Printing apparatus, control method for a printing apparatus, and recording medium for recording a control program for a printing apparatus

{
  "publication_number": "US6185478B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Printing apparatus, control method for a printing apparatus, and recording medium for recording a control program for a printing apparatus",
  "abstract": "A printer and control method therefor for printing to a specific location on an inserted form whether the form is loaded automatically or manually in the printer. When a specific command is received from a host, the printer selects the insertion operation used for the printing form. If automatic loading is selected, the leading edge of the form is set to a specific position in the printer by a form transportation mechanism, and printing then begins. If manually positioned form insertion is selected, printing begins directly with the printing form as inserted and positioned by the user.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A control method for controlling a printing apparatus comprising an interface for communicating with a host device, a detector for detecting the presence of a cut-sheet form, a transport mechanism for transporting a cut-sheet form, and a printing unit for printing to a cut-sheet form, said control method comprising the steps of: receiving one of print data and the print command from a host device; detecting the presence of a cut-sheet form; positioning the leading edge of an inserted cut-sheet form to a specific position by transporting and detecting the cut-sheet form; printing to the cut-sheet form according to one of received print data and the received print command; and skipping the printing form positioning step according to a specific command from the host device.",
    "2. The printing apparatus control method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: storing a setting controlling whether the printing form positioning step is to be skipped.",
    "3. The printing apparatus control method according to claim 1, wherein when the positioning step is set to be skipped and the form detecting step detects that a cut-sheet form is not present, the positioning step is executed.",
    "4. A medium readable by a machine embodying a program of instructions executable by said machine to perform a method for controlling a printing apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: receiving one of print data and a print command from a host device; detecting the presence of a cut-sheet form; positioning the leading edge of an inserted cut-sheet form to a specific position by transporting and detecting the cut-sheet form; printing to the cut-sheet form according to one of received print data and the received print command; and skipping the printing form positioning step according to a specific command from the host device.",
    "5. The medium according to claim 4, wherein the method for controlling the printing apparatus further comprises: storing a setting controlling whether the printing form positioning step is to be skipped.",
    "6. The medium according to claim 4, wherein when the positioning step is set to be skipped and the form detecting step detects that a cut-sheet form is not present, the positioning step is executed."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Field of the Invention\n\nThe present invention relates to a printing apparatus for printing to a cut-sheet form, to a printing apparatus capable of selecting an operation to be performed when a cut-sheet form is inserted, to a method for controlling such a printing apparatus, and to a recording medium for storing the control method and related control program.\n\n2. Description of the Related Art\n\nFIG. 11 shows an example of a printer that prints on cut paper (slip paper). This printer 9 is provided with paper path 11 which extends in the horizontal direction and in which printing paper 1 is fed from the right side of the figure for printing. Along this paper path 11, starting from the right side, the printer 9 includes BOF (Bottom of Form) sensor 21 for sensing the presence of slip paper 1 and the end of the paper during printing, paper- feeding roller 31 and paper- pressing roller 32 for feeding slip paper 1 along paper path 11, platen 36 and printing head 37 for printing slip paper 1, TOF (Top of Form) sensor 22 for sensing the presence of slip paper 1 and the leading edge of the paper, and form stopper 15 for positioning the paper by striking the leading edge of paper 1 when slip paper 1 is inserted into paper path 11. Next to these components, paper guide 14 for guiding printed paper 1 to the paper discharge port is provided.",
  "cpc": [
    "B41J 13/0027",
    "B41J 11/00",
    "B41J 11/008",
    "B41J 11/0095",
    "B41J 11/42"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B41J 11/00",
    "B41J 11/42",
    "B41J 13/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Seiko Epson Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Naohiko Koakutsu",
    "Mitsuaki Teradaira"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1998-05-26",
  "publication_date": "2001-02-06",
  "grant_date": "2001-02-06",
  "priority_date": "1997-05-29",
  "application_number": "US-8453198-A",
  "family_id": "15274149",
  "cited_by_count": 67,
  "citations": [
    "US5648812A",
    "JPS6166671A",
    "EP0180059A2",
    "US4925325A",
    "EP0312407A2",
    "JPH01103472A",
    "US5035413A",
    "JPH0224172A",
    "EP0486031A2",
    "EP0519518A2",
    "JPH0631999A"
  ]
}