JP2018062122A - Printing device and method for controlling printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to make it possible to present to a user which setting of a host computer or a label printer is used during printing.
A label printer 2 that prints print data received from a host computer 3 based on a set value, wherein the set value is set on either the host computer 3 side or the label printer 2 side. A printer control unit 201 that executes identification printing that prints identification information that identifies whether a value is associated with a setting item.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing apparatus control method.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing apparatus that executes printing in accordance with control of a control apparatus is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In patent document 1, by displaying a printing result on a display device before execution of printing,
Disclosed is a printing apparatus that enables a user to recognize the difference between a print setting in a data processing apparatus as a control apparatus and a print setting in a printing apparatus.

JP-A-5-58007

By the way, the printing apparatus as described in Patent Document 1 executes printing based on one of the print settings when the print setting in the control apparatus and the print setting in the printing apparatus overlap, which is not intended by the user. The print result may be printed. In this case, if the user is not aware of which device's print settings the printing device performs printing, which device's print settings should be changed to obtain the user's intended print result Judgment is not easy.
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it is possible to present to a user which setting of a control device or a printing device is used during printing.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides a printing apparatus that prints data received from a control apparatus based on setting information, and the setting information includes any of the control apparatus side and the printing apparatus side. A control unit that executes identification printing that prints identification information for identifying whether the information is set in association with the setting information.
According to the present invention, in order to execute identification printing in which identification information is printed in association with setting information,
It is possible to present to the user which setting of the control device or the printing device is used during printing.

According to the present invention, the control unit executes the identification printing before executing printing based on data received from the control device.
According to the present invention, before executing printing based on data received from the control device, which device print setting is used to execute identification printing, and printing based on data received from the control device is executed. Can be shown to the user.

According to the present invention, there is further provided a first setting unit capable of setting whether or not to execute the identification printing.
According to the present invention, since it is possible to set whether or not identification printing is performed, the identification printing is not performed unnecessarily, and the user's convenience can be prevented from being lowered.

In addition, according to the present invention, a display unit and a second setting unit that can set whether or not to perform identification display in which the identification information is displayed on the display unit in association with the setting information.
According to the present invention, since it is possible to set whether or not to execute identification display, the identification display is not performed unnecessarily.

According to the present invention, the control unit executes the identification display in addition to the execution of the identification printing or instead of the identification printing.
According to the present invention, in order to execute identification display in addition to execution of identification printing or instead of execution of identification printing, printing of data received from the control device is performed regardless of whether or not identification printing is performed. , Which device settings are used and printed can be presented to the user.

According to the present invention, the setting information is at least one of information relating to the size of the print medium, information relating to the type of the print medium, and information relating to cutting of the print medium.
According to the present invention, since the setting information is at least one of information relating to the setting of the size of the printing medium, information relating to the type of the printing medium, and information relating to cutting of the printing medium, It is possible to present to the user which setting of the control device or the printing device is used at the time of printing, at least one of the information relating to the setting, the information relating to the type of the printing medium, and the information relating to the cutting of the printing medium. .

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a control method for a printing apparatus that prints data received from a control apparatus based on setting information, wherein the setting information includes the control apparatus side and the printing apparatus. Identification printing is performed in which identification information for identifying whether the setting is made on either side is printed in association with the setting information.
According to the present invention, in order to execute identification printing in which identification information is printed in association with setting information,
It is possible to present to the user which setting of the control device or the printing device is used during printing.

The figure which shows the structure of the principal part of a label printer. The figure which shows the functional structure of a label printer and a host computer. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of a label printer. The figure which shows an example of the printing result by identification printing.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a label printer 2 (printing apparatus) constituting the printing system 1.

In the description using FIG. 1, the direction toward the left in the drawing is “front” as indicated by the arrow.
Also, the direction toward the right in the figure is “backward”.

The label printer 2 is a serial type ink jet printer. The label printer 2 accommodates roll paper R (print medium), feeds the roll paper R, and conveys it in the conveyance direction H. The label printer 2 performs printing by ejecting ink onto the roll paper R to be conveyed by the print head 10 configured as a serial inkjet head.

As shown in FIG. 1, the label printer 2 includes a roll paper storage unit 11 that stores the roll paper R.
Is provided. Roll paper R is stored in the roll paper storage unit 11. The roll paper R is a sheet wound in a roll shape. For example, the roll paper R is a label paper in which a fixed-size label having a pressure-sensitive adhesive on the back side is arranged on a release paper as a mount and wound in a roll shape.

In the following description, the roll-shaped part accommodated in the roll paper accommodating part 11 among roll paper R is expressed as "roll body R1." In addition, a portion of the roll paper R that is fed out and conveyed from the roll body R1 accommodated in the roll paper accommodation unit 11 is referred to as “conveyance roll paper R2” (print medium).
It expresses.

As shown in FIG. 1, the label printer 2 is formed with a transport path 13 that is a path through which the transport roll paper R2 is transported. The transport roll paper R2 fed out from the roll paper R is transported along the transport path 13.

As shown in FIG. 1, the transport path 13 has 3 in the transport direction H from upstream to downstream.
Two transport rollers 141, 142, 143 are provided. Transport rollers 141, 142,
Driven rollers 151, 152, and 153 that rotate following the rotation of the transport rollers 141, 142, and 143 are provided at positions that face the respective rollers 143. The transport roll paper R2 is sandwiched between transport rollers 141, 142, and 143 and driven rollers 151, 152, and 153, and is transported in the transport direction H according to the rotation of the transport rollers 141, 142, and 143. The transport rollers 141, 142, and 143 are connected to a transport motor (not shown) via a power transmission mechanism, and rotate according to the drive of the transport motor.

As shown in FIG. 1, a guide member 17 is provided between a conveyance roller 141 provided on the most upstream side in the conveyance direction H and a conveyance roller 142 provided on the downstream side of the conveyance roller 141. The guide member 17 is in contact with the back surface of the transport roll paper R2 and bends the transport roll paper R2 fed upward toward the front. The guide member 17 applies tension to the transport roll paper R2 by bending the contact roll paper R2 in contact with the transport roll paper R2.
2 to suppress the occurrence of slack.

A black mark sensor 181 is provided downstream of the transport roller 142 in the transport direction H. The black mark sensor 181 is a sensor that optically detects the black mark when the roll paper R on which the black mark that is a black mark is formed on the back surface is accommodated in the label printer 2. A printer control unit 201 (FIG. 2) (control unit), which will be described later, detects that when a black mark is located at the detection position of this sensor, based on the detection value of the black mark sensor 181. The printer control unit 201 manages the position of the roll paper R based on the detection result.

A gap sensor 18 is disposed downstream of the black mark sensor 181 in the conveyance direction H.
2 is provided. In the gap sensor 182, the roll paper R in which a gap portion having a gap formed by cutting out a sheet at one end and a gap formed by cutting out a sheet at the other end is formed on the label printer 2. It is a sensor that optically detects these gaps when housed. Based on the detection value of the gap sensor 182, the printer control unit 201 detects that the gap is located at the detection position of this sensor. The printer control unit 201 manages the position of the roll paper R based on the detection result.

A conveyance roller 143 is provided downstream of the gap sensor 182 in the conveyance direction H, and a printing unit 19 and a platen 25 are provided downstream of the conveyance roller 143 at a position facing the printing unit 19.

The printing unit 19 includes a carriage 20 and a print head 10 mounted on the carriage 20.
With. The carriage 20 has a carriage shaft 2 extending in the scanning direction that intersects the transport direction H.
The print head 10 is scanned in the scanning direction along the carriage shaft 20a.
The print head 10 is an inkjet head, and includes a nozzle array of a plurality of colors (for example, four colors of CYMK). The print head 10 receives ink supplied from an ink cartridge (not shown), discharges ink from the nozzles provided in each nozzle row, forms dots on the transport roll paper R2, and prints an image.

A cutter unit 21 is provided downstream of the printing unit 19 in the transport direction H. The cutter unit 21 includes a fixed blade 22 and a movable blade 23 that can move so as to cross the fixed blade 22. The cutter unit 21 moves the movable blade 23 to cut the transport roll paper R2. The cutting mode by the cutter unit 21 is the transport roll paper R.
2 may be a mode in which a part is cut off in the width direction (hereinafter referred to as “partially cut”), or a mode in which the transport roll paper R2 is completely cut (hereinafter referred to as “complete cut”). Good.

A discharge port 24 is provided downstream of the cutter unit 21 in the transport direction H. The transport roll paper R2 is discharged out of the casing of the label printer 2 through the discharge port 24.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the printing system 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the printing system 1 includes a label printer 2 and a host computer 3 (control device).

The label printer 2 includes a printer control unit 201, a printer storage unit 202, a printing unit 203, a transport unit 204, a cutting unit 205, a sensor unit 206, a printer input unit 207, and a printer display unit 208 (display unit). ) And a printer interface 209.

The printer control unit 201 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, other control circuits, and the like.
Each part of the label printer 2 is controlled. The printer control unit 201 functions as a first setting unit 2011 or a second setting unit 2012 described later by executing a control program stored in the ROM, the printer storage unit 202, or the like.

The printer storage unit 202 includes a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM or a hard disk, and stores various data in a rewritable manner. The printer storage unit 202 stores a printer setting file 2021.

The printer setting file 2021 stores a combination of setting items related to printing and setting values for the setting items. The setting item and the setting value are information indicating settings related to printing, and correspond to setting information.

In the present embodiment, the setting items relating to printing include setting items relating to the setting of the width of the roll paper R (the size of the printing medium) (hereinafter referred to as “size setting item”).
Further, the setting items relating to printing include setting items relating to the setting of the type of the roll paper R (hereinafter referred to as “type setting item”). In the present embodiment, the types of roll paper R are plain paper, fine paper, synthetic paper, glossy paper, and the like. These differ from each other in the surface state of the printing surface of the roll paper R, and in particular, the state of occurrence of ink bleeding differs. For example, fine paper is excellent in ink absorbability and hardly causes ink bleeding, and plain paper and synthetic paper do not have high ink absorbability, and thus ink bleeding is likely to occur. As described above, the state of occurrence of ink bleeding differs depending on the type of roll paper R.
Further, the setting items relating to printing include setting items relating to the setting of the cutting mode (cutting of the print medium) of the transport roll paper R2 (hereinafter referred to as “cutting setting item”). In the present embodiment, the setting value corresponding to the cutting setting item is either a setting value indicating partial cutting or a setting value indicating complete cutting.

The setting values stored in the printer setting file 2021 are specific values such as settings and conditions used when executing printing. For example, the setting value of the roll paper R when a size setting item exists as a setting item. Width value (for example, 80mm, 101mm, 106m
m) or the like.

In the following description, the expression “setting in the printer setting file 2021” indicates that a setting value is set in a predetermined setting item stored in the printer setting file 2021. For example, when expressing that the cutting mode of the transport roll paper R2 is set in the printer setting file 2021, it indicates that a setting value corresponding to the cutting setting item is set.
Further, in the following description, when expressed as a print setting of the label printer 2, a setting value set in a predetermined setting item stored in the printer setting file 2021 is shown.

The printing unit 203 includes the above-described print head 10, a drive circuit that drives the print head 10, the above-described carriage 20, a scanning motor that scans the carriage 20 in a scanning direction that intersects the conveyance direction H, and a motor driver that drives the scanning motor. And other configurations related to printing on the roll paper R. The printing unit 203 is controlled by the printer control unit 201 to roll paper R
Print an image on

The transport unit 204 includes the transport rollers 142, 143, 144, and the driven roller 15 described above.
1, 152, 153, 154, a transport motor that rotates the transport rollers 141, 142, 143, and 144, a motor driver that drives the transport motor, and other configurations related to transport of the roll paper R. The transport unit 204 transports the roll paper R under the control of the printer control unit 201.

The cutting unit 205 includes the above-described cutter unit 21 and a moving motor that moves the movable blade 23 included in the cutter unit 21, a motor driver that drives the moving motor, and other configurations related to cutting of the roll paper R, and a printer control unit. Under the control of 201, the roll paper R is cut.

The sensor unit 206 includes the black mark sensor 181 and the gap sensor 18 described above.
2 is provided. The black mark sensor 181 outputs different detection values to the printer control unit 201 depending on whether or not a black mark exists at a position corresponding to the position where the black mark sensor 181 is provided. Based on the detection value input from the black mark sensor 181, the printer control unit 201 detects the presence or absence of the black mark at the position where the black mark sensor 181 is provided. The gap sensor 182 outputs different detection values to the printer control unit 201 depending on whether or not there is a gap at a position corresponding to the position where the gap sensor 182 is provided. Based on the detection value input from the gap sensor 182, the printer control unit 201 detects the presence or absence of the gap at the position where the gap sensor 182 is provided.

The printer input unit 207 includes an operation switch provided in the label printer 2 and an input unit such as a touch panel. The printer input unit 207 detects an operation on a user input unit and outputs the operation to the printer control unit 201. Based on the input from the printer input unit 207, the printer control unit 201 executes a process corresponding to an operation on the input unit.

The printer display unit 208 includes a plurality of LEDs, a display panel, and the like. Under the control of the printer control unit 201, the LEDs are turned on / off in a predetermined manner and information is displayed on the display panel. In the present embodiment, the printer display unit 208 executes identification display described later under the control of the printer control unit 201.

The printer interface 209 communicates with the host computer 3 according to a predetermined communication standard under the control of the printer control unit 201.

Next, the functional configuration of the host computer 3 will be described. The host computer 3 is a device that controls the label printer 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the host computer 3 includes a host control unit 301, a host storage unit 302, a host input unit 303, a host display unit 304, and a host interface 30.
5.

The host control unit 301 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, other control circuits, and the like, and controls each unit of the host computer 3. The host control unit 301 is a ROM or host storage unit 3
By executing the control program stored in 02 or the like, it functions as an application execution unit 3011 or a printer driver execution unit 3012 described later.

The host storage unit 302 includes a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM or a hard disk, and stores various data in a rewritable manner. The host storage unit 302 stores a host setting file 3021.

The host setting file 3021 includes setting items related to printing in the label printer 2, and
A combination with a setting value for this setting item is stored. The setting item and the setting value are information indicating print settings in the label printer 2 and correspond to setting information. In the present embodiment, the setting items relating to printing stored in the host setting file 3021 include at least a size setting item, a type setting item, and a cutting setting item.

The setting value stored in the host setting file 3021 is the printer setting file 2021.
As with the setting values stored in the table, the settings are specific values such as settings and conditions used when executing printing.

In the following description, the expression “set in the host setting file 3021” indicates that a setting value is set in a predetermined setting item stored in the host setting file 3021.
Further, in the following description, when expressed as a print setting of the host computer 3, setting values set in predetermined setting items stored in the host setting file 3021 are shown.

The host input unit 303 includes operation means provided on the host computer 3 and input means such as a touch panel. The host input unit 303 detects the user's operation on the input means, and the host control unit 3
Output to 01. Based on the input from the host input unit 303, the host control unit 301 executes processing corresponding to the operation on the input unit.

The host display unit 304 includes a plurality of LEDs, a display panel, and the like. Under the control of the host control unit 301, the LED is turned on / off in a predetermined manner and information is displayed on the display panel.

The host interface 305 communicates with the host computer 3 according to a predetermined communication standard as controlled by the host control unit 301.

As shown in FIG. 2, the host control unit 301 includes an application execution unit 3011 and a printer driver execution unit 3012.

The application execution unit 3011 generates print data (data) to be printed on the roll paper R by executing an application installed in advance.

The printer driver execution unit 3012 generates a control command instructing execution of printing based on the print data generated by the application execution unit 3011 by executing a printer driver installed in advance, and transmits the control command to the label printer 2. .

By the way, the printer control unit 201 of the label printer 2 determines, based on either the setting value stored in the printer setting file 2021 or the setting value stored in the host setting file 3021 for each setting item related to printing. Printing based on print data received from the host computer 3 is executed.

More specifically, as described above, the printer driver execution unit 3 of the host computer 3
012 generates a control command instructing execution of printing based on print data when the label printer 2 executes printing, and transmits the generated control command to the label printer 2. Based on the control command, the printer control unit 201 of the label printer 2 prints the printing unit 2.
In step 03, printing based on the print data is executed. When executing printing based on print data, the printer control unit 201 executes printing with settings based on setting values for each setting item related to printing. For example, when the setting value corresponding to the cutting setting item is a setting value indicating a cutting mode for completely cutting the transport roll paper R2, the printer control unit 201 cuts and prints the transport roll paper R2 in the cutting mode. Execute.

This control command may include setting values corresponding to the setting items stored in the host setting file 3021. When the control command includes a setting value, the printer control unit 201 executes printing with a setting based on the setting value included in the control command for the setting item corresponding to the setting value included in the control command. On the other hand, the printer control unit 20
1, when a setting value is not included in the control command, printing is executed with a setting based on the setting value stored in the printer setting file 2021 for the setting item corresponding to the setting value not including the control command. For example, when the control command includes a setting value corresponding to the cutting setting item, the printer control unit 201 does not execute printing in a cutting mode based on the setting value corresponding to the cutting setting item in the printer setting file 2021, and performs control. Printing is executed in a cutting mode based on the set value included in the command. On the other hand, when the control command does not include a setting value corresponding to the cutting setting item, the printer control unit 201 performs printing in a cutting mode based on the setting value corresponding to the cutting setting item of the printer setting file 2021.

That is, when a setting value is included in a control command at the time of printing, the setting item corresponding to the setting value is given priority to the print setting of the host computer 3, and the setting item corresponding to a setting value not included in the control command. With regard to, the print setting of the label printer 2 is prioritized.

However, if the setting value stored in the host setting file 3021 is different from the setting value stored in the printer setting file 2021 for the setting items that overlap in the host setting file 3021 and the printer setting file 2021, the printer control unit 201
Printing that is not intended by the user may be performed.

For example, it is assumed that the user operates the input unit of the label printer 2 and sets a setting value indicating that the width of the roll paper R is “88 mm” in the size setting item of the printer setting file 2021. Here, in the size setting item of the host setting file 3021, roll paper R
A setting value indicating that the width size of “106 mm” is set is set to “106” in the control command.
When the setting value indicating “mm” is included, the printer control unit 201 executes printing with the width size of the roll paper R set to “106 mm”. In this case, the printer control unit 20
No. 1 may not execute printing suitable for the width of the roll paper R, and may not execute printing intended by the user.

Further, for example, it is assumed that the user accommodates plain paper roll paper R in the label printer 2 and sets a setting value indicating “plain paper” in the type setting item of the printer setting file 2021. Here, when the setting value indicating “fine paper” is set in the type setting item of the host setting file 3021 and the control command includes a setting value indicating “fine paper”, the printer control unit 201 sets the roll paper. Printing is executed using the R type as fine paper. As described above, since the occurrence of ink bleeding differs depending on the type of roll paper R, the printer control unit 201 must not perform printing corresponding to the type of roll paper R, but the user's intention due to ink bleeding. Printing may not be performed. Here, printing according to the type of roll paper R is, for example, when printing a barcode, the roll paper R so that the width of the black portion of the barcode does not exceed the standard width due to ink bleeding. Depending on the type of printing, the width of the black portion of the barcode is adjusted in consideration of ink bleeding.

For example, it is assumed that the user operates the input unit of the label printer 2 and sets a setting value indicating complete cutting of the transport roll paper R2 in the cutting setting item of the printer setting file 2021. Here, when a setting value indicating partial disconnection is set in the disconnection setting item of the host setting file 3021 and the control command includes the setting value, the printer control unit 201
Partial cutting is executed, and printing intended by the user is not executed.

As described above, when printing that is not intended by the user is executed, the user changes the print setting of the label printer 2 or the host computer 3 (changes the setting value), whereby the printer control unit In 201, printing intended by the user can be executed. However, in order to make this change, if the user does not recognize whether the setting is based on either the label printer 2 or the host computer 3 for each setting item, On the other hand, it is not easy to determine which print setting of the label printer 2 or the host computer 3 should be changed. Therefore, the user may change the print settings of either the label printer 2 or the host computer 3 many times in order to perform the intended printing. Further, if the user executes printing to check whether the intended printing is executed every time the print setting is changed, the consumption of ink and roll paper R increases.

Therefore, the label printer 2 of the present embodiment executes the following operation.
Hereinafter, the operation of the label printer 2 will be described through the description of the first setting unit 2011 and the second setting unit 2012 included in the printer control unit 201.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the label printer 2.

The printer control unit 201 of the label printer 2 determines whether or not a control command including print data is received from the host computer 3 (step S1).

The printer control unit 201 refers to a reception buffer (not shown) and determines that the control command is not received when the control command is not stored in the reception buffer (step S1).
: NO), the process of step S1 is executed again. Thus, the printer control unit 201
Monitors whether the control command is stored in the reception buffer by returning the process to step S1.

The printer control unit 201 refers to a reception buffer (not shown) and determines that the control command is received when the control command is stored in the reception buffer (step S1: YE).
S), it is determined whether or not the setting is to execute identification printing (step S2).

Here, the identification printing is to print, for each setting item, identification information for identifying whether the printing setting of the label printer 2 or the printing setting of the host computer 3 is associated with the information indicating the setting item. Say. An example of identification printing will be described later.

The first setting unit 2011 sets whether or not to execute identification printing. The first setting unit 2011 accepts a user operation from the printer input unit 207 or the like, and sets whether to execute identification printing according to the accepted operation. For example, the first setting unit 2011
When the received operation is an operation indicating that identification printing is not executed, the printer storage unit 2
By storing information indicating that the identification printing is not executed by 02 or the like, it is set that the identification printing is not executed. Further, for example, when the received operation is an operation indicating that identification printing is executed, the first setting unit 2011 stores information indicating that identification printing is executed by the printer storage unit 202 or the like. Set when printing is executed.

The setting by the first setting unit 2011 may be performed when the label printer 2 is turned on for the first time after shipment from the factory, or may be performed at any timing of the user.

If the printer control unit 201 determines that the setting is to execute identification printing by referring to the printer storage unit 202 or the like based on the setting by the first setting unit 2011 (step S2: YES), the printer control unit 201 executes identification display. It is determined whether or not the setting is made (step S3).

Here, the identification display is to display, for each setting item, identification information for identifying whether the print setting of the label printer 2 or the print setting of the host computer 3 is associated with information indicating the setting item. Say.

Whether or not to execute the identification display is set by the second setting unit 2012. The second setting unit 2012 accepts a user operation through the printer input unit 207 and the like, and sets whether to execute identification display according to the accepted operation. For example, the second setting unit 2012
When the received operation is an operation indicating that the identification display is not executed, the printer storage unit 2
By storing information indicating that the identification display is not executed by 02 or the like, it is set that the identification display is not executed. Further, for example, when the received operation is an operation indicating that the identification display is executed, the second setting unit 2012 stores the information indicating that the identification display is executed by the printer storage unit 202 or the like. Set when display is executed.

Note that the setting by the second setting unit 2012 may be executed at the timing when the power of the label printer 2 is turned on for the first time after shipment from the factory, similarly to the setting timing by the first setting unit 2011, and at any timing of the user. It may be executable.

If the printer control unit 201 determines that the setting for executing the identification display is not performed by referring to the printer storage unit 202 or the like based on the setting by the second setting unit 2012 (step S3: NO), the printing unit 203 performs identification printing. Is executed (step S5). For example, the printer control unit 201 executes identification printing by the printing unit 203 when information indicating that identification printing is executed and information indicating that identification display is not executed are stored in the printer storage unit 202 or the like. To do.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printing result by identification printing.

As shown in FIG. 4, in identification printing, information indicating setting items, information indicating setting values, and identification information are printed in association with each setting item. In the present embodiment, the case where the printer setting file 2021 and the host setting file 3021 include a size setting item, a type setting item, and a cutting setting item is illustrated. Therefore, in the example of the printing result of the identification printing shown in FIG. 4, for each of the size setting item, the type setting item, and the cutting setting item, information indicating the setting item, information indicating the set value, identification information, Is shown in the case of printing.
Here, “printing in association with each other” indicates that information indicating a setting item, information indicating a setting value, and identification information are printed for each setting item.

Note that the printer control unit 201 executes identification printing according to a template for identification printing. Here, the template is information including at least information indicating a setting item, information indicating a setting value, and information regarding a printing position of the identification information for each setting item in identification printing. The template is stored in advance in the printer storage unit 202 or the like. Further, the printer control unit 201 prints identification information in identification printing based on the setting value included in the control command. For example, when the control command includes a setting value corresponding to the size setting item and the cutting setting item and does not include a setting value corresponding to the type setting item, the printer control unit 201 performs the size setting item, In addition, information indicating the host computer 3 is printed as identification information corresponding to the cutting setting item, and information indicating the label printer 2 is printed as identification information corresponding to the type setting item.

In the example of the printing result of the identification printing shown in FIG. 4, for the size setting item, information J1 indicating “roll paper width size” as information indicating the size setting item, and “
A print result in which information J4 indicating “88 mm” is associated with information J7 indicating “host” as identification information for the size setting item is shown. Here, “host” is an abbreviation for the host computer 3 and indicates the host computer 3.

In the example of the identification print result shown in FIG. 4, for the type setting item, information J2 indicating “type of roll paper” as information indicating the type setting item and “plain paper” as information indicating the set value are used. A print result in which information J5 indicating the information J8 indicating “printer” as identification information for the type setting item is associated is shown. Here, “printer” means label printer 2
The label printer 2 is indicated.

Further, in the example of the printing result of the identification printing shown in FIG. 4, for the cutting setting item, information J3 indicating “cutting” as information indicating the cutting setting item and information J5 indicating “complete cutting” as the information indicating the setting value. And a print result in which information J9 indicating “host” is associated as identification information for the cutting setting item.

That is, the printer control unit 201 sets the width size of the roll paper R as “88 mm”, sets the type of the roll paper R as “plain paper”, and prints the print result shown in FIG. The printing result when the cutting mode is set as complete cutting and identification printing is executed is shown. That is, the print result shown in FIG. 4 is based on the print setting of the host computer 3 for the size setting item, the print setting of the label printer 2 for the type setting item, and the print setting of the host computer 3 for the cutting setting item. Indicates that printing based on the print data is executed.

As described above, the printer control unit 201 of the label printer 2 can perform identification printing, and can present to the user whether there is a print setting of the label printer 2 or the host computer 3 for each setting item. Therefore, the user can easily determine which print setting of the label printer 2 or the host computer 3 should be changed for each setting item in order to obtain an intended print result. Therefore, since the intended printing is executed, the user can recognize the device whose print settings are to be changed, and can accurately change the print settings without changing the settings many times. As a result, the probability that the printing for confirming whether the printing intended by the user is executed is reduced every time the printing setting is changed, and the ink and roll paper R associated with the change in the printing setting are reduced. Can be reduced.

For example, when the user accommodates a roll paper R having a width of 106 mm in the label printer 2 and sets a setting value indicating that the width of the roll paper R is 106 mm in the printer setting file 2021, the identification printing is performed. It is assumed that the print result shown in 4 is printed. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the printer control unit 201 performs “
It is possible to present to the user that printing is performed based on the setting value indicating “88 mm”, and it is possible to present to the user that printing is executed based on the print setting of the host computer 3 for this size setting item. Therefore, the user can recognize that the device whose print setting is changed is the host computer 3 for the size setting item. Therefore, the user sets the setting value for the size setting item of the host computer 3 to “88 mm.
By changing the setting value indicating “106 mm” to the setting value indicating “106 mm”, it is possible to perform setting so that intended printing is executed.

Further, for example, the user accommodates the roll paper R of fine paper in the label printer 2, and the setting value indicating “fine paper” is not set in the printer setting file 2021.
Assume that the print result shown in FIG. 4 is printed by identification printing when the set value indicating “plain paper” is set. As shown in FIG. 4, the printer control unit 201 can present to the user that the type setting item is printed based on the setting value indicating “plain paper” by the identification printing, and the type setting item. The user can be informed that printing is executed based on the print settings of the label printer 2. As described above, when the setting value is not included in the control command transmitted from the host computer 3, the printer control unit 201 executes printing based on the setting value in the printer setting file 2021. As a mode in which the setting value is not included in the control command, there is no setting item (type setting item in the case of FIG. 4) in the host setting file 3021, or there is a setting item but no setting value is set. Can be mentioned. Here, since it is presented to the user as shown in FIG. 4, the user can recognize that the device whose print setting is changed for the type setting item is the label printer 2. Therefore, the user can change the setting value for the type setting item of the label printer 2 from the setting value indicating “plain paper” to the setting value indicating “fine paper” so that the intended printing is executed. .

Further, for example, when the user sets a setting value indicating partial disconnection in the printer setting file 2021, it is assumed that the print result shown in FIG. 4 is printed by identification printing. As shown in FIG. 4, the printer control unit 201 can present to the user that the cutting setting item is printed based on the setting value indicating “complete cutting” by the identification printing, and the cutting setting item. It is possible to present to the user that printing is executed based on the print settings of the host computer 3. Therefore, the user can recognize that the device whose print setting is changed is the host computer 3 for the cutting setting item. Therefore, the user can change the setting value for the cutting setting item of the host computer 3 from the setting value indicating complete cutting to the setting value indicating partial cutting so that intended printing is executed.

Returning to the description of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, when executing the identification printing, the printer control unit 201 determines whether or not to execute printing based on the received print data with the current setting (
Step S9). The current setting is at least a setting indicated by a setting value for a setting item printed by identification printing, or a setting indicated by a setting value for a setting item displayed by identification display.

For example, the printer control unit 201 displays information indicating “print with current settings” on the printer display unit 208 and performs printing with current settings in a selectable manner. And information for instructing not to execute printing with the current settings. Then, when information indicating that printing is performed with the current settings is selected by the user, the printer control unit 201 determines to perform printing based on the print data received with the current settings (step S9: YES). . On the other hand, when information indicating that printing is not performed with the current setting is selected by the user, the printer control unit 201 determines that printing is not performed with the current setting (step S9: NO).

If it is determined that printing based on the print data received with the current settings is to be executed (step S9: YES), the printer control unit 201 executes printing based on the print data received from the host computer 3 (step S11).

As described above, the printer control unit 201 executes printing based on the print data received from the host computer 3 after executing identification printing. In other words, the printer control unit 201 executes identification printing before executing printing based on the print data received from the host computer 3. Therefore, for each setting item, the printer control unit 201 determines whether printing based on print data received from the host computer 3 is executed by using any print setting of the label printer 2 or the host computer 3. Can be presented to the user.

On the other hand, if the printer control unit 201 determines that printing based on the print data received with the current settings is not to be executed (step S9: NO), the printer control unit 201 determines whether the print settings have been changed by the user (step S9). S10). For example, if the printer control unit 201 determines that printing based on the print data received with the current settings is not to be executed, the printer control unit 201 displays information indicating that “print settings have been changed” and selects Information indicating that the print setting has been changed is displayed in a possible manner. Then, when information indicating that the print setting has been changed is selected by the user, the printer control unit 201 determines that the print setting has been changed, and the information indicating that the print setting has been changed is If not selected,
It is determined that the print setting has not been changed.

If it is determined that the print setting has not been changed (step S10: NO), the printer control unit 201 returns the process to step S10 and determines again whether the print setting has been changed. By returning the processing to step S10 in this way, the printer control unit 20
1 monitors whether the print setting has been changed.

On the other hand, when the printer control unit 201 determines that the print setting has been changed (step S10: YES), the printer control unit 201 returns the process to step S2. Here, if the setting is to execute identification printing, the printer control unit 201 executes identification printing again.

In this manner, after executing identification printing, it is possible to obtain the following effects by determining whether or not to print with the current settings. That is, if the print data received from the host computer 3 is printed after executing the identification print, if the print setting is not the print setting desired by the user, the print based on the print data is the print mode desired by the user. In other words, useless roll paper R may be consumed. Here, after executing the identification printing, the above step S
By executing the processing of 9 to step S10, when the print setting is not the print setting desired by the user, it is possible to prevent the printing based on the print data from being executed, and it is possible to prevent unnecessary consumption of the roll paper R.

Returning to step S3 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, if the printer control unit 201 determines that the setting is to execute identification display (step S3: YES), it executes identification printing and identification display (step S6). . For example, when information indicating that identification printing is executed and information indicating that identification display is executed are stored in the printer storage unit 202 or the like, the printer control unit 201 performs identification printing and identification display. Run. That is, the printer control unit 201 executes identification display in addition to identification printing.

Here, the identification display executed in addition to the identification printing by the printing unit 203 displays information corresponding to the identification printing. For example, when the identification printing shown in the example of FIG. 4 is executed, the printer control unit 201 executes the identification display for the identification printing shown in the example of FIG. That is, for the size setting item, the printer control unit 201 uses the printer display unit 208 to display information indicating “size” as information indicating the size setting item, and information indicating a setting value of “88 mm” as the information indicating the setting value. The information indicating “host” is displayed in association with the identification information. The printer control unit 201 also includes a printer display unit 2.
As for the type setting item, the information indicating “type” as the information indicating the type setting item, the information indicating “plain paper” as the information indicating the setting value, and the information indicating “printer” as the identification information are associated with 08. To display. Further, the printer control unit 201 uses the printer display unit 208 to identify, with respect to the cutting setting item, information indicating “cutting” as information indicating the cutting setting item, information indicating “complete cutting” as information indicating the setting value, and identification Information indicating “host” is displayed in association with the information.

As described above, since the printer control unit 201 executes identification display in addition to identification printing, the setting value used at the time of printing is a setting value stored in either the label printer 2 or the host computer 3. As compared with the case of only the identification printing, the probability that the user recognizes is increased.

When executing the identification display in addition to the identification printing, the printer control unit 201 determines whether to execute printing based on the received print data with the current setting (step S9). If the printer control unit 201 determines that printing based on the received print data is to be executed with the current settings, the printer control unit 201 executes printing based on the print data received from the host computer 3 (step S11). As described above, the printer control unit 201 executes identification printing and identification display before executing printing based on the print data received from the host computer 3. In this case, the same effect as described above is obtained. If the printer control unit 201 determines that printing based on the received print data is not executed with the current setting, the printer control unit 201 executes the process of step S10. As described above, after executing identification printing and identification display, it is possible to obtain the same effect as described above by determining whether or not printing is performed with the current setting.

Returning to the description of step S2 in the flowchart of FIG. 3, when the printer control unit 201 determines that the setting is not for executing identification printing (step S2: NO), the printer control unit 201 determines whether the setting is for executing identification display. (Step S4).

Next, when the printer control unit 201 determines that the setting is to execute identification display (
(Step S4: YES), identification printing is not performed, but identification display is performed (step S7). In other words, the printer control unit 201 executes identification display instead of identification printing. For example, when information indicating that identification printing is not performed and information indicating that identification display is performed are stored in the printer storage unit 202 or the like, the printer control unit 201 replaces identification printing with identification display. Execute.

In this way, the printer control unit 201 executes the identification display, so that for each setting item,
It can be shown to the user whether the print setting used at the time of printing is either the label printer 2 or the host computer 3. In particular, since the printer control unit 201 executes identification display instead of identification printing, consumption of ink used in identification printing and roll paper R can be suppressed.

When executing identification display instead of identification printing, the printer control unit 201 determines whether or not to execute printing based on the received print data with the current settings (step S9). If the printer control unit 201 determines that printing based on the received print data is to be executed with the current settings (step S9: YES), the printer control unit 201 executes printing based on the print data received from the host computer 3 (step S11). ). In addition, the printer control unit 201
If it is determined that printing based on the received print data is not executed with the current setting, the process of step S10 is executed.

Returning to the description of step S4 in the flowchart of FIG. 3, when the printer control unit 201 determines that the setting is not for executing identification display (step S4: NO), it does not execute identification printing and identification display (step S8). ), Printing based on the received print data is executed (step S11).

As described above, the printer control unit 201 executes identification printing when the first setting unit 2011 is set to execute identification printing, and executes identification printing when the first setting unit 2011 sets not to execute identification printing. Do not execute. In this way, since the first setting unit 2011 can set whether or not to execute identification printing, the identification printing is not performed unnecessarily. Therefore, each time printing based on the print data received from the host computer 3 is executed, the user can set whether or not to execute identification printing without consuming ink or roll paper R in identification printing. Can be prevented from deteriorating.

Further, as described above, the printer control unit 201 executes identification display when the second setting unit 2012 is set to execute identification display. Further, when the second setting unit 2012 is set to execute identification display in addition to identification printing, the printer control unit 201 executes identification display in addition to identification printing, and the second setting unit 2012 replaces identification printing. When the identification display is set to be executed, the identification display is executed instead of the identification printing. As described above, since the second setting unit 2012 can set whether to perform identification display in addition to identification printing or to perform identification display instead of identification printing, identification display is performed together with identification printing. The user can select whether or not to perform identification printing, and can indicate which device print settings are used for printing based on print data regardless of whether or not identification printing is executed, thereby improving user convenience. .

As described above, the label printer 2 (printing apparatus) is connected to the host computer 3.
Print data (data) received from the (control device) is printed based on setting values (setting information). The label printer 2 displays identification information for identifying whether the setting value is a setting value set on either the host computer 3 side or the label printer 2 as a setting item (
A printer control unit 201 (control unit) that executes identification printing, which is printed in association with setting information).

Accordingly, since identification printing is executed, it can be shown to the user which print setting of the host computer 3 or the label printer 2 is used when printing the print data.

In addition, the printer control unit 201 executes identification printing before executing printing based on print data received from the host computer 3.
As a result, the printer control unit 201 executes identification printing before executing printing based on the print data received from the host computer 3, so which device print setting is used for each setting item. It can be shown to the user whether printing based on the data received from is executed.

The printer control unit 201 of the label printer 2 includes a first setting unit 2011 that can set whether or not to perform identification printing.

Thereby, since the first setting unit 2011 can set whether or not to execute identification printing,
Unnecessarily, identification printing is not executed, and a decrease in user convenience can be prevented.

The label printer 2 also includes a printer display unit 208 and a second setting unit 2012 that can set whether or not to perform identification display.

Thereby, since it is possible to set whether or not the identification display is executed by the second setting unit 2012,
It is possible to prevent the identification display from being performed unnecessarily.

Further, the label printer 2 includes a printer display unit 208. Printer control unit 2
01 is a printer display unit 20 in addition to executing identification printing or instead of executing identification printing.
The identification display is executed according to 8.

As a result, the printer control unit 201 receives the identification display from the host computer 3 regardless of whether or not the identification printing is executed in order to execute the identification display in addition to or instead of executing the identification printing. The printing data can be presented to the user as to which device print settings are used and printed.

The label printer 2 includes a second setting unit 2012 that can set whether to execute identification display in addition to execution of identification printing or to execute identification display instead of execution of identification printing.

As a result, the second setting unit 2012 can set whether to execute identification display in addition to executing identification printing, or to execute identification display instead of executing identification printing. Whether to execute or not can be set, and convenience is improved.

In addition, the printer control unit 201 executes identification printing for at least one of the size setting item, the type setting item, and the cutting setting item.

For at least one of the size setting item, the type setting item, and the cutting setting item, it can be shown to the user which print setting of the host computer 3 or the label printer 2 is used when printing the print data.

In addition, embodiment mentioned above shows the one aspect | mode of this invention to the last, and a deformation | transformation and application are arbitrarily possible within the scope of the present invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the printer control unit 201 executes identification printing for the size setting item, the type setting item, and the cutting setting item is illustrated. However, setting items to be subjected to identification printing are not limited to these. For example, identification printing may be executed for the setting item indicating the print density, or identification printing may be executed for the setting item indicating the margin. In addition, the setting items to be identified and printed are the printer setting file 202.
1 may be all of the setting items stored, or may be a predetermined setting item.

Further, for example, in the above-described embodiment, “host” is used as identification information in identification printing.
Or the case where the information which shows the abbreviation of apparatuses, such as "printer", is printed was illustrated. However, the identification information is not limited to this, and may be information that can be identified by the user.

Further, for example, when the above-described control method of the label printer 2 (control method of the printing apparatus) is realized using a computer included in the label printer 2, the computer executes the present invention to realize the control method. It is also possible to configure the program in the form of a recording medium in which the program is recorded so as to be readable by the computer, or a transmission medium for transmitting the program. As the recording medium, a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory device can be used. Specifically, flexible disk, HDD (Hard Disk Drive), CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory), D
Examples thereof include portable or fixed recording media such as VD (Digital Versatile Disk), Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disc, magneto-optical disk, flash memory, and card type recording medium. The recording medium is an internal storage device provided in the label printer 2 R
A non-volatile storage device such as an AM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), or an HDD may be used.

Further, for example, the processing unit in FIG. 3 is divided according to main processing contents in order to make the processing of the label printer 2 easy to understand. There is no limit. The processing of the label printer 2 may be divided into many processing units according to the processing contents. Moreover, you may divide | segment so that one process unit may contain many processes.

Moreover, each function part shown in FIG. 2 shows a functional structure, and the specific mounting form is not specifically limited. That is, it is not always necessary to mount hardware corresponding to each function unit individually, and it is of course possible to adopt a configuration in which the functions of a plurality of function units are realized by one processor executing a program. In addition, in the above-described embodiment, a part of the function realized by software may be hardware, or a part of the function realized by hardware may be realized by software. In addition, specific detailed configurations of other parts of the label printer 2 and the host computer 3 can be arbitrarily changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the label printer 2 is exemplified as a serial ink jet printer. However, the label printer 2 is not limited to a serial type ink jet printer, and may be a line type ink jet printer.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the printing apparatus is exemplified as a label printer, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to other printers such as a thermal printer and a dot impact printer. In this case, identification printing is executed for setting items corresponding to the printer.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing system, 2 ... Label printer (printing apparatus), 3 ... Host computer (
Control device), 201... Printer control unit (control unit), 202... Printer storage unit, 203
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS: Printing part, 204 ... Conveyance part, 205 ... Cutting part, 206 ... Sensor part, 207 ... Printer input part, 208 ... Printer display part (display part), 209 ... Printer interface,
301 ... Host control unit 302 ... Host storage unit 303 ... Host input unit 304 ... Host display unit 305 ... Host interface 2011 ... First setting unit 2012 ... Second setting unit 2021 ... Printer setting file 3011 ... Application execution unit, 3012
... printer driver execution unit, 3021 ... host setting file, R ... roll paper (print medium), R2 ... transport roll paper (print medium).

Claims (7)

A printing device that prints data received from a control device based on setting information,
A control unit for executing identification printing, in which identification information for identifying whether the setting information is information set on either the control device side or the printing device side is printed in association with the setting information A printing apparatus comprising: The controller is
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification printing is executed before printing based on data received from the control apparatus. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first setting unit capable of setting whether to execute the identification printing. A display unit;
The second setting unit capable of setting whether or not to execute identification display in which the identification information is displayed on the display unit in association with the setting information. 5. Printing device. The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit executes the identification display in addition to execution of the identification printing or instead of execution of the identification printing. The printing according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the setting information is at least one of information relating to a size of the printing medium, information relating to a type of the printing medium, and information relating to cutting of the printing medium. apparatus. A method for controlling a printing apparatus that prints data received from a control apparatus based on setting information,
A control method for a printing apparatus that executes identification printing, in which identification information for identifying whether the setting information is set on either the control apparatus side or the printing apparatus side is printed in association with the setting information.

Images