JP3389765B2 - Printing apparatus and printing apparatus control method - 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 which is connected to a host device and which receives print data output from the host device and performs print processing, and more particularly, to print data used in POS / ECR and the like, which does not lose the print data. The present invention relates to a printing device that needs to replenish paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional POS / ECR, a dedicated system is constituted by a stand-alone type device in which a data input device, a host computer and a printing device are integrated.

However, in recent years, a distributed system in which a data input device, a host computer, and a printing device are separated from each other and used in mutually separated places is widely used because of the speed of data processing and the flexibility of system configuration. It has become.

The printing device used in such a distributed system is generally called a terminal printer, but the one used in restaurants such as restaurants is called a kitchen printer, and the customer is in the store. When an order received on the floor is input to a portable data input device, the order is immediately transmitted to a host computer, and a kitchen printer placed in the kitchen prints out the order contents. According to such a system, an operator can perform processing while observing the print contents, thereby preventing mistakes, and easily managing and processing the sales contents, and is therefore being introduced into various industries.

However, in the place where such a printing device is placed, it is often necessary to preferentially arrange other equipment such as cooking utensils and safes. Therefore, the data printing device is small and has a small installation area. It is required to be small, and there is a limit to the amount of paper that can be loaded. Also, the host computer is usually installed in a remote place. On the other hand, since such a printing apparatus prints a large amount of data, a paper shortage often occurs during the operation of the system.

Generally, roll paper is often used in a small printing device, and the remaining amount of the loaded roll paper is monitored by a paper end sensor. When the roll paper runs out, the data printing device immediately prints. The processing is stopped and no further data is received, that is, the offline state is entered, and the host computer is notified of this, thereby preventing data loss due to blank printing or the like.

When the host computer detects the off-line state, it informs that the paper is out by blinking a lamp or a buzzer sound, requests replenishment of roll paper, and returns to the on-line state when the online switch is pressed or the cover is closed after replenishment. Then the printing process was restarted.

A method of replenishing roll paper in this case will be described with reference to FIG. 5, which is a cross-sectional view showing a paper path of a general printing apparatus. Reference numeral 1 denotes a data printing device in which roll paper is replenished. At the time of replenishment, the leading end 11 of the roll paper 10 is inserted into the paper feed port 105 and brought into contact with the paper guide plate 104 for sliding. When it is inserted all the way, the paper end sensor (not shown) detects the presence of roll paper. When the paper feed switch is pressed in this state, the guide roller 106 and the paper pressing rollers 108 and 109 rotate, the guide roller 106 and the pin 107 grasp the leading end portion of the roll paper, and the loading operation is started.

When this loading operation is performed, a predetermined amount of paper is fed, and the leading end of the roll paper 10 is passed between the print head 101 and the platen 102 to enable printing.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which the loading operation is normally completed, and the leading end portion 11 of the roll paper 10 is sent to a position where it can be cut by the cutter 113 arranged above the data printing apparatus 1.

When the loading operation ends normally in this way, an online switch (not shown) is pressed to restore the online state, and the printing process is restarted. Further, even when a cover (not shown) that covers the roll paper 10 and is closed after the roll paper 10 is loaded is attached, a cover sensor (not shown) detects it and returns to the online state. The printing process is restarted.

On the other hand, when the loading operation cannot be normally performed due to a paper jam or a skewed paper, the online state is not restored, and the cause is removed and the loading is performed again.

The above is an example of the case where the roll paper is consumed. In the prior art, for example, the ink ribbon in the thermal transfer printer or the consumable parts such as the ink in the ink jet printer is eliminated or the remaining amount is small. Even if it happens, the system was once set to the offline state and then restored to the online state by the same process.

[0014]

However, in recent years, demands for low price and high reliability have become stronger and stronger, and it is required to reduce the number of parts while maintaining the function. Therefore, the inventor reconsidered the necessity of the cover sensor and the online switch.

When the on-line switch and the cover sensor are omitted, it is automatically returned to the on-line state, assuming that the replenishment work of the consumable parts such as paper has been completed after the lapse of a predetermined time after the printing apparatus has been turned off-line. However, the time required to replenish consumable parts such as paper differs depending on the skill level of the operator.
In some cases, it may be necessary to replace other consumable parts such as an ink ribbon as well as replenishing paper, and it is not always possible to restart printing within a fixed time. And
If the printing is performed before the printing can be resumed, the printing may not be performed properly and the print data may be lost. In particular, in the above-mentioned kitchen printer, register, etc., it was inevitable that the business would be confused if the print data was lost, and a solution was necessary.

The present invention is intended to reduce the number of parts while maintaining the function, and in particular, it is possible to omit an online switch and a cover sensor for returning to an online state without losing print data. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing device that can be used.

[0017]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, a printer of the present invention uses a transport mechanism for transporting a print medium and a print means for performing printing on the print medium, A printing device configured to perform a printing process based on data received from a device and placed in a first state in which reception of the data is guaranteed and a second state in which reception of the data is not guaranteed. And a consumption detector that detects consumption and replenishment of the consumable material consumed in the printing process, and a first that can be manually operated and that instructs the transition from the second state to the first state. And a second operation function other than the operation function, the operation means is placed in the second state based on the detection of the consumption of the consumable material by the consumption detector, Replenishment of the consumables by detector Wherein the first function of the operating means is configured to be selected based on the detection.

The first state in this case means a so-called online state, and in the present invention, the data to be printed is taken out from the storage device provided in the printing device and the printing process is performed on the printing medium. In addition, in a printing device having no storage device, a state in which received data is immediately printed on a printing medium is also included. The second state of the present invention means a so-called off-line state, in which the host device normally stops transmitting data, but when the printing device receives data in this state. In some cases, data to be printed may be lost due to overflow of the storage device, operation of the printing means, or the like, but it is not in a state of not receiving data.

Further, in this case, consumption and replenishment may be simply existence / non-existence, and the consumption detector may be a consumption material detector which simply detects presence / absence of consumption material.

As a result, the consumable material consumed in the printing process is consumed, and when the printer goes off line based on the detection of the consumption by the consumption detector, the operator replenishes the consumable material. After that, the printer can be provided with an online return function by which the printer can be restored to the online state by operating the operating means.

For example, a printing medium, which is a printing medium, may be used as a consumable material, a paper end sensor may be used as a consumption detector for detecting the consumption, and a paper feed switch may be used as an operating means. In this case, the original function of the paper feed switch is to convey the print paper by a predetermined amount. According to this, when the printing device such as roll paper is used up and the printing device is in the off-line state, if the operator replenishes the printing paper and then operates the paper feed switch, printing is performed. The device can be restored to the online state and the printing process can continue normally.

In this case, it is desirable that the selection of the online designating function of the operating means is performed after a lapse of a predetermined period from the time when the consumption detector or the consumable material detector is replenished or detected. Thus, the original function of the operating means can be used after the consumable material is replenished, and the consumable material can be replenished more reliably. In the above example, the paper feed can be performed by operating the paper feed switch within a predetermined period, and the printing paper can be easily and surely loaded.

Further, in this case, when the operation means is operated within a predetermined period, the online designation function may be selected after a predetermined period has elapsed since the last operation. desirable. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the time constraint when using the original function of the operating means after replenishing the consumable material. In the above example, even if a large amount of paper feed is performed after the printing paper is replenished, it is possible to prevent the function of the paper feed switch from switching to the online designation function during the operation and unintentionally shifting to the online state. .

In the above case, the original function of the operating means may be selected and the online state may be set after a predetermined period has elapsed since the online designating function of the operating means was selected. As a result, even if the operation of the operation unit is complicated, or if the operation is forgotten, the operation unit automatically returns to its original function after the lapse of a predetermined period, and the printer is restored to the online state. can do.

Further, in these cases, after the online designating function of the operating means is selected, regardless of the online or offline state of the printing device, online based on predetermined data received from the host device, that is, a real-time command. You may make it transit to a state. As a result, it is possible to restore the online state by manual operation and command, and when the host device is installed in a remote place, the operation can be performed from the device which is closer to the host device.

Further, when the present invention is an invention relating to a control method for a printing apparatus, it is the inventions of claims 8 and after, which are listed in the claims. In these inventions as well, the same operational effects as those of the above-mentioned invention relating to the printing apparatus are exhibited.

[0027]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printing apparatus 2 of the present invention. Inside the printing apparatus 2, a paper feeding mechanism configured by a stepping motor, a paper feeding roller and the like for feeding a roll paper, an ink ribbon, and A printing unit configured by a wire dot head or the like for printing on the roll paper, and a paper end sensor configured by an opposed photo sensor or a lever switch are provided. In the state shown in FIG. 1, since the paper end sensor detects that there is no paper and is in an offline state, a cover (not shown) is opened and a new roll paper 10 is placed in the roll paper storage unit 4 to be replenished. By the way.

FIG. 2 shows that the roll paper 10 is loaded in the roll paper compartment 4, and the leading end portion 11 of the roll paper 10 is being inserted into the paper insertion port at a predetermined position.
At this time, the paper-out LED in the LED group 5 on the operation panel 3 provided in the data printing device 2 is lit, indicating that there is no more paper to be printed.

The internal circuit of the data printing device 2 will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the data printing device 2 has a control means 28, and the paper feeding mechanism, the printing means 101, and the LEDs.
The group 5 is configured to be operated by the control means 28, to which the paper end sensor 29 and the paper feed switch 6 are connected,
The presence / absence of the roll paper 10 is detected, and the ON / OFF state of the paper feed switch 6 can be detected.

The data printing device 23 has an interface circuit 25, and the interface circuit 2
5, the host computer 24 and the host computer 24, which are arranged apart from each other, are connected via an RS-232C cable so that the data printing device 2 and the host computer 24 can bidirectionally send and receive signals. .

Further, the data printing device 2 has an interrupt processing circuit 26 for analyzing print data, and a storage device 27 for temporarily storing print data, and the host computer 24 has the above-mentioned configuration. Data such as control commands and print data output to the RS-232C cable is received by the interface circuit 25 and input to the interrupt processing circuit 26.

The interrupt processing circuit 26 analyzes the input print data, extracts a command (hereinafter referred to as a real-time command) that must be executed immediately, and immediately outputs it to the control means 28 for real time. The data other than the command operates so as to be output to the storage device 27.

The storage device 27 stores the input data, and outputs the stored data in order from the previously stored data in response to a request from the control means 28.

In the online state, the control means 28 is configured to operate the paper feeding mechanism and the printing means so that the roll paper can be printed based on the print data and the like. When it is detected that the paper feed switch 6 has been pressed, the paper feed switch 6 is configured to operate according to the function given to the paper feed switch 6. Further, when the paper end sensor 29 detects that there is no paper, the control means 28 becomes a state in which the above printing processing is not performed, and the output from the storage device 27 to the control means 28 is also stopped. And the storage device 2
In order to prevent the data from being lost due to the data being sent in excess of the storage capacity of 7, the printer does not accept the data, that is, the offline state, and notifies the host computer 24 of this.

Although data is actually received and analyzed even in the off-line state, those data are lost without being stored when the remaining capacity of the storage device 27 is exhausted. Therefore, the host computer needs to immediately stop the data transmission after receiving the notification of the offline state, and save the data transmitted thereafter separately.

Next, the roll paper replenishing process in the printing apparatus of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the timing chart of FIG.

An output signal (hereinafter referred to as a paper end signal) 31 of the paper end sensor 29 is high level to indicate that there is paper, and low level to indicate that there is no paper. A signal 33 for instructing online / offline of the printer (hereinafter referred to as an online signal) 33 indicates an online state at a high level and an offline state at a low level. 35 is a paper feed switch 6
Output signal (hereinafter referred to as a paper feed signal), which indicates a state in which the switch is pressed at a high level and a state in which the switch is not at a low level.

Reference numeral 34 is a status signal (hereinafter, referred to as a switch function signal) indicating a set status of the function of the paper feed switch 6, and a function for instructing a transition to an online status at a high level (hereinafter, an online function). Is shown at a low level to indicate a normal paper feed function. Reference numeral 32 is a status signal (hereinafter, referred to as a feed operation signal) indicating a paper feed operation status, which indicates that the paper feed is performed at a high level and the paper feed is not performed at a low level. Shown respectively.

Assuming that the time when the paper end sensor 29 detects that there is no paper is Q1, the printing device 2 makes a transition from the online state to the offline state at the time Q1. At this time, the control means 28 notifies the host computer 24 of the off-line state via the interface circuit 25, and causes the host computer 24 to stop the data transmission.

Assuming that the roll paper 10 is replenished after the time Q1 and the paper end sensor 29 detects the presence of the paper at the time Q2 (signal 31 high level), the control means 28 causes the paper feed mechanism to operate. Feed a specified amount of paper,
A loading operation is performed so that the roll paper 10 can be printed (the signal 32 is at a high level during the loading operation). The time when this loading operation ends is designated as Q3 (at this time, the signal 32 becomes low level).

After the time Q6 when the predetermined time t1 has elapsed from the time Q2 when the paper end sensor 29 detects the presence of paper, after the time Q6, the function of the paper feed switch is changed from the normal paper feed function to the online function.
Before 6, the normal paper feed is performed when the paper feed switch 6 is pressed. Thus, for example, when the winding end portion of the roll paper is damaged, this portion can be discharged by idling. In the timing chart shown in FIG. 4, the paper feed switch 6 is pressed at the time Q4 before the time Q6 and is released at the time Q5, and the paper is fed for a predetermined time after the time Q5.

Thus, when the paper feed switch 6 is operated within the above-mentioned predetermined time t1, the transition of the function of the paper feed switch 6 is not performed until the end time Q5 of the operation, and The predetermined time t1 is changed according to the end time Q5 of the operation. Specifically, t1 is extended until a predetermined time t2 elapses from Q5.

As described above, the function of the paper feed switch 6 shifts to the online function at the time Q6 when the predetermined time t1 has passed from the time Q2 or the time Q5. Therefore, after this, when the paper feed switch 6 is pressed at the time Q7, the control means 28 determines that the print processing is restored, and when the data is stored in the storage device 27, the control means 28 determines that the print processing is possible. The data processing and printing processing is restarted. Along with this, the online signal is set to the high level, and the online state is entered. In this state, since the online function is no longer necessary, the function of the paper feed switch 6 shifts to the normal paper feed function.

The above-mentioned transition of the function of the paper feed switch 6 is specifically performed by changing the interpretation of the paper feed signal 35 inside the control means 28. In this example, the control means 28 is realized by a microprocessor, and in the processing program thereof, the state of the input port to which the paper feed signal 35 is connected is judged to be the designation of the paper feed operation, or an online state is set. Depending on whether you decide to specify the transition,
The function can be changed.

In this example, if the paper feed switch 6 must be pressed to return to the online state, the printing process is not restarted if the switch is forgotten, and the paper feed switch 6 is not restarted. Since data cannot be transmitted from the host computer, the entire information processing system including the host computer continues to be in a stopped state even though the printer has been completely replenished with consumable parts. Therefore, in this example, in addition to the above, the following functions are further provided.

The first function is a real-time command (hereinafter referred to as an online recovery command) that specifies online recovery. As described above, when the printer 2 determines that the data is a real time command as a result of analyzing the data by the interrupt processing circuit 26,
The command is immediately transmitted to the control means 28 regardless of the unprocessed data stored in the storage device 27. Then, the control means 28 immediately executes the command. In addition to the so-called interrupt circuit, the interrupt processing circuit 26 is a circuit and processing method in which relatively frequent processing is performed, such as periodic polling and processing for detecting the presence or absence of a request at the end of a series of processing. Shall also be included.

Upon receiving the online recovery command, the control means 28 performs the following processing. First, it is detected whether or not it is time Q6 when the function of the paper feed switch 6 is to be switched. At time Q6, it is considered that the paper loading operation has been completed and the desired paper feed has been performed. Therefore, it is highly probable that the roll paper has been loaded after that. To be Therefore, if the time when the command is received is Q6 or later, the printing process is immediately enabled and the online state is entered. Needless to say, at this time, the function of the paper feed switch transits to the normal paper feed function. On the other hand, if the command is received before the time Q6, the same process is executed after waiting until the time Q6. As a result, even if the paper feed switch 6 is forgotten to be operated, the printer can be restored to the online state by the control command from the host computer.

The second function is the so-called timeout function. That is, in the printing apparatus of this example, when the predetermined time t3 has elapsed after the time Q6 at which the function of the paper feed switch 6 should be switched, the paper feed switch 6
Is not operated and the online recovery command has not been received, the printer automatically returns to the printable state and transitions to the online state. In this case, t3 needs to be set to a time sufficient to complete the replenishment work of consumable parts such as roll paper. As a result, even if the paper feed switch 6 is not operated, the device can be restored to the online state after the completion of the refilling work.

The predetermined times t1, t2, and t
3 may be set during the initialization operation of the printer, and
It is also possible to preset using a control command from the host computer 24. In the present example, these predetermined times are measured using a timer built in the microprocessor, and when the predetermined time has elapsed, an event interrupt is generated and each processing is performed, but this is not the only option.
It can also be realized by using a time constant such as an integrating circuit and a differentiating circuit, and a timer IC such as NE555. The time can be set by a known method of setting a numerical value in the counter and outputting a voltage from the D / A converter.

In the above example, the remaining amount of the consumable component called the printing paper is detected by using the detector called the paper end sensor, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the remaining amount of the ink ribbon, for example. It can also be used when detecting the amount using a ribbon sensor, when detecting the remaining amount of ink for an inkjet printer using a known sensor, and the like. That is, according to the present invention, in a printing apparatus that is brought into an offline state when the sensor detects that the remaining amount of the consumable part is less than a predetermined amount, completion of replenishment of the consumable part is confirmed by a dedicated switch or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide an effective method and device for notifying a printing device without using it. Therefore, a person having ordinary knowledge in the field can carry out the present invention on all consumable parts by making necessary modifications based on the above example.

[0051]

The on-line switch and the cover sensor for returning to the on-line state can be eliminated, and the cost of the printing apparatus can be reduced.

Even if the online state is not restored by the paper feed switch, it is possible to return to the visiting pair.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a case where paper is replenished in a printing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a state in which paper is attached to the printing device.

FIG. 3 is an example of a circuit block of the printing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart for explaining a return to an online state.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a data printing device.

[Explanation of symbols] 2 ... Printing device 6 ... Paper feed switch 10 ... Paper 24: Host device 25 ... Interrupting device 27 ... Storage device 28 ... Control means

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --- Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-24183 (JP, A) JP-A-2-289374 (JP, A) JP-A-62-208967 (JP, A) JP-A-7- 186494 (JP, A) Actual development 4-73567 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 29 / 00,29 / 38 B41J 29 / 42,29 / 46 G06F 3/12

Claims (14)

(57) [Claims] 1. A transport mechanism for transporting a print medium and a print means for printing on the print medium are used to perform print processing based on data received from a host device, A printing device placed in a first state in which reception is guaranteed and a second state in which reception of the data is not guaranteed, wherein the consumption detector detects consumption and replenishment of consumable materials consumed in the printing process. And manually operable, and from the second state to the first
The operation means having a first function for instructing a transition to the state of 1 and a second function other than the function, and based on detection of consumption of the consumable material by the consumption detector, The first state of the operating means is placed in a second state and is based on the detection of the replenishment of the consumable material by the consumption detector.
And the first function is selected after a lapse of a predetermined period from the detection of the replenishment of the wear detector. 2. A transport mechanism for transporting a print medium and a printing means for printing on the print medium are used to perform print processing based on data received from a host device, A printing device placed in a first state in which reception is guaranteed and a second state in which reception of the data is not guaranteed, and a consumable material detector for detecting the presence or absence of consumable material consumed in the printing process. , Manually operable and from the second state to the first
The operating means having a first function for instructing a transition to the state and another second function of the function, and the operating means is provided based on the detection of the absence of the consumable material by the consumable material detector. In the second state, the first of the operating means is based on the detection of the presence of the consumable material by the consumable material detector.
And the first function is selected after a lapse of a predetermined period from the detection of the presence of the consumable material detector. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the operation means is operated within the predetermined period, the first operation is performed after a predetermined period has elapsed since the last operation. A printing device characterized in that functions are selected. 4. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the second function of the operating unit is set after a lapse of a predetermined period from the time when the first function of the operating unit is selected. Is selected and the state transitions to the first state. 5. A transport mechanism for transporting a print medium and a printing means for printing on the print medium are used to perform a print process based on data received from a host device, and to print the data. A printing device placed in a first state in which reception is guaranteed and a second state in which reception of the data is not guaranteed, wherein the consumption detector detects consumption and replenishment of consumable materials consumed in the printing process. And manually operable, and from the second state to the first
The operation means having a first function for instructing a transition to the state of 1 and a second function other than the function, and based on detection of consumption of the consumable material by the consumption detector, The first state of the operating means is placed in a second state and is based on the detection of the replenishment of the consumable material by the consumption detector.
Function is selected, and after the elapse of a predetermined period from the time of selecting the first function of the operation means, the second function of the operation means is selected and transitions to the first state. A printing device comprising: 6. A transport mechanism for transporting a print medium, and a print means for printing on the print medium are configured to perform print processing based on data received from a host device, A printing device placed in a first state in which reception is guaranteed and a second state in which reception of the data is not guaranteed, and a consumable material detector for detecting the presence or absence of consumable material consumed in the printing process. , Manually operable and from the second state to the first
The operating means having a first function for instructing a transition to the state and another second function of the function, and the operating means is provided based on the detection of the absence of the consumable material by the consumable material detector. In the second state, the first of the operating means is based on the detection of the presence of the consumable material by the consumable material detector.
Function is selected, and after the elapse of a predetermined period from the time of selecting the first function of the operation means, the second function of the operation means is selected and transitions to the first state. A printing device comprising: 7. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the host device is selected after the selection of the first function of the operation unit, regardless of the first and second states. A printing apparatus, which makes a transition to the first state based on predetermined data received from the printer. 8. A step of performing a printing process based on data received from a host device by using a transport mechanism for transporting a print medium and a printing means for printing on the print medium, and guaranteeing the reception of the data. A step placed in the first state,
A method of controlling a printing apparatus, comprising: placing in a second state in which the reception of the data is not guaranteed; a consumption detecting step of detecting consumption and replenishment of a consumable material consumed in a printing process, and a manual operation A function selecting step of selecting a possible function of the operating means from a first function for instructing a transition from the second state to the first state, and a second function other than the first function; A step of placing the consumable material in the second state based on detection of consumption of the consumable material in a consumption detection step; and a first function of the operating means based on detection of supplementation of the consumable material in the consumption detection step. And the function selecting step of selecting the first function of the operation means, the function selecting step of selecting the first function of the operating means is performed after a lapse of a predetermined period from the time of detection of replenishment in the consumption detecting step. Printing equipment characterized by Control method of. 9. A step of carrying out a printing process based on data received from a host device by using a carrying mechanism for carrying a print medium and a printing means for printing on the print medium, and the reception of the data is guaranteed. A step placed in the first state,
A method of controlling a printing apparatus, comprising: placing in a second state in which the reception of the data is not guaranteed; a consumable material detecting step of detecting the presence or absence of a consumable material consumed in a printing process; A function selecting step of selecting a function of the different operating means from a first function instructing a transition from the second state to the first state, and a second function other than the function, Selecting the first function of the operating means based on the step of placing the second state based on the detection of the absence of the consumable material in the material detection step and the detection of the presence of the consumable material in the consumable material detection step And the function selecting step of selecting the first function of the operating means is performed after a lapse of a predetermined period from the detection of the existence of the consumable material detecting step. Of the printing device characterized by Your way. 10. The method for controlling a printing device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein when the operating means is operated within the predetermined period, the predetermined period elapses after the last operation. A method of controlling a printing apparatus, which comprises performing the function selecting step of selecting a first function. 11. The method for controlling a printing device according to claim 8, wherein after a predetermined period has elapsed from the time of selecting the first function of the operation unit, the operation unit A method of controlling a printing apparatus, wherein the function selecting step of selecting the second function is performed and the step of transitioning to the first state is performed. 12. A process of carrying out a printing process based on data received from a host device by using a carrying mechanism for carrying a print medium and a printing means for printing on the print medium, and guaranteeing the reception of the data. A method of controlling a printing apparatus, comprising: placing in a first state and placing in a second state in which the reception of the data is not guaranteed, and consuming and replenishing consumable materials consumed in a printing process. Of the consumption detecting step for detecting the state, the function of the manually operable operation means, a first function for instructing a transition from the second state to the first state, and a second function other than the function. Based on the function selection step of selecting from the following, the step of being placed in the second state based on the detection of consumption of the consumable material in the consumption detection step, and the detection of supplementation of the consumable material in the consumption detection step The operation means And a function selecting step of selecting the first function of the operating means, and selecting a second function of the operating means after a lapse of a predetermined period from the time of selecting the first function of the operating means. The method of controlling a printing apparatus, wherein the function selecting step is performed and a step of transitioning to the first state is performed. 13. A process of carrying out a printing process based on data received from a host device by using a carrying mechanism for carrying a print medium and a printing means for printing on the print medium, and guaranteeing the reception of the data. A method of controlling a printing apparatus, comprising: a step of placing in a first state and a step of placing in a second state in which the reception of the data is not guaranteed, and detecting the presence or absence of a consumable material consumed in a printing process. A consumable material detecting step, a first function for instructing a transition from the second state to the first state, and a second function other than the function. A function selecting step selected from among the steps, a step of being placed in the second state based on the detection of the absence of the consumable material in the consumable material detecting step, and a step of detecting the presence of the consumable material in the consumable material detecting step. In front of the operating means A function selecting step of selecting a first function, and selecting a second function of the operating means after a lapse of a predetermined period from the time of selecting the first function of the operating means. A method of controlling a printer, wherein a function selecting step is performed and a step of transitioning to the first state is performed. 14. The method for controlling a printing device according to claim 8, wherein after the selection of the first function of the operation unit, regardless of the first and second states, A method of controlling a printing apparatus, wherein a step of transitioning to the first state is performed based on predetermined data received from the host apparatus.