JP2015189104A - Printer and control method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to suppress unnecessary consumption of a recording medium. A control unit (50) of a printer (2) analyzes print control data stored in a reception buffer (56), and outputs a last print instruction command that is the last print instruction command among print instruction commands included in the print control data. After determining the line feed instruction command between the print instruction and the cutting instruction command, reading and executing the final print instruction command CQ, the line feed instruction command is discarded, and the distance corresponding to the separation distance between the print head 24 and the cutter unit, the thermal sensitivity After transporting the roll paper, the cutter unit cuts the thermal roll paper. [Selection diagram] FIG.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing apparatus control method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing apparatus (printer) including a print head (print head) and a cutting unit (cutting apparatus) provided downstream in the transport direction of the print head is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP-A-2005-59502

There is a need to suppress wasteful consumption of a recording medium as much as possible in the case of printing and cutting on a recording medium like the above-described printing apparatus.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to suppress wasteful consumption of a recording medium.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a printing apparatus capable of communicating with a control device, a transport unit that transports a recording medium in a transport direction, a print head that prints on the recording medium, A cutting unit that is provided downstream in the transport direction and includes a cutting unit that cuts the recording medium, a print instruction command that instructs printing, a line feed instruction command that instructs a line feed, and a cutting instruction command that instructs the cutting of the recording medium Receiving the print control data from the control device, storing the received print control data in a buffer, analyzing the print control data stored in the buffer by the receiving unit, and including the print control data in the print control data The line feed instruction between the last print instruction command that is the last print instruction command of the print instruction commands and the cutting instruction command. After determining the command and reading and executing the final print instruction command, the line feed instruction command determined to be between the final print instruction command and the cutting instruction command is discarded, and the print head, the cutting unit, And a control unit that causes the cutting unit to cut the recording medium after the recording medium is transported to the transport unit by a first distance corresponding to the separation distance.
Here, in the print control data, the line feed instruction command between the final print instruction command and the cutting instruction command indicates that the cut position of the recording medium is the cutting position of the cutting portion after execution of printing based on the final print instruction command. This is a command provided to transport the recording medium so as to reach the position. In addition, the carry amount based on the line feed instruction command between the commands is unnecessarily longer than the separation distance between the print head and the cutting unit, which results in useless margins and waste of the recording medium. Consumption may occur. Based on this, according to the configuration of the present invention, the printing apparatus reads out and executes the final print instruction command, and then discards the line feed instruction command between the final print instruction command and the cutting instruction command. After transporting the recording medium for a distance corresponding to the separation distance from the cutting unit, the recording unit is caused to cut the recording medium. For this reason, the recording medium is transported and cut by a distance corresponding to the separation distance between the print head and the cutting portion after execution of printing of the image based on the final print instruction command, and no unnecessary blank space is generated. Wasteful consumption of the recording medium can be suppressed.

In the printing apparatus of the present invention, the control unit reads and executes the final print instruction command, discards the line feed instruction command between the final print instruction command and the cutting instruction command, and stores it in the buffer. The print head is printed based on the print instruction command included in the next stored print control data, and the recording medium is transported to the transport unit by the first distance, and then the cutting unit is The recording medium is cut.
According to the configuration of the present invention, the printing of the image based on the next printing control data stored in the reception buffer is executed during the conveyance after the printing of the image based on the final printing instruction command. It is possible to suppress the generation of margins in printing based on the above, and it is possible to more effectively suppress wasteful consumption of the recording medium.

In the printing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the control unit may monitor whether the first distance conveyance is completed during the first distance conveyance and the printing based on the next print control data. When the conveyance of the first distance is completed, the cutting unit is caused to cut the recording medium.
According to the configuration of the present invention, the printing apparatus executes printing based on the next print control data during conveyance of the first distance to suppress wasteful consumption of the recording medium, and then based on the one print control data. The recording medium can be cut between the image to be printed and the image printed based on the print control data next to the one print control data.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured to be able to communicate with a control device, and includes a transport unit that transports a recording medium in a transport direction, a print head that prints on the recording medium, and the print head. A printing apparatus control method, comprising: a cutting unit that is provided downstream in a transport direction and cuts the recording medium, wherein the printing instruction command for instructing printing, the line feed instruction command for instructing a line feed, and the recording medium Print control data including a cutting instruction command for instructing cutting is received from the control device, the received print control data is stored in a buffer, the print control data stored in the buffer is analyzed, and the print control is performed. Before the last print instruction command that is the last print instruction command of the print instruction commands included in the data and the cutting instruction command After determining the line feed instruction command and reading and executing the final print instruction command, the line feed instruction command determined to be between the final print instruction command and the cutting instruction command is discarded and the print head and the cutting are cut off. The recording medium is transported by the transporting section for a first distance corresponding to a separation distance from the section, and then the recording medium is cut by the cutting section.
According to the configuration of the present invention, after execution of image printing based on the final print instruction command, the recording medium is transported and cut by a distance corresponding to the separation distance between the print head and the cutting unit, which is useless. There is no blank space, and wasteful consumption of the recording medium can be suppressed.

In the printing apparatus control method of the present invention, the final print instruction command is read and executed, and the line feed instruction command between the final print instruction command and the cutting instruction command is discarded and stored in the reception buffer. The print head is printed based on the print instruction command included in the next print control data, and the recording medium is transported to the transport unit by the first distance, and then the recording is performed by the cutting unit. The medium is cut.
According to the configuration of the present invention, wasteful consumption of the recording medium can be more effectively suppressed.

Further, the control method of the printing apparatus of the present invention monitors whether or not the first distance conveyance is completed during the execution of the first distance conveyance and the printing based on the next print control data, When the conveyance of the first distance is completed, the cutting unit is caused to cut the recording medium.
According to the configuration of the present invention, the printing apparatus executes printing based on the next print control data during conveyance of the first distance to suppress wasteful consumption of the recording medium, and then based on the one print control data. The recording medium can be cut between the image to be printed and the image printed based on the print control data next to the one print control data.

  According to the present invention, wasteful consumption of a recording medium is suppressed.

The figure which shows the structure of the POS terminal which concerns on this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a printer. The figure which shows the functional structure of a host computer and a printer. The figure which shows printing control data and a receipt. The figure used for description of the line feed command LFT for conveyance. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a printer.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a POS terminal 1 according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating an internal configuration of a printer 2 (printing apparatus) included in the POS terminal 1.
The POS terminal 1 is a terminal provided on a point-of-sale management system (POS system) built in a store such as a supermarket or a convenience store, and a host computer 3 (control device) that performs sales registration processing and settlement processing; The printer 2 is connected to the host computer 3 and issues a receipt 10 under the control of the host computer 3.
The host computer 3 has a display 12 for displaying the contents of the sales registration process and the settlement process, a bar code scanner 13 for reading a bar code attached to the product during the sales registration process, and a key input including various keys such as a sales registration key. The unit 14 includes a cash drawer 15 that accommodates cash for settlement. The host computer 3 is connected to a POS server 16 that collects information registered for sales.
When issuing the receipt 10, the host computer 3 is necessary to access the POS server 16 and issue the receipt 10 as appropriate based on the input value from the barcode scanner 13 or the input value from the key input unit 14. Print information that causes the printer 2 to perform various operations related to the issuance of the receipt 10 is generated and output to the printer 2. The printer 2 operates each unit based on the print control data input from the host computer 3 and issues a receipt 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printer 2 as a printing apparatus accommodates a thermal roll paper 22 as a recording medium in a main body 20, and a roller-shaped platen 23 (conveying unit) that conveys the thermal roll paper 22. ), A print head 24 disposed opposite to the platen 23, and a cutter unit 25 (cutting unit) for cutting the thermal roll paper 22.
The printer 2 drives the conveyance motor 26 (conveyance unit, FIG. 3), rotates the platen 23, and conveys the thermal roll paper 22 in the conveyance direction Y1, while the print head 24 is provided with the heating elements arranged side by side. The thermal line printer prints an image by applying heat to the printing surface of the thermal roll paper 22 to form dots on the printing surface of the thermal roll paper 22.
The heat-sensitive roll paper 22 on which the image is printed is conveyed outward from a paper discharge port 28 formed on the upper surface of the main body 20, and is cut by the cutter unit 25 on the upstream side of the paper discharge port 28 in the conveyance direction Y1. The receipt 10 is obtained.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cutter unit 25 provided in the printer 2 includes a fixed blade 30 disposed on one side of the conveyance path of the thermal roll paper 22 and a conveyance path of the thermal roll paper 22 facing the fixed blade 30. A movable blade 31 disposed on the other side of the blade and a cutter drive motor 32 that slides the movable blade 31 toward the fixed blade 30. The drive force of the cutter drive motor 32 causes a drive mechanism (not shown) to pass through. The movable blade 31 is moved toward the cutter drive motor 32, and the thermal roll paper 22 after printing is sandwiched between the fixed blade 30 and the movable blade 31 and cut.
As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 20 of the printer 2 is provided with a cover 35 that can be opened and closed. The main body 20 is provided with a lever 36 for opening the cover 35. When the cover 35 is opened, a space for accommodating the thermal roll paper 22 is exposed, and the thermal roll paper 22 can be replenished or replaced. Further, the main body 20 has a power switch 37 for turning on / off the power of the printer 2, a paper feed switch 38 for manually operating the heat-sensitive roll paper 22, and the like, and is turned on / off in a predetermined manner. Accordingly, an LED 39 for displaying the status of the printer 2 and the presence or absence of an error is provided.
The print head 24 is provided downstream of the cutter unit 25 in the transport direction Y1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the POS terminal 1.
As shown in FIG. 3, the host computer 3 includes a host-side control unit 40, a host-side input unit 41, a host-side display unit 42, a host-side storage unit 43, and a host-side interface unit (I / F) 44. And.
The host-side control unit 40 centrally controls the host computer 3, and includes a CPU that executes various programs, a ROM that stores basic control programs executed by the CPU, programs executed by the CPU, and processing targets. It includes a RAM that forms a work area for temporarily storing data and the like, and other peripheral circuits. The host-side control unit 40 includes a POS application execution unit 40a and a printer driver execution unit 40b, which will be described later.
The host side input unit 41 is connected to various input devices including the key input unit 14 described above, detects an operation on the input device, and outputs it to the host side control unit 40.
The host-side display unit 42 is connected to the display 12 described above, and displays various types of information such as sales registration processing and payment processing contents on the display 12 under the control of the host-side control unit 40.
As described above, the host computer 3 is connected to various register peripheral devices such as a barcode scanner 13 and a cash drawer. The host computer 3 is provided with an interface for connecting these devices. In addition, device drivers for controlling these devices are installed in advance.
The host-side storage unit 43 includes a hard disk, a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM, and stores various data in a rewritable manner.
The host side interface unit 44 performs communication based on the communication standard with the printer 2 under the control of the host side control unit 40.

The printer 2 is a thermal line printer that issues the receipt 10 as described above. As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 50, the print engine 51, the input unit 52, the display unit 53, the storage unit 54, and the like. And an interface unit 55.
The control unit 50 controls each unit of the printer 2 and includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, other peripheral circuits, and the like, similar to the host-side control unit 40 described above.
Under the control of the control unit 50, the print engine 51 operates the print head 24, the transport motor 26, the cutter drive motor 32, and the like to print an image on the thermal roll paper 22, and the thermal roll paper 22 on which the image has been printed. The receipt 10 is issued by cutting. The function of the control unit 50 is realized by cooperation of hardware and software, such as reading and executing a program with a CPU and firmware.
The mechanism and apparatus for transporting the thermal roll paper 22 such as the transport motor 26 and the platen 23 correspond to the “transport section”.
The input unit 52 is connected to the power switch 37 and the paper feed switch 38, detects operations on these operation switches, and outputs them to the control unit 50.
The display unit 53 outputs a drive signal to the LED 39 under the control of the control unit 50, and turns on / off the LED 39 in a predetermined manner.
The storage unit 54 includes a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM or a hard disk, and stores various data in a rewritable manner. Each data stored in the storage unit 54 will be described later.
The interface unit (I / F) 55 performs communication based on the communication standard with the host computer 3. The interface unit 55 sequentially stores the print control data received from the host computer 3 in the buffer 56. The interface unit 55 functions as a “reception unit” that receives print control data from the host computer 3 and stores it in the buffer 56.

Next, the basic operation of the POS terminal 1 when issuing one receipt 10 will be described through the description of the POS application execution unit 40a and the printer driver execution unit 40b.
The POS application execution unit 40a executes the POS application preinstalled in the host computer 3, thereby accessing the POS server 16 for each transaction to obtain necessary information and information indicating the purchased product. In addition, information to be described in the receipt 10 (FIG. 4B) such as information indicating the unit price of the product and information indicating the total purchase amount is acquired, and based on the acquired information, the image to be printed on the receipt 10 is acquired. Print data including information is generated and output to the printer driver execution unit 40b.
The printer driver execution unit 40b executes print driver data pre-installed in the host computer 3 to obtain print control data corresponding to the command specifications of the printer 2 based on the print data input from the POS application execution unit 40a. Generate and output to the printer 2. The print control data includes a plurality of control commands.
Control commands for print control data output from the host computer 3 to the printer 2 are sequentially stored in the buffer 56. The control unit 50 of the printer 2 sequentially reads and executes the control commands stored in the buffer 56 to control the print engine 51 and execute various operations related to the receipt 10 issue.

FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an example of the contents of the print control data, and FIG. 4B illustrates an example of the receipt 10 on which an image is printed based on the print control data of FIG. FIG. Note that FIG. 4B shows a receipt 10 issued by performing processing based on the print control data of FIG. 4A without performing margin reduction by means described later.
In the receipt 10 of FIG. 4B, the upward direction in the drawing is the direction corresponding to the transport direction Y1. Therefore, when the receipt 10 is issued, dots are sequentially formed on the thermal roll paper 22 that has been cut and formed at the leading edge 10a from the leading edge 10a side to the trailing edge 10b side by the print head 24. Then, an image is printed, and then the thermal roll paper 22 is cut to form the rear end 10b.

The print control data is a command group for causing the printer 2 to perform various operations related to the issuance of the receipt 10, and includes control commands such as a print instruction command CM, a line feed instruction command LF, and a cutting instruction command SC. .
The print instruction command CM is a control command for instructing printing of a character string for one line.
As shown in FIG. 4A, the print instruction command CM includes a character string decoration command MS and a character string print instruction command MK.
The character string decoration command MS is a control command for designating decorations to be applied to a character string to be printed. Decoration is to perform some process related to drawing on a character string to be printed. For example, decoration includes character string enlargement, character string position movement (left-justified, center-justified, right-justified, etc.), reduction, rotation, emphasis, bolding, and addition of decorative characters or symbols.
The character string print instruction command MK is a command for designating a character string and instructing printing of the designated character string. The character string print instruction command is composed of a combination of an instruction code and a character string made up of a combination of characters represented by a predetermined character code (for example, ASCII code). For example, the character string print instruction command MK related to the character string on the first line in FIG. 4B is “XXXΔ“ AAAΔStore ”” (where XXX is an instruction code for instructing to print the character string) The character string in the double quotation is a character string composed of a combination of characters expressed in ASCII code.)
The line feed instruction command LF is a control command for instructing a line feed for one line. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, when the line feed instruction command LF is read and executed, a line feed is performed for one line, and a blank for one line is generated in the receipt 10.
The cutting instruction command SC is a control command for instructing cutting by the cutter unit 25. When the cutting instruction command SC is read and executed, the thermal roll paper 22 is cut by the cutter unit 25.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the last print instruction command CM (hereinafter referred to as “final print instruction command CQ”) among the plurality of print instruction commands CM included in the print control data, and the cutting instruction command SC. A plurality (four in this example) of line feed instruction commands LF are provided between.
This line feed instruction command LF is provided for the following processing.
FIG. 5 is a diagram used for explaining the line feed instruction command LF, and schematically shows the state of the thermal roll paper 22 on the conveyance path of the printer 2.
In FIG. 5, a position T <b> 1 indicates a position where dots are formed by the print head 24. The position T2 indicates a position where the thermal roll paper 22 is cut by the cutter unit 25. In the figure, the upward direction is the transport direction Y1.
FIG. 5A shows the state of the thermal roll paper 22 immediately after the image G1 for one line based on the final print instruction command CQ is printed. As shown in FIG. 5A, immediately after execution of the final print instruction command CQ, the image G1 is slightly beyond the position T1 downstream in the transport direction Y1.
When the thermal roll paper 22 is cut in the state shown in FIG. 5A, the thermal roll paper 22 is cut on the downstream side in the transport direction Y1 from the image G1. The image G1 is not printed.
Based on this, in the print control data, four line feed instruction commands LF are provided between the final print instruction command CQ and the cutting instruction command SC. Before the cutting instruction command SC is executed, four line feed instruction commands LF are executed, whereby the thermal roll paper 22 is conveyed by four lines in the conveying direction Y1. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5B, immediately after the four line feed instruction commands LF are executed, the image G1 is positioned downstream of the conveyance direction Y1 of the position T2. In this state, by executing the cutting of the thermal roll paper 22 based on the cutting instruction command SC, the image G1 is printed on the piece of paper separated by the cutting.

Here, after printing an image based on the final print instruction command CQ, in order to cut the thermal roll paper 22 upstream of the image in the transport direction Y1, the following transport may be performed. After printing the image based on the command, the separation distance between the position T1 and the position T2 (the separation distance between the print head and the cutting unit) and the thermal roll paper 22 may be conveyed in the conveyance direction Y1.
On the other hand, when the above-described conveyance is performed by the line feed instruction command LF, there is a possibility that an unnecessarily long conveyance may be performed due to the line break instruction command LF performing conveyance for one line.
Based on the above, the printer 2 executes the following processing.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer 2.
As shown in FIG. 6, when the host computer 3 transmits print control data, the interface unit 55 of the printer 2 receives the print control data and stores it in the buffer 56 (step SA1). Here, the host computer 3 transmits a plurality of print control data when issuing a plurality of receipts 10 continuously. In this case, the interface unit 55 of the printer 2 receives a plurality of print control data and stores them in the buffer 56 in order.
Next, the control unit 50 of the printer 2 refers to the print control data that has not been executed among the print control data stored in the buffer 56 and is stored first in the buffer 56 (step SA2). Steps SA3 and SA4 are analyzed.
Hereinafter, the print control data referred to in step SA2 is referred to as “target print control data”.
Next, the control unit 50 determines the final print instruction command CQ among the control commands included in the target print control data (step SA3).
Next, the control unit 50 determines a line feed instruction command LF provided between the determined final print instruction command CQ and the cutting instruction command SC (step SA4).
Hereinafter, the line feed instruction command LF determined in step SA4 is referred to as a “feed line feed instruction command LFT”.

Next, the control unit 50 determines whether or not the next print control data of the target print control data is stored in the buffer 56 (step SA5).
Hereinafter, the print control data stored in the buffer 56 after the target print control data is expressed as “next print control data” and is distinguished from the target print control data.
If not stored (step SA5: NO), the control unit 50 monitors whether or not the reading and execution of the final print instruction command CQ has been completed (step SA7), and sends the control command for the target print control data to the control command. In order, the data is read from the buffer 56 and executed (step SA6).
When the reading and execution of the final print instruction command CQ are completed (step SA7: YES), the control unit 50 determines all the line feed instruction commands LFT for conveyance that are determined to be between the final print instruction command CQ and the cutting instruction command SC. Is discarded (step SA8).
Next, the control unit 50 controls the transport motor 26 so that the distance corresponding to the separation distance (the separation distance between the print head and the cutting portion) between the position T1 (FIG. 5) and the position T2 (FIG. 5) (Referred to as “first distance”), and the thermal roll paper 22 is transported in the transport direction Y1 (step SA9).
The distance corresponding to the separation distance between the position T1 and the position T2 is a distance reflecting a predetermined margin in the separation distance, and is determined in advance.
Next, the control unit 50 controls the cutter unit 25 to cut the thermal roll paper 22 (step SA10).
The cutting in step SA10 may be performed based on the cutting instruction command SC. Also, the cutting instruction command SC is discarded together with the reading of the carriage return instruction command LFT, and the cutting is automatically performed after the conveyance. Also good.
As described above, in this embodiment, after printing an image based on the final print instruction command CQ, it is changed to conveyance based on the line feed instruction command LFT for conveyance, and corresponds to a predetermined distance between the position T1 and the position T2. The distance to be transported is carried out, and cutting is executed. For this reason, unnecessarily long distance and conveyance are not performed, and the margin formed between the image based on the final print instruction command CQ and the rear end 10b is reduced, and the recording medium (the thermal roll paper 22). Can be wasted.

If it is determined in step SA5 that the next print control data is stored next to the target print control data (step SA5: YES), the control unit 50 determines whether the reading and execution of the final print instruction command CQ has been completed. In step SA12, the control commands of the target print control data are sequentially read from the buffer 56 and executed (step SA11).
When the reading and execution of the final print instruction command CQ are completed (step SA12: YES), the control unit 50 determines all the line feed instruction commands LFT for conveyance that are determined to be between the final print instruction command CQ and the cutting instruction command SC. Is discarded (step SA13).
Next, the control unit 50 analyzes the next print control data, reads out and executes the control command for the next print control data (step SA14). The thermal roll paper 22 is conveyed in the conveyance direction Y1 with the execution of the control command for the next print control data. During the execution of the control command for the next print control data, the control unit 50 monitors whether or not the transport amount of the thermal roll paper 22 transported along with the execution of the control command has reached the first distance (step SA15). ).
The next print control data analysis is the analysis described in steps SA3 and SA4, and the control unit 50 performs the same processing as the flowchart of FIG. 6 based on the analysis result.
That is, in the present embodiment, in parallel with the conveyance of the first distance, the next receipt is printed based on the next print control data.

When the conveyance of the first distance is completed (step SA15: YES), the control unit 50 controls the cutter unit 25 to cut the thermal roll paper 22 (step SA16).
If the thermal roll paper 22 is cut during image printing, white stripes may occur in the image. Based on this, the following configuration may be used. The control unit 50 analyzes the target print control data and the next print control data. The control unit 50 adjusts the first distance based on the analysis result so that cutting is performed after execution of the first print instruction command CM in the next print control data and before execution of the next print instruction command CM. . Thereby, white stripes can be suppressed.
As described above, by executing printing based on the next print control data during the conveyance of the first distance, the image based on the first print instruction command CM of the next print control data and the receipt 10 related to the next print control data are displayed. A margin (so-called top margin) formed between the leading end 10a can be reduced, and wasteful consumption of the thermal roll paper 22 can be suppressed more effectively.

As described above, the control unit 50 of the printer 2 according to the present embodiment analyzes the print control data stored in the buffer 56, and the last print instruction command of the print instruction commands CM included in the print control data. A line feed instruction command LF (conveyance line feed instruction command LFT) between the final print instruction command CQ, which is a CM, and a cutting instruction command SC is discriminated, the final print instruction command CQ is read and executed, and then a line feed for conveyance is performed. The instruction command LFT is discarded, and the thermal roll paper 22 is conveyed by a distance corresponding to the separation distance between the position T1 (print head 24) and the position T2 (cutter unit 25 (cutting unit)), and then the thermal roll is sent to the cutter unit 25. The paper 22 is cut.
According to this configuration, the thermal roll paper 22 is transported and cut by a distance corresponding to the separation distance between the position T1 and the position T2 after printing of the image based on the final print instruction command CQ, which is useless. There is no blank space, and wasteful consumption of the heat-sensitive roll paper 22 can be suppressed.

In the present embodiment, the control unit 50 reads and executes the final print instruction command CQ, discards the line feed instruction command LFT for conveyance, and sets the print instruction command CM included in the next print control data stored in the buffer 56. The thermal roll paper 22 is transported by a distance corresponding to the separation distance between the position T1 and the position T2 while printing is performed on the print head 24, and then the thermal roll paper 22 is cut by the cutter unit 25.
According to this configuration, the printing of the image based on the next printing control data stored in the buffer 56 is executed during the conveyance after the printing of the image based on the final printing instruction command CQ. Generation | occurrence | production can be suppressed and the useless consumption of the thermal roll paper 22 can be suppressed more effectively.

In the present embodiment, the control unit 50 monitors whether the first distance conveyance is completed during the first distance conveyance and the printing based on the next print control data. Is completed, the thermal roll paper 22 is cut.
According to the configuration of the present invention, the printer 2 executes printing based on the next print control data during conveyance of the first distance to suppress wasteful consumption of the recording medium, and then based on the one print control data. The thermal roll paper 22 can be cut between the image printed in this manner and the image printed based on the print control data next to the one print control data.
A configuration may be employed in which a predetermined margin is formed before printing based on the next print control data.

The above-described embodiment is merely an aspect of the present invention, and can be arbitrarily modified and applied within the scope of the present invention.
For example, each functional unit shown in FIG. 3 can be arbitrarily realized by cooperation of hardware and software, and does not suggest a specific hardware configuration.
In addition, a program that executes each step of the above-described flowchart can be read out and stored in a storage medium external to the printer 2 and executed by the control unit 50.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Printer (printing apparatus), 3 ... Host computer (control apparatus), 23 ... Platen (conveyance part), 24 ... Print head, 25 ... Cutter unit (cutting part), 26 ... Conveyance motor (conveyance part), 50 ... Control unit, 55... Interface unit (reception unit), 56... Buffer.

Claims (6)

A printing device capable of communicating with a control device,
A transport unit for transporting the recording medium in the transport direction;
A print head for printing on the recording medium;
A cutting unit that is provided downstream of the print head in the transport direction and cuts the recording medium;
Print control data including a print instruction command for instructing printing, a line feed instruction command for instructing line feed, and a cutting instruction command for instructing cutting of the recording medium are received from the control device, and the received print control data is buffered. Receiving unit to store in,
Analyzing the print control data stored in the buffer by the receiving unit, and a final print instruction command that is the last print instruction command of the print instruction commands included in the print control data, and the cutting instruction command; The line feed instruction command between the final print instruction command and the cutting instruction command is read and discarded, after the line feed instruction command between the final print instruction command and the cutting instruction command is read out and executed. A first distance corresponding to a separation distance between a print head and the cutting unit; a control unit that causes the cutting unit to cut the recording medium after the recording unit transports the recording medium;
A printing apparatus comprising: The controller is
The final print instruction command is read and executed, the line feed instruction command between the final print instruction command and the cutting instruction command is discarded, and the print control data included in the next print control data stored in the buffer is discarded. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print head is caused to print based on an instruction command, and the recording medium is transported to the transport unit by the first distance, and then the recording medium is cut by the cutting unit. The printing apparatus as described. The controller is
During the execution of printing based on the first distance and the next print control data, it is monitored whether or not the first distance has been transferred, and when the first distance has been transferred, The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a cutting unit cuts the recording medium. It is configured to be communicable with the control device, and is provided in a transport unit that transports the recording medium in the transport direction, a print head that prints on the recording medium, and a downstream of the print head in the transport direction, and cuts the recording medium A control method of a printing apparatus comprising a cutting unit,
Print control data including a print instruction command for instructing printing, a line feed instruction command for instructing line feed, and a cutting instruction command for instructing cutting of the recording medium are received from the control device, and the received print control data is buffered. And analyzing the print control data stored in the buffer, a final print instruction command that is the last print instruction command of the print instruction commands included in the print control data, and the cutting instruction command, The line feed instruction command between the final print instruction command and the cutting instruction command is read and discarded, after the line feed instruction command between the final print instruction command and the cutting instruction command is read out and executed. A first distance corresponding to a separation distance between the print head and the cutting unit; After delivery, the control method for a printing apparatus, characterized in that for cutting the recording medium to the cutting unit.   The final print instruction command is read and executed, and the line feed instruction command between the final print instruction command and the cutting instruction command is discarded and included in the next print control data stored in the reception buffer. 5. The printing head is caused to print based on a print instruction command, and the recording medium is transported to the transport unit by the first distance, and then the recording medium is cut by the cutting unit. A control method for a printing apparatus according to claim 1.   During the execution of printing based on the first distance and the next print control data, it is monitored whether or not the first distance has been transferred, and when the first distance has been transferred, The method for controlling a printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the recording unit is caused to cut the recording medium.

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