JPH0356671B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a composite printer that can perform both matrix printing and dot matrix printing.

[Prior art] In general, printing using matrix type can print characters etc. with high quality, but the number of characters that can be printed is limited and it takes time to select the required matrix type, so the printing speed is low. had the problem of being slow. In addition, when printing using a dot matrix, the printing head is moved at a constant speed along the printing line.
Since printing is performed by selectively driving the printing element based on dot pattern data, the types of characters etc. are not limited and printing can be performed at high speed. The print quality was poor compared to the print quality.

For this reason, there are two print heads: one that can perform matrix printing and one that can perform dot matrix printing.
After selectively moving the two types of print heads to the print position of the print line,
If you are using a composite printer that prints using only one of the print heads, or if you want to print characters that are not on the matrix type when printing on a matrix, you can use a composite printer that can print those characters in a dot matrix. Various printers have been proposed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the former multifunction printer described above has a problem in that when matrix printing is selected, characters etc. that are not on the matrix cannot be printed. Ta.
In addition, in the case of the latter, there was a problem that the overall printing quality deteriorated because characters printed in dot matrix such as matrix printed characters were mixed in one printing line. .

[Means for Solving the Problems] In view of the above-mentioned shortcomings of the conventional apparatus, an object of the present invention is to control matrix printing when high printing quality is commanded and dot matrix printing when high speed printing is commanded, depending on the printing purpose. In addition to being able to switch as appropriate with commands, when printing characters that are not in the matrix type during high-quality printing, the multifunction printer can print those characters in a dot matrix using low-speed, high-density printing to improve print quality. It is about providing.

To this end, the present invention includes a first print head of dot matrix type capable of high-speed printing and low-speed high-density printing, a second print head that has a predetermined number of matrix type characters and performs matrix printing, and an external device. When a control command including at least a high-speed printing command or a high-printing quality command is supplied with character data from the printer, a command analysis section that analyzes the control command, and a command analysis section that analyzes the control command and controls the first print head or the second print head based on the analyzed control command. and a print control unit that controls printing operations based on supplied character data and control commands of the selected print head, and the print control unit is configured to perform high-speed processing of the control commands by the command analysis unit. If the control command is analyzed as a print command, the first print head is selected for high-speed printing, and when the command analysis section analyzes the control command as a high print quality command, the second print head is selected. When a character is selected and printed, and a character not included in the type of the second print head is to be printed, the first print head is used to perform low-speed, high-density printing.

[Operation of the Invention] According to the present invention, the command analysis section analyzes whether a control command supplied with character data from an external device is a high-speed printing command or a high-density printing command. When the command analysis section analyzes that the command is a high-speed printing command, the print control section selects the first print head and prints characters based on the supplied character data at high speed in dot matrix printing. Further, if the command analysis section analyzes that the command is a high print quality command, the print control section selects the second print head and prints characters based on the supplied character data using matrix printing. When printing characters that are not in the type on the second print head during matrix printing, the print control section selects the first print head and prints the characters that are not in the type by dot matrix printing at low speed and high density. In this way, when high-speed printing is commanded, the first printing head performs high-speed printing, and when high-quality printing is commanded, the second printing head prints, and characters that are not in the type of the second printing head are printed in a dot matrix by the first printing head. Printing quality can be improved by performing low-speed, high-density printing.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example will be described with reference to the drawings showing an example of the present invention.

In FIG. 1 schematically showing a multifunction printer according to the present invention, a main body frame (not shown) of a multifunction printer 1 rotatably supports a platen 3. As shown in FIG. A platen drive motor 85 such as a step motor, which will be described later, is connected to the platen 3, and as the platen 3 is rotated as the platen drive motor 85 is driven, printing paper (not shown) is attached to the platen 3. ) to feed the paper. Two guide shafts 5 and 7 are attached to the main body frame in parallel with the printing lines on the platen 3, and a carriage 9 is slidably supported on the guide shafts 5 and 7. A carriage drive motor 71 such as a step motor to be described later is connected to the carriage 9.
As the carriage drive motor 71 is driven, the carriage 9 is reciprocated in parallel with the printing lines on the platen 3 one character at a time or at a constant speed. A first print head 11 and a second print head 13 of two types with different printing formats are attached to the carriage 9, and the first print head 11 has a large number of built-in printing wires equipped with corresponding electromagnets (both shown in the figure). (not shown), character data is printed in a dot matrix on printing paper.
Further, the second print head 13 is connected to the type wheel 1.
7, a character selection motor 19, and a printing hammer 21. That is, the type wheel 17 has 96 matrix type characters 15 at the tip of each spoke 16, and is replaceably attached to the rotating shaft of the type selection motor 19. Then, the printing hammer 21 selects the required matrix type 15 as the type selection motor 19 is driven.
When it is rotated to the printing position, characters etc. are printed on the matrix by hitting the printing paper with the matrix type 15.

A ribbon cassette is attached to the carriage 9 so as to be replaceable. The ink ribbon is then attached to the first print head 11 and the second print head 13.
The ink ribbon is stretched across the printing position, and the ink ribbon is fed by the rotation of a ribbon drive motor 81 and a feed roller (not shown), which will be described later.

Description will be given with reference to FIG. 2 showing an electrical block diagram of the multifunction printer configured as described above, FIG. 3 showing a code table, and FIG. 4 showing transition states of a control command system and a printing control system.

An external device 33 such as a host computer is connected to the central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 31 via an interface 37 . The external device 33 may be used as a word processor or a data processor.
When used as a word processor, a word processor control command system is output,
When used as a data processor, a data processor control command system is output. The CPU 31 has a ROM 39 and a RAM 41.
The ROM 39 has a pattern memory area 43, a print data memory area 45, a first program memory area 47 for word processing, and a second program memory area 4 for data processing.
9 and a code table area 50. Two types of dot pattern data, one for high-speed printing and one for low-speed printing, corresponding to each character etc. are stored in advance in the pattern memory area 43. The required matrix type 1 is stored in the type data memory area 45.
Various types of type data such as type selection data for rotating 5 to the type position and impact data regarding the optimum printing pressure of the printing hammer 21 according to the type area of each matrix type 15 are stored in advance. The first program memory area 47 stores in advance program data for analyzing various control commands and executing high-speed printing operations or high-quality printing operations in a word process control command system. The second program memory area 49 stores in advance program data for analyzing various control commands and executing high-speed printing operations or high-quality printing operations in the data process control command system. Further, codes corresponding to each character shown in FIG. 3 are stored in the code table area 50. In other words, the combination of the number represented by the upper four digits and the number represented by the lower four digits of the storage location in units of 8 bits is assigned to each character etc. shown in Figure 3, and the number of upper digits shown in Figure 3 is 2. The matrix is printed by the second print head 13 in the memory positions 7 to 7.
96 types of characters are assigned. Further, characters etc. to be printed in a dot matrix by the first print head 11 are allocated to the remaining storage locations. The RAM 41 is composed of an input buffer area 51, a first print buffer area 53, a second print buffer area 55, and a command system storage section 57. Character data for one print line inputted from the external device 33 is sequentially stored in the input buffer area 51. The first print buffer area 53 stores dot pattern data accessed from the pattern memory area 43 based on character data. Further, in the second print buffer area 55, type data accessed from the type data memory area 45 based on a code having two to seven upper digits shown in FIG. 3 is stored. Further, in the command system storage section 57, a flag is set when the control command system is, for example, a word processor control command system, and a flag is reset when the control command system is a data processor control command system. remember.

In FIG. 4, when, for example, a control command "ESC・a" is input in the word process control command system, the CPU 31 resets the flag in the command system storage section 57 and changes the control command system to data from the word process system. It is determined that the switch has been made to the process system. and CPU
31 analyzes various control commands input from the external device 33. When, for example, a control command "ESC b" is input in the data process control command system, the CPU 31 sets a flag in the command system storage section 57 to indicate that the control command system has been switched from the data process system to the word process system. to decide. The CPU 31 then analyzes various control commands input from the external device 33. When, for example, a control command "ESC.c" is input in the word process or data process control command system, the CPU 31 switches the print control program to a high-speed printing program to be described later. Further, when a control command "ESC·d", for example, is input in the word process or data process control command system, the CPU 31 switches the print control program to a high print quality program to be described later. Furthermore, when the control command "ESC・b" is input in the control command system of the word process, or when the control command "ESC・a" is input in the control command system of the data process, the CPU 31 controls the RAM 4.
1 to initialize formatting by erasing various data stored in 1.

A selection switch 65 is connected to the CPU 31. Then, the CPU 31 selects the selection switch 6.
5, the control command system and print control program are activated according to the order shown by the symbol ⇒ in Figure 4, word process, high-speed printing, data process,
Switch sequentially to high-speed print quality, data process/high-speed print, and word process/high print quality.

A first carriage drive control section 67 and a second carriage drive control section 69 are connected to the CPU 31, respectively.
A carriage drive motor 71 is connected to the second carriage drive control section 69 . and the first
The carriage drive control section 67 is connected to the first print head 11.
When dot matrix printing is selected, the carriage 9 is moved at a constant speed along the printing line by continuously driving the carriage drive motor 71. Further, when matrix printing by the second print head 13 is selected, the second carriage drive control unit 69 drives the carriage drive motor 71 according to the width of one character, thereby moving the carriage 9 along the printing line by one character. Move it step by step. Said CPU31
A first print drive control section 73 is connected to the first print drive control section 73.
The first print head 11 is connected to the print drive control section 73 . And the first print drive control section 73
is printed on the first print head 1 based on the dot pattern data stored in the first print buffer area 53.
One printing wire is selectively driven to print characters, etc. in a dot matrix. A second print drive control section 75 is connected to the CPU 31, and a type selection motor 19 and a print hammer 21 constituting the second print head 13 are connected to the second print drive control section 75. Then, the second print drive control section 75 rotates the required matrix type 15 to the printing position by driving the type selection motor 19 based on the type data stored in the second print buffer area 55. After that, the printing hammer 21 is driven to strike the matrix type 15 onto the printing paper. As a result, the required characters, etc. are printed on the matrix. A first ribbon drive control section 77 and a second ribbon drive control section 79 are electrically connected to the CPU 31, and a ribbon drive motor 81 is connected to the first ribbon drive control section 77 and second ribbon drive control section 79, respectively. is connected. The first ribbon drive control section 77
When dot matrix printing by the print head 11 is selected, the ribbon drive motor 81 is continuously driven to continuously feed the ink ribbon. Further, when matrix printing by the second print head 13 is selected, the second ribbon drive control section 79 drives the ribbon drive motor 81 according to the width of one character to feed the ink ribbon one character at a time. Further, a platen drive control section 83 is connected to the CPU 31, and a platen drive motor 85 is connected to the platen drive control section 83. This platen drive control unit 83 controls the feeding and transmitting power when printing a dot matrix by the first print head 11 in a high-speed printing control system, or when printing a matrix by the second print head 13 in a high-quality print control system. By driving the platen drive motor 85 by one printing line based on the number, the printing paper is fed one printing line at a time. Furthermore, when performing low-speed, high-density printing using the first print head 11 in a high-quality printing control system, the platen drive control unit 83 drives the platen drive motor 85 in accordance with the dot pitch of 1/3 of the dot pitch that constitutes the dots of characters, etc. Then, feed the printing paper in 1/3 dot pitch increments.

Next, the operation will be explained with reference to FIG. 4 and FIGS. 5A to 5D.

First, referring to FIG. 4, to explain the switching operation of the control command system, when the control command "ESC.a" is input from the external device 33 in the print control system for high print quality or high speed printing in the word process control command system. , the CPU 31 resets the flag in the command system storage section 57 and determines that the data process control command system has been switched to the corresponding print control system. And CPU3
1 analyzes various control commands input from the external device 33 based on the program data for the data process stored in the second program memory area 49, and executes a printing operation according to the commands. In addition, in the data process control command system, the control command "ESC・b" is sent from the external device 33 in the print control system for high print quality or high speed printing.
When this is input, the CPU 31 sets a flag in the command system storage section 57 and determines that the word process control command system has been switched to the corresponding print control system. And CPU31 is the first
External device 3 based on the word processing program data stored in program memory area 47
It analyzes various control commands input from 3 and executes printing operations according to each control command. When the print command control command "ESC・c" is input in the word process or data process control command system, the CPU 31 switches the print control program from high print quality to high speed printing, and input character data will be described later. to print at high speed. Also, when the print command control command "ESC.d" is input in the word process or data process control command system,
The CPU 31 switches the print control program from high speed printing to high print quality, and prints input character data with high print quality as will be described later. In addition, when the control command "ESC・b" is input in the word process control command system, the CPU 31
Various data stored in the RAM 41 are erased and formatting is initialized. Similarly, when the control command "ESC.a" is input in the data process control command system, the CPU 31 is initialized in the same manner as described above.

Further, the control command system and print control program are sequentially switched as the selection switch 65 is pressed. That is, when the selection switch 65 is pressed in sequence, the CPU 31 selects the control command system and print control program as shown by the symbol ⇒ in FIG. Printing, word processing, sequential switching to high print quality.

Next, to explain the high-speed printing operation when the control command system is word process or data process, when character data is input from the external device 33 after the print control program is selected for high-speed printing by the control command or selection switch 65, the CPU 3
1 stores the input character data for one print line in the input buffer area 51, and then accesses it from the pattern memory area 43 based on the character data stored in the input buffer area 51 by the control command of the print start command. The dot pattern data for high-speed printing is stored in the first print buffer area 53. Further, the CPU 31 continuously drives the carriage drive motor 71 based on the control command to move the carriage 9 forward at a constant speed along the print line. Further, the CPU 31 continuously drives the ribbon drive motor 81 according to the control command, and continuously feeds the ink ribbon in synchronization with the movement of the carriage 9. Then, as the carriage 9 moves forward, the CPU 31 selectively drives the print wire of the first print head 11 based on the dot pattern data for high-speed printing stored in the first print buffer area 53, and prints one print line. To print minute character data at high speed using dot matrix. After the above operation, the CPU 31 drives the platen drive motor 85.
After the next printing line of the printing paper is fed to the printing position by the drive of Print the matrix.

Next, the control command system explains the high print quality operation of word process or data process.
When character data is input from the external device 33 after the printing control system is selected to have high printing quality by the control command or the selection switch 65, the CPU 31
Similarly to the above operation, character data for one print line is stored in the input buffer area 51. and CPU
Reference numeral 31 refers to the code table area 50 based on the control command of the print start command, and converts the character data stored in the input buffer area 51 into a matrix with a code whose upper digit number corresponds to 2 to 7 as shown in FIG. It is determined whether the character data is to be printed or character data is to be printed at low speed and high density using a dot matrix other than the number of digits mentioned above.

Then, the CPU 31 stores the type data accessed from the type data memory area 45 in the second print buffer area 55 based on the code having the upper digits from 2 to 7. At this time, during matrix printing, the CPU 31 replaces the digit position where the dot matrix is printed in the printing line with space data, tab data, or the like. Further, the CPU 31 stores the low-speed, high-density dot pattern data accessed from the pattern memory area 43 in the first print buffer area 53 based on the code printed in the dot matrix. At this time, CPU31
When printing a dot matrix, the digit position where matrix printing is performed in the printing line is replaced with space data, tab data, etc. in the same way as above.

Next, in FIG. 5A, the CPU 31 sequentially drives the carriage drive motor 71 according to the width of one character, and moves the carriage 9 forward one character at a time along the print line. Further, the CPU 31 drives the ribbon drive motor 81 according to the width of one character to feed the ink ribbon one character at a time. and CPU
31 drives the type selection data 19 based on the type data stored in the second print buffer area 55 as the carriage 9 moves forward, and rotates the matrix type 15 to the printing position according to the character data. After
The printing hammer 21 is driven to impact the matrix type 15 onto the printing paper. As a result, character data for one printing line is printed in matrix form.

Next, in FIG. 5B, after the above matrix printing operation,
The CPU 31 causes the carriage 9 to move back at a constant speed along the printing line, and continuously feeds the ink ribbon. Then, as the carriage 9 moves backward, the CPU 31 selectively drives the print wire of the first print head 11 based on the first running data of the high-density dot pattern data stored in the first print buffer area 53. The first dot matrix is printed at the digit position that was used as a margin when printing the matrix.

Next, as shown in an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. Move forward at speed. Then, as the carriage 9 moves forward, the CPU 31 selectively drives the print wire of the first print head 11 based on the second running data of the dot pattern data stored in the first print buffer area 53, and prints the first print head 11 for the first time. A second dot matrix is printed at a position shifted by 1/3 dot pitch in the direction perpendicular to the printed line [shown in Figure 5C by the solid line]. indicated by a dashed line].

Next, as shown in an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. , the carriage 9 is moved back at a constant speed. And CPU31
As the carriage 9 moves backward, the first print head 1 is moved based on the third running data of the dot pattern data stored in the first print buffer area 53.
The printing wire No. 1 is selectively driven, and the printing wire No. 3 is placed at a position shifted by 1/3 dot pitch in the direction perpendicular to the printing line for the characters etc. printed in the second dot matrix [shown by the solid line in Figure 5 D]. The dot matrix is printed for the second time [indicated by the broken line in FIG. 5D]. As a result, for characters that are not on the matrix type 15, the printing position is sequentially changed by 1/3 dot pitch in the direction perpendicular to the printing line.
Dot matrix printing at the shifted position
By rotating, printing is performed at low speed and high density.

In this way, this embodiment uses control commands input from the external device 33 to change the control command system and print control system to high-speed printing or high print quality in a word process, or to high-speed printing or high print quality in a data process. It is possible to switch. When high-speed printing is selected in each control command system, high-speed printing is possible by printing input character data in a dot matrix using the first print head 11. Furthermore, when high print quality is selected in each control command system, the second print head 13 first prints on the matrix type, and for characters etc. that are not on the matrix type 15, one character is printed in the direction perpendicular to the printing line. It is possible to perform high-density printing and improve printing quality by performing three dot matrix printing operations with the first printing head 11 while shifting the printing position by /3 dot pitch.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention makes it possible to appropriately switch matrix printing when high printing quality is commanded and dot matrix printing when high-speed printing is commanded, depending on the printing purpose. When printing characters that are not in the matrix type,
It is possible to provide a composite printer that can print the characters in a dot matrix using low-speed, high-density printing and improve the print quality.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing the printing mechanism of a multifunction printer, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the printing mechanism, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the code table.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the state transition of the control command system and the printing control system, and FIGS. 5A to 5D are explanatory diagrams showing the operation. In the figure, 11 is a first print head, 13 is a second print head, 15 is a matrix type, and 33 is an external device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A dot matrix type first printing head capable of high-speed printing and low-speed high-density printing, a second printing head having a predetermined number of matrix type characters and performing matrix printing, and an external device. a command analysis unit that analyzes the control command when a control command including at least a high-speed printing command or a high-print quality command is supplied together with character data; and a print control unit that selects a print head and controls printing operations based on the supplied character data and control commands of the selected print head, and the print control unit determines that the control command is a high-speed printing command by the command analysis unit. If it is analyzed that the control command is a high print quality command, the first print head is selected and printed at high speed, and when the command analysis section analyzes that the control command is a high print quality command, the second print head is selected and printed. 1. A multifunction printer characterized in that when the multifunction printer is operated and a character not included in the type of the second printhead is printed, the first printhead performs low-speed, high-density printing.