JP3182879B2 - Printer and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer and, more particularly, to a printer configuration and control method most suitable for POS / ECR.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a validation detector has been mounted for performing validation printing. In the validation printing procedure, the printer receives the validation printing command and waits for paper, prints after the detector detects the validation paper, and after printing is completed, the detector detects the absence of paper. Has shifted to the next printing operation.

[0003]

However, if the validation detector for detecting the validation paper is not mounted, the printing failure occurs due to the absence of the paper due to the start of printing immediately after receiving the validation print command. Further, if the validation paper after printing is not removed, there is a disadvantage that the next print data causes double printing on the same paper.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, a printer according to the present invention performs printing on a cut sheet in a printer capable of printing on a cut sheet based on a command and print data from a host. Means for receiving a cut sheet print command to be instructed, means for setting a standby state when a cut sheet print command is received, a signal for instructing start of printing on cut sheet, and completion of printing on cut sheet. Input means for inputting a signal for instructing the printer, and in a standby state, when the signal for instructing the start of printing is input, the printer prints the print data on a cut sheet, and after the printing of the print data is completed. The operation is not shifted to the next operation until a signal instructing the end of printing on cut sheet is input. Further, in this case, a display means for displaying that the cut sheet print command has been received, and terminating the display indicating that the cut sheet paper print command has been received when a signal instructing the start of printing is input from the input means. It is characterized by having. In this case, the display means displays that the printing on the cut sheet is completed after the printing of the print data is completed. Also,
According to a printer control method of the present invention, in a method of controlling a printer capable of printing on cut-sheet paper based on a command and print data from a host, a cut-sheet paper print command instructing printing on cut-sheet paper is received. And after the receiving step,
In a standby state, a first input step of inputting a signal for instructing start of printing on cut sheet paper, and in a standby state,
When a signal instructing the start of printing is input, the method includes a step of printing print data on cut sheet paper, and a second input step of inputting a signal for instructing end of printing on cut sheet paper, After the printing process, the operation is not shifted to the next operation until a signal instructing the end of printing on the cut sheet is input. In this case, the display that the cut sheet print command has been received is displayed, and the display indicating that the cut sheet print command has been received is ended when the signal to start printing is input in the first input step. A first display step of causing the first display step to be performed. In this case, after the printing step, a second display step is provided for displaying that printing on the cut sheet has been completed.

[0005]

[Action] In a printer without a validation detector, after receiving a validation print command,
When the validation paper is inserted into the printer and ready for printing, validation printing is started by inputting a signal from a specific signal input means. Further, after the printing is completed, after the validation paper is removed, a signal is similarly input by a specific signal input unit, thereby completing a series of printing operations on the validation paper.

According to the present invention, in the case where the validation detector is not mounted, it is possible to start or end the printing operation by signal input means such as pressing a specific switch after confirming that the paper has been securely inserted or removed. For,
Printing failure can be prevented.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Generally, recording paper used in the distribution industry is roughly divided into cut sheet paper and continuous paper. Among cut sheets, there is a sheet having a relatively fixed number of copy sheets called validation paper, in addition to a slip sheet, which is a form sheet, and an irregular form of slip paper. Examples of the continuous paper include a journal paper for storing as a record for a store and a receipt paper for issuing a receipt.

Referring to FIG. 1, the path of each paper when printing on continuous paper and validation paper will be described. FIG.
FIG. 1A is an external view of the entire printer. FIG. 1B is a schematic view of a mechanism inside the printer as viewed from a direction A. FIG.
(C) is a schematic view of a mechanism inside the printer as viewed from the B direction.

Continuous paper Continuous paper 11 is stored in the printer as roll paper. The continuous paper 11 passes between the platen 13 and the head 12 and exits from the continuous paper outlet 15.

[0010] The validation paper 16 is inserted by the user from the validation paper supply groove 14 every time printing is performed, and is inserted between the platen 13 and the head 12 similarly to the continuous paper 11. The position where the validation detector is mounted is at the position 17 (in this embodiment, the validation detector 17 is not mounted).
After printing, the validation paper 16 is manually extracted.

As shown in FIG. 1C, in the printing method, the head 12 moves in the 1A or 1B direction while the wire pins 12-a move in and out of the head 12 and the paper 12 in either case. Characters and symbols are printed by striking ink on an ink ribbon (not shown) between them.

Referring to FIG. 2, the procedure of the processing of the printer including the host will be roughly described.

First, the host 20 transmits a validation print command, and the printer 21 receives the command via the connection line 23. The printer that has received the command enters a print standby state. Here, printing is not performed even if print data is received. Then, the validation paper is inserted into the printer 21 and the content of the print data is printed by pressing the switch 22 on the printer when the user has completed the preparation for printing. After the completion of the validation printing, the user removes the validation paper and presses the switch 22 to complete a series of validation printing operations.

The printer 21 normally prints the received data on the continuous paper 11 one after another. When the printer 21 receives the validation print command from the host, the printer blinks the LED 18 to indicate the reception of the command and the paper standby state. At this time, printing is not performed even if print data is received. After confirming the blinking of the LED 18, the user inserts the validation paper 16 into the validation paper supply groove 14. The user confirms that the validation paper has been securely inserted, and presses the switch 22.
At that time, the LED 18 is turned off and the contents of the print data are printed. After the printing is completed, the LED 18 blinks again to indicate the end of the validation printing. At this time, printing is not performed even if print data is newly received. Then, the user pulls out the validation paper and presses the switch 22, thereby completing a series of validation printing operations and moving to the next operation.

[0015]

After confirming that the paper is securely inserted or removed by a printer without a validation detector, printing is started or started by signal input means such as pressing a switch on the printer close to the paper. Since the printing can be completed, it is possible to prevent a printing failure such as no paper being inserted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an external appearance of a printer according to the present invention and a structure of an example around a print head.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Continuous paper 12 Head 12-a Wire pin 13 Platen 14 Validation paper insertion port 15 Continuous paper discharge port 16 Validation paper 17 Validation detector 18 LED 20 Host computer 21 Printer 22 Switch 23 Connection line connecting host computer and printer

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-129763 (JP, A) JP-A-3-99868 (JP, A) JP-A-3-264449 (JP, A) JP-A-5-81560 (JP) JP-A-5-8472 (JP, A) JP-A-4-179563 (JP, A) JP-A-57-189057 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB Name) B41J 29/48 B41J 29/38

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printer capable of printing on a cut sheet based on a command and print data from a host, a unit for receiving a cut sheet print command instructing printing on the cut sheet, Means for setting a standby state when a paper print command is received, and input means for inputting a signal for instructing the start of printing on the cut sheet and a signal for instructing the end of printing on the cut sheet. The printer, in the standby state, prints the print data on the cut sheet when the signal for instructing the start of printing is input, and after the printing of the print data is completed, A printer which does not shift to the next operation until a signal instructing the end of printing is input. 2. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a display for indicating that the cut-sheet printing command has been received, and when the signal for instructing the start of printing is input from the input unit, the cut-sheet printing is performed. A printer comprising a display unit for ending a display indicating that a command has been received. 3. The printer according to claim 2, wherein said display means displays, after printing of said print data, a message indicating that printing on said cut sheet has been completed. 4. A method for controlling a printer capable of printing on a cut sheet based on a command and print data from a host, the method comprising: receiving a cut sheet print command instructing printing on the cut sheet. A step of entering a standby state after the receiving step; and a first step of inputting a signal instructing a start of printing on the cut sheet.
In the standby state, when a signal instructing the start of printing is input, a step of printing the print data on the cut sheet, and instructing the end of printing on the cut sheet 2nd signal input
A printer control method which does not proceed to the next operation until a signal instructing the end of printing on the cut sheet is input after the printing step. 5. The control method for a printer according to claim 4, further comprising the step of displaying that the cut sheet print command has been received,
A first display step of terminating a display indicating that the cut sheet print command has been received, when a signal instructing the start of printing is input in the first input step. Control method. 6. The printer control method according to claim 5, further comprising, after the printing step, a second display step of displaying that printing on the cut sheet has been completed. Control method.