JPH049155B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) This invention relates to a dot printer, and more specifically, to a dot printer, and more specifically, to a dot printer, underline printing is provided below a plurality of character printing elements arranged in a vertical line for printing characters. This invention relates to drive control of an underline printing element.

(Prior art) Conventionally, when printing an underline below a character in a printer that prints data transferred from an external device such as a host computer, data transferred from the external device is used to print the underline. When the character is character data to be underlined, code data indicating the start or end of the underline is transmitted before and after the character data and stored in the input buffer of the printer.

When printing character data to be underlined, first, a plurality of character printing elements arranged in a vertical line for character printing are activated as appropriate in each column to print the character. Create pattern data based on character data.
Dot matrix printing was then performed based on the character pattern data.

At this time, when printing each column that constitutes one character in the printing digit, each time a printing operation is performed based on the character pattern of each column, check whether the character in the printing digit is character data that should be underlined. is determined based on the code data, and based on the determination, an underline printing element for underline printing disposed below the character printing element is driven and controlled to print an underline to the full extent of the printing digit.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In other words, the processing operations for underline printing and the processing operations for character printing are completely different.

As a result, when underline printing is performed, processing operations are performed to check whether an underline is present or not, which causes problems such as slow printing speed, and when printing with narrow character spacing, the underline is adjacent to the There was a problem that even the characters that were displayed were printed.

(Object of the Invention) In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention processes the processing operation for underline printing and the processing operation for character printing in one processing form, thereby increasing the printing speed and reducing the character spacing. To provide a dot printer that does not underline adjacent characters even when narrow printing is performed.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a plurality of character printing elements arranged in a vertical line for character printing, and a character printing element disposed below the character printing elements. an underline printing element for printing an underline, a drive means provided for each character and underline printing element to actuate the corresponding printing element, an area consisting of the number of bits corresponding to the character printing element, and an area for the underline printing element. a bit image buffer memory having a large number of column storage areas consisting of areas each having a corresponding number of bits;
a storage means for storing character data to be printed on printing paper; and a plurality of columns in a printing line direction for operating the plurality of character printing elements to print a dot matrix based on the character data stored in the storage means. The expanded character pattern data is created for each character data, and the character pattern data expanded for each column for each character data is stored in each corresponding column storage area of the bit image buffer memory. In addition to sequentially storing the character data, it is determined whether or not the character data should be underlined, and when the character data is to be underlined, the data is stored in the column storage area together with the underline data for operating the underline printing element. a writing means for storing data in corresponding storage bits in the bit image buffer memory, and reading data for each column storage area from the bit image buffer memory and writing data corresponding to the storage bit based on the character pattern and underline data stored in each storage bit in the storage area. The gist of the dot printer is a dot printer comprising a drive control means for driving a drive means for a character and an underline printing element.

(Function) This dot printer is provided with a bit image buffer memory having a large number of column storage areas each consisting of the number of bits corresponding to each character and underline printing element, and also provided with a storage means for storing character data transferred from an external device. .

The writing means operates a plurality of character printing elements based on the character data stored in the storage means, and writes character pattern data developed in a plurality of columns in the printing line direction for each character data to print a dot matrix. The character pattern data developed in each column for one character data is sequentially stored in the corresponding column storage area of the bit image buffer memory, and the character data is underlined. If the character data is to be underlined, the underline data for activating the underline printing element is also stored in the corresponding storage bit in the column storage area.

The drive control means reads data for each column storage area from the bit image buffer memory and drives the character and underline printing elements corresponding to the storage bits based on the character pattern and underline data stored in each storage bit of the storage area. Drive the means.

(Embodiment) An embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a multifunction printer will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the printing mechanism of a multifunction printer embodying the present invention, in which a platen 1 is rotatably supported on both sides by a printer frame (not shown), and is driven by a platen drive motor (not shown) in forward and reverse directions. The printing paper 2 is rotated to feed the printing paper 2. Two guide rods 3 and 4, which are also supported by the frame, are arranged parallel to the platen 1 and support the carriage 5 so as to be slidable in its axial direction.

The carriage 5 is connected to a carriage drive motor 3 (described later) via a known timing bell (not shown).
5, and is reciprocated along the guide rods 3 and 4, that is, in the print line direction, by the forward and reverse rotation of the motor 35. Further, the carriage 5 has a first printing section 6 and a second printing section 7 mounted on the same printing line at a predetermined interval in the direction of the printing line.

The first printing unit 6 has a petal-shaped type wheel 9 having 96 types 8 in this embodiment on one side facing the platen 1, and the type wheel 9 is rotated to guide the required type 8 to a printing position. A printing hammer 11 is provided for hitting the other side of the selected printing type 8 to print on the printing paper 2.

On the other hand, the second printing section 7 includes eight character printing wires W1 as character printing elements arranged in the vertical direction at the printing end facing the platen 1, and underline printing arranged below the character printing wires W1. Select the underline printing wire W2 as an element and print paper 2.
It consists of a print head 12 for printing characters on the top in a dot matrix.

A ribbon cassette 13 is detachably attached to the carriage 5, and a printing ribbon 14 is folded and stored within the cassette 13. The printing ribbon 14 is stretched across both the first and second printing sections 6 and 7, and is fed by a ribbon drive motor (not shown).

Next, we will explain the electrical configuration of the control device in the multifunction printer equipped with the printing mechanism configured as described above.
This will be explained according to the diagram.

The microcomputer 21 as a writing means and a drive control means is a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as
The CPU 22 consists of a program memory 23 consisting of a read-only memory (ROM), and a working memory 24 consisting of a readable and rewritable memory (RAM). Therefore, perform the operation. Further, the microcomputer 21 has a code table 25 consisting of ROM,
It also includes a type/pattern data memory 26 made up of ROM and a buffer memory 27 made up of RAM.

As shown in FIG. 3, the code table 25 stores 8-bit codes corresponding to each character and symbol, and the character code represented by the combination of the upper 4 digits and lower 4 digits is shown in FIG. It is assigned to each character, symbol, etc. And, in the case of this example,
The majority of the 96 types of characters and symbols formed on each spoke of the type wheel are allocated to the storage area corresponding to the upper digits 2 to 7 shown in Figure 3, and furthermore, according to the language type. and the number of upper digits is 8~
The characters and symbols of A (hexadecimal) are assigned. Characters and symbols to be printed by the printing head 12 of the second printing section 7 are allocated to the remaining storage area.

The printed character/pattern data memory 26 is composed of a printed character data storage area 26a and a character pattern data storage area 26b. The type data storage area 26a contains type selection data for rotating each type 8 printed by the first printing unit 6 to the printing position and the optimum setting of the printing hammer 11 according to the printing area of the type 8. Type data consisting of impact data regarding printing pressure, etc. is stored.

On the other hand, the character pattern data storage area 26b stores pattern data such as characters and symbols printed in a dot matrix.

This pattern data is data for creating one character by suitably operating the eight character printing wires W1 arranged in the vertical direction for each column, and one address and one character for each column. Data indicating whether or not to operate each printing wire W1 in that column is stored in the byte storage area. For example, the character pattern P corresponding to "A" shown in FIG. 4 is expressed as shown in FIG. That is, in each address corresponding to each column for one character, the bit corresponding to the character printing wire W1 to be activated in that column is set to 1, and the bit corresponding to the character printing wire W1 not to be activated is set to 1. The data of "0" is stored.

The buffer memory 27 includes an input buffer 27a and a first print buffer 27b as storage means.
and a second bit image buffer memory.
It is composed of a print buffer 27c.
The input buffer 27a stores a group of character data of one or more print lines transferred from an external device 28 such as a host computer.

Each character data transferred in the printing order from the external device 28 is transferred as an ASCII code, and character data that requires an underline in the character data group is preceded by a prefix indicating the start of the underline. A code is placed, and an end code indicating the end of the underline is placed after the character data. Note that if two or more consecutive characters require underlining, a start code is placed before the first character data to be printed, and an end code is placed after the last character data to be printed.

In this embodiment, the first print buffer 27b has the same number of storage areas as the maximum number of printing digits in one print line, and each storage area is allocated to correspond to each printing digit. In each character data group stored in , the character data to be printed at character 8 in the next line to be printed is stored in the storage area corresponding to the printing digit where the character data is printed. There is. In addition, space data for margins is stored in a storage area corresponding to a print digit that is not printed in type.

As shown in FIG. 6, the second print buffer 27c has one-character print storage areas 31 of the same number as the maximum number of print digits in one print line in this embodiment, and has one character print storage area 31 corresponding to each print digit. Character printing storage area 3
1 is assigned. The input buffer 27a
In the character data group stored in the character data group, character data to be printed in a dot matrix in one line to be printed next is stored in the pattern data storage area 26b corresponding to the character data. Character data is stored in a single character print storage area 31 corresponding to the print digit.

The one-character print storage area 31 is composed of a large number of column storage areas 32, as shown in FIG. This column storage area 32 is composed of the number of bits (9 bits) corresponding to the eight character printing wires W1 and one underline printing wire W2,
The upper 8 bits correspond to the character printing wire W1, and the lower 1 bit corresponds to the underline printing wire W2. Each column storage area 32 corresponds to each printing position in the printing digit of the one character printing storage area 31.

Therefore, printing based on the data stored in the column storage area 32 (hereinafter referred to as the center column storage area 32a) located at the center of the one-character print storage area 31 is performed at the center of the printing digit on the printing paper 2. It will be printed at the location.

The upper 8 bits of the central column storage area 32a of this one-character print storage area 31 are
The character pattern data of the central column is stored in the CPU 22, and the character pattern data of each column is stored in the upper 8 bits of each column storage area 32 around the character pattern data of the central column.

Furthermore, in each column storage area where the character pattern data is stored, if the printed character based on the character pattern data includes an underline, the underline printing wire W2 is activated in the lower 1 bit of each column storage area 32a. Underlined data is now stored.

Furthermore, data for margins is stored in the single character print storage area 31 corresponding to the print digits that are not printed in the dot matrix.

The CPU 22 is connected to the first print buffer 2.
Based on the character data stored in 7b, the character selection motor 10 and the printing hammer 11 are driven and controlled via the drive circuit 33, and the carriage drive motor 35 is also driven and controlled via the drive circuit 34. I'm starting to do that.

Further, the CPU 22 is connected to the second print buffer 2.
Based on the character pattern data stored in the character pattern data 7c, the character printing wire W1 and the underline printing wire W2 are driven and controlled via a driving circuit 36 serving as a driving means.

Next, the operation of type printing and dot matrix printing in one print line of the multifunction printer configured as described above will be explained.

Now, along with control commands to control the printer from the external device 28, a group of character data for one print line, including character data printed in type and character data printed in a dot matrix, is sent to the CPU 2.
2, the CPU 22 transfers this character data group to the input buffer 27 of the buffer memory 27.
Store in a.

Character data for one print line is input to buffer 27a.
, the CPU 22 refers to the code table 25 for each character data in the character data group for one printed line to determine whether the character data is printed in type or whether it is character data printed in a dot matrix. Data for type printing and data for dot matrix printing are created respectively.

In the case of data creation for type printing,
When the character data in the character data group for one print line is printed character data, the CPU 22 stores the character data in a storage area corresponding to the printing digit of the character data in the first print buffer 27b. When the character data is printed in a dot matrix, it is replaced with space or tab data and stored in the storage area corresponding to the printing digit of the character data in the first print buffer 27b.

On the other hand, in the case of creating data for dot matrix printing, the CPU 22 replaces character data with space or tab data when it is character data of type printing in a group of character data for one print line;
When the character data is printed in a dot matrix, the character pattern data corresponding to the character data is read out from the character pattern data storage area 26b and edited in the order of printing digits of the character data group.
Each character is stored in the one-character print storage area 31 corresponding to the print digit of the print buffer 27c.

When storing character pattern data of corresponding character data in each one-character print storage area 31 of the second print buffer 27c, the CPU 2
2 is the address d1 where the character pattern data in the center column of the character pattern data for one character read from the character pattern data storage area 26b is stored, and the character pattern data on one side with respect to the pattern data in the center column. Determine the number of columns (number of bytes) d2 (see Figure 5).

Based on this address d1 and the number of columns d2, the CPU 22 stores the character pattern data of the center column in the upper 8 bits of the center column storage area 32a in the single character print storage area 31, and stores the center column storage area 32a in the central column storage area 32a. As a reference, the character pattern data of each column corresponding to the upper 8 bits of each column storage area 32 on both sides is sequentially stored (see FIG. 7).

Simultaneously with the above processing, the CPU 22 determines that the character data in the character pattern data includes an underline based on the underline start and end codes stored before and after the character data stored in the input buffer 27a. In this case, the underline data is sequentially stored in the lower one bit of each column storage area 32 (see FIG. 7).

Then, when the creation of data for character printing for one print line and data creation for dot matrix printing are completed, the CPU 22 sequentially inputs the character data for one print line stored in the first print buffer 27b. The corresponding print data is read out from the print storage area 26a. The carriage drive motor 35 is driven based on the read character data, and the first
The printing section 6 is guided, and the type selection motor 10 and the printing hammer 11 are driven and controlled, and the printing digits to be printed in dot matrix are replaced with blank spaces, and the predetermined printing characters 8 are placed on the predetermined printing digits on the printing paper 2. Print in type.

Then, when the carriage 5 is moved forward one character at a time along the printing line and the printing operation by type is completed, each printing line except the printing digits printed by dot matrix printing is printed on the printing paper 2. The digits are printed in type.

Next, the CPU 22 drives the carriage drive motor 35 to move the carriage 5 back at a constant speed in order to perform dot matrix printing in the margin area, and also drives each one of the second print buffers 27c.
The character pattern data for one print line stored in the character print storage area 31 is sequentially transferred to the character print storage area 3.
The character pattern data and underline data of each column storage area 32 of 1 are read out, and the character printing wire W1 and the underline printing wire W2 are driven and controlled based on the read data, and printing is performed except for the printing digits that were previously printed in type. A dot matrix is printed on a predetermined printing digit on paper 2.

The printing position of each column based on the dot matrix in the corresponding printing digit is determined by each column storage area 32 that constitutes the one character printing storage area 31.
Because it corresponds to 1 character printing storage area 3
Dot matrix printing is performed using the character printing wire W1 so that the central character pattern data stored in the central column storage area 32a of No. 1 is printed at the center position of the printing digit. Moreover, at the same time, if there is underline data in the column storage area 32a, underline printing is performed using the underline printing wire W2.

That is, in the case of "A" shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the printing operation is performed from four columns before the center position of the printing digit.

When the carriage 5 is moved back at a constant speed along the printing line and the dot matrix printing operation is completed, the print line on the printing paper 2 contains a mixture of type printing and dot matrix printing. become.

In this way, in this embodiment, the underline printing wire W2
Since the underline data for printing the underline is stored in a predetermined storage area in the second print buffer 27c together with the character pattern data,
As in the past, the input buffer 2 is input every time dot matrix printing is performed for each column.
Since there is no processing operation to determine whether the character data stored in 7a requires underline printing, the printing speed becomes extremely high.

Moreover, since an area for storing underline data is provided in each column storage area 32 separately from a storage area for storing character pattern data, the storage area for the underline data can be modified by using other than the underline, such as a dotted line, a dashed line, etc. It can also be implemented as a storage area for printing the underline, and the column storage area 32 of the part adjacent to the one-character printing storage area 31 on both sides of the one-character printing storage area 31 can be implemented.
If the underline data is not stored in the characters, the problem that occurs when the underline is printed to adjacent characters when printing with narrow character intervals is eliminated.

Further, in this embodiment, character data for type printing and character data for dot matrix printing are stored in different first print buffers 27b and second print buffers 27c, respectively, and the second print buffer In 27c, character data for dot matrix printing is converted into character pattern data for operating the print head 12 for each column and stored. The printing operation can be performed based on the stored data, or in the case of dot matrix printing, based on the character pattern data stored in the second print buffer 27c, which simplifies the processing operation, and
This can be done efficiently.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, in the case of dot matrix printing as well as type printing, the printed characters are printed so that the center of the character is located in the center of the printing digit, so that printing by type and dot matrix can be combined in one print. Printing can be done in a well-balanced manner throughout the line.

Moreover, each column storage area 32 in each one-character printing storage area 31 of the second print buffer 27c
When storing the character pattern data of the column corresponding to the character pattern data, the character pattern data of the center column of each character pattern data stored in the character pattern data storage area 26b is stored on one side with reference to the address d1 of the character pattern data of the center column and the pattern data of the center column. Since this is performed based on the number of columns d2 of certain character pattern data, the printing position of the second printing section is controlled by a simple processing operation so that the center position of the character in dot matrix printing corresponds to the center position of the corresponding printing digit. I can do things.

In the embodiment described above, the storage area for storing underline data is configured with one bit, but it may be changed as appropriate depending on the number of underline printing wires W2.

Although the character pattern data for each printing digit is stored in the central column storage area 32a such that the character pattern data for the center column is stored in the central column storage area 32a, the character pattern data for each column is not limited to this, for example. , character pattern data may be stored and printed in order from the first column storage area 32 in the one-character storage area 31.

Further, in the above embodiment, the carriage 5 was moved forward to perform type printing, and then the carriage 5 was moved back to perform dot matrix printing. After that, the carriage 5 may be moved back to the printing start position and then moved forward again to perform dot matrix printing.

Further, in the above embodiment, a composite printer has been described, but it is of course possible to implement the invention into a printer that only performs dot matrix printing.

(Effects of the Invention) As detailed above, according to the present invention, the processing operation for underline printing and the processing operation for character printing are combined into one.
Since the printing process is performed using two processing methods, it has an excellent effect of increasing the printing speed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating the outline of the printing mechanism, Figure 2 is an electrical block circuit diagram of the multifunction printer, and Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the printer.
The figure is an explanatory diagram to explain the data contents of the code table, Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram to explain the pattern of characters printed on printing paper, and Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram to explain the content stored in the character pattern data storage area. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the storage area of the second print buffer, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the column storage area in the one-character print storage area. In the figure, 1 is a platen, 2 is a printing paper, 5 is a carriage, 6 is a first printing section, 7 is a second printing section, 8 is a type, 9 is a type wheel, 10 is a type selection motor, 12 is a print head, 21 is a microcomputer, 22 is a CPU, 23 is a program memory,
25 is a code table, 26 is a type/pattern data memory, 26a is a type data storage area, 26
b is a character pattern data storage area, 27 is a buffer memory, 27a is an input buffer, and 27b is a first
Print buffer, 27c is a second print buffer, 31 is a single character printing storage area, 32 is a column storage area, 32a is a central column storage area, 35 is a carriage drive motor, W1 is a character printing wire, W
2 is an underline printing wire.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of character printing elements W1 for printing characters arranged in a vertical line; an underline printing element W2 for underline printing arranged below the character printing elements W1; A driving means 36 provided for each character and underline printing element W1, W2 and actuating the corresponding printing element W1, W2, an area consisting of the number of bits corresponding to the character printing element W1, and an area corresponding to the underline printing element W2. The bit image buffer memory 27c has a large number of column storage areas 32 each consisting of an area consisting of a number of bits.
a storage unit 27a for storing character data to be printed on the printing paper 2; and a printing unit for operating the plurality of character printing elements W1 to print a dot matrix based on the character data stored in the storage unit 27a. Character pattern data expanded into multiple columns in the row direction is created for each character data, and the character pattern data expanded into each column for one character data is stored in the bit image buffer memory 2.
7c, and determines whether the character data is data to be underlined, and when the character data is to be underlined, activates the underline printing element W2. writing means 21 for storing the underlined data for each column storage area 32 in the corresponding column storage area 32; A dot printer comprising a drive control means 21 for driving a drive means 36 for character and underline printing elements W1 and W2 corresponding to the stored bits based on character patterns and underline data stored in the dot printer.