JP2004005758A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a burden on a host computer, and to allow easy and convenient use for a user. <P>SOLUTION: Received data is analyzed in a data reception time point from a host equipment to decide whether it is a real time control command or not, prescribed processing is executed when it is real time control command, the received data are stored in a reception buffer and read out of the buffer according to a reception order to be processed, when it is not the real time control command. The real time control command comprises commands of a plurality of kinds to require transmission of a printer status, transmission of off-line factor status, transmission of error factor status, transmission of a condition of a paper sheet, restoration from an error and the like respectively. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus which is connected to a host computer and performs printing in accordance with a command from the host computer, and particularly to a printing apparatus which is optimal for an information processing apparatus which handles money such as POS / ECR.

In the conventional printing device, when it is inappropriate to continue the printing operation, such as when the printing paper runs out, when the cover of the printing device is opened, or when an error occurs, the printing mechanism including the print head is used. By shutting down and taking the interface with the host computer offline (logically disconnected), it is intended to ensure the security of the printing device and communication data and the safety of the user. At this time, since the control inside the printing apparatus is stopped, data already received by the printing apparatus is not processed after the time when the off-line occurs. Further, since the data is not received after the occurrence of the off-line, the data is not processed, and the response from the printing device is completely lost.

The printing apparatus is also offline when the paper feed switch is pressed and the paper is being fed, or when the reception buffer for storing the received data becomes full (hereinafter referred to as buffer full), and the printing operation is continued. Is difficult to distinguish from the off-line state when the password is inappropriate.

(4) When the printing device goes offline, the host computer cannot send print data, and the entire system such as POS and ECR stops. In this case, the host computer displays a message such as "Printer is abnormal. Check it" on the display device, and the user must check the printer and eliminate the cause of the offline. However, it is difficult for a general POS or ECR user to investigate the cause, and it takes a long time.

On the other hand, the control commands stored in the reception buffer are analyzed in order from the oldest (the previously stored control command), and the command processing is executed. Then, the control command after the processing is deleted from the reception buffer. Therefore, when control commands are continuously sent from the host computer, the control commands are stored in the reception buffer one after another, and the stored control commands are processed in order from the oldest one. , A time difference (hereinafter, referred to as a time lag) occurs from when the printing apparatus actually performs the processing.

If the printing device is reset or the power is turned on again, the data for setting the status of the printing device stored in the printing device up to that point is deleted, and the POS / ECR for handling money is used. This was a very big problem for the printing device of the above.

In order to reduce the influence of such a problem, in an information processing system using a conventional printing device, the host computer sends a status response request command to each line without sending print data of a plurality of lines. The state of the printing device was checked. For this reason, a heavy load is imposed on the host computer, and the throughput of the information processing system is reduced.

Under the circumstances described above, in the conventional POS / ECR field, a stand-alone dedicated information processing system in which a data input device, a processing device, and a printing device are integrated is widely used, and a general-purpose interface is used between the host computer and the printing device. Although the system is connected with, although it is evaluated for its high flexibility, it is not widely used because of concerns about data reliability (so-called security). Then, in order to improve the reliability of the data and at the same time further enhance the operability, even when the operation of the printing apparatus is stopped, the host computer can know the cause and promptly cancel the stopped state. The realization of a simple information processing system is expected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, provide a printing device capable of realizing a highly reliable information processing device, reduce a load on a host computer, and use a printing device that is easy for a user to use. Is to provide.

The printing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention analyzes the received data at the time of receiving data from the host apparatus and determines whether the received command is a real-time control command. Real-time command analyzing means for executing a predetermined process according to a control command, and receiving buffer storing means for storing the received data in a receiving buffer when the real-time command analyzing means determines that the received data is not a real-time control command. Processing execution means for reading and analyzing the received data from the reception buffer on a first-come-first-served basis, determining whether the received data is command data or print data, and executing a process corresponding to the command data and the print data, respectively. Features.

In a preferred embodiment, the real-time control command includes a plurality of types of commands for respectively selecting a plurality of types of processing contents, and the real-time command analysis unit performs processing of the contents selected by the received real-time control command. Execute.

In the plurality of types of contents, for example,
(1) Send printer status,
(2) Offline factor status transmission,
(3) Transmission of error cause status,
(4) Transmission of paper status, or (5) Return from error.

In a preferred embodiment, the reception buffer storage means stores the received data not only when it is determined that the received data is not a real-time control command but also when it is determined that the received data is a real-time control command. The data is stored in the reception buffer.

Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Generally, there are two types of recording paper used in the distribution industry: cut-sheet paper and continuous paper.The cut-sheet paper is an irregular form of slip paper called slip paper or a relatively fixed number of copy paper called validation paper. Some have. As continuous paper, there are journal paper to be stored for store records and receipt paper as a receipt.

FIG. 1 is an overall view of a printing apparatus capable of printing on slip paper, journal paper, and receipt paper of these recording papers.

# 1 denotes a print head body, which is a so-called wire dot head in which a plurality of wires are arranged vertically. The print head 1 performs printing while reciprocating in the directions of arrows 1A and 1B. 3 is an ink ribbon.

The receipt paper 17 and the journal paper 18 are in the form of roll paper, inserted from behind the printing mechanism as shown in the figure, and discharged upward. The slip paper 19 is inserted from the front of the printing mechanism (arrow 19A), and is discharged upward (arrow 19B).

と も に Both receipt paper and journal paper are equipped with a near-end detector 20 for detecting the end of the paper. The near-end detector 20 includes a near-end detection lever 20a that rotates in the direction of arrow 20A depending on the outer diameter of the roll paper, and a push switch 20b that is turned on and off by the near-end detection lever 20a. When the roll paper approaches the end, its outer diameter decreases, and when it reaches the center of the roll paper, the near-end detection lever 20a rotates in the direction of arrow 20B, and the push switch 20b turns off to detect the near end of the paper.

The receipt paper 17 is cut by the cutter unit 14 after printing and handed to the customer.

The printing device is covered by a main body case (not shown), and is divided into a cover (not shown) and a lower case 15. Reference numeral 21 denotes a cover detector, which is composed of a facing photosensor. When the cover is closed, the light of the cover detector 21 is blocked, and the cover close can be detected.

FIG. 2 is a mechanism diagram showing an operation when printing continuous paper and cut-sheet paper in the printing apparatus of the present invention. 2A shows a case where printing is performed on continuous paper (receipt paper in the figure), and FIG. 2B shows a case where printing is performed on cut sheet paper (slip paper).

(4) The print head 1 has a wire pin (not shown) in the wire support portion 1a, and performs printing on the receipt paper 17 with the ink ribbon 3 interposed between the print head 1 and the platen 2.

The receipt paper 17 is inserted between the paper guide plates 4a and 4b via the guide roller 5, and is fed by the paper feed rollers 6a and 6b. The paper feed roller 6a is connected to a drive source (not shown) such as a motor. A receipt paper detector 12 is arranged in the middle of the paper guide plates 4a and 4b. The receipt paper detector 12 is composed of a facing photosensor or a lever switch. The figure shows an example of a facing photosensor. The receipt paper 17 sent by the paper feed rollers 6a and 6b passes between the ink ribbon 3 and the platen 2 and is discharged to the upper part of the printing apparatus via the paper holding rollers 7a and 7b and the cutter unit 14. The cutter unit 14 includes a cutter blade 14a and a cutter cover 14b. The cutter blade 14a moves in the direction of arrow 14A by a driving source such as a motor (not shown), and cuts the receipt paper 17.

In the drawing, the case of receipt paper is shown, but the case of journal paper has the same configuration except for the cutter unit.

When printing slip paper (FIG. 2B), slip paper 19 is inserted in the direction of arrow 19A from slip paper insertion opening 21 in front of the printing device. During roll paper printing, the slip feed roller 9a is pulled by the plunger 10 in the direction of arrow 10A as shown in FIG. 2A, and is separated from the opposing slip feed roller 9b. Therefore, slip paper 19 can be inserted. When the slip paper 19 is inserted, the slip paper 19 strikes the slip feed rollers 8a and 8b via the slip paper guides 11a and 11b. At this time, the slip paper detector 13 detects whether or not paper has been inserted. When the paper is inserted, the plunger 10 is released, the lever 10a rotates in the direction of arrow 10B, the slip feed roller 9b is pressed by the slip feed roller 9a, and the slip paper 19 is held. The slip feed rollers 8b and 9b are connected to a driving source such as a motor (not shown), and rotate in the directions of arrows 8A, 8B, 9A and 9B together with the opposing slip feed rollers 8a and 9a to feed the slip paper 19. I do. When printing is completed, the slip paper 19 is discharged in the direction of arrow 19B, the plunger 10 is driven, the slip feed roller 9a is separated from the slip feed roller 9b, and the next slip paper can be inserted.

The receipt paper 17 can be printed on the slip paper 19 while being attached as shown in the figure, and if copy paper is attached to the slip paper 19, the same content can be printed simultaneously on the slip paper 19 and the receipt paper 17. It is possible.

The slip paper detector 13 uses a facing photo sensor like the receipt paper detector 12.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a lower case of the main body, and 16 denotes a case for supporting the head mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a printing unit of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 shows a method for detecting step-out of the head carriage drive motor.

The head 1 is fixed on the head carriage 1b together with the wire holder 1a, and the head carriage 1b is moved right and left by the carriage transmission belt 32 and the carriage driving gears 31a and 31b. The carriage drive gear 31a is connected to a head carriage drive motor (not shown). As this motor, a pulse motor is generally used, and a pulse motor is also used in the embodiment. The carriage drive gear 31a rotates the rotation detection plate 34 via the transmission gear 33. A carriage detector 35 composed of an opposing photo sensor is arranged so as to sandwich the rotation detection plate 34. The rotation detection plate 34 rotates according to the movement of the head carriage 1b, and the carriage detector 35 detects this. The rotation detection plate 34 is formed in a propeller shape, and when it rotates, the output of the carriage detector 35 is periodically turned on and off. That is, when the head carriage 1b moves left and right by a head carriage driving motor (not shown), the movement of the head carriage 1b is detected by the carriage detector 35.

If the receipt paper, journal paper, or slip paper between the print head 1 and the platen 2 gets caught between the wire holder 1a and the platen 2, paper jam occurs, and the head carriage 1b rotates the carriage drive motor. , The carriage drive motor loses synchronism. This is detected by the carriage detector 35. This is called a carriage error.

The print head 1 needs a home position to specify the reference position of the print position. The home position detector 36 is a facing type photo sensor, and detects the head carriage 1b. That is, the position where the head carriage 1b moves to the left and blocks the light of the home position detector 36 becomes the reference position of the home position.

(4) When the head carriage 1b attempts to move to the home position, the home position detector 36 can detect that the head carriage 1b does not reach the home position due to a paper jam or the like. This is called a home position error.

FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram of a control circuit for realizing the present invention.

The print head 40, the motors 41, and the plungers 42 constitute a mechanism of the above-described printing apparatus, and have a printing mechanism drive circuit 43 for driving these printing mechanisms. The printing mechanism is provided with detectors such as a carriage detector 44, a home position detector 45, an automatic cutter detector 46, each paper detector 47, and a cover detector 54, and is provided with a central control unit (hereinafter, CPU). 50). The automatic cutter detector 46 is a detector that detects the position of the cutter blade 14a in FIG. 2, and drives a cutter blade drive motor (not shown) to generate a detection signal at a predetermined position. If a paper jam or the like occurs in the cutter blade, the cutter blade does not move to a predetermined position, and an error occurs because no detection signal is generated. This is called a cutter error.

The paper detector 47 includes the near-end detector 20 (FIG. 1), the receipt paper detector 12, the slip paper detector 13 (FIG. 2), and the like.

The CPU 50 for controlling the entire printing apparatus includes a display device 48 composed of an LED or the like, a panel switch 49 for manually performing paper feeding, an interface 51 for communicating with a host computer, a control program, a print character pattern, and the like. A ROM 52 for storing data and a RAM 53 for storing a reception buffer, a print buffer, and the like are connected.

When print data is input from the interface 51, the print data is stored in a reception buffer in the RAM 53. The CPU 50 decodes the data, reads a character pattern corresponding to the data code from the ROM 52, and outputs the read character pattern via the print mechanism drive unit control circuit 43. The print head 40, motors 41, and plungers 42 are driven to execute printing.

When a carriage error, a home position error, a cutter error, or the like occurs, the CPU 50 can drive the display device 48 to notify the user of the occurrence of the error.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing the overall configuration of the present invention, and shows the relationship between each functional means.

# 61 is a host computer that sends command data, print data, and the like to the printing device. Reference numeral 62 denotes a data receiving unit that receives a data code from the host computer 61 via the interface 51, and is an interrupt activated by the interface 51. Numeral 64 denotes a real-time command analyzing means for analyzing and executing received data at the time of reception, and is processed together with the data receiving means 62 in an interrupt. The real-time command analysis unit 64 determines whether the received data is a real-time control command, and if the received data is a real-time control command, executes a predetermined process according to the command. All the data received via the real-time command analysis means 64 is temporarily stored in the reception buffer 65. The received data in the receiving buffer 65 is taken out one by one by the command analyzing means 66, and the data code is analyzed to determine print data and command data for setting various commands to the printing device. If it is command data, the control means 68 executes predetermined setting or predetermined operation according to the command code. If it is print data, a character pattern is stored in the print buffer 67 according to the data code. When printing is performed by the control means 68, a printing pattern is read out from the printing buffer 67, and the printing mechanism is controlled by controlling each functional unit 70 of the printing mechanism.

In this embodiment, the interface uses the RS-232C which is a bidirectional serial interface, and the RS-232C can communicate with the host computer even in an offline state. Generally, in the RS-232C bidirectional serial interface, even if one device goes offline, several bytes of data are on the line until the other device detects it and stops transmitting communication data. Because of the possibility, the device on the off-line side must receive data even after the off-line. Therefore, it is necessary to go offline before the reception buffer becomes full. Therefore, even if an error occurs in the printing device and the printer goes offline, the communication data is received and stored in the reception buffer as long as the reception buffer has a free space. When the reception buffer becomes full, the subsequent reception data is discarded. However, in this embodiment, since the command is analyzed by the real-time command analysis means 64 activated by the reception interrupt before the command is stored in the reception buffer, even if the command is discarded, the command is processed.

The real-time command includes a command for requesting the status of the printing device. When this command is received, the real-time command analyzing unit 64 returns the status of the printing device to the host computer 61 via the data transmitting unit 63. Even in the error occurrence state, since the data receiving means 62, the data transmitting means 63 and the real-time command analyzing means 64 are operating, it is possible to transmit the state of the printing apparatus.

If the command analysis means 66 determines that the command is a cut sheet selection command, it notifies the control means 68. The control means 68 notifies the display means 72 that the cut sheet has been selected, and displays a wait for the cut sheet to be inserted. At the same time, the cut sheet state storage means 79 selects the cut sheet in the RAM 53. The fact that the operation has been performed and the waiting for insertion of cut-sheet paper are stored as cut-sheet paper information. When the cut sheet is selected, the cut sheet detector 73 detects the insertion of the cut sheet and notifies the controller 68 of the cut sheet. The control means 68 monitors the cut-sheet insertion wait information, and stops the driving of the printing apparatus until the contents of the cut-sheet insertion wait information are deleted or the insertion of the cut-sheet paper is detected. The command analyzing means 66 also stops because the control means 68 cannot be started, but the real-time command analyzing means 64 can operate irrespective of the waiting for the insertion of the cut sheet.

The real-time command includes a command for canceling the cut-sheet insertion wait. When this command is received, the cut-sheet insert wait information and cut-sheet selection information stored in the RAM 53 by the real-time command analyzing means 64. To delete. Upon confirming that the cut sheet insertion wait information has been deleted, the control means 68 monitoring the cut sheet insertion wait state cancels the cut sheet insertion wait, deletes the print buffer 67, and resets the initial value. Select paper. There is a time-out as a method of canceling the waiting for the insertion of the cut sheet, and the control means 68 controls the timer 78.

(4) When an error such as a paper jam occurs during printing, paper feeding, paper cutting, or the like, the error is detected by the error detecting unit 71, notified to the control unit 68, and stored in the state storage unit 77. The control means 68 notifies the display means 72 that an error has occurred, displays the error, and stores the occurrence of the error as error information in the RAM 53 by the error state storage means 69. The control means 68 monitors the error information and stops driving of the printing apparatus until the error information is deleted. The command analysis means 66 also stops because the control means 68 cannot be activated, but the real-time command analysis means 64 activated by the reception interrupt of the interface 51 can operate irrespective of occurrence of an error. However, since the command analysis unit 65 is stopped, the received data received by the interface 51 is data stored in the reception buffer 65, and the interface is controlled by the control unit 68 at the same time when an error occurs. Notify the host computer that the device cannot receive data (so-called offline).

The real-time command includes an error recovery command. When this command is received, the error information stored in the RAM is erased by the real-time command analyzing means 64. When confirming that the error information has been erased, the control means 68 monitoring the error state restarts the printing device and resumes printing.

Another command for recovering from the error is a command to restart printing after deleting received data. When this command is received, the reception buffer 65 and print buffer 67 are deleted by the real-time command analysis means. Thereafter, the error information stored in the RAM is erased.

When the paper detector 73 detects that there is no paper, the cover detector 74 detects the cover open, and the paper detector is being fed by the paper feed switch by the switch detector 75, the printer is offline and the status is stored in the status storage unit 77. Then, the information is returned to the host computer 61 by the real-time command analysis means 64.

FIG. 6 shows a command code of one embodiment of the real-time command.

In FIG. 6, “GS”, “R”, and “n” are 1-byte received data, and indicate 1Dh, 52h, and n in hexadecimal notation, respectively. “GS” and “R” indicate real-time commands, and the content to be executed is selected according to the value of n.

In this embodiment, the contents to be executed are determined as shown in Table 1 depending on the value of n.

　ｎが０の場合、表２に従う印字装置ステータス情報１バイトをホストコンピュータに送信する。

When n is 0, one byte of printer status information according to Table 2 is transmitted to the host computer.

　印字装置ステータス情報によりドロワの状態、印字装置のオンライン／オフラインの状態がホストコンピュータ側で判断できる。また、印字装置がオフラインの場合には、ｎを１としてさらに詳細なオフライン情報を取得することができる。

The host computer can determine the status of the drawer and the online / offline status of the printing device based on the printing device status information. Further, when the printing apparatus is off-line, more detailed off-line information can be obtained by setting n to 1.

When n is 1, one byte of offline information according to Table 3 is transmitted to the host computer.

　これにより、オフラインの情報をホストコンピュータ側で識別できる。

As a result, offline information can be identified on the host computer side.

The host computer can alert the user based on the result of identification. Further, in the case of an error, it is possible to continue to obtain detailed error information by setting n to 2.

When n is 2, 1 byte of error information according to Table 4 is transmitted to the host computer.

　表４の中でメカニカルエラーとは、主に紙ジャムによるエラーの場合であって、キャリッジエラー、ホームポジションエラーを含む。これらは、印字ヘッド回りの紙ジャムであり、オートカッタエラーと区別している。これにより、印字ヘッド回りでの紙ジャムか、オートカッタでの紙ジャムかをホストコンピュータ側で識別することができる。識別した結果により、ホストコンピュータの表示手段によって使用者にエラー発生の箇所を的確に指示し、紙ジャムの除去を促す事ができる。

In Table 4, the mechanical error is mainly an error caused by paper jam, and includes a carriage error and a home position error. These are paper jams around the print head and are distinguished from auto cutter errors. As a result, the host computer can identify whether the paper jam has occurred around the print head or the automatic cutter. Based on the result of the identification, the display means of the host computer can accurately instruct the user where the error has occurred, and prompt the user to remove the paper jam.

エ ラ ー In the case of an error such as a paper jam, printing can be resumed by removing the paper jam that caused the error. However, there are some errors that make it difficult to restart printing, such as abnormalities in the external power supply and damage to the head temperature detector of the print head. An error that has occurred outside the paper jam is assigned to bit 5 as an unrecoverable error.

When n is 3, one byte of continuous paper detector information such as a receipt or a journal according to Table 5 is transmitted to the host computer.

　ｎが４の場合、表６に従うスリップ用紙検出器情報１バイトをホストコンピュータに送信する。

When n is 4, one byte of slip paper detector information according to Table 6 is transmitted to the host computer.

　表６において、スリップ用紙の選択により、連続用紙やバリデーション用紙が選択されているかスリップ用紙が選択されているかが判断できる。また、スリップ用紙選択中において、用紙の挿入待ちであるか、すでに用紙があり印字可能な状態であるかが判断できる。
ｎが５の場合、表７に従うバリデーション用紙検出器情報１バイトをホストコンピュータに送信する。

In Table 6, by selecting the slip paper, it can be determined whether the continuous paper, the validation paper, or the slip paper is selected. In addition, during the selection of the slip sheet, it can be determined whether the sheet is waiting for insertion or whether the sheet is already present and ready for printing.
If n is 5, one byte of validation paper detector information according to Table 7 is transmitted to the host computer.

　表７において、バリデーション用紙の選択により、連続用紙やスリップ用紙が選択されているかバリデーション用紙が選択されているかが判断できる。また、バリデーション用紙選択中において、用紙の挿入待ちであるか、すでに用紙があり印字可能な状態であるかが判断できる。

In Table 7, by selecting the validation paper, it can be determined whether the continuous paper or the slip paper is selected or the validation paper is selected. In addition, during the selection of the validation sheet, it can be determined whether the sheet is waiting for insertion or whether the sheet is already present and ready for printing.

Next, a description will be given of the real-time command data receiving means and the real-time command analyzing means with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 7 shows the initialization process of the printing apparatus, and the processing is started at the same time when the power is turned on (step 120). In the initialization, generally, all information in the RAM 53 is initialized, including initialization of the printing mechanism (step 121), cut sheet status flag, error information, buffer clear flag, GS flag, GSR flag, and the like. (Step 122). The buffer clear flag, the GS flag, and the GSR flag are flags used in the reception interrupt processing and used by the real-time command analysis unit. Finally, in step 124, the reception interrupt of the interface is permitted to end the initialization process (step 124).

FIG. 8 shows the process of the interface receiving interrupt process, showing the data receiving means and the real-time command analyzing means. Since the received data from the host computer is received one byte at a time via the interface, the process of FIG. 8 is started every time each byte is received. As shown in FIG. 6, the real-time command is composed of three bytes of “GS”, “R”, and “n”. Therefore, when the GS flag and GS are set when “GS” is received, GSR flag set when "R" is received, controlled by "n" received when GSR flag is set. There is also a buffer clear flag that stores whether or not to clear the buffer according to the value of “n”.

(4) In step 125, data is received and a reception interrupt is activated. In step 126, the received data is read from the interface, and in step 127, it is determined whether the GSR flag is set. If the GSR flag is set, that is, if “GS” and “R” have already been received, processing is performed with the received data (here, C) as “n”. In step 136, the GSR flag is cleared, and the following operation is performed according to the value of the received data (C) (step 137).

When C = 0, the transmitting unit 63 transmits the printer information stored in the RAM 53 to the host computer via the interface (step 138).

When C = 1, the transmission unit 63 transmits the offline information stored in the RAM 53 to the host computer via the interface (step 139).

When C = 2, the transmission unit 63 transmits the error information stored in the RAM 53 to the host computer via the interface (step 140).

When C = 3, the transmitting means 63 transmits the continuous paper information stored in the RAM 53 to the host computer via the interface (step 141).

When C = 4, the transmission means 63 transmits the slip state information stored in the RAM 53 to the host computer via the interface (step 142).

When C = 5, the transmitting unit 63 transmits the validation status information stored in the RAM 53 to the host computer via the interface (step 143).

If C = 6, it is determined whether or not a cut-sheet paper waiting state is set (step 144). If it is a waiting state, the cut-sheet paper waiting flag is cleared (step 145). As shown in FIG. 9, by clearing the cut-sheet paper waiting flag, it is possible to recover from the cut-sheet paper waiting state.

If C = 8, the buffer clear flag is set (step 146), and the error information in the RAM 53 is cleared (step 147). When the buffer clear flag is cleared, the reception buffer and the print buffer are cleared at the time of recovery from an error as shown in FIG. If C = 7, the error information is simply cleared (step 147).

(4) Even if the received data is a real-time command, it is temporarily stored in the reception buffer (step 132).

(4) If the GSR flag has been cleared in step 127, it is determined in step 128 whether the GS flag has been set. That is, when the reception has been completed up to “GS”, the GS flag has been set, the GS flag is cleared in step 129, and it is determined whether the received data (C) is “R” (step 129). When C = “R”, the GSR flag is set (step 131), and the received data is stored in the reception buffer (step 132).

If the GS flag is cleared in step 128, it is determined in step 134 whether the received data (C) is a "GS" code. If C = “GS”, the GS flag is set; otherwise, the GS flag is stored in the reception buffer as it is (step 132), and the reception interruption process is terminated (step 133).

Next, the control means for setting the cut sheet will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 9, the process from the selection of the cut sheet to the setting thereof is shown. The processing starts when the command interpreting means 66 determines that the command is a cut sheet selection command (step 151). The cut sheet selection flag is set, and the cut sheet insertion wait flag is set (step 152). After confirming that the mechanical operation has stopped (step 153), the cut-sheet paper insertion waiting timer 78 is started, and the display device 48 is caused to blink by the display means 72 (step 155). At step 156, it is determined whether the cut-sheet insertion waiting flag is cleared. If the cut-sheet insertion wait flag is cleared, that is, if the cut-sheet insertion wait is canceled by the real-time command "GS", "R", or "6", the cut-sheet insertion wait timer is stopped (step 157). Then, the display device 48 is turned off by the display indicating means 72 (step 158). The cut sheet selection flag and the cut sheet insertion wait flag are cleared (step 159), the sheet of the initial value is set (step 160), and the cut sheet selection process ends (step 161).

If the cut sheet insertion waiting flag is not cleared in step 156, it is determined whether the cut sheet insertion waiting time has passed (step 162). If the cut sheet paper waiting time has passed, the process proceeds to step 158. jump.

If it is determined in step 162 that the cut sheet insertion waiting time has not elapsed, it is determined in step 163 whether the cut sheet has been inserted. If it is determined that the cut sheet has not been inserted, the flow proceeds to step 156 to determine whether the cut sheet insertion wait flag has been cleared again, and whether the cut sheet insertion wait flag has been cleared or the cut sheet insertion wait has been completed. The above operation is repeated until the time expires or until the cut sheet is inserted.

If it is determined in step 163 that the cut sheet has been inserted, the cut sheet insertion wait timer 78 is stopped (step 164), the display device 48 is turned on (step 165), and the operation start waiting time is waited (step 166). . If it is determined in step 167 that the cut sheet has not been inserted, the process returns to step 154, and the above operation is repeated.

If it is determined in step 167 that the cut sheet is inserted, the cut sheet insertion waiting flag is cleared (step 168), the cut sheet is set at the correct position (step 169), and the cut sheet is selected. The process ends (step 161).

As described above, by including the data receiving means and the real-time command analyzing means in the reception interrupt processing, even when the printing apparatus is stopped by waiting for the cut sheet insertion, the command is analyzed and the waiting for the cut sheet insertion is performed. Can be released.

FIG. 10 illustrates a case where a carriage error is detected as an embodiment for detecting an error.

(4) In step 101, a print command is started, and in step 102, the printing apparatus for one-line printing is initialized. In steps 103 to 105, printing for one line is performed. In step 103, printing of one dot row is performed, and the print carriage is moved by one dot row. At 104, it is checked whether or not there is a detection pulse from the carriage detector 35 by moving the carriage. Normally, the detection pulse is periodically generated because the carriage normally moves. In step 105, it is checked whether printing for one line has been completed. If not completed, the processing is repeated from step 103. If printing for one line has been completed, printing ends in step 106.

If the carriage stops due to a paper jam or the like, no detection pulse is detected in step 104, and the process proceeds to step 107. That is, the processing after step 107 is performed when a carriage error occurs. First, in step 107, the host computer is notified that the printing apparatus cannot receive communication data, that is, the processing is so-called offline. In step 108, the fact that a carriage error has occurred is stored in the RAM 53. Since the carriage error is a recoverable error, the information is stored as a recoverable error. At the same time, at 109, the printing mechanism is stopped. After that, until the above error information is deleted in step 111, the fact that an error has occurred is displayed on the error display device in step 110. When the real-time command is received, the error information is erased, and in step 112, depending on whether the received real-time command instructs buffer clear, if so, the buffer is cleared in 113. The buffer in this case indicates both the reception buffer and the print buffer. Thereafter, in step 114, a recovery process of the printing device is performed, and in step 115, the host computer is notified that the printing device is ready to receive data, that is, the device is brought online.

As described above, by including the data receiving means and the real-time command analyzing means in the reception interrupt processing, even if the printing apparatus is stopped due to the occurrence of an error, it is possible to analyze the command and recover from the error.

Next, control of the printing device as viewed from the host computer will be described.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram of the information processing apparatus of the present invention. The printing apparatus 300 is connected to the host computer 61 by a communication cable 305 of RS-232C. In the host computer 61, an RS-232C interface control circuit is incorporated as the communication means 304. A display device 302 such as a CRT and an input device 303 such as a keyboard are connected to the host computer 61.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a control process in the host computer in consideration of canceling the waiting for insertion of a cut sheet. Here, a case of printing on slip paper is shown as an example of cut sheet paper.

When printing on slip paper (step 250), first, a slip paper selection command is transmitted (step 251). Next, a real-time command "GS" "R" "4" is transmitted to check the state of the slip sheet (step 252), and a response to this is received (step 253). This response includes the information shown in Table 6. Based on this information, it is determined whether slip paper has been selected (step 254).

If slip paper is selected, it is determined from the information in step 253 whether or not it is waiting for slip insertion (step 255). If it is not waiting for insertion, after confirming the presence of slip paper (step 256), print data is transmitted (step 257), and printing of the slip paper is terminated (step 258).

In step 255, when waiting for slip insertion, a specific key of the input device 303, for example, a "slip cancel key" is monitored and it is determined whether or not this key has been pressed (step 259). This key is a key to which a function of canceling slip insertion waiting is assigned, and is operated by an operator.

If the key is pressed, the slip insertion wait can be canceled by transmitting the slip insertion wait cancel command “GS” “R” “6” (step 260).

Also, in steps 254 and 256, even when slip is not selected and when there is no paper, slip printing can be terminated by monitoring this key (step 259). In this case, even if the slip cancel commands “GS”, “R”, and “6” are transmitted, they are ignored because the printing apparatus is not in a state of waiting for the insertion of the cut sheet (step 260). If the key has not been pressed, the process returns to step 252 to wait for the selection of slip (step 254) or the presence of paper (step 256).

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a printing process in the host computer in consideration of recovery from an error.

After the start of printing (step 200), each time one line of print data is transmitted (step 201), it is monitored whether or not the printing apparatus has gone offline (step 202). Generally, in the RS-232C interface, when the receiving side (printing device in this case) goes offline, CTS (Clear) is used.
To Send) signal, DSR (Data Set Ready) signal, or XOFF code. If the printing device is online, the printing data is continuously transmitted, and if the printing data is completed (step 203), the printing is completed (step 204).

{Circle around (2)} In step 202, when the printing device goes offline, it is considered that printing has become impossible due to an error occurring in the printing device or other causes (for example, running out of printing paper). Then, in order to confirm whether or not an error has occurred, the real-time commands “GS”, “R”, and “2” are transmitted in step 205. A response to this is received in step 206, and it is determined whether an error has occurred (step 207). If no error has occurred, it is considered that the device has gone offline due to a cause other than the error, and the other causes are examined (step 208), and processing is performed for the cause (step 209). The other causes are obtained by obtaining information such as the cover being opened or the print paper running out by “GS”, “R”, and “1”. The host computer displays “Close the cover” or “Please set paper” on the display device 302 to alert the user.

(4) This is repeated until the printing device is online (step 210), and when the printing device is online, printing is resumed (step 201).

If an error has occurred in step 207, it is determined whether the error can be recovered (step 211). Whether the error is a recoverable error can be determined by bit 5 shown in Table 4. In the case of a recoverable error, the user is notified that the error has occurred, and an instruction is given to remove a paper jam or the like that is expected to cause the error. At this time, the user can be informed of the position where the paper jam has occurred by using the bits 2 and 3 in Table 4 as to whether the carriage or the auto cutter is used. After the user removes the paper jam, the input device 303 (for example, a keyboard) of the host computer causes a confirmation input to be performed, thereby confirming the elimination of the error cause (step 213). Thereafter, the printing device is recovered from the error by the real-time command “GS” “R” “6” or “7”. It is desirable to confirm the occurrence of the error again from step 205 in consideration of the case where the user has not completely removed the cause of the error or the case where a plurality of errors have occurred at the same time.

If the error is unrecoverable in step 211, the printing device has an error and cannot be repaired by the user. In this case, the user is notified that the printing device is abnormal (step 215), and the printing process is stopped (step 216).

情報 処理 Data processing devices such as POS / ECR that handle money must have no data loss or duplication. When an error occurs in the printing device, it is important to recover from the error without erasing the received data and restart printing. However, in order to correspond to an information processing apparatus using a conventional printing apparatus, a mode in which received data is deleted and then recovered is made possible, and the mode can be selected by a control command from a host computer. That is, in the information processing device using the conventional printing device, the received data is always deleted after the printing device recovers from the error. Therefore, when printing the same data as before the error occurred, the second printing is performed. Special characters were printed at the beginning of the line to clearly indicate that they were data. In order to cope with this, a mode in which the received data is deleted and then recovered is required.

According to the embodiment of the present invention described above, even when the printing device goes offline, the cause can be known on the host computer side. In addition, by including the data receiving means and the real-time command analyzing means in the reception interrupt processing, the printing apparatus can analyze the command. Accordingly, as a printing apparatus in the distribution industry dealing with money, a printing apparatus with high reliability and high throughput is provided, and a burden on a host computer is reduced, and a printing apparatus which is easy for a user to handle and an information processing apparatus using the same. Can be provided.

FIG. 1 is an overall view of a printing apparatus illustrating one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a mechanism diagram of a printing apparatus illustrating one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a printing unit of a printing apparatus illustrating one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of a control circuit illustrating one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of a command used in the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of a printing apparatus control method according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of a printing apparatus control method according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of a printing apparatus control method according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of a printing apparatus control method according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a control process of a host computer using the printing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a control process of a host computer using the printing apparatus of the present invention.

Explanation of reference numerals

61 Host computer 62 Data receiving means 63 Data transmitting means 64 Real-time command analyzing means 66 Control command analyzing means 68 Control means 69 Error status storage means 79 Cut sheet status storage means 71 Error detection means 72 Display means 73 Paper detection means 74 Cover detection Means 75 Switch detection means 76 Peripheral device state detection means 77 State storage means 300 Printing device 302 Display device 303 Input device

Claims (4)

At the time of receiving data from the host device, the received data is analyzed to determine whether the received command is a real-time control command. Analysis means;
When the real-time command analysis unit determines that the received data is not a real-time control command, a reception buffer storage unit that stores the reception data in a reception buffer,
Processing execution means for reading and analyzing the received data from the reception buffer on a first-come-first-served basis, determining whether the received data is command data or print data, and executing processing corresponding to the command data and print data, respectively. Printing device. The real-time control command includes a plurality of types of commands for respectively selecting a plurality of types of processing contents,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the real-time command analysis unit executes a process of a content selected by the received real-time control command. The plurality of types of contents include:
(1) Send printer status,
(2) Offline factor status transmission,
(3) Transmission of error cause status,
3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: (4) transmitting a state of the sheet, or (5) returning from an error. The reception buffer storage unit stores the reception data in the reception buffer not only when it is determined that the reception data is not a real-time control command but also when it is determined that the reception data is a real-time control command. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein

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