JP4665773B2 - RECORDING DEVICE, RECORDING DEVICE CONTROL METHOD, AND CONTROL PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium based on control of a host computer, a control method for the recording apparatus, and a control program.

Conventionally, a system for controlling a recording apparatus by connecting a host computer and a recording apparatus and transmitting a command from the host computer to the recording apparatus is known. In such a system, various commands can be transmitted from the host computer to the recording apparatus to instruct conveyance of the recording medium, image recording, and the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP2003-37981A

In many recording apparatuses as described above, when the start of a recording operation is instructed from the host computer, the set recording medium is transported to a recording position, and data to be recorded thereafter is stored in the host computer. So that the recording operation can be promptly shifted to the recording operation.
However, when a plurality of types of recording media are used, if a different type of recording medium is set by mistake, the set recording medium may be taken out and replaced. In the conventional recording apparatus described above, the recording medium may be able to be taken out immediately after the recording medium is set. However, when the host computer instructs the start of the recording operation, the recording medium is conveyed to the recording position in accordance with this instruction. End up. If the recording medium transported to a recordable position is forcibly removed, an excessive force may be applied to the mechanism such as the recording head, and the recording medium cannot be removed unless an operation such as canceling the recording job is performed. There was a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and enables a recording apparatus that transports a recording medium and records an image on the recording medium to take out the recording medium that has already been set, under the control of a host computer. With the goal.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention includes a transport mechanism that transports an externally supplied recording medium and a recording mechanism that records an image on the recording medium, and is based on an instruction transmitted from a host computer. a recording apparatus for recording by conveying and the recording mechanism unit by the conveyance mechanism section Te, the conveyance instruction to the conveyance of the recording medium from the host computer is sent, when receiving the transport instruction, the recording medium if the recording position, after the predetermined condition is stopped at a position capable of taking out the recording medium to be established, is fed transportable said recording medium by said transport mechanism, if the recording medium to the recording position, the further comprising a control means for Ru is conveyed the recording medium by the conveyance mechanism section without stopping at a position capable of taking out the recording medium It is.
According to this configuration, when the conveyance of the recording medium is instructed from the host computer, the recording medium is stopped at a position where the recording medium can be taken out until a predetermined condition is satisfied, so that after the instruction from the host computer is transmitted Even in such a case, the recording medium can be taken out and exchanged, and the convenience can be improved. In addition, after a predetermined condition is satisfied, the recording medium can be quickly conveyed to the recording position, and then the image can be recorded.

In this case, if it is conveyed recording medium is already to the recording position, conveyed without stopping the recording medium after having received the conveyance instruction from the host computer. Since it is almost impossible to replace the recording medium transported to the recording position, after the recording medium has been transported to the recording position, the recording medium can be quickly transported and the subsequent recording can be performed without reducing the throughput. Convenience can be improved. Further, a medium sensor for detecting whether or not the recording medium is at a recording position may be provided.

Furthermore, in the present invention, a start command, a send command, and a return command are sequentially transmitted as control information for executing conveyance and recording of the recording medium from the host computer, and when the control means receives the start command, When it is determined whether or not the recording medium is at the recording position and the sending command is received, if the recording medium is not at the recording position from the determination result, the recording medium can be taken out until a predetermined condition is satisfied. After the stop, the recording medium is transported to a recording position based on the transport amount specified by the feed command by the transport mechanism, and recording by the recording mechanism based on the return command is performed after this transport. Good. In this case, it is possible to enhance the convenience without lowering the throughput.

The predetermined condition may be a Rukoto to elapse of a predetermined time determined in advance. In this case, the recording medium can be exchanged until a predetermined time elapses as the predetermined condition. After the predetermined time elapses, the recording medium is transported to the recording position. As a result, it is possible to prevent a significant decrease in throughput.

  In the present invention, the image forming apparatus further includes alignment means for aligning the recording medium supplied from the outside, and the control means receives the conveyance instruction from the host computer until the predetermined condition is satisfied. The medium may be stopped at a position aligned by the alignment means. In this case, since the recording medium stops at the aligned position, the recording medium can be easily replaced.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a transport mechanism that transports an externally supplied recording medium, and a recording mechanism that records an image on the recording medium, and an instruction transmitted from a host computer. And a recording apparatus control method for carrying out conveyance by the conveyance mechanism unit and recording by the recording mechanism unit, wherein a conveyance instruction instructing conveyance of the recording medium is transmitted from the host computer, and the conveyance instruction is received. If you, if the recording medium is not in the recording position, after the predetermined condition is stopped at a position capable of taking out the recording medium to be established, is fed transportable said recording medium by the conveying mechanism, the recording medium if the recording position, especially Rukoto, was conveyed to the recording medium by the conveyance mechanism section without stopping at possible locations taken out the recording medium To provide a control method for a recording apparatus as.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a transport mechanism that transports an externally supplied recording medium, and a recording mechanism that records an image on the recording medium, and an instruction transmitted from a host computer. And a computer that controls the recording apparatus that performs conveyance by the conveyance mechanism unit and recording by the recording mechanism unit, a conveyance instruction that instructs conveyance of the recording medium is transmitted from the host computer, and the conveyance instruction is received. If, when the recording medium is not in the recording position, after stopping at a position capable of taking out the recording medium to a predetermined condition is satisfied, to send transportable said recording medium by the conveying mechanism, the recording medium is recorded if the position control Ru is conveyed the recording medium by the conveyance mechanism section without stopping at possible locations taken out the recording medium Providing a control program to function stage as.

  According to the present invention, the recording medium can be taken out even after the host computer instructs the recording apparatus to convey the recording medium.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a dot impact printer as a recording apparatus according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. The dot impact printer of this embodiment includes a recording head 18 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) having a plurality of recording wires, and the recording wires are directed from the recording head 18 to a recording medium via an ink ribbon. By ejecting, dots are formed on the recording surface of the recording medium, and an image including characters is recorded.
Here, examples of the recording medium usable in the dot impact printer 10 include a cut sheet cut to a predetermined length, a continuous sheet in which a plurality of sheets are connected, and the like. These cut sheets and continuous sheets may be made of paper such as plain paper, copy paper, cardboard, or the like, or a sheet made of synthetic resin, and these sheets may be processed by coating or infiltration. In addition, as a form of the cut sheet, for example, in addition to a standard size cut paper (PPC paper, a postcard, etc.), a booklet form in which a plurality of sheets are bound (passbook etc.) or a bag-shaped form (envelope) Etc.). Examples of the form of the continuous sheet include continuous paper in which sprocket holes are formed at both ends in the width direction and folded at a predetermined length, and roll paper wound in a roll shape.
In this embodiment, the dot impact printer 10 will be described by taking as an example a case where a booklet-like passbook 100 in which a plurality of recording sheets are bound at the center in the longitudinal direction is used.

In the passbook 100 shown in FIG. 1, a magnetic stripe 101 is provided on the bottom surface when the recording surface is opened. The magnetic stripe 101 is a recording area in which various kinds of information can be magnetically recorded, and information is written and read by a magnetic head 34 (FIG. 2) described later.
The dot impact printer 10 shown in FIG. 1 has a configuration in which a main body is accommodated in an exterior made up of a cover 12, an upper case 13, and a lower case 14. The exterior is configured by connecting an upper case 13 and a lower case 14 vertically below a cover 12 disposed on the upper side so as to be opened and closed. On the front surface of the exterior, an opening is provided at a boundary portion between the upper case 13 and the lower case 14, and the opening serves as a manual feed opening 15 for manually inserting the bankbook 100.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a printer main body housed in the exterior of the dot impact printer. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the dot impact printer. A symbol A shown in FIG. 3 indicates a conveyance path of the bankbook 100.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the printer main body 11 has a main body frame including a left side frame 16 and a right side frame 17. The main body frame includes a recording mechanism unit 20 including a recording head 18 and a carriage 19, a platen 21 facing the recording head 18, a first conveying roller 22, and a second conveying roller 23. Section 24, second transport mechanism section 27 including third transport roller 25 and fourth transport roller 26, and magnetic data reading including magnetic head 34 that reads / writes magnetic information of magnetic stripe 101 of passbook 100. And a sheet presser 30 that suppresses the lifting of the bankbook 100 from above when reading / writing magnetic information.

The left side frame 16 and the right side frame 17 are erected so as to face each other at the left and right ends of the printer body 11. A carriage shaft 31 is bridged between the side frames 16 and 17, and a front seat guide 32 and a rear seat guide 33 having a flat surface shape are fixedly provided across the side frames 16 and 17. .
The front sheet guide 32 and the rear sheet guide 33 constitute the lower surface of the conveyance path A through which the bankbook 100 inserted from the manual feed slot 15 (FIG. 1) is conveyed. The front sheet guide 32 is located on the front side of the printer main body 11, that is, the manual feed port 15 side, and the rear sheet guide 33 is located on the rear side of the printer main body 11. The front sheet guide 32 and the rear sheet guide 33 are separated below the recording head 18, and the planar platen 21 is disposed in this space.

The first transport mechanism unit 24 is located on the front side of the platen 21, and the second transport mechanism unit 27 is located on the rear side of the platen 21.
Among these, the first transport roller 22 and the third transport roller 25 are disposed below the transport path A, and the second transport roller 23 and the fourth transport roller 26 are disposed above the transport path A. The bankbook 100 is sandwiched between the first transport roller 22 and the second transport roller 23 and between the third transport roller 25 and the fourth transport roller 26 and is transported along the transport path A.
Here, the first transport roller 22 and the third transport roller 25 are drive rollers that are rotationally driven by a transport motor 36 (FIG. 5) and a drive wheel train (not shown). On the other hand, the second transport roller 23 and the fourth transport roller 26 are spring-biased with a predetermined pressing force toward the first transport roller 22 and the third transport roller 25, respectively. This is a driven roller that rotates as the transport roller 25 rotates. For this reason, the 1st conveyance roller 22 and the 2nd conveyance roller 23 rotate in the mutually opposite direction, and the 3rd conveyance roller 25 and the 4th conveyance roller 26 rotate in the mutually opposite direction, and convey the bankbook 100.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, an alignment plate 54 is disposed between the platen 21 and the first transport roller 22. The alignment plate 54 is a plate-like member that extends parallel to the scanning direction of the recording head 18 and is perpendicular to the transport path A. The alignment plate 54 is embedded below the conveyance path A, and is configured to be able to advance and retreat in the conveyance path A by the operation of the alignment motor 37 (FIG. 5). That is, the alignment plate 54 is driven by the alignment motor 37 to move up and down, protrudes from the bottom of the front sheet guide 32 to the conveyance path A, or advances from the state of protruding from the conveyance path A to the front sheet guide 32. Retreat to the bottom or flush position. This aligning plate 54 and the aligning motor 37 that drives the aligning plate 54 are combined to constitute an aligning means.
The magnetic head 34 is driven to reciprocate by a magnetic motor 38 (FIG. 5) along two magnetic head guides laid in parallel between the side frames 16 and 17. Thus, the magnetic head 34 can scan the magnetic stripe 101 of the bankbook 100, read information from the magnetic stripe 101, and write information.

As described above, the carriage 19 is slidably inserted into the carriage shaft 31 spanned between the left side frame 16 and the right side frame 17. The carriage 19 is connected to a carriage drive motor 35 (FIG. 5) via a train wheel drive unit (not shown) and a timing belt (not shown), and is connected to the carriage shaft 31 by forward rotation or reverse rotation of the carriage drive motor 35. It travels (scans) along. The scanning direction of the carriage 19 is defined as the main scanning direction.
A recording head 18 is mounted on the carriage 19. The recording head 18 is integrated with the carriage 19 and moves on the recording surface of the bankbook 100 along the main scanning direction.
Further, a ribbon cartridge 39 accommodated in a state where the ink ribbon is folded is attached to the carriage 19 or the main body frame. A part of the ink ribbon housed in the ribbon cartridge 39 is pulled out and overlaps the tip of the recording head 18. Then, the recording head 18 protrudes the recording wire while running in the main scanning direction, and strikes the recording surface of the passbook 100 via the ink ribbon, and the ink of the ink ribbon is transferred to the platen 21, the recording head 18, and the like. An image including characters is recorded on the passbook 100 by being attached to the passbook 100 conveyed between the two.

  The projection output of the recording wire protruding from the recording head 18 is received by the platen 21. The platen 21 has a flat surface extending in the traveling direction of the carriage 19 and is elastically supported while being urged toward the recording head 18 by urging springs 40 (FIG. 3) at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The biasing spring 40 is, for example, a compression coil spring. Due to the urging force of the urging spring 40, the protruding output of the recording wire during the recording operation of the recording head 18 is supported. The recording head 18 is provided with a guide roller 41 on the side of the portion where the recording wire protrudes. The guide roller 41 is supported so as to be rotatable along the scanning direction of the recording head 18, and its lower end is positioned below the front end of the recording head 18 in a state where the recording wire is not ejected. The lower end of the guide roller 41 abuts against the platen 21 or the bankbook 100 located on the platen 21 and resists the urging force of the urging spring 40 that pushes up the platen 21. As a result, even if the thickness of the bankbook 100 changes, the platen 21 is displaced up and down accordingly, so that the difference in thickness is absorbed, and the distance (gap) between the recording surface of the bankbook 100 and the tip of the recording head 18 is absorbed. Or media gap) is kept at the proper distance.

A first sheet guide 42 and a second sheet guide 43 are disposed on the front side of the recording head 18. The first sheet guide 42 guides the leading end of the bankbook 100 when the leading end of the passbook 100 is inserted through the manual feed slot 15 and conveyed toward the recording head 18. By the first sheet guide 42, the leading end of the bankbook 100 smoothly enters between the recording head 18 and the platen 21. Further, the second sheet guide 43 guides the terminal end downward when the terminal floats up when the bankbook 100 is conveyed toward the manual feed slot 15 after recording by the recording head 18. This is a guide for smoothly discharging from the manual feed opening 15.
The dot impact printer 10 also controls the drive of the first and second sheet transport mechanisms 24 and 27, the travel control of the carriage 19, the control of the recording operation by the recording wire of the recording head 18, and the reading and writing of the magnetic data reading unit 29. As a control unit for controlling the entire printer 10 such as control, a control board unit 50 is provided, for example, below the rear side of the printer main body 11.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the dot impact printer 10. For convenience of understanding, FIG. 4 shows the host computer 80 existing outside the dot impact printer 10 together with the components of the dot impact printer 10.
As shown in FIG. 4, the control board unit 50 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 61 as a control unit that controls each part of the control board unit 50, and a RAM that temporarily stores programs and data executed by the CPU 61. (Random Access Memory) 62 and a flash ROM (Read Only Memory) 63 for storing a control program executed by the CPU 61 and the like are connected to each other via a bus 68. In addition, a character generator (CG) 64 for generating characters to be recorded by the recording head 18 is connected to the bus 68, and the recording head 18, the carriage drive motor 35, the transport motor 36, the alignment motor 37 and the magnetic field. A driver circuit 66 is connected to various stepping motors including the motor 38, and supplies power and pulse signals to these stepping motors.

The medium sensor 51 is connected to the bus 68 via a gate array (G / A) 65. The medium sensor 51 is a sensor that is disposed in the conveyance path A of the bankbook 100 and more specifically detects the presence or absence of the bankbook 100 in the vicinity of the recording head 18. This medium sensor 51 detects this when the bankbook 100 is aligned by the alignment plate 54 and then conveyed to just below the recording head 18. Accordingly, it is possible to know whether or not the bankbook 100 aligned by the alignment plate 54 has been moved to a position where recording by the recording head 18 is possible, based on the detection state of the medium sensor 51.
The CPU 61 controls the recording head 18 and the driver circuit 66 based on the control program stored in the flash ROM 63 and acquires the detection state of the medium sensor 51 via the gate array 65. Here, the CPU 61 samples the output voltages of the medium sensor 51 at a predetermined cycle (for example, 100 [ms (milliseconds)]) through the gate array 65 and performs A / D conversion, thereby obtaining these output voltages. Get the data shown.
Further, an interface circuit (I / F) 67 having connectors conforming to various standards such as a serial interface, a parallel interface, a USB interface, and a network card interface is connected to the bus 68. A host computer 80 external to the dot impact printer 10 is connected to the I / F 67. The host computer 80 is for recording an image by the dot impact printer 10 by transmitting / receiving various control information and data to / from the dot impact printer 10. For example, the host computer 80 instructs conveyance of the passbook 100 and execution of recording. Control information (command) to be recorded, image data to be recorded, or the like is transmitted to the dot impact printer 10. A computer system is configured by connecting the dot impact printer 10 to the host computer 80.

In this computer system, the host computer 80 transmits a start command, a feed command, and a return command as control information for causing the dot impact printer 10 to carry and record the passbook 100. The start command is a command for notifying the host computer 80 that the command and data related to the recording operation by the recording head 18 are to be transmitted to the dot impact printer 10. The feed command is a command for instructing the dot impact printer 10 to carry the passbook 100 and is sent to the dot impact printer 10 together with data for designating the carry amount. The return command is a command for instructing to start recording by moving the recording head 18 in the main scanning direction to return to the recording position. When transporting the bankbook 100, the recording head 18 is moved to the end along the main scanning direction to avoid breakage of the recording wire and contamination of the bankbook 100, and comes off from the bankbook 100. Therefore, when recording an image on the passbook 100, it is necessary to move the recording head 18 from the position of this end to the position above the passbook 100, that is, the recording position. The return command is a command for instructing to move the recording head 18 at a position off the top of the bankbook 100 as described above to the recording position. This return command is transmitted to the dot impact printer 10 together with image data to be recorded in the passbook 100.
Of the above-described components, the CPU 61, RAM 62, flash ROM 63, CG 64, driver circuit 66, and I / F 67 are mounted on the control board 50 and are connected to a bus 68 formed on the control board 50. Although it is connected, its specific mounting form is arbitrary.

Next, an outline of the operation of the printer 10 will be described.
Passbook 100 is inserted from the manual insertion opening 15, when the Alignment plate 54 is projected in the conveying path A, the control of the CPU 61, by the conveying motor 36 by the driver circuit 66 is driven, the passbook 100 It is sandwiched between the first transport roller 22 and the second transport roller 23 of the first transport mechanism 24 and transported to the front of the platen 21. Here, when the bankbook 100 is abutted against the alignment plate 54 protruding in the conveyance path A, the bankbook 100 is aligned along the alignment plate 54.
The bankbook 100 is conveyed to a reading position where the magnetic data reading unit 29 can read the magnetic stripe 101 of the bankbook 100, and the magnetic data reading unit 29 reads and writes information about the magnetic stripe 101 of the bankbook 100.
Thereafter, the dot impact printer 10 receives a start command transmitted from the host computer 80 and starts control of each unit to execute recording on the passbook 100. The CPU 61 that controls the dot impact printer 10 acquires the detection state of the medium sensor 51, determines whether or not the bankbook 100 is conveyed to the recording head 18, and sends a command sent from the host computer 80 or Transition to the standby state for the return command.

When the bankbook 100 is at the position of the recording head 18, that is, after printing has already been performed on the bankbook 100 inserted from the manual feed slot 15 (FIG. 1), the CPU 61 receives the send command transmitted from the host computer 80. Then, by driving the transport motor 36, the bankbook 100 is transported by the amount specified by the data transmitted together with the sending command.
Further, when the CPU 61 receives the return command transmitted from the host computer 80, the CPU 61 drives the carriage drive motor 35 and the recording head 18 based on the data received together with the command, and records an image including characters on the passbook 100. On the other hand, when the bankbook 100 is not at the position of the recording head 18, that is, in a state where the bankbook 100 is aligned by the alignment plate 54 inserted from the manual feed slot 15, the sending command transmitted from the host computer 80 is received. The CPU 61 puts the bankbook 100 into a suspended state. Then, when receiving a return command thereafter, the CPU 61 executes conveyance that has been suspended after waiting for a predetermined time, conveys the bankbook 100 to a recording position on the platen 21, and executes recording. .

  The recording operation by the recording head 18 is performed for the first time each time one line is recorded by the recording wire while the recording head 18 travels leftward or rightward in the main scanning direction. The conveyance roller 22, the second conveyance roller 23, the third conveyance roller 25, and the fourth conveyance roller 26 convey the bankbook 100 by a predetermined length (for example, between lines), and these operations are repeated. After recording by the recording head 18, the passbook 100 is transported to the reading position by the first and second sheet transport mechanisms 24 and 27, and the magnetic stripe is read by the magnetic data reading unit 29 based on the information recorded in the passbook 100. Magnetic information is written in 101. Next, the passbook 100 is transported forward by the first transport mechanism 24, and the passbook 100 is discharged from the manual feed slot 15.

The operation of the dot impact printer 10 configured as described above will be described with reference to a flowchart.
5 to 7 are flowcharts showing the operation of the dot impact printer. The operations shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 are realized by the CPU 61 executing a control program stored in the flash ROM 63.

In step S11, the CPU 61 stands by until a start command transmitted from the host computer 80 is received. This is because the operation related to recording by the recording head 18 is not executed before the start command is received.
Here, when the start command transmitted from the host computer 80 is received, the CPU 61 proceeds to step S12 to determine whether or not the bankbook 100 is at the recording position. If the bankbook 100 is not at the recording position, the CPU 61 proceeds to step S13, sets the recording position movement request flag to 1, and stores it in the RAM 62. The case where the bankbook 100 is not at the recording position is specifically the case where the bankbook 100 inserted from the manual feed slot 15 is stopped at the position aligned by the alignment plate 54, and an image is recorded on the bankbook 100. Refers to the case before. The recording position movement request flag is a flag indicating that the bankbook 100 stopped at the position of the alignment plate 54 needs to be moved to the recording position.
Subsequently, the CPU 61 proceeds to step S14, reads and sets the waiting time stored in advance in the flash ROM 63, starts to count down this waiting time, and proceeds to step S15.
If the passbook 100 is at the recording position in step S12, that is, if recording to the set passbook 100 has already been performed, the CPU 61 proceeds to step S15.

In step S15, the CPU 61 determines whether or not a feed command transmitted from the host computer 80 has been received. If a feed command is received, the CPU 61 proceeds to step S16 to perform a feed process. The sending process in step S16 will be described later with reference to FIG.
On the other hand, if the sending command transmitted from the host computer 80 has not been received (step S15; No), the CPU 61 proceeds to step S17 and determines whether or not a return command from the host computer 80 has been received. If a return command is received, the process proceeds to step S18 to perform a recording process. The recording process in step S18 will be described later with reference to FIG.
After executing the sending process in step S16 and the recording process in step S18, or if no return command is received in step S17, the CPU 61 returns to step S15 and continues the operation.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing in detail the feeding process executed in step S16 of FIG.
In step S21 of this feed process, the CPU 61 calculates a feed amount based on the data transmitted from the host computer 80 together with the feed command. This feed amount refers to the carry amount by which the bankbook 100 is carried by the first carrying mechanism unit 24 and the second carrying mechanism unit 27.
Subsequently, the CPU 61 proceeds to step S22 and refers to the value of the recording position movement request flag stored in the RAM 62. If the recording position movement request flag is set to 1, the process proceeds to step S23, the conveyance of the passbook 100 is put on hold, the feed amount obtained in step S21 is stored in the RAM 62, and this processing is performed. Exit.
On the other hand, when the value of the recording position movement request flag is not 1, the CPU 61 proceeds to step S24, conveys the bankbook 100 by the amount calculated in step S21, and ends this process.
Thus, in the feed process, if the value of the recording position movement request flag is not 1, the conveyance is performed according to the instruction of the host computer 80. If the value of the recording position movement request flag is 1, the conveyance is suspended.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing in detail the recording process executed in step S18 of FIG.
In step S31 of the recording process, the CPU 61 refers to the value of the recording position movement request flag stored in the RAM 62. If the value of the recording position movement request flag is 0, the CPU 61 proceeds to step S36 described later.
On the other hand, when the value of the recording position movement request flag is 1, the CPU 61 proceeds to step S32 and waits until the remaining waiting time at which the countdown is started in step S14 in FIG. When the waiting time becomes 0, the CPU 61 proceeds to step S33 and carries until the upper end of the bankbook 100 reaches the recording position. In step S <b> 33, the upper end of the bankbook 100 may be moved to the recording position, and further moved so that the position where the first line of the bankbook 100 is recorded is directly below the recording head 18. Then, the CPU 61 proceeds to step S34, resets the recording position movement request flag stored in the RAM 62 to 0, and proceeds to step S35.
In step S <b> 35, the CPU 61 conveys the bankbook 100 based on the feed amount stored in the RAM 62 if there is a feed process in the hold state. In this step S35, if the data transmitted together with the feed command from the host computer 80 specifies the absolute feed amount from the upper end position of the passbook 100, the amount already transported in step S33 is taken into account. If transport is performed and the data specifies the feed amount from the first row of the passbook 100, transport is performed by the amount obtained in step S21.
Subsequently, the CPU 61 proceeds to step S35, executes recording on the passbook 100 based on the data transmitted from the host computer 80 together with the return command, and ends this processing.

5 to 7, the dot impact printer 10 sets the value of the recording position movement request flag to 0 or 1 depending on whether or not the passbook 100 is at the recording position, and this recording position movement. Based on the value of the request flag, the bankbook 100 is transported and recorded.
When the recording position movement request flag is 0, when the sending command from the host computer 80 is received, the passbook 100 is conveyed, and when the return command is received, the recording head 18 is based on the data transmitted together with the return command. Record by.
On the other hand, when the recording position movement request flag is set to 1, when a sending command is received from the host computer 80, the amount of conveyance of the bankbook 100 is obtained, the conveyance is put on hold, and then returned. When the command is received, the suspended passbook 100 is carried, and an image is recorded based on the data transmitted together with the return command. When the recording position movement request flag is 1, the dot impact printer 10 starts counting down for a predetermined time after receiving the start command, and waits without carrying and recording the passbook 100 until the count is completed. .
For this reason, when the recording position movement request flag is set to 1, the passbook 100 is positioned at the position of the alignment plate 54 until a predetermined waiting time elapses after the start command is received and the return command is received. Therefore, the bankbook 100 can be taken out and exchanged with another bankbook 100.
For example, when using a plurality of types of passbooks having different shapes and sizes, or when using one or more types of forms and passbooks depending on the purpose and purpose, a single dot impact printer 10 is used. There is a possibility that another passbook or form is erroneously inserted into the manual feed slot 15. Alternatively, there may be a case where it is not enough to take out the form or passbook and replace it with the desired form or passbook before the start command is transmitted from the host computer 80. In such a case, if the passbook or the form inserted in the manual feed slot 15 can be taken out, it is possible to avoid fouling the passbook, or to save time and effort by canceling the wasteful consumption of the form and the recording job. It is. On the other hand, if a passbook or a form inserted from the manual feed port 15 is quickly conveyed to a recording position, and a command is received from the host computer 80 to perform an operation immediately, high throughput can be expected. Very useful.

  Therefore, the dot impact printer 10 receives the return command and waits after the passbook 100 is inserted from the manual feed slot 15 and aligned by the alignment plate 54 and before the first recording on the passbook 100 is performed. Until time passes, the bankbook 100 is stopped at the position of the alignment plate 54. Thereby, even after the start command is transmitted / received, since the bankbook 100 remains at the position of the alignment plate 54, the bankbook 100 can be taken out and exchanged. When one or more lines are recorded on the passbook 100 and the passbook 100 is at the recording position, it is unlikely that the dot impact printer 10 needs to be replaced. Respond quickly and work. Thereby, even after the start command is transmitted from the host computer 80, if the passbook 100 is set and before the first recording is performed, an opportunity for the user to take out and replace the passbook 100 is ensured. Can be improved. Further, after the first recording, the operation can be made in response to the control of the host computer 80 promptly, so that the throughput is not reduced.

  Further, since the dot impact printer 10 receives the start command transmitted from the host computer 80 and does not perform the operation of transporting the passbook 100 to the recording position until a predetermined waiting time elapses. Even when the return command is received immediately after the start command is received, the time for exchanging the bankbook 100 can be secured. Further, since the passbook 100 is conveyed and recorded by receiving the return command after the waiting time has elapsed, the throughput is not significantly reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the medium sensor 51 is provided in the vicinity of the recording head 18 in the transport path A has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a manual error A configuration may be provided in which a sensor for detecting the bankbook 100 is provided in the vicinity of the mouth 15, or a configuration in which the medium sensor 51 is omitted. In this case, the CPU 61 determines, based on the history of driving the transport motor 36, whether the first transport mechanism unit 24 transports the bankbook 100 to just below the recording head 18, and the bankbook recorded by the recording head 18. By determining whether or not 100 has been conveyed to the manual feed slot 15, it can be determined whether or not the bankbook 100 is at the recording position.
In the above embodiment, the dot impact printer 10 is connected to the host computer 80. However, the number of the host computers 80 is not particularly limited, and a plurality of host computers 80 are connected to the dot impact printer 10. Is possible. In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the dot impact printer 10 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an ink jet printer, a laser printer, a thermal printer using a thermal sheet, and a thermal transfer type. The present invention can be applied to various recording devices (printers) such as printers, and can also be applied to recording devices incorporated in other devices (such as copying machines). In addition, it is needless to say that other detailed configurations in the above embodiment can be arbitrarily changed.

1 is an external perspective view of a dot impact printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the printer main body of a dot impact printer. It is a sectional side view of a dot impact printer. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of a control board part. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a dot impact printer. It is a flowchart which shows a sending process in detail. It is a flowchart which shows a recording process in detail.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Dot impact printer (printing apparatus), 11 ... Printer main body, 15 ... Manual feed port, 18 ... Recording head, 19 ... Carriage, 20 ... Recording mechanism part, 21 ... Platen, 22 ... 1st conveyance roller, 23 ... 1st 2 transport rollers, 24: first transport mechanism (transport mechanism), 25: third transport roller, 26: fourth transport roller, 27: second transport mechanism (transport mechanism), 35: carriage drive motor, 36 ... conveying motor, 37 ... alignment motor (alignment means), 38 ... magnetic motor, 50 ... control board section, 51 ... medium sensor, 54 ... alignment plate (alignment means), 61 ... CPU (control means), 62 ... RAM 63 ... Flash ROM, 64 ... CG, 65 ... Gate array, 66 ... Driver circuit, 67 ... I / F, 80 ... Host computer, 100 ... Passbook (recording medium).

Claims (7)

A conveyance mechanism unit for conveying a recording medium supplied from the outside and a recording mechanism unit for recording an image on the recording medium, and conveying by the conveyance mechanism unit and the recording mechanism based on an instruction transmitted from a host computer In a recording device that performs recording by a section,
When the transport instruction is transmitted from the host computer to instruct transport of the recording medium, and when the transport instruction is received, if the recording medium is not at the recording position, the recording medium can be taken out until a predetermined condition is satisfied. after stopping in, to send transportable said recording medium by said transport mechanism, wherein if the recording medium to the recording position, the recording medium by the conveyance mechanism section without stopping at possible locations taken out the recording medium further comprising a control means for Ru is transported to,
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a medium sensor that detects whether or not the recording medium is at a recording position . As control information for executing conveyance and recording of the recording medium from the host computer, a start command, a send command, and a return command are sequentially transmitted,
When the control unit receives the start command, the control unit determines whether the recording medium is at a recording position. When the sending command is received, if the recording medium is not at the recording position, the predetermined condition is satisfied. After the recording medium is stopped at a position where the recording medium can be taken out until the condition is satisfied, the recording medium is transported to the recording position based on the transport amount specified by the feed command by the transport mechanism, and the return command is transported after the transport. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein recording is performed by the recording mechanism unit based on the above . Wherein the predetermined condition, the recording apparatus according to any and Turkey to elapse of a predetermined time determined in advance, from claim 1, wherein the third. Alignment means for aligning the recording medium supplied from the outside,
2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the conveyance instruction is received from the host computer, the control unit stops the recording medium at a position aligned by the alignment unit until a predetermined condition is satisfied. 5. The recording device according to any one of 4. A conveyance mechanism unit for conveying a recording medium supplied from the outside and a recording mechanism unit for recording an image on the recording medium, and conveying by the conveyance mechanism unit and the recording mechanism based on an instruction transmitted from a host computer A recording apparatus control method for recording by a recording unit,
When the transport instruction is transmitted from the host computer to instruct transport of the recording medium, and when the transport instruction is received, if the recording medium is not at the recording position, the recording medium can be taken out until a predetermined condition is satisfied. after stopping in, to send transportable said recording medium by said transport mechanism, wherein if the recording medium to the recording position, the recording medium by the conveyance mechanism section without stopping at possible locations taken out the recording medium Rukoto is transported to,
A control method for a recording apparatus. A conveyance mechanism unit for conveying a recording medium supplied from the outside and a recording mechanism unit for recording an image on the recording medium, and conveying by the conveyance mechanism unit and the recording mechanism based on an instruction transmitted from a host computer A computer that controls a recording device that performs recording by a recording unit,
When the transport instruction is transmitted from the host computer to instruct transport of the recording medium, and when the transport instruction is received, if the recording medium is not at the recording position, the recording medium can be taken out until a predetermined condition is satisfied. after stopping in, to send transportable said recording medium by said transport mechanism, wherein if the recording medium to the recording position, the recording medium by the conveyance mechanism section without stopping at possible locations taken out the recording medium control means Ru is transported to,
Control program to function as.

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