JP3582482B2 - Dot line printer and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a dot line printer used for outputting a list using a form and the like, and a control method thereof, and more particularly to a dot line printer which prevents a burnout of a coil of a hammer bank and improves a printing processing speed, and a control method thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, Japanese Patent No. 3088279 discloses a dot line printer that prevents the coil from being burned out due to an increase in coil temperature caused by performing printing with a high print duty and that maximizes the printing processing speed. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure and operation of the dot line printer disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3088279.
[0003]
The dot line printer disclosed in this patent publication is provided with a memory 19. In the memory 19, as the cooling performance evaluation data to be actually measured by the dot line printer, print information of the highest duty (for example, solid black) is stored at the maximum print processing speed (for example, batch printing) of the dot line printer. Coil temperature rise curve data 17 which correlates the hammerbank coil temperature T and the time t at the time of printing is stored. The coil temperature rise curve data 17 is data about, for example, the coil temperature T from the environmental temperature T0 where the dot line printer is installed to the coil heat-resistant temperature Tc. Further, in the memory 19, coil temperature drop curve data 16 which is a correlation between the coil temperature T and the time t when printing is stopped is stored in advance as cooling performance evaluation data. The coil temperature drop curve data 16 is data on, for example, the time until the coil temperature T returns from the coil heat-resistant temperature Tc to the environmental temperature T0.
[0004]
The conventional dot line printer includes a dot number counter 12 for counting the number of dots included in the print information 11, a timer 14, and a print control circuit 15.
[0005]
When the data of the print information 11 is transmitted from a higher-level device, for example, a personal computer, the conventional dot line printer configured as described above starts printing by a batch printing process in which the printing process is performed by one operation. At the same time, the dot number counter 12 and the timer 14 recognize how many dots are to be printed within a predetermined time.
[0006]
Further, at the time when the print information 11 is transmitted, the print control circuit 5 recognizes the pause time 13 up to that time by the timer 14, and based on this, the temperature drop curve data 16 determines the current temperature of the coil temperature T. Recognize if there is. The dot number monitoring time and the detected dot number determination circuit 18 determines the coil temperature T when performing batch printing based on these data, the temperature rise curve data 17 and the maximum printing processing speed of the dot line printer. , And the cumulative number D of dots that can be printed during that time. Then, the print control circuit 15 checks the determination result and the like, and when the coil temperature T reaches the coil heat-resistant temperature Tc, the print control circuit 15 shifts from batch printing processing to distributed printing processing.
[0007]
FIG. 4A is a graph showing a correlation between the time t in the conventional dot line printer shown in FIG. 3 and the cumulative number of print dots D obtained by adding and accumulating the number of dots printed based on print information. FIG. 4B is a graph showing a change in the coil temperature T corresponding to FIG. In FIG. 4 (a), when the slope of the line indicating the cumulative number of print dots is steep, batch printing processing with a high printing speed is performed, when the slope is gentle, distributed printing processing is performed, and when the slope is zero, printing is performed. Is at rest.
[0008]
In the conventional dot line printer shown in FIG. 3, first, the coil temperature T is set to the environmental temperature T0 based on the actually measured temperature drop curve data 16 in accordance with the pause time ts1 until the batch printing process is started by the print information 11. The print control circuit 15 recognizes that there is. Further, the print control circuit 15 determines from the temperature rise curve data 17 that the Da0 dot can be printed from time t10 to time t11 (time ta0) by the batch printing process until the coil temperature T reaches the coil heat-resistant temperature Tc. I do.
[0009]
Thereafter, at time t11 when the coil temperature T reaches the coil heat-resistant temperature Tc, the printing control circuit 15 shifts from the batch printing process to the distributed printing process to reduce the printing speed, thereby reducing the amount of heat generated per unit time. The coil temperature T is lowered so as not to exceed the coil heat-resistant temperature Tc.
[0010]
Thereafter, similarly to the above, the print control circuit 15 assumes that the pause time is zero at the distributed printing end time t12, and the time during which the next batch printing process can be performed is from time t12 to t14 (time ta2). Is determined. Further, based on the length of the pause time ts2 from time t14 to time t15, the print control circuit 5 determines again the time ta5 during which batch printing is possible, and performs batch printing from time t15 to time t16.
[0011]
Under the control of the printing control circuit 15 as shown in FIG. 4B, the coil temperature T does not exceed the coil heat-resistant temperature Tc, and a pause time ts2 is provided between the printing times tp1 and tp2. Printing is performed for the total print dot number Da.
[0012]
The control method by the print control circuit 15 described above is summarized as a flowchart shown in FIG. That is, when the printing process is started, first, a batch printing process is performed (step S11), and then the printing duty D1 for each pin calculated from the printing information 11 is compared with the duty check constant d11 for each pin. (Step S12) If the print duty D1 for each pin is larger, the process shifts to a distributed printing process for a fixed time (Step S13). In addition, the duty check constant d11 per pin is relatively small in order to prevent the coil temperature T from reaching the coil heat-resistant temperature Tc when the print duty D1 per pin is large, so that the process immediately shifts to the distributed printing process. Set to a low value. Then, when the distributed printing process is completed or when the print duty D1 per pin is equal to or less than the duty check constant d11 per pin, it is determined whether or not the print information 11 remains (step S14). The printing process is terminated as it is. On the other hand, if the print information 11 remains, the batch print processing of step S11 is performed again.
[0013]
According to such a dot line printer, the duty of the print pin is compared with a predetermined value (duty check constant for each pin) for each pin according to the pause time of printing, so that the coil may be burned out. , The printing processing speed can be improved.
[0014]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, although the above-mentioned conventional dot line printer has achieved the intended purpose, it cannot be said that it has been sufficient in recent years when further improvement in printing speed is required. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a coil temperature distribution Ta when each print pin of the hammer bank of the conventional dot line printer is printing at an arbitrary print duty D1 for each pin.
[0015]
Assume that one yoke 1 is provided with 38 printing pins 3. The coils 2 are connected to the print pins 3 respectively. Therefore, the amount of heat generated by performing printing with a high print duty is released through the yoke 1 provided with the coil 2 and the heat sink (not shown) directly connected to the coil 2. However, if the print duty of a plurality of continuous print pins 3 becomes high, even if the print duty D1 for each pin of the print pins 3 does not exceed the duty check constant d11 for each pin, the yoke is not required. There is less room for heat capacity per pin absorbed by the heat sink 1 and the heat sink, and the temperature of the coil 2 may reach the coil heat-resistant temperature Tc. For this reason, in the print pin duty check method using the conventional dot line printer, the duty check constant d11 per pin is set to any condition, for example, under the condition that the print duty is high in a plurality of continuous print pins as described above. In order to prevent the temperature of the coil 2 from exceeding the coil heat-resistant temperature Tc, it was necessary to set a relatively low value. As described above, by setting the duty check constant d11 for each pin to be relatively low, it is possible to shift from batch printing processing to distributed printing processing beforehand, to reduce the printing processing speed, and to reduce coil heat generation to reduce coil burnout. Could be prevented.
[0016]
However, as shown in FIG. 6, the print duty D17 per pin of the seventh print pin 3 from the left exceeds the duty check constant d11 per pin, and the print duties D15 and D16 per pin of the surrounding print pins. , D18 and D19 are so small that they do not affect the coil burnout, and are compared within a range where the print duties D114 to D123 per pin of the 14th to 23rd print pins from the left do not reach the duty check constant d11 per pin. In the case where the printing information which becomes extremely high is transmitted, although the coil burnout can be prevented, there are the following problems. That is, in the printing of the seventh printing pin from the left, the shift from the batch printing process to the low-speed distributed printing process is performed, but the amount of heat generated by the printing duty D17 is transmitted through the yoke 1 and the heat sink, The print duty is low and the coil temperature is absorbed by the heat capacity of the yoke 1 and the heat sink corresponding to the surrounding print pins 3 which are relatively low. Therefore, the temperature of the coil 2 does not reach a level that reaches the coil heat-resistant temperature Tc.
[0017]
That is, in the conventional dot line printer, only the duty is detected for each pin, so that depending on the print pattern, the temperature of the coil 2 does not reach the coil heat-resistant temperature Tc at all and continues to be batched. In spite of the state in which printing can be performed, there is a problem that the processing shifts to distributed printing processing and the printing processing speed is reduced. Such a printing pattern is generally considered to be large because the dot line printer is mainly used in a market for outputting a list in a form.
[0018]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and provides a dot line printer and a control method thereof that can prevent coil burnout during high-duty print processing and improve print processing efficiency. The purpose is to provide.
[0019]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The dot line printer according to the present invention is configured such that a plurality of print pins and a plurality of print pins are arranged in a plurality so that only a plurality of print pins arranged consecutively are included in one set. First average value calculating means for calculating an average value of the print duty of each print pin; and a case where the average value exceeds a first reference print duty provided in advance and the print duty of each print pin is set in advance. Determining means for determining that distributed printing processing is to be performed when a given second reference printing duty higher than the given first reference printing duty is exceeded .
[0020]
In the present invention, it is determined whether or not distributed printing processing is performed on a plurality of printing pins based on the average value of each set, so that even when the printing duty of one printing pin is high, If the print duties of the surrounding print pins are low, the average value thereof is unlikely to exceed the first reference print duty, so that the transition to the distributed print processing is not performed unnecessarily. Therefore, higher-speed printing can be performed.
[0021]
It should be noted that only the print pins arranged consecutively to each other are included in one set, and in the combination divided by the first average value calculating means, two consecutive print pins belonging to different sets are the same set. A second average value calculating unit that divides the plurality of print pins into a plurality of sets by another combination belonging to, and calculates another average value of the print duty of each print pin for each of these sets, The determination unit may determine that the distributed printing process is to be performed even when the other average value exceeds the first reference printing duty. This makes it possible to more strictly determine whether or not the coil temperature reaches the heat-resistant temperature.
[0022]
Also, the determination means determines that the distributed printing process is to be performed even when the print duty of each print pin exceeds a second reference print duty given in advance, so that, for example, only printing by one print pin is performed. If there is a possibility that the temperature reaches the heat-resistant temperature, it is possible to prevent it before it occurs.
[0023]
The method of controlling a dot line printer according to the present invention includes the steps of: printing a plurality of print pins in a plurality of groups so that only print pins in which a plurality of print pins are continuously arranged are included in one set; A calculating step of calculating an average value of the duty; a step of determining that the distributed printing processing is to be performed when the average value exceeds a first reference print duty given in advance; Determining that the distributed printing process is to be performed when the given reference printing duty is higher than a second reference printing duty that is higher than the first reference printing duty .
[0024]
It should be noted that only the print pins arranged consecutively to each other are included in one set, and in the combination divided in the calculation step, two consecutive print pins belonging to different sets belong to the same set. Dividing the plurality of print pins into a plurality of sets by a combination of the above, and calculating another average value of the print duty of each print pin for each of the sets; And determining that the distributed printing process is to be performed if the number exceeds the threshold value.
[0025]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a dot line printer and a control method thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIGS. 1A and 1B show the structure of a dot line printer according to an embodiment of the present invention and the coil temperature distribution when each print pin of the hammerbank prints at an arbitrary print duty D1 for each pin. It is a schematic diagram which shows Ta.
[0026]
In the present embodiment, 38 print pins 3 are provided on one yoke 1 in the hammer bank. Further, for example, one coil 2 is connected to each print pin 3. Further, the following circuits are provided as circuits for controlling the printing process. First, there is provided a pin-by-pin print duty calculation circuit (not shown) for calculating the pin-by-pin print duties D11 to D138 of each print pin 3 from print information input from the outside. Also, a first average value calculation circuit (see FIG. 1) for calculating the average value of the print duties for each of the four pins for each of the 36 print pins 3 as the print duties D2b1 to D2b9 for each of the plural pins. Not shown), and for 36 print pins 3 excluding the two print pins from the one end, the average value of the print duty for each pin is calculated for every four print pins D2a2 to D2a10. A second average value calculation circuit (not shown) for calculating the average value is provided. The first average value calculation circuit is further configured to be able to calculate the average value of the print duty for each pin as the print duty D2b10 for each of the two print pins 3 from the other end. The second average value calculation circuit can further calculate the average value of the print duty per pin for the two print pins 3 from the one end as the print duty D2a1 for a plurality of pins. It is configured. Further, a preset duty check constant per pin (first reference print duty) d2 is compared with the print duties D2a1 to D2a10 and D2b1 to D2b10 per pin, and a preset duty check constant per pin ( The second reference print duty) d10 is compared with the print duty D11 to D138 for each pin, and a determination circuit for determining whether to perform the print processing by the batch print processing or the distributed print processing based on the comparison result. (Not shown) is provided.
[0027]
For example, the print duty D2b1 for each pin in FIG. 1B is an average value of the print duties D11, D12, D13, and D14 for each pin, and the print duty D2b2 for the next pin is a print duty D15 for each pin. , D16, D17 and D18. 1A, the print duty D2a1 for each pin is an average value of the print duties D11 and D12 for each pin, and the print duty D2a2 for each pin is the print duty D13, D14, D15, and D16 for each pin. And the print duty D2a3 for each pin is an average value of the print duties D17, D18, D19 and D20 for each pin.
[0028]
The duty check constant d2 for each pin can be set to, for example, a value corresponding to the conventional duty check constant d11 for each pin. Then, the duty check constant d10 for each pin is set to the value of the yoke 1 and the heat sink. According to the heat capacity and the like, for example, it is possible to set a drastically high value such as the duty to reach the coil heat-resistant temperature Tc with only one print pin.
[0029]
Next, the operation of the dot line printer according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a determination method by the determination circuit.
[0030]
When the printing process is started, first, a batch printing process is performed (step S1), and then the printing duties D2a1 to D2a10 for a plurality of pins are compared with a duty check constant d2 for a plurality of pins (step S2). If the respective print duties D2a1 to D2a10 are larger, the process shifts to a distributed print process for a fixed time (step S3). On the other hand, if the print duties D2a1 to D2a10 per pin are equal to or less than the duty check constant d2 per pin, the print duties D2b1 to D2b10 per pin are compared with the duty check constant d2 per pin (step S4). As a result of this comparison, when the print duties D2b1 to D2b10 for each of the plurality of pins are larger, the process shifts to a distributed printing process for a fixed time (step S3), and the print duties D2b1 to D2b10 for each of the plurality of pins are checked by the duty check for each of the plurality of pins. If the value is equal to or smaller than the constant d2, the print duties D11 to D138 for each pin are compared with the duty check constant d10 for each pin (step S5). Then, when the distributed printing process is completed or when the print duty D11 to d138 for each pin is equal to or less than the duty check constant d10 for each pin, it is determined whether print information remains (step S6). If so, the printing process is terminated. On the other hand, if the print information remains, the batch print processing of step S1 is performed again.
[0031]
When print information similar to that shown in FIG. 6 is input to the dot line printer of the present embodiment that performs such an operation, as shown in FIG. The print duty D2b5 for each of the plurality of pins, which is the average value of the print duties D117, D118, D119, and D120, also increases, and exceeds the duty check constant d2 for each of the plurality of pins. At this time, the coil temperature T corresponding to the print duty D2b5 for each of the plurality of pins is substantially equal to the coil heat-resistant temperature Tc. However, since the printing process is shifted from the batch printing process to the distributed printing process, no burning of the coil occurs.
[0032]
On the other hand, the print duty D2b2 per pin, which is the average of the largest print duty D17 per pin and the relatively low print duties D15, D16 and D18 around each pin, becomes relatively low. T becomes significantly lower than the coil heat-resistant temperature Tc. In this case, since the printing process is continued as the batch printing process, the printing speed does not decrease.
[0033]
Similarly, as shown in FIG. 1A, the print duty D2a6 for each of the plurality of pins is relatively high, but does not exceed the duty check constant d2 for each of the plurality of pins, and the print duty D2a3 of each of the plurality of pins is relatively high. It has a low value.
[0034]
Accordingly, when such print information is input, the print duties D2a1 to D2a10 for each of the plurality of pins are all smaller than the duty check constant d2 for each of the plurality of pins. Is not done. However, in the comparison in step S 4, a plurality pins each print duty D2b5 because it exceeds the multiple pins each duty check constant d2, from batch print processing by the determination circuit based on the comparison result to the variance print processing for a predetermined time The transition takes place.
[0035]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the average value of the print duty of the four consecutive print pins is compared with the predetermined value, and based on the comparison result, whether the batch print process or the distributed print process is to be performed. Is determined, when the coil temperature does not reach the heat-resistant temperature even if the print duty of one print pin is high, the printing speed is prevented from being wastefully shifted to the distributed printing process. . Therefore, higher-speed printing can be performed. When comparing the average values, not only the first comparison but also a new group from four consecutive pins belonging to two different groups in the first comparison, and the second comparison of the average value of the printing duties is performed. Is performed, it is possible to more strictly prevent the coil from reaching the heat-resistant temperature, and it is also possible to prevent a problem in the density of the print duty depending on the dispersion point. Furthermore, since the comparison between the print duty for each pin and the duty check constant for each pin is finally performed, even if it is determined in the comparison of the average values that the heat resistant temperature is not reached, 1 When there is a possibility that the printing temperature may reach the heat-resistant temperature by printing with the print pins, the process can be shifted to the distributed printing process to prevent the coil from burning.
[0036]
In the above-described embodiment, the average value of the print duty for each pin and the duty check constant for each of the plurality of pins are compared for the four print pins. The number is not limited to four, and can be arbitrarily optimized based on experimental results obtained by actually measuring the surface temperature of the hammer coil. Note that the greater the number of print pins to be averaged, the more the density of the print pattern in actual work or the like can be averaged. However, since the number greatly depends on the heat capacity and the like of the yoke and the heat sink, the optimum value is preferably easily obtained by an experiment, and the experiment for obtaining the optimum value is relatively easy.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is determined whether or not the distributed printing process is to be performed on a plurality of printing pins based on the average value of each set. It is possible to dramatically improve the estimation accuracy of the actual coil temperature distribution. Therefore, higher-speed printing can be performed while controlling the coil temperature not to reach the heat-resistant temperature. Also, a second average value calculating means is provided, and the determination means makes a determination on the calculation result by the second average value calculating means, so that it is more strictly determined whether or not the coil temperature reaches the heat resistant temperature. can do. Further, by causing the determination means to determine that the distributed printing process is to be performed even when the print duty of each print pin exceeds the second reference print duty, the temperature may reach the heat-resistant temperature only by printing with one print pin, for example. Even if there is, it can be prevented beforehand.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams showing a structure of a dot line printer according to an embodiment of the present invention and a coil temperature distribution Ta during operation thereof.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a determination method by a determination circuit.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure and operation of a dot line printer disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3088279.
4A is a graph showing a correlation between the time t and the cumulative number of print dots D in the conventional dot line printer shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4B is a graph showing a coil temperature T corresponding to FIG. It is a graph showing the change of.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a conventional control method by the print control circuit 15;
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a coil temperature distribution Ta during operation of a conventional dot line printer.
[Explanation of symbols]
1; yoke 2; coil 3; printing pin

Claims (4)

An average value of the print duty of each print pin is divided into a plurality of groups by dividing the plurality of print pins into a plurality of groups such that only a plurality of print pins and the print pins arranged continuously with each other are included in one set. First average value calculating means for calculating the first reference print duty when the average value exceeds a predetermined first reference print duty and when the print duty of each print pin is predetermined. A determination unit that determines that the distributed printing process is to be performed when the second reference printing duty is higher than the second reference printing duty. Only the print pins arranged consecutively to each other are included in one set, and in the combination divided by the first average value calculating means, two consecutive print pins belonging to different sets belong to the same set. A second average value calculating unit that divides the plurality of print pins into a plurality of sets in another combination as described above and calculates another average value of the print duty of each print pin for each of the sets. 2. The dot line printer according to claim 1, wherein the means determines that the distributed printing process is performed even when the other average value exceeds the first reference printing duty. A calculating step of calculating an average value of the print duty of each print pin for each group by dividing into a plurality of groups such that only print pins in which a plurality of print pins are continuously arranged are included in one set; A step of determining that the distributed printing process is to be performed when the average value exceeds a first reference printing duty given in advance; and a printing duty of each printing pin being given in advance and being higher than the first reference printing duty. Determining that distributed printing processing is to be performed when the second reference printing duty is exceeded. Another combination in which only print pins arranged consecutively to each other are included in one set and two consecutive print pins belonging to different sets belong to the same set in the combination divided in the calculation step. Dividing the plurality of print pins into a plurality of sets and calculating another average value of the print duty of each print pin for each of the sets, and the other average value exceeds the first reference print duty. 4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising: a step of determining that the distributed printing process is to be performed when the printing is performed.

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