JPH0365368A - Thermal printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the lacking of an object-program due to missing or breakage by a method wherein the selecting means of a plurality of object-programs is accommodated in a control unit to permit the connection of interface conditions to respectively different host instruments. CONSTITUTION:A command for selecting object-programs other than a printing data is included in an inputted signal from a host instrument 4 into a thermal printer 1 through a signal wire 2 and a control wire 3 whereby printing of the data is carried out in accordance with a given procedure. In this case, when a signal inputted from the host machine 4 is printing data, the data is stored into a memory. When the signal, inputted from the host machine 4, is the command for selecting the object-program, a selecting program PB is started to select the object-program PA suitable to the host machine 4. As a result, the signal inputted from the host machine 4 is read by the object- program PA and the data, stored in the memory, are printed whereby the printing may be finished.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] Regarding a thermal printer used as an output device for various electronic devices, especially a thermal printer equipped with an interface condition matching means, there is provided an interface condition such that an execution program will not be lost due to loss or damage. [Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides a thermal printer equipped with a matching means, and a plurality of execution programs PA and an execution program PA. The present invention relates to a thermal printer equipped with.

In recent years, many manufacturers have provided a wide variety of electronic devices and thermal printers, and these are increasingly being used in combination depending on the purpose. However, the interface conditions between each device are not unified, and in order to print information input from an electronic device (hereinafter referred to as a host device), the interface conditions between the host device and the thermal printer must be matched. Therefore, it is possible to easily match the interface conditions of the host device.
It is desired to realize a thermal printer equipped with an interface condition matching means.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional thermal printer.

In the figure, a thermal printer 1 is connected to a host device 4 via a signal line 2 and a control line 3, and in a conventional thermal printer 1, it can be connected to a control unit 11 from the outside via a connector 5 as an interface condition matching means. It is equipped with an IC card 6.

That is, an execution program for decoding information input from the boss l-equipment 4 is externally transmitted to the control unit 1 via the connector 5.
1, and IC cards 6 corresponding to each ink face condition are prepared.

Therefore, although the interface conditions of the host device d are not unified, the interface conditions of the thermal printer 1 can be matched with the interface conditions of the host device 4 by replacing the IC card 6.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, conventional thermal printers that match the interface and milk conditions by replacing IC cards have the problem of losing the IC card removed from the thermal printer or destroying the executable program on the IC card while in storage. Ta.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal printer equipped with an interface condition matching means that prevents the executable program from being lost due to loss or damage.

(Means for Solving the Problems) Fig. 1 is a principle diagram showing a thermal printer according to the present invention.The same objects are represented by the same symbols throughout the drawings.

The above problem can be solved by the thermal printer of the present invention, which has a plurality of execution programs PA and execution program PA selection means 7 built into the control unit 11, and is configured to be connectable to host devices 4 having different interface conditions. achieved.

[For production]

In Fig. 1, a plurality of execution programs PA and selection means for execution program PA are built into the control unit, and the execution program is configured to be connectable to hosts and devices with different ink face conditions, thereby preventing the execution program from being lost. It is possible to realize a thermal printer equipped with an interface condition matching means that will not be lost due to damage or breakage.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, an embodiment of the thermal printer according to the present invention includes a control unit 11 of a thermal printer 1 equipped with a microcomputer 12 and a memo 1 for continuous printing 3 for controlling the microcombigo 12. In addition to the control program PC and character font PD, the read-only memory 13 has written therein a plurality of execution programs P^ for decoding information with different interface conditions and a selection program PR for selecting an execution program PA. Although the read-only memory 13 in the figure is provided independently, it may also be built into the microconbib/tar 12.

The signal input from the host device 4 to the thermal printer 1 via the signal line 2 and control line 3 includes a command for selecting an execution program in addition to the data to be printed.
Printing of data is executed according to the flowchart in FIG. That is, if the signal input manually from the host device 4 is print data, it is stored in the memory, and if the signal input manually from the host device 4 is a command for selecting an execution program, the selection program PB is activated and the data is sent to the host device 4. Select a suitable execution program I'A. As a result, the host l
- The signal input manually from the device 4 is decoded by the execution program PA, the data stored in the memory is printed, and printing is completed.

Another embodiment of the thermal printer according to the present invention is the fourth embodiment.
As shown in the figure, the control unit 11 of the thermal printer 1 is equipped with a microcomputer 12, a read-only memory 13 for controlling the microcomputer 12, and a selection switch 71 that is a means for selecting an execution program PA.
In addition to the control program PC and character font PD, a plurality of execution programs PA for decoding information with different interface conditions are written in the read-only memory 13.

Although the read-only memory 13 is made independent, it may be built into the microcomputer 12 in some cases.

Host device 4 to which the thermal printer is currently connected
The execution program PA suitable for the interface conditions is known, and the selection switch 71 selects the execution program P.
By selecting A in advance, the signal input from the host device 4 is decoded and printed by the execution program PA.

In this way, by incorporating a plurality of execution programs PA and a selection means for the execution program PA into the control unit, and configuring the control unit so that it can be connected to host devices with different interface conditions, it is possible to prevent the execution program from being lost or damaged. Therefore, it is possible to realize a thermal printer equipped with an interface condition matching means that never fails.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a thermal printer equipped with an interface condition matching means that prevents the execution program from being lost due to loss or damage.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a principle diagram showing a thermal printer according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a configuration diagram without an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment, and Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of a thermal printer according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional thermal printer. In the figure, 1 is a thermal printer, 2 is a signal line, 3 is a control line,
4 is a host device, 7 is a selection means,
11 is a control unit, 12 is a microcomputer, 13 is a continuous memory, 71 is a selection switch,
respectively. , t-3βNl2fJ shows a thermal printer. An embodiment of this invention is shown on the left. ＋J 小禾 ellipse design illustration example of movement Q4 showing off flow 1,000 pages - 1・ Early prisoner 4 #:,'! , Dimensions - Circle 7 link L indicates the early and old

Claims (1)

[Claims] A plurality of execution programs PA and a selection means (7) for the execution program PA are built into the control unit (11), and are configured to operate on host devices (4) having different interface conditions.
A thermal printer characterized by being configured to be connectable.