JP3517859B2 - Printing apparatus and control method of printing apparatus - 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 device, and a printing device are integrated.

However, in recent years, a distributed system in which a data input device, a host device, 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 the 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 the portable data input device, the order is immediately transmitted to the host device, and the kitchen printer placed in the kitchen prints out the order content. 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 device 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 device is notified of this, thereby preventing data loss due to blank printing or the like.

When the host device detects the off-line state, it informs the user that the paper is out by blinking a lamp or a buzzer sound.
When a request for roll paper replenishment is made and the online switch is pressed after the replenishment or the cover is closed, the printer returns to the online state and restarts the printing process.

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 exhausted. In the prior art, consumable parts such as an ink ribbon in a thermal transfer printer and ink in an inkjet printer are 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.

[0010]

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 dedicated online switch and cover sensor are omitted, the printer does not accept the print data, or after the offline state in which the data storage is not guaranteed, a replenishment work of consumable parts such as paper is performed after a lapse of a predetermined time. It may be possible to automatically return to the online state as the end of the procedure, but the time required to replenish consumable parts such as paper differs depending on the skill level of the operator. Other consumable parts may have to be replaced, and printing may not always be resumed within a fixed time. If the printing is performed before the printing can be resumed, the printing may not be performed correctly 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, omits a dedicated online switch and a cover sensor for returning to an online state without losing print data. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing device capable of performing the above.

[0013]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, a printing apparatus of the present invention uses a host device for transporting recording paper and a printing means for printing on the recording paper. Print data is received by a printing device that is configured to perform printing processing based on the data received from the printer, and is placed in an online state that guarantees data reception and an offline state that does not guarantee data reception. Interface for sending or receiving information to the host device, a receive buffer for temporarily storing the data sent via the interface,
It has a first function that can be manually operated and that has a first function for instructing the conveyance of a recording sheet and a manual operation means used for a second function that instructs switching between the online state and the offline state,
Whether the manual operation means is used for the first function or the second function
There is data in the receive buffer, which is used for the function of
A printing apparatus having a control means for setting whether or not to do so.

In addition to the above, according to the present invention, when the unprocessed data received in the reception buffer remains and the printing is continued, the operating means is instructed to change from the online state to the offline state. The printing apparatus is characterized by having a control unit that functions as an online / offline changeover switch, which is the function of, and that stops printing.

Furthermore, the present invention allows transition to an offline state.
After then within a predetermined time is printing apparatus characterized by comprising a control means to function as a paper feed switch for conveying the recording paper to the manual operating unit.

After the operation means is operated while having the function as the paper feed switch and the predetermined recording paper conveyance is executed, it is possible to return from the offline state to the online state after a predetermined time.

Further, in these cases, in the off-line state, the online state may be set on the basis of predetermined data received from the host device, that is, a real-time command. 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.

[0018]

[0019]

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 device 2 of the present invention. Inside the printing device 2, a recording paper conveying unit configured by a stepping motor, a paper feed roller, etc., for feeding a kind of roll paper of recording paper. (Not shown), a printing unit (not shown) configured by an ink ribbon, a wire dot head, etc. for printing on the roll paper, and a paper end sensor configured by an opposed photo sensor or a lever switch, etc. (Not shown) are provided.
In the state shown in FIG. 1, the paper end sensor detects that there is no paper and the printer goes offline or paper jam occurs. Therefore, a cover (not shown) is opened and a new roll paper 10 is placed in the roll paper storage unit 4. It is about to be placed and replenished.

At this time, the paper out L in the LED group 5 of the display section on the operation panel 3 provided in the printer 2
The ED is lit, indicating that there is no more paper to print. Further, the online display LED is turned off to indicate that it is offline. Reference numeral 6 denotes a paper feed switch and an online / offline changeover switch which are manual operation means.

The paper end sensor is a kind of consumption detector, and detects the presence or absence of consumables, that is, roll paper, or consumption or replenishment.

As the consumption detector, other detectors related to the print medium of the print head are also included. For example, in an ink jet printer, when the ink is used up, the printing itself is not performed. Therefore, an ink remaining amount detector that detects the remaining amount of ink is provided in an ink tank or the like that normally stores ink. When this sensor works, it is necessary to temporarily stop printing.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram 2 showing the internal construction of the printer 2 of the present invention, and the control means of the present invention will be described with reference to this block diagram. In FIG. 2, the printing device 2 has a printing mechanism unit 30, a printing control unit 25, an interface 22 and the like, and the recording paper conveying means, the printing means and the LED group 5 are operated by the printing control unit 25. Is configured. The printing mechanism unit 30 is provided with a paper end sensor 27 and a switch 6, and is configured to detect the presence or absence of roll paper and to detect whether the switch 6 is on or off.

The printing device 2 has an interface section 22, and is connected to the host device 21 arranged at a separated position by a cable via the interface section 22, and the printing device 2 and the host device 21 are connected to each other. It is configured so that signals can be transmitted and received bidirectionally.

The interface unit 22 is connected to a data processing unit 23 for analyzing print data and a reception buffer 24 in a storage device for temporarily storing print data, and a control command output from the host device 21. Data such as print data and print data is received by the interface unit 22 and input to the data processing unit 23.

The data processing unit 23 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 print control unit 25, except for the real-time command. The data of 1 operates to be output to the reception buffer 24.

The reception buffer 24 stores the input data, and the stored data is sequentially processed by the control unit 25, and if the printing device is a serial printer, it is expanded into print data for each line and printed. 26 in the print buffer in the control unit
And is printed on the recording paper in order.

The print controller 25, in the online state,
The recording paper conveying means and the printing means are operated so that the roll paper can be printed on the basis of the print data or the like, and when it is detected that the switch 6 has been pressed, the switch 6 is pressed at that time. It is configured to operate according to the function given to the. When the paper end sensor 27 detects that there is no paper, the print control unit 25
Stops the printing process described above, and in order to prevent the data from being lost due to the data being sent over the storage capacity of the reception buffer 23, the printer does not accept the data, that is, the offline state. Host device 2
Notify 1.

In the printer of the present invention, data is actually received and analyzed even in the offline state, but such data is lost without being stored when the remaining capacity of the reception buffer is exhausted. It will be. Therefore, the host device 21 must promptly stop the transmission of data other than the real-time command after receiving the notification of the off-line state, and additionally store the data transmitted thereafter.

When the printing operation is once started, even if a trouble such as a paper jam occurs and printing is continued with defective printing, the cover sensor conventionally works to stop the printing process by opening the cover. I was able to.

However, in the present invention, this is not possible because there is no cover sensor, so it is necessary to supplement this with another function.

Therefore, in the present invention, this inconvenience is solved by selectively switching the function of the paper feed switch for instructing the conveyance of the recording paper of the printing device according to the situation of the printing device.

When the interface receives the data and starts the printing operation, the paper feed switch is normally not used. At this time, the same switch can be used for other functions. In the present invention, in this state, the function of the switch is switched and the switch is set as an online / offline switch.

That is, when this switch is operated after printing is started, the printing control means controls the state of the printing device to switch from online to offline,
Reception of data other than real-time commands is prohibited or set to a state where it is not guaranteed, and printing operation also stops.

The details of an embodiment of the printing control method of the printing apparatus of the present invention related to this dual-purpose switch will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step S10, the printer starts initialization processing for printing processing. In step S11, the online state is set and the system waits for data reception. When the switch 6 is operated in this state (step 23),
A predetermined amount of paper is fed according to the time when the switch is pressed, etc. (step S24).

On the other hand, when the reception of data is started, in the case of a serial printer, the printing process is started in step S13 when the data in the receiving buffer is expanded and one line of data is completed in the print buffer. In step S15, it is confirmed whether or not there is print data for the next line in the print buffer. If there is no print data, in step S16 it is confirmed whether or not there is unprocessed data in the receive buffer to determine whether to continue the print processing. If printing is continued, the process proceeds to step S13. If it is not continued, the printing process is stopped in step S17, the reception buffer, the printing buffer, etc. are cleared in step S18, and the online data waiting is performed in step S19, that is, the process returns to step S12.

When the switch 6 is operated during the printing process (step S13), the printing device determines that it has received the emergency stop command, and in order to prohibit the reception of the print data, the printing device shifts to the offline state in step S20. Then, the printing operation is interrupted (step S21), the data in the print buffer 26, the reception buffer 24, etc. are stored as they are (step S22), and the process waits for cancellation of the printing interruption.

In general, the detection of the operation of the switch 6 does not know when it is operated, and since it is urgent, the interrupt processing of the CPU provided in the print control means is used.

In this embodiment, whether the switch functions as a paper feed switch or an online / offline changeover switch is set depending on whether or not there is data in the reception buffer 24. The functions of 6 are switched.

The printing device which is stopped by the user is
The printing is restarted or canceled by some means.

In this embodiment, again, the switch 6 can be used to cancel the print stop. Step S2
After waiting for a predetermined time at step 5 (step S25), the operation of the switch 6 is waited (step S26). When the switch 6 is turned on, it is determined that the malfunction has been resolved, and the printing apparatus starts printing. At this time, the printing may be performed as it is from the emergency stop state.

However, if it is desired to cancel the printing up to that point, the host device 21 can be instructed to clear the buffer by a real-time command. In step S27, in order to enable this, the input of the real-time command for instructing the print cancel is confirmed while waiting for the operation of the switch 6. If there is an input, cancel processing such as clearing the buffer is executed. Further, while waiting for the designation of these processes, the elapse of a predetermined time is detected (step S28), and when they are not designated within the predetermined time, an error output process for issuing a warning is executed using a display means or a buzzer. To do.

When the switch 6 is operated in the online state, it is difficult for the operator to determine whether the print data is being processed and is stopped or the data reception is stopped. The same function can be switched also in the embodiment in which the control means for controlling is added.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing another embodiment of the control method of the control means of the printer according to the present invention. The same processing steps as those in FIG. 3 are indicated by the same symbols and their explanations are omitted.

When the switch 6 is operated in step S30 while waiting for data reception in step 12, if there is no data in the reception buffer 24 and the print buffer 26 at this time, in step 31, it is once brought into an offline state and the next switch operation is performed. Wait for When the switch 6 is operated in step S32, a predetermined amount of paper is fed according to the operation (step S33). However, if there is no operation (step S34) even after the lapse of a predetermined time (step S34), the online state is automatically restored (step S35). In the present embodiment, the transfer of the recording sheet is instructed after the online operation is once changed to the offline operation.

At this time, in order to distinguish between the emergency stop and the paper feed waiting, the LEDs on the operation panel may be used to display correspondingly.

For example, the LED is defined as follows. LED1 (continuous lighting) ・ ・ ・ Power-on display (flashing lighting) ・ ・ ・ Emergency stop LED2 (continuous lighting) ・ ・ ・ Online display (flashing lighting) ・ ・ ・ Paper feed waiting offline LED3 (continuous lighting) ・ ・ ・Consumables-out display (flashing and lit) ... Online waiting after replenishment of consumables Differentiating by such a display makes it very convenient for the user to know at a glance what the printing device is currently in.

By providing such a control means, it is possible to use the paper feed switch and the online / offline changeover switch as one switch and prevent an operation error.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of another embodiment of the print control method of the present invention. The printing device also goes offline when a consumable, eg, paper end sensor for recording paper, is activated. At this time, the processing shown in FIG. 5 is executed.

In step S40, the paper end sensor is activated to bring it into an offline state (step S41). In order to prevent the end sensor from being determined to be off due to an erroneous operation during an operation such as paper replacement, after a predetermined time has elapsed (step S42), the end sensor is waited until it is confirmed to be off (steps S43 and S44). . Thereafter, the operation of the switch 6 is awaited (step S45), and when operated, a predetermined amount of paper feed is executed (step S4).
6). It waits for a predetermined time until the paper feeding is completed (step S47). When the switch is further operated within the predetermined time, it is determined that the paper feed is added and the conveyance of the recording paper is continued. If the switch 6 is not operated for a predetermined time, the host computer waits for a real-time command for online return (step S48), and when received, returns to the online state (step S48) and continues the printing process.

When waiting for the online return command,
When the switch 6 is operated, it is determined that the operator has instructed the online return (step S50), and the online state is restored. End sensor off and switch 6
Waits for the operation, and if neither operation is executed within the predetermined time, it is timed out (step S51).
Predetermined error processing is executed.

The control flow of FIG. 5 is an example of the paper end sensor as the consumption detector, but if the cause of the offline is the ink-out sensor of the ink jet printer, for example, a predetermined amount of paper feed processing becomes unnecessary, and this At this time, the process returns to the online state after waiting for the online return command from step S44 to step S47 or the operation of the switch 6 at step S45. In this routine for waiting for recovery, the waiting time for instructions may be limited and error processing such as timeout may be executed.

The printing apparatus of the present invention described above is not limited to the serial type printing apparatus, but can be applied to a parallel type thermal printer, and the control method is, as described above, the consumption detection. The device can be applied not only to the paper end sensor, but also to detection of all consumables such as the end of the ink ribbon of an impact dot printer and the end of ink.

[0055]

As described above, the dedicated online switch for returning to the online state and the cover sensor can be eliminated, and the cost of the printing apparatus can be reduced.

By using the dual-purpose switch in accordance with the state of the printing apparatus, the control method can be realized in which the function can be adequately used even with a small number of switches by properly using the functions.

Further, by the means for accurately displaying or notifying the state of the printing device relating to the switch operation, operation mistakes are prevented and a reliable operation is realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control block of a printer according to an example of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the print control method of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the print control method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of another embodiment of the print control method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 …… Printer 6 ... switch 10: Recording paper 21 ... Host device 23 ... Data processing unit 25 ... Print control unit 30 ... Printing mechanism

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI G06F 3/12 G07G 1/06 G G07G 1/06 B41J 29/00 T 3/04 104K (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl . ^7, DB name) B41J 29/00 B41J 29/38 B41J 29/48 B41J 2/125 B41J 11/42

Claims (14)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printing unit configured to carry out a printing process based on data received from a host device by using a carrying unit for carrying a recording sheet and a printing unit for printing on the recording sheet. In a printing device that is placed in an online state that guarantees reception and in an offline state that does not guarantee reception of the data, an interface for receiving print data and transmitting information to the host device, and via the interface and a reception buffer for temporarily storing the data transmitted, manually operable in a second function of instructing the switching of the first features and the online state and the offline state of instructing conveyance of the recording sheet And a second manual operation means for use in the first function.
There is data in the receive buffer, which is used for the function of
A printing apparatus having a control unit for setting whether or not to print. 2. The printing device, wherein when the unprocessed data received in the reception buffer remains and the printing is continued, the first instruction is given to the operating means to shift from the online state to the offline state. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that functions as an online / offline changeover switch that is the function of, and that stops the printing. 3. The printing apparatus stores unprocessed data after the printing is stopped, waits for a predetermined time to wait for an operation of the manual operation means, and confirms the operation before saving the data. 3. The printer according to claim 2, further comprising control means for restarting the printing of the selected data. 4. In the printing apparatus, when the reception buffer is empty and in an online state that guarantees data reception, the operating means has a function as the second online / offline changeover switch, and When the operation unit is operated, the recording medium is transferred to an off-line state and then the recording sheet is conveyed within a predetermined time.
2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that functions as a paper feed switch having the function of. 5. In the printing apparatus, after a predetermined recording sheet is conveyed by being operated while the operating means has a function as the paper feed switch, a predetermined time is taken from the offline state. A control means for returning to an online state is provided.
4. The printing device according to 4 . 6. The printer has a consumption detector for detecting consumption or replenishment of consumables, the consumption detector detects consumption of the consumables, and the consumption detector is in the offline state. 5. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising control means for causing the operating means to function as the paper feed switch which is the first function for a predetermined period after detecting the replenishment of the consumable material. 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein after the selection of the first function of the operation means, regardless of the online and offline states, based on predetermined data received from the host device, A printing apparatus comprising a control unit that transitions to the online state. 8. claim, wherein the consumable material detector is a paper detector for detecting the presence or absence of the recording sheet 6
The printing device described. Wherein said printing means includes an ink jet head, the consumable material detector printing apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the ink remaining amount detecting means for detecting the depletion of ink in said ink jet head . 10. The printing device further includes a display unit, and when the operation unit is operated while the printer is in the online state, there is data remaining in the reception buffer and printing is in progress, or the reception buffer is 2. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising control means for displaying on the display means in order to distinguish whether it is empty. 11. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the predetermined data is input from the host device while waiting for the operation of the operation means, the stored data is printed based on this data. A printing apparatus having control means for canceling restart of the printing apparatus. 12. The printing apparatus according to claim 11,
A printing apparatus comprising: an error output unit that issues a predetermined warning when the operation of the operation unit and the input of data for canceling the restart of printing are not executed within a predetermined time. 13. A transporting means for transporting a recording sheet, a printing means for printing on the recording sheet, a data processing means for performing a printing process based on data received from a host device, and a guarantee for receiving the data. online state, and a control means for selecting and off-line state does not guarantee the reception of the data, the printing apparatus having a manually operable manual operating unit externally, said control means, in extent the print processing Engineering, manual operation when possible the operation means is operated, said from the online state as engineering to instruct the transition to the offline state, and as factories to stop the printing process in synchronization with the instruction, the transition to the offline state Then, within a predetermined period , the operating means is operated to feed the recording paper.
And as factories to function as switch, said operating means as the paper feed switch
It is operated while the function is provided and the specified recording paper is actually fed.
After being rows, printing apparatus which is characterized in that the degree Engineering transition to the online state from the off-line state after a predetermined time. 14. Conveying means for conveying recording paper, printing means for printing on the recording paper, data processing means for performing printing processing based on data received from the host device, and guaranteeing reception of the data. online state, and a control means for selecting and off-line state does not guarantee the reception of the data, the control method of the printing apparatus having a manually operable manual operating unit externally, in extent the print processing Engineering, possible manual operation when the operating means is operated, the online state as engineering to instruct the transition to the offline state, and as factories to stop the printing process in synchronization with the instruction, after the transition to the offline state, During a predetermined period , the operating means is used to feed a paper feed switch.
And as factories to function as switch, said operating means as the paper feed switch
It is operated while the function is provided and the specified recording paper is actually fed.
After being row, a control method of the printing apparatus characterized by having a degree Engineering transition to the online state from the off-line state after a predetermined time.