JP2001232895A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a note, a ticket, a coupon, etc., from being unfairly issued by operating a printer from the outside in the printer for issuing the note, the ticket, the coupon, etc. SOLUTION: A plurality of functions can be set to a button provided on an operational panel by commands from an information processing apparatus and when the button is pushed, which function is selected is judged in a command interpreting part and a processing for practicing is performed based on the result on judgement.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer used in connection with an information processing apparatus such as a computer or a word processor, and particularly has a feature in a button function of an operation panel thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is known a printer provided with a function of feeding paper or temporarily stopping printing by pressing a button on an operation panel provided in the printer. A similar operation can be performed by sending a command from an information processing apparatus such as a computer or a word processor to a printer without operating the buttons on the operation panel.

[0003]

However, when a conventional printer is used for printing and issuing cash vouchers, tickets, tickets, etc., the printer must be operated from the outside,
When the paper is fed, blanks are issued, which causes problems such as forgery, which is not preferable. In addition, when printing the same print content several times, after printing the number of sheets sent from the information processing apparatus, in order to print additional sheets, the print data is resent from the information processing apparatus or the last print data is sent. The print data must be buffered and stored, and a reissue button must be provided on the printer so that when the button is pressed, the stored data is reprinted. As described above, there is a problem that the number of buttons increases when an operation function is added.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a means for setting a plurality of functions corresponding to buttons provided on an operation panel by a command from an information processing apparatus. It comprises means for storing the settings, means for determining the set function when the button is pressed, and means for executing processing based on the result of the determination.

[0005]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the printer according to the present invention. A printer mechanism is housed inside the printer 11, and data can be sent from an information processing device such as a personal computer or a word processor to the printer to perform printing.

An operation panel 12 is provided on the front of the printer 11. The operation panel 12 has buttons 15.16.
17, an LED 14 that is turned on when the power is turned on, and an LCD 13 for displaying the status of the printer.

A pause function is assigned to the pause button 15, and printing can be temporarily stopped by pressing the pause button 15 once during printing. Pressing the pause button 15 once more resumes printing. Further, when the pause button 15 is pressed while the printer is in the standby state, switching between offline and online can be performed.

A feed function is assigned to the feed button 16. When the feed button 16 is pressed, the paper is fed, and when the button is released, the paper feed is stopped. When the power is turned on while pressing the feed button 16, the system settings can be changed. Each time the feed button 16 is pressed, the display of items to be set such as baud rate, I / O port, serial, and cutter is changed. Press the button 15 to move the cursor to the item displayed on the LCD 13,
By pressing the feed button 16, the setting can be selected to change the setting of the printer.

A stop function is assigned to the stop button 17, and if the stop button 17 is pressed during printing, the print contents can be discarded and printing can be stopped.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are flow charts of data processing when the feed button 16 in this embodiment is pressed. In the command interpreter of the CPU, FLAG = 0 when SW = 0, FLAG = 1, SW = when SW = 1
In the case of 2, the function is determined to be FLAG = 2, and the flag is set. Default value SW = 0 if no SW is specified
Is treated as The set SW value is stored in a nonvolatile memory in the printer.

When the feed button ON is detected, the function is determined by the command interpreter. An operation function is assigned to each FLAG. As an example, when FLAG = 0, normal paper feed processing is performed. When FLAG = 0 is not satisfied, the process proceeds to the next step. When FLAG = 1, invalid print processing is performed. If FLAG = 1 is not satisfied, the process proceeds to the next step, and if FLAG = 2, reprint processing for final printing is performed.

When printing a cash voucher or the like, SW = 1 is sent by a command from the information processing apparatus, and the printer is set to SW =
If it is set to 1, when the feed button of the printer is pressed, a non-reusable pattern such as solid printing on the entire surface can be printed on the paper, so that unauthorized printing by operating the printer cannot be performed. . If the same pattern is used for printing many sheets, SW = 2
Set to. When the printer is set to SW = 2, by pressing the feed button of the printer, the last printed one is stored in the printer, and a function of re-issuing is provided. Can be reissued without sending

As another embodiment, in the feed button processing section, as an operation function for the FLAG, the FLAG can be set so as not to operate with the input invalid. In this case, when the printer is used for printing a cash voucher or the like, the recording paper is not fed even if the button of the printer is operated, so that the recording paper is not taken out.

Since various functions can be assigned to the FLAG, various functions can be assigned even if the number of buttons provided on the operation panel is small. In this way, if the functions of the buttons are set by the command from the information processing terminal, various operations can be set by operating the buttons on the operation panel of the printer. In the embodiment, the case where the function is allocated to the feed button has been described. However, the function can be similarly allocated to other buttons by a command. In this way,
When a printer is used at a storefront to issue a cash voucher, the function can be limited to button operations, thereby preventing unauthorized issuance of a cash voucher.

[0015]

According to the structure of the present invention, even if the number of buttons on the operation panel is small, a plurality of functions can be assigned to one button by a command. Settings can be made, and operability is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a command interpreter of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a feed button processing unit of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the printer of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Printer apparatus 12 Operation panel 15, 16, 17 Button 14 LED 13 LCD

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 15/20 566A

Claims (1)

[Claims] A means for setting a plurality of functions corresponding to buttons provided on an operation panel by a command from an information processing device; a means for storing the settings; A printer comprising: means for determining a set function; and means for executing processing based on a result of the determination.