JPS6335367A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance transmission efficiency in a printer mode, by providing a buffer capacity change controlling means for making the buffer capacity of a buffer memory at the time when the typewriter mode is designated smaller than that at the time when the printer mode is designated. CONSTITUTION:Upon transfer from a main routine to a typewriter mode switching routine, a CPU 60 resets a printer mode flag 106 in a RAM 65, reads a buffer capacity change control program from a ROM 64, and writes into an end address memory 107 the final address in the buffer capacity of a buffer memory 104 which is converted into one byte, followed by returning to the main routine. Upon transfer from the main routine to a printer mode switching routine, the CPU 60 sets the printer mode 106, and writes into the end address memory 107 the final address in the maximum capacity of the buffer memory 104 on the basis of the buffer capacity change control program, followed by returning to the main routine.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a printing device having a typewriter mode and a printer mode, and particularly to a printing device that prints data input from a keyboard or data input from an external device. The present invention relates to a printing device in which the buffer capacity of a buffer memory for storing up to 100% is made smaller when a typewriter mode is selected than when a printer mode is selected.

(Prior Art) Recent printers have two modes: a typewriter mode in which a keyboard is connected and data input from the keyboard is printed, and a printer mode in which data transmitted from an external device such as a host computer or personal computer is printed. When the typewriter mode is selected, the data entered from the keyboard is stored until it is processed by the printing device, and when the printer mode is selected, the data transmitted from the external device is stored until it is processed for printing. A buffer memory is provided for storing.

The buffer memory is an RA arranged on a memory board.
It is composed of M (random access memory) chips, and the buffer capacity of the buffer memory is fixed because it is set by hardware according to the number of RAM chips, and it can be used in typewriter mode or printer mode. It is always set constant no matter which mode is selected.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) In this type of printer, the buffer capacity of the buffer memory is constant regardless of whether typewriter mode or printer mode is selected. When is relatively large, a large amount of data is transmitted at once in the printer mode and the transmission efficiency is good, but the following disadvantages occur in the typewriter mode.

In other words, for example, when a paper feed key with a repeat function is held down, manual processing of the code data corresponding to the paper feed key with the repeat function is faster than the process of feeding the print paper, so the code data is sequentially stored in the buffer. The code data is stored in the memory, and even if you stop pressing the paper feed key, the paper feed process will be executed according to the number of code data stored in the buffer memory, resulting in more printing paper being fed than necessary. There's a problem.

When the buffer capacity of the buffer memory is small, such as a few bytes, even if you operate and hold down a paper feed key with a repeat function in typewriter mode, the code data corresponding to the paper feed key stored in the buffer memory will not be stored. Since the number is small, the paper feed process will stop almost at the same time as you stop operating the paper feed key, but since the amount of data that can be transmitted at one time in printer mode is small, the number of times the data will be transmitted increases and the data There is a problem that transmission efficiency deteriorates.

(Object of the Invention) An object of the present invention is to provide a printing device that can change the buffer capacity of the buffer memory to be smaller when the typewriter mode is specified than when the printer mode is specified.

(Means for Solving the Problems) As shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 1, the printing device according to the present invention includes a buffer memory for storing data input from a keyboard or data input from an external device, and a buffer memory for storing data input from a keyboard or data input from an external device. It is equipped with a printing mechanism that prints data from the buffer memory onto a print medium, and operates in a selected mode, either a typewriter mode that prints data from the keyboard or a printer mode that prints data from an external device. The apparatus is provided with buffer capacity change control means for making the buffer capacity of the buffer memory smaller when the typewriter mode is specified than when the printer mode is specified.

(Function) In the printing device according to the present invention, when the typewriter mode is selected and specified, data such as characters and symbols input from the keyboard are stored in the buffer memory, and when the printer mode is selected and specified, data such as characters and symbols input from the external device are stored. Input data is stored in a buffer memory.

The data stored in the buffer memory is then printed on the print medium by the printing mechanism.

The buffer capacity change control means causes the buffer capacity of the buffer memory to be smaller when the typewriter mode is specified than when the printer mode is specified.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the printing device according to the present invention, as explained above,
The buffer capacity change control means changes the buffer capacity of the buffer memory to a smaller capacity when the typewriter mode is specified than when the printer mode is specified, so that when the printer mode is selected, a large amount of data cannot be processed at once. The transmission rate of transmitted data has been improved, and when you stop operating a character key with a repeat function or function key that was held down in type-like mode, the character printing corresponding to that character key or the function key The execution of the function corresponding to this will be immediately stopped, improving work efficiency and operability.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example in which the present invention is applied to an electronic typewriter that can also be used as a dedicated printer for a computer or the like 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. A thermal head 5 is attached to the carriage 3, and the thermal head 5 is 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 so.

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 l.
is provided, and the keyboard 10 has 15 characters shorter than one line.
A 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 keys 12 including alphabet keys, numeric keys, and space key 14, backspace key 15, carriage return key 16, shift key 17, second shift key 18, left margin set key 19, right margin set key 20, and tab set key. 2
1. Tab clear key 22, tab key 23, forward key 24
, paper return key 25, repeat key 26, code key 27
, first and second selection switches 28 and 29, etc. still,
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 provided in the ribbon cassette 35 rotates and the thermal transfer ribbon is wound onto the take-up spool, but when the thermal head 5 is moved in the opposite printing direction In this case, the take-up spool is prevented from rotating by retracting the thermal head 5 to a non-printing position.

Next, the overall configuration of the control system of the electronic typewriter 1 will be explained with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG.

The driving means for the printing mechanism 61 includes a paper feed motor 66 and a paper feed motor driver 72, a carriage feed motor 67 and a carriage feed motor driver 73 that move the carriage 3, and a drive unit that moves the thermal head 5 between a printing position and a non-printing position. A switching solenoid 68 and a solenoid driver 74 that selectively switch between positions, and a thermal head 5
and a thermal head driver 75.

The display mechanism 62 includes the display (liquid crystal display) 1
1 and a display controller 76.

The control device C includes a CPU (central processing unit) 60 and a CPU
ROM <read-only memory) 64 and RAM (random access memory) 65 connected to U60
The CPU 60 has a keyboard 10.
, each driver 72 to 75 of the driving means of the printing mechanism 61, a display controller 76, and an external interface driver/receiver 77 are connected.

The ROM 64 includes a pattern memory 100 in which pattern data such as each character and symbol is stored, and data transmitted from an external device 80 such as a host computer via a driving means of a printing mechanism 61, a display mechanism 62, and an external interface 63. The control program controls the external interface driver/receiver 77 in order to receive data, and the program memory 102 stores a buffer capacity changing side j1 program that controls changing the buffer capacity, which will be described later. .

The RAM 65 includes a basso memo IJ IQ 4 that sequentially stores code data input from at least the external device 80 or the keyboard 10 until it is printed.
A buffer data counter 1 that sequentially instructs addresses at which input code data is to be written into the buffer memory 104.
05, a printer mode flag 106 that is set when the code key 27 and the character key 12 for the letter "P" are operated simultaneously to switch to the printer mode, and a printer mode flag 106 that is set when the capacity of the buffer memory 104 is changed. An end address memory 107 for storing the final address (end address) of the capacity, and various temporary storage memories necessary for controlling the printing mechanism 61 and the display mechanism 62 are provided.

The CPU 60 RAs code data corresponding to alphabets, numbers, spaces, other symbols, etc. input from the external device 80 or the character keys 12 of the keyboard 10.
The pattern data corresponding to these code data are sequentially stored in the buffer memory 104 of the M65.
The pattern memory 100 of the OM 64 is read in sequence and output to the display controller 76, the thermal head driver 75 of the printing mechanism 61, and the carriage feed motor driver 73.

The CPU 60 also stores code data input from various function keys on the keyboard 10 and command data input from an external device 80 into a program memory 10 of the ROM 64.
2, a control signal corresponding to the input code data is output to the paper feed motor driver 72, carriage feed motor driver 73, solenoid driver 74, and display controller 76 of the printing mechanism 61.

Furthermore, the CPU 60 has an external interface driver/
It controls the receiver 77 and sequentially writes data received from the external device 80 via the external interface 63 into the buffer memory 104.

By the way, the present invention is characterized by a buffer capacity change control that can change the buffer capacity of the buffer memory 104 that stores input data until it is printed in response to switching to printer mode or typewriter mode. In order to make the flowchart easier to understand, an outline of this buffer capacity change control will be explained.

FIG. 4 shows a main routine M for processing command data and print data written in the buffer memory 104, a typewriter mode switching routine T for switching from printer mode to typewriter mode, and a typewriter mode switching routine T for switching from typewriter mode to print mode. This shows a printer mode switching routine P.

The typewriter mode is a mode used as a so-called typewriter that sequentially prints data input from the keyboard 10, and by simultaneously operating the code key 27 and the character key 12 of the character rTJ, the main routine M
Then, the process moves to typewriter mode switching routine T.

Then, the CPU 60 resets the printer mode flag 106 in the RAM 65 and switches to the typewriter mode, and reads the buffer capacity change control program in the ROM 64 to change the capacity of the buffer memory 104 to the minimum 1 byte. The final address (end address) of the buffer capacity of the buffer memory 104 that has been changed is written to the end address memory 107, and the process returns to the main routine M.

Further, the printer mode is a mode used as a so-called printer that continuously prints a large amount of data input from an external device 80 such as a host computer or a personal computer. By simultaneously operating the main routine M, the printer mode switching routine P is entered.

Then, the CPU 60 sets the printer mode flag 106 to switch to the printer mode, and also controls the buffer memory 104 based on the buffer capacity change control program.
In order to change the buffer capacity of the electronic typewriter 1 to the maximum (total capacity that can be stored), write the final address of the maximum capacity of the buffer memory 104 to the end address memory 107 and return to the main routine M. The buffer capacity change control performed by the control device C will be explained based on the flowchart of FIG.

When the typewriter is powered on, this control is started and the process moves to step 31 (hereinafter simply referred to as 81, other steps are handled in the same way), where the printer mode flag 106 in the RAM 65 is set to set the printer mode. Initial settings such as the following are performed, and the process moves to S2.

In S2, it is determined whether or not to switch to the printer mode, that is, whether or not the code key 27 and the character key 12 for the character rPJ were operated at the same time.When switching to the printer mode, the process moves to S15, and the process does not switch to the printer mode. Sometimes it moves to S3.

In S3, it is determined whether or not to switch to the typewriter mode, that is, whether or not the code key 27 and the character key 12 for the character rTJ were operated at the same time. If the mode is not changed, the process moves to S4.

The next step 84 to S6 is a step of writing data to the buffer memory 104, and in S4, the buffer data counter 105 of the RAM 65 and the end address memory 107 are
Based on the data, it is determined whether the data written in the buffer memory 104 is full or not, that is, whether there is no room to write the input data, and when the data is full, it is output from the CPU 60. The BUSY signal becomes rHJ level, data reception is prohibited, and the process moves to S9, and when the data is not full and there is room for writing, the process moves to S5.

In S5, it is determined whether or not data has been sent based on a strobe signal output when a key is operated in the typewriter mode, and based on a control signal accompanying data transfer in the printer mode. , when data has been sent, the process moves to S6, and when no data has been sent, the process moves to S7.

In S6, the input data is sequentially written into the buffer memory 104 instructed by the buffer data counter 105.

The next steps 87 to S9 are steps for outputting the data written in the buffer memory 104 to the printing mechanism 61, and S
In step 7, it is determined whether or not data has been written to the buffer memory 104 based on the data of the buffer data counter 105, and if data has been written, the process proceeds to step S8.
and when no data is written, S2
Returning to step S2 and subsequent steps are executed to write the data to be transmitted into the buffer memory 104.

In S8, it is determined whether the data in the buffer memory 104 can be output to the printing mechanism 61, that is, whether or not the printing mechanism 61 is in a printable state. If the data cannot be output, the process returns to S2 and S2 to S8 are repeated. , when output becomes possible, the process moves to 89.

In S9, the data in the buffer memory 104 is sequentially output to the driving means of the printing mechanism 61, and the process returns from S9 to 82.

Therefore, by executing steps 82 to S9, the external device 8
0 or data input from the keyboard 10 is written into the buffer memory 104, the written data is output to the driving means of the printing mechanism 61, and printing and various functions are sequentially executed according to the data. At this time, the CPU 60 outputs control signals to each of the drivers 72 to 75 of the printing mechanism.

In the middle of steps 82-S9, press code key 27 and letter r.
When the TJ character key 12 is operated at the same time, the determination result is Yes in S3, and printer mode flag 1 is set.
06 is reset, switched to typewriter mode, and transitioned to SIO.

In SIO, since the mode has been switched, in order to change the capacity of the buffer memory 104, the BUSY signal output from the CPU 60 becomes rHJ level and data reception is prohibited.

The next steps 311 to S12 are steps for outputting all data written in the buffer memory 104, and in S11, it is determined whether data has been written in the buffer memory 104 based on the data of the buffer data counter 105. is determined, and if the data is hit or miss, S1
2, the data written in the bath sofa memory 104 is output to the printing mechanism 61, printing and various functions are executed according to the data, and the process returns from S12 to Sll.

Then, Sll-512 is repeated and the buffer memory 1
811 to 513 when all data in 04 is output
In S13, the capacity of the buffer memory 104 is changed to 1 byte. At this time, the CPU 60 writes the end address of the buffer capacity of the buffer memory 104 that has been changed based on the buffer capacity change control program into the end address memory 107.

In the next step 314, the BUSY signal from the CPU 60 is rL.
It becomes J level and starts receiving data, and from S14 to 8
Return to 2.

Also, if the code key 27 and the character key 12 for the character rPJ are operated at the same time during steps 82 to S9, S
In step 2, the result of the determination is Yes, the printer mode flag 106 is set, the mode is switched to printer mode, and the process moves to step 315.

At step 315, since the mode has been switched, in order to change the capacity of the buffer memory 104, the BUSY signal output from the CPU 60 becomes rHJ level, and data reception is prohibited.

The next steps 316 to S17 are steps for outputting all data written in the buffer memory 104, and in 816, it is determined whether data has been written in the buffer memory 104 based on the data of the buffer data counter 105. is determined and 31 when data is being written.
7, the data written in the buffer memory 104 is output to the printing mechanism 61, printing and various functions are executed according to the data, and the process returns from S17 to 316.

When 316 to S17 are repeated and all the data in the buffer memory 104 is output, the process moves from 316 to 318, and in 318, the capacity of the buffer memory 104 is changed to the maximum. At this time, the CPU 60 changes the buffer memory 10 based on the buffer capacity change control program.
The end address of the buffer capacity of 4 is written into the end address memory 107.

In the next 319, the BUSY signal from the CPU 60 is rL.
J level and data reception starts, from 319 to 8
Return to 2. In this case, the CPU 60 outputs a control signal to the external interface driver/receiver 77.

As explained above, in response to switching to typewriter mode or printer mode, the buffer memory 10
Since the buffer capacity of 4 is changed to the minimum capacity of 1 byte or the maximum capacity that can be stored, the printing mechanism 61 immediately responds to key operations when in typewriter mode, improving work efficiency. Furthermore, since the buffer capacity of the buffer memory 104 is large in the printer mode, a large amount of data can be transmitted at one time, and data transmission efficiency is improved.

In this embodiment, switching to the typewriter mode and switching to the printer mode were performed by key operations, but the switching to the printer mode can be performed by transmitting data for switching to the printer mode from the external device 80 prior to data transmission. Alternatively, the typewriter mode may be returned to by transmitting data for switching to the typewriter mode after data transmission.

It should be noted that the above embodiment is merely one example, and those skilled in the art can make various modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Although the above embodiments have been described with reference to an electronic typewriter equipped with a thermal printer, the present invention is equally applicable to a thermal printer to which a keyboard can be connected, a daily wheel type printer, or a typewriter or word processor equipped with such a printer. Of course, it can be applied.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention, Figures 2-
Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an electronic typewriter, Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the control system of the typewriter, and Fig. 4 is a routine for switching from the main routine to the typewriter mode. and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a buffer capacity change control routine for changing the buffer capacity of the buffer memory. 2...Platen, 3...Carriage, 4...Guide Rond, 5...Thermal head, 10...
Keyboard, 27...Code key, 60...CP
U (central processing unit), 63...external interface, 64...ROM (read-only memory)
, 65...RAM (random access memory), 77...driver/receiver for external interface, 104...buffer memory, 106...
Printer mode flag. Patent applicant: Brother Industries, Ltd. Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A buffer memory that stores data input from a keyboard for inputting data such as characters or symbols or data input from an external device, and a printing mechanism that prints the data in the buffer memory on a print medium. When the typewriter mode is specified, the printer mode is selected. 1. A printing device comprising buffer capacity change control means for making the buffer capacity of the buffer memory smaller than when specified.