JPS646483B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a printer for high-speed input data that has a buffer function that is effective when printing high-speed input data at a slower printing speed.

In the conventional printer of this kind, as shown in Fig. 1, the printing (busy) signal PI indicating the "0" level sent from the printer mechanism section 1 was confirmed on the transmitting device side (not shown). Then, using the write pulse WP shown in Figure 2 to the address counter 2 set on the write side, input to the data memory 3 which has a memory capacity of one line (assuming one line is composed of 10 characters). Write the data IDs (see Figure 2) in sequence. After writing one line of input data ID in this way, the transmitter side gives the print command pulse PC shown in Figure 2 to the printer side, sets the address counter 2 to the read side, and also turns the motor control latch on. 4, and the motor of the printer mechanism section 1 is driven by the motor driver 5. Then, the printer mechanism section outputs a "1" level signal PI indicating that printing is in progress (busy), and also outputs a dot completion signal D every time one dot is printed. The data in the data memory 3 is sequentially read out while changing the contents of the dot counter 6 according to the dot completion signal D and inputted to the character generator 7. Here, after converting to dot data, the wire dot driver 8 is used to control the printer mechanism section 1. The configuration is such that printing is performed by driving a wire head. 9 and 10 are OR circuits.

However, in the above-mentioned printers, after writing one line of input data ID to the data memory 3, one line of data is read out one character at a time and printed, so the data is sent from the transmitting device. There is a problem that the speed of input data ID is substantially determined by the printing speed of the printer mechanism. In addition, the transmitting device writes the input data ID while checking whether printing is in progress or yields data reading to the printer, so while one data is being processed, the other data is being processed. Therefore, this type of printer was unable to fully utilize its buffer function for high-speed input data.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to independently write and read data without the need to check whether the transmitting device is busy or not, thereby providing high-speed input data. To provide a high-speed input data printer capable of printing at normal printing speed without any trouble.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the same figure, 11 is an example that can store data IDs for multiple lines from the transmitter side.
This is data memory composed of RAM (Random Access Memory) and the like. The memory 11 is configured such that data can be written and read simultaneously based on address designations of a write address counter 12 and a read address counter 13. This write address counter 12 counts up each time a write pulse WP is input from the transmitter side, specifies a write address to the data memory 11, and supplies the address designation value to the address comparator 14. The other read address counter 13 is connected to the printer mechanism section 15.
A dot counter 16 whose count value is changed by a dot printing completion signal D corresponding to one character output from the dot counter 16.
It counts up at the output of , specifies a read address to the data memory 11 , and supplies the address designation value to the address comparator 17 . These address comparators 14 and 17 are constantly inputted with addresses for multiple lines of the data memory 11 or smaller final addresses from the memory final address setting circuit 18, and the respective write address counters 12 and read address counters 1
It has a function of comparing with the address designation value input from 3 and clearing the counters 12 and 13 when they match. 19 reads data one character at a time from the data memory 11, converts it into a dot signal based on the dot address designation corresponding to one character from the dot counter 16, and sends it to the subsequent wire dot driver 2.
This is a character generator that supplies 0. This wire dot driver 20 has a function of driving the wire head of the printer mechanism section 15. 21 is a print command signal from the transmitter side
Count up on PC and printer mechanism section 15
This is a counter for the number of unprinted lines that counts down at the end timing of the printing signal from the PC. I have it.

Next, the operation of the printer configured as described above will be explained. First, let us assume that the input data ID to be printed consists of three lines of , as shown in FIG. 4, and that one line of the input data ID consists of, for example, 10 characters. In this case data memory 11
It is desirable to have a memory capacity for at least three lines. Therefore, the transmitting device
When printing data to a printer as shown in the figure, write pulses WP corresponding to 10 characters for one line are sequentially supplied to the write address counter 12 without checking whether the printer mechanism 15 is printing or not.
Here, the write address counter 12 writes the input data ID sent from the transmitter side to the data memory 11 while sequentially specifying addresses from address 0 to higher addresses every time the write pulse WP is input. go. Additionally, write address counter 12 supplies the addressing value to address comparator 14 . Then, 1 to the data memory 11
After writing the input data ID for a line, the transmitting device sends a print command signal PC to the printer side. Upon receiving this signal PC, the unprinted lines counter 21 on the printer side becomes "1" as shown in FIG.
2, the motor M of the printer mechanism section 15 is driven. That is, the motor M drives various mechanical mechanisms constituting the printer mechanism section 15, such as a paper feeding mechanism and a mechanism for moving the printing head along the printing paper. Then, the printer mechanism section 15 starts printing the dot data for one character at address 0, which is input via the character generator 19 and the wire dot driver 20, based on the designation of the read address counter 13. At this time, the printer mechanism section 15 outputs a printing in progress signal PI as shown in FIG. 4, and also supplies a dot completion signal D to the dot counter 16 every time one dot is printed. When the dot counter 16 counts the dot completion signal D for one character, it sends a print completion signal 23 for one character to the read address counter 13, and at the same time, it continues to send a dot address to the character generator 19. In this way, the read address counter 13 specifies addresses in the data memory 11 sequentially from address 0 to higher addresses, reads out and prints data for each character, and compares the addressed values with the addresses. Vessel 1
Supply to 7.

On the other hand, the transmitting device outputs a write pulse WP regardless of the printing operation of the printer mechanism section 15 to write two lines of input data ID to the data memory 11, and when it finishes writing the two lines of input data ID, it issues a print command. Output the signal PC to counter the number of unprinted lines 21
Count up the number of unprinted lines. Since the motor M is in the ON state as long as the number of unprinted lines remains in the unprinted line counter 21, the printer mechanism section 15 continues to print dot data, and when it finishes printing one line of character dot data, it starts printing. Set the medium signal to “0”
As a level, the unprinted line number counter 21 is caused to count down. When the address designation values of the write address counter 12 and the read address counter 13 reach the final address of the final address setting circuit 18 while reading and writing data independently as described above, the respective address comparators 14 and 17 A match signal is output from , and the write address counter 12 and read address counter 13 are cleared. Note that the printer mechanism section 15
continues the printing operation until the unprinted line counter 21 becomes "0".

Therefore, according to the above-described printer, even if the printing speed of the printer mechanism section 15 is slow, the high-speed input data from the transmitter side can be reliably held and the function as a buffer can be fully exhibited. Further, as long as there is a number of unprinted lines, the printer mechanism section 15 can read and print data independently of the transmitter side, so that data processing can be made more efficient. Further, the transmitting device does not need to check whether or not there is printing from the printer mechanism section 15, which not only simplifies the device, but also reduces the number of signal lines for both devices, thereby reducing costs.

Furthermore, when the number of unprinted lines becomes zero, the motor driver 22 forcibly stops the motors that drive each mechanical mechanism of the printer mechanism section 15, so even if there is no data to be printed in the data memory 11, the printer It is possible to prevent the mechanism section 15 from being driven, suppress power consumption, and reliably stop the printer mechanism section 15 from running out of control in the event of an abnormality.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, if the write address counter 12 and the read address counter 13 themselves are provided with a final address setting function, the address comparators 14 and 17 and the final address setting circuit 21
It is possible to remove. In addition, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the gist thereof.

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the data memory is provided with memory for multiple lines, and writing and reading are performed independently, so even input data faster than the printing speed can be reliably retained. It is possible to provide a printer for high-speed input data that can print, and allows the transmitting device and printer to perform their original functions without being restricted, thereby improving the efficiency of data processing.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional printer, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the printer shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the printer for high-speed input data according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the printer shown in FIG. 3. 11...Data memory, 12...Write address counter, 13...Read address counter, 14,
17...address comparator, 15...printer mechanism section,
16... Dot counter, 18... Final address setting circuit, 19... Character generator, 20... Wire dot counter, 21... Unprinted line number counter, 22... Motor driver, 23... One character printing completion signal.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A memory capable of storing data for multiple lines in a high-speed input data printer that temporarily stores each data sequentially input from a transmitting device, reads out each data, and prints out multiple lines at the printer mechanism section 15. Data memory 11 with capacity
a write address counter 12 that sequentially specifies a write address in the data memory for each input data in response to a write pulse input from the transmitting device; A read address counter 13 that sequentially specifies read addresses in the data memory in response to the output of a print completion signal, and a read address counter 13 that is incremented by a print command signal for one line of data sent from the transmitting device, and is counted up by the printer mechanism. The unprinted lines counter 21 counts down at the end of the printing signal for one line of data sent from the unit, and the unprinted lines counted by this unprinted lines counter reaches zero lines. A printer for high-speed input data, comprising: a motor driver 22 for stopping a motor for operating the printer mechanism section.