JPH06191114A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (Correction) [Purpose] A printer device that uses a battery-backed memory for storing form data and is configured as a cartridge that is detachable from the device body. [Structure] The form data is output to the CPU of the apparatus main body side via the switching buffer 29 under the control of the memory board controller 21, and the static RA is obtained by comparing with the checksum of the EEPROM of the apparatus main body side.
It is determined whether or not the form data stored in M22 is correct, or whether or not the cartridge 5 mounted in the apparatus body is incorrect. In addition, static RAM2
2 is supplied with power from the apparatus main body via the power supply monitoring IC 23, and is also supplied with power from the battery 31 by turning on the switch 30 when the cartridge 5 is removed from the apparatus main body.
The form data stored in 2 is safely retained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer device having a so-called form overlay function, and more particularly, it uses a battery-backed memory for storing form data and is constructed in a cartridge form which can be attached to and detached from the main body of the device. The present invention relates to a printer device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In printers that perform print processing according to print data output from an external host device such as a host computer, a device having a form overlay function has been put into practical use in order to improve the efficiency of print processing. This form overlay function enables efficient printing by combining predetermined form data in the printer device, and by supplying only non-form data to the printer device thereafter, combining with the form data. Is. For example, by registering certain table data as form data in the RAM of the printer in advance and supplying non-form data such as numbers or alphabets to be written in this table thereafter, necessary table formation can be performed. .

Further, a special character that is not registered in application software such as a word processor must be created by the user as needed, and such a special character is registered in the RAM as an external character, and this external character is thereafter registered. Sometimes used to create a document.

[0004]

However, even if the form data and external characters are registered in the volatile memory (RAM), the registered data will be lost when the power of the printer is turned off. Therefore, in such a case, when performing printing processing using the same form data and external characters again,
You must register new form data and external characters.

In such a case, there is a method of registering the form data and the like by using a non-volatile EEPROM, a flash memory or the like as the form data memory, but there is a problem in memory capacity and cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge that can be attached to and detached from a printer so as not to re-register form data and external characters. It is possible to store form data, etc., and store a large amount of data,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer device in which form data and the like in a cartridge are not erased by backing up a battery.

[0007]

The present invention is applied to a printer device for registering and storing fixed data created in advance from a higher-level device in a storage means and performing a printing process using the registered fixed data. The storage means is non-volatile and is configured to be detachable and replaceable from the printer main body.

Further, the storage means is non-volatile and detachable from the printer main body and replaceable, and a calculating means for calculating a total sum value of the installed storage means, and a calculating means for calculating the total sum value. Non-volatile storage means provided in the printer apparatus main body for holding the total sum value, and the total sum value stored in the storage means in response to power-on of the printer apparatus are calculated. It is characterized in that it has a comparison means for comparing the total sum value held in the non-volatile storage means, and a notification means for notifying the presence or absence of a replacement operation of the storage means based on the comparison result of the comparison means.

Further, the storage means is constructed so that it can be attached to and detached from the printer apparatus main body, and has an auxiliary power source for holding information when the power source of the apparatus is cut off. It is characterized in that it is driven only when it is attached to.

Further, the storage means is constructed so that it can be attached to and detached from the printer apparatus main body, and has an auxiliary power source for holding information when the power source of the apparatus is cut off. It is characterized in that it is provided with a switch means for switching to invalid.

[0011]

The printer device of the present invention is for registering the fixed data created in advance, which is output from a host device such as a host computer, in the storage means and uses the registered fixed data for printing processing. The storage means is non-volatile and can be attached to and detached from the printer body, and is registered and stored in, for example, a cartridge. Therefore, it is possible to register a large amount of form data, and to calculate the total sum of the storage means, and to compare the total sum value calculated by the calculation means with the total sum value stored in the nonvolatile storage means. By using the form data only in the case where the comparison results match, the printing process can be performed using the correct form data.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the printer device according to the embodiment. In FIG. 1, the printer device 1 has a so-called shell open structure in which an upper body (device cover) 1b can be opened with respect to a lower body (device body) 1a, and a discharge tray is formed on an upper surface 1b 'of the upper body 1b. Has been done. In addition, the printer device 1 (lower body 1
An operation panel 2, a cassette mounting portion 3, and cartridge mounting portions (slots) 4a and 4b are provided on the front surface of a). The operation panel 2 is composed of various keys such as a print key and a density setting key, and a liquid crystal display section as an informing means for displaying the number of prints.
Further, a paper feed cassette accommodating sheets to be used for printing can be mounted in the cassette mounting portion 3. On the other hand, the cartridge mounting portions 4a and 4b are configured so that a cartridge 5 in which form data described later is stored can be mounted.

Further, an additional memory board housing portion 6 is formed on the side surface of the printer device 1 so that the additional memory board can be mounted if necessary. It should be noted that the mounting of the additional memory board in the memory board housing section 6 is performed by opening and closing the cover 6 '.

FIG. 3 shows a printer device 1 having the above-described external configuration.
The system block diagram of is shown. The printer device 1 is a CP
U (central processing unit) 7, system RAM 8, printer interface (hereinafter referred to as printer I / F) 9, operation /
The display unit I / F 10, a buzzer 11, an EEPROM 12 as a non-volatile storage unit, a host I / F 13, and a frame memory 14 are included. These circuits form a so-called interface controller 17, and are connected to the printer (PR) controller 15 via the printer I / F 9 described above. Interface controller 17
Is a circuit for converting the character code and control data output from the host computer 16 connected to the host I / F 13 into dot pattern data and storing the dot pattern data, as described later.

Further, the above-mentioned cartridge 5 for storing the form data is mounted in the above-mentioned cartridge mounting portion 4a, and the character generator cartridge (hereinafter referred to as a character generator cartridge) for storing the dot pattern data corresponding to the character code in the cartridge mounting portion 4b. (Indicated as CG cartridge)
18 is mounted, and an emulation cartridge (hereinafter referred to as EM cartridge) 19 is mounted. Also,
The above-mentioned operation panel 2 is connected to the above-mentioned operation / display unit I / F 10, and controls output of key operation signals input from the operation panel 2 and output control of error display signals described later.

CPU 7 as arithmetic means and comparison means
Controls each part according to the program stored in the EM cartridge 19. For example, as described above, host I
The character code and control data output from the host computer 16 connected to the / F13 via the Centronics I / F are stored in the reception buffer in the system RAM 8,
The above data once stored in the system RAM 8 is sequentially analyzed. When an operation signal is input from the operation panel 2 through the operation / display unit I / F 10, the printing process is controlled according to the operation signal. still,
In the character code and control data analysis processing executed by the CPU 7, for example, in the case of a character code, the character code is supplied to the mounted CG cartridge 18, the corresponding dot pattern data is read from the CG cartridge 18, and the frame Write to memory 14. Further, in the case of control data, the CPU 7 analyzes the command and performs the corresponding processing, such as the rotation of characters and the meshing.

By the above processing, the frame memory 14
When the dot pattern data for one page of paper is written in, the data is output as image data to the above-mentioned printer controller 15 via the printer I / F 9 and is used for the printing process on the paper.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing in detail the internal circuit of the cartridge 5 mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 4a. In the figure, the cartridge 5 includes a memory board controller 21 and a static RAM 2
2. Power monitoring IC 23, timer 24, board status 25, buffers 26 to 28, switching buffer 29,
And a switch 30 and a battery 31. The address signal output from the CPU 7 is supplied to the memory board controller 21 via the cartridge mounting unit 4a and the buffer 26, and the control signal is supplied to the memory board controller 21 via the cartridge mounting unit 4a and the buffer 27. The memory board controller 21 outputs a selection signal (BEN) to the switching buffer 29, a status signal (STA) to the board status 25, and a timer data output instruction signal (TA) to the buffer 28.
The switching buffer 29 follows the selection signal (BEN) output from the memory board controller 21 described above.
The form data sent from the apparatus main body side is output to the static RAM 22, or the form data output from the static RAM 22 is output to the apparatus main body side.

Here, static R as a storage means
The AM 22 is a memory that stores form data and has a configuration capable of storing a large amount of form data. The static RAM 22 also has a buffer 2 from the CPU 7.
An address signal is supplied via 6 and a write signal (WE) and an enable signal (OE) are supplied via a buffer 27. The form data is sent and received via the switching buffer 29 as described above.

The static RAM 22 is supplied with power from the power supply (power supply voltage + 5V) supplied from the printer main body via the power supply monitoring IC 23 or the battery 31 as an auxiliary power supply. The power supply (power supply voltage + 5V) supplied from the printer body is such that the cartridge 5 is mounted in the body and is supplied via the cartridge mounting portion 4a. That is, the cartridge 5 is attached to the apparatus main body, the power supply terminal 32 and the ground terminal 33 are connected to the power supply terminal and the ground terminal (not shown) on the apparatus main body side, and the static RA is provided via the power supply monitoring IC 23.
A predetermined voltage is supplied to M22. In addition, the battery 31
Power is supplied via the switch 30, and when the switch 30 is on, power is supplied to the static RAM 22. Therefore, the configuration is such that the battery 31 can be prevented from being consumed by turning off the switch 30 as necessary.

Further, the output voltage of the battery 31 is supplied to the timer 24 via the switch 30, and therefore the timer 2
4 counts only when the switch 30 is on. That is, the timer 24 can count the usage time of the battery 31, and when the above-mentioned timer data output instruction signal (TA) is output, the clocked data of the timer 24 is output to the CPU 7 via the buffer 28. This timing data can be displayed on the liquid crystal display section of the operation panel 2 described above under the control of the CPU 7.

The board status 25 stores various states in the cartridge 5. The operation of the printer device having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the CPU 7 has a cartridge mounting portion 4a.
It is determined whether or not the cartridge 5 is attached (step (hereinafter referred to as S) 1). For this determination, for example, a circuit (not shown) is connected by connecting the cartridge 5 to the main body of the apparatus, and the CPU 7 detects this and determines whether or not the cartridge 5 is mounted. If it is determined that the cartridge 5 is not mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 4a (S1 is N (no)), a normal print processing routine is executed. The printing process executed at this time is a process that does not use the form overlay function.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the cartridge 5 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 4a (S1 is Y (yes)), the form data stored in the static RAM 22 is read out to the CPU 7. In this process, the memory board controller 21 outputs a selection signal to the switching buffer 29, switches the form data stored in the static RAM 22 to the printer main body side, and reads the data in the static RAM 22 to the CPU 7. Then, the checksum of the form data read out to the CPU 7 is calculated (S2).

Next, the CPU 7 compares the read checksum (total value) of the form data with the checksum stored in the EEPROM 12 (S3). At this time, the EEPROM 12 stores the checksum value of the form data output to the static RAM 22 in the cartridge 5, and this checksum value is compared with the checksum value of the form data in the static RAM 22 read by the CPU 7. .

If both checksum values match in this comparison processing (Y in S4), dot pattern data creation processing is performed using the read form data. That is, in this case, it is determined that the form data read from the static RAM 22 is accurate data, and the printing process using this form data is executed.

On the other hand, if both checksums do not match in the above determination (S4) (S4 is N), it is determined that the form data read from the static RAM 22 has an error, and the operation panel 2 displays a memory board error. Is displayed (S5).

The above processing is performed by the static RAM 22.
However, the area in which the form data sent from the apparatus main body is written in the static RAM 22 and the used memory area for managing the address from where to where the form data is registered and stored are areas for storing the management data. Therefore, when the form data is normally registered in the static RAM 22, the final write address of the form data is registered in the final address storage area of the management data storage area at the same time when the writing of the data is completed. Therefore, if the power supply to the device is shut off before recognizing the completion of data writing, the value of the end address is not updated, and the value of the end address written before remains as it is. Therefore, by the above-described checksum comparison processing, for example, even when the incomplete form data is stored in the static RAM 22, this can be surely detected, and even when the wrong cartridge 5 is mounted, this can be detected. .

Therefore, if the wrong cartridge 5 is loaded, it is next determined whether a predetermined switch on the operation panel 2 has been pressed (S6). Here, if the predetermined switch of the operation panel 2 is not pressed (N in S6), it is determined that the above error cannot be resolved and the above display is continued (N in S6 → S5). On the other hand, if the switch of the operation panel 2 is pressed (Y in S6), the above checksum is written in the EEPROM 12 (S7).

By performing the above-described processing, it can be accurately determined whether the cartridge 5 mounted in the apparatus main body is the same as the form data stored in the EEPROM 12, and if different, the above-mentioned error is displayed on the operation panel 2. By displaying, incorrect cartridge 5 can be installed, or incomplete form data can
It can be easily determined that it was stored in the AM 22. Moreover, the error display disappears unless the operator removes the wrong cartridge 5, mounts the correct cartridge 5, and presses the predetermined switch on the operation panel 2, so the form data read from the wrong cartridge 5 is used. It is possible to prevent printing processing.

Further, when the cartridge 5 is removed from the main body of the apparatus, there is a risk that the power supply voltage is not supplied from the main body of the apparatus as described above and the form data stored in the static RAM 22 is also erased. Since the battery 5 is provided inside the cartridge 5 of the example, the form data stored in the static RAM 22 can be safely held as long as the switch 30 is turned on.

On the other hand, when it is not necessary to hold the data stored in the static RAM 22 or when the data is stored as a single component in a factory or the like, the switch 30 is turned off to prevent the battery 31 from being consumed. it can. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, even when the cartridge 5 is inserted into and removed from the main body of the apparatus with the switch 30 turned on, the battery 31 is not supplied while power is not supplied from the main body of the apparatus.
The data can be backed up and the data can be securely retained.
Further, as shown in the figure, while the predetermined voltage is being supplied from the battery 31, the timer 24 operates as described above, so the timed data is counted and displayed on the operation panel 2 based on the timer data output instruction signal (TA). can do.

In the above embodiment, the static RAM is used.
Although 22 is used for registering form data, it goes without saying that it may be configured to store specific data such as external character data that is frequently used by the user.

In this embodiment, the additional static RAM 22 is provided in the cartridge 5. However, the additional static RAM 22 is provided on the memory board and the additional memory board storage section 6 formed on the side of the printer 1 is provided. It may be configured to be attached. In this case, the memory substrate is provided with a battery and a power supply monitoring IC in addition to the static RAM.

[0035]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the additional memory is made into a cartridge, and when the form data or the like is registered in the static RAM of one cartridge, it is replaced with another cartridge and replaced with another cartridge. Since form data can be registered, a large amount of form data can be registered, and a cartridge can be changed for each form data. Therefore, if it is possible to know what form data is registered in each cartridge, desired form data can be used only by replacing the cartridge, and a large amount of form data and external characters can be stored.

Further, a cartridge is prepared for each user,
It is also possible to register and use the required form data individually. Furthermore, even if the cartridge is removed from the main body of the device, the form data can be safely retained by the auxiliary power supply such as the battery, but the switch must be turned off when it is not necessary to retain the data or when shipping from the factory. The consumption of auxiliary power can be prevented with.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit configuration diagram of a cartridge connected to a printer device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a printer device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a system block diagram of a printer device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the printer apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a time chart illustrating the operation of the printer device according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Printer Device 2 Operation Panels 4a, 4b Cartridge Mounting Section 5 Cartridge 6 Expansion Memory Board Storage Section 7 CPU 8 System RAM 9 Printer I / F 10 Operation / Display Section I / F 11 Buzzer 12 EEPROM 13 Host I / F 14 Frame memory 16 Host computer 17 Interface controller 18 CG cartridge 19 EM cartridge 21 Memory board controller 22 Static RAM 23 Power supply monitoring IC 24 Timer 25 Board status 26-28 Buffer 29 Switching buffer

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printer device for registering and storing fixed data created in advance from a higher-level device in a storage means, and performing a printing process using the registered fixed data, wherein the storage means is non-volatile and the printer device main body. A printer device characterized in that the printer device is detachable and replaceable. 2. Fixed data created in advance from a host device
Registered and stored in the storage means and use the registered fixed data
In the printer device for performing the printing process by the above, the storage means is non-volatile and is removable from the printer device main body.
It is designed to be replaceable and to calculate the total sum value of the attached storage means.
Calculating means and holds the total sum value calculated by the calculating means
Nonvolatile storage means provided in the printer body
And in the storage means in response to power-on of the printer device.
Calculate the stored total sum value and
And the total sum value held in the non-volatile storage means
And a replacement operation of the storage means according to a comparison result of the comparison means.
And a notification means for reporting the presence or absence of
Printer device. 3. A printer apparatus for registering and storing fixed data created in advance from a higher-level device in a storage means, and performing a printing process using the registered fixed data, wherein the storage means is detachable from the printer body. A printer device, which is configured to be replaceable, includes an auxiliary power supply that retains information when the device power is cut off, and the auxiliary power supply is driven only when the storage unit is attached to the printer device main body. . 4. A printer device for registering and storing fixed data created in advance from a higher-level device in a storage means, and performing a printing process using the registered fixed data, wherein the storage means is detachable from the printer device main body. A printer device, which is configured to be replaceable, includes an auxiliary power source that retains information when the power source of the device is shut off, and further includes a switch unit that switches the storage of the storage unit to valid / invalid.