JP2008005016A - Printer for mobile information terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer for a mobile information terminal capable of decreasing the cost of print paper sheets in the case of printing various documents. <P>SOLUTION: The printer for the mobile information terminal for printing the documents of different kinds includes: print paper sheet hold means 2, 3 for holding a plurality of print paper sheets 4, 5 in an attachable/detachable and feedable way; print means 6, 8 carrying out printing for the print paper sheets; a drive means 12 for driving feeding of the print paper sheets; and a control means 14 for forming data to be printed on the print paper sheets and allowing the print means to print out the data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for a portable information terminal device that prints a form of information related to the amount of power, the amount of gas, the amount of water, broadcast reception charges, and the like.

  Japanese Patent No. 3420689 (Patent Document 1) discloses a technique for printing a postage-related fee transfer slip, a fee delivery notification slip, and the like such as an electric power company, a gas company, and a water utility.

According to the printing device of the portable information meter reading terminal device, which is the product of the above-mentioned patented invention, in the meter reading work of electric power companies, gas companies, and water utilities, at the same time issuing meter reading slips at the same time, Fee receipts can also be issued, enabling electric power companies, gas companies, and water utilities to significantly reduce postage and labor costs.
Japanese Patent No. 3420689

  However, electric power companies, gas companies, and water utilities have become more indispensable for further cost reduction and operational efficiency in the context of free competition due to deregulation.

  Therefore, the currently used printing device of the portable information metering terminal device uses a form overlay function for printing paper (thermal paper) of a certain form size, and randomly prints a meter reading slip, postage-compatible fee transfer slip, and fee receipt. There are many blanks for the meter reading slips and fee receipts that are printed, but that are not regulated in size, because the output images are created in accordance with the postage-related fee transfer slips that are regulated in size.

  Therefore, the first cost reduction measure is to adopt paper with no margins by reviewing the output image of each form to the optimum form size.

  In addition, meter-reading slips and fee receipts that are not regulated can be handled with inexpensive printing paper, but postage-compatible fee transfer slips that are regulated in size require expensive printing paper, and meter reading slips and fee receipts are also postal-compliant. Because it relied on expensive printing paper for the fee transfer slip, the printing paper cost was a huge factor.

  Therefore, a second cost reduction measure is to review and adopt the applicable print paper for each form.

  However, the portable information meter-reading terminal device currently used outdoors can be used only with a certain form size paper attached to a printing apparatus that is integral with or separate from the printing apparatus.

(Object of the present invention)
An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus for a portable information terminal device capable of reducing the cost of printing paper when printing various forms.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides a printing apparatus for a portable information terminal device that prints a plurality of different types of forms, a printing sheet holding unit that holds a plurality of printing sheets in a detachable and sendable manner, The printer includes: a printing unit that prints on the printing paper; a driving unit that drives the feeding of the printing paper; and a control unit that forms data to be printed on the printing paper and causes the printing unit to print using the data. It is what.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the cost of printing paper when printing various forms.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention is as described in Examples 1 to 3 described later.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a mechanical configuration of a printing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a portable printer) of a portable information metering terminal device that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration thereof. The portable printer 1 is used by being connected to a portable information metering terminal device body (not shown) (hereinafter referred to as a handy terminal body) by wireless or wired. The portable printer 1 is mounted on the hip of the meter reader by a belt, and the handy terminal body is operated by the meter meter held in hand.

  In FIG. 1, reference numerals 2 and 3 denote roll paper receivers which hold roll papers 4 and 5 as printing papers so that they can be attached and detached. A thermal head 6 that is a print head and a platen roller 7 are disposed at the printing position of the roll paper 4. Similarly, a thermal head 8 and a platen roller 9 are arranged at the printing position of the roll paper 5. The printed roll papers 4 and 5 are discharged from the paper discharge ports 10 and 11.

  A drive unit 12 drives the platen rollers 7 and 9 to rotate the roll papers 4 and 5 in synchronization with printing. In the first embodiment, the driving unit 12 includes a motor that rotates the platen rollers 7 and 9 and a driver circuit thereof. Reference numeral 13 denotes a battery, and reference numeral 14 denotes a control unit mounted on the substrate.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 14 controls a printer unit 16 having a drive unit 12 and a printing unit 15. The printing unit 15 includes thermal heads 6 and 8 and their driver mechanisms. The drive unit 12 is connected to the motor interface circuit 17 of the control unit 14. The printing unit 15 is connected to the head interface circuit 18 of the control unit 14.

  The control unit 14 includes a common CPU 19 and a memory 20 for the roll papers 4 and 5. The memory 20 has a memory area 20 a for the roll paper 4 and a memory area 20 b for the roll paper 5.

  The memory areas 20a and 20b have reception buffers 21a and 21b, image buffers 22a and 22b, form overlay buffers 23a and 23b, and format registration areas 24a and 24b, respectively.

  The reception buffers 21a and 21b store all data sent from the handy terminal body. The image buffers 22a and 22b store image data synthesized by the common CPU 19. The form overlay buffers 23a and 23b store form data for one form including a plurality of frequently used print format data. The print format data is, for example, ruled line data, fixed character data, variable data printing position data, etc., and forms forms such as meter reading slips, transfer slips, reminders and receipts as shown in FIG. Is. The format registration areas 24a and 24b store print format data sent in advance from the handy terminal body or the like before meter reading.

  The meter reader visually reads the meter reading value, inputs the meter reading value to the handy terminal main body by key input, or takes it into the handy terminal main body by wireless reading operation. The input meter reading data is input to the portable printer 1 as print data from the handy terminal body together with customer data, format read command (or form read command), and the like.

  The operation of the portable printer 1 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The flow of FIG. 4 shows an operation of simultaneously printing on the roll paper 4 and the roll paper 5. In this example, the roll paper 4 is set to print a thin paper with no paper regulation (for example, a meter reading form), and the roll paper 5 is printed with a paper thickness with a paper regulation (for example, a transfer paper). Suppose you have something set.

  In step S1, print data for both roll paper 4 and roll paper 5 is received. The common CPU 19 determines whether or not the print data is the print data of the roll paper 4 based on the roll paper selection command included in the print data received in step S2. If the print data is roll paper 4, the process proceeds to step S3, and the print data of roll paper 4 is stored in the reception buffer 21a. In step S4, the image buffer 22a is cleared by an image buffer clear command included in the print data.

  In step S5, when the received print data includes a format read command, the format data designated by the command is read from the format registration area 24a. If the received print data includes a form read command, the form data is read from the form overlay buffer 23a. In step S6, the read format data or form data is developed in the image buffer 22a. In step S7, variable data (meter reading data + customer data) in the print data stored in the reception buffer 21a in step S3 is developed in the image buffer 22a.

  In step S8, the format data or form data expanded in the image buffer 22a in step S6 and the variable data expanded in the image buffer 22a in step S7 are combined in the image buffer 22a. In step S9, the thermal head 6 of the printing unit 15 stands by until a print instruction is issued from the common CPU 19, that is, until operations in steps S13 to S18 described later are completed. In step S10, the common CPU 19 instructs the thermal heads 6 and 8 to perform simultaneous printing. In step S11, the combined image data is printed by the thermal head 6 of the printing unit 15. In step S12, the thin printed material is discharged.

  If the print data is the print data of the roll paper 5, the process proceeds from step S2 to step S13, and the print data of the roll paper 5 is stored in the reception buffer 21b. In step S14, the image buffer 22b is cleared by an image buffer clear command included in the print data.

  In step S15, if the received print data includes a format read command, the format data specified by the command is read from the format registration area 24b. If the received print data includes a form read command, the form data is read from the form overlay buffer 23b. In step S16, the read format data or form data is developed in the image buffer 22b. In step S17, variable data (meter reading data + customer data) in the print data stored in the reception buffer 21b in step S13 is developed in the image buffer 22b.

  In step S18, the format data or form data expanded in the image buffer 22b in step S16 and the variable data expanded in the image buffer 22b in step S17 are combined in the image buffer 22b. In step S19, the thermal head 8 of the printing unit 15 stands by until a print instruction is issued from the common CPU 19. In step S20, the common CPU 19 instructs the thermal heads 6 and 8 to perform simultaneous printing. In step S21, the combined image data is printed by the thermal head 8 of the printing unit 15. In step S22, the printed matter having a paper thickness is discharged.

  FIG. 5 shows a modification of the first embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment is that the positions of the thermal head 6 and the platen roller 7 are interchanged.

  In the first embodiment, the roll paper 4 and the roll paper 5 may be printed sequentially without performing simultaneous printing.

  In the second embodiment of the present invention, one thermal head of the printing unit 15 is used, and the printing position is switched between the printing position on the roll paper 4 side and the printing position on the roll paper 5 side.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the mechanical configuration of the second embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the printing operation as needed. The circuit configuration is the same as in FIG.

  In FIG. 6, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. Reference numeral 25 denotes a switchable thermal head. In the print standby state shown in FIG. 6A, the thermal head 25 is located at an intermediate position. When printing the roll paper 4, as shown in FIG. 6B, the thermal head 25 is switched to the printing position of the roll paper 4 by a switching mechanism (not shown). When printing the roll paper 5, as shown in FIG. 6C, the thermal head 25 is switched to the printing position of the roll paper 5 by a switching mechanism (not shown).

  The operation of the second embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the second embodiment as well, a roll paper 4 that prints a paper sheet that is thin and has no paper regulation (for example, a meter reading slip) is set, and a roll paper 5 that has a paper thickness and a paper regulation that has a paper regulation (for example, a transfer slip). Suppose you have set something to print.

  The description of the same steps as those described in FIG. 4 is omitted. In step S8, the image data is combined in the image buffer 22a, and then the process proceeds to step S31 where the thermal head 25 of the printing unit 15 is moved to the printing position on the roll paper 4 side. Thereby, in step S <b> 32, the combined image data can be printed by the thermal head 25 of the printing unit 15.

  If it is determined that the print data received in step S2 is not the print data of the roll paper 4, the process proceeds to step S33, where the roll paper 5 is slightly rewound and set at a fixed position for starting printing. Then, it waits until printing on the roll paper 4 side is completed. After the image data is combined in the image buffer 22b in steps S13 to S18, the process proceeds to step S34, where the thermal head 25 of the printing unit 15 is moved to the printing position on the roll paper 5 side. Thereby, in step S <b> 35, the combined image data can be printed by the thermal head 25 of the printing unit 15.

  In the third embodiment of the present invention, only one thermal head of the printing unit 15 is used, and the roll paper feed path from the roll paper receivers 2 and 3 to the print position of the thermal head is switched.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the mechanical configuration of the third embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the printing operation as needed. The circuit configuration is the same as in FIG.

  In FIG. 8, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. The thermal head 26 is disposed together with the platen roller 27 at a printing position intermediate between the roll papers 4 and 5. A guide 28 and a platen roller 29 are arranged on the roll paper 4 side, and a guide 30 and a platen roller 31 are arranged on the roll paper 5 side. In the print standby state of FIG. 6A, the guides 28 and 30 are in the intermediate position. When the roll paper 4 is printed, as shown in FIG. 6B, the guides 28 and 30 are switched by a switching mechanism (not shown) so that the feed path is on the roll paper 4 side. When the roll paper 5 is printed, as shown in FIG. 6C, the guides 28 and 30 are switched by a switching mechanism (not shown) so that the feed path is on the roll paper 5 side.

  The operation of the third embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the third embodiment as well, a roll paper 4 that prints a paper sheet (for example, a meter reading slip) that is thin and has no paper regulation is set, and a roll paper 5 that has a paper thickness and a paper regulation (for example, a transfer slip) is set. Suppose you have set something to print.

  The description of the same steps as those described in FIG. 4 is omitted. In step S8, the image data is combined in the image buffer 22a, and then the process proceeds to step S41, where the guides 28 and 30 are moved so as to be on the roll paper 4 side feed path in FIG. 8B. Thereby, in step S42, the combined image data can be printed by the thermal head 26 of the printing unit 15.

  If it is determined that the print data received in step S2 is not the print data of the roll paper 4, the process proceeds to step S43, where the roll paper 5 is slightly rewound and set to a fixed position for starting printing. Then, it waits until printing on the roll paper 4 side is completed. After the image data is combined in the image buffer 22b in steps S13 to S18, the process proceeds to step S44, where the guides 28 and 30 are moved so as to become the roll paper 5 side feed path of FIG. 8C. . Thereby, in step S45, the combined image data can be printed by the thermal head 26 of the printing unit 15.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the portable printer of the portable information metering terminal device used for meter reading of electric power, water, gas, etc. has been described, but the present invention is a portable information terminal device used for broadcast reception fee and moving settlement. The present invention can also be applied to other portable printers.

  In the case of simultaneous meter reading of electric power and water, the roll paper 4 can be used for power and the roll paper 5 can be used for water. In this case, both roll papers 4 and 5 may be thin or thick.

  Further, the printing paper may be a folded continuous paper.

  Furthermore, although the portable printer is separate from the handy terminal main body, it may be integrated.

It is a figure which shows the mechanical structure of the portable printer of the portable information meter-reading terminal device which is Example 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of Example 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the format of a form. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of Example 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the mechanical structure which shows the modification of Example 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the mechanical structure of Example 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of Example 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the mechanical structure of Example 3 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of Example 3 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Portable printer 2, 3 Roll paper receptacle 4, 5 Roll paper 6, 8 Thermal head 7, 9 Platen roller 10, 11 Paper discharge port 12 Drive part 13 Battery 14 Control part 15 Printing part 19 Common CPU
20 Memory 21a, 21b Reception buffer 22a, 22b Image buffer 23a, 23b Form overlay buffer 24a, 24b Format registration area 21a, 21b Reception buffer 25, 26 Thermal head 27, 29, 31 Platen roller 28, 30 Guide

Claims (4)

In a printing device of a portable information terminal device that prints a plurality of different types of forms,
A printing paper holding means for holding a plurality of printing papers so as to be detachable and feedable;
Printing means for printing on the printing paper;
Driving means for driving feeding of the printing paper;
A printing apparatus for a portable information terminal device, comprising: a control unit that forms data to be printed on the printing paper and causes the printing unit to print using the data.   2. The mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit has a print head equal to the number of the print sheets, and the control unit performs control so that printing is performed simultaneously or sequentially on the plurality of print sheets. Type information terminal equipment printing device.   The printing unit has a print head shared by the plurality of printing papers, and the control unit controls to print on any of the plurality of printing papers by switching a printing position of the printing head. The printing apparatus of the portable information terminal device according to claim 1. The printing unit has a print head shared by the plurality of printing papers, and the control unit switches the feeding path of the printing paper from the printing paper holding unit to the printing position of the printing head, and 2. The printing apparatus for a portable information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein control is performed so that printing is performed on any of a plurality of printing sheets.

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