DE10247472B4 - Method and control system and printing device for transferring trace data in a printing device and such printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of transferring trace data in a printing device, comprising a plurality of microcontrollers (12) for controlling assemblies (16) of the printing device (1), the microcontrollers (12) being connected via a data network (13) and in the data network (13 ) a central storage medium (15) is arranged, comprising the steps:
Generating a trace message by an assembly (16) or a corresponding microcontroller (12),
Sending the trace message from the microcontroller (12) to the central storage medium (15), the trace message being transmitted by means of data telegrams via the data network (13) and the data telegrams having a header and a data block,
- The trace message is divided into several data telegrams, if the data volume of the trace message is greater than the amount of data recordable by a data block, the header contains an identification for the receiver and all control information for arbitrating the data telegrams and managing the data blocks and only data trace with the data block the trace message.

Description

The The invention relates to a method for transferring trace data into a printing device and a printing device. Trace data are Data describing the current operation of a printing device and in conventional Printing devices of a single module are stored. in the If a fault occurs, the trace data will be output by a service technician The individual modules are read out and based on the trace data determines which error has occurred at the printing device. For this it is necessary that the maintenance technician to the respective Module connects to a computer that uses as a terminal is used to represent the trace data stored in the assembly.

Out US-A-4,477,901 discloses an apparatus and method in which the printing device is divided into several subsystems is, the trace data on the one hand contain a general code, which describes the respective subsystem and on the other hand the individual Processes on the subsystems are subdivided into sub-steps, so that in case of an error, a code for the last substep that has been executed properly is output is. This allows a service technician to determine which one Subsystem the error has occurred and he can also determine very accurately in which action, i. at which partial step, the error occurred is.

to Control of individual modules or assemblies of a printing device Often the CAN bus is used. This is a simpler, cheaper, serial data bus, with which data is very simple, but in the Transferred environment of microprocessors with a relatively low transmission rate can be. For transmission of data will be in accordance with the CAN protocol the data of individual telegrams is divided, each telegram consists of a data block and an identifier. The identifier can usually up to 29 bits of data. In the data block itself are more Contain control data indicating, for example, from which Transmitter the data come or to which receiver they are sent or to which data unit the individual telegram belongs or how long the data block is.

Of the CAN bus or the corresponding protocol is in CAN Controller Area Network, Basis and Praxis, 2nd edition, 1997, (ISBN 3-7785-2575-1) explained in detail. One CAN bus becomes common realized with a differential two-wire cable. A CAN data telegram can be a start bit, an 11-bit identifier, more seven control bits, 0-8 Data bytes and other control bits following the data bytes, include. The structure of a CAN data telegram may vary depending on specification; so there is a CAN specification 2.0A and a CAN specification 2.0B. The arbitration becomes bitwise and executed without control. This means that the sender, who is in the data bus opposite to others Senders due to its priority interspersed, does not have to send his telegram again. To arbitrate the control bits provided by the data bytes are used, wherein the arbitration essentially by the bits of the identifier he follows.

A Further development of the CAN bus is referred to as PeliCAN, the across from the conventional one CAN bus is equipped with other features. By the company Philips is called a stand-alone CAN controller SJA 1000, which fully supports the CAN 2.0B protocol and additionally can be operated in PeliCAN mode. This controller is in Datasheet of 4 January 2000 described in detail.

From the US 5,038,319 goes out a printing system that has several units that are controlled by appropriate controllers. The controllers are connected to each other via a data network. In a computer system, a log file is kept in which certain events are entered. This log file thus records and stores the events occurring at the individual controllers.

Out Randt, Michael, "Bus Systems in the automobile, "issue June 2002, ECT 2002, pages 22 to 27, shows how the CAN bus is applied. In particular, the structure of a message telegram described according to the standard data format. Such a data telegram has a header in which the uppermost address bits are used alone Coding of the priority are used (arbitration) and the low-order address bits the recipient encode.

Of the Invention is based on the object, a method and an arrangement to transfer from Trace data in a printing device to create a fast and allow easy access to the trace data and with a simple data network is feasible.

The The object is achieved by those specified in the independent claims Invention solved. advantageous Embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

• – Erzeugen einer Tracenachricht durch eine Braugruppe oder einen korrespondierenden Mikrokontroller,
• – Senden der Tracenachricht vom Mikrokontroller zum zentralen Speichermedium, wobei die Tracenachricht mittels Datentelegrammen über das Datennetzwerk übermittlt wird, und die Datentelegramme einen Header und einen Datenblock aufweisen,
• – die Tracenachricht auf mehrere Datentelegramme aufgeteilt wird, falls die Datenmenge der Tracenachricht größer als die von einem Datenblock aufnehmbare Datenmenge ist, wobei der Header eine Identifikation für den Empfänger, und alle Steuerinformationen zum Arbitrieren der Datentelegramme und Verwalten der Datenblöcke enthält und mit dem Datenblock nur Tracedaten der Tracenachricht übertragen werden.

The inventive method for Transferring trace data into a printing device having a plurality of microcontrollers for controlling assemblies of the printing device, the microcontrollers being connected via a data network, and a central storage medium being arranged in the data network, comprises the following steps:

• Generating a trace message by a brewing group or a corresponding microcontroller,
• Sending the trace message from the microcontroller to the central storage medium, wherein the trace message is transmitted by means of data telegrams via the data network, and the data telegrams have a header and a data block,
• - The trace message is divided into a plurality of data telegrams, if the data volume of the trace message is greater than the amount of data recordable by a data block, the header containing an identification for the receiver, and all control information for arbitrating the data telegrams and managing the data blocks and the data block only Trace data of the trace message to be transmitted.

There the trace data are transmitted to the central storage medium, they can quickly and easily read from the central storage medium become. It is not necessary that a maintenance technician on the individual modules accessed separately. The method according to the invention, in which the trace message is transmitted by means of a data telegram whose data blocks are contain only trace data and all control data are integrated in the header, the data telegrams are optimally utilized, so that the number the data telegrams for transmission Trace messages are minimized and the individual data telegrams can also be used managed solely by analyzing the header, i. e. that for composing a distributed to several data telegrams Trace message read only the header of the trace messages and have to be analyzed. As a result, on the one hand, the traffic generated by the trace message and the cost of managing the data telegrams kept low. This allows, despite using a simple, inexpensive Data bus, such as the serial-working CAN bus that it possible is to collect the trace data in a central storage medium and at the same time over the data network used to perform general control tasks of the printing device.

Preferably contains the header of a data telegram next to the length of the data block more Control information, such as the route ID, a status flag and a number of the data block by which the data blocks in the respective data block data closer are defined. This further control information can be found in the Identification (Identifier) be integrated. After another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the data blocks contain the Trace data in coded form attached to the central storage device be decoded and displayed as full text on a control panel are.

The Invention will become more apparent below explained by way of example with reference to the drawings. In the drawings show:

1 schematically a printing device with a data network and microcontrollers,

2 schematically a data network for a printing device,

3 a header of a data telegram, and

4 the sequence of the method according to the invention in a flow chart.

With the method according to the invention Trace data in a printing device containing multiple microcontrollers for controlling assemblies of the printing device, transmitted.

Such a printing device is, for example, a cut sheet printer 1 ( 1 ), which has a paper input shaft 2 with a device (not shown) for separating the paper sheets, not shown. The paper sheets are along a transport path 3 from the paper input shaft 2 to a printing unit 4 and an output slot 5 promoted.

The transport route is through a large number of roller pairs 6 (in 1 only a single pair is shown for ease of illustration) and corresponding guide means are formed. The printing unit 4 has two pressure rollers 7 and an inking roller 8th on. In electrographic printing rollers, the inking roller 8th is exposed by means of an exposure unit (not shown) so that it absorbs color particles at the exposed / unexposed areas. The color particles are from a corresponding reservoir 9 via a supply line 10 and an adjustable valve 11 the inking roller 8th fed.

The printer 1 has a control system that has multiple microcontrollers 12 For driving the assemblies of the printing device. Assemblies in the present invention are that part of the printing device that is controlled by a microcontroller is controlled. Such assemblies are, for example, on the paper input tray 2 , the transport route 3 , the printing unit 4 , the output shaft 5 , etc. provided. The microcontroller 12 are over a data network 13 with each other and with a central control device 14 connected. To the central Steuerein direction 14 is a central storage medium 15 coupled, which is designed for example as a hard disk.

A typical structure of the data network 13 is schematic in 2 shown.

This data network 13 with the microcontrollers 12 serves to control the modules 16 , These assemblies are, for example, actuators, such as stepper motors for driving transport rollers, or sensor elements, such as light barriers, for detecting the position of a paper sheet. Each module is connected to a microcontroller or processor 1.12 connected. These microcontrollers 1.12 are divided into four groups in the present example, the group PI 1 for the paper input I, the group PI 2 for the paper input II, the group PU for the printing unit and the group PO for the paper output. The individual groups of microcontrollers are each via a CAN bus 1.13 with a so-called real-time microcontroller 2.12 connected to the news of the microcontroller 1.12 receives and coordinates that control of the printing device real time is ensured. The two real-time microcontrollers 2.12 assigned to the two groups of paper input are by means of a management microcontroller 3.12 connected with each other. One of the administrative microcontrollers 3.12 or the real-time microcontroller assigned to the printing unit or paper output 2.12 are over a HSCX bus 2.13 with the central control device 14 connected to the central storage medium 15 connected.

During the Operation of the printing device are at the individual modules Trace data generates the current state of the assemblies and thus describe the current operation of the printing device. These Trace data can both by the assembly itself and by the connected Microcontroller can be generated. The trace data include, for example the operating state descriptive values, such as a sensor signal, a message indicating the execution confirming a certain process, or error messages.

The method for transmitting such a trace message is in 4 shown schematically. The process starts with step S1. After generating such a trace message S2, it is checked in step S3 whether the data quantity of the trace message is greater than a predetermined data block. If this is the case, then it is transferred to step S4, in which the trace message is divided into parts, each of which is not greater than the predetermined size of the data block.

These parts are then each with a data telegram via the CAN bus 1.13 from the microcontrollers 1.12 to the real-time microcontrollers 2.12 transmit (S5). Such a CAN data telegram comprises a header ( 3 ) and a data block. The header has a 11 Bit comprising a identifier consisting of a code for the microcontroller (Route ID) on which the message is sent, a 2-bit status flag indicating whether the transmitted data block is a first, a middle or a last data block is the series of data blocks, and the number of the transmitted data block of the series of data blocks (= block number) is. The middle data block denotes each data block which is located between the first and the last data block in the series. Because the block number 4 Bits can include a trace message in maximum 16 Parts are split.

The Trace Message Route ID describes the sending microcontroller and the microcontroller to which the trace message is next transferred to the central controller 14 can be passed on. The identifier is used to arbitrate the individual CAN telegrams in the CAN bus 1.13 used. In addition to the identifier, the header contains an unused data bit RTR and a code describing the length of the respective transmitted data block (DLC). This header is followed in the CAN telegram by the data block to be transmitted, the maximum 8th Byte includes. The data block contains only trace data, ie data describing the trace message. It does not contain any data necessary to control the data blocks from a trace message distributed over several data blocks. The data blocks are managed solely on the basis of the status flag and the block number and reassembled at the receiver or intermediate receiver. This allows the data block to be used entirely to transmit "payload data." This minimizes the amount of traffic required to transmit the trace data, thus allowing the use of a simple serial data bus, such as the CAN data bus Identifiers as "Identifier" and as a carrier of the control data accomplished.

At the in 2 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the individual data blocks of a series of data blocks are already assembled in the data network by the management microcontrollers 3.12 or the printing unit and the Papierausga be associated with real-time microcontrollers 2.12 , each via the HSCX bus to the central controller 14 are connected. The trace messages are assembled in this case and sent to the central control device via the HSCX bus in accordance with the SNMP protocol 14 continue to transmit.

Becomes Step S3 determines that the trace message is not greater than is the predetermined data block, the procedure goes from the step S3 directly to step S5.

The trace data are preferably generated in coded form, ie that for an error message only a short code is generated instead of a text describing the error. A central control device 14 An interpreter is provided which interprets the coded trace data and converts it into readable text (S6). The trace data are in the form of this text on the central storage medium 15 stored (S7), whereby the inventive method for transmitting the trace data is completed (S8).

During maintenance, a service technician can use a computer to contact the central controller 14 connect and the in the central storage medium 15 retrieve accumulated trace data and analyze it for maintenance. In a corresponding manner, the trace data can be retrieved quickly after an error occurring at the printing device in order to be able to determine the cause of the error.

The trace messages are preferably automatically sent to the central control device after they have been generated 14 sent. In the context of the invention, however, it is also possible that the individual trace messages, for example, to the real-time microcontrollers 2.12 or the administrative microcontrollers 3.12 each stored a group of assemblies 16 assigned. These data can then be accessed via the central control device if required 14 from individual microcontrollers 2.12 respectively. 3.12 be retrieved. Preferably, at least a portion of the trace data is also stored locally, so that in case of an error in the data network, a local examination of the states of the individual modules is possible. Basically, it is also possible to have some of the trace data on the directly with the assemblies 16 connected microcontrollers 1.12 temporarily.

The The invention is above with reference to an embodiment of a printing device described which is a cut sheet printer. Within the scope of the invention Such a printing device can also be an endless-sheet printer or to be a copier.

The invention is briefly summarized below:
With the method according to the invention, trace data are collected and stored in a central storage medium. For this purpose, a simple data bus can be used, via which the trace messages are transmitted by means of data telegrams having a header and a data block. The data block contains only user data, whereas the header both serves to arbitrate the individual data telegrams and also contains control information relating to the data blocks.

1

Single-sheet printer

2

Paper input tray

3

transport

4

printing unit

5

output tray

6

roller pair

7

platen

8th

Inking roller

9

reservoir

10

supply line

11

Valve

12

microcontroller

13

Data network

14

central control device

15

central storage medium

16

module

Claims (12)

Method for transferring trace data in a printing device comprising a plurality of microcontrollers ( 12 ) for controlling assemblies ( 16 ) of the printing device ( 1 ), wherein the microcontroller ( 12 ) via a data network ( 13 ) and in the data network ( 13 ) a central storage medium ( 15 ), comprising the steps of: - generating a trace message by an assembly ( 16 ) or a corresponding microcontroller ( 12 ), - sending the trace message from the microcontroller ( 12 ) to the central storage medium ( 15 ), wherein the trace message is transmitted by means of data telegrams over the data network ( 13 ), and the data telegrams comprise a header and a data block, - the trace message is divided into a plurality of data telegrams if the data volume of the trace message is greater than the amount of data recordable by a data block, the header having an identification for the receiver and all control information for the receiver Arbitrieren of the data telegrams and managing the data blocks contains and are transmitted with the data block only trace data of the trace message. A method according to claim 1, characterized gekenn records that as a data network ( 13 ) a CAN bus is used at least in one area and the data telegrams are transmitted as CAN data telegrams in the area of the CAN bus. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized that the header has an identifier in which a code for the microcontroller (Route ID) to which the trace message is sent is entered, a 2-bit status flag is entered with the is specified whether the transmitted Data block a first, a middle or a last data block a series of data blocks is, and the number of the transmitted Data block of the series of data blocks is entered. Method according to claim 3, characterized that the identifier consists of 11 bits. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized the header has a code (DLC) which is the length of the Data block describes. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized that the data telegram consists only of the header and the data block. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized that a trace message automatically immediately after its generation transmitted to the central storage medium becomes. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized that the trace data are transmitted in coded form over the data network and decoded on the central storage medium. Control system for a printing device comprising a plurality of microcontrollers connected via a data network ( 12 ) for controlling assemblies ( 16 ) of the printing device ( 1 ) and a central storage medium ( 15 ), wherein the control system is designed such that trace data according to a method according to one of claims 1 to 8 in the data network ( 13 ) to the central storage medium ( 15 ) be transmitted. Printing device with a paper input tray ( 2 ), a transport route ( 3 ) for the paper to be printed, a printing unit ( 4 ) and an output shaft ( 5 ), wherein the printing device has a plurality of modules (each controlled by a microcontroller) ( 16 ) and the assemblies ( 16 ) Are part of a control system according to claim 9. Printing device according to claim 10, characterized in that the central storage medium ( 15 ) is a hard disk. Printing device according to one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the data network ( 13 ) has at least a portion with a serial data bus, which is in particular a CAN bus.