Abstract: A Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal 3 of a POS system 1 may be equipped with an ink-jet printer. An ink cartridge 15 serving as an ink supply source is loaded onto a cartridge loading section 16. The ink cartridge 15 may be equipped with an IC memory chip 27 having ad information retained therein. When the ink cartridge 15 is loaded onto the cartridge loading section 16, ad information 6 may be read by the POS terminal 3. The ad information 6 may be printed on a receipt 17 to be issued or displayed to a display device 19. So long as an ink cartridge provider receives charges for advertisement from a commercial sponsor, the provider is able to sell large numbers of ink cartridges inexpensively. Further, the user of the POS system can purchase ink cartridges, which are consumable items, at low cost.

Abstract: A Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal 3 of a POS system 1 may be equipped with an ink-jet printer. An ink cartridge 15 serving as an ink supply source is loaded onto a cartridge loading section 16. The ink cartridge 15 may be equipped with an IC memory chip 27 having ad information retained therein. When the ink cartridge 15 is loaded onto the cartridge loading section 16, ad information 6 may be read by the POS terminal 3. The ad information 6 may be printed on a receipt 17 to be issued or displayed to a display device 19. So long as an ink cartridge provider receives charges for advertisement from a commercial sponsor, the provider is able to sell large numbers of ink cartridges inexpensively. Further, the user of the POS system can purchase ink cartridges, which are consumable items, at low cost.

Abstract: A computer system is connected to a printer via a parallel interface, for point-of-sale (POS) applications employing one or more different paper sources, such as, continuous tape, document insertion, and sheet validation. A detector is associated with each paper source to sense a paper empty or out condition. The printer has an addressable latch that enables a choice of one or more of these detectors for connection through to a single status line within the parallel printer interface. The computer CPU can access the addressable latch prior to any printing so that the presence of an appropriate type of paper in its appropriate print position in the printer can be checked or tested utilizing an industry standard parallel printer interface, such as, the widely employed Centronics interface.

Abstract: A printer control device is employed with host computer controlled printers, typically of the point-of-sale (POS) type, which are capable of printing on several different types of recording paper. Several detectors are used on the printer to sense out-of-paper conditions with at least one detector being associated with each paper source used, and a detector selection device is used to determine which detector outputs are to be connected to the host computer through a communications interface. Detector output values can be stored and logically combined to allow transfer over a single communications line. Specific detector outputs can be enabled or selected for transfer to the host or for use in termination of printing operations. A paper type selector is used for setting line spacing or advancement amounts which are stored by the printer controller for later retrieval. Typically each advancement value relative to one type of paper is stored separately in a memory location or element.

Abstract: A drive control system for a step motor. The system includes a detector for detecting when the step motor is central between step positions of the step motor and for producing a timing signal representative of the central position of the step motor. Motor drive coils selectively driven by a drive control circuit actuate the step motor. The drive control circuit receives the timing signal and in response thereto selectively actuates the motor drive coils to allow the step motor to stop at its next step position.

Abstract: A speed control for step motors is provided with a speed control circuit for periodically actuating a motor driving circuit at least in part in response to timing signals representative of the incremental advance of the step motor during acceleration. The time interval between the respective actuations of the motor driving circuit during acceleration is stored in a memory, the speed control circuit actuating the motor driving circuit during deceleration of the step motor at intervals which are a function of the stored acceleration intervals in the memory, applied in reverse order.