Printer

Abstract

To switch setting information corresponding to each of multiple types of different printer drivers on a printer in a stand-alone situation of not connecting to a host device.SOLUTION: A printer 100 includes: a printing unit 50; a transportation unit 60; a communication unit 40; a display unit 20 for displaying setting information such as device IDs; an operation unit (input unit) for selecting from the device IDs displayed on the display unit 20; and a control unit 10. The control unit 10 has a memory 14 (storage unit), and a processing unit 13. The memory 14 stores a different device ID for each printer driver, and a program for controlling the printing unit 50 and the transportation unit 60 for each device ID. The processing unit 13 executes the program corresponding to the device ID. The processing unit 13 executes the program corresponding to one device ID selected via the operation unit 30 among the plurality of device IDs displayed on the display unit 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printer. [Background technology]

[0002] Printers are used by connecting them to a host device such as a personal computer, a tablet terminal, a cash register, etc. The printer has firmware, and the host device has a printer driver compatible with the connected printer in order to operate the printer, and the printer driver for the host device must be compatible with the connected printer.

[0003] Here, a printer may be replaced with a new model printer or other model printer due to, for example, a malfunction, or a printer of a different model may be connected in addition to a printer that is already connected.

[0004] In these cases, the host device needs to be equipped with a printer driver compatible with the newly connected printer. If the host device does not have the printer driver, it is necessary to connect the host device to a server or the like and install the printer driver on the host device, or to update the firmware of the newly connected printer from the host device in order to operate the printer with an existing printer driver equipped on the host device.

[0005] In addition, in a system in which multiple cash registers, multiple types of printers, and computers are connected via a network, it is necessary to adjust the settings of each printer using a different printer driver for each type of printer (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 3838467 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, installing a printer driver in a host device and updating the printer firmware from the host device impose a burden on the printer user. Also, if the host device is not a multi-function device such as a personal computer, that is, if the host device is, for example, a cash register, it is not possible to install a new printer driver in the cash register or update the printer firmware from the cash register, so it is necessary to adjust the printer (update the firmware, etc.) using a computer as described above, which is a problem that takes a lot of time and effort.

[0008] The present invention has been developed in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a printer that can switch setting information corresponding to multiple different types of printer drivers in a stand-alone state (printer alone) without being connected to a host device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention is a printer comprising a printing unit that prints on a printing medium, a transport unit that transports the printing medium, a communication unit that communicates with an external host device when connected to the host device, an operation unit that inputs operations, and a control unit that controls the printing unit, the transport unit, the communication unit, and the operation unit, wherein the control unit has a memory unit and a processing unit, the memory unit stores a plurality of device IDs corresponding to each printer driver, and setting information corresponding to a program that controls the printing unit and the transport unit for each device ID, and the processing unit executes a program corresponding to one of the plurality of device IDs selected in response to an operation input to the operation unit. Effect of the Invention

[0010] The printer according to the present invention can switch between setting information corresponding to a plurality of different types of printer drivers in a stand-alone state (printer alone) without being connected to a host device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a printer. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printer. [Diagram 3] These are device IDs using a USB interface, where (a) is the device ID corresponding to the model name Printer3, (b) is the device ID corresponding to the model name Printer2, and (c) is the device ID corresponding to the model name Printer1. [Figure 4] These are device IDs via a parallel interface (IEEE1284), where (a) shows the device ID corresponding to the model name Printer3, (b) shows the device ID corresponding to the model name Printer2, and (c) shows the device ID corresponding to the model name Printer1. [Diagram 5] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a communication unit of a printer is connected to a communication unit of a host PC via a USB interface or a parallel interface. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing a process flow in which the host PC operates the printer after the printer and the host PC are connected to each other. [Figure 7] 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a printer changing a device ID of a model name Printer3 to a device ID of a model name Printer2 or a device ID of a model name Printer1. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a printer according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer shown in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of thermal paper on which a device ID is printed by a printer according to a second embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] An embodiment of a printer according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0013] (Embodiment 1) <Overall composition> Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a printer 100, and Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer 100. The printer 100 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is one embodiment (embodiment 1) of a printer according to the present invention.

[0014] As an example, the printer 100 is a thermal printer that uses a thermal head to print on thermal paper as a print medium. Note that the printer 100 is not limited to a thermal printer, and may be any printer that is connected to a host device such as a personal computer, a tablet terminal, or a cash register and prints according to a print command from the host device.

[0015] The printer 100 is formed into a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, as shown in Fig. 1. The printer 100 has a display unit 20 at the front of the top surface, and a plurality of physical operation units 30 in front of the display unit 20. In addition to the display unit 20 and operation unit 30, the printer 100 also has a control unit 10, a communication unit 40, a printing unit 50, and a transport unit 60, as shown in Fig. 2.

[0016] The display unit 20 is, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), and is provided with LEDs that indicate whether the power is on (ON) or off (OFF), and whether the thermal paper is almost out of paper or not by turning on and off or by changing the color of the light. The display unit 20 displays various setting information of the printer 100, which will be described later. The various setting information is, for example, printing setting information (whether or not to compress line spacing, whether or not to shrink vertically and horizontally, whether or not to print watermarks, etc.), and multiple device IDs stored in a selectable storage unit.

[0017] A user's operation is input to the operation unit 30. The operation unit 30 includes a cover opening / closing operation unit 30B and a switch operation unit 30A. The cover opening / closing operation unit 30B is a cover open lever to which an operation for opening and closing the paper cover 1 that covers the paper storage chamber in which thermal paper is stored is input.

[0018] The switch operation unit 30A has a plurality of buttons (four in this embodiment, for example) and, by pressing these buttons, changes or selects the setting information of the printer 100 and feeds (transports) thermal paper.

[0019] One of the four buttons is a switching button (an example of a switching means) that switches one of three device IDs described below that is displayed on the display unit 20 to the other two device IDs one by one in sequence, and the other button is a decision button (an example of a decision means) that decides that one device ID that is switched by the switching button and displayed on the display unit 20 is the device ID to be selected. Another button different from the above two buttons corresponds to a function of feeding (conveying) the thermal paper by a predetermined length, and when a pressing operation is input, the thermal paper is fed by the predetermined length.

[0020] It should be noted that these four buttons may have functions that are not fixed as buttons corresponding to the above-mentioned functions, but may have functions that can be switched according to the setting information displayed on the display unit 20.

[0021] The printing unit 50 prints on thermal paper and has a print head such as a thermal head.

[0022] The transport unit 60 feeds the thermal paper being printed by the printing unit 50, and transports the printed thermal paper for ejection. The transport unit 60 has, for example, a stepping motor or a DC motor as a drive source for transporting the thermal paper.

[0023] When the communication unit 40 is connected to an external personal computer 200 (an example of a host device; hereinafter, referred to as the host PC 200), it communicates with the host PC 200. For connection to the host PC 200, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface or a parallel interface (IEEE1284) is applied.

[0024] The control unit 10 controls the printing unit 50, the transport unit 60, the communication unit 40, the display unit 20, and the operation unit 30. The control unit 10 has a memory 14 (storage unit) and a processing unit 13. The memory 14 stores setting information corresponding to different device IDs corresponding to each printer driver, and firmware (programs) for controlling the printing unit 50 and the transport unit 60 corresponding to each device ID. The memory 14 of the printer 100 of this embodiment stores three device IDs as an example. The processing unit 13 has a CPU 11 and an FPGA (field-programmable gate array) 12, reads firmware from the memory 14, and executes a program corresponding to a selected device ID from the firmware.

[0025] 3(a), (b), and (c) are examples of information recorded in three device IDs stored in memory 14. As shown in Fig. 3(a), (b), and (c), the device ID has information such as the manufacturer's name (MANUFACTURE) of printer 100 and the model name (MODEL) of printer 100. The device ID shown in Fig. 3(a) has the model name Printer3, the device ID shown in Fig. 3(b) has the model name Printer2, and the device ID shown in Fig. 3(c) has the model name Printer1, and the device ID in Fig. 3(a), the device ID in Fig. 3(b), and the device ID in Fig. 3(c) have different model names.

[0026] Note that Figures 3(a), (b), and (c) show the device IDs for a USB interface, while device IDs for a parallel interface (IEEE1284) are shown in Figures 4(a), (b), and (c). Figure 4(a) corresponds to the device ID for the model Printer3 shown in Figure 3(a), Figure 4(b) corresponds to the device ID for the model Printer2 shown in Figure 3(b), and Figure 4(c) corresponds to the device ID for the model Printer1 shown in Figure 3(c).

[0027] The printer with the model name Printer3 is, for example, a successor model or an upward compatible model of the printer with the model name Printer2, and in addition to the basic functions of the printer with the model name Printer2, it has functions that the printer with the model name Printer2 does not have. The printer with the model name Printer2 is, for example, a successor model or an upward compatible model of the printer with the model name Printer1, and in addition to the basic functions of the printer with the model name Printer1, it has functions that the printer with the model name Printer1 does not have.

[0028] The functions realized by each printer with these model names are defined by a program in the firmware that corresponds to the device ID.

[0029] The functions of the printer with model name Printer3 can be operated by the latest printer driver A, but cannot be operated by an older generation printer driver B that operates the functions of the printer with model name Printer2, or an older generation printer driver C that operates the functions of the printer with model name Printer1.

[0030] Similarly, the functions of the printer with model name Printer2 can be operated by printer driver A or printer driver B, but cannot be operated by older generation printer driver C, which operates the functions of the printer with model name Printer1.

[0031] The functions of the printer with the model name Printer1 can be operated by any of printer driver A, printer driver B, and printer driver C.

[0032] Here, since printer 100 is, for example, a printer with model name Printer3, the original device ID is as shown in Fig. 3(a). However, printer 100 can operate as a printer with model name Printer2, which is a previous model or a lower model, and can also operate as a printer with model name Printer1, which is a previous model or a lower model of the printer with model name Printer2.

[0033] Therefore, in addition to the device ID corresponding to the original model name Printer3 (see FIG. 3(a)), printer 100 has a device ID corresponding to the model name Printer2, which is an earlier model or a lower model (FIG. 3(b)), and a device ID corresponding to the model name Printer1, which is an earlier model or an even lower model (FIG. 3(c)).

[0034] The firmware stored in memory 14 is a program that causes printer 100 to operate with functions corresponding to the printer with the original model name Printer3 (device ID in Figure 3(a)), but as described above, it also includes a program that causes printer 100 to operate with functions corresponding to the printer with the model name Printer2 (device ID in Figure 3(b)) and a program that causes printer 100 to operate with functions corresponding to the printer with the model name Printer1 (device ID in Figure 3(c)).

[0035] Therefore, when the device ID in Figure 3(a) is selected, the printer 100 causes the processing unit 13 to operate the printing unit 50 and the conveying unit 60 to read from the memory 14 a program that provides functions corresponding to the printer with the model name Printer3 and execute it; when the device ID in Figure 3(b) is selected, the processing unit 13 causes the printing unit 50 and the conveying unit 60 to read from the memory 14 a program that provides functions corresponding to the printer with the model name Printer2 and execute it; and when the device ID in Figure 3(c) is selected, the processing unit 13 causes the printing unit 50 and the conveying unit 60 to read from the memory 14 a program that provides functions corresponding to the printer with the model name Printer1 and execute it.

[0036] Here, when the switching button of the operation unit 30 is pressed, the display unit 20 displays one of the three device IDs described above under the control of the control unit 10. Specifically, under the control of the control unit 10, the display unit 20 first displays the device ID of the model name Printer3 set as a default, and when the switching button of the operation unit 30 is pressed, under the control of the control unit 10, the display unit 20 displays the device ID of the model name Printer2 instead of the device ID of the model name Printer3.

[0037] Furthermore, when the switching button on the operation unit 30 is pressed, the display unit 20 displays the device ID with the model name Printer1 instead of the device ID with the model name Printer2 under the control of the control unit 10, and when the switching button is pressed again, the display unit 20 displays the device ID with the model name Printer3 instead of the device ID with the model name Printer1 under the control of the control unit 10. Thereafter, the printer 100 sequentially switches one device ID displayed on the display unit 20 each time the switching button is pressed.

[0038] When the enter button on the operation unit 30 is pressed while any one of the device IDs is displayed on the display unit 20, the printer 100 determines the displayed device ID as the device ID to be selected, and the control unit 10 controls the printer 100 to operate as a printer with the model name of the selected device ID. In other words, the control unit 10 controls the printing unit 50 and the conveying unit 60 so that the processing unit 13 executes a program in the firmware that corresponds to the selected device ID, and notifies the communication unit 40 of the selected device ID.

[0039] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, when the communication unit 40 of the host PC 200 is connected to the communication unit 40 of the printer 100 via a USB interface or a parallel interface, the control unit 10 detects that the host PC 200 has been connected to the communication unit 40 through the plug-and-play function (S1 in FIG. 6), and under the control of the control unit 10, transmits the notified device ID to the host PC 200 via the communication unit 40 (S2 in FIG. 6).

[0040] This allows the host PC 200 to detect whether or not a printer driver corresponding to the device ID sent from the printer 100 is installed in the host PC 200 (S3 in FIG. 6). When the host PC 200 detects that a printer driver corresponding to the device ID sent from the printer 100 is installed (YES in S3 in FIG. 6), the host PC 200 can operate the connected printer 100 by using the printer driver installed in the host PC 200 (S5 in FIG. 6).

[0041] On the other hand, when the host PC 200 detects that a printer driver corresponding to the device ID sent from the printer 100 is not installed (NO in S3 in FIG. 6), the host PC 200 is connected to another server and a printer driver corresponding to the device ID sent from the printer 100 is installed in the host PC 200 automatically by the plug-and-play function or manually by the user (S4 in FIG. 6).The host PC 200 can then operate the connected printer 100 by using the installed printer driver (S5 in FIG. 6).

[0042] Even when the host PC 200 detects that a printer driver corresponding to the device ID sent from the printer 100 is not installed (NO in S3 in FIG. 6), if a printer driver corresponding to one of the multiple device IDs selectable by the printer 100 is installed, the printer 100 can operate using the printer driver installed in the host PC 200 by selecting the device ID corresponding to the printer driver installed in the host PC 200 in the printer 100.

[0043] For example, if the selected device ID of the printer 100 corresponds to a printer with the model name Printer3, the device ID of the printer with the model name Printer3 is transmitted to the host PC 200.

[0044] Here, when the host PC 200 does not have printer driver A installed that corresponds to the device ID of the model name Printer3, but has printer driver B installed that corresponds to the device ID of the older model name Printer2, the host PC 200 cannot use the installed printer driver B to operate the printer 100 for which the device ID as the model name Printer3 has been selected.

[0045] However, in this case, by pressing the switch button once, printer 100 changes the selected device ID from the default device ID with model name Printer3 shown on the left of Figure 7 to the device ID with model name Printer2 shown in Figure 7 (selecting the device ID with model name Printer2), printer 100 sends the device ID with model name Printer2 to host PC 200, and host PC 200 can use the installed printer driver B to operate the connected printer 100 as a printer with model name Printer2.

[0046] In addition, by pressing the switch button twice to change the selected device ID from the default device ID with model name Printer3 shown on the left side of Figure 7 to the device ID with the model name shown on the right side of Figure 7 (selecting the device ID with model name Printer1), the device ID with model name Printer1 will be sent from printer 100 to host PC 200, and host PC 200 can operate the connected printer 100 as a printer with model name Printer1 using the installed printer driver B.

[0047] Similarly, when host PC 200 does not have printer driver A corresponding to the device ID of model name Printer3 or printer driver B corresponding to the device ID of model name Printer2 installed, but does have printer driver C corresponding to the device ID of model name Printer1, which is an older model, installed, host PC 200 cannot use the installed printer driver C to operate printer 100 for which the device ID as model name Printer3 is selected or printer 100 for which the device ID as model name Printer2 is selected.

[0048] However, in this case, by pressing the switch button twice on printer 100 to change the selected device ID from the default device ID with model name Printer3 shown on the left side of Figure 7 to the device ID with model name Printer1 shown on the right side of Figure 7 (selecting the device ID with model name Printer1), printer 100 sends the device ID with model name Printer1 to host PC 200, and host PC 200 can use the installed printer driver C to operate the connected printer 100 as a printer with model name Printer1.

[0049] As described above, the printer 100 of this embodiment can switch the device ID, which is one piece of setting information corresponding to multiple different types of drivers, in a stand-alone state (printer 100 alone) without being connected to a host PC 200, etc.

[0050] Therefore, when the printer 100 of this embodiment is connected to a host PC 200 having a printer driver corresponding to any of the multiple device IDs stored in memory 14, the printer 100 can switch to a program (firmware) corresponding to the device ID corresponding to the printer driver possessed by the host PC 200 in a standalone state without being connected to the host PC 200, etc.

[0051] (Embodiment 2) The printer 100 of the first embodiment described above has the display unit 20 that displays the setting information of the printer 100, but the printer according to the present invention does not necessarily have to have a display unit.

[0052] Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the printer 300, and Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer 300. The printer 300 is a second embodiment (second embodiment) of the printer according to the present invention.

[0053] As shown in Fig. 8, the printer 300 has an external appearance similar to that of the printer 100, and is generally formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The printer 300 is provided with a plurality of physical operation units 30 at the front of the top surface. As shown in Fig. 9, in addition to the operation units 30, the printer 300 is provided with a control unit 10, a communication unit 40, a printing unit 50, and a transport unit 60.

[0054] Printer 300 has the same basic configuration as printer 100, but differs from printer 100 in that it does not include a display unit 20. Since printer 300 does not include a display unit 20, a user cannot display and check setting information on the display unit 20 as with printer 100.

[0055] Therefore, the printer 300 is configured so that even if it does not include the display unit 20, the user can check the setting information by inputting a predetermined operation to the operation unit 30.

[0056] Specifically, the operation unit 30 of the printer 300 has a cover opening / closing operation unit 30B to which an operation to open and close the paper cover 1 is input, and a switch operation unit 30A to which an operation to change or select setting information and an operation to instruct the transport of thermal paper are input. The cover opening / closing operation unit 30B is a cover open lever, and the switch operation unit 30A is, for example, two buttons.

[0057] The control unit 10 controls the printing unit 50 and the transport unit 60 in response to the operations input to the cover opening / closing operation unit 30B and the switch operation unit 30A to print the device IDs stored in the memory 14 one by one on the thermal paper. Then, the processing unit 13 selects one device ID in response to the operations input to the cover opening / closing operation unit 30B and the switch operation unit 30A.

[0058] Here, one of the buttons on the switch operation unit 30A is a switching means that sequentially switches one device ID printed on the thermal paper to another device ID, and the other button on the switch operation unit 30A is a determination means that determines the one device ID printed on the thermal paper by switching using the button on the switching means.

[0059] The printer 300 prints one currently selected device ID on thermal paper by combining the input of the operation to the cover opening / closing operation unit 30B and the input of the operation to the button as the switching means of the switch operation unit 30A. By looking at the thermal paper on which the device ID is printed, the user can confirm the device ID of the printer 300 at the time of printing.

[0060] When the user decides to select the set device ID, the processing unit 13 selects one device ID to be applied to the printer 300 by pressing a button serving as a decision means of the switch operation unit 30A.

[0061] On the other hand, if the user does not select the set device ID after looking at the thermal paper on which the device ID is printed, the processing unit 13 switches to another device ID in sequence each time the user presses the button serving as the switching means of the switch operation unit 30A, and prints the switched device ID on the thermal paper each time. By looking at the thermal paper on which the device ID is printed, the user can confirm the device ID of the printer 300 at the time of printing.

[0062] Specifically, for example, when the printer 300 is turned on while pressing one of the buttons on the switch operation unit 30A, an operation is input to the switch operation unit 30A and the power switch, and the control unit 10 controls the printing unit 50 and the conveying unit 60, and the setting information corresponding to the device ID (Printer3) selected by default is printed on thermal paper, as shown in FIG. 10.

[0063] Here, when the user checks the device ID printed on the thermal paper, approves the printed device ID, and presses the button that is the determination means of the switch operation unit 30A, the processing unit 13 determines that the device ID selected at the time of printing is the device ID of the printer 300.

[0064] On the other hand, when the user checks the device ID printed on the thermal paper, does not approve the printed device ID, and wants to switch to another device ID, the button serving as the switching means of the switch operation unit 30A is pressed, and the processing unit 13 switches the device ID set in the printer 300 to another device ID (for example, Printer2) by inputting an operation to the switch operation unit 30A. Then, when the button serving as the switching means is pressed and held for, for example, two seconds or more, an operation is input to the switch operation unit 30A, and the control unit 10 controls the printing unit 50 and the transport unit 60 to print the setting information corresponding to the switched device ID (Printer3) on the thermal paper.

[0065] Here, when the user checks the device ID printed on the thermal paper, approves the printed device ID, and presses the button that is the determination means of the switch operation unit 30A, the processing unit 13 determines that the device ID selected at the time of printing is the device ID of the printer 300.

[0066] As described above, the printer 300 of the second embodiment does not have a display unit such as an LCD for displaying setting information, and therefore cannot display setting information including the device ID on the display unit. However, the printer 300 can print setting information such as the device ID on thermal paper in response to an operation input to the operation unit 30, and therefore can present a user with multiple selectable device IDs, and can select one device ID by sequentially switching the device IDs to be set in the printer 300 one by one in response to an operation input to the operation unit 30.

[0067] The printer 300 of the second embodiment can switch the device ID, which is one of the setting information corresponding to each of a plurality of different types of drivers, in a stand-alone state (printer 300 alone) not connected to the host PC 200 or the like.

[0068] Therefore, like the printer 100 of embodiment 1, when the printer 300 of embodiment 2 is connected to a host PC 200 having a printer driver corresponding to any one of the multiple device IDs stored in the memory 14, the printer 300 can switch to a program (firmware) corresponding to the device ID corresponding to the printer driver possessed by the host PC 200 in a standalone state not connected to the host PC 200, etc.

[0069] In the printer 100 of the first embodiment and the printer 300 of the second embodiment, the selected device ID may be printed on paper such as thermal paper in a so-called self-printing mode, allowing the user to confirm the selected device ID.

[0070] The self-printing mode is a mode in which the contents of the setting information, etc. of the printer 100, 300 can be printed out on paper for confirmation. For example, the self-printing mode can be started by pressing one button on the switch operation unit 30A while turning on the power to the printer 100, 300 to activate the function test mode, and then pressing another button on the switch operation unit 30A.

[0071] Examples of setting information printed in the self printing mode include those listed in (1) to (10) below. Note that these are merely examples, and the content printed in the self printing mode is not limited to these. (1) Printer model name (2) Firmware version, device ID (driver ID) (3) Interface settings (4) Memory switch contents (5) Font A20H~FFH) (6) Font B (20H~FFH) (7) Font C (20H~FFH) (8) Kanji Font A 192 characters (9) Kanji font C 192 characters (10) Start a new line until the cut position and then cut [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 10 Control section 11 CPU 12 FPGA 13 Processing section 14 Memory (an example of a storage unit) 20 Display section 30 Operation unit (an example of an input unit) 40 Communications Department 50 Printing Department 60 Conveyor 100 Printers 200 Host PC (an example of a host device)

Claims

1. The printer includes a printing unit that prints on a print medium, an operation unit that inputs operations, and a control unit that controls the printing unit, the control unit has a storage unit and a processing unit, the storage unit stores a plurality of device IDs corresponding to each printer driver, and setting information corresponding to a program for controlling the printing unit for each of the device IDs; The processing unit executes a program corresponding to a predetermined device ID selected in response to an operation of the operation unit from among the device IDs.

2. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls a transport unit that transports the printing medium in accordance with each device ID via the program.

3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit selects one of the device IDs in response to input of at least one operation or a combination of two or more operations input to the operation unit, including an operation to open or close the printer's paper cover, an operation to change or select the setting information, and an operation to instruct the transport of the printing medium.

4. the control unit sequentially prints the plurality of device IDs stored in the storage unit on the print medium in response to an operation input to the operation unit; the operation unit includes a switching unit that sequentially switches the predetermined device ID printed on the print medium to another device ID, and a determining unit that determines the device ID switched by the switching unit and printed on the print medium, The printer according to claim 1 , wherein the processing unit selects the device ID determined by the determining unit.

5. The printer according to claim 1 , further comprising a display unit that displays setting information of the printer.

6. the display unit sequentially displays the plurality of device IDs stored in the storage unit as the setting information; the operation unit includes a switching unit that sequentially switches the predetermined device ID displayed on the display unit to another device ID, and a determination unit that determines the device ID switched by the switching unit and displayed on the display unit, The printer according to claim 5 , wherein the processing unit selects the device ID determined by the determining unit.

7. A communication unit that communicates with an external host device when connected to the host device, The printer according to claim 1 , wherein the communication unit transmits the device ID selected by the operation unit to the host device.

Images