Print Speed and Timing

The fast speed of the printer requires the application to send data to the printer at least as fast as it is printed. This application must also enable receipt lines to be buffered ahead at the printer, so the printer can print each line immediately after the preceding line without stopping to wait for more data. Ideally, the application sends all the data for an entire receipt without pausing between characters or lines transmitted.

If the application sends data at 9600 baud and pauses between lines for as little as 50 milliseconds, the printer will never be able to print at full speed. But, if the application sends data at 19.2 K baud and does not pause between lines, the printer will be able to print at its full speed of 1020 lines/minute.

The table explains that with a pause of 50 milliseconds after each line, the transmit time equals or exceeds the print time, which slows down the printer, regardless of the baud rate.

Char./Line	Lines/Receipt	Transmit Time: (9600 Baud)	Transmit Time: (19.2 K Baud)	Print Time
20	20	1.4 seconds	1.2 seconds	0.5 seconds
20	40	2.8 seconds	2.4 seconds	1.0 seconds
44	20	1.88 seconds	1.44 seconds	1.1 seconds
44	40	3.76 seconds	2.88 seconds	2.2 seconds

The next table explains that with no delay between lines, the transmit time is much less than the print time, which enables the printer to print at full speed.

Char./Line	Lines/Receipt	Transmit Time: (9600 Baud)	Transmit Time: (19.2 K Baud)	Print Time
20	20	0.4 seconds	0.2 seconds	0.5 seconds
20	40	0.8 seconds	0.4 seconds	1.0 seconds
44	20	0.88 seconds	0.44 seconds	1.1 seconds
44	40	1.76 seconds	0.88 seconds	2.2 seconds