JP2016081320A - Print setting method, program and printing system for printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform a printing process suitable for paper with a simple configuration and simple operation. A paper selection step for selecting one roll paper R from a plurality of types of roll paper R, a paper type determination step for determining a paper type of the selected roll paper R, and a paper for the selected roll paper R A paper size determination step for determining the size, a first print setting step for setting the paper feed mode based on the determined paper type, and a first setting for setting the print width and margin width based on the determined paper size. 2 print setting steps. [Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a print setting method, a program, and a print system for a print system that performs print settings for printing on paper.

  Conventionally, as a printing apparatus, various types of roll paper (continuous paper) such as plain paper, label paper, marked paper and the like can be set and a printing process is performed on the various types of roll paper set (patent) Reference 1). In this printing apparatus, a print head, a platen roller, and a cutter mechanism are disposed on a conveyance path for conveying roll paper. When a print command is received from the host computer, the platen roller that also serves as the transport roller is appropriately driven, the roll paper is transported along the transport path, the print head is printed, and a desired character or symbol is displayed. Printed on roll paper. The printed area of the roll paper is cut and separated by a cutter mechanism and provided to the user as a cut sheet. This type of printing apparatus is appropriately used as a receipt issuing apparatus or a label issuing apparatus.

Japanese Patent No. 4604352

By the way, in this type of printing apparatus, on the host computer, the user selects the paper (the above-mentioned various types of roll paper), and the user corresponds to the marked paper whether or not to perform the printing process corresponding to the label paper It is common to perform print settings such as whether or not to perform the print processing. The printing apparatus can perform a printing process suitable for the sheet by performing the printing process in response to the print setting.
However, in such a configuration, there is a problem that the user operation is extremely complicated because the user has to perform both the selection of the paper and the print setting.
In this regard, the above-described conventional printing apparatus is equipped with a translucent / reflective optical sensor to determine the paper type on the printing apparatus side, and print processing according to the determined paper type (print processing corresponding to marked paper) Or print processing corresponding to label paper). However, such a configuration has a problem that the printing apparatus becomes complicated.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a print setting method, a program, and a print system for a print system that can perform print processing suitable for paper with a simple configuration and simple operation.

  The print setting method of the printing system of the present invention includes a paper selection step for selecting a paper, a paper type determination step for determining the paper type of the selected paper, and a paper size determination step for determining the paper size of the selected paper. And a first print setting step for performing print setting based on the determined paper type and a second print setting step for performing print setting based on the determined paper size.

  In this case, in the first print setting step, it is preferable to set a paper feed mode indicating a detection method of the paper feed position in the paper feed at the time of print processing based on the paper type determined in the paper type determination step.

  In the second print setting step, the width of the print area in the paper width direction of the paper and the width of the margin located on both sides of the print area in the paper width direction are set according to the paper size determined in the paper size determination step. It is preferable.

  A program according to the present invention causes a computer to execute each step in the print setting method.

  The printing system of the present invention includes a paper selection unit for selecting a paper, a paper type determination unit for determining the paper type of the selected paper, a paper size determination unit for determining the paper size of the selected paper, A first print setting unit that performs print settings based on the determined paper type and a second print setting unit that performs print settings based on the determined paper size are provided.

  In this case, it is preferable that the first print setting unit sets a paper feed mode indicating a detection method of the paper feed position in the paper feed during the printing process based on the paper type determined by the paper type determination unit.

  The second print setting unit sets the width of the print area in the paper width direction of the paper and the width of the margins positioned on both sides of the print area in the paper width direction according to the paper size determined by the paper size determination unit. It is preferable.

  According to these configurations, the paper type and the paper size of the selected paper are determined, and the print setting is automatically performed based on the determination. Therefore, in addition to the paper selection, the user sets the print setting. There is no need to do it. Therefore, it is possible to perform a printing process suitable for the paper with a simple operation. In addition, since the paper type and the paper size are determined based on the paper selection result, it is not necessary to install a special detection mechanism for detecting the paper type and the paper size in the printing apparatus. With the configuration, it is possible to perform a printing process suitable for paper.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the control block diagram which showed the control structure of the host computer. It is a figure showing a paper selection screen. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a print setting operation by a printer driver. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation by the printing system.

  Hereinafter, a print setting method, a program, and a print system of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiment, a printing system to which the print setting method of the present invention is applied is exemplified. This printing system creates receipts and labels by setting paper such as receipt paper and label paper in a printer and printing a print image on the paper. In particular, the present printing system has a function capable of automatically performing print settings suitable for paper by simply selecting the paper on the host computer.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system SY is connected to a host computer 1 (printing control apparatus) that issues a printing instruction and the host computer 1 and receives print data from the host computer 1 to perform printing processing. And a printer 2 (printing apparatus). The host computer 1 and the printer 2 are connected via a cable 3 and configured to be able to transmit and receive various data to each other by wired communication. In the present embodiment, the host computer 1 and the printer 2 are connected by wired communication. However, the host computer 1 and the printer 2 may be connected by wireless communication. The host computer 1 and the printer 2 may be directly connected, or the host computer 1 and the printer 2 may be connected via a network (Internet or local area network).

  The host computer 1 can use a general personal computer or the like, and includes an operation unit 11 having a keyboard and a mouse, a display unit 12 having a display, a communication unit 13 for communicating with the printer 2, and each unit. And a control unit 14 for controlling.

  The control unit 14 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. A printer driver 21 is installed in the control unit 14. As described above, the host computer 1 functions as a “printing control device” by installing the printer driver 21 in the control unit 14.

On the other hand, the printer 2 is a roll paper printer that sets roll paper R as paper and performs printing processing on the roll paper R based on print data from the host computer 1. A plurality of types of roll paper R having different paper types and paper sizes are prepared. The printer 2 is configured to be able to selectively set these various roll papers R and to perform printing processing on the various roll papers R.
There are four types of roll paper R: receipt paper, label paper, receipt paper with black marks, and label paper with black marks. On the other hand, the paper size of the roll paper R includes, for example, a paper width of 80 mm, a paper width of 60 mm, a width of 54 mm, and a paper width of 38 mm. The printer 2 functions as a receipt issuing device that issues receipts by setting receipt paper or receipt paper with black marks, and also serves as a label issuing device that sets labels and issues black label paper. Function. The label paper referred to here is so-called die-cut paper in which a plurality of label materials cut into a substantially rectangular shape are attached to a base material at equal intervals.

  Here, the control configuration of the host computer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the host computer 1 has a printer driver 21.

  The printer driver 21 includes a paper selection unit 31, a paper type determination unit 32, a paper size determination unit 33, a print setting unit 34, a setting information storage unit 35, a print data generation unit 36, and a print data transmission unit 37. And have. Strictly speaking, the printer driver 21 causes the host computer 1 to function as these units.

  The paper selection unit 31 is used by the user to select a roll paper R (paper) set in the printer 2 and a roll paper R to be used (set). The paper selection unit 31 displays a paper selection screen G (see FIG. 3) for selecting one roll paper R from a plurality of types of roll paper R on the display unit 12, and accepts selection of the roll paper R by the user.

  The paper type determination unit 32 determines the paper type (receipt paper, label paper, receipt paper with black mark, and label paper with black mark) of the selected roll paper R. For example, a paper type table in which the identification information of each roll paper R is associated with the paper type is stored in advance, and the paper type determination unit 32 refers to this paper type table and specifies the paper for the selected roll paper R. Determine the type.

  The paper size determination unit 33 determines the paper size of the selected roll paper R (paper width 80 mm, paper width 60 mm, width 54 mm, paper width 38 mm, etc.). For example, a paper size table that associates the identification information of the roll paper R and the paper size is stored in advance, and the paper size determination unit 33 refers to the paper size table and determines the paper size for the selected roll paper R. Determine.

  The print setting unit 34 performs print settings based on the determination results of the paper type determination unit 32 and the paper size determination unit 33, and includes a paper feed mode setting unit 41 (first print setting unit) and a print range setting. Part 42 (second print setting part). On the other hand, the setting information storage unit 35 stores the setting information set by the print setting unit 34 (paper feed mode setting unit 41 and print range setting unit 42).

The paper feed mode setting unit 41 sets the paper feed mode among “normal mode”, “label mode”, and “black mark mode” based on the paper type determined by the paper type determination unit 32. In the paper feed mode, the paper feed position in the paper feed during the printing process is detected and the paper feed position is detected, that is, the paper feed position detection method (paper feed in the paper feed during the print processing). Method). The “normal mode” is a mode in which the paper feed position is detected based on the drive amount (encoder value) of the paper feed mechanism that feeds the roll paper R and the paper is fed. The “label mode” is a mode in which the position of each label material is detected by an optical sensor (not shown), and the paper feed position is detected based on the detected position to feed the paper. The “black mark mode” is a mode in which a black mark is detected by an optical sensor (not shown), a paper feed position is detected based on the black mark, and paper is fed.
The paper feed mode setting unit 41 sets the paper feed mode to “normal mode” when the paper type of the roll paper R is receipt paper, and when the paper type of the roll paper R is label paper, Set the paper feed mode to “label mode”. Further, when the paper type of the roll paper R is a receipt paper with a black mark or a label paper with a black mark, the paper feed mode is set to “black mark mode”. Further, the paper feed mode setting unit 41 stores the setting result (paper feed mode) in the setting information storage unit 35.

  The print range setting unit 42 sets a print range at the time of print processing based on the paper size determined by the paper size determination unit 33. Specifically, the print range setting unit 42 determines the width of the print area in the paper width direction (hereinafter referred to as print width) and the margins located on the left and right of the print area (both sides in the paper width direction) according to the determined paper size. Width (hereinafter, margin width). The print range setting unit 42 stores the setting results (print width and margin width) in the setting information storage unit 35.

  The print data generation unit 36 converts input data (accounting data, image data, etc.) input from an application (not shown), and generates print data that can be printed by the printer 2. Further, when generating the print data, the print data generation unit 36 adds the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 35 in addition to the conversion process, and generates the print data.

  The print data transmission unit 37 transmits the print data generated by the print data generation unit 36 to the printer 2 through the communication unit 13. That is, the print data transmission unit 37 transmits the print data to which the setting information is added to the printer 2. The printer 2 that has received the print data is configured to perform print processing based on the print data and print settings based on setting information added to the print data.

  Here, the print setting operation by the printer driver 21 will be described with reference to FIG. This print setting operation is executed when the user selects the roll paper R on the paper selection screen G displayed in advance, and the paper selection unit 31 accepts the roll paper R.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the printer driver 21 receives selection of the roll paper R by the user by the paper selection unit 31 (S1: Yes) (paper selection step), first, the printer driver 21 is selected by the paper type determination unit 32. The paper type of the rolled paper R is determined (S2) (paper type determination step).

  Thereafter, the paper feed mode setting unit 41 sets the paper feed mode based on the determined paper type (S3 to S6) (first print setting step). That is, when the determined paper type is receipt paper (S3: A), the paper feed mode is set to “normal mode” (S4), and when the determined paper type is label paper (S3: B). In this case, the paper feed mode is set to “label mode” (S5). If the determined paper type is receipt paper with black mark or label paper with black mark (S3: C), the paper feed mode is set to “black mark mode” (S6). Then, the set paper feeding mode is stored in the setting information storage unit 35 (S7).

  When the paper feed mode is set and stored, the paper size determination unit 33 determines the paper size of the selected roll paper R (S8) (paper size determination step). After that, the print range setting unit 42 sets the print width and margin width based on the determined paper size (S9) (second print setting step). Then, the set print width and margin width are stored in the setting information storage unit 35 (S10). This completes the print setting operation.

  Next, a printing operation by the printing system SY will be described with reference to FIG. This print operation is executed in a state where the print setting operation is performed in advance. In addition, this printing operation is executed in the host computer 1 when input data is input to the printer driver 21 from the above-described application and the printer driver 21 receives a print instruction from the application. Is.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the printer driver 21 of the host computer 1 receives input data from the application and receives a print instruction from the application (S21: Yes), it is input by the print data generation unit 36. Print data is generated based on the input data and the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 35 (S22). That is, the input data is converted into print data that can be printed by the printer 2, and the print data obtained by the conversion is converted to the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 35 (paper feed mode setting information and print data). Print data is generated by adding width and margin width setting information). When the print data is generated, the print data transmission unit 37 transmits the generated print data to the printer 2 (S23).

  On the other hand, the printer 2 receives print data from the host computer 1 (S24), and performs print processing based on the received print data (S25). The printer 2 performs print processing with print settings (paper feed mode, print width, and margin width) based on the setting information added to the print data. For example, when setting information for setting the paper feeding mode to “normal mode” is added, the paper is fed in “normal mode” to perform printing processing. That is, the printer 2 performs paper feeding / printing processing based on the driving amount of the paper feeding mechanism. When setting information for setting the paper feeding mode to “label mode” is added, paper feeding is performed in “label mode” to perform printing processing. That is, the printer 2 detects the position of the label material and performs paper feeding / printing processing based on the detected position. Further, when setting information for setting the paper feed mode to “black mark mode” is added, paper feed is performed in “black mark mode” to perform printing processing. That is, the printer 2 detects a black mark and performs paper feeding / printing processing based on the detected black mark. Further, the printer 2 performs a printing process with the print width and margin width of the setting information. Thereby, the printing operation is finished.

  According to the configuration described above, the paper type and paper size of the selected paper (roll paper R) are determined, and based on this, the print settings (paper feed mode settings, print width and margin width) are automatically set. The user does not need to make print settings in addition to paper selection. Therefore, it is possible to perform a printing process suitable for a sheet (a printing process taking a sheet type and a sheet size into consideration) with a simple operation. Further, since the paper type and the paper size are determined based on the selection result of the roll paper R, the printer 2 does not need to be equipped with a special detection mechanism for detecting the paper type and the paper size. With a simple configuration, it is possible to perform a printing process suitable for paper.

  In the above-described embodiment, the print setting is performed when the paper is selected (print setting operation). However, the print setting may be performed when the print operation is performed. That is, when selecting a sheet, only the selection result is stored, and at the time of the printing operation, prior to the print data generation process (S22), the selection result is read and the print setting is performed. . In such a case, after receiving the print instruction (S21: Yes), before the print data generation process (S22), the stored paper selection result is read, and each determination process (S2 and S8) and each setting process are performed. (S3 to S6 and S9) shall be performed.

  In the above embodiment, the host computer 1 has the print setting unit 34 and the host computer 1 performs print settings. However, the printer 2 has the print setting unit 34 and the printer. A configuration in which print settings are performed on the second side may be employed. In this case, the print data generation unit 36 generates print data by adding the paper type and paper size determination results instead of the print setting setting information, and the print data transmission unit 37 adds the determination results. The print data is transmitted to the printer 2. The print setting unit 34 of the printer 2 performs print settings based on the determination result.

  1: host computer, 2: printer, 31: paper selection unit, 32: paper type determination unit, 33: paper size determination unit, 41: paper feed mode setting unit, 42: print range setting unit, R: roll paper, SY : Printing system

Claims (7)

A paper selection step for selecting the paper;
A paper type determination step for determining a paper type of the selected paper;
A paper size determination step for determining the paper size of the selected paper;
A first print setting step for performing print settings based on the determined paper type;
And a second print setting step for performing a print setting based on the determined paper size.   In the first print setting step, a paper feed mode indicating a detection method of a paper feed position in paper feed at the time of print processing is set based on the paper type determined in the paper type determination step. Item 8. A print setting method for a printing system according to Item 1.   In the second print setting step, according to the paper size determined in the paper size determination step, the width of the print area in the paper width direction of the paper, and the width of the margins positioned on both sides of the print area in the paper width direction The print setting method of the printing system according to claim 1, wherein the print setting method is set.   The program for making a computer perform each step in the print setting method as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 3. A paper selection section for selecting paper,
A paper type determination unit for determining the paper type of the selected paper;
A paper size determination unit for determining the paper size of the selected paper;
A first print setting unit for performing print settings based on the determined paper type;
A printing system comprising: a second print setting unit configured to perform print settings based on the determined paper size.   The first print setting unit sets a paper feed mode indicating a detection method of a paper feed position in a paper feed during a printing process based on the paper type determined by the paper type determination unit. Item 6. The printing system according to Item 5.   The second print setting unit, according to the paper size determined by the paper size determination unit, the width of the print area in the paper width direction of the paper, and the width of the margins positioned on both sides of the print area in the paper width direction The printing system according to claim 5, wherein the printing system is set.

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