Seiko Epson Corporation

Kazunari Yawata

Yoshikazu Ito

Masahiro Minowa

Masayo Miyasaka

Mitsuaki Teradaira

Hiroshi Ono

Takuya Hyonaga

Kazuhisa Aruga

Noboru Yanagisawa

Torao Yajima

A printing device and control method that facilitates setting of waiting periods for cut-sheet paper insertion and commencement of paper transport or printing through application of waiting time control commands. By establishing a command for setting these waiting periods and incorporating apparatus in the printer for analyzing such a command, a configuration is realized in which these waiting periods are settable and adjustable by the host computer. This provides more efficient POS type printer control and allows setting of the desired time required for positioning recording paper according to operator experience. An interface unit is used to receive and interpret print data and recording paper positioning time setting commands and data from the host computer. The received commands and data are temporarily stored in a data memory, and after insertion of the recording paper is detected, used by one or more timing circuits to wait for a set amount of time before transport of or printing on the cut-sheet paper is initiated by a printing mechanism controller, during which time paper positioning is confirmed.

Printing device and recording paper control

A printer capable of printing on differing types of recording media. A memory section is provided that is capable of storing insertion wait times that wait for insertion of the respective recording medium types and setting wait times that wait for the recording medium to be properly set. Also, when the type of recording medium to be printed on is designated, then the printer waits for insertion of the recording medium according to the insertion wait time and setting wait time corresponding to that recording medium and then starts an automatic feed operation. Therefore, it is possible to offer a printer and its control method wherein the wait times can be set according to the level of experience of the operator and to the recording paper types, the ease of use of the recording medium and the installation circumstances of the printer, setting times can be set that do not cause stress on the operators, and printing can be performed without wasted time.

Printer and control method therefor

A printer which includes a paper selector for setting return amount and return amount memories for storing return amounts for at least two kinds of recording paper. The type of recording paper is selected by a printer control command so that a return amount for continuing a printing operation specific to the selected type of recording paper can be set. As a result, printing can be executed once a return amount has been set for each type of recording paper if the user wishes to print on different types of recording paper having different return amounts, thereby reducing the burden on the part of the host computer in controlling the printer and increasing the printing speed of the printer.

Printer and method for controlling the same

A computer system is connected to a printer via a parallel interface, for point-of-sale (POS) applications employing one or more different paper sources, such as, continuous tape, document insertion, and sheet validation. A detector is associated with each paper source to sense a paper empty or out condition. The printer has an addressable latch that enables a choice of one or more of these detectors for connection through to a single status line within the parallel printer interface. The computer CPU can access the addressable latch prior to any printing so that the presence of an appropriate type of paper in its appropriate print position in the printer can be checked or tested utilizing an industry standard parallel printer interface, such as, the widely employed Centronics interface.

Status and command function extension for industry standard printer

A printer control device is employed with host computer controlled printers, typically of the point-of-sale (POS) type, which are capable of printing on several different types of recording paper. Several detectors are used on the printer to sense out-of-paper conditions with at least one detector being associated with each paper source used, and a detector selection device is used to determine which detector outputs are to be connected to the host computer through a communications interface. Detector output values can be stored and logically combined to allow transfer over a single communications line. Specific detector outputs can be enabled or selected for transfer to the host or for use in termination of printing operations. A paper type selector is used for setting line spacing or advancement amounts which are stored by the printer controller for later retrieval. Typically each advancement value relative to one type of paper is stored separately in a memory location or element. The type of recording paper and line advancement value for that paper are each selected by a printer control command, which is interpreted and acted upon by the printer controller. The printer controller responds to data printing commands and activates paper transfer mechanisms within the printer to achieve the established line advancement values during printing operations.

Growing community of inventors

Suwa, Japan

Kazunari Yawata