JPH0345365A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the need for disconnecting/throwing in a power source or operating an operation panel at every loading/unloading of an external memory by a method wherein a printing stop state is detected by an operation state check part, and the connection state of the external memory is detected every time when the printing stop state is continued for a fixed period of time. CONSTITUTION:A timer 5 is started, and the connection state of an external memory 2 is checked through an external memory connection circuit 3 every time when a printing stop state is continued for a fixed period of time. When the external memory 2 is connected, the type of the connected memory is judged by an external memory content check part 6. With the detection of an abnormality caused by the connection of an external memory 2 of a type unavailable for the printer or different from that of a memory that has been connected just before, the abnormality of the external memory 2 is indicated on a display part 7. With the external memory abnormality, a printing is brought to a stop. The abnormality of the external memory 2 is cancelled when a non-connection state is established. In addition, when the printing stop state is canceled during the measurement of a printing stop time by the timer 5 in a microprocessor circuit 1, the timer 5 stops counting.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a printer, and particularly to a printer that detects the connection state of an external memory.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, this type of printer detects the connection state of an external memory only when the power is turned on or when the printer is initialized by operating an operation panel.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The conventional printer described above detects the connection state of the external memory only when initializing it, so it has the disadvantage that it must be initialized by turning the power off and on or operating the operation panel before installing or removing the external memory. There is.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printer that simplifies the operation each time an external memory is attached or removed.

[Means to solve the problem]

The printer of the present invention includes a microprocessor circuit, an external memory connection circuit for connecting a removable external memory, and an operating state management section, and the printer has a microprocessor circuit, an external memory connection circuit for connecting a removable external memory, and an operating state management section, and the operating state management section determines that when printing is stopped for a certain period of time. The connection state of the external memory is determined each time the external memory is connected.

〔Example〕

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printer showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a control flow diagram for explaining the operation of the printer shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the operating status check unit 4 connected to the microprocessor 1 detects that there is no ribbon, no paper, no printing is stopped by operation of the operation panel, and no data is received from the host device. etc. to check whether printing is stopped. When the printing is stopped, a timer 5 in the microprocessor circuit 1 is activated, and the connection state of the external memory 2 is checked via the external memory connection circuit 3 every time the printing is stopped for a certain period of time. When the external memory 2 is connected, the external memory content checking section 6 determines the type of the connected memory, and if a type of memory that cannot be used with the printer is connected, or if an external memory of a different type than the previous one is connected. When the memory 2 is connected, the external memory 2 is checked for abnormality, and when an abnormality is detected, the abnormality of the external memory 2 is displayed on the display section 7. When the external memory is abnormal, printing is stopped, and when the external memory 2 becomes disconnected, the abnormality of the external memory 2 is canceled. Furthermore, when the printing stop state is canceled while the timer 5 in the microprocessor circuit 1 is measuring the printing stop time, the timer 5 stops counting.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the printer of the present invention detects the printing stop state by the operating state check section, and detects the connection state of the external memory every time the printing stop state continues for a certain period of time. There is no need to turn the power off/on or operate the operation panel, and the connection state of the external memory can be detected without changing the state by initializing, just temporarily stopping printing during operation. There is an effect.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printer showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a control flow diagram for explaining the operation of the printer shown in FIG. ] - Microprocessor circuit, 2... External memory, 3... External memory connection circuit, 4... Operating status tick section,... Timer,... External memory content tick section, 7... Display section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] It has a microprocessor circuit, an external memory connection circuit for connecting a removable external memory, and an operating state management unit, and the operating state management unit connects the external memory at regular intervals when printing is stopped. A printer characterized by determining a state.