JP2009297984A - Printing apparatus, method for controlling printing apparatus and program for controlling printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a delay of issuing a receipt by forcibly delivering a paper and issuing the receipt when a set time passes even when printing data such as information on settlement of account of the next receipt can not be received immediately after a cut reservation command is received. <P>SOLUTION: A printing apparatus is equipped with a receiving part 11 for receiving the printing data and a controlling command, a printing head 12a for printing the printing data on the paper based on the controlling command, a paper conveying part 12b for conveying the paper, a cutting mechanism part 12c for cutting the paper, a timer 13 for measuring time after the cut reservation command is received, and a controlling part 14 for controlling the receiving part 11, the printing mechanism part 12 and the timer 13. The controlling part 14 determines whether or not the printing data by regulated line numbers are printed: when the printing is finished, after the printing mechanism part 12 is controlled to make the printing line number to the next receipt become the regulated line number, cutting the paper is executed, and when the printing is not finished, a paper delivery of a length for the remaining line numbers which are not printed is executed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus control method, a printing apparatus control program, and a printing apparatus incorporated in, for example, a POS system register, and in particular, prints payment information on continuous paper such as roll paper and issues a receipt. In this case, the present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a printing apparatus control method, and a printing apparatus control program for printing after printing a predetermined number of lines of print data relating to the next receipt.

  For example, in a printing apparatus incorporated in a POS (Piot of Sale) register or the like, roll paper (recording sheet) is used as printing paper for receipt, and the receipt (receipt) is automatically cut at an appropriate location. A cutter mechanism is provided.

  FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration around a printing unit of a conventional printing apparatus. In FIG. 6, desired printing is completed by the print head 101, and the paper feed roller 103 and the paper feed auxiliary roller 104 are rotated to feed the paper to a position necessary for issuing a printed paper slip. The printing paper 102 is cut by 105. As described above, since the paper cutter is on the downstream side of the print head, after the printing of the print data is completed, the paper is cut after the paper is fed by the interval from the print head to the paper cutter.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation from the cut command confirmation to the cut in the conventional printing apparatus. As shown in FIG. 6, paper feeding for the interval from the (center) position of the print head to the cutter blade position is an unavoidable operation due to restrictions on the configuration of the printing apparatus, and the next receipt printing start shown in FIG. A blank where nothing is printed is generated in the portion A up to the position, and this portion has a problem that the receipt is wasted.

  Therefore, a printing apparatus has been proposed that has control means for roll paper cueing processing, and performs reverse feeding of the roll paper after the cutting operation to prevent waste of the roll paper for the interval (for example, Patent Document 1). According to this printing apparatus, useless blank portions due to paper feeding are returned by reverse feeding after the receipt is cut, so that the next receipt can be printed immediately after the leading edge of the paper, thereby preventing waste of paper. Can do.

JP-A-6-31990 JP 2005-335125 A

  However, the conventional printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 described above requires a separate mechanism for reverse feeding, and the manufacturing cost compared to a general printing apparatus having only a forward paper feeding mechanism. However, there was a problem that deployment to existing models could not be handled only by changing the firmware. Further, when label paper or the like is used, there is a case where the expected result cannot be obtained because the back feed amount is limited or a paper jam occurs due to being caught by the head or the like.

  Note that printing a top logo (such as a store name logo) preset in the storage unit of the printing apparatus on the portion A up to the next receipt printing start position described above is described in, for example, Patent Document 2 and the like. As is known, print data transmitted from a host computer such as settlement information to be printed on the next receipt cannot be printed.

  For this reason, in order to print the print data transmitted from the host computer, such as the payment information of the next receipt, in the part A, the cut is not performed immediately after the printing device prints the last line of the receipt. In addition, an extended cut command (sending the payment information of the next receipt, etc., causing the print to be executed after the print data corresponding to the interval from the print head position to the cutter blade position is printed, is executed. Hereinafter, the cut reservation command may be defined. If this cut reservation command is executed by the printing apparatus, it is possible to prevent a useless blank portion from being generated at the beginning of the receipt.

  However, if the printing apparatus receives the settlement information of the next receipt and does not execute the printing of the number of lines specified by the cut reservation command (the interval from the print head position to the cutter blade position), the cut is executed (receipt). Issue). Since the host computer does not always send print data such as settlement information of the next receipt immediately after sending the cut reservation command, there is a problem that receipt issuance may be delayed.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and even if print data such as settlement information of the next receipt cannot be received immediately after receiving a cut reservation command, it is compulsory if a set time elapses. It is to provide a printing apparatus, a printing apparatus control method, and a printing apparatus control program capable of eliminating a delay in issuing a receipt by feeding a paper sheet to a receipt.

In order to achieve the above object, a receiving unit that receives print data and a control command transmitted from a host computer;
Based on the control command, a print head that prints the print data on paper, a paper transport unit that transports the paper, and a cutting mechanism unit that cuts the paper;
A timer for setting a predetermined set time in advance and starting immediately after receiving a cut reservation command that is one of the control commands and measuring the time,
A control unit for controlling the receiving unit, the printing mechanism unit, and a timer,
The controller is
After receiving the cut reservation command, it is determined whether the print data for the next receipt has been printed for a specified number of lines within the set time set in the timer,
When printing for the specified number of lines is completed within the set time, the printing mechanism unit is controlled so that the number of lines printed on the next receipt corresponds to the interval from the print head position to the cutter blade position. After the specified number of lines is reached, the paper is cut to issue a receipt,
If printing for the specified number of lines is not completed within the set time, the printing mechanism unit is controlled to execute paper feed for the remaining number of lines not printed, The receipt is issued by executing the cutting of the paper.
With the above configuration, if the printing data for the specified number of lines of the next receipt cannot be received within the preset time set in the timer, the printing apparatus performs paper cutting after executing paper feeding. Therefore, even if the arrival of the print data for the next receipt is delayed, it is possible to always issue a receipt within a preset time.
Preferably, the control unit feeds the last line of the receipt to a position exceeding the cutter blade position based on reception of a cut command that is one of the control commands transmitted from the host computer. The paper is cut to issue a receipt.
Thus, upon receipt of the cut command, the paper is immediately fed to the position exceeding the cutter blade position and the cut is executed immediately after receipt of the cut command, so that the receipt can be issued at the timing of sending the cut command. .

Preferably, it has a cut switch that can be operated from the outside,
The control unit feeds the last line of the receipt to a position beyond the cutter blade position based on the operation of the cut switch, and executes the cut of the sheet to issue a receipt.
As a result, the user can arbitrarily cut the sheet and issue a receipt at any timing.

Further, a control method of a printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a receiving unit that receives print data and a control command transmitted from a host computer,
Based on the control command, a print head that prints the print data on paper, a paper transport unit that transports the paper, and a cutting mechanism unit that cuts the paper;
A timer for setting a predetermined set time in advance and starting immediately after receiving a cut reservation command that is one of the control commands and measuring the time,
A control method for controlling a printing apparatus comprising the receiving unit, the printing mechanism unit, and a control unit for controlling a timer,
When receiving the cut reservation command, the step (1) of starting the time counting operation of the timer;
If the cut reservation command is being executed, the step (2) of determining whether or not the set time of the timer has expired;
If the set time has not expired, a step (3) of determining whether or not printing of a prescribed number of lines instructed by the cut reservation command is completed;
If printing of the prescribed number of lines has been completed, stop and reset the timer operation, and execute a paper cut (4);
If the set time is up, the timer operation is stopped and reset, and paper is fed by the number of unprinted lines out of the specified number of lines specified by the cut reservation command. A step (5) of performing sheet cutting after
It is characterized by including.
If the print data for the specified number of lines of the next receipt cannot be received within the preset time set in the timer by the control method of the printing apparatus, the paper is cut and then the paper is cut. Therefore, even if the arrival of the print data for the next receipt is delayed, it is possible to always issue a receipt within a preset time.
A printing apparatus control program according to the present invention causes the computer mounted on the printing apparatus to execute the steps (1) to (5) of the printing apparatus control method.
If the print data for the specified number of lines of the next receipt cannot be received within the preset time set in the timer by the control program of the printing apparatus, the paper is cut and then the paper is cut. Therefore, even if the arrival of the print data for the next receipt is delayed, it is possible to always issue a receipt within a preset time.

Embodiments of a printing apparatus control method, printing apparatus control program, and printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating main functions of a printing system including a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, a printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment constitutes a printing system 1 together with a communication unit 30 and a host computer 20.

  The host computer 20 includes a control unit (not shown) including a CPU and a memory such as a ROM and a RAM. Data output from an application program executed by the control unit is used as a cut command or a cut reservation command. A printer driver 21 that converts the control command into a control command such as. Further, the host computer 20 transmits the control command created by the printer driver 21 to the printing apparatus 10 via the communication unit 30. Note that the communication unit 30 may be wired connection by a communication line, wireless connection, or the like.

  In addition, the above cut reservation command is a command for executing cut after printing the specified number of lines of print data related to the next receipt when printing payment information on a roll paper or the like and issuing a receipt. And specify the number of lines as a parameter. As the number of lines, if the number of lines corresponding to the interval from the print head position of the printing apparatus 10 to the cutter blade position is set in advance, print data such as settlement information is printed from the top of the next receipt to be issued. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unnecessary margins from being generated.

  The printing apparatus 10 includes a receiving unit 11, a printing mechanism unit 12, a timer 13, and a control unit 14 that controls the receiving unit 11, the printing mechanism unit 12, and the timer 13.

  The receiving unit 11 receives the print data and the control command transmitted from the host computer 20 via the communication unit 30, and analyzes the received control command to analyze the print processing command and the paper transport. A receiving buffer 11b for discriminating and storing various control commands such as processing commands, cut commands and cut reservation commands, and print data, and a print buffer 11c for storing print data taken out from the receive buffer 11b are provided.

  The print mechanism unit 12 includes a print head 12a that is a line head configured to be capable of simultaneously printing a large number of dots in a direction (lateral direction) orthogonal to the paper feed, and a cutting mechanism that cuts paper such as roll paper using a cutter blade. The unit 12b includes a paper feeding motor, a roller, and the like, and includes a paper transporting unit 12c that transports the paper in the paper feeding direction.

  The timer 13 functions in such a manner that a predetermined set time is set in advance, and the cut reservation command, which is one of the control commands, is activated immediately upon reception to measure the time.

  Further, the printing apparatus 10 may be provided with a cut switch (not shown) that can be operated by the user from the outside. By operating the switch, this cut switch is turned on and immediately functions to cut the paper.

  In addition, when printing for the specified number of lines is completed within the set time, the control unit 14 controls the printing mechanism unit 12 so that the number of print lines to the next receipt is changed from the print head position to the cutter blade position. After reaching the specified number of lines corresponding to the interval until, the paper is cut and a receipt is issued. Alternatively, if printing for the specified number of lines is not completed within the set time, the printing mechanism unit 12 is controlled to execute paper feed for the remaining number of lines not printed, Issue a receipt by cutting the paper. That is, after the sheet is fed by the control unit 14 to a position where the last line of the receipt exceeds the cutter blade position, the sheet is cut and a receipt is issued. Details will be described in the operation procedure for issuing a receipt.

Next, characteristics of the operation of the printing apparatus 10 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.
The printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment analyzes the control command received from the host computer 20 and, when the control command is a cut reservation command, prints the print data of the next receipt for a specified number of lines and then rolls the roll paper. Cut the paper.

  That is, the paper feed from the print head position to the cutter blade position immediately after the cut reservation command transmitted together with the print data of the last line of the receipt P1 is received from the host computer 20 and the printing of the last line of the receipt P1 is completed. The print data of the next receipt P2 is continuously printed even after the printing on the receipt P1 is completed, and the interval between the print head position and the cutter blade position is the number of print lines on the receipt P2. After the specified number of lines corresponding to (3 lines in the example of FIG. 2) is reached, the sheet is cut. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, three lines having the prescribed number of lines “111”, “222”, and “333” are printed at the top of the receipt P2, and no unnecessary blank space is generated.

  As described above, after all the print data for the specified number of lines of the next receipt P2 has been received and this printing has been executed, the paper is cut, so transmission of the print data for the specified number of lines is delayed. In the meantime, the issuance of the receipt P1 is delayed.

  For this reason, the printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes a timer 13. The timer 13 starts immediately after receiving the cut reservation command, measures the time, and print data for the specified number of lines of the next receipt P2. Is not received within the preset time set in the timer 13, as shown in FIG. 3, the length R (in the example of FIG. 3, the paper feed direction of the line “111” of the already printed receipt P2 is shown. After the paper feed of the length minus the length is executed, the paper is cut. As a result, the receipt P1 can always be issued within the preset time set in the timer 13.

  Next, the receipt issuing operation procedure by the printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, when the operation flow is started by starting the printing apparatus 10 or the like, the control unit 14 determines whether the set time of the timer 13 during the time-up has elapsed when the cut reservation command is being executed. It is determined whether or not (step S1).

  If the cut reservation command is not being executed, or if the set time of the timer 13 has not timed out even if the cut reservation command is being executed (step S1: No), then the cut switch is operated and turned ON. Or whether the cut switch remains OFF without being operated (step S2).

  If the cut switch is OFF (step S2: No), next, it is determined whether there is no data received by the printing apparatus 10 by, for example, detecting whether data is stored in the reception buffer 11b (step S2: No). Step S3). When there is no received data (step S3: No), the above steps S1 to S3 are repeated.

  On the other hand, if there is received data (step S3: Yes), it is next determined whether or not there is a cut reservation command in the received data (step S4). When there is a cut reservation command, that is, when a cut reservation command is received (step S4: Yes), the timer 13 set to time up in advance when a predetermined set time comes is started (step S12). ).

  Then, the flow of steps S1 to S3 is repeated again to determine whether or not the received data has a cut command (command to immediately execute cut) (step S5). If there is no cut command, that is, the cut command is changed. If not received (step S5: No), printing of the received print data is executed (step S6).

  Next, it is determined whether or not a cut reservation command is being executed and printing of a prescribed number of rows (print data related to the next receipt P2) designated by the cut reservation command has been completed (step S7). . If the cut reservation command is not being executed, or if the specified number of lines has not been printed (step S7: No), the process returns to step S1.

  On the other hand, if the cut reservation command is being executed and printing of the specified number of lines has been completed (step S7: Yes), the timer 13 stops the timing operation and resets (step S8), The sheet is cut (step S9), and the execution of the cut reservation command is completed. As a result, a receipt P1 is issued.

  On the other hand, when the cut reservation command is being executed in step S1 and the set time is up (step S1: Yes), the timer 13 stops and resets the time (step S10). The sheet is cut after feeding the number of lines not printed out of the specified number of lines instructed by the cut reservation command (step S11), and the execution of the cut reservation command is completed. That is, after the paper is fed by the control unit 14 to a position where the last line of the receipt exceeds the cutter blade position, the paper is cut. As a result, a receipt P1 is issued.

  As in the case of Yes in Step S1, the timer 13 is set when the cut switch is ON in Step S2 (Step S2: Yes) or when a cut command is received in Step S5 (Step S5: Yes). Is stopped and reset (step S10), and the paper is cut after feeding the number of unprinted lines out of the prescribed number of lines instructed by the cut reservation command (step S10). S11), the execution of the cut reservation command ends. That is, after the paper is fed by the control unit 14 to a position where the last line of the receipt exceeds the cutter blade position, the paper is cut. As a result, a receipt P1 is issued.

  As described above, the printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment receives the cut reservation command sent together with the print data of the last line of the receipt P1 in order to cut the paper such as roll paper and issue the receipt P1. After that, the timer 13 starts immediately and measures the time, and if the print data for the specified number of lines of the next receipt P2 cannot be received within the preset time set in the timer 13, the paper feed is executed. After that, cut the paper.

  In the above-described embodiment, printing is sequentially performed when the print data for the specified number of lines corresponding to the interval from the print head position to the cutter blade position is received. However, all the print data for the specified number of lines is prepared. It is also possible to start the printing of the specified number of lines after waiting for the operation.

  As described above in detail, according to the printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, even when the arrival of the print data of the next receipt P2 is delayed, the receipt P1 is always issued within a preset set time. Can be executed.

It is a block diagram which shows the main functions of the printing system comprised including the printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the cutting process of the continuous paper by the printing apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment. It is another explanatory drawing for demonstrating the cutting process of the continuous paper by the printing apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the receipt issue by the printing apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows schematic structure of the printing part periphery of the conventional printing apparatus. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating operation | movement from the cut command confirmation to a cut in the conventional printing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing system, 10 ... Printing apparatus, 20 ... Host computer, 30 ... Communication means, 11 ... Reception part, 11a ... Communication interface, 11b ... Reception buffer, 11c ... Print buffer, 12 ... Printing mechanism part, 12a ... Print head , 12b ... cutting mechanism, 12c ... paper transport, 13 ... timer, 14 ... controller

Claims (5)

A receiving unit for receiving print data and a control command transmitted from the host computer;
Based on the control command, a print head that prints the print data on paper, a paper transport unit that transports the paper, and a cutting mechanism unit that cuts the paper;
A timer for setting a predetermined set time in advance and starting immediately after receiving a cut reservation command that is one of the control commands and measuring the time,
A control unit for controlling the receiving unit, the printing mechanism unit, and a timer,
The controller is
After receiving the cut reservation command, it is determined whether the print data for the next receipt has been printed for a specified number of lines within the set time set in the timer,
When printing for the specified number of lines is completed within the set time, the printing mechanism unit is controlled so that the number of lines printed on the next receipt corresponds to the interval from the print head position to the cutter blade position. After the specified number of lines is reached, the paper is cut to issue a receipt,
If printing for the specified number of lines is not completed within the set time, the printing mechanism unit is controlled to execute paper feed for the remaining number of lines not printed, A printing apparatus that issues a receipt by executing cutting of the paper.   The control unit feeds the last line of the receipt to a position exceeding the cutter blade position based on reception of a cut command that is one of the control commands transmitted from the host computer, The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a receipt is issued by executing a cut. It has a cut switch that can be operated from the outside.
The control unit, based on an operation of the cut switch, feeds the last line of a receipt to a position beyond the cutter blade position, and executes the cut of the paper to issue a receipt. The printing apparatus according to 1. A receiving unit for receiving print data and a control command transmitted from the host computer;
Based on the control command, a print head that prints the print data on paper, a paper transport unit that transports the paper, and a cutting mechanism unit that cuts the paper;
A timer for setting a predetermined set time in advance and starting immediately after receiving a cut reservation command that is one of the control commands and measuring the time,
A control method for controlling a printing apparatus comprising the receiving unit, the printing mechanism unit, and a control unit for controlling a timer,
If the cut reservation command is received, starting the timer operation;
If the cut reservation command is being executed, determining whether the set time of the timer has not expired; and
If the set time has not expired, determining whether printing of a specified number of lines instructed by the cut reservation command is completed;
If printing of the prescribed number of lines has been completed, stopping and resetting the timer operation, and executing cutting of the paper; and
If the set time is up, the timer operation is stopped and reset, and paper is fed by the number of unprinted lines out of the specified number of lines specified by the cut reservation command. A step of cutting the paper after
A control method for a printing apparatus.   A program for controlling a printing apparatus, which causes a computer mounted on the printing apparatus to execute each step of the method for controlling the printing apparatus according to claim 4.

Images