GB2106676A - Printing position setting apparatus with printer - Google Patents

Abstract

In a printing position setting apparatus, a printing position data memory (3) includes an identification code memory area (Ki) for storing an identification code representing the type of printing data, and corresponding printing start digit position data memory areas (Si, Mi). A central processing unit (1) has A and B registers for storing printing data, an X register for storing the printing start digit position data, and a Y register for storing a start digit value of the printing data. Printing data stored in the A and B registers are sequentially read out therefrom from digits corresponding to the start digit value stored in the Y register and are transferred to a PR register of a printing controlling means (4) from a digit determined by the printing start digit position data in the X register. The printing position of a predetermined printing line can be freely changed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Printing position setting apparatus with printer The present invention relates to a printing position setting apparatus with a printer.

Conventional printing apparatuses for electronic cash registers print sales amount data and character data such as item name data on a receipt. In a printing apparatus of this type, since the printing position on a receipt is fixed, the same receipt format cannot be used in stores where different kinds of receipt formats are adopted. If a receipt size of one store is smaller than that of another store and if the same printing apparatus used in the former store is used for the latter store, the blank space on the receipts of the latter store becomes large. This results in a poor appearance because the printed characters are unbalanced with respect to the overall size of the receipt.

However, if the receipt of the latter store is smaller than that of the former store, all the printing contents cannot be printed on the receipt. Also, unique printing formats cannot be created if a specific printing format is determined and the printing position fixed, resulting in inconvenience.

It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a printing position setting apparatus with a printer, wherein a printing digit position in a predetermined line for printing on a journal can be freely determined.

In order to achieve the above object of the present invention, there is provided a printing position setting apparatus with a printer, comprising: input means for entering at least an identification code, numerical data, and printing start digit position data; printing position data memory means including an identification code memory area (Ki) for storing the identification code representing a type of printing data and a printing start digit position data memory area (Si, Mi) for storing digit position data which represents a printing start digit position in correspondence with the identification code;; a central processing unit, connected to said printing position data memory means and including printing data memory means (A, B) for storing printing data, said central processing unit retrieving the identification code, corresponding to the type of printing data stored in said printing data memory means (A, B) from said identification code memory area (Ki), and supplying the printing data in correspondence with a retrieved readout identification code in accordance with the digit position data read out from said printing start digit position data memory area (Si, Mi); printing controlling means, connected to said central processing unit, for storing the printing data supplied by said central processing unit and for controlling a printing operation; and printing means, connected to said printing controlling means, for printing the printing data stored in said printing controlling means.

With the above arrangement, the printing position in the predetermined line for any type of data can be freely determined. Therefore, even if receipt formats vary from store to store, printing can be performed from an arbitrary printing position. The printing position can be adjusted in accordance with the receipt sizes. Also, sales data can be printed and spaced apart from character data to provide a space between the printed data. The personnel can use the space as a check column where they can feely write information, resulting in greater convenience.

This invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram of a printing position setting apparatus with a printer according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a flowchart for explaining the mode of operation of the apparatus in Fig. 1; and Figures 3 and 4 respectively show printed examples of receipts.

A printing position setting apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. Fig. 1 shows an arrangement of an electronic cash register. Referring to Fig. 1, a central processing unit (CPU) 1 has A, B, X and Y registers. Each register stores 8-bit data which is designated by 0th to 7th column addresses. Also, the CPU 1 has a T register which stores a key code entered by an input section 2. A key operation signal is supplied from the input section 2 of the T register through a line L1. The CPU 1 exchanges data with a printing position data memory 3 through a line L2. The CPU 1 supplies a R/W signal, an address signal and printing data to a printing control section 4 respectively through lines L3, L4 and L5.

The input section 2 has numerical keys 21, department keys 22, a CA/AT key 23, an Rc (receipt) key 24, a Pd (paid-out) key 25, a Cr (credit) key, an ST (subtotal) key 27 and a mode switch 28 for selecting modes such as REG, RF, SET, X and Z. The memory are specified by an i-th row address of 1 sot to nth row addresses of the printing position data memory 3 is divided into memory areas Ki, Si and Mi. Identification codes which specify the kinds of keys such as the keys 22 to 26 are entered by keys and are stored in the memory area Ki. Sign printing start digit data which specifies the printing position of character data is entered by keys and is stored in the memory area Si. Amount printing start digit data which indicates the printing position of sales data is entered by the keys and is stored in the memory area Mi.A printing buffer PR is arranged in the printing control section 4.

Twenty-four-bit data which is accessed by 0th to 23th digit addresses is stored in the printing buffer PR. The printing data stored in the printing buffer PR is converted to a hammer drive signal through a converter circuit (not shown) and is supplied to a printing section 5.

The printing section 5 has hammers (not shown) corresponding to the digits of the printing buffer PR which stores the printing data. The printing data is printed on a receipt.

A character memory 6 is connected to the CPU 1 through a line L6. Character data is entered by the keys and is stored in character memory 6 in correspondence with the kind of key used. The address of the character data is accessed by an identification code which is read out from the memory area Ki of the printing position data memory 3 and which is fetched in the CPU 1. Further, a total amount of memory 7 is connected to the CPU 1 through a line L7. A total sales amount by each department and a total sales amount by each transaction are entered by the keys, and are stored in the total amount memory 7.

The mode of operation of the apparatus will be described below. Assume that the operator sets the mode switch 28 of the input section 2 to a "SET" mode, and that he enters sign printing start digit data and total amount print start digit data for each department by selectively pressing the numerical keys 21 and the department key 22. These data are stored in predetermined portions of the memory areas Si and Mi of the printing position data memory 3. Subsequently, when the operator sets the mode switch 28 to a "REG" mode and when he presses the numerical keys 21 to enter sales data, the sales data is written in the A register of the CPU 1. When the operator then presses the desired department key 22, the key code thereof is stored in the T register.Character data of an item of the corresponding department is then read out from the character memory 6 and is written in the 0 to 3rd bits of the B register of the CPU 1. The accumulated result of the total sales data of each department is stored in the total amount memory 7 on the basis of the key-in operation. Among the printing data produced in relation to the REG operation, the total amount data is stored in the A register, and the character data is stored in the B register.

When writing of data in the corresponding memories of the CPU 1 is completed, printing is performed in accordance with the control sequence base on the flowchart in Fig. 2.

In step S1, an identification code corresponding to a key code (of the T register) entered by the operator is read out from the printing position data memory 3. In step S2, to the X register of the CPU 1 is supplied sign printing start digit data which is stored in that memory area Si of the printing position data memory 3 which has the same row address as that at which the detected identification code is stored. In step S3, data "3" corresponding to three digits is written in the Y register of the CPU 1. In steps S4 to S7, character data in the B register are sequentially transferred to predetermined digits of the printing buffer RP.

The data of the predetermined digits are specified by the sign printing start digit data.

More specifically, in step S4, character data of a digit B(Y) of the B register which is specified by the storage contents of the Y register is specified by the printing start digit data stored in the X register and is written in a digit PR(X) of the printing buffer PR. In step S5, the storage contents of the X register are decremented by one. Subsequently, in step S6, the storage contents of the Y register are decremented by one. In step S7, it is determined whether or not the storage contents of the Y register are more than "0". If it is determined to be "YES", it is regarded that all the character data in the B register have not been transferred to the printing buffer PR.

The flow returns to step S4.

However, if it is discriminated in step S7 that the storage contents of the Y register is less than "0", it is regarded that all the storage contents of the B register are completely transferred to the printing buffer PR.

Step S8 is then executed. The total amount printing start digit data which is keyed in by the operator and which is stored in the memory are Mi of the printing position data memory 3, is transferred to the X register. In step S9, data "0" corresponding to the "Oth" digit of the total amount printing start digit data is written in the A register. In steps S10 to S13, the total amount data in the A register are sequentially transferred to the predetermined digits of the printing buffer PR which are specified by the total amount printing start digit data from the X register. More specifically, in step S10, the sales data of a digit A(Y) of the A register which is specified by the storage contents of the Y register are transferred to a digit PR(X) of the printing buffer PR which is specified by the X register.

In step S11, the storage contents, of the X register are incremented by one. In step S12, the storage contents of the Y register are incremented by one. The 1 sot digit of the total amount data of the A register is specified. In step S13, it is determined whether or not the addition result of the Y register has reached "8". If it is determined to be "NO", it is regarded that all the sales data of the A register have not been transferred to the printing buffer PR. The flow returns to step S10.

However, it is determined to be "YES" in step 13, it is regarded that all the sales data is transferred to the printing buffer PR. Thus, step S14 is executed. A printing start instruc tion is supplied from the CPU 1 to the printing buffer PR through the line L3. As a result, a printer of the printing section 5 is driven in accordance with the printing data stored in the printing buffer PR, and printing is performed at a predetermined position of the receipt.

As described above, the printing start digit data can be set in accordance with the kind of key used. If some of the department keys 22 are sequentially pressed as shown in Fig. 3, characters are printed on the leftmost position of the first line and then sales data is printed on the same column. In the second line, the characters are printed on the leftmost position, and sales data is printed at a distance from the characters. Further, in the third line, sales data can be printed in the leftmost position, and character data can be printed in the rightmost position. When the operator presses the CA/AT key 23, the subtotal can be printed in the rightmost position in the fourth line, and the cash transaction data can be printed on the rightmost postion in the fifth line.

In the above embodiment, the operator presses the department keys 22 to change the printing position of the character data and presses the numerical keys to change the sales data. However, the present invention is not limited to the above arrangement. For example, as shown in Fig. 4, date data "56-03-30", time data "15:31", serial number "O051", the name of person in charge 'KATO", a store number "1 234", a machine number "5678" may be printed at desired' pv3itions of the receipt.

In the above embodiment, a case is described in which the mode switch 28 is set to the "REG" mode. However, the printing position can be arbitrarily changed in other modes "RF", "Z" and "X".

Claims (11)

1. A printing position setting apparatus with a printer, comprising: input means for entering at least an identification code, numerical data, and printing start digit position data; printing position data memory means including an identification code memory area (Ki) for storing the identification code representing a type of printing data and a printing start digit position data memory area (Si, Mi) for storing digit position data which represents a printing start digit position in correspondence with the identification code;; a central processing unit, connected to said position data memory means and including printing data memory means (A, B) for storing printing data, said central processing unit retrieving the identification code corresponding to the type of printing data stored in said printing data memory means (A, B) from said identification code memory area (Ki) and supplying the printing data in correspondence with a retrieved readout identification code in accordance with the digit position data read out from said start position data memory area (Si, Mi); printing controlling means, connected to said central processing unit, for storing the readout printing data supplied by said central processing unit and for controlling a printing operation; and printing means connected to said printing controlling means, for printing the readout printing data.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input means comprises a keyboard which has at least ten keys.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a digit position data memory area of said printing position data memory includes said identification code memory area (Ki), a sign printing start digit memory area (Si), and a total amount printing start digit memory area (Mi).

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said printing data memory means comprises A and B registers respectively storing the numerical data and character data.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said central processing unit further includes: a T register for storing a key code entered by said input means and for retrieving and reading out the identification code corresponding to the key code from said identification code memory area of said printing position data memory means; an X register for storing printing start digit address data which corresponds to the identification code retrieved and read out from said printing start digit position data memory area of said identification code memory area; and a Y register for storing a start digit address value of said printing data memory means (A, B).

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said printing controlling means includes printing buffer means which has a storage capacity of a plurality of digits.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said printing buffer means sequentially stores the numerical data in said printing data memory means (A) which is addressed by a start digit address value "0" stored in said Y register from a digit addressed by the printing start digit address data stored in said X register to more significant digits.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said printing buffer means sequentially stores character data of n digits in said printing data memory means (B) which is addressed by a start address value "n" stored in said Y register from a digit addressed by the printing start digit address data stored in said X register.

9. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said A register is connected to said input means, and the numerical data stored in said A register is entered by ten keys of said input means.

10. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said A register is connected to a total amount memory and stores total amount data of sales data of each department, total amount data of sales data of each sale, and subtotal amount data.

11. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said B register is connected to a character memory means and stores the character data preset in said character memory means.

1 2. A printing position setting apparatus with printer, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.