JavaPOS Applet

I have a RoR web app that I would like to add some functionality to. I want this app to be able to communicate with POS devices (cash drawer, printer). I believe the best way to accomplish this would be to embed a signed Java Applet. My plan is to add a bit of javascript that will send signals to the applet telling it when to print, open the cash drawer, etc. The Java Applet will use the JavaPOS standards.

Questions:

1) Does this sound like a reasonable way to handle my situation?

2) Are there any applets like this available (whether opensource or commercially) that I could plug in? Or am I better off just writing the applet myself?

With all the different equipment involved I don't think you will be able to do it all from the web side but it sure would be fantastic if you can! I want to do the same thing if possible. I am struggling to get my simple command line app to talk to the printer/cashdrawer at the moment. Examples and documentation are seriously lacking!