Abstract: When the paper loaded in a printer is changed to a different type of paper, the paper setting in the printer can be easily updated without a paper mismatch error occurring. When the paper is replaced or the paper setting is changed in the printer 1, the cover 3 is first opened, the roll paper 12 is removed from the roll paper compartment 11, and the cover 3 is then closed. A paper settings update command from the host device 32 is received and executed when no roll paper is loaded. After the command is executed, the cover 3 is opened, new roll paper 12 is loaded, and the cover 3 is closed. The printer 1 then indexes the newly loaded paper for printing, and executes a paper identification process to determine if the newly loaded paper matches the content of the current paper settings.

Abstract: An optical reading device, a control method for an optical reading device, and a program for directing execution of the method each enables efficient and quick transmission of digital image data obtained from reading a document to a host computer or other control device. A dot impact printer having an optical reading device that optically reads documents and stores the resulting digitized image data, sets target reading areas, and transmits digital image data stored in a scan buffer rendered in a RAM to the host computer. When multiple target areas are set, the transmission order of the target areas is determined according to specific conditions, and the target areas are transmitted according to this transmission sequence.

Abstract: Restart shifting in the scanned image data is minimized and the resulting image quality is improved even when scanning pauses and resumes. A dot impact printer 10 issues a command to stop media conveyance when available capacity in the image buffer 41A goes below a stop buffering level, and continues scanning by the scanner 111, 112 until a conveyance stop delay period passes and then stops scanning. When the available capacity exceeds a resume buffering level after the conveyance stop delay period has passed, the dot impact printer 10 applies a command to resume media transportation and scanning, prohibits storing the scanned image data from the scanners 111, 112 until a resume drive delay time passes, and resumes storing data after the resume drive delay time passes.

Abstract: An optical reader is provided. A transport section is capable of transporting a medium which is a reading target in forward and backward directions along a transport path. An optical reading section is installed in the transporting path. The optical reading section optically reads the medium which is transported by the transport section. A control section sets a transport direction of the medium at the time of reading of the medium on the basis of a position of the medium before or when the reading of the medium is started and a reading position of the optical reading section such that a transport distance of the medium until the reading of the medium is completed is shortened, and controls the transport section and the optical reading section.

Abstract: When optically scanning a medium, scanning can proceed immediately even if the size of the medium is unknown. Before or when an optical reading device starts scanning to read all of a recording medium, the CPU 40 sets a scan block of a size that can always be scanned based on the output of media edge sensors 47 and the distance from the scanning position of the optical reading device to the detection position of the media edge sensors 47, and then scans the set scan block.

Abstract: A printer and printer control method can report information about ink consumption to the host computer. The printer 100 is in communication with a host computer 300, and prints according to print jobs sent from the host computer 300. The printer 100 has a job data memory 190 for storing information about each print job. A receiver 110 receives the print jobs from the host computer 300. A print controller 150 controls printing on paper using a predetermined ink according to the print job. A printing evaluator 175 evaluates the result of printing a print job. A ink shot count converter 170 calculates the number of ink shots used to print the print job. A job data manager 180 stores the job ID for the print job and the ink shot count used to print the print job linked to the print result determined for printing the print job in the job data memory 190.

Abstract: A media processing device improves the recognition rate of magnetic ink character data from magnetic ink characters printed on a medium. The media processing device 1 has a magnetic reading unit 41 that acquires the magnetic data of magnetic ink characters S2 from a check S1; and a front image scanner unit 25 that exposes the check S1 to a front image scanning light and acquires front image data. When at least a magnetic data read command to read magnetic ink characters S2 is received from a computer 80, the front image scanner unit 25 is set to a front image scanning mode 11 that acquires front image data using infrared light as the front image data. The check processing device 1 acquires the magnetic data and front image data, and sends the acquired data to the computer 80. The computer 80 recognizes the magnetic ink characters S2.

Abstract: A fluid droplet discharge device executes a head cleaning process to quickly remove bubbles that have entered the fluid supply path when it is likely that bubbles have entered in a flushing process. If the ink cartridge cover 2b is opened during flushing and it is possible that bubbles have entered the ink supply path, ?N1 is added to the count Na of the cleaning intensity setting counter N. If the count Na exceeds a threshold value Nmax in a head cleaning operation performed when a defective nozzle is detected, cleaning (CL4) with the highest cleaning intensity level is applied. Because ?N1 is added to the count Na if the ink cartridge cover 2b is opened when flushing, the timing when this cleaning operation (CL4) is applied is accelerated. Bubbles that have entered the fluid supply path can therefore be removed sooner.

Abstract: When the paper loaded in a printer is changed to a different type of paper, the paper setting in the printer can be easily updated without a paper mismatch error occurring. When the paper is replaced or the paper setting is changed in the printer 1, the cover 3 is first opened, the roll paper 12 is removed from the roll paper compartment 11, and the cover 3 is then closed. A paper settings update command from the host device 32 is received and executed when no roll paper is loaded. After the command is executed, the cover 3 is opened, new roll paper 12 is loaded, and the cover 3 is closed. The printer 1 then indexes the newly loaded paper for printing, and executes a paper identification process to determine if the newly loaded paper matches the content of the current paper settings.

Abstract: Firmware stored in a printer such as an inkjet printer can be rewritten by executing a firmware rewriting process which is not dependent upon the internal processing status of the printer. A printer 1 for executing a printing process based on print data sent from a host computer has a rewriting unit 38 for executing a firmware rewriting process, a print unit 37 for executing processes other than the firmware rewriting process, a rewrite command interpreting unit 32 for detecting a rewrite command that precedes the transmission of rewrite data required for the firmware rewriting process, and a control unit 36 for executing the firmware rewriting process with a priority over all other processes when a rewrite command is detected.

Abstract: A printer that uses roll paper as the printing medium and has a manual feed button and an automatic paper cutter detects if the manual feed button was operated. If the manual feed button was operated, the paper is advanced a prescribed length, and the paper is cut by the automatic paper cutter after advancing the paper stops.

Abstract: A printing control method for a serial inkjet printer prevents paper dust that is dispersed by the air current produced by a vacuum platen from adhering to the ink nozzle area. An inkjet head that prints while moving along the width of the vacuum platen is moved to a position where the ink nozzle area is outside of a first or second retraction position separated a first distance from the first and second paper edge positions of the recording paper, and the recording paper is then advanced. Paper dust and other dust particulate does not adhere to the ink nozzle area when the paper is advanced because the ink nozzle area does not stop in the first and second paper edge positions of the recording paper where paper dust and other dust particulate can be made airborne by the air current produced by the vacuum platen.

Abstract: An optical reading device, a control method for an optical reading device, and a program for directing execution of the method each enables efficient and quick transmission of digital image data obtained from reading a document to a host computer or other control device. A dot impact printer having an optical reading device that optically reads documents and stores the resulting digitized image data, sets target reading areas, and transmits digital image data stored in a scan buffer rendered in a RAM to the host computer. When multiple target areas are set, the transmission order of the target areas is determined according to specific conditions, and the target areas are transmitted according to this transmission sequence.

Abstract: An inkjet printer and a head cleaning method for an inkjet printer reduce the time required for head cleaning while also reducing needless ink consumption. The control unit 30 of the printer 1 confirms if a timer AID flag, impact detection flag, startup process flag, AID hold flag, or cover closed flag is set before executing the cleaning process a first time. If any one of the flags is set, the possibility that there are numerous defective nozzles in the printer 1 is high, and a stronger or more intense cleaning process (CL1 or CL2) is executed. Whether cleaning process CL1 or CL2 executes is determined according to the number of defective nozzles detected in the first nozzle check. If no flag is set, the weakest cleaning process (CL0) is executed.

Abstract: The printer is connected to an interface device and communicates through the interface device with external devices, and has a detector that detects a prescribed operation of the printer, a controller that receives a query signal sent from the interface device, and confirms the reception status of the query signal after the detector detects the prescribed operation, wherein the controller determines the operating status of the interface device based on the query signal reception status confirmed by the controller.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a discharge state of a nozzle prevents wrongly determining that discharge is normal even though fluid droplets are not discharged normally. In a fluid droplet discharge device such as an inkjet printer, a momentary induced current is produced when a charged ink droplet 17c lands on a head cap 31 with a potential difference. A voltage change detection unit 39 detects the induced current as a voltage change. A decision unit 40 determines that the ink discharge state is normal if the maximum amplitude L of the voltage change detected by the voltage change detection unit 39 in a first period S is greater than or equal to a first threshold value Q. If the amplitude of voltage change detected in a third period U after the specific period has passed goes to a second threshold value R, a decision cancellation unit 41 determines that noise is contained in the voltage change.

Abstract: Restart shifting in the scanned image data is minimized and the resulting image quality is improved even when scanning pauses and resumes. A dot impact printer 10 issues a command to stop media conveyance when available capacity in the image buffer 41A goes below a stop buffering level, and continues scanning by the scanner 111, 112 until a conveyance stop delay period passes and then stops scanning. When the available capacity exceeds a resume buffering level after the conveyance stop delay period has passed, the dot impact printer 10 applies a command to resume media transportation and scanning, prohibits storing the scanned image data from the scanners 111, 112 until a resume drive delay time passes, and resumes storing data after the resume drive delay time passes.

Abstract: When optically scanning a medium, scanning can proceed immediately even if the size of the medium is unknown. Before or when an optical reading device starts scanning to read all of a recording medium, the CPU 40 sets a scan block of a size that can always be scanned based on the output of media edge sensors 47 and the distance from the scanning position of the optical reading device to the detection position of the media edge sensors 47, and then scans the set scan block.

Abstract: An optical reader is provided. A transport section is capable of transporting a medium which is a reading target in forward and backward directions along a transport path. An optical reading section is installed in the transporting path. The optical reading section optically reads the medium which is transported by the transport section. A control section sets a transport direction of the medium at the time of reading of the medium on the basis of a position of the medium before or when the reading of the medium is started and a reading position of the optical reading section such that a transport distance of the medium until the reading of the medium is completed is shortened, and controls the transport section and the optical reading section.

Abstract: A fluid droplet discharge device executes a head cleaning process to quickly remove bubbles that have entered the fluid supply path when it is likely that bubbles have entered in a flushing process. If the ink cartridge cover 2b is opened during flushing and it is possible that bubbles have entered the ink supply path, ?N1 is added to the count Na of the cleaning intensity setting counter N. If the count Na exceeds a threshold value Nmax in a head cleaning operation performed when a defective nozzle is detected, cleaning (CL4) with the highest cleaning intensity level is applied. Because ?N1 is added to the count Na if the ink cartridge cover 2b is opened when flushing, the timing when this cleaning operation (CL4) is applied is accelerated. Bubbles that have entered the fluid supply path can therefore be removed sooner.