JP3008855B2 - Label printer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a label printer for printing characters and the like on label paper, and more particularly to a label printer which can use different character fonts for printing according to the purpose of use of the label.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Label printers capable of selectively using various character fonts in accordance with the purpose of use of labels have been proposed. The purpose of using various character fonts is to emphasize the selling point of the product to the customer or to make the product stand out. FIG.
(A), (b) is a figure which shows a print sample. For example, as shown in FIG. 12A, the character “980” indicating the price of a product is printed in a POP typeface giving a handwritten impression, and indicates the price shown in FIG. 12B. The character “580” is printed in a legible Gothic typeface.

A label printer capable of printing various character fonts as described above needs to store many types of character font data for the same character.
Usually, a character generator ROM (hereinafter referred to as a character generator RO) storing the above various character font data.
M). For example, FIG.
In order to issue the labels of the examples (a) and (b), the label printer needs to include at least a character generation ROM for storing a POP typeface font and a character generation ROM for storing a Gothic typeface font.

[0004]

By the way, generally,
The above-mentioned character generation ROM has a high unit price. Therefore, the cost of a label printer provided with a large number of character generator ROMs was extremely high. At stores such as supermarkets, there is a desire to attach labels to individual products and print unique products such as bargains with unique characters so that customers can be appealed to them. However, as described above, a label printer capable of printing various character fonts is expensive, and there has been a problem that the cost is extremely high in order to fulfill the above demand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a low-cost label printer capable of printing various character fonts.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus including a printing unit capable of printing dots, and converting font data corresponding to a character code into a character type and a typeface of the character. In a label printer that stores a plurality of types of fonts classified based on the same and reads out the corresponding font data by designating the font and the character code and prints the font data on label paper, font data of characters included in the font At least
A font file for storing one set , dot data created by inputting data for each dot by key operation, or setting means for setting dot data input from an image scanner as the font data in the font file, and a font Sentence for one set which has beforehand
Determines whether all font data is set
And a case where the judgment result of the judgment means is negative.
In this case, there is provided a notifying means for notifying the user. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the label printer according to the first aspect, at least a format number,
Print format consisting of print format and font number
Format file and the print format file
Specify the font number when setting the font number
The font data included in the specified number font is
Fonts for one set of characters
Setting that determines whether all the event data is set
Time judgment means and the setting time judgment means
Notification means for notifying that
It is characterized by. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the label printer according to the first aspect , characters are printed on label paper.
Is included in the numeric font specified by the font number.
Font data that the specified font has
All the font data for one set of characters
Means for determining whether or not the
If the judgment result of the disconnection means is negative, it is notified to that effect.
And a notifying means.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an example of an external configuration of a label printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an electrical configuration of the label printer. In these figures, a control unit shown in FIG. 2 is provided inside the main body 1, and a balance 2 is connected to the control unit. Also, on the front of the main body 1,
First label printing mechanism 3a and second label printing mechanism 3
b, and an operation unit 4 is provided.
The first label printing mechanism 3a and the second label printing mechanism 3b print arbitrary characters, numbers, and images in dot units.

Different label sheets are mounted on the first label printing mechanism 3a and the second label printing mechanism 3b, respectively, and either one of the first label printing mechanism 3a and the second label printing mechanism 3b is mounted. Is selected, and printing can be performed on label paper that suits the purpose. For example, a normal price label is attached to the first label printing mechanism 3a to print a price label of a normal product, and a second label printing mechanism 3b is provided to the first label printing mechanism 3b. Hei07-130
A price label with POP printing as described in the specification attached to the application No. 766 can be attached to print a price label of a bargain product.

The operation unit 4 includes a numeric keypad 5, a product number key 6, an operation / display unit 8, and the like. Here, the item number key 6 is used together with the numeric keypad 5 when inputting the item number of a product. The operation / display unit 8 includes a liquid crystal display 8a
The touch panel 8b (see FIG. 2) is laminated on the upper surface of the touch panel (see FIG. 2). The operation unit 4 includes:
An image scanner 10 is connected via a connector 9. The image scanner 10 reads a figure, and this makes it possible to print the read figure on a label sheet. The image scanner 10 is also used to read image data to be printed on a label for appealing to customers.

Reference numeral 20 shown in FIG. 2 denotes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) which controls each unit of the apparatus to perform processing. Specifically, C
The PU 20 performs input processing for processing input data input from the operation unit 4, image data read by the image scanner 20, and various input data such as weight data input from the scale 2, a first label printing mechanism unit 3a. ,
3b, a printing process for controlling the printing operation, a display process for outputting various information to the liquid crystal display 8a, a print data creating process for creating print data, and the like. The CPU 20 sets the operation mode of the main body 1 as a price mode for printing a label and issuing a label with a price, a setting mode for setting the content to be printed, a report mode for reporting a label issuance result, and the like. Switch to maintenance mode, etc.

The scale 2, the first label printing mechanism 3a, the second label printing mechanism 3b, the image scanner 10, the liquid crystal display 8a, various keys and switches, and the touch panel 8b are arranged as shown in FIG. Load cell control unit 2
1, via a print control unit 22, a scanner control unit 23, a display control unit 25, and an operation control unit 24,
When a product is placed on the scale 2, the weight of the product is output to the CPU 20 via the load cell control unit 21 as weighing data.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a ROM (Read Only Memory), which is a program for controlling the processing of the CPU 20 described above, that is, an input processing program, a print processing program,
A display processing program, a print data creation processing program, and the like are stored. Reference numeral 35 denotes a character generator ROM (hereinafter, referred to as a character generator ROM) that stores a plurality of types of font data of characters such as numbers, alphabets, kana, kanji, commas, and symbols.
The character generator ROM 35 includes a plurality of different font data for the same character, that is, the same character code. Each character is classified as a font for each character type and character typeface, and a font number is assigned to each font. This character generation R
The OM 35 corresponds to a character whose font number is less than “20”.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a RAM (Random Access Memory).
As shown in FIG. 3, storage areas such as a working area 30a, a font file 30b, a print format file 30c, and a product file 30d are provided. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a memory map of the RAM 30. Of the various storage areas provided in the RAM 30, the storage areas for the print format file 30c and the product file 30d are provided with a battery backup, so that the print format file 30c and the product file The content of 30d is not lost.

Next, the contents of each storage area of the RAM 30 will be described in detail. The working area 30a provided in the RAM 30 stores the contents of flags, registers, counters and the like used when executing the various programs, and temporarily stores data read from various files described later. Print format file 30c
Is an area for storing a plurality of print format data, and a label is printed according to the print format data selected from the plurality of defined print format data. Figure 4 shows the print format file 3
It is a table | surface which shows an example of 0c. Figure F1~FN are each print format data, the print format data F1~FN the product name to perform the print format data F1~FN format allocated to each number F _n, the print on the label, additives, and It comprises items I such as price, print start positions S _x and S _y , print direction d, and font number N. Hereinafter, the item I, the print start positions _Sx and _Sy , and the print direction d are referred to as a print format.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the font file 30b. This font file 30b is provided to store font data input by the operator, and as shown in FIG.
Alphabet, kana, or fonts NE assigned to each of the Chinese characters, symbols, marks, or one of their sizes, their fonts, etc .: C,
It comprises a data length L necessary for storing each character C, and image data of each character C, that is, font data FD. The data length L of the font data FD is a variable length that differs for each character C. A data length L is provided in correspondence with each character C, and the font data FD defined by the data length L is read, so that necessary font data F
D is obtained. The reason why the data length of the font data FD is variable is to save a storage area. As shown in FIG. 5, when the font number NE is “20”, the font number NE is a numeral and corresponds to a font of a predetermined typeface.

The product file 30d includes a product name,
Information about the product such as unit price and additives (hereinafter referred to as product data) is a file stored for each product. Format number F _n in the print format file 30c is stored as part of the product file 30d. At the time of printing, the display unit 8 in FIG. 1 is set to a price-added screen, the corresponding product data in the product file 30d is called from this screen, and the format number included in this product data or this value-added screen is displayed. The print format data corresponding to the format number is read from the print format file 30c and printed according to the format number temporarily changed in step (1).

In the above configuration, an outline of the operation of the label printer according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. 6 to 8 are flowcharts showing the outline of the operation of the label printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 9 to 11 show reading and editing of dot data by the label printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the display unit 8 and ten keys 5 and a product number key 6 when performing the operation. The operation described below is performed under the control of the CPU 20 shown in FIG.

When the operation is started, first, in step S1, it is determined whether or not the operation mode of the main body 1 is the pricing mode. If the result of this determination is “Yes”, the process proceeds to step S2. In step S2, the operator operates the numeric keypad 5 and the product number key 6 to search the product file 30d in FIG. 3 using the product number input as a key, read out the corresponding product data, and display the data on the screen. Will be In step S3,
Using the format number included in the read product data as a key, the print format file 3 shown in FIG.
A process of reading the corresponding print format data from 0c is performed.

In step S4, of the print format data read out in step S3, the font number NE set to the font file 30b shown in FIG. It is determined whether the font data FD is set for all the characters C corresponding to..., That is, whether the value of the data length L is 1 or more. If the determination result is “Yes”, the step Proceed to S5.

In step S5, the merchandise data read out in step S2, the weighing data relating to the merchandise placed on the scale 2, and the price data calculated from the weighing data and the unit price included in the merchandise data are transferred to the character generator. Using the font data stored in the ROM 35 or the font data FD stored in the font file 30b, a process of developing as dot data in the working area 30a provided in the RAM 30 is performed. At this time, the product data, the weighing data, and the price data are developed in accordance with the format of the print format data read in step S3.

In step S6, the dot data developed in step S5 is sent to the print control unit 22 shown in FIG. 2, and the label data is designated by the first label printing mechanism 3a or the second label printing mechanism 3b designated in advance. Printing is performed on a sheet of paper, and a label printed using a POP font or a Gothic font as shown in FIG. 12A or 12B (b) is issued. When this process ends, the process returns to the step S1.

On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S4 is "No", that is, if the font number NE set in the font file 30b is "20" or more, the character corresponding to the font number NE If there is at least one for which no font data FD is set for C, the process proceeds to step S7. In step S7, since all the font data for the fonts have not been set, the display section 8 shown in FIG. 1 displays "No font data for font number XX, character ！!" (Not shown: notification means), and returns to step S1.

On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S1 is "No", that is, if it is determined that the operation mode of the main body 1 is not the priced mode, the process proceeds to step S8. In step S8, it is determined whether or not the operation mode of the main body 1 is the setting mode, and the determination result is “No”.
If it is, the process proceeds to step S9. In step S9, other processes such as a report mode and a maintenance mode are performed, and the process returns to S1.

On the other hand, if the decision result in the step S8 is "Yes", the process proceeds to a step S10. In step S10, it is determined whether or not the setting mode is a setting for setting the font file 30b.
If the result of this determination is “Yes”, then step S1
Proceed to 1. In step S11, the font number corresponding to the character C to be set is input by operating the numeric keypad 5 by the operator. Then, the input process of the font number NE corresponding to this operation is performed.

In step S12, the operator performs an operation of designating a character to be set. In this operation, first, the character key PB2 on the screen shown in FIG.
By touching, all the characters C are displayed in a list, and among the characters C displayed in the list, the character C to be set is set.
The character is selected by touching the portion where is displayed. In step S13, font data for the character selected in step S12 is input. The input of the font data may be performed using the image scanner 10 in FIG. 1 or may be performed manually by the operator using the ten keys 5 as eight-directional keys.

First, a case where image data is input using the image scanner 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. First, the operator touches the scanner key PB1 on the screen shown in FIG. Next, the characters written on the drawing paper,
Alternatively, usable characters written on paper or the like are read by the image scanner 10, and the read dot data is stored in a RAM.
The image data is stored in a working area 30 a provided in the display unit 30, converted into image data, and displayed in a display frame FR of the screen unit 8.

For example, the image data displayed in the display frame FR in FIG. 9 is a display example when the character "1" is read by the image scanner 10, and in this case, the read character "1" is Is located on the upper right of the center of the reading position, and indicates that there is dust G on the left side of the character "1".

Next, a case will be described in which the ten key 5 is used as an eight-directional key, and a desired dot data is input by moving a cursor (mouth type) with the ten key 5. In the initial state, the display frame FR is set to blank. First, the operator presses the item number key 6 to set a mode in which the center dot of the cursor is black. When the operation of the main body 1 is set to the setting mode, the part number key 6 and the erase key 5a are used to set a mode for setting the center dot of the cursor to black and a mode for setting the center dot of the cursor to white. A function is assigned as a key to be set.

When the operator operates the numeric keypad 5 to move the cursor, the locus of the center dot is inverted to black. At this time, pressing the erase key 5a sets the mode to blank. Therefore, dot data in black and white can be freely created or corrected by appropriately using the ten key 5, the part number key 6, and the erase key 5a.

Further, even when the dot data is read by using the image scanner 10, the dot data can be corrected by using the ten key 5, the part number key 6, and the erase key 5a. Next, an operation for correcting dot data read by using the image scanner 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The character "1" which is the read dot data is displayed in the display frame FR of FIG. 9, and a dust G is on the left side of the character "1". First, the operator operates the numeric keypad to move the cursor CR, and moves the center of the cursor CR to the position of the dust G (see FIG. 10). The operator presses the erase key 5a to set a mode in which the center dot of the cursor CR is blank, and erases the dust G. The size of the garbage G is the cursor CR
If it is larger, the ten keys 5 are operated to erase the dust G. When the dust G displayed in the display frame FR is deleted, the dot data stored in the working area 30a is also the same as the dust G.

With the above operations, the reading and editing of the dot data for the character to be set are completed.
Next, an operation of designating a portion to be stored as font data is performed. When the setting mode is selected, shift key 6
By simultaneously pressing b and the part number key 6, a setting range specifying mode for specifying a setting mode is set. The operation of the range setting in the setting range designation mode will be described with reference to FIG. When the operator sets the setting range designation mode, a rectangular range designation frame R for designating the setting range is displayed in an appropriate position and in an appropriate size in the display frame FR. The operator operates the numeric keypad 5 to transform and move the range designation frame R to determine the set range.

The dot data displayed in the display frame FR and the dot data stored in the working area 30a are:
Since they correspond one-to-one, in step S14,
When the operator touches the setting key PB3, of the dot data stored in the working area 30a, the dot data in the area surrounded by the setting range frame R corresponds to the character C selected in step S12 of the font file 30b. It is stored as font data FD. At this time, the number of bytes of the data length of the dot data stored as the font data FD is counted, and the value is stored as the data length L. At this time, since the font data FD has a variable length, the storage position is obtained by adding the byte length of each character of a character code younger than that.

In step S15, it is determined whether the end key PB4 has been touched by the operator. The operator touches the end key PB4 when font data has been set for all characters corresponding to the font number input in step S11. If the result of the above determination is “Yes”, the process proceeds to step S1
Return to On the other hand, if the result of the determination is "No", that is, if the operator also sets other characters, the process returns to step S12.

On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S10 is "No", that is, if the setting of the font file 30b is not performed in the setting mode, the process proceeds to step S16. In step S16, it is determined whether to set the print format data. If the determination result is "No", the process proceeds to step S17. In step S17, another setting process such as the product file 30d is performed. When the setting process ends, the process returns to step S1. If the result of the determination in step S16 is "Yes", the process proceeds to step S18.

In step S18, it is determined whether a font number has been input. The result of this determination is "N
If "o", the process proceeds to step S19. Step S
At 19, input processing of setting items other than the font number in the setting of the print format data is performed. For example, the settings of the item I, the print start positions S _x and S _y , and the print direction shown in FIG. When this process ends, the process returns to the step S1.

If the result of the determination in step S18 is "Ye
s ", the process proceeds to step S20. Step S2
In the case of 0, if the font number input in step S18 is a number equal to or larger than "20", it is determined whether or not font data is set for all the corresponding characters in the font file as in the process in step S4. If the result of this determination is “No”, then step S
The process proceeds to S21, performs the same error processing as in Step S7, and returns to Step S1.

If the result of the determination in step S22 is "Ye
s ", the process proceeds to step S22. In step S22, a process of setting the font number input in step S18 in the print format file 30c is performed. When this process ends, the process returns to the step S18.

As described above, in the above-described embodiment of the present invention, characters and the like are read by the image scanner 10, and the read dot data is stored as font data. Therefore, there is no need to provide a plurality of character generator ROMs, and characters in various fonts can be printed at low cost.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be variously modified without departing from the gist. For example: (1) Even if the file structure and the operation method are deformed, no problem occurs. In the above embodiment, the font data FD is stored in a variable length, but instead of storing the data length L, the address of the next data may be stored, or
A mark or the like for distinguishing between data may be used. Further, the font data FD may have a fixed length. (2) In checking the font data FD in step S4 or step S20, instead of checking the data length, special data is stored in the font data FD before the font data FD is set, and the data remains. It may be determined whether or not the font data FD is set based on whether or not the font data FD is set.

The check in the above (2) is performed not only at the time of printing and at the time of setting the print format, but also at any time such as when finishing the setting of the font file or when the product data is called up on the value-added screen or the like. It may be. The above check may be performed only for the numeric character font. This is because, in the case of a label with a price, a defect in price printing becomes a major trouble, and the trouble described above can be easily prevented only by checking from 0 to 9.

[0041]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the desired font data can be created by the user, there is no need to prepare a large amount of font data in advance and the cost can be reduced. It has the effect of becoming. In addition, it is possible to create font data only with the present apparatus, and there is an effect that a separate apparatus for creating a font is not required . Further , since it is checked whether all font data is set for the font and is notified, it is possible to prevent the issuance of a defective label due to the font data not being set. According to the second aspect of the present invention, when setting the font number to the print format file, font data included in the figures font specified by the font number is this designated numeral font <br/> DOO A check is made as to whether or not the fonts are already set in the font file for the characters that the user has in advance, and the user is notified of that fact.Therefore, it is possible to set a font that does not have all the font data included in the font. Since it is possible to prevent such troubles, there is an effect that troubles such as no font data being set at the time of label issuance do not occur. According to the third aspect of the invention, when characters are printed on label paper, the font data included in the numeric font designated by the font number is the character data of the designated font in advance. It is checked whether or not the font file is set in the font file, and the fact is notified, so that it is possible to prevent a situation in which a font in which all of the font data included in the font is not printed is printed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which a wrong label is attached to a product without an incorrect label being issued as it is. In addition, since no defective label is issued, label paper can be saved correspondingly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view illustrating an example of an external configuration of a label printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electrical configuration of the label printer.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a memory map of a RAM 30.

FIG. 4 is a table showing an example of a print format file 30c.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a font file 30b.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of an operation of the label printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart schematically showing an operation of the label printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart schematically showing an operation of the label printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the display unit 8 and ten keys 5 and a part number key 6 when reading and editing dot data by the label printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of a display screen of the display unit 8 and ten keys 5 and a part number key 6 when reading and editing dot data by the label printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the display unit 8 and ten keys 5 and a part number key 6 when reading and editing dot data by the label printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a print sample.

[Explanation of symbols]

3a first label printing mechanism (printing section) 3b second label printing mechanism (printing section) 30b font file 20 CPU (setting means, determining means, setting time determining means, printing time determining means) FD font data 10 image scanner _Fn Format number NE, N Font number I Item (print format) _Sx , _Sy Print start position (print format) d Print direction (print format) 30c Print format file

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 3/54 B41J 5/30 B65C 9/46 G09F 3/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A printing unit capable of printing dots; storing a plurality of types of font data corresponding to character codes for each font classified based on a character type and a font of the character; A label printer which reads out corresponding font data by designating a code and prints the data on label paper, comprising : a font file storing at least one set of font data of characters included in the font; and data for each dot by key operation. 1 cell that setting means and font for setting dot data created by entering, or dot data input from the image scanner to the font file as the font data has previously
Whether all font data of characters for
Determining means for determining whether or not the determination result is negative, and when the determination result of the determining means is negative, the fact is reported.
A label printer, comprising: an informing means for informing . At least a format number and a print file are provided.
Print format consisting of format and font number
Font numbers in the print file and the print format file.
The font specified by the font number.
The specified font data is
All font data for one set of characters is set
Setting time judging means for judging whether or not the setting has been made, and when the judgment result of the setting time judging means is no,
Notification means for notifying the
The label printer according to claim 1. 3. When printing a character on a label paper, the character
Font included in the number font specified by the print number
One set of data that the specified font has in advance
Whether the font data for all characters is set
If the determination result of the printing time determination means is negative,
Characterized by comprising a notification means to notify the fact
The label printer according to claim 1.