JPH11138953A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the possibilities of issuing an imperfect printed matter to be produced in a printing process interrupted halfway right before the end of a web. SOLUTION: In this printer, a paper end detection means selects the relative position between a printing means 30 and a paper end detection means 30 in such a manner that data can be printed only in the specified number of lines by the printing means 30 after detecting the end of the web by the paper end detection means. In addition, judgement means 61, 62, 63 judge whether the number of printing lines to be printed on the web after detecting the end of the web when such an end is detected during printing process, is below a specified number of printing lines (N), and control means 61, 62, 63 delay the forced termination of printing by continuing the drive of the printing means 30 and a conveyance means 20 until the completion of the printing process on the web, when the number of printing lines after detecting the end of the web is interpreted to be fewer than the specified number of printing lines (N) by the judgement means 61, 62, 63.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer having printing means and paper end detecting means and capable of issuing a printed material such as a receipt using roll paper as a printing medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 shows a conventional configuration of a printer capable of issuing printed matter such as a receipt using roll paper as a printing medium.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a printer main body. The printer main body 1 is provided with a roll paper setting means 10, a roll paper transport means 20, a printing means 30, a paper end detection means 40, and the like.

Here, the roll paper setting means 10
Is means for supporting the loaded roll paper P so that it can be fed out. The roll paper transport unit 20 is formed so as to be able to transport the roll paper P mounted on the roll paper setting unit 10 toward the printing unit 30.

[0005] The printing means 30 includes a print head 31 and a platen 35 and is formed so as to be able to print on the roll paper P supplied via the transport means 20.

In such a printer, when an instruction to issue a printed material is received from a host computer (not shown),
The roll paper transport unit 20 is driven, and the roll paper P mounted on the roll paper setting unit 10 is transported to the printing unit 30. Then, the printing unit 30 prints characters, numerals, and the like on the roll paper P by the number of printing lines determined based on the print data. In this way, the portion of the roll paper P on which characters and the like are printed is cut and issued as a printed material.

The printer main body 1 is often provided with a roll paper cutting means 50 capable of automatically cutting the roll paper P in order to further facilitate the handling. In addition, the above-mentioned printed matter includes a variable length sheet having an indefinite number of printing lines and an unfixed paper length, and a fixed length sheet having a fixed number of printing lines and a fixed paper length. There is.

The paper end detecting means 40 includes a detection lever 45 and a paper end sensor (photo sensor 41), and is formed so as to detect the end of the roll paper P. Specifically, the detection lever 45 is
6, one end 45a is in pressure contact with the outer peripheral surface of the roll paper P, and a detection object 47 is provided at the other end.

When the length of the roll paper P decreases (therefore, the diameter D decreases) with the issuance of a printed matter, the detection lever 45 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. The detector 47 is displaced downward. The paper end sensor (41) detects the end of the roll paper P based on the displacement amount of the detection target 47. Paper end sensor (41)
However, when the end of the roll paper P is detected, the printing operation is forcibly terminated immediately, and a paper end and abnormal printing end response are returned to the host computer.

[0010]

In the printer described above, when the end of the roll paper P is detected by the paper end detecting means 40, the printing operation is immediately terminated forcibly, so that the printing is interrupted halfway. Incomplete printed matter may be issued.

When such a situation occurs, it is necessary to print again and issue a printed material again, which is troublesome and drives the printing means 30 and the roll paper conveying means 20 uselessly.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printer capable of reducing the possibility of issuing an incomplete printed matter in which printing has been interrupted halfway immediately before the end of roll paper.

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing means capable of printing on roll paper supplied via a transport means, and a roll paper provided upstream of the printing means in the paper transport direction. A paper end detection means capable of detecting the end of the roll paper, a printer capable of issuing a printed matter and forcibly terminating the printing operation when the end of the roll paper is detected by the paper end detection means during the printing operation,
The relative position between the printing means and the paper end detection means is selected so that the printing means can print a predetermined number of printing lines after the end of the roll paper is detected by the paper end detection means, and the roll paper is detected during the printing operation. A determination unit that determines whether the number of print lines to be printed on the roll paper after the end is detected is equal to or less than the predetermined number of print lines; and a print line after the end of the roll paper is detected by the determination unit. When it is determined that the number is equal to or less than the predetermined number of print lines, control means for continuing the driving of the printing means and the transport means until the printing operation on the roll paper is completed, thereby delaying forced termination of printing; Is provided.

According to this invention, when the end of the roll paper is detected during the printing operation, if the number of print lines after the detection of the end is determined to be equal to or less than the predetermined number of print lines, the determination is made on the roll paper. The forced printing end is delayed until the printing operation is completed. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the incomplete printed matter in which the printing is interrupted halfway immediately before the end of the roll paper is issued.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when a print command for issuing a fixed-length print is received after issuing a print in which the end of the roll paper is detected during a printing operation, a print line for the fixed-length print is provided. The printer issues a fixed-length print by performing a printing operation on the condition that the number of print lines is equal to or less than the number of print lines that can be printed on the roll paper portion between the printing means and the paper end detection means.

According to this invention, when a print command for issuing a fixed-length print is received after issuing a print in which the end of the roll paper is detected during a printing operation, the number of print lines of the fixed-length print is reduced to the roll paper. When it is confirmed that printing is possible, a printing operation is performed and the printed matter is issued. Therefore,
The same operation and effect as in the case of the invention described in claim 1 can be obtained, and the roll paper can be used more effectively.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when an instruction to issue a variable-length print is received after a print in which the end of the roll paper is detected during a print operation, abnormal printing termination processing is performed. Printer.

In the case of this invention, if an instruction to issue a variable-length printed matter is issued after the printed matter in which the end of the roll paper is detected during the printing operation, abnormal printing termination processing is performed.

Therefore, the same operation and effect as those of the first aspect of the invention can be obtained, and the unnecessary driving of the printing means can be more reliably prevented.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the basic configuration of this printer is the same as that of the conventional example (FIG. 5).
The relative position between 0 and the paper end detection means 40 is selected such that the printing means 30 can print a predetermined number of print lines (N) after the end of the roll paper P is detected by the paper end detection means 40, and the printing operation is performed. A determination unit (61, 62, 63) for determining whether the number of print lines to be printed on the roll paper P after the detection of the end of the roll paper P is equal to or less than a predetermined print line number (N) If the determination means (61, 62, 63) determines that the number of print lines after the end detection of the roll paper P is equal to or less than the predetermined print line number (N), the printing operation on the roll paper P is performed. The printing means 30 and the roll paper transport means 2 until completion.
A control means (61, 62, 63) for continuing the drive to 0 and delaying the forced termination of printing is provided.

If a print command of a fixed length is received after the print on which the end of the roll paper P is detected during the printing operation, the number of printing lines of the fixed length print is determined by the printing means. The number of print lines that can be printed on the roll paper P portion between the roll paper P and the paper end detection means 40 is equal to or less than the predetermined number of print lines N minus the number of print lines after detection of the end of the roll paper P. The printing operation is performed under the conditions, and the printed matter is formed so as to be issued.

The same components as those in the conventional example (FIG. 5) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be simplified or omitted.

First, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, after detecting the end of the roll paper P, the paper end detecting means 40 uses the printing means 30 to set the number of print lines equal to or greater than the number of print lines of a fixed length print. The printing unit 30 is provided at a distance L from the printing unit 30 along the paper transport path so that printing can be performed for N) minutes. At this time, if there are a plurality of fixed length prints that can be issued, the distance L is set longer than the longest fixed length.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the above-described determination means and control means include a CPU 61, a ROM 62, and a R
It is formed using AM63.

Here, the control unit 60 controls the CP
U61, ROM62, RAM63, input / output port (I /
O) 66 and the like. This control unit 60
Has an external interface controller (I / F) 6
7, a host computer 71 is connected.
Further, the input / output port 66 is provided with the roll paper transporting means 20.
(Carrying controller 20C), printing means 30 (printing controller 30C), paper end sensor 41 (sensor circuit 41C), roll paper cutting means 50 (cutting controller 50C), and the like.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

When a variable length print command is received from the host computer 71, the CPU 61 checks the state of the paper end sensor 41 and turns off the paper end sensor 41 (NO in ST10 of FIG. 3). Printing on roll paper P until print data is exhausted (ST13,
15).

When the paper end sensor 41 is turned ON (YES in ST10), 1 is added to the number of print lines after the sensor is turned ON (after paper end) (ST11). Next, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the number of print lines is equal to or less than a predetermined number of print lines (N) (ST
12). If it is below (YES in ST12), printing is performed on roll paper P until print data is exhausted line by line in the same manner as in the above case (ST13, ST15). If it exceeds (NO in ST12), a response of paper end and abnormal printing end is returned to the host computer 71 (ST14). Note that if the product being printed has a variable length when the paper end is detected, the same control as that shown in FIG. 4 is performed.

Next, upon receiving a print command for a fixed length print from the host computer 71, the CPU 61 checks the state of the paper end sensor 41 and turns off the paper end sensor 41.
If it is (NO in ST20 of FIG. 4), the printing process is performed on the fixed print based on the print data (ST23).

When the paper end sensor 41 is turned on (YES in ST20), the number of fixed-length print lines is added to the number of print lines after paper end (ST2).
1). Next, the number of printing lines is equal to the predetermined number of printing lines (N).
It is determined whether it is the following (ST22). If less than (S
At T22, the printing process of the fixed length print is performed based on the print data as in the case described above (ST23).
If it exceeds (NO in ST23), a response of paper end and abnormal printing end is sent to the host computer 7.
1 (ST24). When a print command of a variable length is received after the printed material in which the end of the roll paper P is detected, a paper end and abnormal printing end response are immediately returned to the host computer 71.

If the product being printed has a fixed length when the paper end is detected, the distance L is set to be longer than the longest fixed length. Objects can be printed to the end. Therefore, even if the paper end is detected during the issue of the fixed length, it is not necessary to determine whether or not the paper end can be printed to the end, and the control is simple.

According to this embodiment, the relative position between the printing means 30 and the paper end detecting means 40 is
After the end of the roll paper P is detected by the paper end detection means 40, the printing means 30 selects a predetermined number of printing lines (N) so that printing is possible, and if the end of the roll paper P is detected during the printing operation, A determination unit (61, 62, 63) for determining whether the number of print lines to be printed on the roll paper P after the detection is equal to or less than a predetermined print line number (N), and a determination unit (61, 62, 63) If it is determined that the number of print lines after the end of the roll paper P is detected is equal to or less than the predetermined print line number (N), the printing means 30 and the roll paper transport means 20 until the printing operation on the roll paper P is completed. And the control means (61, 62, 63) for continuing the driving of the print paper and delaying the forced termination of the printing are provided, so that when the end of the roll paper P is detected during the printing operation, the determining means (61, 62, 63). Number of printing lines to be printed on the roll paper P after the detection by 3) a predetermined print line number (N)
If it is determined that the following conditions are satisfied, the forced printing end is delayed until the printing operation on the roll paper P is completed. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the incomplete printed matter in which the printing is interrupted halfway immediately before the end of the roll paper P is issued.

If, during the printing operation, an instruction to issue a fixed-length print is received after the issuance of a print in which the end of the roll paper P is detected, the number of print lines of the fixed-length print is determined by the printing means. Since the print operation is performed and the printed matter is issued under the condition that the number of print lines that can be printed on the roll paper P between the print paper 30 and the paper end detection means 40 is equal to or less than Can be prevented from issuing an incomplete printed matter interrupted on the way, and the roll paper P can be used more effectively.

If a print command of variable length is received after the print of which the end of the roll paper P has been detected during the printing operation, abnormal printing termination processing is performed. It is possible to reduce the issuance of an incomplete printed matter in which printing has been interrupted in the middle just before the end, and it is possible to more reliably prevent the printing means 30 and the like from being driven uselessly.

[0036]

According to the present invention, the relative position between the printing means and the paper end detecting means is determined by the printing means after the paper end detecting means detects the end of the roll paper. Determining that only printing is possible, and determining whether the number of print lines to be printed on the roll paper after the detection is detected when the end of the roll paper is detected during the printing operation is equal to or less than a predetermined number of print lines, If the determination unit determines that the number of print lines after the end detection of the roll paper is equal to or less than the predetermined number of print lines, the driving of the printing unit and the conveyance unit is continued until the printing operation on the roll paper is completed. Control means for delaying forced termination of printing by means of the control means, when the end of the roll paper is detected during the printing operation, the determination means prints on the roll paper after the detection. When the number of printing lines is determined to be equal to or less than a predetermined number printing lines, the printing killed until the printing operation for the roll paper is completed is delayed. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility that an incomplete printed matter in which printing is interrupted halfway is issued immediately before the end of the roll paper.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when a command to issue a fixed-length print is received after issuing a print in which the end of the roll paper is detected during a printing operation, the fixed-length print is issued. Since the printing operation is performed under the condition that the number of printing lines of the object is equal to or less than the number of printing lines that can be printed on the roll paper portion between the printing unit and the paper end detection unit, the printed matter is issued. The same effect as that of the invention described in Item 1 can be obtained, and the roll paper can be used more effectively.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when an instruction to issue a variable-length printed material is issued after the issuance of a printed material whose roll paper end is detected during a printing operation, abnormal printing termination processing is performed. Therefore, the same effects as those of the first aspect of the invention can be obtained, and the wasteful driving of the printing means and the like can be more reliably prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the overall configuration.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a conventional configuration of a printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 roll paper setting means 20 roll paper transport means 30 printing means 40 paper end detection means 50 roll paper cutting means 60 control unit 61 CPU (determination means, control means) 62 ROM (determination means, control means) 63 RAM (determination means, Control means)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A printing means capable of printing on roll paper supplied via a transport means, and a paper end detecting means disposed upstream of the printing means in the paper transport direction and capable of detecting the end of the roll paper. A printer capable of issuing a printed matter and forcibly terminating the printing operation when the end of the roll paper is detected by the paper end detection means during the printing operation, wherein the printing means and the paper end detection means The relative position is selected so that the printing means can print a predetermined number of print lines after the end of the roll paper is detected by the paper end detection means, and when the end of the roll paper is detected during the printing operation, the roll is detected after the detection. Determining means for determining whether the number of printing lines to be printed on the paper is equal to or less than the predetermined number of printing lines,
When the determination unit determines that the number of print lines after the end detection of the roll paper is equal to or less than the predetermined number of print lines, the drive of the printing unit and the transport unit is continued until the printing operation on the roll paper is completed. And a control means for delaying forced printing by delaying printing. 2. When a fixed length printed matter issuance command is issued after a printed matter whose roll paper end is detected during a printing operation, the number of printing lines of the fixed length printed matter is determined by the printing means. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the fixed-length print is issued by performing a printing operation on condition that the number of print lines that can be printed on a roll paper portion is smaller than or equal to the number of print lines. 3. An abnormal printing termination process is performed when a print command of a variable length is received after a print product in which the end of the roll paper is detected during a printing operation is issued. Printer.