 are numbers indicating amounts, etc., many of the same characters are often printed on one line. As shown in FIG. 11, the arrangement position on the circumference of each type 6 indicating the number of each digit is common to each digit, so when printing that character, the type 6 of that character is placed on the printing hammer 7. The printing hammers 7 are driven simultaneously at a timing opposite to .

As a result, a plurality of printing hammers 7 are energized and driven at the same time at a certain specific timing during one rotation of the printing drum 5, so that the driving flow Ii of the personnel flows at the same time. Therefore, it is necessary to set the power supply capacity as large as possible. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the size of the power supply device including a power transformer, a smoothing capacitor, etc., which increases the manufacturing cost of the entire electronic cash register.

In addition, since the plurality of printing hammers 7 are driven simultaneously at a specific rotational position of the printing drum 5, printing noise is instantaneously increased (
There is a problem.

In the present invention, when the number of identical characters included in one line of characters on a receipt exceeds the limit number of characters, the drive current of the printing hammer can be averaged by dividing and printing one line of characters multiple times. An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic cash register with a line printer that can reduce the capacity of a power supply device and reduce printing noise.

[Means for Solving the Problems] As shown in FIG. In an electronic cash register with a line printer that prints out a receipt e on a receipt e, a main print buffer stores a plurality of character data to be printed out on one line of the receipt e using a line printer d, and a main print buffer f stores a detection means Q for detecting that the maximum number of identical character data included in the plurality of stored character data exceeds a preset limit number of characters;
When this detection means 9 detects that the number of characters exceeds the limit, a character data dividing means divides a plurality of character data in the main print buffer f into a plurality of character data groups, and each character data divided by this character data dividing means group line printer d
The printer is equipped with a divided print output means 1 which sequentially prints out the same line of the receipt e.

[Operation] In the electronic cash register with a line printer configured as described above, when the number of identical character data included in multiple character data to be printed over one line of a receipt exceeds the limit number of characters, the multiple characters The data is divided into multiple character data groups. Then, each divided character data group is sequentially printed out on the same line of the receipt. Therefore, the maximum number of characters that can be printed out at the same timing is less than the set limit number of characters.

[Example] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an electronic cash register with a line printer according to the embodiment. As shown in the figure, a keyboard 12 as an input device is provided on the front surface of the housing 11, and the upper part of the housing 11 is provided with products for sale. A display unit 13 is provided to display the department code, total sales amount, etc. electronically, and a receipt issuing port 14 is provided at the middle and lower part, respectively.
A drawer 15 for storing money is provided. Further, a customer display section 16 having the same configuration as the display section 13 is attached to the top surface of the housing 11.

As shown in the figure, the keyboard 12 includes numeric keys 17., ., ., ., ., ., . , . . . , . . . In addition to sales registration keys such as the department key 181 indicating product classification and the m/cash total key 19 for calculating the total amount, [registration] [inspection code]
Control keys 20 are provided for selecting and setting business modes such as [Payment] and [Setting].

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an electronic cash register with a line printer. The CPU (central processing unit) 21 is
It has a built-in arithmetic circuit, etc., and performs various arithmetic processing based on input information from the keyboard 12, as well as an address bus 22. A ROM 25 that stores fixed data such as business programs and the like and a RAM 26 that stores sales data such as the sales amount of each product that has been manually input are operated via the data bus 23 and control line 24. Also, control key 2
A control key input circuit 27 to which a command signal from 0 is input. A keyboard input circuit 281 receives key signals from the keyboard 12. A display control circuit 29 sends display signals to the display section 13.16. A printer control circuit 32 that controls a printer drive circuit 31 that drives a line printer 30 that prints out prints on the journal and receipt 1 is connected to the data bus 23 . CPLJ21 via control 124
It is connected to the.

As shown in FIG. 11, the line printer 30 is composed of a printing drum 5, a printing hammer 7, and a paper feeding mechanism (not shown). Incidentally, two printing drums 5 and two printing hammers 7 shown in FIG. 11 are provided, one each for receipts and for journals.

On the outer circumferential surface of the printing drum 5, a large number (13X
14) type characters 6 are formed.

Therefore, this printing drum 5 can print characters of up to 14 digits. Further, since 13 printed characters 6 are formed on the circumference, for example, in each digit, in addition to the numbers 0 to 9, three types of symbols and 0 characters can be printed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the RAM 26 stores, for example, sales data such as the department code and sales amount of the sold product inputted by key operations such as the numeric keys 17 and the department key 18 of the keyboard 12, sorted by department code. Sales registration file R to be aggregated
1. - A totalizer R2 that calculates the total price of the products sold, a print buffer R3 that temporarily stores one line of character data to be printed out on receipts and journals, and display data that is displayed on the display section 13.16. A display buffer R4 is formed to temporarily store the .

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, this RAM 26 contains:
The positions of each type 6 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the print drum 5 constituting the line printer 30 shown in FIG.
13) Rotation angle position shown in row -X) and 1 to E (14
) A character address table R5 is formed, which is indicated by coordinates (XY) with the axial position (digit -Y) indicated by .

Also, in the RAM 26, the receipt and one of the receipts are stored.
Limit character number memory R that stores the limit character number N of the same character data included in multiple character data to be printed on a line
6 is formed.

In the additional print buffer R3, as shown in FIG. 5, there is a main print buffer R7 that stores character data corresponding to each digit from 1 to E of the print drum 5 in the coordinates (XY) of the character address table R5. Two sub print buffers R8 and R9 having the same configuration as this main print buffer R7 are formed. For example, when printing the number [9] in the fifth digit, [A5] is stored in the fifth digit area of the main print buffer R7.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing the printer control circuit 32 and the hammer drive circuit within the printer drive circuit 31. That is, the printer control circuit 32 includes each print hammer 7 for applying the printed characters 6 of each digit of the print drum 5 to the receipt 1.
Output terminals HMI to HMI (M13) corresponding to each digit number are provided, and even number digits HM2 to HM14 and odd number digit H
Data signals output from M1 to HM13 are applied to journal printing hammers 7a, 7c and receipt printing hammers 7c, 7d, respectively, via journal driver circuits 33a, 33c and receipt driver circuits 33b, 33d, respectively. . Note that the journal driver circuit 33a.

33c and a receipt driver circuit 33b.

33d is a common terminal JCOM of the printer control circuit 32.
A drive signal is input from the ROOM.

In such an electronic cash register with a line printer, the CPU 21 is programmed to execute the process of setting the limit character number for the limit character number memory R6 of the RAM 26 according to the flowchart of FIG.

When the flowchart starts, first confirm that the control key 20 is set to the [setting] business mode.

Next, when a combination key operation of a specific number and an alternative key is performed using the number key 17 indicating the task of setting the limit number of characters, the key input of the limit number N of characters by the number key 17 is obtained at Pl. When the limit character number N is set in Pl, the limit character number N is stored in the limit character number memory R6 of the RAM 26. This completes the process of setting the limit number of characters N.

Further, the CPU 21 prints out character data such as sales data and total amount on the receipt 1 and journal by inputting sales data from the key fob 12 or inputting the deposit/account key 19 manually, for example. case,
The program is configured to execute printout processing according to the flowchart in FIG.

When the flowchart starts, each character data of multiple digits to be printed out on one line on receipt 1 and journal is stored in RAM2.
The coordinates (XY) of the corresponding printed character 6 on the printing drum 5 are converted using the character address table R5 of No. 6. And the coordinates (
Each character data displayed in XY) is stored in each digit of the main print buffer R7 in the print buffer R,3 of the RAM 26. Next, among the character data stored in each digit of the main print buffer R7, search for the maximum value A of the number of identical characters, that is, the number of character data having the same X value indicating the rotation angle position of the print drum 5 at each coordinate (XY). do. Once the maximum value A is determined, R3 compares the maximum value A with the limit character number N in the limit character number memory R6.

If the maximum value A does not exceed the limit number of characters N in R3, there is no need to divide and print each character data in this main print buffer R7, so proceed to R4 and print all characters in the main print buffer R7. The data is sent to the printer control circuit 32. Then, the printer control circuit 32 receives the input coordinates (
While rotating the print drum 5 in one direction, the character data (XY) input when the print drum 5 reaches each rotational angle position *X is Exercising character data with matching values [(Y) printing hammer 7 is energized and driven. Receipt 1 at that position is then tapped against the type 6, and the characters are printed on receipt 1. Therefore, when the print drum 5 rotates once, each character corresponding to each character data input to the printer 11II11 circuit 32 is printed out on the receipt 1 over one line.

When one line of characters is printed on receipt 1, receipt 1
Feeds the paper by one line. Then, the printout process of this character data is completed.

In addition, if the maximum value A obtained in R3 exceeds the limit number of characters N, the character data of each digit of the main print buffer R'7 and the character data of odd number digits are transferred to the character address table R.
For example, the character data is set to [FF] which is not set to 5, and is stored in each digit of the sub print buffer R8. Next, in the same manner, the character data of each digit of the main print buffer R7 is stored in each digit of the sub print buffer R9 by setting each character data of even number digits to the same character data of <[FF].

That is, in this state, each character data in the main print buffer R7 is divided into two character data groups and stored in the sub print buffers R8 and R9, respectively.

Then, the print data of all digits in the sub print buffer R8 is sent to the printer control circuit 32. Thus, the printer control circuit 32 prints out characters corresponding to the input character data of each digit on the receipt 1 over one line. In this case, since the character data in odd-numbered digits is [FF] character data in which no character (printed character 6) is set, no characters are printed in the odd-numbered digit positions of receipt 1. In this case, paper feeding of receipt 1 is not executed.

When the printing process for the character data in the sub print buffer R8 on the receipt 1 is completed, the print process for the character data in the sub print buffer R9 on the receipt 1 is performed in the same manner. In this case, since the character data of the even number digits is [FF] character data in which no character (printed character 6) is set, no characters are printed at the even number digit positions of the receipt 1.

That is, on the same line of receipt 1, each character of even number digits is printed by sub print buffer 7 buffer R8, each character of odd number digit is printed by sub print buffer pR9, and the characters of both sub print buffers R8 and R9 are printed. When data is printed, one line of characters is printed on receipt 1.

When the printing process for one line of characters is completed, receipt 1 is
Feeds only one line. Then, the printout process of this character data is completed.

If there is an electronic cash register with a line printer configured in this way, if the number of identical characters included in one line of characters to be printed out on receipt 1 exceeds the limit number N, one line will be treated as a group of character data with an even number of digits. The data is divided into odd-numbered character data groups and printed out twice at different times. That is, to print one line of characters on the receipt 1, the print drum 5 rotates twice.

Therefore, since the maximum value of the number of identical character data included in each divided character data group does not exceed the preset limit number N of characters, the number of characters printed out at the same timing also does not exceed the limit number N of characters. As a result, the printing hammers 7 whose number of characters is more than the limit number N are not driven at the same time, so it is possible to prevent a large amount of driving current from flowing at the same time, and the driving current flows on average. Therefore, I! The maximum current capacity of the III device can be reduced, and the III device can be configured into a small and light-sized device.

As a result, the manufacturing cost of the entire electronic cash register with line printer can be reduced.

Furthermore, since the printing hammers 7 are not driven all at once, noise is also reduced.

In addition, in the electronic cash register with a line printer according to the embodiment, the limit number of characters N can be set and changed arbitrarily, so that the capacity of the electric device, the noise level, etc.
It is possible to set the limit number of characters N to an optimal value by comparing and examining the time loss caused by printing one line divided into two times.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the electronic cash register with a line printer of the present invention, when the number of identical characters included in one line of characters on a receipt exceeds the limit number of characters, multiple characters of one line are printed. It is printed in parts. Therefore, the driving current of the printing hammer can be averaged, the capacity of the power supply device can be reduced, and noise can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the present invention, and FIGS. 2 to 9
The figures show an electronic cash register with a line printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an external view showing the whole, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the whole, and FIGS. 4 to 6 are FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the printer control circuit and print hammer drive circuit, FIGS. 8 and 9 are flow charts showing the operation, and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the main memory of the storage unit. Print format diagram, 1st
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a general line printer. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Receipt, 5... Printing drum, 6... Type, 7... Printing hammer, 11... Housing, 12...
Keyboard, 14... Receipt issuing port, 19... Deposit/Cash key, 20... Control key, 21...
CPU, 26...RAM, 30 River line printer, 3
1... Printer drive circuit, 32... Printer 1Ii
lJ 111 circuit, R5...Character address table,
R6...Limit character number memory, R7...Main print buffer, R8, R9...Sub print buffer. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 4 Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an electronic cash register with a line printer that registers sales data of sales items input through an input device in a storage unit and prints it out on a receipt using a line printer, the line printer prints out one line of the receipt. Detects that the main print buffer that stores multiple character data to be output and the maximum number of identical character data included in the multiple character data stored in this main print buffer exceeds the preset limit number of characters. a character data dividing means for dividing a plurality of character data in the main print buffer into a plurality of character data groups when the detection means detects that the number of characters exceeds the limit; An electronic cash register with a line printer, characterized in that the electronic cash register is equipped with a divided print output means for sequentially printing out a group of character data on the same line of a receipt using the line printer.