Gap control method for a media processing device, and a media processing device

摘要

A media processing device moves a first printhead in a direction away from a first platen and sets the gap therebetween to a wide second gap until the magnetic ink character printing area of the recording medium passes the reading position. When this printing area on the recording medium passes the reading position A, the first printhead moves in the direction approaching the first platen, and the gap therebetween is reset to a first gap that is narrower than the second gap. Because the gap is wide during the magnetic ink character reading operation, the leading end of the recording medium when conveyed to a position passed the first printhead will not catch on the second printhead, and conveying the recording medium at a constant speed will not be impeded. The magnetic ink characters can therefore be accurately read.

主权项

1. A gap control method for a media processing device, comprising steps of:
conveying a recording medium on which magnetic ink characters are printed through a media transportation path that passes a reading position of a magnetic head and a printing position of a printhead, the media transportation path being defined by a media guide member; reading the magnetic ink characters from the recording medium and printing on the recording medium at different times; conveying the recording medium in a first direction while printing on the recording medium when a gap between the printhead and a platen that defines the printing position is set to a first gap; conveying the recording medium in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction while reading the magnetic ink characters when the gap is set to a second gap that is wider than the first gap; selectively setting the gap to the first gap or the second gap by moving the printhead toward or away from the platen, which is not capable of any movement relative to a frame of the media processing device, such that a distance between the magnetic head and a portion of the media guide member opposed to the magnetic head does not change when the printhead is moved; conveying the recording medium past a second printing position, downstream of the printing position, when a space between a second printhead and a platen that defines the second printing position is set to a third gap; and selectively setting the space to the third gap or a fourth gap by moving the second printhead toward or away from the platen, wherein a difference between the first gap and the second gap is equal to a difference between the third gap and the fourth gap.