JPH0425872B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a print format control device that uses a serial printer to facilitate printing in a predetermined position, thereby simplifying and speeding up document creation.

[Prior art]

Conventionally, when printing by controlling a serial printer with a host computer, in order to obtain the desired print format, a command that changes the position of the print head (hereinafter also referred to as "receiving position"), such as an operation position specification command, is used. Therefore, it was necessary to create a complex program. Therefore, in order for a user to print a special format document, it is necessary to develop a special program for that purpose, which is extremely inconvenient. Furthermore, even with a so-called word processor, which is a general-purpose document creation device, formatting can only be selectively set within a certain range, and it is difficult to set or modify the printing format completely freely.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In any of the above methods, it is not possible to print at a desired position on the paper unless the user carefully designs the relationship between the printing paper and the printing position. In particular, when printing only predetermined data at a predetermined printing location on a pre-printed predetermined paper,
It was necessary to set the paper in the printer many times and through trial and error to set the printing format so that the data would be printed in the predetermined position. Furthermore, even if multiple print positions are set, the print positions must be reset each time the print format of the print paper set in the printer changes, making it difficult to print only the data on each type of print paper. It was extremely difficult. The present invention solves these problems.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made to improve the above-mentioned drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to facilitate printing of data at a predetermined position on a sheet of paper. In particular, the present invention provides a formatting method and device that facilitates printing only predetermined data at predetermined locations on preprinted paper.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention outputs a signal to feed the paper and a signal to move the print head of the printer in the horizontal direction in response to a user's operation, and moves the print head to a predetermined position to be printed on the paper set in the printer. , and repeats the operation of storing information regarding the position of the print head, thereby performing a process of storing information regarding the position of the print head for all printing locations on the paper and creating print format control data. By this, a plurality of pieces of the print format control data are stored for each paper with a different print format, and when the printer is driven to print, the print format control data is selected from among the plural pieces of stored print format control data.
selectively specifying print format control data corresponding to the paper set in the printer, and receiving print data consisting of a set of unit data to be printed at each print location on the paper set in the printer from the host; , controlling the feed of the print head and the paper based on the print format control data selectively specified at the time of starting printing of each unit data, and sequentially moving the print head to a predetermined position with respect to the paper. This is a printing format control method for a serial printer, characterized in that the unit data corresponding to the location is printed. In the method of the present invention, first, the receiving position of the print head of the printer is actually moved to the desired printing position on the paper by key operation on the operation panel, and the receiving position of the print head at that time is sequentially memorized to print. An operation for creating format control data is executed for each sheet of paper with a different print format, and each print format control data is stored for each sheet of paper with a different print format. Second, when actually printing, the host sets print data consisting of a collection of unit data to be printed at each desired print location, corresponding to the print format of the paper set in the printer. Then, upon receiving this print data, print format control data selectively specified corresponding to the paper set in the printer is selected from a plurality of stored print format control data for each unit data. The method is characterized in that the receiving position of the print head is moved to a preset position based on the information, and the unit data is printed at that position. The second invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the above method, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing its construction. That is, the second invention has an operation panel 10 for inputting various manual operations, and outputs a signal S1 for sending the paper of the printer and a signal S2 for moving the print head in the horizontal direction, and controls the print head 92. a head position control unit 12 that controls the movement of the print head 92 relative to the paper; a print control unit 18 that outputs a signal S3 for printing on the paper by the print head 92; a print format control data storage unit 16 that stores a group of information S4 corresponding to the position of the print head 92 moved under the control of the head position control unit 12 as print format control data for each sheet of paper with a different print format; a print format control data specifying unit 17 that selects print format control data corresponding to paper set in the printer from a plurality of print format control data stored in a print format control data storage unit 16; Inputting print data S5 consisting of a set of unit data to be printed at each of the printing locations corresponding to the paper set in
At the start of printing of the unit data, information S6 on each position of the control data selected by the print format control data specifying section 17 is sequentially output S7 to the head position control section 12.
input to drive the print head 92 to sequentially move the print head 92 to the set printing location, output S8 the unit data to the print control section 18, and drive the print control section 18 to sequentially print the unit data. This is a print format control device consisting of a control section 14; The operation panel may be provided in the printer main body or may be configured separately from the printer main body. The head position control section 12 receives the control signal S9 from the operation panel 10 and the control signal S7 from the input control section 14, and drives the drivers 74 and 78 to move the print head to a predetermined position. . The input control section 14 inputs print data from the host computer 50 during actual printing, drives the head position control section, and controls the print head based on the control data selectively designated by the print format control data designation section 17. The print control unit 18
It has a function to control printing of unit print data from that location by driving the unit print data. The print format control data storage unit 16 moves the print head to the print start position of unit data for each sheet of paper with a different print format by operating the operation panel 10, and changes the position of the print head at that time to the print start position of the unit data for each sheet of paper with a different print format. It is stored for each paper. At this time, the print pitch may be stored at the same time. The host computer 50 has a function of outputting print data consisting of a set of unit data to the input control unit 14, and each unit data is identified by, for example, a termination code indicating the end of the data, a data number, or the number of characters. and are set to be distinct from each other. In addition to the unit data to be printed, the print data output from the host computer may also include annotation character data that ignores printing of the data during printing. The input control unit 14 selects unit data to be printed at a specific location from a series of print data input from the host computer. The print control unit 18 receives unit data from the input control unit 14 and sends the unit data to the driver 74,
It has a function of driving 78 and 82 and printing the data.

[Effect]

Load the specified paper to be printed on the printer,
By operating the operation panel, the print head is sequentially moved to a predetermined position where data should be printed, and the reception position of that head is memorized. During actual printing, the print head is sequentially moved to a preset position based on the control data regarding the reception position, and from that position, the unit data selected from the print data received from the host computer is sequentially printed. Print. The print format control data storage unit 16 drives the head position control unit 12 in response to key operations on the operation panel 10 to actually move the reception position of the print head 92, and moves the head to the location where unit data is to be printed. , and sequentially memorize the receiving positions.
Create print format control data. Such print format control data is created for each sheet of paper with a different print format. Then, these plural pieces of print format control data are stored in the print format control data storage section 16. The print data is sent from the host computer 50 to the input control section 14 .
selects the unit data and selects the selected control data corresponding to the paper set in the printer from among the control data stored in the print format control data storage unit 16 and sends the selected control data to the head position control unit 12.
The print head 92 is moved to a preset printing start position, and the unit data is output to the print control section 18 to print the data at that position. As a result, it is extremely easy to print only data in a predetermined field on a desired format of document paper of a plurality of preprinted formats.

【Example】

The present invention will be explained below based on specific examples. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment device. This device consists of a handy operating device 30 separate from the printer body and a main device mainly consisting of a computer system built into the printer body. The operating device 30 includes a keyboard 34 for inputting various operations, a CPU 32 for creating print format control data, a RAM 38 for storing print format control data, etc., and a RAM 38 for storing the stored contents even when power is not being supplied from the printer main body. It consists of a battery 40 for holding, and an input/output interface 36 for transmitting and receiving data with a CPU 68 constituting the main device on the printer main body side. The printer includes a buffer register 62 for inputting print data from the host computer 50, a status register 64 for informing the host computer of its status, and a CPU 6 for performing print processing.
8. ROM 70 that stores this processing program and various parameters, and RAM 6 that stores print format control data, print data, etc.
6. An output interface 72 is connected to the CPU 68, and includes a driver 7 that drives a paper feeding motor (LF motor).
4 is connected, and its driver has LF motor 7.
6 is connected. Also connected to output interface 72 is a driver 78 for laterally moving the print head, which drives a CR motor 80 for moving the print head. or,
The output interface 72 has a printing solenoid 84.
A driver 82 for driving is connected. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the outer shape of the operating device 30. The keyboard 34 has a mode 1 key, a mode 2 key, and a cursor key. The mode 1 key is a registration key 341 for creating and registering print format control data, a modification key 342 and a deletion key 343 for modifying or deleting registered print format control data, and a key for storing print format control data in the RAM 66 of the main device. and a call key 344 for transferring data to and controlling printing. The mode 2 keys are the enter key 345 for setting the registration number and print head reception position, the end key 346 for ending the mode 2 state, and the reception position of registered print format control data, print pitch, etc. for formal printing. Confirmation key 34 to print and confirm beforehand
7. Space key 348 to set the print pitch;
Data insertion key 349 and data deletion key 350 for inserting and deleting print format control data, etc.
Consists of. In addition, the operating device 30 has a registration number representing the number of the print format control data group, a data number representing the number of the print position of the print data in one registration group,
It also has a liquid crystal display panel 300 for displaying messages such as errors. Furthermore, a CPU 32, a RAM 38, an input/output interface 36, a battery 40, etc. are arranged inside the frame. FIG. 4 is an electric circuit diagram showing the connection relationship between the operating device 30 and the printer main body, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the logic of the signals. Switch SW
0, SW1, SW2, and SW3 correspond to cursor keys 353, 352, 354, and 351, respectively. Output signal line L of gate circuits 361 and 362
1 and L2 are connected to the main device on the printer side. Further, the signal lines L1 and L2 are input to the gate circuit 363, and the output line L3 is input to the microcomputer 4.
5. Furthermore, the output signal line L4 of the switch SW3 is connected to the microcomputer 45. When one of the signal lines L3 and L4 is at a low level, it indicates that one of the cursor keys has been operated, so the CPU 32 outputs a low level signal to the main unit via the signal line L5 to While the signal line L5 is at a low level, the device
By analyzing the logic levels of the signal lines L1 and L2, it is possible to determine which cursor key has been operated. The main device can control the print head and paper feed based on this signal. In addition, the microcomputer 45 and the main device are connected to data lines L6 and L.
7 for sending and receiving control signals,
Print format control data is transmitted.
The CPU 32 of the microcomputer 45 determines the logic levels of the signal lines L3 and L4 and presses the cursor key SW3 for incrementing the registration number.
It is possible to determine which of the cursor key SW1 (351) and the cursor key SW1 (352) for decrementing has been operated. Next, registration of print format control data will be described. FIG. 6 shows the CPU 32 of the operating device 30.
Figure 11 is a flowchart showing the main program for processing the CPU of the main unit of the printer.
68 is a flowchart showing the main program of processing. When the power switch of the operating device 30 is turned on, in step 100, a message indicating that the interface with the main device is being adjusted is displayed. In step 102, counter C is set to 0, and in step 104,
The SOH signal is transmitted until a response signal is received from the main device, the DC1 signal from the main device is received in steps 106 and 108, the counter C is updated in step 110, and five DC1 signals are received in step 112. When it is determined, an ACK signal is transmitted and the number of remaining registrable data is displayed in step 116. Meanwhile, the main device receives 50 SOH signals from the operating device 30 through the processing in steps 600 to 610 in FIG.
Complete the connection between the printer and the main device. Thereafter, the operating device 30 executes the registration number selection program in step 118. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the registration number selection program. When a key input is received from the keyboard 34 in step 200, it is determined in step 202 whether the mode selection key for mode 1 has been pressed, and if the registration key has been pressed in step 204, the next key input is determined in step 206. and press increment key SW3 (351) at step 208.
is operated, search the data in ascending order excluding the registration number registered in RAM38,
In step 212, the unset registration number is displayed on the display panel 300.
to be displayed. If it is determined in step 214 that the decrement key SW1 (352) has been operated, unregistered numbers are searched in descending order in step 216, and unregistered numbers are displayed on the display panel 300 in step 212 in descending order. indicate. If the desired registration number is displayed by the above key operation, press the enter key 345, the key input is judged in step 218, and the displayed registration number is set in the RAM 38 in step 220. and the subsequent steps
At 222, a program for registering print format control data of the group belonging to the registration number is executed. To display the registration number for modifying or deleting the print format control data once registered in the RAM 38 and for calling to transfer the print format control data to the RAM 66 of the main unit of the printer, proceed to step 230. ~The processing of block B in step 246 is performed. The process is to search only for registered numbers, display the registration numbers in ascending or descending order according to the operation of the increment key or decrement key, and select the displayed registration number by operating the enter key. It is done by folding. Next, the processing of the registration program will be explained.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart explaining the process. The registration number is displayed in step 300, the SOH signal is sent to the master device in step 302, and the master device sends the SOH signal in steps 612, 614, and 616 (Figure 11).
When it receives a signal, it sends a DC1 signal. If the DC1 signal is received in step 304, the operating device 30 outputs an ACK signal in step 306 and executes the step.
Move to 308 and 310 and display the data number. Data number 0 is used to control the centering of the print head relative to the paper. At step 314, DC1
Send a signal to put the main device into cursor reception position control mode. Next, in step 316, the first
The reception position control program A shown in FIG. 4 is executed. The main device decodes the DC1 signal and executes the reception position control program B (FIG. 15) in step 622. Next, the receiving position control means will be explained according to the programs shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. FIG. 14 shows the processing procedure of the operating device, and FIG. 15 shows the processing procedure of the main device. At step 800, a decision key is determined, and at steps 802 and 804, it is determined whether or not a cursor key has been operated. That is, the determination can be made by detecting whether either the signal line L3 or L4 in FIG. 4 is at a low level. When the operation of the cursor key is detected, the process moves to step 806, and the signal line L5 is set to a low level to notify the main device of this fact. Also, when both signal lines L3 and L4 become high level in steps 808 and 810, it means that the cursor key presses have been stopped, so in step 812 the signal line L
5 to a high level and informs the main device of this information. On the other hand, in the main device, it is determined in step 850 whether there is a response request signal for the head position caused by pressing the enter key, and in step 852, the signal level of the signal line L5 is detected, and if it is at a low level, the cursor key is pressed. It is determined that there is a keystroke, and in step 854, the signal is input according to the logic level of signal lines L1 and L2 (Fig. 5).
The CR motor 80 is driven to move the print head one dot, or the LF motor 76 is driven to feed the paper by the minimum unit amount. After waiting for 0.5 seconds in step 856, in step 858, if the signal line L5 is still at a low level, the cursor key continues to be pressed, so in steps 860 and 862, the head or paper is pressed until the signal line L5 becomes high level. Feed control is performed continuously. Therefore, while the cursor key continues to be pressed, the receiving position of the print head changes continuously. In this manner, when the print head is moved to a desired position by operating the cursor keys and the enter key 345 is then pressed, the operating device transmits a reception position response request signal ENQ in step 814. The main unit determines reception of this signal in step 850 and transmits the receiving position of the print head to the operating device in step 864. The operating device receives the coordinate data of the received position in steps 816 and 818 and stores it in the RAM 38. Repeat the above operations in order and start printing all the unit data on the paper shown in Figure 16.
By setting the coordinates of , the registration of print format control data is completed. When the space key is pressed in step 326 (Figure 8) in the above process,
In step 328, the print pitch size is displayed in increments or decrements on the display panel by operating the cursor keys, the value is selected with the enter key, and in step 332 the print pitch is created as part of the format control data. Steps to register print format control data
At step 334, pressing of the end key 346 is detected, and at step 336, an SOH signal is transmitted, thereby ending the process. At this time, the main device receives the SOH signal, outputs the DC1 signal in step 620, and enters a state of waiting for reception of the next control data. 23 will explain the processing procedure for modifying the format control data once registered, according to the flowchart shown in FIG. A previously set registration number is selected according to the procedure shown in FIG. 7, and the correction program shown in FIG. 9 is started in step 250 via step 248 by pressing the correction key. Steps 400 to 408 have similar functions to steps 300 to 308 in FIG. Steps 410 to 414 are steps for sequentially displaying data numbers of format control data. After a given data number is selected,
When the confirmation key 347 is pressed in step 416, the signal DC3 and format control data for moving the head to the set reception position corresponding to the data number are transmitted in step 418, and the main device performs the following steps in steps 630 to 634. The receiving position of the head is moved to the printing start position of the data of that data number. Through this operation, it is possible to check how the previously set print format control data has been set. When the enter key is pressed in step 422, the data number is selected and the step
In steps 424 to 426, the receiving position control program A (FIG. 14) is started, which moves the receiving position of the print head directly by operating the cursor, as in the registration mode. At this time, the hand device detects the DC1 signal in step 618, so it is in registration mode. When the enter key is pressed, the current receiving position is transmitted to the operating device at step 864 in FIG. 15, and the correction of the print format control data is completed. Next, in step 428, the display parameter I of the next data number is updated. At step 430, pressing of the end key is detected and the correction program is ended. Next, a processing procedure for receiving print data from the host computer and printing the data based on the format control data created in this way will be described. As shown in FIG. 17, the print data consists of a comment text that is not printed and is underlined in order of data number, followed by CR and LF codes that separate unit print data and unit data. In printing unit data, the print head automatically moves to each registered receiving position as shown in FIG. 16, and the unit data corresponding to that location is printed. The registration number of the print format control data is selected through the process shown in FIG.
At 252, the calling program shown in FIG. 10 is executed. Steps 500 to 506 are step 300 in Figure 8.
~306 is the same. Control signal DC in step 508
2 is transmitted, the main device executes the program shown in FIG. 12 via step 628. step 510
At step 512, print format control data is transmitted. The main device receives the data number in step 650 and print format control data in steps 652 and 654. At this stage, the print format control data of the specified registration number has been transferred from RAM 38 to RAM 66 all at once. Next, when the pressing of the confirmation key is detected in step 514, a control signal for test printing is sent in step 516.
ENQ is sent, the main device reads this control signal in step 656, and in step 658 prints a frame for one character at the print start position of the data in all print locations, displays the character spacing, and prints a frame within that frame. Print the data number. When the test printing is completed, step 660 is executed.
Outputs the DC1 signal to notify the end of test printing. Furthermore, when the pressing of the end key is detected in step 520, a control signal for data printing command is output in step 522.
EOT is sent. At this time, the hand device is in step 662.
A printing program that moves to and prints the print data sent from the host computer (Figure 13)
is executed. At step 700, the BUSY bit of the status register 64 is turned off, making it possible to input print data from the host computer. Steps 702 and 704 are processes related to paper feeding. Step 706 indicates whether or not data has been received, and steps 708 and 710 indicate command processing. Steps 740 to 742 are steps for skipping data in the case of annotation sentences. Step 712~
Step 718 is a step in which when an LF code is detected, it is regarded as a delimiter of unit data and is printed at a predetermined position based on the print format control data. By repeating steps 706 to 718, data is printed at all printing locations. Step 720 is automatic paper ejection, step 722 is SOH from the operating device.
When the signal is received, the process returns to step 612 in FIG. 11, and the connection is switched from the host computer to the operating device 30. Steps 724 to 734 are steps for performing processing based on key operations on the console of the printer body. With the above-described configuration and operation, this embodiment can print only necessary data at predetermined printing locations on preprinted paper, and is particularly effective in printing data from a database system.

【Effect of the invention】

The method of the present invention involves actually moving the receiving position of the print head of the printer to the desired printing position on the paper by operating keys on the operation panel, sequentially storing the receiving position of the print head at that time, and transmitting print format control data. , is created for each sheet of paper with a different print format, and when actually printing, the host computer is set with print data consisting of a collection of unit data to be printed at each desired print location, and this print data is received. Then, for each unit data, the receiving position of the print head is moved to a preset position based on selectively specified print format control data corresponding to the paper set in the printer. , the unit data is printed at that position. The second invention also provides a print format control data storage system that creates a plurality of print format control data by actually moving the receiving position of the print head and storing the print start position of unit data for each sheet of paper with a different print format. It mainly has an input control section which inputs print data from a host computer and performs printing control based on format control data selectively designated corresponding to the paper set in the printer. Therefore, according to the present invention, since the receiving position of the printing head is actually moved, it is extremely easy to create format data, and the data can be printed accurately at the desired printing location. This is particularly effective when printing data in a predetermined column of a sheet of paper that has been printed in a predetermined manner, and improves the work efficiency of document creation. Since print format control data can be stored for each paper of a predetermined format, once created, the data can be used again during actual printing, which is extremely convenient.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the concept of the device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a specific embodiment of the device of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a plan view showing the external appearance of the operating device used in the device of the same embodiment, FIG. 4 is an electric circuit diagram showing the electrical connection relationship between the operating device and the main device of the printer, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between cursor keys and head movement signals. Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the main program of the processing steps of the CPU used in the operating device, Figure 7 is a registration number selection program, and Figure 8 is a registration program for registering format control data. 9 is a flowchart showing a correction program for correcting the data, and FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a calling program for transferring the created print format control data to the main device of the printer. Also, the first
Figures 1 and 12 show the main program of the processing procedure of the CPU of the main unit installed in the printer body.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a print program that receives print data from a host computer and processes the print data. Figure 14 shows the flowchart of a reception position control program for the operating device for cursor control of the reception position of the print head, and Figure 15 shows a reception position control program for the main unit for controlling the reception position of the printhead with a cursor. It's a chat. Figure 16 is a plan view of a sheet of paper printed in a predetermined format to explain how to set the print start position of unit data, and Figure 17 is a plan view of a sheet of paper printed in a predetermined format to explain how to set the print data to a host computer. It is an explanatory diagram showing an example. 300...Display panel, 351-354...Cursor key, 351...Increment key, 352
... Decrement key.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A signal for feeding the paper and a signal for moving the print head of the printer in the horizontal direction according to the user's operation, so that the print head can print on the paper set in the printer. The printer moves to a predetermined position to be printed, repeats the operation of storing information regarding the position of the print head, stores information regarding the position of the print head for all printing locations on the paper, and creates print format control data. By performing the processing, a plurality of pieces of the print format control data are stored for each paper with a different print format, and when the printer is driven to print, the print format control data is selected from among the plurality of stored print format control data.
selectively specifying print format control data corresponding to the paper set in the printer, and receiving print data consisting of a set of unit data to be printed at each print location on the paper set in the printer from the host; , controlling the feed of the print head and the paper based on the print format control data selectively specified at the time of starting printing of each unit data, and sequentially moving the print head to a predetermined position with respect to the paper. A printing format control method for a serial printer, characterized in that the unit data corresponding to the location is printed. 2. An operation panel for inputting various manual operations, and a head position for controlling the movement of the print head relative to the paper by outputting a signal to send the printer's paper and a signal to move the print head in the horizontal direction. a control unit; a print control unit that outputs a signal for printing on the paper by the print head; and a position of the print head moved under control of the head position control unit based on key operations on the operation panel. a print format control data storage unit that stores a group of corresponding information as print format control data for each paper with a different print format; and print format control data that stores print format control data corresponding to the paper set in the printer at the time of printing. a print format control data specifying section for selecting from a plurality of print format control data stored in a storage section; and a set of unit data to be printed at each of the printing locations corresponding to the paper set in the printer from the host. inputting print data, and sequentially outputting information on each position of the control data selected by the print format control data specifying section to the head position control section at the time of starting printing of the unit data to drive the head position control section; an input control section that sequentially moves the print head to a set printing location, outputs the unit data to the print control section, and drives the print control section to sequentially print the unit data. Format control device.