Printing apparatus and a control method therefor

Details Printing apparatus and a control method therefor Printing apparatus and a control method therefor

1996-12-18

1999-11-16

Coles, Edward L.

395111, 395116, 395117, 395112, B41B 1500

Patent

active

059872241

ABSTRACT:
While eliminating the need for a dedicated on-line selector switch, a printing apparatus and control method is provided to improve the processes required to replenish consumable printing materials consumed during the printing operation. Using a transport mechanism for transporting the print medium and a printing mechanism for printing to the print medium, the printing apparatus accomplishes the printing process based on data received from a host device, selectively switches between an on-line state and an off-line state and notifies the host device of the currently selected state. The printing apparatus further comprises sensors for detecting the presence of consumable products, including roll paper and ink, that are consumed by the printing process, a switch with two functional settings, and a control device. The two functional settings of the switch are an on-line function commanding a transition from the off-line state to the on-line state, and a second function for specifying the process, such as a paper feed operation, to be executed by the printing apparatus when consumable materials are replenished. The control device causes the printing apparatus to shift to the off-line state when a sensor detects that a particular consumable material is not present, and selects the on-line function of the switch when a sensor detects after switching to the off-line state that a particular consumable material is again present and available for printing.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4933772 (1990-06-01), Ikenoue et al.
patent: 5140674 (1992-08-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 5572630 (1996-11-01), Azuma et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Printing apparatus and a control method therefor does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Printing apparatus and a control method therefor, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Printing apparatus and a control method therefor will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1335088