JP2001018469A - Continuous form printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To grasp current use of sheet easily by analyzing the content of a command every time when it is received from a host CPU and determining the quantity of used sheet and then accumulating the quantity of used sheet. SOLUTION: A host CPU 11 multiplies the font size of current print data by the number of printed lines to calculate the quantity of receipt sheets used for printing the current print data. It is added to a used length read into an RAM 14 to calculate the accumulated quantity of used receipt sheet and the used length stored in an EEPROM 13 is updated. The accumulated quantity of used receipt sheet is compared with a sheet length read out from the RAM 14 minus marginal length and if the accumulated quantity of used receipt sheet exceeds an operated value, a decision is made that end of sheet is approached because the residual length of receipt sheet is shorter than the marginal length. Subsequently, a sheet alarm flag stored in the EEPROM 13 is set and print processing is ended.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a POS (Point Of
The present invention relates to a continuous paper printer that prints on continuous paper such as roll paper or web paper, such as a receipt printer incorporated in a terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A sheet loading section for loading sheets in a continuous form is provided. The sheet loaded in the sheet loading section is pulled out from its leading end and sent out to a printing section, and the printing section moves the sheet perpendicular to the width direction. In the width direction while sequentially feeding
Conventionally, in continuous paper printers that print on a line-by-line basis, a function is used to detect that the paper in the paper loading unit has run out or is running low with a hardware sensor, and to issue a warning that the paper has run out or is about to run out. There was.

However, in order to check the usage status of the paper up to the present time, such as how much paper has been used up to the present time and how much has been used, the remaining amount of paper loaded in the paper loading section is directly monitored. There was no other way but to check it. For that purpose, it was necessary to open the pudding cover and look into the paper loading section, which was troublesome.

[0004]

As described above, in this type of conventional continuous paper printer, it is troublesome to check the paper usage status up to the present time. Further, since the detection of the paper shortage or the near paper shortage is performed by a hardware sensor, erroneous detection is likely to occur due to contamination of the sensor.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a continuous paper printer which can easily confirm the paper use status up to the present time. It is another object of the present invention to provide a continuous paper printer that can detect the near-out of paper without using a hardware sensor and can improve reliability.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in accordance with a command from a host, a continuous form of paper is fed in a direction perpendicular to the width direction of the paper and sent out to a printing unit. In a continuous paper printer that prints on a sheet in the width direction, each time a command from a host is received, the content of the command is analyzed to obtain the amount of paper used. The apparatus is provided with a use amount accumulating means for accumulating the obtained sheet use amount, and a total use amount output means for outputting the total use amount by the feed accumulating means. Here, if the command from the host is a paper feed command, the usage obtaining unit includes a unit that obtains the usage from the unit feed length and the number of times of feeding. Also, if the command from the host is a print command, a means for acquiring the used amount from the font size and the number of print lines is included. Of course, the usage amount may be obtained from other factors. According to the first aspect of the present invention, each time a command is received from the host, the used amount of paper is acquired, the used amount of paper is accumulated, and the accumulated used amount is output. It is easy to confirm the amount of paper used up to the present time from the output result of the amount.

[0007] The invention described in claim 2 of the present application is the above-described claim 1.
In addition to the used amount obtaining means and the used amount accumulating means of the described invention, a total length storing means for setting and storing the total length data of the paper,
A usage data acquisition unit that acquires data indicating the paper usage status up to the present time based on the total paper length data stored by the full length storage unit and the total usage amount by the usage totalization unit; and a usage status data acquisition unit. A use status output unit for outputting data indicating the obtained paper use status. Here, the use status data acquisition means includes a means for calculating the paper use rate up to the present time with respect to the paper total length data because the total use amount is the paper use amount up to the present time. Of course, data indicating the paper usage status other than the paper usage rate may be obtained. According to the second aspect of the present invention, each time a command is received from the host, the used amount of paper is acquired, the used amount of paper is totaled, and the total used amount and the total length data of the paper are obtained. Since the data indicating the paper usage status up to the present time is obtained and the data indicating the paper usage status is output, it is easy to confirm the paper usage amount and the remaining amount up to the present time from the output result of the data indicating the paper usage status. .

[0008] The invention described in claim 3 of the present application is the above-described claim 2.
In addition to the used amount acquiring means, used amount accumulating means, and total length storing means of the invention described above, the sheet is almost out of paper based on the total paper length data stored by the full length storing means and the total used amount by the used amount accumulating means. The near-paper shortage determining means for determining whether or not the paper is near the end of paper is provided, and the near-paper shortage warning means for issuing a warning when the near-paper shortage is determined by the near-paper shortage determining means. Here, the near-paper shortage determination means compares the total paper usage with the total usage, for example, because the total usage is the paper usage up to the present time. It includes a means for determining that it is about to expire. Of course, it may be determined that the paper is about to run out based on other factors. According to the third aspect of the present invention, each time a command is received from the host, the amount of paper used is acquired, the amount of used paper is totaled, and the total amount of used paper and the total length data of the paper are obtained. It is determined whether the paper is about to run out, and if it is determined that the paper is about to run out, a warning to that effect is issued. Therefore, it is automatically detected that the paper is about to run out without using a hardware sensor.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the present invention is applied to a receipt printer incorporated in a POS terminal.

FIG. 1 is an external view of a POS terminal 1 incorporating a receipt printer according to the present invention.
The scanner 2 is connected via a communication interface cable 3 such as RS232C. POS terminal 1
Are placed on the drawer 4, and the drawer 4a of the drawer 4 is automatically opened to the near side. P
The OS terminal 1 is provided with a keyboard 5, a mode switch 6 and an operator display 7 on the front of its housing, and a customer display 8 on the back. Further, a printer cover 9 is formed on the upper surface of the housing and is opened when exchanging a roll-shaped receipt sheet loaded in a receipt printer incorporated in the housing. The receipt issuance port 10 for discharging the receipt paper printed with the symbol.

The keyboard 5 includes a numeric key for inputting numerical data such as the number of items sold and the amount of money, a department key, a subtotal key, a deposit / current total key, an X key, a clear key,
This is a POS terminal-dedicated keyboard provided with an execution key, a cancel key, a discount key, a receipt feed key, and the like. In particular, in the present embodiment, a utilization rate output key K for requesting the utilization rate output of the receipt paper up to the present time is provided.

The mode switch 6 is a switch for selecting various business modes such as "registration", "inspection", "payment", and "setting", and is operated by a key. By the way, "registration" is a business mode in which sales data of a product registered by inputting a product code is sales-registered in a storage unit, printed on receipt paper by a receipt printer, and a receipt is issued. `` Registration '' is a business mode in which the total data of sales data for each product that has been registered in the storage unit by the `` Registration '' business is printed on receipt paper by a receipt printer and issued as an inspection report. In the same way as the “Inspection” business, after printing the aggregated data of each product sales data on receipt paper and issuing it as a settlement report, it is a business to clear the data in the storage unit, and “Setting” is “Registration” etc. The data required to execute the various tasks described above are set in the storage unit in advance, and the settings are printed on a receipt paper by a receipt printer and issued. Is Tsutomu.

The POS terminal 1 is mainly composed of a computer, and controls the touch scanner 2, keyboard 5, operator display 7, customer display 8, and receipt printer to control the "POS terminal". Registration ”,
The POS control unit 15 (see FIG. 2) for executing various tasks such as “check”, “payment”, and “setting” is mounted.

On the other hand, the receipt printer, in accordance with a command from the POS control unit 15 functioning as a host, causes the roll-shaped receipt paper loaded in the paper loading unit to be moved in a direction perpendicular to the width direction by a paper feed mechanism. The paper is fed to the printing unit, the printing unit prints the receipt paper in the width direction, and feeds the paper to the receipt issuing port 10 to discharge the paper. And a line thermal head 17 (see FIG. 2) in which the heating elements are arranged.

As shown in FIG. 2, this receipt printer has a CPU (Central Process
ng Unit) 11. Also, the read-only R
OM (Read Only Memory) 12, nonvolatile rewritable EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable)
able Read Only Memory (13), volatile RAM (Rando
m Access Memory) 14, a communication interface 16 for controlling data communication with the POS control unit 15, and a head driver 1 for switching on and off the power supply of each heating element constituting the line thermal head 17.
8. A motor driver 2 for switching on and off the power supply of a feed motor 19 which is a driving source of the paper feed mechanism.
0, equipped with an I / O port 22 for inputting signals from various hardware sensors 21 such as a paper sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a receipt paper in the paper loading section and a cover sensor for detecting the open / close state of the printer cover 9. And
CPU 11, ROM 12, EEPROM 13, RAM
14, communication interface 15, head driver 18,
The motor driver 20 and the I / O port 22 are connected by a bus line 23 such as an address bus and a data bus.

The ROM 12 previously stores fixed data such as programs and character generator data. As shown in FIG. 3, the EEPROM 13 has a receipt length N, which is the total length of the receipt paper, a remaining length Y, which is a remaining amount which is a threshold when a near-out-of-paper warning of the receipt paper is issued, and a current length of the receipt paper. It stores various data such as the usage length M, which is the usage amount up to, and the paper warning flag f which is set to "1" during the issuance of the paper out warning. Here, the EEPROM 13 constitutes a full length storage means.

In the RAM 14, as shown in FIG.
A reception buffer 41 for temporarily storing print data and the like received from the POS control unit 15; a transmission buffer 42 for temporarily storing data to be transmitted to the POS control unit 15; a print buffer 43 in which print data is expanded into dots;
Various memory areas such as a work memory 44 for temporarily storing processing data of 11 are formed.

The receipt printer has a PO
When the terminal is started up by turning on the power of the S terminal 1, the CPU
The program of the ROM 12 is configured so that the main processing 11 executes the main processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.

That is, after the power-on start-up process, the CPU 11 executes the EEPROM 1 as ST (step) 1.
The state of the paper warning flag f stored in step 3 is checked. Here, if the paper warning flag f is set to "1", the power is once turned off and turned on again in a state in which a warning that the paper is about to run out is given, so that the I / O port 22 is connected to the I / O port 22 as ST2. It is determined whether or not a receipt sheet is present in the sheet loading unit based on a signal from the input sheet sensor. If there is no receipt paper, the process waits until the receipt paper is set in the paper loading unit.

If there is a receipt paper in ST2,
In ST3, the use length M stored and held in the EEPROM 13 is cleared to "0". Also, the same EE as ST4
The sheet warning flag f stored in the PROM 13 is reset to "0". Thereafter, as ST5, the process waits for receiving a command (command) from the POS control unit 15 as the host. In ST1, the paper warning flag f is "0"
If it has been reset, the process proceeds to ST5 without performing the processing of ST2 to ST4, and waits for a command from the POS control unit 15.

Here, when the message format setting command shown in FIG. 5A is received in ST6, the setting process specifically shown in FIG. 7 is executed. In the message format of the setting command, the item “header” is S
TX, “command” is an identification code of a setting command, “setting type” is a type code of setting data, “setting data” is actual setting data, and “terminator” is EOT.

That is, when receiving the message of the setting command, the CPU 11 determines the type of the setting data from the item “setting type” in the message. If the type of the setting data is “receipt length”, the EEPROM
At step 13, the receipt length N stored and changed is changed to the value of the item "setting data" in the message, and the setting process is terminated. If the type of the setting data is “extra length”, the extra length Y stored and held in the EEPROM 13 is changed to the value of the item “setting data” in the message, and the setting process ends. .

Incidentally, the POS control unit 15 selects the setting operation of the receipt length M in the "setting" mode and inputs the setting data of the receipt length M by a key. When the setting data of the surplus length M is input by a key, the setting command is transmitted to the receipt printer.

The CPU 11 of the receipt printer has a POS
In the command standby state from the control unit 15, when the usage rate request command of the message format shown in FIG. 5B is received as ST7, the usage rate response process specifically shown in FIG. 8 is executed. In the message format of the usage request command, the item “header” is STX, “command” is an identification code of the usage request command, and “terminator” is EOT.

That is, when receiving the usage rate request command, the CPU 11 reads the receipt length N and usage length M data stored in the EEPROM 13 into the work memory 44 of the RAM 14. Then, the calculation of the following equation (1) is performed to calculate the sheet usage rate X up to the present time with respect to the sheet total length data (use state data acquisition means).

X = (M / N) × 100 (1) After calculating the paper usage rate X, a data notification message including the paper usage rate X is created on the transmission buffer 42 and the communication interface 16 through the POS control unit 1
5 (use status output means), and the usage rate response process ends.

Incidentally, the POS control unit 15 performs “registration”,
When the usage rate output key K of the keyboard 5 is input in the "check", "payment" or "setting" mode, the usage rate request command is transmitted to the receipt printer. After sending this usage request command,
When a data notification message including the paper usage rate X is received from the receipt printer, the paper usage rate X notified from the receipt printer is displayed on the screen of the operator display 7 as shown in FIG.

The CPU 11 of the receipt printer has a POS
In the command standby state from the control unit 15, when a print command in the message format shown in FIG. 5C is received in ST8, the print processing specifically shown in FIG. 9 is executed. In the message format of the print command, the item “header” is STX or no header,
"Command" is an identification code of a print command, "Control data" is print control data such as font size F and the number of print lines T, and "Print data" is actual print data (such as ASCII code). "Terminator" is C
R, LF, CR + LF or EOT.

That is, when the CPU 11 receives the print command, the CPU 11 stores the data of the receipt length N, the surplus length Y, and the used length M stored in the EEPROM 13 in the RAM 13.
14 is read into the work memory 44. Further, the data of the font size F and the number of print lines T are extracted from the control data in the received print command. Then, in ST81, the value obtained by subtracting the used length M from the receipt length N, that is, the remaining length of the receipt is the value obtained by multiplying the font size F by the number of printing lines T, that is, the usage amount (length ) To determine if it is greater than.

As a result, the remaining length of the receipt (N-
M) is larger than the current use amount (F × T), the current print data can be completely printed on the currently used receipt paper.
The dots are developed in the print buffer 43 of M14. And
By controlling the driving of the thermal head 17 and the feed motor 19, the print data of the print line number T, which has been developed into dots in the print buffer 43, is printed on the receipt paper.

After printing, the CPU 11 multiplies the font size F of the current print data by the number of print lines T to calculate the usage amount of the receipt paper based on the current print data (use amount obtaining means). When this value is added to the usage length M read into the RAM 14 to calculate the total usage M '(= M + F × T) of the receipt paper up to the present time, the EEPROM is used.
In step 13, the used length M stored and updated is updated to the total usage amount M 'calculated this time (used amount total means).

Next, the CPU 11 compares the total usage amount M 'calculated this time with a value (NY) obtained by subtracting the surplus length Y from the receipt length N read into the RAM 14. As a result, when the total usage amount M ′ is equal to or larger than the calculated value (N−Y), it is determined that the remaining length of the receipt paper is short of the remaining length Y, and the EEPRPM 13 stores the receipt paper. The paper warning flag f is set to "1". On the other hand, if the total usage M 'is less than the calculated value (N-Y), it is determined that the paper is almost out of paper, and the paper warning flag f is kept reset to "0" ( Means of nearing out of paper).

On the other hand, if the remaining length (NM) of the receipt is smaller than the current use amount (F × T) in the determination processing of ST81, all the print data of this time is transferred to the receipt paper currently in use. Therefore, a print error response is transmitted to the POS control unit 15. Also, EE
The paper warning flag f stored and held by the RPM 13 is set to “1”. Thus, the CPU 11 ends the printing process.

By the way, the POS control unit 15 sets “registration”,
In the "inspection", "payment" or "setting" mode, when print data is generated by data processing, the print command is transmitted to the receipt printer.

The CPU 11 of the receipt printer has a POS
In the command waiting state from the control unit 15, when a feed command of the message format shown in FIG. 5D is received in ST9, the feed processing specifically shown in FIG. 10 is executed. In the message format of the feed command, the item “header” is STX,
"Command" is the identification code of the feed command,
The “feed length” is the empty feed amount L of the receipt paper, and the “terminator” is EOT.

That is, when the CPU 11 receives the feed command, the CPU 11 converts the data of the receipt length N, surplus length Y and used length M stored in the EEPROM 13 into R.
The data is read into the work memory 44 of the AM 14. Further, an empty feed amount L in the received command is obtained. And ST91
It is determined whether the value obtained by subtracting the used length M from the receipt length N, that is, the remaining length of the receipt is larger than the empty feed amount L.

As a result, the remaining length of the receipt (N-
If M) is larger than the empty feed amount L, the empty feed instructed by the reception command can be executed. Therefore, the drive of the feed motor 19 is controlled to execute the empty feed for the empty amount L of the receipt paper. After empty feed,
The CPU 11 obtains the current empty feed amount L as the usage amount of the receipt paper (use amount obtaining means). Then, the empty feed amount L is added to the use length M read into the RAM 14, and the total use amount M '(= M
After calculating (+ L), the use length M stored and held in the EEPROM 13 is updated to the total use amount M 'calculated this time (use amount accumulation means).

Next, the CPU 11 compares the total amount M 'calculated this time with a value (NY) obtained by subtracting the surplus length Y from the receipt length N read into the RAM 14. As a result, when the total usage amount M ′ is equal to or larger than the calculated value (N−Y), it is determined that the remaining length of the receipt paper is short of the remaining length Y, and the EEPRPM 13 stores the receipt paper. The paper warning flag f is set to "1". On the other hand, if the total usage M 'is less than the calculated value (N-Y), it is determined that the paper is almost out of paper, and the paper warning flag f is kept reset to "0" ( Means of nearing out of paper).

On the other hand, if the remaining length (NM) of the receipt is smaller than the current empty feed amount L in the determination processing of ST91, the empty feed commanded this time cannot be executed, so that a feed error response is issued. POS control unit 1
Send to 5. Further, the paper warning flag f stored and held by the EEPRPM 13 is set to “1”. Above,
The CPU 11 ends the feed processing.

Incidentally, the POS control unit 15 sets “registration”,
In the "inspection", "payment" or "setting" mode, when it becomes necessary to empty the receipt paper by inputting a receipt feed key or data processing, the feed command is transmitted to the receipt printer.

When the CPU 11 of the receipt printer has completed the setting process and the usage rate response process, the process returns to ST5 and waits for reception of the next command from the POS control unit 15. On the other hand, when the printing process or the feeding process is completed, the paper warning flag f stored in the EEPROM 13 is checked in step ST10. As a result, when the paper warning flag f is reset to “0”, the receipt paper is not nearly out of paper, so the process returns to ST5,
It waits for reception of the next command from the POS control unit 15.

On the other hand, if the paper warning flag f is set to "1", the receipt paper is almost out of paper, and a paper out warning message for warning that paper is about to run out is issued in ST11. The message is transmitted to the POS control unit 15 (means of near-paper shortage warning). Thereafter, in step ST12, the process waits for the receipt sheet to be removed from the sheet loading unit by a signal from the sheet sensor input to the I / O port 22. If it is detected that the receipt paper has been removed, the process returns to ST2, waits for a new receipt paper to be loaded in the paper loading section, and if loaded, determines that the receipt paper has been replaced. EEPRO
The use length M stored and held in M13 is cleared to "0". Further, the paper warning flag f is reset to “0”.
After that, it waits for a command from the POS control unit 15 to be received.

When the POS control unit 15 receives the out-of-paper warning notification message from the receipt printer, the POS control unit 15 informs the operator display 7 that the receipt paper is almost out of paper as shown in FIG. Warning message is displayed.

In the present embodiment having such a configuration, the receipt length N, which is the total length of the receipt paper, and the remaining length Y, which is the remaining amount that becomes a threshold when a near-out-of-paper warning of the receipt paper is issued, is provided. Can be set from the POS terminal 1. The set receipt length N and surplus length Y are stored and held in the EEPROM 13 of the receipt printer.

Therefore, when replacing the receipt paper, the operator of the POS terminal 1 checks whether the total length of the newly loaded receipt paper matches the receipt length N stored in the EEPROM 13. If they match, only the receipt paper is loaded. If they do not match, after the receipt paper is loaded, the receipt length N is reset in the “setting” mode. Further, the surplus length Y is reset if necessary. When the receipt paper is loaded, the leading end thereof is pulled out from the paper loading section to the printing section. Needless to say, the extra length Y is set in anticipation of the pulled-out amount.

When the receipt paper is exchanged, the EE
The use length M stored and held in the PROM 13 is cleared to "0". Also, the sheet warning flag f is reset to “0”. Thereafter, the operator operates the POS terminal 1 to execute various business processes. Then, when data to be printed on the receipt paper is generated by the execution of this business process, a print command is transmitted from the POS control unit 15 to the receipt printer. Thus, printing on the receipt paper is executed. At this time, in the receipt printer, the print command is analyzed and the print amount (F × F) of the current print data is determined based on the font size F of print characters and the number T of print lines.
T) is obtained, and the printing amount (F × T) is stored in the EEPROM 1
In step 3, it is added to the use length M stored and held. .

When the POS terminal 1 issues a request for empty feed of receipt paper, the POS controller 1
5, a feed command is transmitted to the receipt printer. As a result, an empty feed of the receipt paper is executed. At this time, the receipt printer analyzes the feed command to obtain the current feed amount L, and adds the feed amount L to the use length M.

As described above, every time data is printed on the receipt paper or a blank feed of the receipt paper is performed by the ordinary business processing in the POS terminal 1, the receipt printer obtains the usage amount of the receipt paper at that time. By adding the paper usage to the usage length M stored and held in the EEPROM 1, the total usage of the receipt paper up to the present time is stored and managed. When the usage length M, which is the total value of the paper usage, reaches a value obtained by subtracting the surplus length Y from the receipt length N, it is determined that the paper is almost out, and the screen of the operator display 7 is displayed. A message is displayed to warn you that you are close. Therefore, it is possible to reliably notify the operator that the receipt paper is almost out of paper without using a hardware sensor.

When the operator presses the usage rate output key K on the keyboard 5, the POS control section 15 sends a usage rate request command to the receipt printer. Thereby, in the receipt printer, the EEPROM 13
From the use length M and the receipt length N stored and held, the paper usage rate up to the present time with respect to the total length of the receipt paper is calculated. The paper usage rate is displayed on the operator display 7.
Will be displayed. Therefore, the operator can always check the usage amount and the remaining amount of the receipt paper up to the present time by a simple operation of simply pressing the usage rate output key K.

In this embodiment, the program is configured to automatically execute the usage rate response processing after the printing processing or the feeding processing is completed, so that the paper usage rate up to the present time can be constantly adjusted. The information may be displayed on the operator display 7 of the POS terminal 1. Further, by displaying the value of the used length M on the operator display 7 of the POS terminal 1 as it is, instead of the paper usage rate (cumulative usage output means), the operator can use the remaining usage paper and the remaining amount of paper up to the present time. May be confirmed.

In addition, it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention, such as applying the present invention to a continuous paper printer using web paper.

[0052]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a continuous paper printer capable of easily confirming the paper use status up to the present time. Further, according to the invention described in claim 2 of the present application, it is possible to provide a continuous paper printer capable of easily confirming the detailed paper use status up to the present time.
Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a continuous paper printer capable of detecting the near paper out condition without using a hardware sensor and improving reliability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a POS terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a receipt printer incorporated in the POS terminal.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of data stored and held in an EEPROM of the receipt printer.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a main memory area formed in a RAM of the receipt printer.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a record format of various commands transmitted from the POS control unit to the receipt printer.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a main part of a main process executed by a CPU of the receipt printer.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart specifically showing a setting process of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart specifically showing a usage rate response process in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart specifically showing the printing process of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart specifically showing the feed processing of FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the operator display of the POS terminal when the usage rate is notified from the receipt printer.

FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of a screen displayed on the operator display of the POS terminal when a paper-out warning is notified from the receipt printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... POS terminal 11 ... CPU 12 ... ROM 13 ... EEPROM 14 ... RAM 15 ... POS control part 16 ... Communication interface 17 ... Thermal head 19 ... Feed motor

Claims (3)

[Claims] In accordance with a command from a host, a continuous form of paper is fed in a direction perpendicular to the width direction and sent to a printing section, and the printing section prints on the paper in the width direction. In the continuous paper printer, each time a command from the host is received, the content of the command is analyzed to obtain the usage of the paper, and the usage for accumulating the paper usage obtained by the usage obtaining means. A continuous paper printer comprising: an amount accumulating means; and an accumulated amount output means for outputting an accumulated amount used by the feed accumulating means. 2. In accordance with a command from a host, a continuous form of paper is fed in a direction perpendicular to its width direction and sent to a printing section, and the printing section prints on the paper in its width direction. In the continuous paper printer, each time a command from the host is received, the content of the command is analyzed to obtain the usage of the paper, and the usage for accumulating the paper usage obtained by the usage obtaining means. A total length storage means for setting and storing the total length data of the paper; a paper usage status up to the present time based on the total paper length data stored by the full length storage means and the total usage amount by the usage totaling means; Data obtaining means for obtaining data indicating the paper usage status, and a usage status output means for outputting data indicating the paper usage status obtained by the usage data obtaining means. Continuous paper printer being characterized in that comprising the, the. 3. In accordance with a command from a host, a continuous form of paper is fed in a direction perpendicular to the width direction and sent to a printing section, and the printing section prints on the paper in the width direction. In the continuous paper printer, each time a command from the host is received, the content of the command is analyzed to obtain the usage of the paper, and the usage for accumulating the paper usage obtained by the usage obtaining means. A total length storage means for setting and storing the total length data of the paper; and a paper shortly before the paper runs out based on the total paper length data stored by the full length storage means and the total usage by the usage totaling means. Means for determining whether or not the sheet is about to run out, and when the sheet is about to run out of paper, the near-paper shortage is warned to that effect. Continuous paper printer being characterized in that comprising a tell means.