A fully automated performance testing method and system for thermal printers

Abstract

The present invention provides a fully automated performance testing method and system for thermal printers, the method comprising: dividing all printers to be tested into original printers and reorganized printers through a machine body classification step; and then performing pre-test verification from the aspects of paper matching, battery parameters, machine body temperature and machine body parameters, and for objects whose pre-test verification results meet the corresponding conditions, further controlling the printer to be tested to operate according to a set mode through a performance testing step, and obtaining corresponding test data in real time to analyze the performance status of the printer when it is working, and screening abnormal individuals to output real-time reminder information. By adopting the logic of this solution, fully automatic performance testing can be achieved based on the set control and test protocols combined with the printer's own configuration components, and the operation performance of the printer can be efficiently and accurately judged based on limited key parameters, which can effectively improve the quality stability of the tested printer.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of printer performance analysis and optimization, and in particular to a fully automated performance testing method and system for a thermal printer. Background Art

[0002] Thermal printers have been widely used in modern society in POS terminal systems, banking systems, medical equipment and other fields due to their advantages of fast speed, low noise and good printing quality. The demand for thermal printers in life is gradually increasing, and the pressure on their research and development and performance testing is also increasing. However, due to program logic limitations, existing thermal printers are difficult to support fully automated performance testing. They can only use computer programs to automatically calculate and analyze some data obtained in individual links. Usually, human participation and assistance are still required during the testing process. The operating efficiency of the test production line before it is put into use cannot be effectively improved, and it is impossible to ensure the stability of product shipment quality while improving operating efficiency and reducing labor costs. In addition, the existing printer testing solution cannot achieve comprehensive and complete performance testing, and it is impossible to control the failure rate of the printer at the optimal level before it is put into use.

[0003] The information disclosed in the background technology section of the present invention is only intended to deepen the understanding of the general background technology of the present invention, and should not be regarded as acknowledging or suggesting in any form that the information constitutes the prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the invention

[0004] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides a fully automated performance testing method for a thermal printer, the method comprising:

[0005] The machine body classification step is to count the assembly information of all the printers to be tested, and classify the printers to be tested based on the assembly information to form an original printer group and a reassembled printer group;

[0006] Pre-test verification steps: Based on the control instructions, initial verification is performed on the paper configuration, battery parameters, body temperature and body parameters of the printer to be tested, and the verification results are recorded in conjunction with time information;

[0007] Performance test steps: if the current printer to be tested is an original printer, start the printer using a set control command and then perform a test operation according to a first test mode, obtain first test data in real time during the operation, and determine the test result in combination with the pre-test verification result and the set test conditions; the first test mode includes controlling the printer to be tested to run a first test time in both the forward and reverse directions;

[0008] If the current printer to be tested is a reorganized printer, the printer is started using the set control command and then tested in accordance with the second test mode, the second test data in operation is obtained in real time, and the test results are determined in combination with the pre-test verification results and the set test conditions; the second test mode includes controlling the printer to be tested to run the second test time in the forward and reverse directions respectively.

[0009] Preferably, in one embodiment, in the pre-test verification step, the process of performing an initial verification on the paper configuration of the printer to be tested includes:

[0010] The paper matching signal collected by the paper sensor is obtained through the control instruction to confirm the paper matching status of each printer to be tested; the paper sensor includes: a reflection sensor and a through-beam sensor to obtain the paper matching signal;

[0011] The process of confirming the paper configuration status of the printer to be tested includes the following operations:

[0012] Step A1, confirm the status of each reflection sensor and through-beam sensor at different positions, if they are all operating normally, proceed to the next step, otherwise, output a reminder message;

[0013] Step A2, obtaining the signals collected by each sensor within the set time, combining the signals of all sensors and the set paper matching requirements to analyze the paper matching status, and outputting a reminder message if the paper matching status does not meet the set paper matching requirements; the paper matching status includes paper matching position information and paper matching transmittance.

[0014] Specifically, in one embodiment, the control command adopts the following format:

[0015] Start frame - command class code - function code - separator - data frame - end frame;

[0016] The function code is represented by an integer in a set interval and supports data frames of less than or equal to 40 bytes;

[0017] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the process of initially verifying the battery parameters of the printer to be tested includes:

[0018] Collect the battery model, rated voltage, upper limit of discharge voltage, rated capacity and current power of the battery;

[0019] Determine whether the battery model matches the printer type to be tested. If so, proceed to the next step. Otherwise, output a reminder message.

[0020] Determine whether the current power meets the effective test requirements. If so, execute the associated record, otherwise output a reminder message.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the first test data is set to include the print head temperature data, motor temperature data, battery temperature data, real-time voltage data and printed product data of the printer to be tested; the second test data includes the print head temperature data, motor temperature data, battery temperature data, real-time voltage data, printed product data, component vibration signal and operation noise data;

[0022] If the battery voltage change data within the set time meets the set conditions, the current test process will be terminated and a reminder message will be output;

[0023] In the performance test step, if any of the collected temperature data of the printer's print head, the motor temperature data, and the battery temperature data exceeds a preset safety temperature threshold, the current test is terminated and a reminder message is issued.

[0024] Furthermore, in an optional embodiment, before the pre-test verification step, the following steps are also included:

[0025] Collect the input interface status of the printer to be tested and determine whether there is any abnormality. If there is an abnormality, the verification process is terminated and a reminder message is output.

[0026] Based on other aspects, in one embodiment, the method also includes: pre-counting a set number of valid thermal printer samples of different types, testing battery voltage change parameters corresponding to different unit heating point values, determining one or more optimal unit heating point numbers of the current thermal printer based on the battery voltage change parameters and the upper limit of the battery's discharge voltage, and storing them as a standard heating point number list in association with the printer type and battery parameters.

[0027] Furthermore, the performance testing step also includes:

[0028] The unit heating point number of the printer to be tested is determined according to the printed product data. If the unit heating point number is not included in the standard heating point number list corresponding to the current printer type and battery, the corresponding adjustment information is generated and output.

[0029] Based on other aspects of the method described in any one or more of the above embodiments, the present invention further provides a storage medium storing program codes that can implement the method described in any one or more of the above embodiments.

[0030] Based on other aspects of any one or more of the above embodiments, the present invention further provides a fully automated performance testing system for a thermal printer, the system comprising: a machine body classification module, a testing service module, and a power supply module;

[0031] The machine classification module is in communication with the test service module and is configured to collect assembly information of all the printers to be tested, classify the printers to be tested based on the assembly information, and form an original printer group and a reassembled printer group;

[0032] The test service module is connected to the printer to be tested via a USB interface, including:

[0033] A pre-test verification unit, which responds to the control instruction to perform initial verification on the paper supply condition, battery parameters, body temperature and body parameters of the printer to be tested, and records the verification results in association with time information;

[0034] The performance test unit is configured to, if the current printer to be tested is an original printer, start the printer using a set control command and then control each printer to be tested to perform a test according to a first test mode, obtain first test data in real time, and determine the test result in combination with the pre-test verification result and the set test conditions;

[0035] If the current printer to be tested is a reconfigured printer, the set control command is used to start the printer and then control each printer to be tested to perform a test according to the second test mode, obtain the second test data in real time, and determine the test result in combination with the pre-test verification result and the set test conditions.

[0036] Compared with the closest prior art, the present invention also has the following beneficial effects:

[0037] The present invention provides a fully automated performance testing method and system for a thermal printer, the method comprising: dividing all printers to be tested into original printers and reassembled printers through a machine body classification step; using a special test model based on the reassembled printer object, controlling the influence of other processes on the test process to a minimum, and fundamentally ensuring the reliability of the test results;

[0038] In addition, pre-test verification is carried out from the aspects of paper matching, battery parameters, machine temperature and machine parameters. For objects whose pre-test verification results meet the corresponding conditions, the printer to be tested is further controlled to run in the set mode through performance test steps, and the corresponding test data is obtained in real time to analyze the performance status of the printer when it is working, and abnormal individuals are screened to output real-time reminder information. Starting from the actual needs of the printer performance test process, based on the set control and test protocols combined with the printer's own configuration components, fully automatic performance testing can be achieved, and key parameters are sorted, analyzed and commanded in real time, and the operating performance of the printer is efficiently and accurately judged, thereby ensuring the quality balance of the tested printer.

[0039] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be described in the following description, and partly become apparent from the description, or understood by practicing the present invention. The purpose and other advantages of the present invention can be realized and obtained by the structures particularly pointed out in the description, claims and drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] The accompanying drawings are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention and constitute a part of the specification. Together with the embodiments of the present invention, they are used to explain the present invention and do not constitute a limitation of the present invention. In the accompanying drawings:

[0041] Figure 1 It is a flow chart of a fully automated performance testing method for a thermal printer provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the basic format of commands for the fully automated performance testing method of a thermal printer provided by an embodiment of the present invention

[0043] Figure 3 is a control protocol list of a fully automated performance testing method for a thermal printer in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 4 It is an example diagram of program code of the operation principle of the fully automated performance testing method of the thermal printer in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 5 It is a detailed diagram of the operation flow of the fully automated performance testing method of a thermal printer in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 6 It is a structural schematic diagram of a fully automated performance testing system for a thermal printer provided by an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] The following will describe the implementation methods of the present invention in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments, so that the implementers of the present invention can fully understand how the present invention applies technical means to solve technical problems and achieve the implementation process of technical effects and implement the present invention specifically according to the above implementation process. It should be noted that as long as there is no conflict, the various embodiments and various features of the embodiments in the present invention can be combined with each other, and the technical solutions formed are all within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0048] Although the flowcharts describe the operations as sequential processes, many of the operations may be performed in parallel, concurrently, or simultaneously. The order of the operations may be rearranged. A process may be terminated when its operations are completed, but may also have additional steps not included in the accompanying drawings. A process may correspond to a method, function, procedure, subroutine, subprogram, etc.

[0049] The terms "first", "second", etc. may be used herein to describe various units, but these units should not be limited by these terms, and these terms are used only to distinguish one unit from another unit. The term "and / or" used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed associated items. When a unit is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another unit, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other unit, or there can be intermediate units.

[0050] The demand for thermal printers, which are widely used in POS terminal systems, banking systems, medical equipment and other fields, is gradually increasing, and the pressure on their research and development and performance testing is also increasing. However, due to program logic limitations, existing thermal printers are difficult to support fully automated performance testing. They can only use computer programs to automatically calculate and analyze some data obtained in individual links. Usually, human assistance is still required during the test process. The operating efficiency of the test production line before it is put into use cannot be effectively improved, and it is impossible to ensure the stability of product shipment quality while improving operating efficiency and reducing labor costs. In addition, the existing printer testing solutions cannot achieve comprehensive and complete performance testing, and cannot control the failure rate of the printer at the optimal level before it is put into use.

[0051] The information disclosed in the background technology section of the present invention is only intended to deepen the understanding of the general background technology of the present invention, and should not be regarded as acknowledging or suggesting in any form that the information constitutes the prior art known to those skilled in the art.

[0052] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides a fully automated performance testing method and system for thermal printers. Researchers deeply combined the operating principles and structural characteristics of thermal printers, analyzed the essential technical goals of thermal printers in the performance testing process, and provided corresponding real-time strategies. Through a reasonable logical order, commands and protocols are used to control the printer and collect set types of test data. Based on the test data analysis, accurate real-time performance of the printer is obtained, and suggestions for improvement per unit heating point are provided. On the basis of efficiently realizing reliable performance testing, the standardized use and life optimization of thermal printers are promoted to a considerable extent.

[0053] Next, the detailed process of the method of the embodiment of the present invention is described in detail based on the accompanying drawings. The steps shown in the flowchart of the accompanying drawings can be executed in a computer system including a set of computer executable instructions. Although the logical order of each step is shown in the flowchart, in some cases, the steps shown or described can be executed in a different order than here.

[0054] Embodiment 1

[0055] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a fully automated performance testing method for a thermal printer according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 1 It can be seen that the method includes the following steps.

[0056] The machine body classification step is to count the assembly information of all the printers to be tested, and classify the printers to be tested based on the assembly information to form an original printer group and a reassembled printer group;

[0057] Pre-test verification steps: Based on the control instructions, initial verification is performed on the paper configuration, battery parameters, body temperature and body parameters of the printer to be tested, and the verification results are recorded in conjunction with time information;

[0058] Performance test step: if the current printer to be tested is an original printer, start the printer using a set control command to control each printer to be tested to perform a test according to a first test mode, obtain first test data in real time, and determine the test result in combination with the pre-test verification result and the set test conditions; the first test mode includes controlling the printer to be tested to run a first test time in both the forward and reverse directions;

[0059] If the current printer to be tested is a reorganized printer, the set control command is used to start the printer and then control each printer to be tested to perform a test according to the second test mode, obtain the second test data in real time, and determine the test result in combination with the pre-test verification result and the set test conditions; the second test mode includes controlling the printer to be tested to run a second test time in the forward and reverse directions respectively; the second test time is greater than the first test time.

[0060] The control instruction (command) is sent to the printer to be tested through the USB2.0 interface, and the test-related data returned by the printer is obtained and analyzed. The analysis process includes data sorting and machine parameter correlation verification; then based on the control command and protocol control, the thermal printer object to be tested whose analysis results meet the set requirements automatically enters the test mode, combines the obtained data returned by various printers to analyze the multi-level test results of the individual to be tested, and outputs relevant reminder information or result display to the technical staff.

[0061] In the research and development process of thermal printers, entering the performance test phase means entering the final quality inspection process before being put into use. The thermal printers that are subjected to performance testing are often pre-inspected for appearance or structure by scanning equipment or manually. During the appearance or structure inspection process, the individuals with abnormalities or defects in the components will be re-adjusted and assembled through the corresponding procedures. The researchers of the present invention took into account that the adjustment and assembly process may have secondary external impacts on other components in the printer, and it is inevitable that component models will not match. Therefore, for this type of printer group to be tested, the present invention identifies and classifies them before performance testing, and adopts a unique mode to implement testing to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the test results of all tested objects.

[0062] Therefore, in actual application, in one embodiment, in the body classification step, the printer to be tested is assigned a corresponding classification mark after classification based on the assembly information, so as to facilitate the distinction between the original printer and the reassembled printer in the subsequent steps; wherein the thermal printer in the reassembled printer group is a thermal printer object that has been reassembled due to component defects.

[0063] The working principle of a thermal printer is that a semiconductor heating element is installed on the print head. After the print head is heated and contacts the thermal printing paper, dots can be printed to form the required pattern. The dots are generated by heating and chemical reactions in the film. Among them, in order to obtain effective test print dots, it is necessary to verify the paper matching of the printer to be tested to avoid invalid or biased test data due to improper paper matching of the printer to be tested.

[0064] Furthermore, in one embodiment, in the pre-test verification step, the process of the present invention performing an initial verification on the paper configuration of the printer to be tested includes:

[0065] The paper matching signal collected by the paper sensor is obtained through the control instruction to confirm the paper matching status of each printer to be tested; the paper sensor includes: a reflection sensor and a through-beam sensor to obtain the paper matching signal;

[0066] The process of confirming the paper configuration status of the printer to be tested is as follows:

[0067] Step A1, confirm the status of each reflection sensor and through-beam sensor at different positions, if they are all operating normally, proceed to the next step, otherwise, output a reminder message;

[0068] Step A2, obtaining the signals collected by each sensor within the set time, combining the signals of all sensors and the set paper matching requirements to analyze the paper matching status, and outputting a reminder message if the paper matching status does not meet the set paper matching requirements; the paper matching status includes paper matching position information and paper matching transmittance.

[0069] It should be noted that the present invention does not limit the form of outputting reminder information or other reminder data, and any reasonable means such as sound, brightness and / or interface display can be used to convey reminder information to valid users according to actual operation requirements.

[0070] In actual application, multiple reflective sensors and through-beam sensors are set at set positions. For example, a reflective sensor and a through-beam sensor are set at the two corners of the printer's paper matching area close to the print head. When the sensor signals at the two locations are consistent and meet the set paper matching conditions, it can be said that the printing paper is matched and the position is correct. In addition, the collected paper matching signal also includes transmittance to reflect the accuracy of the matched paper material, which can avoid the situation where the paper matching position is correct but the paper model or quantity does not match the current thermal printer to be tested, resulting in inaccurate test data.

[0071] Accordingly, in order to ensure that the verification result of the paper matching status is valid and accurate, it is necessary to set corresponding transmittance ranges for different types of paper materials of the thermal printer, including the transmittance ranges of one or more layers of different types of paper materials.

[0072] It should be noted that in actual applications, most thermal printers are equipped with corresponding paper sensing functions. In this case, the paper dispensing status signal collected by the thermal printer itself is obtained as much as possible, and there is no need to set up additional sensor components.

[0073] In addition, considering that in actual situations, part of the paper distribution area of ​​some thermal printers is blocked by the outer casing and cannot effectively collect the translucent model, in an optional embodiment, the present invention can obtain the thickness information of the paper by setting a precise thickness sensor to verify the correctness of the paper type and quantity.

[0074] Specifically, in one embodiment, the control command adopts the following basic format:

[0075] Start frame - command class code - function code - separator - data frame - end frame;

[0076] The function code is represented by an integer in a set interval, and supports a data frame of less than or equal to 40 bytes. In one embodiment, the start frame of the control command is "TT", the command class code includes a get command G or a set command S, the function code is represented by an integer between 0 and 99, the fixed separator is ":", the data frame supports a maximum of 40 bytes, and the end frame uses a carriage return character "\r\n". The control command composed of the above basic format is as shown in the attached figure. Figure 2 shown.

[0077] For the received control command, the thermistor to be tested only needs to parse the command and perform the corresponding test action according to its own operating logic. The action process naturally forms the test parameters required by this solution.

[0078] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the process of initially verifying the battery parameters of the printer to be tested includes:

[0079] Collect the battery model, rated voltage, upper limit of discharge voltage, rated capacity and current power of the battery;

[0080] Determine whether the battery model matches the printer type to be tested. If so, proceed to the next step. Otherwise, output a reminder message.

[0081] Determine whether the current power meets the effective test requirements. If so, execute the associated record, otherwise output a reminder message.

[0082] When recording data, the battery model, rated voltage and discharge voltage limit value data associated with the printer to be tested can be partitioned and stored as needed to facilitate calling in other links of the test process.

[0083] In addition, in the actual application process, for individuals that terminate the current operation and output reminder information due to abnormal status, they will be reclassified according to the set strategy and re-execute each round of performance test steps; for example, if the abnormal output reminder information is due to battery model mismatch, the printer needs to reinstall the battery, which may involve disassembly and assembly processes, so when it enters the performance test again, it will be used as a reorganization object; and for the printer to be tested because the paper model is not correct, after the abnormal reminder, it only needs to replace the correct printing paper, and it will be treated as an original printer. While ensuring the accuracy of the test, it avoids redundant test processes and improves test efficiency.

[0084] Furthermore, in one embodiment, before the pre-test verification step, the following is further included:

[0085] Collect the input interface status of the printer to be tested and determine whether there is any abnormality. If there is an abnormality, the verification process is terminated and a reminder message is output.

[0086] In addition, combined with the pre-test verification requirements of thermal printers, the link of testing the input interface status can also be integrated into the above-mentioned existing pre-test verification process;

[0087] Furthermore, in actual application, the technicians can also obtain other basic machine information of the printer to be tested in addition to the machine model according to the verification requirements to assist in pre-test verification, such as obtaining the SN number, MAC address, firmware version and specific name of the printer to be tested and analyzing and verifying it.

[0088] Accordingly, technicians can also collect the RFID information of the printer to be tested in the pre-test verification stage to verify the hardware circuit performance, software reading function, matching paper material information and label material number ID of the current machine. Because the above information will be reflected in the RFID information through the set rules during the production and early independent component testing process. For example, when the RFID information of a thermal printer is obtained through the control instruction TTG06:00, it is specifically: HY-RY-G-XXXXX, where HY means Hard Yes, the hardware circuit is intact, and accordingly, if there is a problem with the hardware, it is HN: Hard No, RY means Read Yes, the software reads the label OK, and if there is a problem with the reading, it is RN. Furthermore, G represents Gap label paper, and others, if the field of the RFID signal is N, it means Normal continuous paper, and B means Black label paper; the XXXXX position represents the label material number (ID number), and the details of some of the protocol contents involved in the present invention can be found in the attached Figure 3 As shown in the figure, the corresponding implementation program code is shown in the attached Figure 4 shown.

[0089] Specifically, the researchers of the present invention obtain test data from aspects such as the temperature of key components of the thermal printer, battery voltage, and printing effect during the test period of each printer to be tested as a basis for analyzing the test results. For the printers to be tested that have undergone the reorganization process, the test time is appropriately extended, and the vibration and noise conditions of the components during their operation are further considered to more completely detect their performance during the printing process.

[0090] Therefore, in one embodiment, the first test data is set to include the print head temperature data, motor temperature data, battery temperature data, real-time voltage data and printed product data of the printer to be tested; the second test data includes the print head temperature data, motor temperature data, battery temperature data, real-time voltage data, printed product data, component vibration signal and operation noise data;

[0091] If the battery voltage change within the set time meets the set constraints, such as the battery voltage data change amplitude or the number of times the voltage is higher than the battery discharge voltage exceeds the set requirements, the current test process is terminated and a reminder message is output;

[0092] In the performance test step, if any of the collected print head temperature data, motor temperature data, and battery temperature data exceeds the preset safety temperature threshold, the current test is terminated and a reminder message is issued. In practical applications, the performance test can be implemented by controlling the printer to be tested to print 12% printing rate diagonal lines within the test time. After all required actions are executed, the printer to be tested is automatically controlled to shut down to avoid unnecessary power consumption and machine operation loss.

[0093] Thermal printers often use built-in rechargeable batteries. The thermal movement performs heating actions and parses the input graphics and character information, and the power consumption fluctuates greatly. Rechargeable batteries have a certain internal resistance. When the discharge voltage of the battery that powers the printer fluctuates greatly, it is easy to reach the battery's discharge cut-off voltage, which in turn affects the thermal printing effect and battery life, and may even cause other performance abnormalities of the entire machine. Although the actual battery still has a lot of power, it is only due to insufficient discharge capacity for a moment, and the battery power is not effectively utilized.

[0094] Moreover, in the existing thermal printing technology, once the system is designed and completed after testing, the number of points that the thermal printer heats simultaneously is fixed. Usually, the user does not or cannot adjust the number of points that the printer heats simultaneously according to the battery voltage, which will result in poor printing effect under low battery voltage, or even the whole machine cannot work normally. Long-term use will also rapidly shorten the battery life.

[0095] Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, the method further includes: pre-stating a set number of valid thermal printer samples of different types, testing battery voltage variation parameters corresponding to different unit heating point values, determining one or more optimal unit heating point numbers of the current thermal printer based on the battery voltage variation parameters and the upper limit of the battery's discharge voltage, and storing them as a standard heating point number list in association with the printer type and battery parameters.

[0096] Furthermore, the performance testing step also includes:

[0097] Determine the unit heating point number of the printer to be tested based on the printed product data. If the unit heating point number is not included in the standard heating point number list corresponding to the current printer type and battery, generate the corresponding adjustment information and output it, such as Figure 5 The operation flow is shown in the detailed diagram.

[0098] In actual application, the battery voltage is obtained through the ADC circuit before the printing test, and the corresponding number of heating points is obtained according to the battery voltage. Usually, the battery voltage is proportional to the corresponding standard number of heating points. Then, during the test, it is compared with the standard unit heating points corresponding to the current printer battery to generate an adjustment plan, so that the number of heating points of each thermal printer is in the best state when it is put into use. Based on this, the thermal printer is controlled to print according to the number of heating points, thereby effectively controlling the drop in the charging battery voltage caused by the printing current at the moment of printing, eliminating the impact of the sudden drop in the charging battery voltage on the performance of the whole machine, and effectively ensuring the printing effect when the battery voltage is low during printing.

[0099] For the above-mentioned method embodiments, for the sake of simplicity, they are all described as a series of action combinations, but those skilled in the art should know that the present invention is not limited by the order of the actions described, because according to the present invention, some steps can be performed in other orders or simultaneously. Secondly, those skilled in the art should also know that the embodiments described in the specification are all preferred embodiments, and the actions and modules involved are not necessarily required by the present invention.

[0100] It should be pointed out that, in other embodiments of the present invention, the method can also obtain a new performance testing method by combining one or several of the above embodiments to automatically implement a preliminary test of the operating status of the thermal printer.

[0101] By adopting the test scheme described in the above embodiment of the present invention, the user only needs to connect the thermal printer to be tested via USB2.0 to control the printer to enter the test mode to realize the automatic test function. Only by using the provided test protocol algorithm library (test terminal) and the underlying driver (SDK) parsing library of the thermal printer itself, the ordinary thermal printer can realize the automatic test function, improve the product development and production efficiency, and improve the stability of product delivery quality.

[0102] It should be noted that, based on the method in any one or more of the above-mentioned embodiments of the present invention, the present invention also provides a storage medium, on which is stored a program code that can implement the method as described in any one or more of the above-mentioned embodiments, and when the code is executed by the operating system, it can implement the fully automated performance testing method of the thermal printer as described above.

[0103] Embodiment 2

[0104] The method is described in detail in the embodiments disclosed in the present invention. The method of the present invention can be implemented by various devices or systems. Therefore, based on other aspects of the method described in any one or more embodiments, the present invention also provides a fully automated performance test system for a thermal printer, which is used to execute the fully automated performance test method for a thermal printer described in any one or more embodiments. Specific embodiments are given below for detailed description.

[0105] Specifically, Figure 6 FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a fully automated performance testing system for a thermal printer provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 As shown, the system includes:

[0106] Airframe classification module, test service module and power supply module;

[0107] The machine classification module is in communication with the test service module and is configured to collect assembly information of all the printers to be tested, classify the printers to be tested based on the assembly information, and form an original printer group and a reassembled printer group;

[0108] The test service module is connected to the printer to be tested via a USB interface, including:

[0109] A pre-test verification unit, which responds to the control instruction to perform initial verification on the paper supply condition, battery parameters, body temperature and body parameters of the printer to be tested, and records the verification results in association with time information;

[0110] The performance test unit is configured to, if the current printer to be tested is an original printer, start the printer using a set control command and then control each printer to be tested to perform a test according to a first test mode, obtain first test data in real time, and determine the test result in combination with the pre-test verification result and the set test conditions; the first test mode includes controlling the printer to be tested to run a first test time in both the forward and reverse directions;

[0111] If the current printer to be tested is a reorganized printer, the set control command is used to start the printer and then control each printer to be tested to perform a test according to the second test mode, obtain the second test data in real time, and determine the test result in combination with the pre-test verification result and the set test conditions. The second test mode includes controlling the printer to be tested to run a second test time in the forward and reverse directions respectively; the second test time is greater than the first test time.

[0112] Furthermore, the system also includes an instruction decision module, which is used to issue control instructions in an orderly manner according to a set logic based on the body classification result, and reset or adjust the control instructions in combination with the data analysis results of the test service module during the test process.

[0113] Specifically, in one embodiment, the pre-test verification unit is configured to perform an initial verification on the paper configuration of the printer to be tested according to the following operations:

[0114] The paper matching signal collected by the paper sensor is obtained through the control instruction to confirm the paper matching status of each printer to be tested; the paper sensor includes: a reflection sensor and a through-beam sensor to obtain the paper matching signal;

[0115] Confirm the paper configuration status of the printer to be tested by the following operations:

[0116] Step A1, confirm the status of each reflection sensor and through-beam sensor at different positions, if they are all operating normally, proceed to the next step, otherwise, output a reminder message;

[0117] Step A2, obtaining the signals collected by each sensor within the set time, combining the signals of all sensors and the set paper matching requirements to analyze the paper matching status, and outputting a reminder message if the paper matching status does not meet the set paper matching requirements; the paper matching status includes paper matching position information and paper matching transmittance.

[0118] In actual application, the control command in one embodiment may adopt the following format:

[0119] Start frame - command class code - function code - separator - data frame - end frame;

[0120] The function code is represented by an integer in a set interval and supports data frames of less than or equal to 40 bytes;

[0121] In one embodiment, the pre-test verification unit performs an initial verification on the battery parameters of the printer to be tested by the following operations:

[0122] Collect the battery model, rated voltage, upper limit of discharge voltage, rated capacity and current power of the battery;

[0123] Determine whether the battery model matches the printer type to be tested. If so, proceed to the next step. Otherwise, output a reminder message.

[0124] Determine whether the current power meets the effective test requirements. If so, execute the associated record, otherwise output a reminder message.

[0125] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the pre-test verification unit is further configured to collect the input interface status of the printer to be tested and determine whether there is an abnormality before performing the pre-test verification operation, and terminate the verification process and output a reminder message if there is an abnormality.

[0126] Further, in one embodiment, the first test data is set to include print head temperature data, motor temperature data, battery temperature data, real-time voltage data and printed product data of the printer to be tested; the second test data includes print head temperature data, motor temperature data, battery temperature data, real-time voltage data, printed product data, component vibration signal and operation noise data;

[0127] If the battery voltage data change amplitude or the number of times the voltage is higher than the battery discharge voltage exceeds the set requirements within the set time, the current test process is terminated and a reminder message is output;

[0128] In the performance test step, if any of the collected temperature data of the printer's print head, the motor temperature data, and the battery temperature data exceeds a preset safety temperature threshold, the current test is terminated and a reminder message is issued.

[0129] In a preferred embodiment, the system also includes a print setting optimization unit, which is configured to: pre-count a set number of valid thermal printer samples of different types, test the battery voltage change parameters corresponding to different unit heating point values, determine one or more optimal unit heating point numbers of the current thermal printer based on the battery voltage change parameters and the upper limit of the battery's discharge voltage, and store them as a standard heating point number list in association with the printer type and battery parameters.

[0130] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the print setting optimization unit is further configured to: in the performance testing step, further include:

[0131] The unit heating point number of the printer to be tested is determined according to the printed product data. If the unit heating point number is not included in the standard heating point number list corresponding to the current printer type and battery, the corresponding adjustment information is generated and output.

[0132] In the fully automated performance test system for a thermal printer provided by an embodiment of the present invention, each module or unit structure can be operated independently or in combination according to actual test and analysis requirements to achieve corresponding technical effects.

[0133] In addition, it should be noted that the system for which protection is requested in the above scheme of the present invention is implemented based on a computer system or platform, and the computer system includes user devices and network devices. Among them, user devices or clients include but are not limited to computers, smart phones, PDAs, etc.; network devices include but are not limited to a single network server, a server group consisting of multiple network servers, or a cloud based on cloud computing consisting of a large number of computers or network servers. The computer device can be operated alone to implement the present invention, or it can be connected to the network and implement the present invention through interactive operations with other computer devices in the network. The network where the computer device is located includes but is not limited to the Internet, wide area network, metropolitan area network, local area network, VPN network, etc.

[0134] It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not limited to the specific structures, processing steps or materials disclosed herein, but should be extended to equivalent substitutions of these features understood by ordinary technicians in the relevant field. It should also be understood that the terms used herein are only used for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not meant to be limiting.

[0135] The "one embodiment" mentioned in the specification means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, the phrase "one embodiment" appearing in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

[0136] Although the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are as above, the above contents are only embodiments adopted for facilitating the understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any technician in the technical field to which the present invention belongs can make any modifications and changes in the form and details of the implementation without departing from the spirit and scope disclosed in the present invention, but the patent protection scope of the present invention shall still be subject to the scope defined in the attached claims.

Claims

1. A fully automated performance testing method for a thermal printer, characterized in that: The method comprises: The machine body classification step is to count the assembly information of all the printers to be tested, and classify the printers to be tested based on the assembly information to form an original printer group and a reassembled printer group; Pre-test verification steps: Based on the control instructions, initial verification is performed on the paper configuration, battery parameters, body temperature and body parameters of the printer to be tested, and the verification results are recorded in conjunction with time information; Performance test steps: if the current printer to be tested is an original printer, start the printer using a set control command and then perform a test operation according to a first test mode, obtain first test data in real time during the operation, and determine the test result in combination with the pre-test verification result and the set test conditions; the first test mode includes controlling the printer to be tested to run a first test time in both the forward and reverse directions; If the current printer to be tested is a reorganized printer, the printer is started using the set control command and then tested in accordance with the second test mode, the second test data in operation is obtained in real time, and the test results are determined in combination with the pre-test verification results and the set test conditions; the second test mode includes controlling the printer to be tested to run the second test time in the forward and reverse directions respectively.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that In the pre-test verification step, the process of initial verification of the paper configuration of the printer to be tested includes: The paper matching signal collected by the paper sensor is obtained through the control instruction to confirm the paper matching status of each printer to be tested; the paper sensor includes: a reflection sensor and a beam sensor to obtain the paper matching signal; The process of confirming the paper configuration status of the printer to be tested includes the following operations: Step A1, confirm the status of each reflection sensor and through-beam sensor at different positions, if they are all operating normally, proceed to the next step, otherwise, output a reminder message; Step A2, obtaining the signals collected by each sensor within the set time, combining the signals of all sensors and the set paper matching requirements to analyze the paper matching status, and outputting a reminder message if the paper matching status does not meet the set paper matching requirements; the paper matching status includes paper matching position information and paper matching transmittance.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The control command adopts the following format: Start frame - command class code - function code - separator - data frame - end frame; The function code is represented by an integer in a set interval and supports data frames less than or equal to 40 bytes.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The process of initial verification of the battery parameters of the printer to be tested includes: Collect the battery model, rated voltage, upper limit of discharge voltage, rated capacity and current power of the battery; Determine whether the battery model matches the printer type to be tested. If so, proceed to the next step. Otherwise, output a reminder message. Determine whether the current power meets the effective test requirements. If so, execute the associated record, otherwise output a reminder message.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first test data includes the print head temperature data, motor temperature data, battery temperature data, real-time voltage data and printed product data of the printer to be tested; the second test data includes the print head temperature data, motor temperature data, battery temperature data, real-time voltage data, printed product data, component vibration signal and operation noise data; If the battery voltage change data within the set time meets the set constraint conditions, the current test process is terminated and a reminder message is output; In the performance test step, if any of the collected temperature data of the printer's print head, the motor temperature data, and the battery temperature data exceeds a preset safety temperature threshold, the current test is terminated and a reminder message is issued.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Before the pre-test verification step, it also includes: Collect the input interface status of the printer to be tested and determine whether there is any abnormality. If there is an abnormality, the verification process is terminated and a reminder message is output.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method also includes: pre-stating a set number of valid thermal printer samples of different types, testing battery voltage variation parameters corresponding to different unit heating point values, determining one or more optimal unit heating point numbers of the current thermal printer based on the battery voltage variation parameters and the upper limit of the battery's discharge voltage, and storing them as a standard heating point number list in association with the printer type and battery parameters.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The performance testing steps also include: The unit heating point number of the printer to be tested is determined according to the printed product data. If the unit heating point number is not included in the standard heating point number list corresponding to the current printer type and battery, the corresponding adjustment information is generated and output.

9. A storage medium, characterized in that: The storage medium stores program codes that can implement the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A fully automated performance testing system for a thermal printer, characterized in that: The system includes: an airframe classification module, a testing service module and a power supply module; The machine classification module is in communication with the test service module and is configured to collect assembly information of all the printers to be tested, classify the printers to be tested based on the assembly information, and form an original printer group and a reassembled printer group; The test service module is connected to the printer to be tested via a USB interface, including: A pre-test verification unit, which responds to the control instruction to perform initial verification on the paper supply condition, battery parameters, body temperature and body parameters of the printer to be tested, and records the verification results in association with time information; The performance test unit is configured to, if the current printer to be tested is an original printer, start the printer using a set control command and then control each printer to be tested to perform a test according to a first test mode, obtain first test data in real time, and determine the test result in combination with the pre-test verification result and the set test conditions; If the current printer to be tested is a reconfigured printer, the set control command is used to start the printer and then control each printer to be tested to perform a test according to the second test mode, obtain the second test data in real time, and determine the test result in combination with the pre-test verification result and the set test conditions.

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