JP2935463B2 - Printing equipment - Google Patents

Description

[Description of the Invention] Overview Industrial application field Conventional technology (Fig. 5) Problems to be solved by the invention Means for solving the problem (Fig. 1) Action Embodiment (Figs. 2 to 3) [Graph] Effects of the Invention [Outline] Regarding a printing apparatus, particularly a receipt printing apparatus that performs printing processing of two or more sheets such as a receipt and a copy, two or more kinds of different printing data processing systems are simplified. The purpose of the present invention is to simultaneously perform the printing process, to reduce waste of print paper, and to print efficiently, by inputting the print data from the data input unit for inputting print data, and outputting the print data to the print output data. A data processing / control means for converting and outputting; a common data bus for transmitting the print output data output from the data processing / control means; and a print output via the common data bus. A plurality of print output means for inputting force data and performing print processing, wherein the data processing / control means includes individually controlling the plurality of print output means in accordance with the print data.

[Industrial applications]

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more particularly, to a receipt printing apparatus that performs printing processing of two or more sheets, such as a receipt and a copy thereof.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a printing apparatus according to a conventional example.

In the figure, a printing device that simultaneously prints the receipt 7a and its copy 7b is provided with two separate print data processing systems for printing the receipt 7a and a print data processing system for printing the copy 7b. Have been. Each print data processing system has a data input interface circuit 2
a, 2b, input buffers 3a, 3b, data control circuits 4a, 4b, print mechanism control circuits 5a, 5b, print output heads 6a, 6b, and the like.

The function of the device is as follows. First, print data D1 from the host data processing device 1 is transmitted to each data input interface circuit.
Input to the input buffers 4a and 4b via 2a and 2b. At this time, the print data D12 for the receipt and the print data D
13 are input separately.

Next, the print data D12 is input to the data control circuit 4a, and the print data D13 is input to the data control circuit 4b.
Next, the receipt print output data D14 from the circuit 4a.
Based on the printing mechanism control circuit 5a and print output head
The print processing of the receipt 7a can be performed via 6a.
Similarly, based on the data D15, the copy processing of the copy 7b can be performed via the circuits 4b and 5b and the print output head 6b.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

By the way, according to the conventional example, two separate print data processing systems for printing the receipt 7a and the copy 7b are provided.

For this reason, the data input interface circuits 2a and 2b, the input data buffers 3a and 3b, and the data control circuits 4a and 4b that independently perform the printing process for the receipt and the copy are required, and the production cost of the printing apparatus can be reduced. There is a first problem of hindrance.

Also, in a printing apparatus that simultaneously prints a receipt and a copy using pressure-sensitive paper or 2PLY thermal paper, the contents of the receipt and the copy are exactly the same. For this reason, different contents cannot be printed individually. Further, it is not possible to omit unnecessary store names and greetings for the copy 7b.

As a result, the paper is wasted, and the data extraction work for financial arrangement of the copy 7b becomes complicated.
There is a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the conventional example, and aims at simplifying a print data processing system of the apparatus, simultaneously performing two or more types of print processing having different contents, and reducing waste of print paper. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus capable of performing printing efficiently without printing.

[Means for solving the problem]

FIG. 1 shows the principle of a printing apparatus according to the present invention.

The device is a data input means for inputting print data D1.
11, data processing / control means 12 for inputting the print data D1 from the data input means 11, converting the print data D1 into print output data D2, and outputting the print output data D2, and the print output data output from the data processing / control means 12. Common data bus for transmitting D2
14 and the print output data via the common data bus 14
A plurality of print output means 13a to 13c for inputting D2 and performing print processing
The data processing / control means 12 individually controls the plurality of print output means 13a to 13c according to the print data D1, thereby achieving the above object.

(Operation)

According to the present invention, first, print data D1 such as individual print data and common print data is input to the data processing / control unit 12 via the data input unit 11. The data processing / control unit 12 converts the print data D1 into print output data D2, and transmits the print data D2 to the plurality of print output units 13a to 13c via the common data bus 14. Further, the data processing / control unit 12 individually controls the plurality of print output units 13a to 13c according to the print data 11. For example, when the individual print data is input as the print data D1, the data processing / control means 12 converts the individual print data into print output data D2, and
And only the first print output unit 13a is operated via the print output control line l. Thereby, the first
The print processing related to the individual print data is performed by the print output unit 13a. Further, when the common print data is input as the print data D1, the data processing / control means 12 converts the common print data into print output data D2, transmits the print output data D2 to the common data bus 14, and transmits the print data D1 via the print output control line l. To operate all of the print output means 13a to 13c. As a result, the print output means 13a to 13c perform the print processing relating to the common print data.

Therefore, two or more types of printing processes having different contents can be efficiently performed.

This makes it possible to simplify the print data processing system as compared with the conventional example, and to waste print paper.

〔Example〕

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

2 to 4 are views for explaining a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a data input circuit as an embodiment of the data input means 11, which receives print data D1 from the host data processing device and temporarily stores it. The circuit 21 includes a data input interface circuit 21a
And an input buffer 21b, and a memory unit 21c is provided in the input buffer 21b. The input of the interface circuit 21a is controlled by an interface signal S1 from a control circuit (hereinafter, referred to as an MPU).

The memory unit 21c identifies and stores the individual print data and the common print data of the print data D1 transmitted to the common data bus 24. The input data storage format for the print data D1 will be described with reference to FIG.

An MPU 22 is an embodiment of the data processing / control means 12.
(Microprocessor unit) and print data D1
And converts it to print data D2.
3b.

Reference numeral A denotes a first print output unit as an embodiment of the print output means 13a, which performs print processing by inputting print output data D2. B is likewise a second output unit. Each of the units A and B includes a thermal head 31 and 41 for performing thermal transfer printing on print paper, head drive circuits 32 and 42 for driving the thermal head, and motors 33 and 43 for sequentially feeding the paper.
And motor drive circuits 34 and 44 for driving the same.

Each of the head drive circuits 32 and 42 is controlled by a print trigger signal S4 and a unit selection signal S5 from the MPU 22, and the thermal heads 31 and 41 control the control signals S6 and S5 from the drive circuits 32 and 42, respectively.
Controlled by 8. Similarly, each motor drive circuit 34,44
Are controlled by a motor drive trigger signal S3 and a unit selection signal S5 from the MPU 22, and the motors 33, 43
It is controlled by control signals S7 and S9 from.

At this time, the unit selection signal S5 is a signal transmitted to the print output control line l, and the control line l
Connect between 22. The signal S5 is sent from the MPU 22 to the first
Are transmitted to the print output units A and B, and assume that the unit A is shared as the print processing for the receipt and the unit B is shared as the print processing for the copy. B to select one of them, and when performing common print processing, units A and
This is the content that selects both B.

S10 and S11 are printer status signals that give the MPU 22 an autonomous abnormality such as no paper or head-up in each of the units A and B.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an input data storage format according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, the input data stored in the memory unit 21c is stored in the output unit code storage area A in the print data D1 = d.
1, d2... Are stored. This is, for example, data that is printed only for a receipt handed to a customer. In the output unit code storage area B, the print data D1 = d3, d4
.. Are stored. This is data that is printed only on the copy sheet. Further, data D1 = d5, d6,... Are stored in the common output unit code storage area.
This is data that is commonly printed on receipt paper and copy paper.

Thus, a printing apparatus is provided in which two print output units A and B are subjected to print processing control by a single system of print data processing system including the data input circuit 21 and the MPU 22.

 Next, the print processing operation of the apparatus will be described.

FIG. 4 is a comparison diagram of a receipt sheet and a copy sheet according to the embodiment of the present invention, and shows a printing process state of the printing apparatus.

In the figure, first, the print data D1 shown in FIG. 3 is input from the host data processing device. Data entered
D1 is transferred from the data input interface circuit 21a to the input buffer 21b via the common data bus 24.

Next, print data D1 = d1, d2... D8.
The print data output D2 is input to the units A and B via the common data bus 24. At this time, the signals S3 and S4 are input to the drive circuits 32, 34, 42 and 44, but the unit selection signal S5 is in an input standby state. That is, the selection signal 5 is a key signal, and when the signal 5 is input, the signals S3 and S4 are activated, and the driving circuits 32, 34, 42 and 44 operate.

Next, the printing processing of the character of the individual print data d1 = “receipt” relating to the printing required only for the receipt 25 is performed. At this time, only the unit A is operated by the selection signal S5,
The printing process of the character of "Store name xxx" is performed.

After that, the printing process of the character of the individual print data d3 = “copy” required for printing only on the copy paper 26 is performed. At this time, only the unit B is operated by the selection signal S5. Further, the print processing of the individual print data d4 = “department, category” is performed.

Next, print processing of common print data d5 = “× year × month × day” and d6 = “xday” relating to printing required for both the receipt paper 25 and the copy paper 26 is performed. At this time, both the units A and B are operated by the selection signal S5.

Thereafter, the unit A is operated, and the individual print data d
The printing process of the characters related to 7, d8 is continued.

Thus, printing processes having different contents can be simultaneously performed on the receipt paper 25 and the copy paper 26.

Thus, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the individual print data d1, d2, d7, d8 of the unit A, the individual print data d3, d4 of the unit B and the common print data d5, d of the units A, B
Print data D1 such as 6 is the data input interface circuit 2.
1a, MP via input buffer 21b and common data bus 24
Entered in U22.

Therefore, only the unit A is operated via the unit selection signal S5 from the MPU 22, and the individual print data d1, d2, d7, d
8 can be printed. Also the unit
By operating both A and B at the same time, it is possible to perform printing processing relating to the common print data d3 and d4.

As a result, it is possible to perform different printing processes on the receipt paper 25 and the copy paper 26 with a smaller print data processing system than in the conventional example. Also, both papers 25, 26
Since only necessary items are printed on the, the paperwork can be simplified, and the work can be simplified, especially in the financial arrangement of the copy paper 26, and the waste of pudding paper can be reduced.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the thermal printer in which the thermal heads 31 and 41 are built in the first and second print output means has been described. However, similar effects can be obtained when a wire dot printer is used.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, in the case of common print data, the print output units are simultaneously operated in common,
In the case of individual print data, each print output unit can be operated individually and independently.

For this reason, it is possible to perform selective printing processing with different contents on the receipt paper and the copy paper as needed.
Further, since the input interface circuit and the input buffer are shared, the size of the print data processing circuit can be reduced.

This greatly contributes to the manufacture of a low-cost receipt printer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of a printing apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a comparison between a receipt sheet and a copy sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a printing apparatus according to a conventional example. (Explanation of symbols) 11 data input means 12 data processing / control means 13a to 13c first to n-th print output means 14 common data bus l print output control line , D1 ... print data, D2 ... print output data.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 3/54 B41J 5/30 B41J 29/38

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A data input means (11) for inputting print data (D1), and said print data (D1) is input from said data input means (11), converted into print output data (D2) and output. Data processing / control means (12), and a common data bus (14) for transmitting the print output data (D2) output from the data processing / control means (12)
And a plurality of print output means (13) for inputting the print output data (D2) via the common data bus (14) and performing print processing.
a to 13c), and the data processing / control means (12) includes the print data (D
A printing apparatus, wherein the plurality of print output means (13a to 13c) are individually controlled according to 1).