Seiko Epson Corporation

Yasuhiro Yamagata

Kunio Omura

A media processing device moves a first printhead in a direction away from a first platen and sets the gap therebetween to a wide second gap until the magnetic ink character printing area of the recording medium passes the reading position. When this printing area on the recording medium passes the reading position A, the first printhead moves in the direction approaching the first platen, and the gap therebetween is reset to a first gap that is narrower than the second gap. Because the gap is wide during the magnetic ink character reading operation, the leading end of the recording medium when conveyed to a position passed the first printhead will not catch on the second printhead, and conveying the recording medium at a constant speed will not be impeded. The magnetic ink characters can therefore be accurately read.

Gap control method for a media processing device, and a media processing device

A printing method for printing bars in a barcode by forming dots on a print medium. The method includes dividing the bars of the barcode into a plurality of segments, forming the dots such that a portion of bars in a first segment are shifted a predetermined direction relative to a portion of bars in a second segment, and printing the barcode by forming dots in each of the plurality of segments. The predetermined direction can be towards a least significant digit of information represented by the barcode when the barcode is seen from the front. In one embodiment, the plurality of segments equals three. Other printing methods, as well as printers for performing the methods, are also provided.

Printing method and printer

A roll paper printer having a cover movable between an open and closed position with the printer having hooks on locking levers disposed to the cover to hold the cover in the locked position upon engaging pins located on the printer body side and having an opening lever to unlock the cover. The printer also includes a paper cutter device having a stationary knife which is attached to the cover and contact plate parts which extend from the stationary knife for contacting the front panel part on the printer body and having extension springs disposed in tension for pulling the stationary knife towards the back of the printer such that upon closing the cover the contact plate parts push the cover to the front of the printer. This causes the hooks of the locking levers to press from the back against the engagement pins to eliminate any play in the cover when in cover is in the locked position and to assist in opening the cover when the cover opening lever is operated.

Printer

A printer for printing a barcode by discharging ink droplets from print nozzles that are used for printing bars in the bar code. The printer includes a CPU and a head carriage mechanism. The CPU divides a length of the bars of the barcode into a plurality of segments and changes which of the nozzles that are used as print nozzles in each segment such that the barcode is printed by discharging ink droplets from the print nozzles in each segment. The head carriage mechanism is for moving the print medium relative to the print nozzles. Each bar of the resulting barcode extends in a single, diagonal direction across the plurality of segments. Other printers and printing methods are also provided.

A printing method for printing a barcode forms a plurality of dots on a print medium from one end of the bars to the other end by discharging ink droplets from print nozzles assigned to print the bars from among a plurality of nozzles aligned in a direction intersecting the bars. The printing method divides the barcode in the direction of the length of the bars into a plurality of segments, changes which of the plural nozzles are assigned as print nozzles in each of the segments, and discharges ink from the print nozzles in each of the segments to print the barcode.

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Shiojiri, Japan

Yasuhiro Yamagata