JPS648376B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to graph printing by a printer.

Conventionally, methods have been commonly used to make it easier to visually recognize the status of business calculations, goal achievement rates, etc. by creating graphs or other figures. Considering this point, some desktop printers and portable printers are equipped with a graph printing function. These graphs often show the composition ratio for each item or the achievement rate for a target value, but for example, a graph showing the achievement rate is
If you express achieved values and unachieved values in the same way on a graph and read the situation from the scale, it is difficult to understand the situation intuitively, and the graph representation is insufficient. When expressing a graph like this, it is easier to judge intuitively by directly expressing how much it exceeded or fell short of the reference value (target value), and at a glance, the state can be recognized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks and provide a print that allows graphs to be recorded in different colors based on numerical information input from an input means when recording graphs. There is a particular thing.

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows a keyboard KB (input means) of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration for printing graphs using data input from the keyboard KB. FIG. 6 is an example of printing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, when the print mode switch SW1 of the keyboard KB is changed from the normal mode to the graph mode, the control section CC (control means) detects through the signal line _lS that the print mode has changed to graph printing. This switches the function keys on the keyboard KB to keys for inputting graph data. Graph printing consists of a collection of dots, with 126 horizontal lines as shown in Figure 3.
It is composed of 7 vertical dots. Print memories PCM1 and 2 in Figure 2
(Storage means) stores this 1×7 dot data in 1
It has a memory capacity of 126 bytes, red,
Used as black print memory to perform black printing
PCM1 and PCM2 are assigned as print memory for red.

Now, the reference value is 0, the maximum value in the + direction is 50, the maximum value in one direction is also 50, and the graph data input key is the 〓 key. When you input the 〓 key, the control unit CC first recognizes that scale numerical values are to be printed from the first three data inputs after changing the graph mode of the print mode switch SW1, and stores them in the specified position of the black print memory PCM1 along with a space. Stores a dot pattern representing the data. Also, a dot pattern representing a space is stored in the red print memory PCM2.

This is done as follows. First, set 125 by passing the signal line _lPR through the print dot register PR, and clear the print dot counter PC and line counter LC by passing the signal line _lC . The output signal line _lAD of the dot counter PC serves as an address signal line for two print memories PCM1 and PCM2. Open the AND gate AD1 by setting the signal line l _A1 to 1 so that the print data on the data signal line DB1 appears on the data signal line DB2, and set the read/write signal line l _RW1 for black to 0 to output the print data for black. Store in print memory PCM1. Then, match the contents of the print dot register PR and the print dot counter PC, and if they do not match, add 1 to the contents of the dot counter PC through the signal line l _PC , and proceed to the next 7 steps.
Store the dot print data in memory PCM1.
This operation is repeated until the contents of counter PC and register PR match, and 126 bytes of graph data are stored in memory PCM1.

On the other hand, since the black scale is printed on the print memory PCM2, the signal line _lA2 is set to 0, and the AND gate AD2
and stores 126 bytes of print data of 0 indicating a space in the red print memory PCM2 with the red read/write signal line l _RW set to 0.

As mentioned above, the data in the print memories PCM1 and PCM2 is stored as 1 byte of 1x7 dot data, but this is converted by the character generator CG inside the control unit CC. This is the dot pattern data. That is, as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, if a 1×7 dot pattern is expressed in hexadecimal numbers, with the dots at the bottom of the pattern corresponding to the least significant bits, then, for example, the numerical value "5" in FIG. ” and the scale “〓”, and if the graph is “staggered”, the number “5” is 8C, 92, 92, 92, F4, the scale “ 〓”
As shown in Figure 4B, E0, 80, 80, 80, 80,
The zigzag pattern as a graph pattern is D6, AA, D6, AA, D6 as shown in Figure 4C. here,
Black circles indicate black printed dots, and hatched circles indicate red printed dots.

In the case of the scale printing of the graph that I am currently explaining,
-50, 0, +50 data is printed, but this is
Control unit CC allows black printing memory PCM
1 and red print memory PCM2 store print pattern data in which scale values as shown in FIG. That's why.

This operation will be explained with reference to FIG. The printer in this example uses a pulse motor PM to feed the paper.
The carriage is equipped with two on-demand inkjet nozzles for red and black, and the carriage is moved back and forth by a linear motor LM, and the timing pulse TP detected by the carriage position detector FDP is used as the cartridge moves. This is an inkjet printer that prints by driving a piezo drive circuit PZD.

When the control unit CC finishes storing the print data in the print memories PCM1 and PCM2 as described above, the control unit CC sets the signal line _lC to 0 and outputs the print dot counter PC,
Clear line counter LC and print memory PCM
Return addresses 1 and 2 to their initial values. Then, set the read/write signal lines l _RW1 and l _RW2 for black and red to 1 in the read state, and check that the busy signal line l _Bsy from the printer control unit PCC (recording means) is set to 1, that is, it is not in a busy state. and signal line
l _PF is 1l _PB is 0, printer control unit PCC
Instructs to execute printing. Printer control section
In response to this, the PCC sets the busy signal line l _Bsy to 0 to set the busy state, and sets the drive signal line l _F of the linear motor LM to 1 and l _B to 0 to move the carriage to the home position (right side facing the printing paper P). ) in the forward direction. During this time, the carriage position detector
Detect the timing pulse TP from the FDP and use the signal line at the timing pulse one position before the print start position.
l _{Set Bsy} to 1 to instruct the control unit CC that print data can be received. Control part CC
This sets the signal line l _REQ to 0 and connects the data line DP.
1. Convey that the data on DP2 is valid. In response to this l _REQ signal, the printer control unit PCC sets l _Bsy to 0 again to enter a busy state, reads the data in the print memories PCM1 and PCM2, and
The piezo drive circuit PZD is driven by the signal lines l _B1 and l _R1 with the next timing pulse, and both red and black printing is executed from the upper bits of 1×7 dots. However, as shown in FIG. 5A, this printing is a space because both the red and black data are 00. When printing is finished
l Set _Bsy to 1 to instruct the control unit CC that it is possible to receive the next print data. The control unit CC then uses the signal line l _PC to add 1 to the print dot counter PC, add 1 to the address to the print memory, and outputs the next data to DP1 and DP2, and sets the signal line l _REQ to 0 and uses the same data line as above. DP1, DP
2 indicates that the data above is valid. The printer control unit PCC thereby reads the data in the print memories PCM1 and PCM2 and executes printing at the next timing pulse.

Thereafter, in the same manner, the data in Fig. 5A is added to the top 1 of the 1 x 7 dots of the red and black print data in the order of the arrow direction.
Executes printing of dot data (one red and black nozzle each) in the forward direction. During this time, the print dot counter PC and print dot register PR are incremented by 1 for each print.
The matching circuit CO checks if the content matches the 126 dots, and when a match is found, the control unit CC detects that printing of 126 dots has been completed and registers the print dot register.
Set the contents of PR to 0 by signal line l _PR , and set signal line l _PF to
0l _PB is set to 1. The printer control unit PCC thereby sets the busy signal line l _Bsy to 0, sets the linear motor signal line l _F to 0 and l _B to 1, drives the carriage in the reverse direction, and starts printing in the reverse direction. Also, at this time, the paper feed pulse motor PM is driven to execute paper feed by one dot pitch. As with forward printing, the busy signal line l _Bsy is set to 1 at the timing pulse one before the printing position, and the control unit CC
The control unit CC notifies the controller CC that it is possible to receive print data, and sets l _REQ to 0 to indicate that the first data in reverse printing, that is, the data at the 126th dot, is valid. The printer control unit PCC receives the print data, executes printing at the next timing pulse, and similarly sets the busy signal line l _Bsy to 1 to indicate that the next print data can be received. In response to this, the control unit CC controls the printing dot counter PC using the signal line l _BC since printing is now in the opposite direction.
-1, print memory address -1, and output the 125th data to data lines PD1 and PD2,
l Set _{the REQ} signal line to 0 and execute printing with the next timing pulse. Thereafter, in the same manner, the printing of the red and black print data 1×7 dots of the second stage dot data in the reverse direction is performed up to the first dot data. As before, when the matching circuit CO matches the number of printed dots, the control unit CC switches the signal line
Increment the line counter LC by 1 by l ₁ . Output signal line l ₂ of line counter LC is 4 of carriage.
Used to detect whether the round trip has finished. Now, there is no output from signal line _l2 because it is one round trip operation. The contents of the printed dot register PR
125, and further sets the signal line _lPF to 1 and _lPB to 0 to instruct printing of the third row of 1×7 dots. The printer control unit PCC thereby sets the busy signal line l _Bsy to 0, executes the paper feed by one dot pitch using the paper feed pulse motor PM, sets the drive signal line l _F of the linear motor LM to 1, and sets l _B to 0, and sets the above-mentioned values to Similarly, print operation in the forward direction is executed. Similarly to the above, when a match is established in the match circuit CO, the printing operation in the reverse direction is performed. Thereafter, four reciprocating printing operations are performed in the same manner. When the four round trips are completed, the control unit CC receives the output from the line counter LC via the signal line _l2 , and detects that the printing of 126 dots in the horizontal printing direction (1×7 dots) has been completed.

When the control unit CC finishes printing, it recognizes that this printing is a scale numerical value printing, so
Looking at the busy signal line, the signal line _lFD instructs the printer control unit PCC to feed the paper by one dot pitch, and the printer control unit PCC thereby executes the paper feed by one dot pitch. Next, the control unit CC stores the scale line data in the print memories PCM1 and PCM2 as shown in FIG. 5B. Since this printing is only black printing, the red printing memory
All 0s are stored in PCM2. In the same way as for printing scale numbers, the contents of this black print memory PCM1, that is, print the scale lines, are executed by moving the carriage four times back and forth, and □0〓, □5□0□+〓, □5□0□-〓 are input. Finish printing the scale.

Next, when □3□0□+〓 is input as graph printing data, the control unit CC recognizes that it is graph printing, and also detects that printing is in the plus direction by inputting the □+ key. Therefore, calculate the position from which to print based on this value and the printing position of the scale + 50. As shown in Figure 3, the +50 position on the graph is the 50th dot to the right of the central reference position. Then, 30 dots will be printed from the 32nd dot after 31 dot spaces from the right side. This data is 2 because it is printing in the positive direction.
It is stored in the black print memory PCM1 together with the digit item value (01 in FIG. 3). On the other hand, since there is no red printing (unidirectional printing) in this graph printing, 126 dots of space are stored in the red printing memory PCM2. This is shown in FIG. 5C.

Graph print data is stored in print memory PCM1, PCM
2, the control unit CC executes printing by four reciprocating movements of the printer carriage in the same way as the scale value printing described above. This printout will be a graph filled in black like the graph printout of item 01 in Figure 3. When the printing is completed, the control unit transfers the black print memory PCM to print the next center scale line.
The data is stored in memory 1 along with a space, and the space is stored in red print memory PCM2. This is shown in FIG. 5D. Printing of the center scale line is completed with the same four reciprocating operations as described above. Also, when the □2□5□-〓 key is input as graph print data, the control unit CC recognizes that graph printing is to be performed and that unidirectional printing is performed by inputting the □-key, and this numerical value and the scale - Calculate the position to be printed relative to 50. As shown in FIG. 3, -50 on the graph is the 50th dot to the left of the center reference position, and -25 is the 25th dot to the left of the center reference position. On all the 126-dot graph dots, there is a space of 61 dots from the right side facing the printing paper P, the 62nd dot is the center scale line, the 63rd to 87th dots are -25, and the 88th dot to 113 dots. There is a space up to the first line, and after that, the item value is 2 digits, or 02 is printed.

This is the black print memory PCM1 and the red print memory
They are stored separately in PCM2, but in this case the graph data is printed in the negative direction, so the graph data from the 63rd dot to the 87th dot is stored in the red print memory PCM2.The 63rd to 86th dot is a graph staggered pattern, and the 87th dot is The vertical line data is stored, and the 62nd dot center scale line and items are stored in the black print memory PCM1 as shown in FIG. 5E. The control unit CC achieves printing of this minus direction data 25 in a red zigzag pattern by four reciprocating movements of the printer carriage as described above, and then prints the center scale line in the same manner as described above to print the graph print data. Finish printing.

Similarly, if 20□+〓 is input, printing of item 03 in Fig. 6 is achieved, and if 40□-〓 is input, graph printing of item 04 in Fig. 6 is achieved.

Note that the numerical values 01 to 04 representing the items are based on the counter output inside the control section CC.

As explained above, according to the present invention, when recording a graph, the graph is recorded in different colors based on the numerical information inputted from the input means. By setting the reference value or target value in the center like this, if the input data exceeds the reference value, it will be printed in black on the right side, and if it is below it, it will be printed in red on the left side. It is possible to provide a printer that is effective in improving work efficiency, such as by being able to recognize the positive and negative states at a glance and by being able to immediately grasp the status of achievement of target values.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of the arrangement of a keyboard used in an embodiment of a computer with a printer according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. Figures 4A to C are diagrams showing examples of the dot configuration of each character in the printed graph.
Figures A to E are explanatory views of examples of the contents of the print memory, and Fig. 6 is a line diagram showing examples of printed graphs according to the present invention. CC...Control section, KB...Keyboard,
CO……matching circuit, PC……dot counter, PR
...Print dot register, AD1, AD2...
AND circuit, PCM1, PCM2...Print memory,
PCC...Printer control unit, PM...Pulse motor, LM...Linear motor, PZD...Piezo drive circuit, FDP...Carriage position detector.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An input means for inputting numerical information and a plurality of function information, and a first input means for storing first information to be recorded in a first color.
and a second area for storing second information recorded in a second color different from the first color; and the first or second information stored in the storage means.
a recording means for recording information on a recording medium based on the information of the input means; control to record the first information in a first color, and in response to numerical information from the input means and other function information different from the function information, record the first information via the storage means. and control means for controlling the means to record the second information in a second color at a second recording position.