Abstract:
The present invention provides a printer system responsive to the request of an operator for performing specified control on a specified portion of a medium during a print operation. Such control minimizes the labor required by an operator to change the set-up condition of the printer when different print media is used. Print operations having modified print attributes for specified areas are set-up for each type of media in advance and stored in a storage device of a printer or a host processor for controlling the printer, such as a personal computer or a server. When a medium is inserted into the printer, medium identifying information, such as a bar coded form number or the size of the medium is used to determine which record stored in the storage device corresponds to the selected medium. The controlled print operation, such as a high print pressure printing, a high quality printing, a change or modification of line/column space, or a modification of font, is made in the area specified by the position data.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to impact printers, and more particularly, to a scheme for controlling print attributes in impact printers. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Various types of print media are often used by financial institutions when printing. Printing may be performed on a thin print medium such as a single sheet of paper, a thick print medium such as a pressure sensitive paper stack or a carbon paper stack including more than four sheets, or a passbook including multiple pages. In order to maintain the desired print quality when printing onto thick print media or passbooks including more than two pages, it is necessary to print them by setting the print pressure to a level which is higher than that used for thin print medium including one or two sheets. 
     Conventional printers set the print pressure to an optimum print pressure (1) by using an expensive sensor which senses a thickness of the inserted print paper, (2) by using a lever which is selectively moved by an operator to adjust the distance between a print head and the print paper, (3) by rewriting set-up conditions to a print operation, such as the drive pulse width applied to the print head, which are stored in a flash memory in the printer, or (4) by specifying the set-up condition by a command from a host personal computer (PC). 
     A drawback of conventional printers is that after the print condition specifying the high print pressure is set, all types of media are printed with the high print pressure settings. Furthermore, if the print operation using the high print pressure is continuously used on the thin print medium, several problems are likely to occur. 
     The high print pressure requires increased power consumption as compared to a lower print pressure resulting in a temperature increase of the print head. To minimize the increase in temperature, a print operation is frequently suspended which often lowers the performance of a print operation. Additionally, the cost is increased due to the use of a cooling fan. Also, the high temperature often causes erroneous operations in the circuit cards and damages the print head. 
     Additionally, the life time of a print ribbon is shortened by high print pressure when the ink ribbon fiber is weakened as a result of ink loss in an early stage. As a result of the weakened fiber in the ink ribbon, the elasticity of the ink ribbon is lost. This may cause the ink ribbon to catch a wire in the print head resulting in a jam. 
     The high print pressure reduces the life time of the print head by increasing the wear of print wires at its ends and core. This causes the distance between the print wires and the medium to be enlarged which then requires the mount position of the print head to be adjusted frequently. When the enlarged distance is not reduced by adjusting of the mount position, the print head must be replaced. 
     The high print pressure often damages the surface of a platen. The platen is usually made of a material such as a rubber, aluminum, and CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics). If a print operation using high print pressure is used on the thin print paper, a dent is likely to be formed on the surface of the platen due to the impact force of the print wires. This may cause the print paper to jam by catching the ink ribbon on the print wire leading to the deterioration of print quality and the breaking of the print wires. Furthermore, when using a movable platen mechanism going up and down, the platen should have the proper weight thereby limiting the material used for the platen. This may be a significant problem for this type of printer. 
     Another disadvantage of using high print pressure on thin print paper is the loud sound produced which may be noisy for the operator. 
     A print operation using high print pressure often damages thin paper by making holes in the thin paper. Because air layers are formed in the thick pressure sensitive paper stack or the carbon paper stack including multiple sheets (e.g., a voucher) and the passbook, particularly, a center portion of a lateral type passbook (in the case of the passbook conforming to a JIS standard as shown in FIG. 2, a portion between a line  12  and a line  13 ), the air is released from the air layers during the print operation by a strong pressure force applied by a platen  105  and a bar back or a bar member  103 , as shown in FIG.  1 . If the pressure force is increased too much, it may cause the carbon papers or the pressure sensitive papers to generate color. Thus, the pressure force is often limited by the number of sheets of the passbook and printing the characters at a location which does not overlap with the air layer. A folding portion of a vertical type passbook shown in FIG. 3 also causes the same type problem as that in the lateral type passbook. This problem cannot be solved by the mechanism of the platen and the bar back. 
     Various approaches for addressing the drawbacks associated with using high print pressure for all media types are described in Japanese published unexamined patent applications (PUPA) 61-217257, 4-173255 and 62-248659. PUPA 61-217257 relates to a driving scheme of the print head for changing the amount of energy applied to the print head when printing one line while taking into consideration the position of the print head along this one line. For this scheme, detection means is used to detect the difference in the print condition in the print position, such as a switch, a pressure sensor, an optical sensor, etc. Furthermore, the detected difference is provided to a print head control circuit. 
     However, a printer using this scheme has the following drawbacks due to the fact that it is designed to simultaneously print two types of print papers. 
     (1) The print pressure can be changed during the print operation of only one line. In other words, it is impossible to print the two types of print paper at the high print pressure or normal print pressure. 
     (2) In the case where the paper size is changed to change the print pressure, the mount position of the switch sensor for sensing the paper must be changed for each paper size. 
     (3) It is impossible to specify a particular print area, such as one character or one particular line, which requires the high print pressure. 
     (4) Types of print papers to be printed at the high print pressure are limited since the position for sensing the print paper is fixed. 
     PUPA 4-173255 describes a scheme where the print pressure for printing a particular area or scope of the print medium having a different material or thickness than the remaining area is increased by inputting coordinate values of that particular area. However, this scheme has the following drawbacks. 
     (1) It is difficult to determine whether the current print paper requires the high print pressure, or not. That is, this scheme is effective only when media requiring high print pressure are continuously fed. 
     (2) In the case where print papers having different sizes require high print pressure, the scope requiring the high print pressure is not specified for each paper size. 
     (3) To set the scope requiring the high print pressure, it is necessary to input the coordinate values via a keyboard. The scope can not be automatically set by insertion of the print paper to the printer. 
     PUPA 62-248659 describes a scheme where the print pressure is changed in accordance with a detect signal indicating the existence/nonexistence of a validation print paper at a predetermined set position. In this scheme, however, the same problems associated with PUPA 61-217257 apply because the print operation of a validation print paper and a journal print paper is performed on the same print line. 
     Conventional printers also have drawbacks associated with the high quality print operations. That is, three carrier speeds of the print head, i.e. a normal speed, a double speed and a triple speed are used in conventional impact printers. The double speed print operation is accomplished by reducing the dot density of the print head to a half value in comparison to the dot density used in the normal speed. The reduction of the dot density apparently degrades the print quality. 
     In the case where high print quality is required for only a particular portion, such as a particular line(s) or a particular column(s), conventional printers require the whole page to be printed in a high quality print mode, due to the fact that this printer can not specify the particular portion to be printed in the high print mode. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of preferred embodiments to provide a print control scheme for printing within at least one area of a selected medium with modified print attributes such as print pressure, print quality and print characteristics. 
     A method of printing onto a selected medium is described. A record corresponding to the selected medium is identified. The record defines at least one area having modified print attributes. Print control information associated with the record is retrieved. Printing is performed within one or more specified areas using modified print attributes and external to the specified area(s) using normal print attributes. 
     A printing system is also described. The printing system includes a storage device, a control circuit, and a print assembly. The storage device stores a record corresponding to a selected medium. The record defines at least one area having modified print attributes. Associated with the record is print control information. The control circuit is coupled to the storage device and controls a print operation based on the print control information associated with the record. The print assembly is coupled to the control circuit. The print assembly prints within the selected areas using modified print attributes and external to the selected areas using normal print attributes. 
     Also described is a computer implemented method for registering a record for a specific type of media. A selectable option for registering a selected medium type is displayed to a user. Record identifying information associated with the selected medium type is received as input. A selectable option for defining at least one area within a selected medium is displayed to the user. At least one area defining information is received as input. A selectable option for modifying at least one print attribute associated with the at least one area is displayed to the user. 
     A computer program on a computer-usable medium is also described. The computer program includes means for displaying to a user a selectable option for registering a selected medium type, a selectable option for defining at least one area within a selected medium of the selected medium type, and a selectable option for modifying at least one print attribute associated with the at least one area. The computer program includes means for creating a capability to receive as input record identifying information associated with the selected medium type and at least one area defining information. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description below. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a printing operation performed by a conventional printer; 
     FIG. 2 illustrate a lateral type passbook; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a vertical type passbook; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of a printer according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of a printer according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a medium having a high print pressure region and a high print quality region; 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a display window of a tool for registering a print control data table according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a registered print control data table according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a top view of a printer having a medium positioned at the insertion entrance of the printer according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 10 is a table illustrating a priority scheme associated with print attribute selections. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A. System Configuration 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a printer  100  with a medium  200  inserted according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of the electronic components of the printer  100 . 
     With respect to FIG. 5, CPU  145  is electrically coupled to various sensors  121 ,  123 ,  125 ,  127 ,  129 , and  141 , a drive circuit  161 , an operator panel  143 , and various memory devices  147 ,  149 , and  167 . The CPU  145  receives signals from the various sensors to control drive circuit  161  in accordance with a control program stored in the various memory devices. For one embodiment of the present invention, the CPU  145  and/or drive circuit  161  may be referred to as a control circuit. The operator panel  143  is used for the user input and includes a display panel. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates components in the paper path of the printer. The media in sensor (i.e. an insertion entrance sensor)  121  detects the insertion of a medium  200 , such as the paper, into printer  100 . The top edge sensors  127  and  129  detect the top edge of medium  200  and detects paper paths errors such as a paper jam. 
     The auto align sensors  123  and  125  detect the skew of medium  200  inserted into printer  100 . The form edge sensor  141  detects the position of the side edge and the lateral width of medium  200 . 
     An auto align motor  151  (FIG. 5) corrects the skew of medium  200  by driving feed rollers  112  and  113  (FIG. 4) in a positive or negative direction. A feed motor  153  (FIG. 5) is for driving a feed roller assembly  111  (FIG. 4) in the positive or negative direction to feed the processed medium  200 . 
     A carrier motor  155  (FIG. 5) drives a print carrier  107  (FIG. 4) in a right or left direction. A print head wire drive  157  (FIG. 5) includes coils for forming a magnetic drive circuit which are used to activate the print head wires. A drive circuit  161  controls the drive of the motors  151 ,  155  and print head wire drive  157 . For one embodiment of the present invention, motors  151  and  153  and print head wire drive  157  may be referred to as a print assembly. A communication section  163  communicates with a host personal computer (PC). 
     B. Registration 
     The registration of a print control operation according to one embodiment of the present invention is described below. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a medium  350  having a high print quality region  353  and a high print pressure region  351 . Medium  350  represents a sheet or page of any type of print media. For example medium  350  may represent a passbook page. As shown in the FIG. 6, a white area is printed using a normal (default) print operation, an area  351  is printed using a high pressure print operation, and an area  353  is printed using a high quality print operation. 
     FIG. 7 shows a print control data window  250  of a tool for registering a print control data table according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates one example of a registered print control data table  300 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, print control data table  300  is registered in the host PC, and its contents are transmitted to printer  100  and stored in the RAM  167  in printer  100  at the start of printing. 
     Information for identifying the type of medium  200 , such as a paper width  251 , a paper length  253 , a form number  255 , is entered using the print control data window  250  shown in FIG.  7 . 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, a bar coded form number is printed at a predetermined position on the medium  200 . The bar coded form number is read by form edge sensor  141  (FIG. 4) as sensor  141  moves in the right and left directions across the bar coded form number. The form number is used to specify a corresponding record in print control data table  300 . A print operation is made in accordance with control information assigned to the record. 
     In the case where a bar code is not printed on the medium, or a nonregistered bar code is printed on the medium paper, sensors are used to detect the paper width and the paper length. Furthermore, a corresponding record is retrieved, and a print operation is made in accordance with control information assigned to the record retrieved. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, areas having modified print attributes modified can be specified by using the control data window  250  (FIG. 7) to set start points  261  and  263  and end points  265  and  267 . A pull down menu  269 , can be used to specify the area having modified print attributes without using start points  261  and  263  and end points  265  and  267 . 
     The control data window  250  can also be used to set such modified print attributes print attributes a print pressure input  256 , a print quality input  257 , a print pitch (CPI: Character Per Inch) input  258 , a line feed (LPI: Line Per Inch) input  259  and a font (a type face) input  260 . 
     The medium  200  may include paper, a passbook, a cloth, and various resin sheets. The medium identifying information refers to any information that distinguishes the different types of the media, such as the size information, the form number, information obtained by converting them, a temperature, a reflectivity, a hardness, and a conductivity of the medium. The area defining information includes coordinate information indicating a start point and an end point of the area or position information indicating a relative position, such as the N lines from the center of the medium. The selectable print attributes includes information specifying the print pressure, the print quality, the print pitch, the line feed, and the font. 
     For one embodiment of the present invention, the sensor is a bar code reader for reading a bar coded medium identifying information. 
     For one embodiment of the present invention, the record identifying information represents the size information of the selected medium, and the sensor may comprise an optical sensor for detecting the size information of medium. The size information may include the width information and the length information of the medium. The size information indicates the degree of variation of the width and the length depending upon the position on the medium and the thickness information. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the following management scheme is used when a plurality of areas overlap each other. 
     Referring to Table 1 shown in FIG. 10, when two areas having different attributes overlap each other, CPU  145  selects the description having the higher priority. This control is made within the printer. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the font size is fixed. 
     Referring to the FIG. 7 again, the four buttons, “END” button  271 , “REGISTRATION” button  273 , “ADD AREA” button  275  and “DELETE AREA” button  277  are provided for the operator. The “END” button  271  is used to close the window of the print control data table registration tool. The “REGISTRATION” button  273  is selected when registering a print control data table  300  shown in FIG.  8 . 
     The “ADD AREA” button  275  is selected when inputting information representing the specified area or scope into print control data table  300 . Additionally “ADD AREA” button  275  is used to increment the specified scope number in field  255  to the currently registered number +1, resetting the information in fields  256  through  259  to the default values, and resetting the information in fields  261  through  267  to receive operator input. 
     The “DELETE AREA” button  277  is used to delete information representing the specified scope from print control data table  300 . When button  277  is selected, the data representing the specified scope is deleted, and the values of all the specified scope numbers  255  greater than the number for this deleted scope is decreased by the value 1. 
     Although it is possible for the operator to manually measure the paper width and the paper length of the medium and manually enter the measured values, a personal computer can store the paper width and the paper length of the medium measured by the printer and use the measured values. The manner for specifying the scope by the start/end points can be replaced by specifying one line/or column on the both sides of the central portion of the medium. 
     C-1. Chance of the Print Attributes 
     The five types of print attributes in the preferred embodiment of the present invention are the print pressure, the print quality, the print pitch (CPI), the line feed (LPI) and the font attributes. Although the technology for changing these print attributes at the printer side is well known in the art, it is briefly described herein below. 
     The print pressure can be changed by varying the drive pulse width applied to the print head. The pulse width is broader for high print pressure than that of the normal print pressure. For example, a print head of IBM 9068 printer uses a drive pulse width of 280 sec. at the normal print pressure, a drive pulse width of 300 sec. at the medium print pressure, and a drive pulse width of 330 sec. at the high print pressure to optimize print pressure while printing each line of the passbook. 
     The print quality is modified by changing the number of dots forming the printed character. The dot impact print head usually includes 24 pins, and the “Quality” print quality uses all the dots of the vertical 24 dots and the horizontal 24 dots to print one character. The “Normal” print quality uses a half or 12 dots in horizontal, and the print quality “Draft” uses ⅓ dots in horizontal. 
     The print pitch is modified by changing a set-up value representing the distance between the adjacent print dots. The line feed is modified by changing an amount of feed for each line of the feed motor to change an amount of paper feed for each line. 
     C-2. Identifying a Record Corresponding to a Medium 
     The record in print control data table  300  which corresponds to a print operation for a particular medium having modified print attributes may be identified by using one or more of the following criteria. 
     (1) the bar code; 
     (2) the width of the medium; 
     (3) the length of the medium; and 
     (4) the inserted position of the medium. 
     C-2-1. Bar Code 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, a bar code is printed at a predetermined position of the medium. The bar code has a form number corresponding to the form number at field  301  shown in the FIG.  8 . For this embodiment of the present invention, the print operation is made in accordance with the print attributes and control code defined in the record responding to form number in field  301 . 
     C-2-2. Width of the Medium 
     When medium  200  is inserted into printer  100 , a reflect type optical sensor (the form edge sensor)  141  (FIG. 4) mounted on a carrier  107  is moved above medium  200  along a print head path  115  which is perpendicular to the feed direction of medium  200  to detect both the right and left edges of medium  200  for measuring the paper width. The sensor  141  turns on at the right edge of medium  200  and turns off at the left edge of medium  200 . This detected information is compared with the paper width defined in field  303  in print control data table  300 . If CPU  145  determines that the detected width corresponds to a paper width defined in the field  303 , the print operation is performed in accordance with the print attributes and control code defined by the corresponding record. 
     C-2-3. Total Length of the Medium 
     Before printing onto medium  200 , medium  200  is fed, and the reflect type optical sensors  127 ,  129  and  121  (FIG. 4) mounted on a paper guide sense the upper edge and the lower edge of medium  200  to measure the paper length. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the left auto align sensor (L)  123  and the right auto align sensor (R)  125  are turned on, and the skew is corrected by the feed/skew correction rollers  112  and  113  before medium  200  is further fed. The feed length from the time, at which the top edge sensor L  127  or the top edge sensor R  129  turns on, to the time, at which media in sensor  121  turns off, is calculated to measure the total length of medium  200 . After the measurement of the total length, the feed rollers are rotated in the reverse direction to feed medium  200  back to a standby position, and the print operation is performed by feeding medium  200  in the forward direction from the standby position. 
     Although the total length of medium  200  is measured by the two sensors, i.e. one of top edge sensors  127  and  129  and the media in sensor  121  in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to measure the total length by one sensor, such as a sensor positioned between feed roller unit  111  and feed/skew correction rollers  112  and  113 . 
     This detected information representing the total length is compared with the paper length defined in field  305  in print control data table  300 . If CPU  145  determines that the detected length corresponds to paper length  305 , the print operation is performed in accordance with the print attributes and control code defined by the corresponding record. 
     C-2-4. Inserted Position of the Medium 
     The insertion entrance of printer  100  in the preferred embodiment of the present invention is designed to have a wider width than the width of medium  200 . Furthermore, medium  200  can be inserted at any position along the width of the insertion entrance to be correctly fed. The operator usually places medium  200  at a center of the insertion entrance. Preferred embodiments of the present invention can identify the type of medium  200  by detecting the position of medium  200  placed on the insertion entrance, as shown in FIG.  9 . 
     Referring to FIG. 9, it is assumed that a distance between a standby position of print head carrier  107  and a left end of the insertion entrance is N mm. A first area is defined between a position apart from the standby position by the distance N mm and a position apart from the standby position by the distance N+n1 mm. The form edge sensor  141  moved along the print head path  115  detects the left edge or the right edge of the medium  200 . When the left edge of the medium  200  is positioned within the first area, the print operation using the specified print attributes is made. When the left edge of the medium  200  is not positioned within the first area, a normal print operation is made. 
     In place of the first area, a second area can be used, which is defined between a position apart from the standby position by the distance M mm and a position apart from the standby position by the distance M-n2 mm. The distance M mm represents the distance defined between the standby position and a right edge of the insertion entrance. The values n1 and n2 can be zero. In this case, when the left edge of medium  200  is positioned at the left edge of the insertion entrance, or when the right edge of medium  200  is positioned at the right edge of the insertion entrance, the print operation with the specified print attributes can be made. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, form edge sensor  141  is first moved in the right and left direction above the position of a bar code of media  200 . If the bar code is detected, the record corresponding to the detected form number is retrieved. If such record is found, the print operation is made in accordance with the print attributes and control code defined by the record. The vertical type bar code is used in the described embodiment. In the case where a lateral type bar code is used, the bar code can be read by stopping the sensor on the bar code and feeding the processed media. 
     In the case where the bar code is not detected or the record corresponding to the detected bar code is not found, both the width and length of media  200  are measured, and the record corresponding to both the detected width and length is retrieved. If the record is found, the print operation is made in accordance with the print attributes described in the record. If the record is not found, a normal print operation is performed. 
     In the case where a lateral type passbook  210 , as shown in FIG. 2, is printed which includes the air layer above the lines  12  and  13  adjacent to the center folding line (shown by the dashed line in the FIG.  2 ), only the print lines above the air layer, such as the print lines  12  and  13 , can be printed by using the high print pressure. In this case, it is possible to detect the positions of print lines  12  and  13  by detecting the distance from the top edge of passbook  210  to lines  12  and  13  since the center folding line is located at half the distance  211  of the total length  213  of passbook  210 . 
     In the case that the vertical type passbook  220 , as shown in FIG. 3, is printed, it is possible to print only the characters adjacent to the center folding line by using the high print pressure. In this case, the center folding line is located at half the distance  221  of the total width  223  of passbook  220 . 
     Using the foregoing specification, the invention may be implemented as a machine, process, or article of manufacture by using standard programming and/or engineering techniques to produce programming software, firmware, hardware or any combination thereof. 
     Any resulting programs(s), having computer readable program code, may be embodied within one or more computer usable media such as memory devices or transmitting devices, thereby making a computer program product or article of manufacture according to the invention. As such, the terms “article of manufacture” and “computer program product” as used herein are intended to encompass a computer program existent (permanently, temporarily, or transitorily) on any computer-usable medium such as on any memory device or in any transmitting device. 
     Executing program code directly from one medium, storing program code onto a medium, copying the code from one medium to another medium, transmitting the code using a transmitting device, or other equivalent acts, may involve the use of a memory or transmitting device which only embodies program code transitorily as a preliminary or final step in making, using or selling the invention. 
     Memory devices include, but are not limited to, fixed (hard) disk drives, diskettes, optical disks, magnetic tape, semiconductor memories such as RAM, ROM, Proms, etc. Transmitting devices include, but are not limited to, the internet, intranets, electronic bulletin board and message/note exchanges, telephone/modem-based network communication, hardwired/cabled communication network, cellular communication, radio wave communication, satellite communication, and other stationary or mobile network systems/communication links. 
     A machine embodying the invention may involve one or more printing systems and/or processing systems including, but not limited to, cpu, memory/storage devices, communication links, communication/transmitting devices, servers, I/O devices, or any subcomponents or individual parts of one or more printing systems and/or processing systems, including software, firmware, hardware or any combination or subcombination thereof, which embody the invention as set forth in the claims. 
     One skilled in the art of computer science will easily be able to combine the software created as described with appropriate general purpose or special purpose computer hardware and/or printer hardware to create a computer/printer system and/or computer/printer subcomponents embodying the invention and to create a compute/printer system and/or computer/printer subcomponents for carrying out the method of the invention. 
     While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and adaptations to that embodiment may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.