JPH01171966A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent missing of data to be printed, by providing a means for stopping printing operation and switching the operation from automatic feed mode to manual feed mode upon detection of exhaust of sheet and a means for switching the operation from manual feed mode to automatic feed mode and resuming printing operation automatically upon detection of a sheet. CONSTITUTION:CPU11 is provided with a means for switching the operation from automatic feed mode to manual feed mode when exhaust of sheet is detected through a PE sensor 15 and a means for switching the operation from manual feed mode to automatic feed mode and resuming printing operation automatically when the PE sensor 15 detects a sheet in a sheet cassette. When exhaust of sheet is detected, a PELED 16 is lighted and the operation mode is switched to manual feed mode, thus stopping the printer. When sheet are fed in the sheet cassette and detected through the PE sensor 15, LED16 is unlighted and the operation mode is switched to automatic feed mode, thus resuming printing operation.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention has two modes: an auto feed mode in which paper is automatically fed from a paper cassette containing paper, and a manual feed mode in which an operator manually feeds paper. The present invention relates to a printer that once stores print data input from an external host computer in a print buffer, and then prints on paper fed in one of the two feed modes.

[Conventional technology]

Conventional printers of this type automatically switch the mode to manual feed mode when the paper cassette runs out of paper or the amount remaining in the paper cassette is low when in auto feed mode, and the mode is automatically switched to manual feed mode to communicate with an external host computer. If you want to print the print data remaining in the print buffer or external host computer with the connection offline, feed the paper manually and input the print start instruction from the host computer or printer control panel. is configured to resume.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In conventional printers with the above configuration, when the paper cassette runs out of paper, the mode automatically switches to manual feed mode, so if you replenish the paper cassette with paper and continue printing in auto feed mode, , it is necessary to perform a mode switching operation and an operation to bring the connection with the host computer online. At this time, if the paper cassette is replenished with paper, the paper empty state is canceled, but the printer does not resume printing until the mode is switched and the connection is brought online. Therefore, in this state, the operator may mistakenly assume that the host computer and printer are not operating and turn off the power, causing the unprinted print data remaining in the print buffer and the host computer to be lost.

Therefore, the present invention is capable of automatically switching the mode to autofeed mode and restarting printing when paper is replenished in the paper cassette when the paper cassette runs out of paper and switches to manual feed mode. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer that can prevent data to be printed from disappearing due to an operator's erroneous operation or the like.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the present invention takes the following measures. In other words, it has an autofeed mode in which paper is automatically fed from a paper cassette containing paper, and a manual feed mode in which the operator manually feeds paper, and print data input from an external host computer is stored in the print buffer. In a printer that prints on paper fed in one of the two feed modes after it has been stored, there is a sensor that detects the presence or absence of paper in the paper cassette, and a sensor that detects the presence or absence of paper in the paper cassette. means for stopping printing and switching the mode from the auto feed mode to the manual feed mode when the sensor detects that there is paper in the paper cassette in the manual feed mode; and means for automatically restarting printing by switching the mode from the manual feed mode to the auto feed mode.

[Effect]

By taking such measures, the following effects are achieved. In other words, when it is detected that there is paper in the paper cassette in manual feed mode,
Since the mode is switched to autofeed mode and printing is restarted, printing can be restarted simply by replenishing the paper cassette with paper.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 10 is a main body of the apparatus, and a CPU 11 is provided. This CPU 11 has a ROM 12 that stores operating programs via a bus, and an RA for processing.
M13 is connected. Further, the RAM 13 has an area used as a print buffer in which print data input from the print host computer 19 is temporarily stored. Furthermore, CPLJll has an operation panel 14. PE sensor 1
5. PE LED16. Printing section 17. Interfaces 18 are connected to each other via a bus. The operation panel 14 is an operation section through which an operator issues operation instructions to the CPU 11.

The PE sensor 15 detects the presence or absence of paper stored in the paper cassette. The PE LED 16 lights up when the PE sensor 15 detects that paper is out.
This is a light emitting diode that notifies the operator that paper is out. The printing section 17 is connected to an external host computer 19.
The print data that is input from the printer and stored in the print buffer is printed on paper. The interface 18 interfaces the cpuil with an external host computer 19.

The CPU 11 also has means for switching the mode from autofeed mode to manual feed mode when the PE sensor 15 detects paper out, and a means for switching the mode from autofeed mode to manual feed mode when the PE sensor 15 detects that there is paper in the paper cassette in the manual feed mode. The printer is equipped with means for switching the mode from manual feed mode to auto feed mode and automatically restarting printing.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of a paper detection system using a PE sensor. Note that the same parts as in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals.

The PE sensor 15 is composed of, for example, a photocoupler, and outputs "1" when there is paper in the paper cassette, and outputs rOJ when there is no paper in the paper cassette. The output of this PE sensor 15 is input to the negative terminal of the comparator 21. Therefore, the output of the comparator 21 is "0" when there is paper, and "1" when there is no paper. The output of this comparator is input from the input port of CPLJll to CPLJll, and the level is inverted and output from the output port of CPU11. Therefore, if there is paper, the PE LED
No current is supplied to PELED 16, and PELED 16 does not light up. On the other hand, when the paper is out, current is supplied to the PE LED 16, and the PE LED 16 lights up.

The operation of this device with the above configuration is shown in Figures 3(a) and (b).
This will be explained using a flowchart.

First, in step 3a, the connection with the host computer 19 is brought online. Next, in step 3b, the PE sensor 15
It monitors the signal from the printer and determines whether the paper is out of paper or not.

Here, if the paper is not out of paper, the paper is fed from the paper cassette in step 3C, and the print unit 17 prints one page worth of print data in the print buffer in step 3d. When printing of one page's worth of print data is completed, it is determined in step 3e whether all the print data sent from the host computer 19 has been printed, and whether printing of all the print data has been completed. processing ends. If print data remains in the host computer 19 and the print buffer, the processes from step 3b onward are repeated. In the judgment in step 3b, if it is detected that the paper is out of paper, the PE LED 16 is turned on in step 3f.
Light up and take the connection offline in step 3g.

Next, in step h, the mode is set to manual feed mode. At this point, the device is in a stopped state. Then, in steps 31 and 3j, paper is replenished into the paper cassette or manually fed. When the paper cassette is replenished with paper and the PE sensor 15 detects the paper, the PE LED 16 goes to step 3.
is turned off, and the mode is switched to autofeed mode in step 32. Then, in step 3m, paper is fed, and in step 3n, the connection is made online, and the processes from step 3d onward are repeated to resume printing. If paper is manually fed in step 31 and step 3j, the PE LED 16 is turned off in step 3o and the process proceeds to step 3p.
Wait for an instruction to make the connection online. If an instruction is input here, the process from step 3n onwards is repeated and printing is resumed.

As described above, according to this embodiment, a printing operation in the auto feed mode can be performed by simply setting a paper cassette replenished with paper in the manual feed mode.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, there is provided a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of paper in a paper cassette, and means for stopping printing and switching the mode from autofeed mode to manual feed mode when the sensor detects that the paper cassette is out of paper. When the sensor detects that there is paper in the paper cassette in manual feed mode,
Since it is equipped with a means to switch the mode from manual feed mode to auto feed mode and restart printing automatically, when the paper cassette runs out of paper,
When switching to manual feed mode,
When the paper cassette is replenished with paper, the mode can be automatically switched to autofeed mode and printing can be resumed, and it is possible to provide a printer that can prevent data to be printed from being lost due to operator error, etc. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3 (a) and (b) are diagrams showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration, and FIG. 2 is a P
A diagram showing an example of a circuit configuration of a paper detection system using an E sensor,
FIG. 3(a)(t)) is a flowchart showing the flow of processing by the CPU. 10...Device body, 11...CPU, 12...-R
OM. 13...RAM, 14...Operation panel, 15...
PE sensor, 16... PE LED, 17... Printing section, 18... Interface, 19... Host computer, 21... Comparator. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue 5■ Figure 2 Figure 3 (a) Figure 3 (b)

Claims (1)

[Claims] It has an auto feed mode in which paper is automatically fed from the paper cassette containing paper, and a manual feed mode in which the operator manually feeds paper, and print data input from an external host computer is temporarily stored in the print buffer. In a printer that prints on paper fed in one of the two feed modes after the paper has been fed, the printer includes a sensor that detects the presence or absence of paper in the paper cassette, and a sensor that detects the presence or absence of paper in the paper cassette. means for stopping printing and switching the mode from the auto feed mode to the manual feed mode when the sensor detects that there is paper in the paper cassette in the manual feed mode; 1. A printer comprising means for automatically restarting printing by switching from a manual feed mode to the auto feed mode.