JP2014144581A - Passbook printing device, ink ribbon replacement notification method, and ink ribbon replacement notification program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stably perform ribbon near end notification without being influenced by a configuration of printing characters and the like.SOLUTION: In a near end determination processing unit 20, a number-of-pixels of a pixel whose density value exceeds a density slice for near end determination is stored for each scan from pixel information acquired by scanning a predetermined printing area of a passbook medium 6 with a scanned number-of-pixels storage unit 21. In a pixel presence determination unit 23, it is determined that the pixel exists in the scan when the number-of-pixels is equal to or greater than a predetermined number-of-pixels. In a near end determination unit 24, it is determined whether or not an ink ribbon is in a ribbon near end state depending on the number of the scan in which the pixel exists in a character height direction. The number of the scan in which the pixel exists in the character height direction is set in a predetermined length value setting unit 25. In a ribbon replacement notification unit 26, it is notified that time for replacement of the ink ribbon is close when it is determined that the ink ribbon is in the ribbon near end state, and it is notified that the replacement of the ink ribbon is necessary when it is determined that the ink ribbon is in a ribbon end state.

Description

  The present invention relates to a bankbook printer device for printing transaction contents on a bankbook, an ink ribbon replacement notification method for an ink ribbon used for printing on a bankbook in the printer device, and an ink ribbon replacement notification program.

  ATM (Automated Teller Machine) devices installed in financial institutions, passbook carryover devices, passbook issuers, terminal devices used by bank employees at the counter, etc. are equipped with a passbook printer device that prints transaction information on a passbook medium. . The passbook printer device returns the passbook medium after the entry to the passbook medium. At that time, the paper surface of the passbook medium is optically read, and the image and the information such as the print position and the number of print lines are printed. Based on this, the print density is checked to determine whether or not the ink ribbon has reached the replacement time. That is, the passbook printer device prints the printed characters darkly immediately after replacing the ink ribbon, but after that, the printed characters gradually become darker as they are used. For this reason, the passbook printer device determines whether the print density is in a normal state, the ink ribbon is in a near-end state where the ink ribbon has become thin, or a ribbon-end state in which the ink ribbon needs to be replaced (for example, , See Patent Document 1).

  FIGS. 13A and 13B are diagrams showing an example of a conventional method for determining print density, where FIG. 13A shows an example of a read image of a line printed on a passbook medium, and FIG. 13B shows a pixel of an image of a printed line. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example which calculates | requires quantity.

  The print density of the characters printed on the passbook medium is determined by calculating the total amount of pixels above the predetermined density from an image obtained by optically reading a predetermined area of the passbook medium, or in the case of FIG. Judgment based on.

  That is, first, each time the scanned image is scanned, the amount of black pixels on the scan line is obtained. In the illustrated example, since there are no black pixels constituting the characters in the first and second scans, the information is stored in the corresponding location of the table on the memory as shown in FIG. Is recorded. From the third scan to the eleventh scan, there are black pixels constituting the character, and the pixel amount is recorded in the corresponding location of the table for each scan. As the pixel amount at this time, the amount of pixels whose PCS (Print Contrast Signal) value representing the pixel density exceeds a predetermined slice level is recorded. In the twelfth and thirteenth scans, there is no black pixel constituting the character, so 0 is recorded at the corresponding location in the table. Thereafter, the pixel amounts obtained by the respective scans are integrated to calculate the total pixel amount, and the ribbon near end is determined based on the total pixel amount.

  When the total pixel amount calculated in this way exceeds a predetermined first slice level, it is determined that the printing state is good. When the total pixel amount is between a predetermined first slice level and a second slice level lower than the predetermined first slice level, it is determined as a ribbon near end, and when the total pixel amount is lower than a predetermined second slice level, it is determined as a ribbon end. Each will be notified to the staff.

JP-A-9-188052

  However, according to the conventional ribbon near-end determination, since the determination is made based on the total pixel amount of characters printed in a predetermined print area, there is a problem that it is easily influenced by the number of characters, the structure of the characters, and the thickness of the characters. is there. For example, if the print area is an area for printing a transaction date, the number of characters differs depending on whether the date is 1 digit or 2 digits, and even if it is 1 digit, for example, the number “0” And “1” differ greatly in the amount of pixels on the same scan line across the number. Therefore, even if the same density value is printed, the ribbon end may be notified suddenly on the next day without being notified of the ribbon near end depending on the number of characters and the composition of the characters. Could be damaged.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a passbook printer apparatus, an ink ribbon replacement notification method, and an ink capable of stably performing a ribbon near-end notification without being affected by the configuration of printed characters. The purpose is to provide a ribbon replacement notification program.

  In the present invention, in order to solve the above-described problem, in a passbook printer apparatus including an optical unit that reads print information of a passbook medium and a print head that performs printing on the passbook medium, a preset detection of the passbook medium is performed. A scan pixel that stores, for each scan, a pixel amount of a density value that exceeds a preset density slice value for near-end determination among pixel information obtained by sequentially scanning characters printed in the field of view. An amount storage unit, a pixel presence / absence determination unit that determines that the pixel amount stored in the scan pixel amount storage unit is greater than or equal to a predetermined pixel amount for each scan, and the number of scans with the pixel in the character height direction The near-end determination unit that determines the near-end of the ink ribbon according to the condition, and the ribbon exchange to the outside when the near-end determination unit determines the near-end Passbook printer apparatus is provided which is characterized by comprising a, a ribbon switching notification unit for performing knowledge.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink ribbon replacement notification method for a passbook printer apparatus including an optical unit that reads print information of a passbook medium and a print head that performs printing on the passbook medium. Of the pixel information obtained by sequentially scanning characters printed in the field of view, the pixel amount of pixels with density values exceeding the preset density slice value for near-end determination is stored for each scan. It is determined that the pixel amount is greater than or equal to a predetermined pixel amount for each scan, and the near end of the ink ribbon is determined according to the number of scans with the pixel in the character height direction. An ink ribbon replacement notification method is provided, which performs a ribbon replacement notification.

  Furthermore, the present invention provides an ink ribbon replacement notification program for a passbook printer apparatus including an optical unit that reads print information of a passbook medium and a print head that performs printing on the passbook medium. Of the pixel information obtained by sequentially scanning the characters printed in the preset detection field of view, the pixel amount of the pixel having a density value exceeding the preset density slice value for near-end determination is scanned for each scan. And determining that the stored pixel amount is greater than or equal to a predetermined pixel amount for each scan, and determining the near end of the ink ribbon according to the number of scans with the pixel in the character height direction. An ink ribbon replacement notification program is provided that executes a process of performing a ribbon replacement notification to the outside when the determination is made. It is subjected.

  According to such a passbook printer apparatus, ink ribbon replacement notification method, and ink ribbon replacement notification program, the characters printed in the detection visual field region are scanned, and the density exceeding the preset density slice value for near-end determination Find the amount of pixels in the value. When the scan with the pixel amount equal to or larger than the predetermined number does not reach a predetermined length value (continuous value or total value) in the character height direction, it is determined as near end, and when there is no scan with pixels, it is determined as ribbon end. .

  The passbook printer apparatus, ink ribbon replacement notification method, and ink ribbon replacement notification program configured as described above perform near-end determination according to the number of scans including pixels of a predetermined density or more in the character height direction. There is an advantage that the ribbon near-end notification can be stably performed without being affected by the character configuration.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of an ATM apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of a passbook printer apparatus. It is a figure which shows the printing state to a bankbook medium, Comprising: (A) shows the example of the printing state before insertion in a bankbook printer apparatus, (B) has shown the example of the printing state after a bookkeeping. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a near end determination process part. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of the control part used for embodiment. It is a figure which shows the whole process conceptual flow of the passbook printer apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the density slice of near end determination, and printing density. It is a storage image figure of scan information. It is a storage image figure of the scan information of a printing location. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a first example of print density confirmation processing. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a second example of print density confirmation processing. It is a figure which shows the whole process conceptual flow of the passbook printer apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the determination method of the conventional printing density, (A) shows the example of the read image of the line printed on the passbook medium, (B) calculates | requires the pixel amount of the image of the printed line. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, taking as an example a case where the present invention is applied to an ATM device. Each embodiment can be implemented by combining a plurality of embodiments within a consistent range.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an ATM device, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a passbook printer device, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a printing state on a passbook medium, and FIG. An example of the printing state before insertion is shown, and (B) shows an example of the printing state after book entry.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ATM device 1 includes a passbook printer device 2 and an ATM control unit 3, and the ATM control unit 3 is connected to a host 5 via a network 4. The passbook printer device 2 accepts the passbook medium 6 and prints transaction contents based on information from the host 5.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the bankbook printer apparatus 2 includes a bankbook insertion slot 7, and a medium transport unit 8 is connected to the bankbook insertion slot 7. An MS-R / W (magnetic stripe reader / writer) unit 9, an optical unit 10, and a print head 11 are arranged in the medium transport unit 8 along the medium transport direction. The passbook printer apparatus 2 also includes a control unit 12 that controls the operations of the medium transport unit 8, the MS-R / W unit 9, the optical unit 10, and the print head 11, and performs near-end determination notification of the ink ribbon.

  The passbook insertion port 7 is inserted into the passbook medium 6 while being opened on the booklet page when writing into the passbook medium 6. In the passbook medium 6 inserted into the passbook insertion slot 7, the magnetic information recorded on the magnetic stripe of the passbook medium 6 is read by the MS-R / W unit 9, and the page information of the book page is read by the optical unit 10. From the magnetic information and page information, it is set in the print line. That is, as shown in FIG. 3A, for example, if the first print line of the book page is the final print line, the second print line that is the next print line is the second line. Becomes a print line for starting printing, and the passbook medium 6 is set in the print line.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, for example, the transaction contents for the unbooked are printed on the passbook medium 6 set in the print line by the print head 11. After printing, the passbook medium 6 is transported by the medium transport unit 8 and returned from the passbook insertion slot 7. At that time, in the passbook medium 6, the print information is read by the optical unit 10, and the control unit 12 determines the near end of the ink ribbon based on the print information, and the ribbon near end or the ribbon end is determined by the maintenance staff according to the determination result. To be notified. Next, a near end determination processing unit in which the control unit 12 performs near end determination will be described.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the near-end determination processing unit, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the control unit used in the embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 4, the near-end determination processing unit 20 includes a scan pixel amount storage unit 21, a determination density slice setting unit 22, a pixel presence / absence determination unit 23, a near-end determination unit 24, and a predetermined length value setting unit 25. The ribbon replacement notification unit 26 is provided.

  The scan pixel amount storage unit 21 stores pixels having density values exceeding the density slice for near-end determination set by the determination density slice setting unit 22 from pixel information obtained by scanning a predetermined print area of the passbook medium 6. The pixel amount is stored for each scan.

  The pixel presence / absence determination unit 23 determines whether or not the pixel amount stored for each scan is greater than or equal to a predetermined pixel amount. If the pixel amount is greater than or equal to the predetermined pixel amount, the pixel presence / absence determination unit 23 determines that there is a pixel in the scan. When the amount is not reached, it is determined that there is no pixel.

  The near end determination unit 24 determines the near end of the ink ribbon in accordance with the number of scans with pixels in the character height direction. The number of scans with pixels in the character height direction is determined by a predetermined length value setting unit 25. Set by

  When the near-end determining unit 24 determines the ribbon near-end, the ribbon replacement notifying unit 26 notifies that it is almost time to replace the ink ribbon. When the ribbon end is determined, the ribbon replacement notifying unit 26 needs to replace the ink ribbon. Notice.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 12 that executes the processing of the near-end determination processing unit 20 is configured by a computer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 31 that can control the entire apparatus. A random access memory (RAM) 32, a read only memory (ROM) 33, an input interface 34, and a communication unit 35 are connected to the CPU 31 via a bus 36.

  The RAM 32 temporarily stores at least part of an OS (Operating System) program and application programs to be executed by the CPU 31. The RAM 32 stores various data necessary for processing by the CPU 31. The flash ROM 33 stores an application program including an OS and an ink ribbon replacement notification program.

  The optical unit 10 is connected to the input interface 34, and an image signal sent from the optical unit 10 is transmitted to the CPU 31 via the bus 36. The communication unit 35 is connected to the ATM control unit 3 of the passbook printer apparatus 2 and transmits / receives data including magnetic information and unbooked data to / from the host 5 via the ATM control unit 3.

  With the hardware configuration of the control unit 12 as described above, the processing function of the near-end determination processing unit 20 included in the passbook printer apparatus 2 of the present embodiment can be realized. Next, the overall processing contents of the control unit 12 in the passbook printer apparatus 2 will be described.

  6 is a diagram showing an overall processing concept flow of the passbook printer apparatus according to the first embodiment, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between density slices for near-end determination and print density, and FIG. 8 is a storage image diagram of scan information. FIG. 9 is a storage image diagram of scan information at a print location.

  The passbook process of the control unit 12 is started by selecting “bookkeeping” on the customer operation screen (not shown) of the ATM device 1 and inserting the passbook medium 6 into the passbook insertion slot 7 of the passbook printer device 2. First, the control unit 12 accepts a passbook (step S1), the medium transport unit 8 pulls in the inserted passbook medium 6 (step S2), and sequentially enters the MS-R / W unit 9 and the optical unit 10. Transfer and read passbook information (step S3).

  That is, the control unit 12 reads the magnetic information of the passbook medium 6 by the MS-R / W unit 9. The magnetic information read by the MS-R / W unit 9 includes an account number, a passbook transaction start line, a passbook type, and the like. Next, the control unit 12 uses the optical unit 10 to detect a page mark (see FIG. 3) printed on a book page of the passbook medium 6 and a line printed in the date column. Thereafter, the control unit 12 sets the passbook medium 6 directly below the print head 11 by the medium transport unit 8 so that the print position is the next line of the final print (step S4).

  Next, the control unit 12 checks the reception condition to determine whether the reception condition is satisfied (step S5). That is, the control unit 12 checks conditions such as correct magnetic information, correct page information range, and correct row set position, and determines whether or not these conditions are all correct. Here, when the acceptance condition is not satisfied, for example, when the accepted passbook medium 6 is inserted into a page other than the correct entry page, the control unit 12 performs a passbook return process (step S1). S6). Thereafter, the control unit 12 issues a window guidance or reinsertion instruction on the customer operation screen (step S7).

  If it is determined in step S5 that the acceptance condition is satisfied, the controller 12 stores the magnetic information, page information, and set line information in the host 5 with the passbook medium 6 set on the print line. And waits for an instruction from the host 5. As a result, the host 5 checks the account, confirms that there is no book, checks the validity of the book entry start line, page information, and so on. Minute print information is sent (step S8).

  Next, the control unit 12 determines whether or not there is printing information for unbooked (step S9). If there is no printing information to be booked, a passbook return process is performed (step S10), and the passbook process is terminated.

  If it is determined in step S9 that there is print information to be recorded, the control unit 12 executes print processing by the print head 11 (step S11). In this printing process, a printing operation is performed, and information about a print start line and an end line is stored. This stored information is sent to the host 5, and if there is no unprinted print information remaining in the host 5, the sent print start line and end line information is saved. If unprinted print information still remains in the host 5, the print information is sent from the host 5 (step S12).

  Next, the control unit 12 determines whether or not there is continuous printing (step S13). If there is continuous printing, the control unit 12 returns to step S11 and performs bookkeeping using the sent unprinted printing information. When all the entries in the passbook medium 6 are completed, the information stored in the printing process in step S11 becomes the update information of the magnetic information.

  Next, the control unit 12 sets a density slice for near-end determination, and sets a detection visual field region used for near-end determination on the passbook paper surface of the passbook medium 6 (step S14). These density slices and detection visual field regions can be determined in advance, and in this case, they are set to predetermined values. Of course, the density slice value can be changed by the determination density slice setting unit 22 of the near-end determination processing unit 20.

  Here, the density slice for near-end determination will be described. FIG. 7 shows the pixel density output by the optical unit 10 when a date print part having a different print density is scanned in the horizontal direction in fine units. As shown in the drawing, when the date print portion is darkly printed, the pixel density is high in all scans. If the date printing part becomes lighter, the pixel density will vary from scan to scan. If the print is missing or printed too lightly, the pixel density will be very low for all scans. become.

  When the pixel density is high, it can be determined that the printing state is good. If the print is thin, it is determined that the ribbon is near the end, and if the print is too light, it is determined that the ribbon is near the end. The density slice for determining the near end is the criterion for determining the ribbon near end. is there. As the density slice for near-end determination is set to the dark side, the ribbon near-end may be determined while the pixel density is still high. Conversely, the print character becomes faint as it is set to the light side. Even if it is not visible, it may not be determined as a ribbon near end. Therefore, it is preferable that the density slice for near-end determination can be changed to some extent, and the determination density slice setting unit 22 can also change the density slice for this embodiment.

  Regarding the setting of the detection visual field area used for the near-end determination, as shown in FIG. 8, the area used for the near-end determination on the passbook paper surface of the passbook medium 6 is the area to be printed in this embodiment. The area where the date is printed is set as the detection visual field area. In FIG. 8, the passbook medium 6 is shown upside down. This is because the final print line is examined by scanning from the lower end of the passbook medium 6. This detection visual field area is set by recognizing the page mark in the upper margin when the passbook paper surface is viewed in the vertical direction.

  Next, the control unit 12 scans the detection visual field area of the passbook paper while transferring the passbook medium 6 in the direction of the optical unit 10, and stores the scan pixel amount of the detection visual field area (step S15). That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the detection visual field region of the passbook paper surface is sequentially scanned from the passbook lower end of the passbook medium 6 toward the passbook upper end, and the amount of pixels equal to or higher than a predetermined density included in the scan is stored for each scan. I will do it. In this way, the scan progresses toward the upper end of the passbook, and for the scan of the date printed portion, as shown in FIG. 9, the amount of pixels having a predetermined density or more included in the scan is stored for each scan. I will do it.

  When the storage of the scan pixel amount in the detection visual field region is completed, the control unit 12 stops the passbook medium 6 at the passbook stop position (step S16). Thereafter, the control unit 12 performs a print density confirmation process based on the stored pixel amount (step S17), transfers the passbook medium 6 to the MS-R / W unit 9, and updates the magnetic information (step S18). .

  Next, the control unit 12 determines whether or not the density of the print character obtained in the print density confirmation process in step S17 is a normal density (step S19). Is determined (step S20). Here, if it is determined that the pixel density is too thin and not near-end density, the control unit 12 determines that the end of the ribbon is present, and issues a ribbon replacement notification (step S21). After that, the control unit 12 puts the apparatus into a dormant state while holding the passbook medium 6 inside the passbook printer apparatus 2 (step S22).

  If it is determined in step S20 that the near-end density is reached, the control unit 12 sends a ribbon replacement notification to the maintenance staff indicating that the ink ribbon replacement time is approaching (step S23).

  If it is determined in step S19 that the concentration is normal, or after a near-end notification is made in step S23, the control unit 12 transfers the passbook medium 6 to the passbook slot 7 and returns it to the user ( Step S24), the passbook process of this bookkeeping transaction is terminated.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a first example of print density confirmation processing.
In the print density confirmation process, first, the control unit 12 calculates the lower end position of the print end line of the stored information from the table storing the scan information as shown in FIG. 9 (step S31). In the example of FIG. 9, the portion where the unbooked data is printed has a scan no ranging from n to n + 22, and scan no = n is obtained as the lower end position of the print end line. Next, the control unit 12 determines the presence / absence of a pixel from the stored pixel amount, and stores the result (step S32). In the example of the table shown in FIG. 9, the presence / absence of a pixel is determined from the pixel amount of the storage pixel from the upper end of the print start line to the lower end of the end line, and “present” or “not present” is stored. As a criterion for determining whether or not there is a pixel, in the example shown in the figure, a pixel amount of 3 or more is determined to be “present”, and less than 3 is determined to be “not present”. However, the value is fixed at 3 in this example, but may be set to an arbitrary value.

  Next, the control unit 12 searches for a pixel location from the pixel presence / absence column of the table storing the scan information (step S33), and determines whether there is a pixel location (step S34). Here, if there is no pixel location, the ribbon end is determined (step S35).

  If it is determined in step S34 that there is even one pixel location, the control unit 12 searches for a continuous location where the predetermined length is 2 millimeters (mm) or more (step S36). That is, it is checked whether or not there is a portion where the pixels are present for a predetermined length in the range from the lower end of the print end line to the upper end of the print start line. For example, in the predetermined length setting unit 25, when the height of the printed character is 3 mm, 2 mm, which is two-thirds of the character height, is set as the predetermined length. It is examined whether or not there is a continuous portion over a range of 2 mm or more.

  Next, the control unit 12 determines whether or not the location with the pixels in the height direction of the print character is continuous for a predetermined length or more (step S37). Confirm (step S38). If it is determined in step S37 that the locations with pixels continue for a predetermined length or longer, the control unit 12 determines normal density (step S39).

  As described above, in the first print density check process, it is determined whether or not the scan with pixels continues for a predetermined length or more in the character height direction, and the continuous length with pixels does not reach the predetermined length. Is determined to be in a ribbon near-end state. This print density check process does not determine the ribbon near end based on the total pixel amount of the black dots constituting the characters printed in the predetermined area, and thus enables stable ribbon near end determination.

  Further, as the passbook printing ribbon density is used, the entire character is not printed at a uniform density, and the character itself is unevenly shaded. Moreover, since the target character whose density is being determined is a date, it is always printed in a different font. For this reason, when the near-end notification is performed from the total pixel amount of the black dots of the character, the density range at the time of notification is widened. However, in this first print density confirmation process, since the scan with pixels is determined by the continuous length in the character height direction, the density range when the near-end notification is made can be narrowed, and the ink that does not reach the near end. It is possible to reduce the possibility of false notifications near the end of the ribbon.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a second example of the print density confirmation process.
In the print density confirmation process, first, the control unit 12 calculates the lower end position of the print end line of the stored information from the table storing the scan information as shown in FIG. 9 (step S41). In the example of FIG. 9, the portion where the unbooked data is printed has a scan no ranging from n to n + 22, and scan no = n is obtained as the lower end position of the print end line. Next, the control unit 12 determines the presence / absence of a pixel from the stored pixel amount, and stores the result (step S42). In the example of the table shown in FIG. 9, the presence / absence of a pixel is determined from the pixel amount of the storage pixel from the upper end of the print start line to the lower end of the end line, and “present” or “not present” is stored. As a criterion for determining whether or not there is a pixel, in the example shown in the figure, a pixel amount of 3 or more is determined to be “present”, and less than 3 is determined to be “not present”. However, the value is fixed at 3 in this example, but may be set to an arbitrary value.

  Next, the control unit 12 searches the pixel presence / absence column of the table storing the scan information, and determines whether there is a pixel location (step S43). Here, if there is no pixel location, the ribbon end is determined (step S44).

  If it is determined in step S43 that there is even one pixel location, the control unit 12 determines whether there is a certain amount of pixels in a predetermined range with the center of each printed line as the center of the character height. Is confirmed (step S45). For example, when the height of a printed character is 3 mm, the presence / absence of a portion where the total value with pixels is 2 mm or more, which is two-thirds of the character height, is checked. The total value with pixels is set by the predetermined length value setting unit 25, and is set by the pixel amount of a black spot existing between 2 mm, and the value can be arbitrarily set.

  Next, the control unit 12 determines whether or not the total value with pixels in the height direction of the print character is greater than or equal to a predetermined length (step S46), and if not, the near end is determined (step S46). S47). If it is determined in step S46 that the pixel-existing portion is longer than the predetermined length, the control unit 12 determines normal density (step S48).

  As described above, in the second print density confirmation process, it is determined whether or not the total value of scanning with pixels is longer than a predetermined length in the character height direction, and the total value with pixels does not reach the predetermined length. In this case, it is determined that the ribbon near-end state is in effect. This second print density confirmation process can also achieve the same effect as the first print density confirmation process, and the ribbon near-end determination can be obtained stably.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an overall processing concept flow of the passbook printer apparatus according to the second embodiment.
For example, the passbook process of the control unit 12 is started by inserting the passbook medium 6 into the passbook insertion port 7 of the passbook printer device 2 in order to print the transaction contents of unbooked. First, the control unit 12 accepts a passbook (step S51). The passbook acceptance process here includes steps S1-S8 shown in FIG. 6 for the sake of simplicity.

  Next, the control unit 12 determines whether or not there is printing information for unbooked (step S52). If there is no printing information to be booked, a passbook return process is performed (step S53), and the passbook process is terminated.

  If it is determined in step S52 that there is print information to be recorded, the control unit 12 executes a print process by the print head 11 (step S54). In this printing process, a printing operation is performed, and information about a print start line and an end line is stored. This stored information is sent to the host 5, and if there is no unprinted print information remaining in the host 5, the sent print start line and end line information is saved. If unprinted print information still remains in the host 5, the print information is sent from the host 5 (step S55).

  Next, the control unit 12 determines whether or not there is continuous printing (step S56). If there is continuous printing, the control unit 12 returns to step S54 and performs bookkeeping using the sent unprinted print information. When all the entries on the passbook medium 6 have been completed, the information stored in the printing process in step S54 becomes the update information of the magnetic information.

  Next, the control unit 12 sets a density slice for near-end determination, and sets a detection visual field region used for near-end determination on the passbook paper surface of the passbook medium 6 (step S57). These density slices and detection visual field regions can be determined in advance, and in this case, they are set to predetermined values. Of course, the density slice value can be changed by the determination density slice setting unit 22 of the near-end determination processing unit 20.

Next, the control unit 12 scans the detection visual field area on the passbook paper while transferring the passbook medium 6 in the direction of the optical unit 10, and stores the scan pixel amount of the detection visual field area (step S58).
When the storage of the scan pixel amount in the detection visual field region is completed, the control unit 12 stops the passbook medium 6 at the passbook stop position (step S59). Thereafter, the control unit 12 performs a print density confirmation process based on the stored pixel amount (step S60), and transfers the passbook medium 6 to the MS-R / W unit 9 to update the magnetic information (step S61). .

  Next, the control unit 12 determines whether or not the density of the print character obtained in the print density confirmation process in step S60 is a normal density (step S62). Is determined (step S63).

  If it is determined in step S63 that the density is not near-end, that is, ribbon end, the control unit 12 returns the passbook medium 6 (step S64), and sets the pointer of the table storing the scan information to the passbook paper surface. The scan pixel amount is returned to the previous position where it is stored.

  Next, the control unit 12 sets a density slice for near-end determination, and sets a detection visual field region used for near-end determination in the passbook paper surface of the passbook medium 6 (step S65). At this time, the density slice for near-end determination to be set is set to a value smaller than the value of the density slice for near-end determination set in step S57, and is set as the density slice for end determination.

Next, the control unit 12 scans the detection visual field area on the passbook paper while transferring the passbook medium 6 in the direction of the optical unit 10, and stores the scan pixel amount of the detection visual field area (step S66).
When the storage of the scan pixel amount in the detection visual field region is completed, the control unit 12 stops the passbook medium 6 at the passbook stop position (step S67).

  Next, the control unit 12 executes the same print density check process as the print density check process in step S60, and determines and stores the normal density, near end density, and ribbon end density of the print characters (step S68). Here, it is determined whether or not the ribbon end density is reached (step S69). If it is determined that the ribbon end density is reached, the control unit 12 issues a ribbon replacement notification (step S70).

  If it is determined in step S63 that the near-end density is reached, the control unit 12 sends a ribbon replacement notification to the maintenance staff indicating that the ink ribbon replacement time is approaching (step S71).

  If it is determined in step S62 that the concentration is normal, or after a near-end notification is made in step S71, the control unit 12 transfers the passbook medium 6 to the passbook insertion slot 7 and returns it to the user ( Step S72), the passbook process of this bookkeeping transaction is terminated.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, when the end density is first determined, the density slice for the first near-end determination is changed, end density determination is performed, and the end density is reached again. The ribbon end is determined.

  For this reason, the determination density slice setting unit 22 has a density slice for near-end determination and a density slice for end determination, thereby storing pixel amounts that exceed both slices. The near-end determination unit 24 first checks the first print density based on the density slice storage information for near-end determination. When the end density is reached, the second print density check is performed based on the density slice storage information for end determination. I do. Here, when the end concentration is not reached, the same result can be obtained as the near end concentration.

  Note that the print density check process described in FIG. 10 or 11 is applied to the print density check process in steps S60 and S68.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ATM apparatus 2 Passbook printer apparatus 3 ATM control part 4 Network 5 Host 6 Passbook medium 7 Passbook insertion port 8 Medium conveyance part 9 MS-R / W part 10 Optical part 11 Print head 12 Control part 20 Near end determination process part 21 Scan pixel Quantity storage unit 22 Determination density slice setting unit 23 Pixel presence / absence determination unit 24 Near end determination unit 25 Predetermined length value setting unit 26 Ribbon exchange notification unit 31 CPU
32 RAM
33 Flash ROM
34 Input interface 35 Communication section 36 Bus

Claims (12)

In a passbook printer apparatus comprising an optical unit for reading print information of a passbook medium, and a print head for printing on the passbook medium,
Among the pixel information obtained by sequentially scanning the characters printed in the preset detection visual field area of the passbook medium, the pixel of the density value pixel exceeding the preset density slice value for near-end determination A scan pixel amount storage for storing the amount for each scan;
A pixel presence / absence determination unit that determines that the pixel amount stored in the scan pixel amount storage unit is greater than or equal to a predetermined pixel amount for each scan; and
A near-end determination unit that determines the near-end of the ink ribbon according to the number of scans with the pixels in the character height direction;
A ribbon replacement notification unit that performs a ribbon replacement notification to the outside when the near end determination unit determines near end; and
A passbook printer apparatus comprising:   The near-end determination unit determines that the print density is normal when the number of scans with pixels continues for at least a predetermined length in the character height direction, and the near-end determination unit determines whether the scan with pixels that are continuous in the character height direction. 2. The passbook printer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the number does not reach the predetermined length, it is determined as near end, and when there is no scan with pixels, it is determined as ribbon end.   The near-end determination unit determines that the print density is normal when a character height obtained by summing the number of scans with pixels out of a predetermined range centering on the character height center of each print line is equal to or greater than a predetermined length. Then, it is determined that a near end is reached when a character height obtained by summing up the number of scans with pixels does not reach the predetermined length, and a ribbon end is determined when there is no scan with pixels. Item 2. A passbook printer apparatus according to item 1.   4. The passbook printer apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pixel presence / absence determination unit performs pixel presence / absence determination with respect to a scan performed on a final print line among the print lines of the detection visual field region.   5. The passbook printer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection visual field region is a region where a transaction date is printed.   6. The passbook printer apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a determination density slice setting unit that arbitrarily sets a value of the density slice for the near-end determination.   7. The passbook printer apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a predetermined length value setting unit that arbitrarily sets the predetermined length value. In an ink ribbon replacement notification method for a passbook printer apparatus comprising an optical unit that reads print information of a passbook medium and a print head that performs printing on the passbook medium.
Among the pixel information obtained by sequentially scanning the characters printed in the preset detection visual field area of the passbook medium, the pixel of the density value pixel exceeding the preset density slice value for near-end determination Store the amount for each scan,
The stored pixel amount is determined to be a pixel with a predetermined pixel amount or more for each scan, and
Determine the near end of the ink ribbon according to the number of scans with the pixel in the character height direction,
When it is judged as near-end, a ribbon replacement notification is sent to the outside.
An ink ribbon replacement notification method.   The near-end determination determines that the print density is normal when the number of scans with pixels continues for at least a predetermined length in the character height direction, and the number of scans with pixels that continue in the character height direction. 9. The ink ribbon replacement notification method according to claim 8, wherein when the ink does not reach the predetermined length, it is determined as near end, and when there is no scan with pixels, it is determined as ribbon end.   The near-end determination is made when the print density is normal when the sum of the number of scans with pixels out of a predetermined range of scans centered on the character height center of each print line is greater than or equal to a predetermined length. The character end that is the sum of the number of scans with pixels does not reach the predetermined length, and is determined to be near end, and when the scan with pixels does not exist, it is determined to be ribbon end. The ink ribbon replacement notification method according to claim 8.   When the ribbon end is determined, the density slice value for near-end determination is reset to a small value, the near-end determination is performed again, and the ribbon end is determined when there is no scan with pixels. The ink ribbon replacement notification method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that: In an ink ribbon replacement notification program for a passbook printer apparatus comprising an optical unit that reads print information of a passbook medium and a print head that performs printing on the passbook medium.
On the computer,
Among the pixel information obtained by sequentially scanning the characters printed in the preset detection visual field area of the passbook medium, the pixel of the density value pixel exceeding the preset density slice value for near-end determination Store the amount for each scan,
The stored pixel amount is determined to be a pixel with a predetermined pixel amount or more for each scan, and
Determine the near end of the ink ribbon according to the number of scans with the pixel in the character height direction,
When it is judged as near-end, a ribbon replacement notification is sent to the outside.
An ink ribbon replacement notification program that executes processing.

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