Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Detail of image placement or content
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-26
2001-06-26
Evans, Arthur G. (Department: 2622)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Detail of image placement or content
C358S001120
Reexamination Certificate
active
06252673
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to printing devices operating in conjunction with host computers and more particularly to printers connected to a host computer that provide output in response to commands from the host computer. The invention further relates to point-of-sale type printers capable of printing on cut-sheet type paper.
2. Related Technology
A variety of small specialized printers have been developed and widely used with host computers and other apparatus for printing data associated with point-of-sale (POS) transactions. A common example of such a printer application is for a department store where such printers are used to generate a “tape” style purchase receipt on “recording paper” for a customer which lists the items purchased as well as taxes and other fees levied against the transaction and a total balance due. These printers are used as part of the so called cash or check-out “register” commonly seen throughout retail business. In addition to the recording paper, these printers are also generally required to generate a “journal” or “journal tape” on a roll of paper for permanently recording and verifying the transactions for the particular sales register.
The printing devices used for these kinds of transactions generally transported a recording paper material, typically from a roll of paper, along a preset paper path through a printing mechanism where a print head forms the output image. More recently, due to the nature of record keeping and the sales transactions themselves, single or “cut-sheet” paper has found use in sales transactions. Additional information, business logos, instructions, or terms and conditions of the sale are now included as part of the transaction receipt, or specialized transaction forms, such as for “credit” transactions, are used. Therefore, many POS printers are configured with an insertion or access slot to provide access for insertion of individual cut-sheet paper or forms into the paper path for the printing mechanism.
In any case, POS printers are currently configured to begin printing immediately, when a switch is activated by an operator, or within a set elapsed time after it is determined that paper has been inserted into the mechanism, particularly cut-sheet paper. Since the time it takes to position recording paper in POS printers, and the like, varies according to operator skill or experience, this currently gives rise to two inefficient conditions. First, an operator may be required to wait until the end of an allotted elapsed time interval even after the recording paper is positioned within the printer. Second, once the recording paper is detected, regardless of whether or not correctly positioned, it is transported into or through the printer before being correctly positioned, often causing problems.
On the other hand, if a maximum waiting time for insertion of recording paper is not set, the host computer will wait indefinitely until it receives information from the printing device regarding insertion of the recording paper, also resulting in lost time. At the same time, if an operator mistakenly sets the printer in a cut-sheet paper printing mode, it is sometimes necessary to turn off the power to the printer to escape this mode, which also resets other settings.
What is needed is a method and apparatus for setting and changing waiting times for paper insertion, positioning, and transport which can flexibly account for the skill of the operator. Something is needed to optimize the allocation of time for POS paper insertion activities while facilitating host control through application of new transport control commands.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to solve these and other problems, one purpose of the present invention is to provide a printing device that optimizes the waiting interval for recording paper insertion;
Another purpose is to facilitate user control of the cut-sheet paper waiting time by means of control a command.
Yet another purpose of the invention is to allow the time interval between recording paper insertion and transport to be selectively set, generally using host computer commands.
An advantage of the present invention is that it optimizes recording paper control in a printing device.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it realizes efficient data transfer and optimization of commands by facilitating setting of the recording paper insertion wait time and the recording paper positioning time with the same command.
These and other purposes, objects, and advantages are realized in a printing device having a printing section with a printer head for printing on cut-sheet and other types of recording paper, and a paper transport mechanism for moving paper adjacent to and past the print head in the printing section. A paper detector is used to detect when recording paper is inserted in the printing device and a timing unit connected to the detector and transport mechanism is used to start paper transport when a first predetermined time interval for positioning of recording paper has elapsed after detection of the paper. A positioning or position control element is used to variably set a desired first time interval. In the preferred embodiment, the printing device also uses an insertion or insertion control element to variably set a second time interval as a maximum wait time for recording paper insertion. A warning or error detection unit produces an error signal if no recording paper is detected within the second time interval.
In further aspects of the invention, the timing element uses at least a first and second timers to count the first and second time intervals, respectively. An interface unit is connected to a host computer to receive commands from a set of predefined commands, print data, and other data strings. A data analyzer interprets or decodes the received data and commands, at least one of which is at least one time setting command for setting the length of at least the first time interval, and generally also setting the length of time for the second interval. Preferably a single command is used to set the first and second time intervals, and it typically comprises a two-byte length command parameter set with one byte used as a command parameter indicating the first time interval and the second byte used as a command parameter indicating the second time interval.
A data storage or memory element is used for storing analyzed data which indicates at least the first time interval as specified by the time setting command and provides this data to the timers for measuring the specified time periods. A print controller activates the first of the two timers after recording paper is detected, confirms the detection of the recording paper and paper position, and initiates paper transport and printing.
The paper transport mechanism has a transport section open-close mechanism configured to be electrically operated to open and close a recording paper transfer path and a recording paper transport roller, and a recording paper transport controller to confirm the positioning of the recording paper, and then operates the transport section open-close mechanism, holding the recording paper so that it can be transported, and driving the recording paper transport roller.
The data storage or memory is configured as a first memory unit in which data, command parameters, defining the first time interval as specified by the time setting command is stored, and a second memory unit in which data defining the second time interval is stored. The first and second timers use the data from the first and second memory units to measure elapsed times for paper positioning after insertion before commencing printing or transport, and for waiting insertion. A first activation element starts the second timer after waiting for recording paper insertion and confirms whether or not the recording paper was inserted within the specified wait time, and a second activation element starts the first timer so as to measure the elapsed recording paper po
Ito Yoshikazu
Minowa Masahiro
Miyasaka Masayo
Yawata Kazunari
Evans Arthur G.
Seiko Epson Corporation
Watson Mark P.
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