Patent Publication Number: US-9895908-B2

Title: Printer

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-254907, filed Dec. 25, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to a printer and methods associated therewith. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There is known a printer which prints a result of a transaction on a sheet and issues the printed sheet. For example, the printer draws a sheet out from a roll, prints the result of the transaction on the drawn sheet, cuts the drawn sheet and discharges the sheet on which the result of the transaction is printed. For example, the printer includes a loop housing section for housing the sheet before printing and cutting are ended by slackening the sheet in a loop shape. 
     For example, the printer supports full cutting for cutting the whole of the sheet in a width direction and partial cutting for cutting a part of the sheet in the width direction with remaining part uncut at the time of cutting the sheet in the width direction. The printer can use the partial cutting at the time of printing a coupon, a questionnaire, advertising and the like. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an example of a printer according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of the printer according to the embodiment, and is a diagram illustrating a position of a flapper corresponding to a first mode and an example of conveyance of a sheet; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of the printer according to the embodiment, and is a diagram illustrating a position of the flapper corresponding to a second mode and an example of conveyance of the sheet; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating some examples of cutters according to the embodiment; and 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a printing processing by the printer according to the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with an embodiment, a printer comprises a first conveyance section, a recording section, a cutter, a second conveyance section, a housing section and a controller. The first conveyance section conveys a sheet towards a discharging port. The recording section records information on the sheet. The cutter cuts the sheet through either full cutting for cutting the whole sheet in a width direction or partial cutting for cutting a part of the sheet in the width direction with remaining part uncut. The second conveyance section further conveys the sheet conveyed by the first conveyance section towards the discharging port. The housing section houses a slack part of the sheet generated between the first conveyance section and the second conveyance section due to a conveyance speed difference towards of the discharging port the first conveyance section and the second conveyance section. The controller changes at least one of the first conveyance section and the second conveyance section in a case in which the cutter cuts the sheet through the full cutting or the partial cutting. 
     Hereinafter, the embodiment is described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of a printer  1  according to the embodiment. The printer  1  prints, for example, information such as a result of a transaction on a sheet S which is an image receiving medium and outputs the printed sheet. The printer  1  comprises a controller  10 , an input section  11 , a storage section  12 , a communication section  13 , a conveyance mechanism  14 , a recording section  15 , a cutter  16 , a sheet feed section  17 , a sheet housing section  18  and a discharging port  19 . 
     The controller  10  includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The controller  10  acts as a computer for controlling each section of the printer  1 . The controller  10  controls conveyance of the sheet S, recording of information on the sheet S, and cutting of the sheet S. The input section  11  is, for example, a button type key or a touch panel. The input section  11  receives an input operation by an operator. 
     The storage section  12  includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores various control programs required for the printer  1  to operate. The storage section  12  includes a RAM (Random Access memory) which is a buffer memory for temporarily storing data generated in the execution of the control program. The storage section  12  includes a non-volatile storage medium for storing various data and programs. The non-volatile storage medium is, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). 
     The communication section  13  is, for example, a communication interface. The communication interface is a USB (Universal Serial Bus), a serial port, a parallel port, a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network) and the like. The communication section  13  is connected with an external host computer in a wired or wireless manner. The communication section  13  receives a print job and a command for controlling the printer  1  from the external computer. 
     The conveyance mechanism  14  includes a first conveyance section  141 , a second conveyance section  142  and a flapper  143 . The first conveyance section  141  conveys the sheet S towards the discharging port  19  (refer to  FIG. 2 ). The first conveyance section  141  includes a first stepping motor  141 M and a first conveyance roller  141 R. The first stepping motor  141 M normally rotates according to an instruction of normal rotation from the controller  10  and stops the normal rotation according to a stop instruction. The first conveyance roller  141 R normally rotates according to the normal rotation of the first stepping motor  141 M. The first conveyance roller  141 R conveys the sheet S drawn out from a sheet roll housed in the sheet feed section  17  towards the discharging port  19 . In the present embodiment, a direction from the sheet feed section  17  to the discharging port  19  is a forward direction. 
     The second conveyance section  142  further conveys the sheet S conveyed by the first conveyance section  141  towards the discharging port  19 . The second conveyance section  142  includes a second stepping motor  142 M and a second conveyance roller  142 R. The second stepping motor  142 M normally rotates according to an instruction of the normal rotation from the controller  10 , and stops the normal rotation according to the stop instruction. The second conveyance roller  142 R is arranged at the discharging port  19  side with respect to the first conveyance roller  141 R. The second conveyance roller  142 R normally rotates according to the normal rotation of the second stepping motor  142 M. The second conveyance roller  142 R conveys the sheet S towards the discharging port  19 . 
     The flapper  143  is arranged between the first conveyance roller  141 R and the second conveyance roller  142 R. The flapper  143  opens and closes a looping space  181  described later. The flapper  143  rotates to a first position and stops at the first position according to a positioning instruction to the first position from the controller  10 . The first position is a position at which a path of the sheet S towards the looping space  181  is closed. In this way, even if the sheet S slackens between the first conveyance roller  141 R and the second conveyance roller  142 R, the sheet S does not enter the looping space  181 . 
     The flapper  143  rotates to a second position and stops at the second position according to a positioning instruction to the second position from the controller  10 . The second position is a position at which the path of the sheet S towards the looping space  181  is opened. In this way, if the sheet S slackens between the first conveyance roller  141 R and the second conveyance roller  142 R, a slack part of the sheet S enters the looping space  181  through dead weight. 
     The recording section  15  is arranged between the sheet feed section  17  described later and the first conveyance roller  141 R. The recording section  15  records (prints) information based on print data on the sheet S through heat or ink based on a print instruction from the controller  10 . 
     The cutter  16  is arranged between the first conveyance roller  141 R and the second conveyance roller  142 R. The cutter  16  cuts the sheet S based on a cutting instruction from the controller  10 . The cutter  16  cuts the sheet S through full cutting for cutting the whole of the sheet S in a width direction or partial cutting for cutting a part of the sheet S in the width direction with remaining part uncut. The detailed configuration of the cutter  16  is described later. 
     The sheet feed section  17  holds the sheet roll. The sheet feed section  17  supplies the sheet S drawn out from the sheet roll through the normal rotation of the second conveyance roller  142 R and the first conveyance roller  141 R to the recording section  15 . The sheet housing section (loop presenter)  18  includes the looping space  181 . The looping space  181  houses the slack part of the sheet S generated between the first conveyance section  141  and the second conveyance section  142  through a conveyance speed difference towards the discharging port  19  of the first conveyance section  141  and the second conveyance section  142 . 
     Next, a mode in which the full cutting is enabled and a mode in which the partial cutting is enabled which are set in the printer  1  are described. The mode in which the full cutting is enabled is referred to as a first mode. The first mode is a mode for executing the full cutting. The mode in which the partial cutting is enabled is referred to as a second mode. The second mode is a mode for executing the partial cutting. 
     The printer  1  sets the first mode on the basis that partial cutting declaration is disabled. The printer  1  sets the second mode on the basis that the partial cutting declaration is enabled. The partial cutting declaration is definition for enabling the partial cutting in the printer  1 . 
     The printer  1  stores enabled setting or disabled setting of the partial cutting declaration in the storage section  12 . The printer  1  enables the partial cutting declaration based on a partial cutting declaration command transmitted from the host computer via the communication section  13 . The partial cutting declaration command is a command relating to the partial cutting declaration and instructs the enabling of the partial cutting declaration. The partial cutting declaration command is a definition command before the print data contained in a print job transmitted from the host computer to the printer  1 . 
     The printer  1  disenables the partial cutting declaration based on a full cutting command transmitted from the host computer via the communication section  13 . The full cutting command is a command relating to the full cutting and instructs the full cutting. The full cutting command may be a command different from the print job even if contained in a cutting command for instructing the cutting of the sheet S after the print data contained in the print job. 
     In a case in which the first mode is set, the cutter  16  cuts the sheet S printed by the recording section  15  through the full cutting. In a case in which the second mode is set, the cutter  16  cuts the sheet S printed by the recording section  15  through the partial cutting. 
     Furthermore, the printer  1  maintains the second mode even after one print job is terminated in a state in which the second mode is set. In other words, the controller  10  maintains the setting of the second mode until the full cutting command is received after the partial cutting declaration command is received. The controller  10  changes the setting from the first mode to the second mode based on the full cutting command. 
     Next, a printing processing on the sheet S in the printer  1  is described. The controller  10  carries out different printing processing on the sheet S according to the setting of the first mode or the second mode. For example, The controller  10  changes at least one of the first conveyance section  141  and the second conveyance section  142  in a case in which the cutter  16  cuts the sheet S through the full cutting (first mode) and in a case in which the cutter  16  cuts the sheet S through the partial cutting (second mode). 
     (Printing Processing on Sheet S in First Mode) 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of the printer  1 .  FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating the position of the flapper  143  corresponding to the first mode and an example of conveyance of the sheet S. Herein, the printer  1  sets the first mode. Alternatively, the print job received by the printer  1  does not contain the partial cutting declaration command. 
     The controller  10  controls each section as follows to process the print job in a case in which the first mode is set. The controller  10  controls the flapper  143  to move to the first position at which the sheet housing section  18  is closed. In particular, the controller  10  outputs the positioning instruction to the first position to the flapper  143 . The flapper  143  rotates to the first position and stops at the first position according to the positioning instruction to the first position from the controller  10 . 
     The controller  10  drives the first stepping motor  141 M until the front end of the sheet S reaches the second conveyance roller  142 R. The first conveyance roller  141 R normally rotates in accordance with the first stepping motor  141 M, and the front end of the sheet S reaches the second conveyance roller  142 R. If the front end of the sheet S reaches the second conveyance roller  142 R, the controller  10  controls the flapper  143  to move to the second position at which the sheet housing section  18  is opened. In particular, the controller  10  outputs the positioning instruction to the second position to the flapper  143 . The flapper  143  rotates to the second position and stops at the second position according to the positioning instruction to the second position from the controller  10 . The flapper  143  supplies a path for the sheet S which slackens between the first conveyance roller  141 R and the second conveyance roller  142 R to enter the looping space  181 . 
     The controller  10  carries out the control to set the conveyance speed of the first conveyance section  141  to a first speed. In particular, the controller  10  outputs an instruction of the normal rotation at the first speed to the first stepping motor  141 M. The first conveyance roller  141 R normally rotates at the first speed in accordance with the first stepping motor  141 M. The controller  10  carries out the control to set the conveyance speed of the second conveyance section  142  to a second speed slower than the first speed or stop the second conveyance section  142 . In particular, the controller  10  outputs an instruction of the normal rotation at the second speed or an instruction for stopping the second conveyance section  142  to the second stepping motor  142 M. The second conveyance roller  142 R normally rotates at the second speed in accordance with the second stepping motor  142 M or stops. In other words, the printer  1  almost does not discharge the sheet S from the discharging port  19  in the printing processing. 
     Due to the generation of the conveyance speed difference between the first conveyance section  141  and the second conveyance section  142 , the sheet S (sheet of which the printing is completed) slackens between the first conveyance section  141  and the second conveyance section  142 . The looping space  181  houses the slack part of the sheet S (slack part of the loop-shape sheet S) between the first conveyance section  141  and the second conveyance section  142 . 
     The controller  10  carries out the control in such a manner that the recording section  15  records the information on the sheet S based on the print data contained in the print job together with the conveyance control of the sheet S. The recording section  15  records the information based on the print data on the conveyed sheet S. 
     The controller  10  carries out the control in such a manner that the cutter  16  cuts the sheet S through the full cutting based on the cutting command contained in the print job. In particular, the controller  10  outputs an instruction of the full cutting to the cutter  16 . As the printer  1  sets the first mode, the controller  10  outputs the instruction of the full cutting to the cutter  16 . The cutter  16  cuts the sheet S through the full cutting based on the instruction of the full cutting. In this way, the front end part of the sheet S is entirely cut from the sheet roll housed in the sheet feed section  17 . 
     The controller  10  outputs an instruction of the normal rotation at a predetermined speed to the second stepping motor  142 M so as to discharge the cut sheet from the discharging port  19 . The second conveyance section  142  discharges the cut sheet from the discharging port  19 . Furthermore, the speed at which the second conveyance section  142  conveys the cut sheet is not particularly limited. Furthermore, the controller  10  may discharge the front end of the cut sheet from the discharging port  19 , or may also discharge nearly all the cut sheet in a length direction from the discharging port  19 . 
     (Printing Processing on Sheet S in Second Mode) 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of the printer  1 .  FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating the position of the flapper  143  corresponding to the second mode and an example of conveyance of the sheet S. Herein, the printer  1  sets the second mode. Alternatively, the print job received by the printer  1  contains the partial cutting declaration command. In this way, the printer  1  sets the second mode. 
     The controller  10  controls each section as follows to process the print job in a case in which the second mode is set. The controller  10  controls the flapper  143  to move to the first position at which the sheet housing section  18  is closed. In particular, the controller  10  outputs the positioning instruction to the first position to the flapper  143 . The flapper  143  rotates to the first position and stops at the first position according to the positioning instruction to the first position from the controller  10 . The flapper  143  blocks the path through which the sheet S slackening between the first conveyance controller  141 R and the second conveyance roller  142 R enters the looping space  181   
     The controller  10  carries out the control to set the conveyance speed of the first conveyance section  141  to a third speed slower than the first speed. In particular, the controller  10  outputs an instruction of the normal rotation at the third speed to the first stepping motor  141 M. The first conveyance roller  141 R normally rotates at the third speed in accordance with the first stepping motor  141 M. 
     The controller  10  carries out the control to set the conveyance speed of the second conveyance section  142  to a fourth speed equal to or slower than the third speed. In particular, the controller  10  outputs an instruction of the normal rotation at the fourth speed to the second stepping motor  142 M. The second conveyance roller  142 R normally rotates at the fourth speed in accordance with the second stepping motor  142 M. In other words, the printer  1  gradually discharges the sheet S from the discharging port  19  in the printing processing. 
     The controller  10  carries out the control in such a manner that the recording section  15  records the information on the sheet S based on the print data the contained in the print job together with the conveyance control of the sheet S. The recording section  15  records the information based on the print data on the conveyed sheet S. 
     The controller  10  carries out the control in such a manner that the cutter  16  cuts the sheet S through the partial cutting based on the cutting command contained in the print job. In particular, the controller  10  outputs the instruction of the partial cutting to the cutter  16 . As the printer  1  sets the second mode, the controller  10  outputs the instruction of the partial cutting to the cutter  16 . The cutter  16  cuts the sheet S through the partial cutting based on the instruction of the partial cutting. In this way, the sheet S is not separated at a front section which locates at a front part with respect to the partial cutting part and a front section through uncut part of the partial cutting part of the sheet S. 
     The controller  10  maintains the conveyance speed of the first conveyance section  141  at the third speed, maintains the conveyance speed of the second conveyance section  142  at the fourth speed, and discharges the sheet which is partially cut from the discharging port  19 . In this way, the printer  1  discharges the sheet S from the front end to a part nearby the partial cutting part the sheet S from the discharging port  19 . 
     The reason why controller  10  sets the conveyance speed of the first conveyance section  141  to the third speed slower than the first speed and sets the conveyance speed of the second conveyance section  142  to the fourth speed equal to or slower than the third speed is described. 
     There is difference in the conveyance speed between the first conveyance section  141  and the second conveyance section  142  due to design error even if the controller  10  outputs the command of the same conveyance speed thereto. In this case, the speed difference is generated between the conveyance speed of the first conveyance section  141  and the conveyance speed of the second conveyance section  142 . The higher the conveyance speed instructed to the first conveyance section  141  and the second conveyance section  142  is, the larger the speed difference due to the design error becomes. 
     As stated above, the conveyance speed of the first conveyance section  141  and the second conveyance section  142  in the second mode is slower than the conveyance speed in the first mode. Even if the speed difference is generated between the conveyance speed of the first conveyance section  141  and the conveyance speed of the second conveyance section  142  due to the design error, the speed difference is small. Thus, even if there is the partial cutting part of the sheet S between the first conveyance roller  141 R and the second conveyance roller  142 R, tension is not applied to the partial cutting part. The partial cutting part of the sheet S does not split in the printer  1 . 
     Furthermore, in a case in which the fourth speed of the second conveyance section  142  is smaller than the third speed of the first conveyance section  141 , the sheet S between the first conveyance roller  141 R and the second conveyance roller  142 R bends. The tension is not applied to the sheet S between the first conveyance roller  141 R and the second conveyance roller  142 R in a case in which the fourth speed of the second conveyance section  142  is equal to the third speed of the first conveyance section  141 . Thus, even if there is the partial cutting part of the sheet S between the first conveyance roller  141 R and the second conveyance roller  142 R, the tension is not applied to the partial cutting part. The partial cutting part of the sheet S does not split during the conveyance of the sheet S in the printer  1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating some examples of the cutters  16 . The cutter  16  shown in  FIG. 4( a )  includes a first blade  161  and a second blade  162 . The shape of a part contacting with the sheet S in the first blade  161  is a shape in which the neighborhood of a central part is recessed with respect to the both ends. The shape of the part contacting with the sheet S in the second blade  162  is a linear shape. The cutter  16  cuts the sheet S through the full cutting or the partial cutting with the first blade  161  and the second blade  162 . The recess part of the first blade  161  does not contact with the sheet S, and in this way, the cutter  16  cuts the sheet S through the partial cutting. The recess part of the first blade  161  contacts with the sheet S, and in this way, the cutter  16  cuts the sheet S through the full cutting. 
     The cutter  16  shown in  FIG. 4( b )  includes a first blade  161  and a second blade  162 . The shape of a part contacting with the sheet S in the first blade  161  is a linear shape, and the shape of a part contacting with the sheet S in the second blade  162  is a shape in which a notch is arranged at the end. 
     The cutter  16  cuts the sheet S through the full cutting or the partial cutting with the first blade  161  and the second blade  162 . The notch of the second blade  162  does not contact with the sheet S, and in this way, the cutter  16  cuts the sheet S through the partial cutting. The notch of the second blade  162  contacts with the sheet S, and in this way, the cutter  16  cuts the sheet S through the full cutting. 
     The cutter  16  shown in  FIG. 4( c )  includes a first blade  161  and a second blade  162 . The shape of a part contacting with the sheet S in the first blade  161  is a linear shape, and the shape of a part contacting with the sheet S in the second blade  162  is also a linear shape. 
     The cutter  16  cuts the sheet S through the full cutting or the partial cutting with the first blade  161  and the second blade  162 . The first blade  161  contacts with the whole sheet S in the width direction and the second blade  162  does not contact with the end of the sheet S in the width direction, and in this way, the cutter  16  cuts the sheet S through the partial cutting. The first blade  161  and the second blade  162  contact with the whole sheet S in the width direction, and in this way, the cutter  16  cuts the sheet S through the full cutting. 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a printing processing (transaction) by the printer  1  based on one print job. The controller  10  determines whether or not the partial cutting declaration command is received (Act  101 ). In Act  101 , the controller  10  determines whether or not the partial cutting declaration command is contained at the head of the print job. 
     If the controller  10  determines that the partial cutting declaration command is received (Yes in Act  101 ), the controller  10  sets the partial cutting declaration to be enabled (Act  102 ). In Act  102 , the controller  10  sets the second mode. 
     If the controller  10  determines that the partial cutting declaration command is not received (No in Act  101 ), the controller  10  determines whether or not the partial cutting declaration is enabled (Act  103 ). In Act  103 , the controller  10  determines which one of the first mode and the second mode is set before the print data contained in the print job is processed. The controller  10  receives the partial cutting declaration command in the last print job, and maintains the second mode if the full cutting command after that is not received. Furthermore, the controller  10  may executes the processing in Act  103  after executing the processing in Act  102 . 
     If the partial cutting declaration is not enabled (No in Act  103 ), the controller  10  carries out the control to loop the sheet S and print the sheet S (Act  104 ). In Act  104 , the controller  10  carries out the control in such a manner that the flapper  143  stops at the second position after the front end of the sheet S reaches the second conveyance roller  142 R. The controller  10  carries out the control to convey the sheet S as described in the printing processing on the sheet S in the first mode mentioned above. The controller  10  carries out the control to record the information on the sheet S based on the print data as described in the printing processing on the sheet S in the first mode mentioned above. 
     The controller  10  carries out the control to cut the sheet S through the full cutting based on the cutting command after the print data contained in the print job (Act  105 ). In this way, a printed part of the sheet S is entirely cut from the sheet roll housed in the sheet feed section  17 . The controller  10  carries out the control to discharge the cut sheet from the discharging port  19  as described in the printing processing on the sheet S in the first mode mentioned above (Act  106 ). 
     Return to the processing in Act  103 , if the partial cutting declaration is enabled (Yes in Act  103 ), the controller  10  carries out the control to print the sheet S without looping the sheet S (Act  107 ). In Act  107 , the controller  10  carries out the control in such a manner that the flapper  143  stops at the first position. 
     The controller  10  carries out the control in such a manner that the print speed in the second mode is slower than that in the first mode (Act  108 ). In Act  108 , the controller  10  carries out the control to convey the sheet S as described in the printing processing on the sheet S in the second mode mentioned above. The controller  10  carries out the control to record the information on the sheet S based on the print data as described in the printing processing on the sheet S in the second mode mentioned above. 
     The controller  10  determines whether or not the full cutting command is received (Act  109 ). In Act  109 , for example, the controller  10  determines whether or not the cutting command contains the full cutting command. Furthermore, the controller  10  may receive the full cutting command separated from the print job from the host computer. 
     If the controller  10  receives the full cutting command (Yes in Act  109 ), the controller  10  sets the disenabling of the partial cutting declaration (Act  110 ). In Act  110 , the controller  10  changes the setting from the second mode to the first mode in response to the reception of the full cutting command in the processing of the print job in the second mode. Then, in Act  105 , the controller  10  carries out the control in such a manner that the cutter  16  cuts the sheet S through the full cutting. The controller  10  executes the processing in Act  106  as described above. 
     If the controller  10  does not receive the full cutting command (No in Act  109 ), the controller  10  carries out the control in such a manner that the cutter  16  cuts the sheet S through the partial cutting based on the cutting command (Act  111 ). Furthermore, the controller  10  carries out the control to discharge the sheet S from the discharging port  19  as described in the printing processing on the sheet S in the second mode mentioned above. 
     In this way, the controller  10  terminates the printing processing of the printer  1  based on one print job. As stated above, the controller  10  sets the second mode in a case in which the partial cutting declaration command is contained in the print job. The controller  10  carries out the control in such a manner that the cutter  16  cuts the sheet S through the partial cutting in the second mode. The controller  10  operates in a mode set at the time the print job is received in a case in which the partial cutting declaration command is not contained in the print job. The controller  10  carries out the control in such a manner that the cutter  16  cuts the sheet S through the full cutting or the partial cutting according to the mode set at the time the print job is received. 
     Furthermore, the controller  10  maintains the first mode even at the start time of a next print job in a case in which the sheet S is cut through the full cutting in the current print job. Similarly, the controller  10  maintains the second mode even at the start time of a next print job in a case in which the sheet S is cut through the partial cutting in the current print job. 
     According to the present embodiment, the partial cutting part of the sheet S does not split during the conveyance in the printer  1 . The printer  1  can convey the partial cutting part in a steady state towards the discharging port  19  side with respect to the second conveyance roller  142 R or the outside of the printer  1 . In this way, a user can easily determine which part of the sheet S is the sheet that should be taken away. The risk of jam occurring due to split of the partial cutting part in the printer  1  is reduced. 
     All the procedures of the processing (each mode) can be executed by software. Therefore, only when the program for executing the procedures of the processing is installed in the printer  1  through a computer-readable storage medium storing the program and is executed, it is possible to easily realize the above processing. 
     For example, it is possible to read the program from the computer-readable storage medium, store the read program in the storage section  12  and complete the installation of the program via the input section  11 . Alternatively, it is possible to download the program, store the downloaded program in the storage section  12  and complete the installation of the program via the communication through section  13 . Thus, the controller  10  of the printer  1  can easily realize the above processing based on the installed program described above. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.