Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Detail of image placement or content
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-29
2003-01-07
Wallerson, Mark (Department: 2622)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Detail of image placement or content
C235S475000, C235S476000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06504623
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for printing a cut-sheet form, and relates more particularly to a multiple function printing apparatus capable of reading a magnetic pattern on the cut-sheet form. The present invention further relates to a method for controlling a multiple function printing apparatus and a recording medium for recording a computer program embodying the control method of the invention.
2. Description of the Related Art
Cash, credit cards, and personal checks are typically used for completing financial transactions at the point of sale (POS processing). Customer account information, the serial number of the check, and other tracking information are typically printed on the face of the check using magnetic ink and MICR (magnetic ink character recognition) characters. One POS application for MICR characters is determining check validity, which is accomplished by referencing this account information.
POS processing of a check with MICR characters involves scanning the information on the check face using an MICR reader, and then placing the check in the printer for endorsing the back of the check. Whereas this process may involve two devices, the MICR reader and printer, multiple function printers having an integrated MICR reader and a print head for check endorsing have also been developed to complete these two tasks with a single apparatus, referred to below as a multiple function printer.
Printers for printing to cut-sheet forms typically have a form stopper disposed on the form insertion opening as a means for regulating the printing position for the cut-sheet form. When a form is inserted to the position determined by this form stopper and the printer detects that a form is present, a paper transportation mechanism such as a pair of transport rollers holds the form and automatically advances the form along a paper path in the direction toward the print head.
Some multiple function printers having an MICR character reader function have a paper transportation mechanism which is commonly used for both printing to cut-sheet forms and processing checks and is capable of feeding the checks along a magnetic head which serves as a MICR character reader. In these devices, a permanent magnet is also located before the magnetic head in order to re-magnetize the MICR characters so that it can be read by the magnetic head.
Checks and other cut-sheet forms can, however, be inserted in various ways by different operators. For example, while the normal method may be to align the edge of the check or form with a paper guide for guiding a side edge of the check or form so that it is inserted straight with respect to the form stopper, the check or form may also be inserted at an angle or sideways. Therefore, if the magnet for re-magnetizing the ink is disposed on the insertion opening, a check can be inserted such that the beginning of the MICR characters does not pass the magnet and is therefore not magnetized. Reading the MICR characters will therefore also be unsuccessful. This means that check validity cannot be determined, and the process must be repeated, starting with reinserting the check.
3. Objects of the Invention
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus to overcome the aforementioned problems.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a printing apparatus which improves magnetic pattern reading and has excellent operability and reliability characteristics.
It is another object of this invention to provide a printing apparatus capable of reliably re-magnetizing a magnetic pattern on a check or other print form irrespective of operator experience and how a form is inserted.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a control method for a printing apparatus which improves magnetic pattern reading, and an information storage medium storing a control program embodying this control method.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the above-described objects, the present invention reverses a recording medium such as a cut-sheet form set in the insertion opening to position the beginning of a magnetic pattern on the cut-sheet form relative to a magnetizer, thereby assuring that the entire magnetic pattern will pass near the magnetizer and be magnetized.
More specifically, a printing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises: an insertion opening into which a recording medium is inserted to a specific position; a printing mechanism to print on the recording medium; a magnetizer, disposed on the upstream side of the specific position in the insertion opening relative to a first direction, to re-magnetize a magnetic pattern if imprinted on the recording medium; a magnetic pattern detector to read or detect the magnetic pattern re-magnetized by the magnetizer; a recording medium detector, disposed between the magnetizer and the magnetic pattern detector, to detect the recording medium; a transportation mechanism to selectively transport the recording medium detected by the recording medium detector from the specific position in the insertion opening in the first direction from the magnetizer toward the magnetic pattern detector and in a second direction opposite the first direction; and a control unit for controlling the transportation mechanism to transport the recording medium set in the insertion opening in the first direction to print on the recording medium if the recording medium does not have a magnetic pattern imprinted thereon and in the second direction, if the recording medium has a magnetic pattern imprinted thereon, to position the beginning of the magnetic pattern within the insertion opening where the flux density of the magnetizer is sufficient to re-magnetize the beginning of the magnetic pattern.
A printing apparatus control method according to the present invention is directed to the control of a printing apparatus. The control method comprises detecting a recording medium set in an insertion opening of the printing apparatus; determining whether the recording medium has a magnetic pattern imprinted thereon; and selectively transporting the recording medium, set to a specific position in an insertion opening, in a first direction from the magnetizer toward the magnetic pattern detector to print on the recording medium and in a second direction opposite the first direction. The recording medium is transported in the first direction for printing if the recording medium does not have a magnetic pattern imprinted thereon. However, if the recording medium has a magnetic pattern, the recording medium is transported in the second direction, to re-magnetize the magnetic pattern by means of a magnetizer disposed upstream of the specific position in the insertion opening relative to the first direction, and is then transported in the first direction toward a magnetic head to read the magnetic pattern. The second-direction transportation step transports the recording medium set in the insertion opening in the second direction to position the beginning of the magnetic pattern within the insertion opening where the flux density of the magnetizer is sufficient to re-magnetize the beginning of the magnetic pattern.
In a printing apparatus and control method therefor, according to the present invention, the insertion position of the recording medium such as a cut-sheet form within the insertion opening is regulated by a form stopper or other construction for positioning the cut-sheet form to a specific position. The cut-sheet form thus positioned is transported in the reverse direction, that is, opposite the insertion direction, until the beginning of a magnetic pattern on the cut-sheet form is at least approximately aligned with the center of the magnetizer to position the beginning of the magnetic pattern in an effective magnetization area, that is, in an area in which the flux density of the magnetizer is sufficient to re-magnetize the beginning of the magnetic pattern. When the form is then transported f
Gabrik Michael T.
Lamb Twyler
Seiko Epson Corporation
Wallerson Mark
LandOfFree
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