Abstract: A character reading system efficiently and quickly applies an optical verification process to detect magnetic ink character misreads. In the system, a magnetic ink character reading device reads magnetic ink characters on a processed medium and generates magnetic ink character data, an image reading device scans an image of the processed medium and generates image data, and a position calculator calculates positions of magnetic ink characters on the processed medium and generates magnetic ink character position information. A communication controller sends the magnetic ink character data, image data, and magnetic ink character position information to a host device which includes an optical recognition device that optically recognizes select magnetic ink characters from the image data based on the character position information. By selectively applying optical verification (e.g.

Abstract: A control method and apparatus for a thermal head capable of printing two colors applies thermal history control using a simple circuit configuration. The thermal head control apparatus has a print data processing unit 40 and a drive control circuit 50. The print data processing unit 40 has a first command processing function for converting first color data to a first and second stage energizing commands, a second command processing function for converting second color data to a second stage energizing command, a first line buffer 43 for storing first stage energizing commands, and a second line buffer 44 for recording second stage energizing commands. The print data processing unit 40 selectively outputs energizing commands from the first line buffer 43 and energizing commands from the second line buffer 44.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a real-time command detector connected to the data receiver without the memory therebetween to detect control commands. Status data is transmitted to a host device in response to a real-time command from the host device.

Abstract: The size of image data for a check or other negotiable instrument used for electronically clearing payments made by such negotiable instruments is reduced. A scanning process setup command received from a host system by a communication unit 11 is interpreted by the command interpreting unit 25 and settings for a specified image reading area 43 and/or cropping areas 51 to 54 are stored in control data storage unit 32. The image reading unit 14 is controlled and driven by the scanning control unit 31, and an image of the negotiable instrument is read by scanning the specified image reading area 43. An image cropping unit 35 extracts only the image data in the specified cropping areas 51 to 54.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for processing checks and other negotiable instruments efficiently captures MICR data required for electronic payment and an image of the check or negotiable instrument enabling the amount, payee, and other information printed or written on the check face to be clearly read. The image reading unit 11 of the check processing apparatus 110 scans and outputs a gray scale image of the check. A threshold value determination unit 12 sets a threshold value for digitizing the image data based on the density level frequency distribution of primary gray scale image data obtained by the image data reading unit scanning a first scanning area T. This first scanning area contains part of a printed text area 127 where text is printed on the negotiable instrument and part of the background 49 of the negotiable instrument.

Abstract: A printer comprises a printing mechanism (9) composed of a platen (9b) and a printing head (9c) for printing on a recording medium (C, S) via an ink ribbon, a paper path (30, 33) for guiding the recording medium to and past said printing mechanism (9), the printing head (9c) and the platen (9b) being disposed facing each other on opposite sides of the paper path (30), an ink ribbon feeding device (9e, 9d) for transporting the ink ribbon between the printing head and the paper path (30), a medium transport mechanism (7, 91, 92) for transporting the recording medium (C, S) along the paper path (30, 33), a detecting device (6, 96) for detecting a predetermined position of said recording medium along the paper path (30, 33), and a controller (100) for controlling the ink ribbon feeding device (9e, 9d).

Abstract: A control method and apparatus for a thermal head capable of printing two colors applies thermal history control using a simple circuit configuration. The thermal head control apparatus has a print data processing unit 40 and a drive control circuit 50. The print data processing unit 40 has a first command processing function for converting first color data to a first and second stage energizing commands, a second command processing function for converting second color data to a second stage energizing command, a first line buffer 43 for storing first stage energizing commands, and a second line buffer 44 for recording second stage energizing commands. The print data processing unit 40 selectively outputs energizing commands from the first line buffer 43 and energizing commands from the second line buffer 44.

Abstract: This printing apparatus is provided having a regular status data generating circuit for regularly generating status data. An automatic status selection and transmission circuit selects the status condition to be transmitted by the automatic status transmission operation, and a status data comparator compares the status data. By executing the automatic status selection and transmission command, the status is thereafter transmitted each time the selected status changes.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a real-time command detector connected to the data receiver without the memory therebetween to detect control commands. An error recovery controller enables the printing apparatus to recover from an error state in accordance with predetermined command data detected by the command detector.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a real-time command detector that detects control commands without first storing the received comand data in memory. A host device can therefore cancel a cut-sheet waiting state of the printer even when the printing apparatus is stopped while waiting for a cut- sheet form to be inserted.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for storing total operation counters for individual consumable and nonconsumable parts of a printing apparatus. A nonvolatile storage retains stored count information even when power is not supplied to the printing apparatus. An operations counter counts a value indicative of a printing apparatus operation. A counter storage stores a historical counter indicative of the printing apparatus operation history to the nonvolatile storage means based on a value counted by the operations counter, and stores a total printing apparatus operations count to the storage means. Specific printer operations, such as the number of characters printed, distance of recording medium transportation, and the number of times the automatic paper cutter is operated, can thus be individually accumulated, and the historical counts, that is, the cumulative counts since the printer was first used, can be stored to memory.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a real-time command interpreter that functions even when the printing apparatus is off-line, and interprets control commands simultaneously with receiving data. The printing apparatus can therefore output pulses to the external devices even when printing is in progress or the printer is off-line. Such printing apparatus comprises a command detector for directly detecting predetermined command data from the received command data. An external controller controls an external device in accordance with predetermined command data detected by the command detection.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a real-time command interpreter that functions even when the printing apparatus is off-line, and interprets control commands simultaneously with receiving data. The printing apparatus can therefore output pulses to the external devices even when printing is in progress or the printer is off-line. Such printing apparatus comprises a command detector for directly detecting predetermined command data from the received command data. An external controller controls an external device in accordance with predetermined command data detected by the command detection.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a real-time command interpreter that functions even when the printing apparatus is off-line, and interprets control commands simultaneously with receiving data. The printing apparatus can therefore output pulses to the external devices even when printing is in progress or the printer is off-line. Such printing apparatus comprises a command detector for directly detecting predetermined command data from the received command data. An external controller controls an external device in accordance with predetermined command data detected by the command detection.

Abstract: A bar code or similar symbol can be printed accurately within a specified printing area by a printer for printing such symbols. The printer has a symbol image generator for converting display data to a symbol and has hardware or software for reporting the size of the converted symbol to a host device. The host sends specific commands and text data for representation in the printed symbol to the printer for printing. As a result, the host can confirm whether printing within the specific area is possible.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a data receiver that receives command data from a host device and a memory that stores the command data received by the data receiver. A printer controller reads out the command data stored in the memory in a first-in-first-out order and controls the printing apparatus in accordance with the command data. A command detector is provided to detect predetermined command data within the command data received by the data receiver without storing the command data in the memory or while or before command data is stored in the memory. An off-line recovery controller enables the printing apparatus to recover from an off-line state in accordance with the predetermined command data detected by the command detector.

Abstract: In order to offer a printer capable of high throughput printing even when the same printing or printing that is partially different is repeated, the printing apparatus of present invention equipped with a storage unit for storing print image data based on print data received from the host device in a designated position and a printing controller and printer engine that performs print processing on the recording medium based on the print image data stored in the storage unit in accordance with control data received from the host device. Specifically, this printing apparatus features an erasure unit for selectively deleting print image data that has undergone the print processing from the storage unit in accordance with control data received from the host device.

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.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a printer apparatus connected to a host computer, in such a manner that permits bidirectional communication, has a nonvolatile memory that allows its contents to be rewritten and read from the host computer. Allocated to the nonvolatile memory is an area for retaining a plurality of types of information for identifying the printer apparatus. Each piece of information comprises a key for identifying the type of information and a terminator indicating the end of the information. Thus, efficiently storing a plurality of pieces of information regarding the printer apparatus in the nonvolatile memory permits flexible change or addition of information.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a real-time command interpreter that functions even when the printing apparatus is off-line, and interprets control commands simultaneously with receiving data. The printing apparatus can therefore output pulses to the external devices even when printing is in progress or the printer is off-line. Such printing apparatus comprises a command detector for directly detecting predetermined command data from the received command data. An external controller controls an external device in accordance with predetermined command data detected by the command detection.