JP2004216762A - Printer, pos system and printing control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer and the like, which enable one printing operation to be set invalid depending on a situation, in the use of the printer capable of printing a receipt and a journal. <P>SOLUTION: This printer 1, which is connected to a host device 20 of a POS system, can print the receipt and the journal, including transaction information. The printer 1 is equipped with receipt printing means 15 and 17 and journal printing means 16 and 18. A setting switch 19 enables the selective setting of a normal printing mode for making either of receipt printing and journal printing valid and a receipt printing mode for making the receipt printing valid and making the journal printing invalid; and a CPU 11 performs control so that the printing operation of the printing means wherein the printing operation is set valid, can be performed, and performs the control so that the printing operation of the printing means wherein the printing operation is set invalid, cannot be performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus used in the field of sales business and the like, and in particular, a printing apparatus having both a function of printing a receipt including transaction information accompanying sales business and a function of printing a journal including the same transaction information. It is about.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, stores that sell products to customers have issued receipts for allowing customers to recognize transaction information on purchased products. Further, in order to store transaction contents at stores, transaction information similar to receipts is recorded as a journal. If a printer having two functions, a receipt printing function and a journal printing function, is installed instead of printing the receipt and the journal separately, it is convenient for the store. If such a printer is used, it is possible to print a receipt to be given to a customer at the time of settlement and, at the same time, to print a journal for storage, which is highly useful in smoothly performing a sales operation (for example, see Patent Document 1). 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-9-185768
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in a store in which a printer having the two functions as described above is installed, even if the printing function of both the receipt and the journal is used at first, one of the functions may not be needed due to a change in circumstances. Storing transaction information using printed journals is stipulated by law, but for example, it is assumed that a journal revision will be made unnecessary in the future and that a journal printing function will become unnecessary. Is done. In general, since a printer detects the presence or absence of a sheet with a sensor, even when a printer having the above two functions is used exclusively for receipt printing, the printing operation is stopped due to the detection of the sheet running out in journal printing. Therefore, if the unnecessary journal paper is not always set, the printing operation of the receipt will be hindered. On the other hand, when a printer dedicated to receipt printing is newly introduced at a store to comply with the law revision, considerable costs are required, and a POS (Point Of Sale) system is built at the store. In this case, system changes such as modification of application software on the host side become complicated. Alternatively, the receipt printing function may not be required depending on the operation status of the printer in the store, and the same problem occurs in this case.
[0005]
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and when using a printing apparatus capable of printing a receipt and a journal including transaction information accompanying sales business, one printing operation is invalidated according to the situation. A printing device that can be set, does not require an increase in cost and does not require complicated system changes, and can reliably execute a printing operation on a valid side without being affected by a state of a disabled side. The purpose is to provide.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, a printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of printing units that print predetermined information on a print medium, and a method for enabling or disabling a printing operation of at least one of the plurality of printing units. An operation setting unit that can be selectively set and a printing unit for which the printing operation is set to be valid by the operation setting unit are controlled so as to execute the printing operation, and the printing operation is performed by the operation setting unit. Control means for controlling the printing means set to be invalid so as not to execute the printing operation is provided.
[0007]
In the printing apparatus configured as described above, the plurality of printing units include a printing unit that can selectively set the validity or invalidity of the printing operation by the operation setting unit, and the control unit performs printing on the printing unit. According to the setting of the operation, control is performed so that the printing operation is executed when the setting is enabled, while the printing operation is not executed when the setting is disabled. Therefore, depending on the situation in which the printing apparatus is used, unnecessary printing means can be set to invalid, and then printing can be performed by the necessary printing means. Can be changed to
[0008]
In addition, the printing apparatus of the present invention includes a receipt printing unit that prints a receipt including transaction information associated with a sales operation, a journal printing unit that prints a journal including the transaction information, the receipt printing unit, and the journal printing unit. An operation setting means for selectively enabling or disabling a printing operation of at least one of the printing means; and executing the printing operation on the printing means for which the printing operation is set to be valid by the operation setting means. And control means for controlling not to execute the printing operation on the printing means for which the printing operation is set invalid by the operation setting means.
[0009]
The printing apparatus configured as described above includes two printing units that perform a receipt printing function and a journal printing function, and each printing operation can be selectively set by the operation setting unit. The control is performed such that the printing operation is performed for the printing unit that has been set to, while the printing operation for the printing unit that has been set to be disabled is not executed. Therefore, when using a printing device for sales operations at stores, etc., if a receipt or journal is no longer required due to usage conditions or legal system, disable the printing operation and ensure that only necessary printing operations are performed. The function of the printing apparatus can be appropriately changed while maintaining the apparatus configuration.
[0010]
Further, in the present invention, the operation setting means includes a normal print mode for enabling the printing operation of both the receipt printing means and the journal printing means, and a journal printing means for enabling the printing operation of the receipt printing means. The receipt print mode in which the print operation of the above is invalidated may be selectively set.
[0011]
As a result, the printer is initially set to the normal printing mode and used as a printing device that has both the receipt printing function and the journal printing function. When journal printing becomes unnecessary due to a subsequent revision of the law, the printer is set to the receipt printing mode and the receipt printing is performed The function of the printing device can be changed as needed, such as by using it as a dedicated printing device.
[0012]
Also, in the present invention, the operation setting means may include a journal print mode for invalidating a print operation of the receipt print means and enabling a print operation of the journal print means in addition to the normal print mode and the receipt print mode. May be selectively settable.
[0013]
As a result, the printer is initially set to the normal print mode and is used as a printing apparatus having both the receipt print function and the journal print function, and is then set to the receipt print mode or the journal print mode according to a change in the situation, whereby the receipt print is performed. It can be used as either a dedicated printing device or a dedicated printing device for journal printing.
[0014]
Further, in the present invention, the operation setting means may set each of the print modes by a switchable switch.
[0015]
Thereby, the function of the printing apparatus can be appropriately changed by a simple switching operation, and the convenience can be improved.
[0016]
Further, in the present invention, the setting switch may be a dip switch installed inside a printing apparatus.
[0017]
As a result, the function of the printing apparatus can be appropriately changed by using the DIP switch as a setting switch, and it is necessary to open the printing apparatus at the time of setting. Thus, a predetermined person can set the above functions by a simple operation.
[0018]
In the present invention, the receipt printing means and the journal printing means may be constituted by a thermal printer.
[0019]
As a result, a general-purpose thermal printer is used to support both receipt printing and journal printing, so that the printing device can be configured at low cost and the configuration of receipt printing and journal printing can be reduced. Processing can be shared.
[0020]
Further, in the present invention, when receiving a status request from the outside, the control unit analyzes a status corresponding to a printing operation of the receipt printing unit and the journal printing unit, and enables a printing operation by the operation setting unit. The status relating to the set printing unit may be returned, and the status relating to the printing unit for which the printing operation is set to invalid by the operation setting unit may not be returned.
[0021]
As a result, when a status request is received, only the status relating to a printing unit for which the printing operation setting is valid is returned, while the status relating to the printing unit having an invalid printing operation setting is ignored without being returned. Even if the status is abnormal due to the status of the correct side, it is possible to avoid affecting the printing operation of the valid side.
[0022]
Further, in the present invention, the receipt printing means and the journal printing means are provided with one or more sensors for detecting respective operation states, and the control means determines whether the detection state of each sensor is normal or abnormal. For the printing means for which the printing operation is set to be invalid by the operation setting means, all the determination results for each sensor provided in the printing means are set as a normal detection state. Is also good.
[0023]
With this, when it is determined whether the operation state is normal or abnormal based on the detection state of the sensor provided in each printing unit, the printing unit in which the setting of the printing operation is invalid is normal even if the abnormality is in the abnormal detection state. Therefore, even if the sensor on the invalid side detects, for example, out of paper, it is possible to avoid affecting the printing operation on the valid side.
[0024]
Further, a POS system can be configured including the printing apparatus of the present invention.
[0025]
Further, a print control method according to the present invention is a print control method for a printing apparatus having a plurality of printing means for printing predetermined information on a print medium, wherein the printing control method includes a method for printing at least one of the plurality of printing means. An operation setting step of selectively setting the validity or invalidity of the operation; and controlling the printing unit in which the printing operation is set to be valid in the operation setting step to execute the printing operation. And a control step of controlling not to execute the printing operation on the printing unit in which the printing operation is set to be invalid in the step.
[0026]
With the printing control method including these steps, the same operation and effect as those of the printing apparatus of the present invention can be achieved.
[0027]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a printing device installed in a store in which a POS system is built.
[0028]
FIG. 1 is an example of an external view of a printer 1 functioning as a printing apparatus of the present invention. The printer 1 is used when printing a receipt or a journal in the POS system of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a printer 1 according to the present embodiment includes a first cover 2, a second cover 3, an outlet 4, a monitor window 5, a power switch 6, and an operation unit 7. have.
[0029]
In FIG. 1, a receipt printing mechanism, which will be described later, that performs a receipt printing function is housed inside the printer 1 below the first cover 2, and the first cover 2 is opened at a predetermined position in a state opened in the direction of arrow a. The receipt roll paper 8 can be set. Further, a journal printing mechanism, which will be described later, that performs a journal printing function is housed inside the printer 1 below the second cover 3, and the journal cover is opened at a predetermined position with the second cover 3 opened in the direction of arrow b. The roll paper 9 can be set.
[0030]
When the receipt printing is executed in the printer 1, the printing operation is performed while the set receipt roll paper 8 is being fed, and then the transaction is included in the cut product at a predetermined position. The receipt is printed out. Then, the printed receipt is discharged from the discharge port 4.
[0031]
On the other hand, when journal printing is executed in the printer 1, a printing operation is performed while the set journal roll paper 9 is fed, and a journal including transaction information similar to the receipt is printed. And is wound up and held on a reel provided at At this time, the operator can monitor the printing operation on the journal roll paper 9 via the monitor window 5 and check the print contents of the journal.
[0032]
In FIG. 1, when a power switch 6 provided on the front of the printer 1 is turned on, the printer 1 is started up, and a printing operation is enabled. Further, the operator can perform a desired operation on the printer 1 using the operation unit 7. In addition, as a printing method used for receipt printing and journal printing in the present embodiment, for example, a general-purpose thermal method is adopted.
[0033]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the printer 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 1 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a communication interface 14, a receipt print control circuit 15, a journal print control circuit 16, a receipt print mechanism 17, a journal print mechanism 18, and the like. And a setting switch 19.
[0034]
In the above-described configuration, the CPU 11 functions as a control unit of the present invention by controlling the overall operation of the printer 1 and sequentially executing a program that performs processing described below. Programs and data necessary for processing by the CPU 11 are stored in the ROM 12 in advance. The data stored in the ROM 12 includes font data and the like necessary for printing. The RAM 13 stores rewritable receipt print data, journal print data, various setting data, and the like to be printed. The CPU 11 accesses the ROM 12 or the RAM 13 at a predetermined timing, and performs a read process on the ROM 12 or a read / write process on the RAM 13.
[0035]
The communication interface 14 controls communication between the printer 1 and a host device 20 connected by a communication cable. The host device 20 executes an application program related to the POS system, and sends commands and data to the printer 1 at a predetermined timing. Then, in the printer 1, the command and data received via the communication interface 14 are sent to the CPU 11, and the processing described later is executed. Note that the communication interface 14 can use various standards regarding the communication method and the communication speed.
[0036]
The receipt print control circuit 15 supplies a drive signal corresponding to receipt print data to be printed to the receipt print mechanism 17 under the instruction of the CPU 11 to control the receipt printing operation. On the other hand, the journal print control circuit 16 supplies a drive signal corresponding to journal print data to be printed to the journal print mechanism 18 under the command of the CPU 11 to control the journal printing operation.
[0037]
The receipt printing mechanism 17 drives the paper feed mechanism and the print head by the receipt printing control circuit 15 to print on the set receipt roll paper 8. Similarly, in the journal printing mechanism section 18, the paper feed mechanism and the print head are driven by the journal printing control circuit 16 to perform printing on the set journal roll paper 9. Each of the receipt printing mechanism 17 and the journal printing mechanism 18 includes a mechanism member for feeding each roll paper and a print head necessary for printing a print image, and is provided around the later described later. It operates integrally with the various sensors and other mechanism members.
[0038]
The receipt printing control circuit 15 and the receipt printing mechanism 17 function as receipt printing means of the present invention, and the journal printing control circuit 16 and the journal printing mechanism 18 function as journal printing means of the present invention.
[0039]
Here, with reference to FIG. 3, a description will be given of a configuration of main parts and input / output signals around the receipt printing mechanism 17 and the journal printing mechanism 18 described above. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a main configuration and input / output signals of the receipt printing mechanism 17. The configuration of the journal printing mechanism section 18 is also substantially the same as that of FIG.
[0040]
As shown in FIG. 3, as sensors associated with the receipt printing mechanism 17, a platen open sensor 31, a cover open sensor 32, a real end sensor 33, a near end sensor 34, and a print head temperature sensor 35 are provided. Have been. The receipt printing mechanism 17 is supplied with power of a predetermined voltage, and is supplied with various control signals and print head drive signals corresponding to receipt print data.
[0041]
In FIG. 3, a platen open sensor 31 is a sensor that detects a moving state of a platen attached to the receipt printing mechanism 17. When the platen moves to the position where the receipt roll paper 8 is pressed against the print head, printing is enabled. On the other hand, when the platen moves to a position away from the receipt roll paper 8 (open state), printing is stopped. Since it is impossible, the moving state of the platen is determined based on the detection signal of the platen open sensor 31. The cover open sensor 32 is a sensor that detects the open / closed state of the first cover 2 illustrated in FIG. When the receipt roll paper 8 is set, the first cover 2 is opened, whereas during the printing operation, the first cover 2 needs to be closed. It is determined by 32 detection signals.
[0042]
The real end sensor 33 and the near end sensor 34 are sensors that detect the end of the receipt roll paper 8. The real end sensor 33 detects the end position (real end) of the receipt roll paper 8, while the near end sensor 34 detects the position (near end) a predetermined distance before the end position of the receipt roll paper 8. To detect. The real-end sensor 33 and the near-end sensor 34 can be configured, for example, by irradiating the receipt roll paper 8 with light from a light emitting element and detecting the reflected light with a light receiving element.
[0043]
The print head temperature sensor 35 is a sensor that detects whether or not a predetermined temperature is exceeded when the print head is heated. The thermal print head may be damaged as a result of heat generated by a long-time printing operation, and it is necessary to prevent an extreme rise in temperature. Therefore, the output of the print head temperature sensor 35 is monitored. When the print head temperature sensor 35 detects that the print head is in a high temperature state, the print operation is stopped for a predetermined time.
[0044]
The detection signals of the above-described sensors are acquired by the CPU 11 from the receipt printing mechanism 17 via the receipt printing control circuit 15. As a result, the CPU 11 determines the state of the receipt printing mechanism 17 based on the detection signals of the sensors, and performs optimal control. For example, when out of paper, abnormal temperature of the print head, or the like is detected, the printing operation is stopped, and the occurrence of an error can be indicated using a display unit such as an LED.
[0045]
On the other hand, various control signals supplied from the receipt printing control circuit 15 or the CPU 11 are supplied to components of the receipt printing mechanism 17. For example, a control signal for displaying the state of the printing operation is supplied to the above-described LED driving circuit. The print head drive signal corresponding to the above-described receipt print data supplied from the receipt print control circuit 15 includes, in addition to the data for each dot matching the print image, an energization timing for appropriate heating control by a thermal method. Is also included.
[0046]
In the present embodiment, when the normal print mode is set, the printing operation is stopped when occurrence of an error in each sensor during journal printing or receipt printing is confirmed. On the other hand, when the receipt printing mode is set, the receipt printing operation may be continued while ignoring the occurrence of an error in each sensor of the journal printing mechanism unit 18, which will be described in detail later.
[0047]
Next, in FIG. 2, a setting switch 19 is a switch for setting a print mode as a mode of a printing operation by the printer 1, and functions as an operation setting unit of the present invention in cooperation with the CPU 11. FIG. 4 is a diagram specifically showing a print mode that can be set by the setting switch 19. As shown in FIG. 4, the print mode of the printer 1 can be switched and set to one of the normal print mode and the receipt print mode by the setting switch 19. When the normal print mode is set, the printer 1 performs both print operations of receipt printing and journal printing.
On the other hand, when the printer 1 is set to the receipt printing mode, the printer 1 enables the printing operation of the receipt printing, but disables the printing operation of the journal printing.
[0048]
That is, the normal print mode is a print mode in which the printer 1 operates as a multifunction printer having both the receipt print function and the journal print function. On the other hand, the receipt print mode is a print mode in which the journal print function of the printer 1 does not operate, and the printer 1 operates as a receipt printing printer having only the receipt print function.
[0049]
As the setting switch 19, for example, a DIP switch installed on a circuit board inside the printer 1 may be used. Generally, switching of the setting switch 19 is required only under special circumstances such as when the journal printing function becomes unnecessary due to a law revision or the like. Therefore, it is desirable that the setting switch 19 be provided in an inconspicuous location inside the printer 1 and be operated by a predetermined person in charge. As the setting switch 19, a memory switch configured as a non-volatile memory unit may be used instead of using a dip switch.
[0050]
In the present embodiment, it is necessary to continue the receipt printing operation without stopping even when an abnormal state is detected by each sensor attached to the journal printing mechanism unit 18 in the situation where the receipt printing mode is set. There is. As a method therefor, a first method for ignoring a journal print status request from the host device 20 and a second method for recognizing an abnormal state detected by each sensor attached to the journal print mechanism unit 18 as a normal state. There is. Hereinafter, the printing process based on the first and second methods will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.
[0051]
First, FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process executed by the printer 1 according to the present embodiment. The printing process shown in FIG. 5 is a process common to the above-described first method and second method. In FIG. 5, when starting the print processing, the print data to be printed is transmitted from the host device 20 at a predetermined timing together with the print command. Then, the CPU 11 of the printer 1 receives the print data and the print command transmitted from the host device 20 (Step S11), and performs preparation and command analysis prior to the printing process (Step S12).
[0052]
Here, the functions of the CPU 11 related to steps S11 and S12 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating functions related to the printing process of the CPU 11. In FIG. 6, data received from the host device 20 is received by the receiving unit 101 of the CPU 11 via the communication interface 14 and is sequentially accumulated in a receiving buffer. Then, the command analysis unit 103 analyzes the print command prior to the print processing. Thus, it is possible to determine whether the received print data is to be printed for receipt printing or journal printing, and to determine a program to be executed in the printing process. In addition, the command analysis unit 103 develops print data to be printed in a format that matches the actual print image.
[0053]
Next, in FIG. 5, when it is determined that the print data to be printed is the target of receipt printing based on the analysis result of step S12 (step S13; receipt printing), the print control unit 105 shown in FIG. Control of receipt printing is started (step S14). The print control unit 105 sends a print command to the receipt print control circuit 15 and causes the receipt print mechanism 17 to execute a print operation. As a result, a receipt including desired contents is printed out on the receipt roll paper 8 (step S15), and the processing in FIG. 5 is completed.
[0054]
On the other hand, when it is determined that the print data to be printed is the target of journal printing based on the analysis result of step S12 (step S13: journal printing), the state of the setting switch 19 is read to determine the printing mode. (Step S16). As a result, when the normal print mode is set, journal print control is started by the print control unit 105 shown in FIG. 6 (step S17). The print control unit 105 sends a print command to the journal print control circuit 16 and causes the journal print mechanism unit 18 to execute a print operation. As a result, a journal containing desired contents is printed out on the journal roll paper 9 (step S18), and the processing in FIG. 5 ends.
[0055]
On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S16 is that the receipt print mode has been set, the processing in FIG. 5 ends without executing steps S17 and S18. In this case, since the journal printing operation is invalidated, the journal printing is not performed regardless of the analysis result in step S12.
[0056]
Next, FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a status return process executed by the printer 1 as a process corresponding to the above-described first method. In FIG. 7, when starting the status reply process, a status request is transmitted from the host device 20 at a predetermined timing. The CPU 11 of the printer 1 receives the status request transmitted from the host device 20 (step S21), analyzes the command by the command analyzer 103 of FIG. 6 (step S22), and obtains the status related to the receipt printing function or the journal printing function. Is to be obtained.
[0057]
At the time of the status request, it is possible to specify a status necessary for determining the operation state of the printer 1, but in the following description, each status mainly associated with the receipt printing mechanism 17 or the journal printing mechanism 18 will be described. The detection state of the sensor is assumed as the status.
[0058]
Next, when it is determined based on the analysis result in step S22 that the target of the status request is related to the receipt printing function (step S23; receipt printing), the necessary status is acquired and returned to the host device 20. (Step S24), the processing in FIG. 7 ends.
[0059]
Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the detection state of each sensor of the receipt print function or the journal print function is input to the status analysis unit 104 via the print control unit 105. The status analysis unit 104 can determine whether the detection state of each sensor is normal or abnormal based on a predetermined condition and a predetermined timing, and obtain a status based on the result. The status thus obtained may be stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 13, for example. Then, in step S24, from among the statuses stored in the RAM 13, the status related to the receipt printing function is selected and read out, and then the status may be transmitted from the transmission unit 102 in FIG.
[0060]
On the other hand, when it is determined based on the analysis result of step S22 that the target of the status request is related to the journal print function (step S23; journal print), the state of the setting switch 19 is read to determine the print mode. (Step S25). As a result, when the normal print mode is set, the necessary status is acquired and returned to the host device 20 (step S26), and the processing in FIG. 7 ends. On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S25 is that the receipt print mode has been set, the process in FIG. 7 ends without returning the status in step S26. In step S26, from among the statuses analyzed by the status analysis unit 104, those related to the journal print function are selected and read, and then transmitted from the transmission unit 102 via the communication interface 14.
[0061]
As described above, according to the first method, when the receipt switch mode is set by the setting switch 19, the status request for the journal print function from the host device 20 is ignored, and the status is returned from the printer 1. Never. As a result, even if an error occurs in the journal printing mechanism 18 such as, for example, the journal roll paper 9 being out of paper, the receipt printing operation can be reliably performed without affecting the receipt printing function. Can continue.
[0062]
Next, FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a sensor state determination process executed by the printer 1 as a process corresponding to the above-described second method. This sensor state determination processing is processing for determining the detection state of each sensor attached to the receipt printing mechanism unit 17 and the journal printing mechanism unit 18, and is executed by the CPU 11 at predetermined time intervals.
[0063]
In FIG. 8, when the sensor state determination process is started at a timing determined by the CPU 11, the detection signals from the sensors attached to the receipt printing mechanism 17 and the journal printing mechanism 18, respectively, are output to the receipt printing control circuit 15 or It is detected by the print control unit 105 via the journal print control circuit 16 (step S31). Then, the status analysis unit 104 analyzes the detection signal of each sensor detected in step S31, and determines whether each detection state is a normal state or an abnormal state according to a condition determined for each sensor. (Step S32). For example, taking the print head temperature sensor 35 as an example, if a predetermined threshold value is exceeded, it is determined that the state is abnormal.
[0064]
Next, the state of the setting switch 19 is read to determine the print mode, and when the print mode is set (step S33; receipt print mode), the journal printing is performed among the detection states of the sensors determined in step S32. Then, the detection state of each sensor is set to the normal state (step S34), and the processing in FIG. That is, even if one of the sensors related to the journal printing function is in an abnormal state for some reason, it is replaced with a normal state in step S34. On the other hand, as a result of the determination of the print mode, when the normal print mode is set (step S33; normal print mode), the processing in FIG. 8 is ended without executing step S34.
[0065]
As described above, according to the second method, when the setting switch 19 sets the receipt print mode, the sensor for the journal print function is always recognized as a normal state. As a result, when the status of the printer 1 is transmitted to the host device 20, the operation of receipt printing can be reliably continued without shifting to error processing or the like, and the second method has the same effect as the first method. Can be achieved.
[0066]
In addition, it is possible to apply various changes to the above embodiment. For example, although the case where the setting switch 19 shown in FIG. 4 is used to switch between two print modes, ie, the normal print mode and the receipt print mode, the print mode can be set, other print modes may be added. FIG. 9 shows a modification of the present embodiment, in which the journal print mode can be switched and set in addition to the two print modes shown in FIG. The journal print mode shown in FIG. 9 is a print mode in which the receipt print function of the printer 1 does not operate and the printer 1 operates as a journal print-only printer having only the journal print function.
[0067]
As described above, according to the printer 1 of the present embodiment, when both the receipt printing function and the journal printing function are required for use in the store sales operation, the setting switch is set according to a change in the situation thereafter. The use mode can be changed as appropriate by switching the print mode with the button 19. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, in the case of the setting switch 19 capable of switching between the normal print mode and the receipt print mode, at normal times, the same transaction information is printed on the receipt and the journal and used. When there is a law change that makes it unnecessary to store transaction information in a journal, it can be used as a printer dedicated to receipt printing. In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, in the case of the setting switch 19 which can switch the journal print mode in addition to the above two print modes, it is possible to avoid waste of paper when the customer uses it for work that does not require a receipt. Can be.
[0068]
Further, according to the printer 1 of the present embodiment, by using the first method and the second method described above, the state of the receipt printing function and the journal printing function on the side where the printing operation is disabled is set. For this reason (for example, detection of running out of paper), it is possible to avoid adversely affecting the printing operation on the side where the printing operation is set to be valid.
[0069]
In the present embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the printer 1 having both the receipt printing function and the journal printing function has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be widely applied to a printing apparatus having means. In this case, in addition to a plurality of printing units having different functions, a plurality of printing units having similar functions may be used. For example, the present invention is applied to a printer having two receipt printing units having the same functions, and the printing operation of the receipt printing unit that has run out of paper during printing is invalidated, and the printing operation by the other receipt printing units is automatically performed. A control for switching the power may be performed. As a result, the reliability when the printer is used in an unattended operation environment can be improved.
[0070]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when a printing apparatus that prints a receipt and a journal including transaction information associated with a sales operation is used, the printing operation of one of the receipt printing unit and the journal printing unit is performed. Can be selectively set as valid or invalid, so that the necessary printing operation of the printing unit can be reliably executed in a state where the unnecessary printing unit is not operated according to the situation.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an example of an external view of a printer functioning as a printing apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the printer according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of main parts around a receipt printing mechanism and a journal printing mechanism and input / output signals.
FIG. 4 is a diagram specifically showing a print mode that can be set by a setting switch.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process executed by the printer according to the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating functions related to print processing of a CPU.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a status return process executed by the printer as a process corresponding to the first method of the embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a sensor state determination process executed by the printer as a process corresponding to the second method of the embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a diagram specifically showing a print mode that can be set by a setting switch in a modified example of the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Printer
2 First cover
3 Second cover
4 outlet
5 Monitor window
6 Power switch
7 Operation section
8 Receipt roll paper
9 Roll paper for journals
11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
14 Communication interface
15 Receipt printing control circuit
16 Journal print control circuit
17 Receipt printing mechanism
18 Journal printing mechanism
19 Setting switch
20 Host device
31 Platen open sensor
32 Cover open sensor
33 Real End Sensor
34 Near-end sensor
35 Print head temperature sensor
101 Receiver
102 transmission unit
103 Command analysis unit
104 Status analysis unit
105 Print control unit

Claims (11)

A plurality of printing means for printing predetermined information on a print medium;
An operation setting unit that can selectively set validity or invalidity of a printing operation for at least one printing unit of the plurality of printing units;
For the printing means for which the printing operation is set to be valid by the operation setting means, control is performed so as to execute the printing operation, and for the printing means for which the printing operation is set to be invalid by the operation setting means, Control means for controlling not to execute the printing operation. Receipt printing means for printing a receipt including transaction information associated with the sales business,
Journal printing means for printing a journal including the transaction information,
An operation setting unit that can selectively set validity or invalidity of a printing operation for at least one of the receipt printing unit and the journal printing unit,
For the printing means for which the printing operation is set to be valid by the operation setting means, control is performed so as to execute the printing operation, and for the printing means for which the printing operation is set to be invalid by the operation setting means, Control means for controlling not to execute the printing operation. The operation setting unit is a normal print mode that enables both the receipt printing unit and the journal printing unit to perform a printing operation, and the printing operation of the receipt printing unit is enabled and the journal printing unit is disabled. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a receipt print mode to be set can be selectively set. The operation setting unit can selectively set a journal printing mode in which the printing operation of the receipt printing unit is disabled and the printing operation of the journal printing unit is enabled in addition to the normal printing mode and the receipt printing mode. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the operation setting unit sets each of the print modes using a switchable switch. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the setting switch is a dip switch installed inside the printing apparatus. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the receipt printing unit and the journal printing unit are configured by a thermal printer. The control unit, when receiving a status request from the outside, analyzes a status corresponding to a printing operation of the receipt printing unit and the journal printing unit, and a printing unit in which a printing operation is set to be valid by the operation setting unit. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a status regarding the printing unit whose printing operation is set to be invalid by the operation setting unit is not returned while returning a status regarding the printing unit. The receipt printing means and the journal printing means are provided with one or a plurality of sensors for detecting their respective operation states,
The control unit determines whether the detection state of each of the sensors is normal or abnormal, and, for a printing unit in which a printing operation is set to be invalid by the operation setting unit, a sensor provided in the printing unit. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein all of the determination results regarding are set as a normal detection state. A POS system including the printing device according to any one of claims 2 to 10. A printing control method for a printing apparatus including a plurality of printing units for printing predetermined information on a printing medium,
An operation setting step of selectively setting validity or invalidity of a printing operation for at least one printing unit of the plurality of printing units;
In the operation setting step, the printing operation is set to be valid for the printing unit is controlled to execute the printing operation, and in the operation setting step, the printing operation is set to invalid for the printing unit, A control step of controlling not to execute the printing operation.

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