METHOD OF CONTROLLING RECORDING APPARATUS
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
5 [0001] The present invention relates to a method of controlling a recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium on the basis of a signal to be transmitted from a host computer.
2. Related Art
10 [0002] In general, when a host computer and a recording apparatus, such as a printer or the like, are connected to each other, bidirectional communication is performed between the host computer and the recording apparatus (for example, see JP-A-11-73282). In the bidirectional communication, recording data or control
15 commands are transmitted from the host computer to the recording apparatus, and information indicating an operation status is transmitted from the recording apparatus to the host computer.
The recording apparatus operates through repetitive instructions and responses. With the bidirectional communication, whenever
20 the recording apparatus operates, it is possible for the host computer to constantly monitor the operation status and to reliably control the recording apparatus.
[0003] However, when the bidirectional communication is used, whenever the host computer instructs the operation of the recording
25 apparatus, the following sequence is used. First, it is checked whether or not the recording apparatus is operable according to the instruction, and then the host computer instructs a next operation after the operability is checked. In this sequence, it is necessary to wait until the operation of the recording apparatus ends, and
30 a significant wait time occurs.
[0004] For example, when an image is recorded on the recording medium, the host computer instructs the recording apparatus to feed the recording medium. In this case, however, the host computer needs to wait until it is notified that the feed of the recording
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medium is completed and the recording apparatus is in a normal status, and thus the wait time occurs.
5 SUMMARY
[0005] An advantage of at least one aspect of the invention is to reduce await time whenbidirectional communication isperformed between a host computer and a recording apparatus, thereby improving a throughput.
10 [0006] A first aspect of the invention is a method of controlling a recording apparatus that includes a feed mechanism feeding a recording medium, a recording mechanism recording an image on the recording medium, and a detection unit detecting the recording medium on a feed path toward the recording mechanism. Feeding is
15 performed by the feed mechanism and recording is performed by the
recording mechanism on the basis of an instruct ion by a host computer.
The method of controlling the recording apparatus comprises judging
whether or not the recording medium can be fed according to a feed
amount instructed by the host computer, on the basis of a detection
20 state of the detection unit and a distance between the detection unit and the recording mechanism.
[0007] According to this configuration, it is possible to determine a portion of the recording medium to be fed toward the recording mechanism, that is, presence/absence of a residual amount
25 of the recording medium on the basis of a detection state of the detection unit that is provided on the feed path of the recording medium on an upstream side of the recording mechanism. Further, it is possible to know the residual amount of the recording medium on the basis of the distance between the recording mechanism and
30 the detection unit. For this reason, when the recording medium is fed according to the instructed feed amount of the host computer, it is possible to judge whether or not the residual amount of the recording medium is exhausted, and thus it is possible to judge rapidly and accurately the feedability of the recording medium
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according to the instructed feed amount. Accordingly, when the host computer instructs the feeding of the recording medium, it is possible to rapidly judge the f eedability of the recording medium and to notify the host computer of the feedability of the recording 5 medium. Therefore, the host computer can perform processing such as instructing of image recording successively or interrupting of the feed of the recording medium. As a result, it is possible to significantly reduce a wait time when bidirectional communication is performed between the host computer and the recording apparatus,
10 and also to improve a throughput.
[0008] In the method of controlling a recording apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, when the recording medium can be fed according to the instructed feed amount of the host computer, the judgment result may be transmitted to thehost computer,
15 and then the feed mechanism may be caused to feed the recording medium. In this case, since the recording medium is fed after the judgment result indicating feedability of the recording medium is transmitted to the host computer, it is possible to feed the recording medium while the host computer receives the judgment
20 result and performs a processing. Therefore, it is possible to improve efficiency and reduce the wait time in both the host computer and the recording apparatus, and also to further improve the throughput. [0009] In the method of controlling a recording apparatus
25 according to the aspect of the invention, in a state where the recording medium is detected by the detection unit, when the instruction amount of the host computer is smaller than the distance between the recording mechanism and the detection unit, it may be judged that the recording medium can be fed according to the
30 instructed feed amount. That is, in a state where the recording medium is detected by the detection unit, the recording medium exists between at least the recording mechanism and the detection unit, and the feed of the recording medium is performed by that amount. For this reason, it is possible to rapidly and accurately
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judge feedability of the recording medium by comparing the distance between the recording mechanism and the detection unit with the instructed feed amount of the host computer. [0010] In the method of controlling a recording apparatus 5 according to the aspect of the invention, an amount obtained by subtracting, from the distance between the recording mechanism and the detection unit, a feed amount fed after the recording medium is not detected by the detection unit, is stored as a residual feed able amount. Judgment may be made as to whether or not the
10 recording medium can be fed by comparing the instructed feed amount
of the host computer with the stored residual feed able amount.
With this configuration, the amount of the recording medium to
be feed able to the recording mechanism when the recording medium
is not detected by the detection unit is consistent with the distance
15 between the recording mechanism and the detection unit. Therefore, the residual feed able amount to be feed able toward the recording mechanism is calculated on the basis of the distance and then stored.
In this case, since the feed able amount is stored in advance, it is possible to rapidly and accurately judge whether or not the
2 0 recording medium can be fed according to the instructed feed amount of the host computer.
[0011] In the method of controlling a recording apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, when it is judged that the recording medium can be fed, an amount obtained by subtracting
25 the instructed feed amount of the host computer from the stored residual feed able amount may be updated as a new residual feed able amount. With this configuration, after the recording medium is not detected by the detection unit, the residual feed able amount is updated on the basis of a subsequent feed amount. Accordingly,
30 even though the feed of the recording medium is performed multiple times after the recording medium is not detected by the detection unit, the feed able amount of the recording medium is updated for each time and then stored. Therefore, it is possible to rapidly and accurately judge when the recording medium can be fed according
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to the instructed feed amount of the host computer. [0012] In the method of controlling a recording apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, in a state where the recording medium is detected by the detection unit, when the 5 instructed feed amount of the host computer exceeds the distance between the recording mechanism and the detection unit, the judgment may be performed after the recording medium is fed by the feed mechanism until the recording medium is not detected by the detection unit. In this case, even though it is difficult to judge whether
10 or not the recording medium can be fed according to the instructed
feed amount of the host computer, the recording medium can be fed
until the recording medium is not detected by the detection unit.
Then, the judgment can be performed on the basis of a residual
amount to be fed at that time. Therefore, it is possible to rapidly
15 and accurately feed the recording medium.
[0013] According to the aspect of the invention, the residual amount of the recording medium is calculated on the basis of the detection state of the detection unit provided on the upstream side of the recording apparatus. Then, it is possible to rapidly
20 and accurately feed the recording medium according to the instruction of the host computer. Therefore, it is possible to markedly reduce wait time when bidirectional communication is performed between the host computer and the recording apparatus, and also to improve throughput.
25 [0014] The present disclosure relates to the subject matter contained in Japanese patent application No. 2006-008300 filed on January 17, 2006, which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
30 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements .
[0016] Fig. 1 is an exterior perspective view of a dot impact
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copying paper, and a hard paper, or synthetic resin sheets. Alternatively, a sheet that is subject to a processing, such as coating or infiltration, may be used. Further, the shape of a cartridge includes a booklet shape (bankbook or the like) in which 5 a plurality of sheets are stitched or a bag shape (sealed tube), in addition to a shape corresponding to a cut sheet (a PPC paper or a postcard) having a finite size. With regards to the shape of the continuous sheet, a continuous sheet that has sprockets formed at both ends in a width-wise direction and is folded at
10 every predetermined length, or a roll paper that is wound in a roll shape may be exemplified.
[0027] In this exemplary embodiment, description will be made to a case where a bankbook 100 having a booklet shape, in which a plurality of recording papers are stitched at the center in a
15 longitudinal direction, is used in the dot impact printer 10.
[0028] In the bankbook 100 shown in Fig. 1, a magnetic stripe 101 is provided at a surface as a bottom surface in a state where it is opened so as to expose the recording surface. The magnetic stripe 101 is a recording region where various kinds of information
20 can be magnetically recorded. With respect to the magnetic stripe 101, writing and reading of information are performed by a magnetic head 34 described below (Fig. 2).
[0029] In the dot impact printer 10 shown in Fig. 1, a main body is accommodated in an outer package having a cover 12, an
25 upper case 13, and a lower case 14. The outer package has the cover 12 that is open ably provided at the upper portion. The upper case 13 and the lower case 14 are connected to the cover 12 above and below, respectively. At a front surface of the outer package, an opening is provided at the boundary between the upper case 13
30 and the lower case 14. The opening serves as an insertion slot 15 into which the bankbook 100 is inserted.
[0030] Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a printer main body that is accommodated in the outer package of the dot impact printer 10. Further, Fig. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the dot
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impact printer 10. In Fig. 3, a symbol A represents a feed path of the bankbook 100.
[0031] As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the printer main body 11 has a main body frame having a left side frame 16 and a right side 5 frame 17. In the main body frame, there are provided a recording mechanism 20 that has a recording head 18 and a carriage 19, a platen 21 that faces the recording head 18, a first feed mechanism 24 that serves as a feed mechanism having a first feed roller 22 and a second feed roller 23, a second feed mechanism 27 that has
10 a third feed roller 25 and a fourth feed roller 26, a magnetic data reading/writing unit 29 that has a magnetic head 34 for reading and writing magnetic information of the magnetic stripe 101 of the bankbook 100, and a sheet pressing unit 30 that presses the lift of the bankbook 100 at the time of reading and writing of
15 the magnetic information.
[0032] The left side frame 16 and the right side frame 17 are provided upright to face each other at left and right ends of the printer main body 11. A carriage shaft 31 is bridged between both side frames 16 and 17. Further, a front sheet guide 32 and a rear
20 sheet guide 33 having flat surface shapes are fixedly provided over both side frames 16 and 17.
[0033] The front sheet guide 32 and the rear sheet guide 33 constitute a lower surface of a feed path A through which the bankbook 100 inserted through the insertion slot 15 (Fig. 1) is fed. The
25 front sheet guide 32 is located on the front side of the printer main body 11, that is, on the side of the insertion slot 15. The rear sheet guide 33 is located on the rear side of the printer main body 11. The front sheet guide 32 and the rear sheet guide 33 are disposed to be spaced at a predetermined space from each
30 other below the recording head 18, and the platen 21 is disposed in the space.
[0034] The first feed mechanism 24 is located on the front side of the platen 21, and the second feed mechanism 27 is located on the rear side of the platen 21.
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[0035] The first feed roller 22 and the third feed roller 25 are located below the feed path A, and the second feed roller 23 and the fourth feed roller 26 are located above the feed path A. The bankbook 100 is caught between the first feed roller 22 and 5 the second feed roller 23 and between the third feed roller 25 and the fourth feed roller 26, and is fed through the feed path A.
[0036] Here, the first feed roller 22 and the third feed roller 25 are driving rollers that rotate by a feed motor 36 (Fig. 5)
10 and a train of driving wheels (not shown) . Meanwhile, the second feed roller 23 and the fourth feed roller 26 are driven rollers that are urged toward the first feed roller 22 and the third feed roller 25, respectively, by a predetermined pressing force of a spring and rotate according to the rotation of the first feed roller
15 22 and the third feed roller 25. For this reason, the first feed roller 22 and the second feed roller 23 rotate in opposing directions to each other, and the third feed roller 25 and the fourth feed roller 26 rotate in opposing directions to each other, thereby feeding the bankbook 100.
20 [0037] As shown in Fig. 3, an alignment plate 54 is disposed between the platen 21 and the first feed roller 22. The alignment plate 54 is a plate-shaped member that extends in parallel with respect to a scanning direction of the recording head 18 and is perpendicular to the feed path A. The alignment plate 54 is buried
25 below the feed path A. The alignment plate 54 moves in and out of the feed path A by an alignment motor 37 (Fig. 5). That is, the alignment plate 54 is driven by the alignment motor 37 so as to move in a vertical direction. Specifically, the alignment plate 54 protrudes to the feed path A from below the front sheet guide
30 32 and moves along the feed path A. In addition, in a state where the alignment plate 54 protrudes to the feed path A, the alignment plate 54 moves out from the feed path A to below the front sheet guide 32 or to a position that is flush with the front sheet guide 32.
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[0038] The magnetic head 34 reciprocates along two magnetic head guides, which are bridged in parallel with each other between the side frames 16andl7, by amagnetic motor 38 (Fig. 5) . Accordingly, the magnetic head 34 scans the magnetic stripe 101 of the bankbook 5 100 so as to read out the information from the magnetic stripe 101 and to write the information to the magnetic stripe 101. [0039] The carriage 19 is slidably inserted into a carriage shaft 31 that is bridged between the left side frame 16 and the right side frame 17, as described above. The carriage 19 is connected
10 to a carriage driving motor 35 (Fig. 5) through a train of driving
wheels (not shown) and a timing belt (not shown). The carriage
19 runs (scans) along the carriage shaft 31 according to the forward
rotation or reverse rotation of the carriage driving motor 35.
A scanning direction of the carriage 19 is referred to as a main
15 scanning direction.
[0040] The recording head 18 is mounted on the carriage 19. The recording head 18 moves on the recording surface of the bankbook 100 along the main scanning direction together with the carriage 19 as a single body.
20 [0041] A ribbon cartridge 39, in which the ink ribbon is
accommodated in a folded state, is attached to the carriage 19 or the main body frame. A portion of the ink ribbon accommodated in the ribbon cartridge 39 is drawn out so as to overlap a front end of the recording head 18. Further, while the recording head
25 18 runs in the main scanning direction, the recording wires 18A
(Fig. 4) protrude and hit the recording surface of the bankbook
100 through the ink ribbon. Then, ink of the ink ribbon is stuck
to the bankbook 100 that is feed between the platen 21 and the recording
head 18, such that an image including characters is recorded in
30 the bankbook 100.
[0042] Aprotrusion force of the recording wires 18A that protrude from the recording head 18 is absorbed by the platen 21. The platen 21 has a plane that extends in a running direction of the carriage 19. The platen 21 is urged toward the recording head and also
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elastically supported by an urging spring 30 (Fig. 3) at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The urging spring 40 may be, for example, a compressed coil spring. Upon a recording operation of the recording head 18, the protrusion force of the recording 5 wires 18A is supported by an urging force of the urging spring 40.
[0043] Fig. 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing main parts of the dot impact printer 10. In particular, Fig. 4 shows the recording head 18 and parts in front of the recording head 18.
10 [0044] As shown in Fig. 4, a guide roller 41 is disposed in the recording head 18 so as to be located near a position where the recording wires 18A protrude. The guide roller 41 is a roller that is rotat ably supported along the scanning direction of the recording head 18. A lower end of the guide roller 41 is located
15 lower than the front end of the recording head 18 in a state where the recording wires 18A are not punched out. The lower end of the guide roller 41 comes into contact with the platen 21 or the bankbook 100 located above the platen 100 and opposes the urging force of the urging spring 40 that lifts the platen 21. Accordingly,
20 even though the thickness of the bankbook 100 changes, the platen 21 is displaced in a vertical direction such that a difference in thickness is absorbed. Therefore, a distance (gap or medium gap) between the recording surface of the bankbook 100 and the front end of the recording head 18 is appropriately maintained
25 by the guide roller 41.
[0045] As shown in Fig. 4, a first sheet guide 42 and a second sheet guide 43 are disposed in front of the recording head 18. When a front end of the bankbook 100 inserted through the insertion slot 15 and fed toward the recording head 18 is lifted, the first
30 sheet guide 42 guides the front end of the bankbook 100. With the first sheet guide 42, the front end of the bankbook 100 smoothly enters between the recording head 18 and the platen 21. When the bankbook 100, on which recording is performed by the recording head 18, is fed from the recording head 18 to the insertion slot
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15, the front end of the bankbook 100 may be lifted. At this time, the second sheet guide 43 guides the lifted front end of the bankbook 100 downward such that the bankbook 100 is smoothly discharged through the insertion slot 15. 5 [0046] As shown in Fig. 4, two sensors of an insertion detection sensor 51 and an end detection sensor 52 are provided in the feed path A of the bankbook 100.
[0047] Each of the two sensors has a function of detecting presence/absence of the bankbook 100 in the feed path A. As for
10 the two sensors, for example, a sensor having the following configuration may be used. The sensor includes an LED (light emitting diode) (not shown) that is buried below the feed path A and a light receiving element (phototransistor or photodiode) that is buried below the feed path A to face the LED. The sensor
15 detects presence/absence of the bankbook 100 on the basis of whether
or not the light receiving element receives light from the LED.
[0048] The insertion detection sensor 51 is provided between
the insertion slot 15 and the alignment plate 54, and is preferably
near the insertion slot 15. The end detection sensor 52 is provided
20 between the insertion detection sensor 51 and the alignment plate
54. The insertion detection sensor 51 and the end detection sensor
52 detect presence/absence of the bankbook 100 at their installation
positions on the feed path A.
[0049] Here, a symbol D represents a distance between a position
25 where presence/absence of the bankbook 100 is detected by the end detection sensor 52 and a position where the recording wires 18A of the recording head 18 protrude. Further, a region that is represented by the symbol D in the feed path A of the bankbook 100, that is, a region between the recording head 18 and the end
30 detection sensor 52, is called an end region.
[0050] The bankbook 100 inserted through the insertion slot 15 (Fig. 1) is fed toward the back of the printer main body 11 by the first feed mechanism 24 and passes through the installtion positions of the insertion detection sensor 51 and the end detection
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sensor 52. Subsequently, the bankbook 100 passes through the position of the alignment plate 54 and reaches a position between the recording head 18 and the platen 21 from below the first sheet guide 42 and the second sheet guide 43. Then, an image is recorded 5 on the bankbook 100.
[0051] While recording is executed on the bankbook 100, when the bankbook 100 is not detected by the end detection sensor 52, that is, when the bankbook 100 is fed and the end of the bankbook 100 is closer to the recording head 18 than to the end detection
10 sensor 52, a residual region where an image is record able by the recording head 18 is consistent with the end region corresponding to the portion indicatedby the symbol D in the drawing. Accordingly, in an operation as described below, the dot impact printer 10 discriminates whether or not the end of the bankbook 100 is detected
15 by the end detection sensor 52, and on the basis of the size of the end region, that is, the distance D, whether or not an image is record able on the bankbook 100.
[0052] The dot impact printer 10 has a control board 50 that is provided downward on the rear side of the printer main body
20 11. The control board 50 serves as a control unit that performs the overall control of the printer 10. For example, the control board 50 performs a driving control of the first and second feed mechanisms 24 and 27, a running control of the carriage 19, a control of a recording operation by the recording wires 18A of the recording
25 head 18, and a reading/writing control of the magnetic data reading/writing unit 29.
[0053] Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the dot impact printer 10. Moreover, for better understanding, Fig. 5 shows the parts of the dot impact printer
30 10 and a host computer 80 that exist outside the dot impact printer 10.
[0054] As shown in Fig. 5, the control board 50 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 61 that serves as a control unit for controlling the individual parts of the control board 50, a RAM
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(Random Access Memory) 62 that temporarily stores a program to be executed by the CPU 61 and data, and a flash ROM (Read Only Memory) 63 that serves as a storage unit for storing a control program to be executed by the CPU 61 and the like. These components 5 are connected to one another through a bus 68 . Further, a character generator (CG) 64 that generates characters to be recorded by the recording head 18 is connected to the bus 68 . In addition, a driver circuit 66 is also connected to the bus 68. The driver circuit 66 is connected to various stepping motors including the recording
10 head 18, the carriage driving motor 35, the feed motor 36, the alignment motor 37, and the magnetic motor 38, so as to supply power and pulse signals to the stepping motors.
[0055] The insertion detection sensor 51 and the end detection sensor 52 are connected to the bus 68 through a gate array (G/A)
15 65. The CPU 61 controls the recording head 18 or the driver circuit 66 on the basis of the control program stored in the flash ROM 63, and simultaneously acquires the detection results of the insertion detection sensor 51 and the end detection sensor 52 through the gate array 65. Specifically, the CPU 61 performs A/D conversion
20 by sampling output voltages of the insertion detection sensor 51 and the end detection sensor 52 at a predetermined cycle (for example, 100 ms) through the gate array 65, thereby acquiring data indicating the output voltages. [0056] An interface circuit (I/F) 67 that has connectors, such
25 as a serial interface, a parallel interface, a USB interface, a network card interface, and the like, based on various standards, is also connected to the bus 68. The host computer 80 external to the dot impact printer 10 is connected to the I/F 67. The host computer 80 transmits and receives various kinds of control
30 information and data to and from the dot impact printer 10, such
that the dot impact printer 10 performs image recording accordingly.
For example, the host computer 80 transmits, to the dot impact
printer 10, control information (commands) instructing the feed
of the bankbook 100 or the execution of recording or data of an
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image to be recorded. When the dot impact printer 10 is connected to the host computer 80, a computer system is constituted. [0057] Among the above-described parts, the CPU 61, the RAM 62, the flash ROM 63, the CG 64, the gate array 65, the driver circuit 66, and the I/F 67 are mounted on the control board 50, and are connected to the bus 68 that is formed on the control board 50. However, a specific mounting configuration and the like may be arbitrarily selected.
[0058] Next, the operation of the printer 10 will be schematically described.
[0059] If the bankbook 100 is inserted through the insertion slot 15, first, the insertion detection sensor 51 detects the bank book 100. Next, the alignment plate 54 protrudes to the feed path A, and the bankbook 100 is caught between the first feed roller 22 and the second feed roller 23 of the first feed mechanism 24 and then fed in front of the platen 21. Here, the bankbook 10 is fed by the first feed roller 21 and the second feed roller 23 in a state where the alignment plate 54 protrudes to the feed path A, such that an inclination of the bankbook 100 in a feed direction is fixed. Then, the bankbook 100 hits against the alignment plate 54 and is aligned along the alignment plate 54. Next, the bankbook
100 is fed by the first feed mechanism 24 to a position where the magnetic data reading/writing unit 29 can read the magnetic stripe
101 of the bankbook 100.
[0060] Then, the magnetic data reading/writing unit 29 reads and writes information with respect to the magnetic stripe 101 of the bankbook 100. Subsequently, the bankbook 100 is fed by the first and second feed mechanisms 24 and 27 to a recording position on the platen 21, such that an image, such as characters, is recorded by the recording head 18.
[0061] The recording operation of the recording head 18 is as follows. First, recording for one line is performed while the recording head 18 runs leftward or rightward in the main scanning direction. Then, whenever recording for one line is performed

by the recording wires 18A, the first feed roller 22, the second feed roller 23, the third feed roller 25, and the fourth feed roller 26 feed the bankbook 100 by a predetermined length (for example, a line space). With repetition of the operations, the recording operation is performed.
[0062] After recording is performed by the recording head 18, the bankbook 100 is fed to the reading position by the first and second feed mechanisms 24 and 27. Then, the magnetic data reading/writing unit 29 writes magnetic information into the magnetic stripe 101 on the basis of information recorded on the bankbook 100. Next, the bankbook 100 is fed to the front side by the first feed mechanism 24 and then discharged through the insertion slot 15.
[0063] During the recording operation, the CPU 61 that is provided in the control board 50 of the dot impact printer 10 acquires the detection state of the end detection sensor 52 through the gate array 65. Then, when the end of the bankbook 100 is detected by the end detection sensor 52, the CPU 61 calculates a recordable region up to the end of the bankbook 100.
[0064] Specifically, while recording is performed on the bankbook 100, when the end of the bankbook 100 passes through the end detection sensor 52, a residual region where an image is recordable by the recording head 18 is only the end region indicated by the symbol D in Fig. 4. Here, the CPU 61 stores in the RAM 62 information indicating that a portion of the bankbook 100 currently located immediately below the recording head 18, that is, a current position of the bankbook 100, enters the end region. In addition, the CPU 61 stores in the RAM 62 the size of the recordable region up to the end of the bankbook 100 as a residual end region. [0065] The residual end region is consistent with the distance indicated by the symbol D in Fig. 4 in a state where the current position is outside the end region, that is, when the bankbook 100 is detected by the end detection sensor 52. Further, in a state where the current position enters the end region, that is,

after the bankbook 100 is not detected by the end detection sensor 52, the residual end region becomes a distance obtained by subtracting, from the distance indicated by the symbol D, a feed amount from when the bankbook 100 is not detected. 5 [0066] Then, the CPU 61 feeds the bankbook 100 according to control information transmitted from the host computer 8 0 on the basis of information indicating the size of the residual end region stored in the RAM 62. [0067] A case where the dot impact printer 10 having the
10 above-described configuration operates under the control of the host computer 80 will now be described.
[0068] Fig. 6 is a sequence view showing the operation of a computer system having the host computer 8 0 and the dot impact printer 10.
15 [0069] First, the host computer 80 transmits a command
instructing the feed of the bankbook 100 and information assigning the feed amount to the dot impact printer 10 (Step Sll). Next, the host computer 80 transmits a status information transmission request to the dot impact printer 10 (Step S12). The status
20 information transmission request is a command that requests the dot impact printer 10 for transmission of status information. Here, the status information is information indicating a status of the dot impact printer 10 . In particular, the status information means information indicating whether or not the dot impact printer
25 10 is in a status where it can feed the bankbook 100 according to the command.
[0070] The dot impact printer 10 receives the command transmitted from the host computer (Step S21) and also receives the status information transmission request (Step S22).
30 [0071] Then, the dot impact printer 10 judges whether or not the bankbook 100 can be fed according to the received command, transmits the status information based on the judgment result, and when the bankbook 100 can be fed, executes the feed of the bankbook 100 (Step S23). Here, the status information to be
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transmitted from the dot impact printer 10 includes 'normal' when
the bankbook 100 can be fed according to the instruction and ' error'
when the feed cannot be performed according to the instruction.
[0072] The host computer 80 receives the status information
5 transmitted from the dot impact printer 10 (Step S13), and
discriminates the status information (Step S14) . When the status information is 'error', the host computer ends this processing and performs an operation against an error. [0073] Further, when the status information transmitted from
10 the dot impact printer 10 is 'normal', the host computer 80 transmits data to be recorded on the bankbook 100 after the feed of the bankbook 100 and a command instructing the execution of recording to the dot impact printer 10 (Step S15) . Next, the host computer 80 executes a processing of generating data to be recorded or the like (Step
15 S16) .
[007 4] When receiving data and the command instructing the execution of recording transmitted from the host computer 80 (Step S24), the dot impact printer 10 records an image on the bankbook 100 on the basis of the received data (Step S25) and then changes
2 0 to a standby state for receiving a next command and the like (Step S26) .
[0075] Steps Sll to S16 and S21 to S26 of Fig. 6 may be executed whenever recording for one line is performed or may be executed one time for collective recording of several lines.
25 [0076] At Step S23, the dot impact printer 10 judges feed ability of the bankbook 100 and transmits the status information. In addition, when the bankbook 100 can be fed, the dot impact printer 10 feeds the bankbook 100. Accordingly, it is unnecessary for the host computer 8 0 to wait for the feed execution in the dot
30 impact printer 10 . For this reason, the host computer 80 can rapidly transmit the data to be recorded. Further, the dot impact printer 10 can receive the data and command transmitted from the host computer 80 and immediately perform recording. Therefore, a throughput can be improved.
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[0077] Hereinafter, a processing that is executed by the dot impact printer 10 at Step S23 will be described in detail.
[0078] Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing that is executed by the dot impact printer 10. Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing in 5 detail a judgment processing upon feed (Step S51 in Fig. 7).
[0079] The processing shown in Fig. 7 or 8 is implemented when the CPU 61 of the control board 50 provided in the dot impact printer 10 reads out and executes the control program stored in the flash ROM 63. 10 [0080] First, the CPU 61 calculates a feed amount according to the instruction from the host computer 80 (Step S41), and discriminates whether or not a current recording position exists in the end region (Step S42) . Here, the current recording position means a portion of the bankbook 100 that is located immediately 15 below the recording head 18.
[0081] Here, when the current recording position exists in the end region (Yes at Step S42) , the CPU 61 compares the feed amount calculated at Step S41 and the size of a residual end region, that is, the size of a region from a position immediately below the 20 recording head 18 to the end of the bankbook 100 (Step S43).
[0082] When the feed amount calculated at Step S41 is equal to or more than the residual end region stored in the RAM 62, if the bankbook 100 is fed by the assigned feed amount, the recording position exceeds the end of the bankbook 100. Then, the CPU 61 25 sets the status as 'error' (Step S44) and transmits the status information to the host computer 8 0 (Step S45). Meanwhile, when the feed amount is smaller than the residual end region (No at Step S43), the CPU 61 sets as a new residual end region a value obtained by subtracting the feed amount from the residual end region 30 stored in the RAM 62 (Step S46), and updates and stores the new residual end region in the RAM 62. Further, the CPU 61 sets the status as 'normal' (Step S47) and transmits the status information to the host computer 80 (Step S48) . In addition, the CPU 61 controls the driver circuit 66 to operate the feed motor 36 and enables
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the bankbook 100 to be fed by the feed amount calculated at Step S41 (Step S49).
[0083] When the current position does not exist in the end region (No at Step S42), the CPU 61 compares the feed amount calculated 5 at Step S41 with the end region (Step S50).
[0084] Here, when the feed amount is smaller than the end region (No at Step S50) , the CPU 61 progresses to Step S47, sets the status information as 'normal', and transmits the status information. [0085] Meanwhile, when the feed amount is equal to or more than
10 the end region (Yes at Step S50), that is, when the feed amount exceeds the distance indicated by the symbol D in Fig. 4, the CPU 61 executes the judgment processing upon feed that judges whether or not the bankbook 100 can be fed by the assigned feed amount, while feeding the bankbook 100 (Step S51).
15 [0086] The judgment processing upon feed of Step S51 will now be described in detail with reference to Fig. 8. [0087] In the judgment processing upon feed shown in Fig. 8, first, the CPU 61 sets a parameter N (where N is a positive integer number) , and sets as the parameter N a value obtained by converting
20 the feed amount calculated at Step S41 of Fig. 7 into a number of feed steps (Step S61).
[0088] Next, the CPU 61 judges whether or not the current position exists in the end region (Step S62) . When the current position does not exist in the end region, it is judged whether or not the
25 end of the bankbook 100 is detected by the end detection sensor 52 (Step S63).
[0089] Here, if the end of the bankbook 100 is not detected, the CPU 61 controls driving of the driver circuit 66 to operate the feed motor 36 and feeds the bankbook 100 by one step (Step
30 S64) . One step is the minimum operation amount of the feed motor 36 that is a stepping motor. Next, the CPU 61 decrements the parameter N by one (Step S65) and judges whether or not the parameter N becomes 0 (zero) (Step S66) . When the parameter N becomes 0 (zero), the CPU 61 progresses to Step S76 described below. Meanwhile, if the
20

parameter N is not 0 (zero), the CPU 61 returns to Step S63. [0090] At Steps S64 and S65, during the feed of the bankbook 100, when the end of the bankbook 100 is detected by the end detection sensor 52 (Yes at Step S63) , the CPU 61 sets the residual end region 5 stored in the RAM 62 as the size of the end region (the symbol D of Fig. 4) (Step S67) . In addition, the CPU 61 stores in the RAM 62 the information indicating that the current position exists in the end region (Step S68) and then returns to Step S62. [0091] At Step S62, when the current position enters the end
10 region, the CPU 61 judges whether or not the residual end region stored in the RAM 62 is 0 (zero) (Step S69) . Here, when the residual end region is not 0 (zero) (No at Step S69), the CPU 61 controls driving of the driver circuit 66 to rotate the feed motor 36 and enables the bankbook 100 to be fed by one step (Step S70) . Next,
15 the CPU 61 subtracts the fed amount from the residual end region stored in the RAM 62 (Step S71) and progresses to Step S74 described below. Here, when the residual end region is defined in correspondence with the number of operation steps of the feed motor 36, the CPU 61 may subtract the number of fed steps (one step)
20 from the residual end region.
[0092] Further, when the residual end region is 0 (zero), a 'no medium flag' indicating that there is no recordable region of the bankbook 100 is set as '1' and stored in the RAM 62 (Step S70) . Further, the parameter N is set as '1' (Step S73) , and the
25 process progresses to Step S74.
[0093] At Step S74, the CPU 61 updates the parameter N by decrementing the parameter N by one. Next, the CPU 61 judges whether or not the parameter N is '0' (Step S75) . Here, when the parameter N is not '0', the CPU 61 returns to Step S69 and feeds the bankbook
30 100 by one step until the residual end region becomes '0' or until the parameter N set at Step S61 becomes '0'.
[0094] When the parameter N is '0' (Yes at Step S75), the CPU 61 judges whether or not the 'no medium flag' is stored in the flash ROM 63 and the value thereof is '1' (Step S76). When the
21

'no medium flag' is ' l1, the feed cannot be performed by the number of feed steps set in the parameter N at Step S61. Accordingly, the CPU 61 sets the status as 'error' (Step S77), transmits the status information to the host computer 80 (Step S78), and ends 5 this processing. Here, although the bankbook 100 is fed into the dot impact printer 10 already, since the status is 'error', recording is not performed on a current page, and a page turn is instructed from the host computer 80. Therefore, there is no problem for practical use.
10 [0095] Meanwhile, when the value of the 'no medium flag' is not '1' (No at Step S76), the bankbook 100 cannot be fed by the number of steps set in the parameter N at Step S61. Accordingly, the CPU 61 sets the status as 'normal' (Step S79), transmits the status information to the host computer 80 (Step S80), and ends
15 this processing.
[0096] Through the processings shown in Figs. 7 and 8, when the host computer 80 instructs the feed of the bankbook 100, on the basis of the distance (the symbol D of Fig. 4) between the end detection sensor 52 and the recording head 18, the dot impact
20 printer 10 can rapidly judge whether or not the bankbook 100 can
be fed according to the instructed feed amount.
[0097] When the bankbook 100 can be fed according to the instructed
feed amount, the bankbook 100 is fed after the status information
is transmitted to the host computer 80. Then, while the dot impact
25 printer 10 feeds the bankbook 100, the host computer 80 can receive the status information and perform a processing, such as expansion of data to be recorded. Accordingly, in the dot impact printer 10 and the host computer 80, a wait time for information transmission from a party can be reduced. For this reason, the feed and recording
30 of the bankbook 100 can be efficiently performed, thereby improving the throughput. In addition, when the bankbook 100 is fed, the bankbook 100 may be fed at one time according to the instructed feed amount from the host computer 80, without performing the judgment processing upon feed (Step S51). Therefore, the throughput for
22

the feed can be improved.
[0098] When the bankbook 100 cannot be fed according to the instructed feed amount from the host computer 80, the dot impact printer 10 rapidly transmits the status information. Accordingly, 5 it is possible to rapidly perform a subsequent processing. In this case, for example, the host computer 80 instructs the dot impact printer 10 to turn the page of the bankbook 100 or discharge the bankbook 100 . This sufficiently contributes to the improvement of the throughput.
10 [0099] When it is difficult to judge whether or not the bankbook 100 can be fed according to the instructed feed amount from the host computer 80, the dot impact printer 10 can perform the judgment while actually feeding the bankbook 100 by one step. Accordingly, since the judgment can be rapidly performed, if the bankbook 100
15 can be fed according to the instructed feed amount, the recording operation can be rapidly performed afterwards. For this reason, a useless wait time can be saved, and thus the throughput can be improved. [00100] Specifically, in a state where the bankbook 100 is detected
2 0 by the end detection sensor 52, when the feed amount according
to the instruction from the host computer 80 is smaller than the
end region, the CPU 61 judges that the bankbook 100 can be fed.
In this case, it is possible to judge feed ability of the bankbook
100. In addition, the CPU 61 stores in the RAM 62 the feed able
25 amount of the bankbook 100 immediately below the recording head 18 as the residual end region. After the bankbook 100 is not detected by the end detection sensor 52, the residual end region is updated on the basis of the feed amount after this point. Accordingly, since the feed able size of the bankbook 100 is stored in advance,
30 it is possible to rapidly and accurately determine whether or not the bankbook 100 can be fed according to the instructed feed amount from the host computer 80.
[00101] Even though the bankbook 100 is fed multiple times after the bankbook 100 is not detected by the end detection sensor 52,
23

since the feed able size of the bankbook 100 is updated for each time and stored, it is possible to rapidly and accurately determine whether or not the bankbook 100 can be fed according to the instructed feed amount from the host computer 80. 5 [00102] In a state where the bankbook 100 is detected by the end detection sensor 52, when the host computer 80 instructs a feed amount exceeding the size of the end region, the CPU 61 feeds the bankbook 100 by one step until the bankbook 100 is not detected by the end detection sensor 52. Accordingly, even though it is
10 difficult to judge whether or not the bankbook 100 is fed according to the instructed feed amount from the host computer 80, it is possible to appropriately judge whether or not the bankbook 100 can be fed. [00103] At Steps S43 and S50 of Fig. 7 described above, a case
15 where the CPU 61 judges whether or not the feed amount is equal
to or more than the residual end region has been described. However,
the invention is not limited thereto. For example, it may be judged
whether or not the feed amount exceeds the residual end region.
Further, at Steps S64 and S70 of Fig. 8, a case where the CPU
20 61 rotates the feed motor 36 by one step has been described. However, the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the feed motor 36 may operate by two steps or more.
[00104] In the above-described exemplary embodiment, description has been made a case where the end detection sensor 52 is provided
25 closer to the insertion slot 15 than to the alignment plate 54. However, the invention is not limited thereto. The end detection sensor 52 may be provided closer to the recording head 18 than to the alignment plate 54 . Meanwhile, according to the configuration of the above-described exemplary embodiment, when the bankbook
30 100 hits against the alignment plate 54 and then aligned, the
alignment state can be detected by the end detection sensor 52.
[00105] In the above-described exemplary embodiment, the dot
impact printer 10 is connected to the host computer 80, but the
number of host computers 80 is not particularly limited. Aplurality
24

of host computers 80 may be connected to the dot impact printer 10. Further, in the above-described exemplary embodiment, a case where the invention is applied to the dot impact printer 10 has been described. However, the invention is not limited thereto. 5 For example, the invention can be applied to various recording apparatuses (printers), such as an ink jet printer, a laser printer, a thermal printer using a thermosensitive sheet, a thermoelectric printer, and the like. Further, the invention can be applied to a recording apparatus that is incorporated in other apparatuses 10 (a copy machine or the like). Of course, other detailed parts in the exemplary above-described embodiment may be arbitrarily changed.
15

What is claimed is:
1. A method of controlling a recording apparatus that includes a feed mechanism feeding a recording medium, a recording mechanism 5 recording an image on the recording medium, and a detection unit detecting the recording medium on a feed path toward the recording mechanism, wherein feeding is performed by the feed mechanism and recording is performed by the recording mechanism on the basis of an instruction by a host computer, the method comprising: 10 j ud ging whether or not the recording medium can be fed according to a feed amount instructed by the host computer, on the basis of a detection state of the detection unit and a distance between the detection unit and the recording mechanism.
15 2. The method of controlling a recording apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein when the recording medium can be fed according to the instructed feed amount of the host computer, the judgment result is transmitted to the host computer, and the feed mechanism is
20 then caused to feed the recording medium.
3. The method of controlling a recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
wherein in a state where the recording medium is detected 25 by the detection unit, when the instructed feed amount of the host computer is smaller than the distance between the recordingmechanism
26

and the detection unit, it is judged that the recording medium can be fed according to the instructed feed amount.
4. The method of controlling a recording apparatus according to
5 any one of claims 1 to 3,
wherein an amount, obtained by subtracting a feed amount fed after the recording medium is not detected by the detection unit from the distance between the recording mechanism and the detection unit, is stored as a residual feedable amount, and 10 it is judged by comparing the instructed feed amount of the host computer with the stored residual feedable amount whether or not the recording medium can be fed.
5. The method of controlling a recording apparatus according to
15 claim 4,
wherein when it is judged that the recording medium can be fed, an amount obtained by subtracting the instructed feed amount of the host computer from the stored residual feedable amount is updated as a new residual feedable amount. 20
6. The method of controlling a recording apparatus according to
claim 4 or 5,
wherein in a state where the recording medium is detected by the detection unit, when the instructed feed amount of the host 25 computer exceeds the distance between the recording mechanism and
27

the detection unit, the judgment is performed after the recording medium is fed by the feed mechanism until the recording medium is not detected by the detection unit.
5
Dated this 17 day of January 2007