JP2009178850A - Label printer - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a novel label printer that eliminates the need for key / button operation for changing the printing format for a tape-like film to horizontal writing or vertical writing.
In a label printer, an input screen displayed on an LCD differs depending on whether a main body is in landscape orientation or portrait orientation. On the input screen when the main body 2 is in the horizontal direction, a print image is displayed on the LCD 3 in a horizontal print format in which characters and the like are arranged horizontally in the longitudinal direction on the print tape 31. On the input screen when the main body 2 is in the vertical orientation, a print image is displayed on the LCD 3 in a vertical print format in which characters and the like are vertically arranged on the print tape 31 in the longitudinal direction. When the user touches the operation button 41 displayed on the LCD 3 corresponding to the print button via the touch panel 4, the print tape 31 is printed according to the print image displayed on the LCD 3. The orientation of the main body 2 is detected by the SI sensor 14 built in the main body 2.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a label printer that has horizontal writing and vertical writing in a printing format for a tape-like film.

A conventional label printer has a horizontal writing mode and a vertical writing mode as described in Patent Document 1 below. The horizontal writing mode is a mode in which printing is performed in a horizontal writing format in which characters and the like are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction on a tape-like film. The vertical writing mode is a mode in which a tape-like film is printed in a vertical writing format in which characters and the like are arranged vertically in the longitudinal direction.
JP-A-7-205495

  However, as described in the following Patent Document 1, in order to change from the horizontal writing mode to the vertical writing mode or from the vertical writing mode to the horizontal writing mode, it is necessary to input a command by operating the vertical / horizontal conversion key.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and when changing the printing format for a tape-like film to horizontal writing or vertical writing, the key operation and button operation for the change are unnecessary. It is an object to provide a new label printer.

  The invention according to claim 1 made to solve this problem is a label printer, a printing device for printing on a tape-like film, a main body in which the printing device is installed, A 3D sensor for detecting a direction and a processor for controlling the printing apparatus based on a detection result of the 3D sensor, and the processor executes the following controls (a) to (c): a) obtaining a detection result of the 3D sensor; (b) determining a vertical writing format or a horizontal writing format from the detection result; and (c) causing the printing apparatus to perform printing according to the determined format. To do.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the label printer according to claim 1, further comprising a display controlled by the processor, wherein the processor further executes the following control (d): d) An image of printing to be performed by the printing apparatus is displayed on the display.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the label printer according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a storage device accessible by the processor, wherein the processor further includes the following (e) to ( The control of f) is executed, (e) data stored in the storage device is read, and (f) the data is set as a printing target to be performed by the printing device.

  That is, in the label printer of the invention according to claim 1, since printing is performed in a horizontal writing or vertical writing format determined from the detection result of the 3D sensor, the user can change the orientation of the main body to change the direction of the main body to a tape-like film. The printing format for can be changed to horizontal writing or vertical writing. Therefore, at that time, the key operation and button operation for the change are unnecessary.

  Further, in the label printer of the invention according to claim 2, since the image of printing is displayed on the display, the user looks at the display while changing the direction of the main body, so that the printing format for the tape-like film is written horizontally or You can confirm that it has been changed to vertical writing.

  In the label printer of the invention according to claim 3, since the stored data is to be printed, not only the touch input data in which characters are recognized based on the orientation of the main body, which is the detection result of the 3D sensor, Anything else can be printed.

[1. Outline of the present invention]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the characteristics of the label printer 1 according to the present embodiment. In the label printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the input screen displayed on the LCD 3 differs depending on whether the main body 2 is in landscape orientation or portrait orientation. On the input screen when the main body 2 is in the horizontal direction, a print image is displayed on the LCD 3 in a horizontal writing format in which characters and the like are arranged horizontally in the longitudinal direction on the print tape 31. On the other hand, on the input screen when the main body 2 is in the vertical orientation, a print image is displayed on the LCD 3 in a vertical print format in which characters and the like are vertically arranged on the print tape 31 in the longitudinal direction.

  For convenience of explanation, “print format” is also referred to as “format”.

  When the orientation of the main body 2 is changed from horizontal to vertical, the print image of the input screen displayed on the LCD 3 is also changed from horizontal writing to vertical writing. Conversely, when the orientation of the main body 2 is changed from the vertical orientation to the horizontal orientation, the print image of the input screen displayed on the LCD 3 is also changed from the vertical writing format to the horizontal writing format. The orientation of the main body 2 is detected by the SI sensor 14 built in the main body 2.

  A large number of operation buttons 41 are displayed on the LCD 3 in the input screen. When the user touches the operation button 41 corresponding to the print button via the touch panel 4, the print tape 31 is printed according to the print image displayed on the LCD 3. Therefore, when the main body 2 is in the landscape orientation, printing is performed on the printing tape 31 in a horizontal writing format in which characters and the like are arranged horizontally in the longitudinal direction. On the other hand, when the main body 2 is oriented vertically, printing is performed on the printing tape 31 in a vertically written format in which characters and the like are arranged vertically in the longitudinal direction.

  The input screen shown in FIG. 1 is the handwriting input screen shown in FIG. In addition to the handwriting input screen, there is a button input screen shown in FIG.

[2. (Appearance of label printer)
FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the label printer 1 according to the present embodiment. In the label printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the main body 2 is provided with an LCD 3, a touch panel 4, a tape outlet 5, and the like. The LCD 3 corresponds to the “display” of the present invention. The touch panel 4 is provided on the LCD 3. The printing tape 31 is discharged from the tape outlet 5. The printing tape 31 is composed of a tape-like film or the like.

[3. (Internal configuration of label printer)
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the printer 1 according to the present embodiment. In the printer 1 according to the present embodiment, a touch panel 4, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, an SI sensor 14, two drive circuits 15 and 16, a display controller (hereinafter referred to as “LCDC”) 17, and the like are connected to the CPU 11. ing.

  The touch panel 4 specifies the coordinate position of the part touched by the user. The touch panel 4 determines the position, locus, etc. touched by the user based on the specified coordinate position information. A signal corresponding to this determination is input to the CPU 11.

  In the CPU 11, a control program or the like is executed. Therefore, the CPU 11 plays a central role in the control in the printer 1 according to the present embodiment. That is, the CPU 11 corresponds to a “processor” of the present invention. The ROM 12 is provided with memory areas 121 and 122 that store control programs and print data. That is, the ROM 12 corresponds to the “storage device” of the present invention. The RAM 13 provides a work area when the control program is executed by the CPU 11. The RAM 13 is provided with an image buffer 131, a print buffer 132, and the like.

The SI sensor 14 is a three-axis gravity sensor that detects the orientation of the main body 2. A signal corresponding to this detection is input to the CPU 11. The SI sensor 14 corresponds to the “3D sensor” of the present invention.
LCD3 is connected to LCDC17. The LCDC 17 includes a display RAM for storing data to be displayed on the LCD 3.

A thermal head 18 is connected to the drive circuit 15. The drive circuit 15 drives the thermal head 18 when printing on the print tape 31.
A tape feed motor 19 is connected to the drive circuit 16. The drive circuit 16 drives the tape feed motor 19 when the print tape 31 is discharged to the outside.

  These drive circuits 15 and 16 operate when the CPU 11 executes a control program. Thereby, it is possible to perform printing on the printing tape 31 while discharging the printing tape 31 from the tape outlet 5 to the outside. Accordingly, the “printing apparatus” of the present invention is constituted by the two drive circuits 15 and 16, the thermal head 18, the tape feed motor 19, and the like.

[4. (Label printer input screen)
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a handwriting input screen of the label printer 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4A shows an input screen in a horizontal printing format. FIG. 4B shows an input screen in a vertical print format. Image editing is performed on the handwriting input screen. Furthermore, a large number of operation buttons 41 are displayed on the LCD 3 in the handwriting input screen. In this image editing, a print image is displayed on the LCD 3. When the user touches the touch panel 4 with the touch pen P or the like on the print tape of the print image, the touched locus is set as a character recognition target. The print image being displayed on the LCD 3 is updated to a new print image including the recognized character.

  However, when the main body 2 is in the landscape orientation, as shown in FIG. 4A, in the print image being displayed on the LCD 3, the print tape is displayed on the LCD 3 with its longitudinal direction being transverse. Further, on the print tape of the print image being displayed on the LCD 3, characters and the like are arranged horizontally in the longitudinal direction. That is, image editing is performed in a horizontal writing format.

  On the other hand, when the main body 2 is in the vertical orientation, as shown in FIG. 4B, in the print image being displayed on the LCD 3, the print tape is displayed on the LCD 3 with its longitudinal direction being vertical. Further, on the print tape of the print image being displayed on the LCD 3, characters and the like are arranged vertically in the longitudinal direction. That is, image editing is performed in a vertical writing format.

  Note that when the orientation of the main body 2 is changed from landscape to portrait, the handwriting input screen is also changed from FIG. 4A to FIG. 4B. Conversely, when the orientation of the main body 2 is changed from the portrait orientation to the landscape orientation, the handwriting input screen is also changed from FIG. 4B to FIG. 4A.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a button input screen of the label printer 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5A shows an input screen in the horizontal printing format. FIG. 5B shows an input screen in a vertical print format. Image editing is also performed on the button input screen. Therefore, the print image is displayed on the LCD 3 even in this image editing. Further, a large number of operation buttons 51 are displayed on the LCD 3 in the button input screen. When the user performs a button operation with which the user touches any of the operation buttons 51 with the touch pen P or the like via the touch panel 4, a character or the like can be input based on the touched position. In this button operation, characters of print data read from the ROM 12 can be input. The print image being displayed on the LCD 3 is updated to a new print image including the input characters.

  However, when the main body 2 is in the landscape orientation, as shown in FIG. 5A, the print image being displayed on the LCD 3 is displayed on the LCD 3 with the print tape being in the longitudinal direction. Further, on the print tape of the print image being displayed on the LCD 3, characters and the like are arranged horizontally in the longitudinal direction. That is, image editing is performed in a horizontal writing format.

  On the other hand, when the main body 2 is in the vertical orientation, as shown in FIG. 5B, the print image being displayed on the LCD 3 is displayed on the LCD 3 with the print tape in the longitudinal direction. Further, on the print tape of the print image being displayed on the LCD 3, characters and the like are arranged vertically in the longitudinal direction. That is, image editing is performed in a vertical writing format.

  Note that when the orientation of the main body 2 is changed from the landscape orientation to the portrait orientation, the button input screen is also changed from FIG. 5 (a) to FIG. 5 (b). Conversely, when the orientation of the main body 2 is changed from the portrait orientation to the landscape orientation, the button input screen is also changed from FIG. 5 (b) to FIG. 5 (a).

  Further, the button input screen shown in FIG. 5 can be changed to the handwriting input screen shown in FIG. Conversely, the handwriting input screen shown in FIG. 4 can be changed to a button input screen shown in FIG. The input screen is changed when the user touches the operation button 41 or 51 corresponding to the change button via the touch panel 4.

[5. Label printer control)
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control program of the label printer 1 according to the present embodiment. The control program is read from the ROM 12 into the RAM 13 by the CPU 11.

  When the CPU 11 executes this control program, first, in step (hereinafter referred to as “S”) 11, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the main body 2 is in the landscape orientation. This determination is made based on a detection signal from the SI sensor 14. If each angle of the three axes represented by the detection signal is within a preset range, it is determined that the main body 2 is in the horizontal direction. Therefore, when the main body 2 is inclined, it may be determined that the main body 2 is in the horizontal direction, or it may be determined that the main body 2 is not in the horizontal direction. The setting range can be changed by a setting operation by the user. Here, when the main body 2 is in the landscape orientation (S11: YES), the CPU 11 performs a horizontal writing display process in S12. On the other hand, when the main body 2 is not in landscape orientation (S11: NO), the CPU 11 performs the vertical writing display process of S13.

  In the horizontal writing display process of S12, the CPU 11 stores the edited data expanded in the horizontal writing format in the image buffer 131 as image data. This edit data is created by the edit data processing in S14 below. Further, the CPU 11 performs the following display control by transmitting a control signal to the LCDC 17. That is, a print image in a horizontally written format is created based on the image data stored in the image buffer 131. The created horizontally written print image is displayed on the LCD 3 in a state of being incorporated in the input screen.

  The input screen is the handwriting input screen shown in FIG. 4A or the button input screen shown in FIG. By default, the handwriting input screen shown in FIG. 4A is set. The change between these input screens can be performed by the edit data processing in S14 described below.

  In the vertical writing display process of S13, the CPU 11 stores the edited data expanded in the vertical writing format in the image buffer 131 as image data. This edit data is also created by the edit data processing in S14 below. Further, the CPU 11 performs the following display control by transmitting a control signal to the LCDC 17. That is, a print image having a vertically written format is created based on the image data stored in the image buffer 131. The created vertically written print image is displayed on the LCD 3 in a state of being incorporated in the input screen.

  The input screen is a handwriting input screen shown in FIG. 4B or a button input screen shown in FIG. By default, the handwriting input screen shown in FIG. 4B is set. The change between these input screens can be performed by the edit data processing in S14 described below.

  After performing the horizontal writing display process of S12 or the vertical writing display process of S13, the CPU 11 performs the editing data process of S14. In this editing data processing, image editing by the user is performed while viewing the input screen displayed on the LCD 3.

  When the handwriting input screen shown in FIG. 4A or FIG. 4B is displayed on the LCD 3, the CPU 11 touches the touch panel 4 with the touch pen P or the like based on the determination signal from the touch panel 4. Recognize the character indicated by the track Thereby, edit data is created.

  In this character recognition, the orientation of the main body 2 determined in S11 is considered, and two vertical and horizontal reference tables stored in the ROM 12 are used. However, since the processing related to character recognition is a conventionally known technique, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  When the button input screen shown in FIG. 5A or FIG. 5B is displayed on the LCD 3, the CPU 11 selects the touch pen from the operation buttons 51 by the user based on the discrimination signal from the touch panel 4. Assume that the button at the position where the touch panel 4 is touched with P or the like is clicked. In this way, the CPU 11 interprets the input command corresponding to the button operation by the user, thereby creating the edit data. In this button operation, the CPU 11 can also cause the print data to be read from the memory area 122 of the ROM 12 and create edit data using the characters of the print data.

  In the handwriting input screen shown in FIG. 4A, when the user touches the operation button 41 corresponding to the change button with the touch pen P or the like via the touch panel 4, the CPU 11 determines from the touch panel 4. This is determined based on the signal, and a control signal is transmitted to the LCDC 17 to change to the button input screen shown in FIG. The same applies to the handwriting input screen shown in FIG. 4B, and the button input screen shown in FIG. 5B is changed.

  On the other hand, in the button input screen shown in FIG. 5A, when the user touches the operation button 51 corresponding to the change button with the touch pen P or the like via the touch panel 4, the CPU 11 reads from the touch panel 4. The determination is made based on the determination signal, and the control signal is transmitted to the LCDC 17 to change to the handwriting input screen shown in FIG. The same applies to the button input screen shown in FIG. 5B, and the screen is changed to the handwriting input screen shown in FIG.

  After performing the editing process of S14, the CPU 11 proceeds to S15 and determines whether to print. This determination is performed as follows. That is, when the handwriting input screen shown in FIG. 4A or FIG. 4B is displayed on the LCD 3, the user corresponds to the print button among the many operation buttons 41 via the touch panel 4. Only when touched with the touch pen P or the like, the CPU 11 determines to print based on the determination signal from the touch panel 4. On the other hand, when the button input screen shown in FIG. 5A or FIG. 5B is displayed on the LCD 3, the user corresponds to the print button among the many operation buttons 51 via the touch panel 4. Only when touched with the touch pen P or the like, the CPU 11 determines to print based on the determination signal from the touch panel 4.

  If printing is not performed (S15: NO), the process returns to S11. Thereafter, image editing by the user is continuously performed while viewing the input screen displayed on the LCD 3 (S11 to S14). On the other hand, when printing (S15: YES), the process proceeds to S16.

  In S16, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the main body 2 is in the landscape orientation. This determination is performed in the same manner as in S11. Here, when the main body 2 is in the landscape orientation (S16: YES), the CPU 11 performs the landscape writing process in S17. On the other hand, when the main body 2 is vertically oriented (S16: NO), the CPU 11 performs the vertical writing process of S18.

  In the horizontal writing process of S17, the CPU 11 first performs a process similar to the horizontal writing display process of S12. In addition, the CPU 11 performs the following print control. That is, edit data expanded in the horizontal writing format is stored in the print buffer 131 as print data. Further, by transmitting a control signal to the two drive circuits 15 and 16, the print tape 31 is printed according to the print image displayed on the LCD 3.

  In the vertical writing printing process of S18, the CPU 11 first performs a process similar to the vertical writing display process of S13. In addition, the CPU 11 performs the following print control. That is, edit data expanded in the vertical writing format is stored in the print buffer 131 as print data. Further, by transmitting a control signal to the two drive circuits 15 and 16, the print tape 31 is printed according to the print image displayed on the LCD 3.

  After executing the horizontal writing process of S17 or the vertical writing process of S18, the CPU 11 proceeds to S19 and determines whether or not to end the image editing. This determination is performed as follows. That is, when the handwriting input screen shown in FIG. 4A or FIG. 4B is displayed on the LCD 3, the user can select the operation button 41 corresponding to the end button via the touch panel 4. Only when touched with the touch pen P or the like, the CPU 11 determines to end the image editing based on the determination signal from the touch panel 4. On the other hand, when the button input screen shown in FIG. 5A or FIG. 5B is displayed on the LCD 3, the user corresponds to the end button among the many operation buttons 51 via the touch panel 4. Only when touched with the touch pen P or the like, the CPU 11 determines to end the image editing based on the determination signal from the touch panel 4.

  If the image editing is not terminated (S19: NO), the process returns to S11. Thereafter, image editing by the user is continuously performed while viewing the input screen displayed on the LCD 3 (S11 to S14). On the other hand, when the image editing is to be ended (S19: YES), the CPU 11 ends the execution of this control program.

[6. (Summary)
As described above in detail, in the label printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the orientation of the main body 2 is determined from the detection result of the SI sensor 14 (S16). If the determined orientation of the main body 2 is landscape orientation (S16: YES), as shown on the left side of FIG. Printing is performed in a printing format (S17). On the other hand, when the determined orientation of the main body 2 is portrait orientation (S16: NO), as shown on the right side of FIG. Printing is performed in the vertical print format to be arranged (S18). Therefore, the user can change the printing format for the printing tape 31 to horizontal writing or vertical writing by changing the direction of the main body 2 as shown in FIG. Therefore, at that time, the key operation and button operation for the change are unnecessary.

  In the label printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the print image is displayed on the LCD 3 as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 (S12, S13, S17, S18). Therefore, the user can confirm that the printing format for the printing tape 31 has been changed to horizontal writing or vertical writing by looking at the LCD 3 while changing the orientation of the main body 2.

  Further, in the label printer 1 according to the present embodiment, when the button input screen shown in FIG. 5A or 5B is displayed on the LCD 3, the print data stored in the ROM 12 is used. Thus, edit data can be created (S12, S13). Thus, not only characters recognized from the locus of touching the touch panel 4 by the user based on the orientation of the main body 2 as the detection result of the SI sensor 14, but also other objects can be printed.

[7. Others]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the meaning.
For example, edit data created on the input screen is stored in a newly provided flash memory. Later, new edit data may be created using the edit data read from the flash memory (S12, S13).

  Further, the inclination angle of the main body 2 is acquired from the detection result of the SI sensor 14 and printed in a printing format in which characters and the like are arranged in the longitudinal direction on the print tape 31 as shown in FIG. May be performed (S17, S18).

  The present invention can be applied to a technique for changing a printing format for a tape-like film to horizontal writing or vertical writing.

It is the figure which showed the characteristic of the label printer which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. 2 is an external perspective view of the label printer. FIG. It is the block diagram which showed the internal structure of the label printer. It is the figure which showed the handwritten input screen of the label printer, Comprising: (a) is the input screen in the format of horizontal writing, (b) shows the input screen in the format of vertical writing. It is the figure which showed the button input screen of the label printer, Comprising: (a) is the input screen in the format of horizontal writing, (b) is the input screen in the format of vertical writing. It is the flowchart figure which showed the control program of the same label printer. It is the figure which showed other embodiment of the label printer.

Explanation of symbols

1 Label printer 2 Body 3 LCD
11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
14 SI sensor 15 drive circuit 16 drive circuit 18 thermal head 19 tape feed motor 31 printing tape

Claims (3)

A printing device for printing on a tape-shaped film;
A main body in which the printing apparatus is installed;
A 3D sensor for detecting the orientation of the main body;
A processor for controlling the printing apparatus based on a detection result of the 3D sensor,
The processor executes the following controls (a) to (c):
(A) Obtaining the detection result of the 3D sensor,
(B) A vertical or horizontal writing format is determined from the detection result,
(C) causing the printing apparatus to perform printing according to the format of the determination;
A label printer characterized by that. A label printer according to claim 1,
A display controlled by the processor;
The processor further executes the following control (d):
(D) displaying an image of printing to be performed by the printing apparatus on the display;
A label printer characterized by that. A label printer according to claim 1 or claim 2,
A storage device accessible by the processor;
The processor further executes the following controls (e) to (f):
(E) reading data stored in the storage device;
(F) making the data to be printed by the printing apparatus;
A label printer characterized by that.

Images