JP2017056562A - Recording device and control method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording device preventing a reduction in printing quality and being capable of suppressing extension of time until completion of printing even under an environment where a communication speed is slow or communication is unstable.SOLUTION: A recording device comprises: a recording head 24 printing print data onto thermal roll paper; a platen transporting the thermal roll paper; and a printing control section 60 controlling the recording head 24 and the platen and performing recording onto the thermal roll paper and transportation of the thermal roll paper based on the print data. The printing control section 60 controls the recording head 24 and the platen and performs printing at a constant speed until a blank area, and controls the platen and performs any of acceleration, deceleration and stopping of the platen within a range of the blank area upon detection that the blank area including line feed of an area where the platen can be accelerated or decelerated or more is included in the print data received when performing the printing while receiving the print data from a host computer 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that receives print data and performs printing, and a control method for the recording apparatus.

  Conventionally, the blank line determination means for determining whether or not the print data is blank line data, and the step motor pulse rate reaches the final pulse rate when the blank line determination means determines that the print data is blank line data. A pulse rate determining means for determining whether or not the data is blank, a print control means for performing printing when the blank line determining means determines that the data is not blank line data, and a final pulse rate has not been reached by the pulse rate determining means. Has been disclosed, a technique has been disclosed that includes a motor slow-up means for gradually increasing the pulse rate (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 04-301475

In general, when a recording apparatus receives print data and performs printing, the recording apparatus can always perform printing at a constant speed if the communication speed is sufficient.
However, when the communication speed is slow or the communication is unstable, the recording apparatus cannot maintain the printing speed, and may reduce the printing speed or pause printing. In such a case, if the printing speed is accelerated or decelerated during printing, the paper feed is disturbed due to gear backlash or the like, causing color unevenness, white streaks, etc., resulting in a decrease in print quality. .
As means for preventing such deterioration in print quality, for example, there is means for storing print data in a recording apparatus and starting printing after receiving all print data. However, when the communication speed is low, a lot of time is required to accumulate print data, and there is a problem that the time until printing is completed increases. In addition, there is a problem that a large-capacity storage means for storing all print data is required.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and prevents deterioration in print quality even in an environment where communication speed is low or communication is unstable, and suppresses an increase in time until the end of printing. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus and a control method for the recording apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a recording apparatus that is connectable to a control apparatus and performs printing while transporting a recording medium, the recording head printing the print data on the recording medium, A transport unit that transports a recording medium; and a print control unit that controls the recording head and the transport unit based on the print data to perform recording on the recording medium and transport of the recording medium, When the print control unit performs printing while receiving the print data from the control device, the received print data includes a blank area including a line break that is greater than or equal to an area where the transport unit can accelerate or decelerate. If detected, printing is performed at a constant speed until reaching the blank area by controlling the recording head and the conveyance section, and the conveyance section is controlled to accelerate the conveyance section within the blank area. And carrying out the deceleration, either stop.
According to this configuration, the conveyance unit can be accelerated or decelerated in the blank area, and printing can be performed on the recording medium at a constant speed, so that it is possible to prevent printing defects such as color unevenness and white stripes. In addition, since printing is not performed after all print data is received, but printing data is sequentially received and printing is performed, even when the reception speed is low, the time until the end of printing is extended. There is no.

In the recording apparatus according to the invention, the print control unit controls the transport unit when the print control unit detects that there is the blank area at the beginning of the received print data before printing. Then, the conveyance unit is accelerated within the blank area, and the print data is printed at a constant speed after the blank area is controlled by controlling the recording head and the conveyance unit.
According to this configuration, when there is a blank area at the beginning of the print data, the print area can be printed at a constant speed by using the blank area as an acceleration area at the start of printing.

In the recording apparatus according to the invention, the print control unit controls the transport unit when the print control unit detects that there is no blank area at the beginning of the received print data before printing. Then, the recording medium is reversely fed including an amount necessary for acceleration, the conveyance unit is accelerated from the reversely fed position, and the print head is controlled at a constant speed by controlling the recording head and the conveyance unit. It is characterized by printing with.
According to this configuration, when there is no blank area at the beginning of the print data, it is possible to secure an acceleration area at the start of printing by reversely feeding the recording medium, and print data can be printed at a constant speed. Can do.

Further, in the recording apparatus according to the invention, the print control unit decelerates or temporarily stops the transport unit when detecting that there is no next print data in the blank area, and When it is detected that there is print data, the next print data is printed at a constant speed after accelerating the transport section within the blank area.
According to this configuration, the transport unit is stopped while waiting for reception of the next print data, and when there is next print data, the transport unit is accelerated to print on the recording medium in the constant speed region. Therefore, the time until the end of printing does not increase.

In the recording apparatus according to the invention, when the print control unit detects that the print data does not include the blank area and the print data includes information indicating a print end, The print data is printed at a constant speed.
According to this configuration, when there is information indicating the end of printing, the print data is printed on the recording medium at a constant speed, so printing can be terminated without detecting a blank area.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a control method for a recording apparatus that is connectable to a control apparatus and performs printing by a recording head while transporting a recording medium by a transport unit. When printing while receiving the print data, the recording head and the conveyance unit are controlled based on the print data to perform recording on the recording medium and conveyance of the recording medium, and within the received print data When it is detected that a blank area including a line feed that exceeds the area where the conveyance unit can accelerate or decelerate is included, printing is performed on the recording medium at a constant speed until the blank area is reached by the recording head and the conveyance unit. The conveyance unit is accelerated, decelerated, or stopped within the blank area.
According to this configuration, the conveyance unit can be accelerated or decelerated in the blank area, and printing can be performed on the recording medium at a constant speed, so that it is possible to prevent printing defects such as color unevenness and white stripes. In addition, since printing is not performed after all print data is received, but printing data is sequentially received and printing is performed, even when the reception speed is low, the time until the end of printing is extended. There is no.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the POS terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating an internal configuration of a printer. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of a POS terminal. It is explanatory drawing which shows the printing operation by the first print data. It is explanatory drawing which shows the printing operation by the following print data. It is explanatory drawing which shows the printing operation by the last print data. It is a graph which shows the relationship between a platen rotational speed and the feed amount of a thermal roll paper. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation according to a control method of the recording apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a POS terminal 1 to which a recording apparatus according to the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a configuration inside the main body of the printer 2 (recording apparatus) included in the POS terminal 1.
A POS terminal 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a terminal provided on a point-of-sale management system (POS system) built in a store such as a supermarket or a convenience store. The POS terminal 1 includes a host computer 3 (control device) that performs sales registration processing and settlement processing, and a printer 2 that is connected to the host computer 3 and issues a receipt 10 under the control of the host computer 3.

The host computer 3 has a display 12 for displaying the contents of the sales registration process and the payment process, a bar code scanner 13 for reading a bar code attached to the product during the sales registration process, and a key input including various keys such as a sales registration key. The unit 14 includes a cash drawer 15 for storing cash for settlement. The host computer 3 is connected to a POS server 16 that collects information registered for sales.
When issuing the receipt 10, the host computer 3 is necessary to access the POS server 16 and issue the receipt 10 as appropriate based on the input value from the barcode scanner 13 or the input value from the key input unit 14. Information is obtained. Based on the acquired information, print data necessary for issuing the receipt 10 is generated in the printer 2 and output to the printer 2. The printer 2 operates each unit based on the print data input from the host computer 3 and issues a receipt 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printer 2 as a recording apparatus houses a thermal roll paper 22 as a recording medium in a main body 20. The main body 20 includes a roller-shaped platen 23 (conveying unit) that conveys the thermal roll paper 22, a recording head 24 that is disposed to face the platen 23, and a cutter unit 25 that cuts the thermal roll paper 22. The recording head 24 is a line head in which heating elements are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the thermal roll paper 22.
The platen 23 conveys the thermal roll paper 22 by driving the conveyance motor 26 (see FIG. 3) to convey the thermal roll paper 22 in the conveyance direction Y and rotating the conveyance motor 26 in the reverse direction. It can also be conveyed in the direction opposite to the direction Y.

In the present embodiment, the printer 2 is a thermal line printer. That is, the printer 2 rotates the platen 23 by driving the transport motor 26 and drives the recording head 24 while transporting the heat-sensitive roll paper 22, thereby applying heat to the recording surface of the heat-sensitive roll paper 22 and heat-sensitive. An image is recorded by forming dots on the recording surface of the roll paper 22.
The heat-sensitive roll paper 22 on which the image is recorded is conveyed outward from a paper discharge port 28 formed on the upper surface of the main body 20, and is upstream of the paper discharge port 28 in the conveyance direction Y by the cutter unit 25. The receipt 10 is cut.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cutter unit 25 is disposed on the other side of the conveyance path of the thermal roll paper 22 so as to face the fixed blade 30 and the fixed blade 30 disposed on one side of the conveyance path of the thermal roll paper 22. The movable blade 31 is provided. The movable blade 31 is provided so as to freely advance and retract toward the fixed blade 30 via a drive mechanism (not shown) driven by the drive of the cutter drive motor 32. By moving the movable blade 31 toward the cutter drive motor 32 via the drive mechanism by the driving force of the cutter drive motor 32, the thermal roll paper 22 after printing is sandwiched between the fixed blade 30 and the movable blade 31. And cut off.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 20 of the printer 2 is provided with a cover 35 that can be opened and closed. The main body 20 is provided with a lever 36 for opening the cover 35. With the cover 35 opened, the space for accommodating the thermal roll paper 22 is exposed, and the thermal roll paper 22 can be replenished or replaced. Further, the main body 20 is provided with a power switch 37 for turning on / off the power of the printer 2 and a paper feed switch 38 for performing operations such as manual conveyance of the thermal roll paper 22. Further, the main body 20 is provided with a plurality of LEDs 39 for displaying the state of the printer 2 and the presence / absence of an error by turning on / off in a predetermined manner.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the POS terminal 1.
As shown in FIG. 3, the host computer 3 includes a host-side control unit 40, a host-side input unit 41, a host-side display unit 42, a host-side storage unit 43, and a host-side interface unit 44.
The host-side control unit 40 controls the host computer 3 centrally. The host-side control unit 40 includes a CPU that executes various programs, a ROM that stores basic control programs that are read and executed by the CPU, a work that temporarily stores programs executed by the CPU, data to be processed, and the like. It includes a RAM that forms an area, other peripheral circuits, and the like.

The host side input unit 41 is connected to various input devices including the key input unit 14 described above, detects an operation on the input device, and outputs it to the host side control unit 40.
The host-side display unit 42 is connected to the display 12 described above, and displays various types of information such as sales registration processing and payment processing contents on the display 12 under the control of the host-side control unit 40.
As described above, the host computer 3 is connected to various register peripheral devices such as the barcode scanner 13 and the cash drawer 15. An interface for connecting these devices is mounted on the host computer 3 and a device driver for controlling these devices is installed in advance.
The host-side storage unit 43 includes a hard disk, a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM, and stores various data in a rewritable manner.
The host side interface unit 44 performs communication based on the communication standard with the printer 2 under the control of the host side control unit 40.

The printer 2 is a thermal line printer that issues the receipt 10 as described above. As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 50, the print engine 51, the input unit 52, the display unit 53, the storage unit 54, and the like. And an interface unit 55.
The control unit 50 centrally controls each unit of the printer 2 and includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, other peripheral circuits, and the like, similar to the host-side control unit 40 described above. The control unit includes a print control unit 60.
The print engine 51 operates the recording head 24, the transport motor 26, the cutter drive motor 32, and the like under the control of the print control unit 60 included in the control unit 50, and prints an image on the thermal roll paper 22. The printed thermal roll paper 22 is cut and a receipt 10 is issued.

The function of the print control unit 60 is realized by cooperation of hardware and software, such as reading and executing a program with a CPU and firmware.
The input unit 52 is connected to the power switch 37 and the paper feed switch 38, detects operations on these operation switches, and outputs them to the control unit 50.
The display unit 53 outputs a drive signal to the LED 39 under the control of the control unit 50, and turns on / off the LED 39 in a predetermined manner.
The storage unit 54 includes a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM or a hard disk, and stores various data in a rewritable manner.
The interface unit 55 performs communication based on the communication standard with the host computer 3. The interface unit 55 and the control unit 50 cooperate to function as a receiving unit that receives print data from the host computer 3.
The printer 2 includes a reception buffer 56 (buffer) that stores print data received from the host computer 3 via the interface unit 55.

The host-side control unit 40 executes a POS application installed in advance on the host computer 3. For each transaction, the host-side control unit 40 obtains necessary information by accessing the POS server 16, and then information indicating the purchased product, information indicating the unit price of the product, information indicating the total purchase price, etc. Information to be described in the receipt 10 is acquired. Then, the host-side control unit 40 generates print data including information on an image to be printed on the receipt 10 based on the acquired information, and outputs the print data to the printer 2.
In addition to print information to be printed, the print data includes control commands for causing the printer 2 to perform various operations related to the receipt 10 issue.
The print information is information such as character strings and images to be printed on the thermal roll paper 22 and information to be printed by specifically specifying the order.
The control command includes a print start command for supporting the start of printing, a character string print instruction command for instructing printing of character string data included in the print data, a line feed command for instructing a line feed of the character string, and an instruction for printing image data. Various commands such as an image printing instruction command or a cutting instruction command for instructing cutting by the cutter unit 25 are included.

  The print data transmitted from the host computer 3 to the printer 2 is sequentially stored in the reception buffer 56. The print control unit 60 of the control unit 50 of the printer 2 sequentially reads and executes the print data stored in the reception buffer 56 to control the print engine 51 and perform various operations related to the issue of the receipt 10. Run. That is, the print control unit 60 controls the print engine 51 based on the print data, thereby driving the recording head 24 to print a predetermined image on the thermal roll paper 22 and driving the transport motor 26. To carry out the necessary transport accompanying image printing.

Next, recording control by the print control unit 60 of the control unit 50 of the printer 2 will be described.
As described above, the print data output from the host computer 3 to the printer 2 is sequentially stored in the reception buffer 56.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a printing operation using the first print data. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a printing operation using the next print data. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a printing operation based on the last print data.
As shown in FIG. 4, the print control unit 60 of the control unit 50 of the printer 2 sequentially reads and executes the print data stored in the reception buffer 56 to control the print engine 51, thereby receiving the receipt 10. Various operations related to issuance are executed. That is, the print control unit 60 controls the print engine 51 based on the print data, thereby driving the transport motor 26 to transport the thermal roll paper 22 and driving the recording head to transfer the thermal roll paper 22 to the thermal roll paper 22. A predetermined image is printed.
When printing based on the print data stored in the reception buffer 56 is completed, the print control unit 60 stops the transport motor 26 and stops the rotation of the platen 23.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the rotation speed of the platen 23 and the feed amount of the thermal roll paper 22. As shown in FIG. 7, generally, when the platen 23 is rotated by driving the transport motor 26 from a state where the platen 23 is stopped, the platen 23 reaches a constant speed region through a predetermined acceleration region. It takes a predetermined time, that is, a predetermined feed amount of the thermal roll paper 22 until the platen 23 reaches the constant speed region through the acceleration region. Further, even if the transport motor 26 is stopped, a predetermined deceleration area is required until the platen 23 is completely stopped. In this deceleration area, the thermal roll paper 22 is also transported while being decelerated.
If printing on the heat-sensitive roll paper 22 is performed in the acceleration region or the deceleration region of the platen 23, color unevenness or white stripes may occur, and print quality may be deteriorated. Therefore, it is preferable to print on the thermal roll paper 22 in a constant speed region of the platen 23.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the print control unit 60 analyzes the print data stored in the reception buffer 56 when performing printing. As a result of analyzing the print data, the print control unit 60 detects whether or not the print data includes a blank area corresponding to more than the range in which the platen 23 can be accelerated or decelerated by the transport motor 26. When the printing control unit 60 detects that the blank area beyond the range where the platen 23 can be accelerated / decelerated is included, the printing control unit 60 performs printing at a constant speed until reaching the blank area, and within the blank area, 23 is controlled to perform acceleration / deceleration or stop.
As the blank area, for example, a case where a predetermined line feed command or more is detected, or a case where a predetermined blank or more is included in the image data included in the print data can be considered.
When the line feed command is detected, the print control unit 60 calculates the feed amount of the thermal roll paper 22 based on the number of line feeds by the line feed command, so that a blank area including the feed amount by the line feed is included in the print data. Judge whether there is. The blank area needs a feed amount that can be accelerated again at least when the thermal roll paper 22 is decelerated and stopped by the platen 23.

When the print data is analyzed and a blank area such as a top margin is detected at the beginning of the print data, the print control unit 60 uses the first blank area as an acceleration area of the platen 23 at the start of printing. To do.
Further, when the print data is analyzed and no blank area is detected at the beginning of the print data, when printing is started, the acceleration area of the platen 23 cannot be secured, and printing is performed while accelerating. There is a risk of starting.
Therefore, the printing control unit 60 drives the transport motor 26 in the reverse direction to rotate the platen 23 in the reverse direction, and reversely feeds the thermal roll paper 22. This reverse feed amount includes an amount necessary to secure an acceleration area of the thermal roll paper 22 by the platen 23 and reach the constant speed area at the start of printing.

When printing is started, the print control unit 60 uses the first blank area as an acceleration area of the platen 23 at the start of printing when a blank area is detected at the beginning of the print data. If a blank area is not detected at the beginning of the print data, the print control unit 60 drives the transport motor 26 in the reverse direction to rotate the platen 23 in the reverse direction, and reversely feeds the thermal roll paper 22. Thus, an acceleration region of the platen 23 is secured.
The print control unit 60 controls the print engine 51 based on the print data stored in the reception buffer 56 to drive the transport motor 26 and transport the thermal roll paper 22 through the platen 23. When the thermal roll paper 22 reaches the constant speed region, the recording head 24 is driven to print a predetermined image on the thermal roll paper 22.

As described above, by performing printing while securing the acceleration area of the platen 23 at the head of the print data, printing in the constant speed area is possible when printing with the print data is performed. Then, when printing of the print data is completed, the print control unit 60 stops the transport motor 26 and stops the platen 23 in the blank area. The platen 23 is stopped during the print data reception waiting time after the end of printing until the next print data is stored in the reception buffer 56.
In this embodiment, the platen 23 is stopped after the printing is finished. However, when the next print data is received after the printing is finished, the platen 23 is decelerated and the platen 23 is not stopped. 23 may be reaccelerated.

  During this time, the next print data is transmitted from the host computer 3 to the printer 2, and the printer 2 receives the print data transmitted by the host computer 3 and stores it in the reception buffer 56.

The print control unit 60 analyzes the next print data stored in the reception buffer, and similarly detects whether or not there is a blank area in the print data.
As shown in FIG. 5, when a blank area is detected, the print control unit 60 drives the carry motor 26 based on the print data to rotate the platen 23. The platen 23 is accelerated by using the blank area stopped in the previous printing, and reaches the constant speed area in the blank area. As a result, when printing is performed by the print control unit 60, it is possible to print in the constant speed region. When printing of the next print data is finished, the transport motor 26 is stopped and the platen 23 is stopped in the blank region. Let

  Also, as shown in FIG. 6, if the blank area is not detected even after analyzing the print data, the print data is read until a cutting instruction command that is information indicating the end of the print data is detected. When a cutting instruction command is detected, the print control unit 60 determines that all print data has been received, and performs printing at a constant speed based on the remaining print data.

  When printing with all print data is completed, the print controller 60 drives the cutter drive motor 32 to operate the cutter unit 25 to cut the thermal roll paper 22 and issue the receipt 10.

Next, a method for controlling the recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer 2 of the present embodiment. FIG. 8 shows the operation of the printer 2 when one receipt 10 is issued.
In the following description, the functions of the control unit 50 and the print control unit 60 are realized by the cooperation of hardware and software, such as a CPU reading and executing a program such as firmware.

First, the printer 2 receives the print data transmitted by the host computer 3, and the printer 2 stores the received print data in the reception buffer 56 (step S1).
The print controller 60 analyzes the print data stored in the reception buffer 56 and detects whether or not the print data includes a blank area (step S2).
When the print data is analyzed and no blank area is detected at the beginning of the print data (step S3: NO), the print controller 60 drives the transport motor 26 in the reverse direction to move the platen 23. The heat-sensitive roll paper 22 is reversely fed by rotating in the reverse direction (step S11).

Next, the print control unit 60 detects whether or not a blank area is included in the print data (step S4).
If the print control unit 60 detects that a blank area is included in the print data (step S4: YES), the print control unit 60 sequentially reads and executes the print data stored in the reception buffer 56. Thus, the print engine 51 is controlled to execute various operations related to the receipt 10 issue.
That is, the print control unit 60 uses the blank area at the head of the print data as the acceleration area of the platen 23 when the conveyance motor 26 is driven to convey the thermal roll paper 22. Then, in a state where the constant speed area has been reached, the recording head 24 is driven to print a predetermined image on the thermal roll paper 22 up to the blank area (step S5).

  When printing based on the print data stored in the reception buffer 56 is completed (step S6: YES), the print control unit 60 stops the transport motor 26 and stops the platen 23 (step S7). By stopping the platen 23, the thermal roll paper 22 stops in the blank area.

The printer 2 receives the next print data transmitted by the host computer 3, and the received print data is stored in the reception buffer 56 (step S8).
If a cutting instruction command indicating the end of the print data is detected in the print data sent from the host computer 3 (step S9: YES), the print data is read to the end and printed to the end of the print data (step S10). ), Printing ends. The same applies when the print data does not include a blank area (step S4: NO).

If the print data does not include a cutting instruction command (step S9: NO), the operations from step S2 to step S9 are repeated again.
In this case, when the printing control unit 60 drives the conveyance motor 26 to convey the thermal roll paper 22, the blank area stopped by the previous printing is used as the acceleration area of the platen 23. Then, in a state where the constant speed area is reached in the blank area, the recording head 24 is driven, and a predetermined image is printed on the thermal roll paper 22 (step S5).
In the case of the next print data, the blank area at the head of the print data is not detected.

  When all printing is completed, the print control unit 60 drives the cutter drive motor 32 to cut the thermal roll paper 22 by the cutter unit 25 and issues the receipt 10.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the print control unit 60 performs printing while receiving print data from the host computer 3 (control device), the platen 23 (conveyance unit) is included in the received print data. When it is detected that a blank area including a line feed that exceeds the area that can be accelerated or decelerated is included, the recording head 24 and the platen 23 are controlled to perform printing at a constant speed until the blank area is reached, and the platen 23 is controlled. Then, the platen 23 is accelerated, decelerated, or stopped within the blank area.
According to this, since the thermal roll paper 22 can be accelerated, decelerated, or stopped in a blank area and printing can be performed at a constant speed, it is possible to prevent occurrence of printing defects such as color unevenness and white stripes. it can. In addition, printing is not started after all print data is received, but printing is performed by sequentially receiving print data according to the capacity of the reception buffer 56. Therefore, even when the reception speed is low, printing is completed. Time does not increase.

Also, according to the present embodiment, when the print control unit 60 detects that there is a blank area at the beginning of the received print data before printing, the print control unit 60 controls the platen 23 to fall within the range of the blank area. The platen 23 is accelerated, and the recording head 24 and the platen 23 are controlled to print the print data at a constant speed after exceeding the blank area.
According to this, when there is a blank area at the beginning of the print data, it is possible to print the print data at a constant speed by using this blank area as an acceleration area at the start of printing.

Further, according to the present embodiment, if the print control unit 60 detects that there is no blank area at the beginning of the received print data before printing, the print control unit 60 controls the platen 23 to accelerate the thermal roll paper 22. , The platen 23 is accelerated from the reversely fed position, and the print head 24 and the platen 23 are controlled to print the print data at a constant speed.
According to this, when there is no blank area at the beginning of the print data, the thermal roll paper 22 is reversely fed to secure an acceleration area at the start of printing, and the print data is printed at a constant speed. be able to.

Further, according to the present embodiment, when the print control unit 60 detects that there is no next print data in the blank area, the print control unit 60 decelerates or pauses the platen 23 and detects that there is next print data. Prints the next print data at a constant speed after accelerating the platen 23 within the blank area.
According to this, the platen 23 is stopped while waiting for the next print data to be received, and if there is next print data, the printing is accelerated and printing is performed in the constant speed region. Will not extend.

Further, according to the present embodiment, when the print control unit 60 detects that there is no blank area in the print data and there is information indicating the print end in the print data, the print control unit 60 prints the print data at a constant speed.
According to this, when there is information indicating the end of printing, the print data is printed at a constant speed, so printing can be terminated without detecting a blank area.

The above-described embodiment is merely an aspect of the present invention, and can be arbitrarily modified and applied within the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the embodiment, the case where the cutting instruction command is used as the information indicating the printing end of the print data has been described. However, any command may be used as long as the command indicates the printing end.
In the embodiment, the example of the recording apparatus applied to the POS terminal 1 as the recording apparatus has been described. However, the recording apparatus may be applied to any recording apparatus.

Each functional unit shown in FIG. 3 can be arbitrarily realized by cooperation of hardware and software, and does not suggest a specific hardware configuration.
In the above-described embodiment, the printer 2 includes the control unit 50 including the print control unit 60. For example, the function of the control unit 50 is provided to another device externally connected to the printer 2. May be.
The present invention is not limited to a thermal printer, and can be applied to a printer that prints while transporting an arbitrary type of recording medium, such as an ink jet printer, a dot impact printer, a laser printer, or a thermal sublimation printer. . Moreover, the printer incorporated in other apparatuses, such as a printer in ATM, may be used. Further, it may be printed on a medium other than paper, such as a CD label surface or a DVD label surface.
A program to which the present invention is applicable may be included in a printer driver installed in the host computer 3.
In addition, a program that executes each step of the flowchart may be read out and stored in a storage medium external to the printer 2 and executed by the control unit 50.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Printer (recording apparatus), 3 ... Host computer (control apparatus), 10 ... Receipt, 22 ... Thermal roll paper (recording medium), 23 ... Platen (conveyance part), 24 ... Recording head, 25 ... Cutter unit, 26 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Conveyance motor, 32 ... Cutter drive motor, 40 ... Host side control part, 41 ... Host side input part, 42 ... Host side display part, 43 ... Host side storage part, 44 ... Host side interface part, 50 ... Control part, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 51 ... Print engine 52 ... Input part 53 ... Display part 54 ... Memory | storage part 55 ... Interface part 56 ... Reception buffer 60 ... Print control part

Claims (6)

A recording device that can be connected to a control device and performs printing while conveying a recording medium,
A recording head for printing print data on the recording medium;
A transport unit for transporting the recording medium;
A print control unit that controls the recording head and the transport unit based on the print data to perform recording on the recording medium and transport of the recording medium,
When the print control unit performs printing while receiving the print data from the control device, the received print data includes a blank area including a line feed that is greater than or equal to an area where the transport unit can accelerate or decelerate. Is detected, printing is performed at a constant speed until reaching the blank area by controlling the recording head and the transport section, and the transport section is controlled to accelerate or decelerate the transport section within the blank area. A recording apparatus that performs any one of stop.   When the print control unit detects that there is the blank area at the beginning of the received print data before printing, the print control unit controls the conveyance unit to accelerate the conveyance unit within the range of the blank area. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print data is printed at a constant speed after the recording head and the transport unit are controlled to exceed the blank area.   When the print control unit detects that there is no blank area at the beginning of the received print data before printing, the print control unit controls the transport unit to include an amount necessary for accelerating the recording medium. 2. The recording according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit performs reverse feeding, accelerates the conveyance unit from the reversely fed position, and controls the recording head and the conveyance unit to print the print data at a constant speed. apparatus.   When the print control unit detects that there is no next print data in the blank area, it decelerates or pauses the transport unit, and when it detects that there is the next print data, the print control unit 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the next print data is printed at a constant speed after accelerating the conveyance unit within a range. 5.   The print control unit prints the print data at a constant speed when it detects that the print data does not include the blank area and the print data includes information indicating a print end point. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A control method for a recording apparatus that can be connected to a control apparatus and performs printing by a recording head while conveying a recording medium by a conveying unit,
When printing while receiving the print data from the control device, the recording head and the transport unit are controlled based on the print data, recording to the recording medium and transporting the recording medium,
When it is detected that the received print data includes a blank area including a line feed that is greater than or equal to an area where the transport unit can be accelerated or decelerated, the print head and the transport unit may cause the print area to reach the blank area. A printing apparatus control method, wherein printing is performed on a printing medium at a constant speed, and the conveyance unit is accelerated, decelerated, or stopped within the blank area.

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