JP2002230605A - Time recorder, terminal device, storage medium and timecard printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a time recorder print on a timecard by use of print information including one's name entered by way of a personal computer or other means, and other items. SOLUTION: The time recorder has the function of printing for check in/out times or the like on a predetermined timecard having ID information thereon. The time recorder includes at least a card recognition means, a printing means, a storage means, a communication means and a control means, and communicates with an external device having print information to be printed on the timecard, and prints on the timecard according to the print information obtained via the communication means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a device for managing the attendance of an employee, a time recorder that inserts a time card and records the inserted time as a work or exit time has been widely used. The time card used for the time recorder is provided with punching holes or other identification information for distinguishing the time card from other time cards. And a column for describing a management number. The time card can be stamped and printed for about one month.The time card is replaced with a new time card every month, and the manager in charge of the time card is handwritten each time based on a predetermined management ledger or the like. A new card was created by filling in predetermined items such as name.

[0002]

In the above-mentioned conventional example, the necessary information such as the name is manually written on the time card of all employees every time the month changes. It was a heavy job.
A time recorder having a function of automatically printing necessary information such as a name is known. The time recorder includes a keyboard for inputting predetermined character information, a large amount of print data (font This requires a storage means for storing data) and the like, an arithmetic means, a predetermined character conversion program, and the like, which has been expensive as a device.

[0003] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a conventional time recorder is provided with communication means or a separately provided storage medium reading means.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a time recorder with predetermined printing based on provided printing information by providing a name and other printing information separately input by a personal computer or other means via the communication means or the storage medium. .

[0004]

Means for Solving the Problems To solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 has the following configuration. That is, a predetermined time card to which identification information is attached, a time recorder having a function of printing the time of attendance and the like, comprising at least a card recognition unit, a printing unit, a storage unit, a communication unit, and a control unit, The card recognizing unit is a unit for recognizing identification information attached to the time card, the printing unit is a unit for printing characters, numerals, and the like on the time card, and The means is means for at least temporarily storing identification information of the plurality of time cards and storing print information corresponding to the identification information, and wherein the communication means prints at least the time card. Means for communicating with an external device having print information to be provided, wherein the control means includes a CPU or the like operated by a predetermined program. An example was processing means, it has the function of the controls each unit, based on the printing information acquired through the communication means to perform predetermined printing on the time card.

The invention according to claim 2 has the following configuration. That is, a time recorder having a function of printing the time of attendance and departure on a predetermined time card to which identification information is attached, and at least a card recognition unit, a printing unit, a storage unit, a storage medium reading unit, and a control unit. Provided, the card recognition means is means for recognizing the identification information attached to the time card, the printing means is a means for printing characters, numbers and the like on the time card, The storage unit is a unit for constantly or temporarily storing identification information of the plurality of time cards and print information corresponding to the identification information, and the storage medium reading unit is configured to store at least the time card From the storage medium that stores the print information to be printed,
Means for reading print information, wherein the control means is an arithmetic processing means provided with a CPU or the like which operates according to a predetermined program, controls each of the means, and prints the data obtained via the storage medium reading means. It has a function to perform predetermined printing on the time card based on the information.

The invention according to claim 3 has the following configuration. That is, a terminal device for providing predetermined print information to a time clock having a function of printing the time of attendance and departure on a time card, and at least input means such as a keyboard, storage means, and control means. Communication means or read / write means for a storage medium, the input means is means for inputting character information to be printed on a time card, and the storage means is executed by the control means. A predetermined program, and a means for constantly or temporarily storing character information input by the input means, and the control means is an arithmetic processing means including a CPU operated by the program. Controlling the respective means, and outputting the character data input by the input means via the communication means. It is adapted to write in a predetermined storage medium via the reading and writing means.

The invention according to claim 4 has the following configuration. That is, a storage medium storing a predetermined control program provided to the terminal device according to claim 3, wherein the control program stores character data input from the input unit, and stores the character data. Generate print data corresponding to the print data and the print position information of the character printed by the print data, the terminal device via the communication means or a storage medium via the read / write means Output.

The invention according to claim 5 has the following configuration. That is, a time recorder having a function of printing the time of attendance and departure on a predetermined time card to which identification information is added, and a font data of characters to be printed on the time card are provided to the time recorder. A time card printing system, comprising: a terminal device; and printing font data provided by the terminal device on a predetermined time card using a printing means of the time recorder.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of a time card printing system according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a time card printing system, 3 is a time recorder, 5 is a terminal device such as a personal computer,
7 is an Internet line, 9 is a management device (server device)
Is represented. The time clock 3 is usually installed in the business office where the employee works, and the employee inserts his / her own time card (hereinafter simply referred to as “card”) 11 when going to work or leaving work. This is a device for printing the time of going to work and the time of leaving work in a predetermined column on the card 11.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the time clock 3 and the terminal device 5. As shown in FIG. 1, the time recorder 3 includes a control unit 12, a clock unit 13, a display unit 15, a card recognition unit 16, a printing unit 17, an input unit 19, a storage unit 21, and a communication unit 23 as main components. ing. The control unit 12 is an arithmetic processing unit including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and other devices, and controls the entire functions of the time clock 3 based on a predetermined program. The clock means 13 is the control means 12
Is used to generate a date and time. The time and the like generated by the clock means 13 are displayed on the display means 15 and used as part of the attendance data. When the card 11 is inserted into the time clock 3, the printing means 17 prints a predetermined clock-in time, a clock-out time, and the like at a predetermined position such as a stamping column 48 of the card 11. The card recognition unit 16 is a unit for recognizing card identification information (45, 46) formed by a small hole formed in the card 11. The input means 19 is used to utilize various settings and functions for the time clock 3, and is used to set "time setting".
"Set the closing date (total date)", "Set the start time", "Set the end time", "Set the overtime start time", "Set the date change time (time to change the date inside the time recorder)", "Set the calculation mode", etc. Means to do that. The storage means 21 has predetermined program data to be executed by the control means 12, various setting information accompanying the input of the input means 19,
Attachment / departure times of individual cards (for each piece of identification information) and printing information (data such as fonts for printing on the cards) such as names to be described later are at least temporarily stored.

The time clock 3 has communication means 23. The communication means 23 has a function as a predetermined interface for communicating with the terminal device 5. The time clock 3 (control means 1)
The program for operating 2) may be provided separately via a storage medium or the like. By adopting such a form, for example, it is possible to improve the function by retroactively adding a communication function to a conventional time clock, or to build an advanced system that updates it to one with higher added value Be able to respond.

Next, the terminal device 5 will be described. Computer means such as a personal computer is used for the terminal device 5. The configuration of the terminal device 5 is as shown in FIG. 2, and the control unit 25, the storage unit 27, and the input unit 2
9. Display means 33 having communication means 31 as external equipment
And the printing means 35 are connected. Communication means 31
Is an RS232C, USB or other interface means, and if necessary, a communication modem or other communication means for performing communication using a telephone line. Further, the above configuration is not special at all, and is equivalent to computer means generally called "PC". Also, a predetermined control program is provided to the terminal device 5 by a predetermined storage medium such as a CD-ROM.

Next, the card 11 used in the time clock 3 will be described. The card 11 is formed in a predetermined shape shown in FIG. 3 and provided with a predetermined print column. The card 11 shown in FIG. 3 is of a type conventionally used, and is provided on one side for half a month (for 15 days).
It is designed to be able to record the attendance of the work. In the figure, 41 is a name column, 42 is an affiliation column, 43 is a number column, and 44 is a year and month column, and is a portion where predetermined information is entered by handwriting or printing. Reference numerals 45 and 46 denote perforations formed with perforations, which are identification information for identifying the card 11 by a combination of the number and positions of the perforations. Reference numeral 47 denotes a chamfer, which is formed to determine whether or not the card 11 is inserted in a correct direction with respect to the time clock 3, or to determine whether the card 11 is upside down.

As a general method of providing a card to a user, for example, a case where a plurality of cards having different identification information are provided (sold) in advance as a set, or a case where the same card without identification information is provided. There are cases where multiple copies are purchased. In the latter case, the user perforates holes in a predetermined pattern (the number of holes and a combination thereof) and uses the holes as a card 11 having predetermined identification information. .

Hereinafter, a card printing system having the above configuration will be described. The predetermined items are input using the terminal device 5 in order to print the predetermined items in the name column 41, the affiliation column 42, the number column 43, and the year / month column 44 of the card 11 using the time recorder 3. As described above, a personal computer is used as the terminal device 5 as the most preferable embodiment, and a predetermined server is connected to the personal computer via a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or an FD or via the Internet line 7. 9 is provided with a predetermined operation program.

When a predetermined program is started in the terminal device 5, an input table as shown in FIG. 4 appears, and predetermined items can be input or selected in blanks of the input table. The input fields shown in FIG. 4 include a name field 51, a affiliation field 52, and a card No. corresponding to a name field 41, an affiliation field 42, a number field 43, and a year / month field 44 to be described for the card 11. Column 53, date column 54
In addition, an employee number column 55 is provided.

The identification information of the card 11 and the card No. Column 5
3 will be described. There are several means for realizing this, but what is ultimately necessary is the identification information of the card 11 and the card No. The column 53 corresponds. That is, since the time clock 3 can only recognize the identification information of the card 11 and cannot recognize the employee's card, it is necessary to associate the identification information of the card 11 with the employee. Become. By performing such association, when the card 11 is inserted into the time clock 3, the identification information of the card 11 is recognized, and the corresponding card No. The information in the column 53 is read from the terminal device 5. One of the means is as follows. There may be a case where a pattern for forming a small hole (a combination of small hole positions) serving as identification information for the card 11 is determined in advance for the number input in the column 53. As another means, an arbitrary card 11 is once recognized by the time clock 3, and the card is, for example, "001".
For example, there is a method of causing the time recorder 3 or the terminal device 5 connected to the time recorder 3 to recognize the card and the number, such as "002". Further, in the former case, there are a case where a card in which a small hole is previously drilled is purchased as described above, and a case where the user drills a small hole according to a predetermined rule after purchase. As described above, although there are some means, when a predetermined card 11 is inserted into the time clock 3, information corresponding to the card 11 input or stored in the terminal device 5 is output. Has become. In the present embodiment, the card No. The number “001” in column 53
In response to “002”, a method in which the user drills a small hole in the card 11 is adopted. In addition, a method of attaching a bar code or dot sticker is not limited to the small hole.

Each input item in FIG. 4 will be further described. The name field 51 is a field for inputting the name of the employee, and is a part for inputting the name to be printed in the name field 41 of the card 11 by characters. The affiliation column 52 is a column for inputting a department to which an employee belongs, and is a portion for inputting a department name to be printed in the affiliation column 42 of the card 11 by characters. Card No. The column 53 is a number corresponding to each card 11 identified by the identification information as described above, and is a part for inputting a number to be printed in the number column 43 of the card 11 by a numeral. The year / month column 54 is a column for inputting the year and month in which the card 11 is used, and is a number printed in the year / month column 44 of the card 11.
The employee number column 55 is a column for entering an employee number for managing employees at each company or office, and can be printed in the number column 43 in place of the card number if necessary. ing. The employee number entered in the field can be used as common information for sharing data with a separately provided management system for managing the attendance of employees.

Next, print information transmitted from the terminal device 5 to the time clock 3 will be described. The print information actually transmitted by the terminal device 5 to the time clock 3 is not character code data (code numbers represented by numbers such as JIS first level, JIS second level, etc.) but prints the characters. Font data. The font data corresponds to a code number represented by a number such as the JIS first level, the JIS second level, or the like. ) Is information for instructing whether or not to print. For example, if a printer has a print head of 25 dots per character (combination of minute print points performed in an array of 5 rows × 5 columns), in order to print a predetermined character, 25 dots out of 25 dots are required. , Data for designating which dot is to be used for printing. Further, since the font data is data provided to a specific printer, in the case of a model using a different printer, the font data may be different even when printing the same character. . In addition, when characters of different fonts are to be printed, dedicated font data is required for each font.

Naturally, the above-mentioned JIS first level, JIS
In order to store fonts corresponding to characters such as kanji, katakana, hiragana, alphabets, and numbers corresponding to the second level, a large-capacity storage area is required. Since the storage capacity is reduced and the CPU is inexpensive in order to reduce the unit price of, font data corresponding to characters such as JIS Level 1 and JIS Level 2 and the ability to process the data are provided. Absent. In the system according to the present invention, the font data required for printing is output to the terminal device 5 from a personal computer which is widely used, so that the time recorder 3
It is possible to print characters without adding advanced functions to the character. Further, the identification information of the card is read, and the names and the like of the employees to be printed on the card are automatically printed.

Next, with the time clock 3 and the terminal device 5 connected, the procedure from the input of predetermined items to the terminal device 5 to the execution of predetermined printing on the card 11 is shown in FIG. This will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG. First, as described above, when predetermined items are input using the terminal device 5 (S1), the terminal device 5 enters a print information transmission standby state (S2). Next, when a card is inserted into the time clock 3 (S3), the time clock 3
Reads the card identification information, the time clock 3 transmits the card identification information to the terminal device 5, and waits for transmission of print information from the terminal device 5 (S4). Upon receiving the identification information, the terminal device 5 receives the card No. corresponding to the identification information. Is transmitted to the time recorder 3, and the time recorder 3 receives the print information (S5). The print information transmitted to the time clock 3 at this time is font data corresponding to the name and other characters, and information indicating in which print column the font data should be printed. Next, when the time clock 3 receives the font data, printing is performed according to the received font at a predetermined position on the card (S).
6). Next, all printing on one card is completed,
Further, when printing of another card is repeated, another card is inserted into the time clock 3, so that the above-described procedure can be repeated and a predetermined printing can be automatically performed.

As described above, by inputting information such as names of a plurality of persons using the terminal device 5 and transmitting predetermined information to the time clock 3, it is possible to cause the card 11 to print predetermined items. Is available.

(Second Embodiment) Hereinafter, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the time clock 3 and the terminal device 5 are connected to the communication units 23 and 3 respectively.
1, the print information corresponding to the predetermined card is transmitted to the time clock 3 and printed. The second
In the embodiment, the print information created by the terminal device 5 is used without using the communication via the communication units 23 and 31.
It is provided to the time recorder 3 via a storage medium such as an FD (floppy (registered trademark) disk) or a memory card.

A specific configuration will be described with reference to FIG. In addition to the main means described in the first embodiment, the time clock 3 and the terminal device 5 include the following means. That is, the time clock 3 is provided with a storage medium reading means 25 for reading data from the storage medium 39, and the terminal device 5 is provided with a floppy disk drive 36 for reading and writing data from and to the storage medium 39, a memory card, or the like. When used, another read / write means 37 is provided. The time clock 3 has a control program for automatically reading data stored in the storage medium 39 and performing predetermined printing on the corresponding card 11. With the above-described configuration, the user inputs a name and other necessary items using the terminal device 5 such as a personal computer, and provides print information obtained as a result of the input to the time recorder 3 via a storage medium. Can be printed.

[0025]

Embodiment Another embodiment will be described. In order to provide font data provided to the time clock 3 or a general-purpose personal computer with the function as the terminal device, the font data or the program is transmitted from a predetermined management server 9 via the Internet line 7. It can be configured to obtain. In the case of a relatively large-scale company using a plurality of time clocks, data input by a single management computer is distributed to each time clock via an Internet line. be able to. Also, in the above-described example, the example using the time clock and the terminal device has been described. However, the time clock is directly connected to the Internet line, and online connected to a predetermined management computer having the same functions as the terminal device online. By doing so, similar card printing may be performed.

[0026]

The effects of the present invention will be described below. The invention according to claim 1 or 5 has the following effects. In other words, in the conventional time clock, necessary information such as names were written by hand on the time card of all employees every time the month changed, which was a burdensome job for the person in charge. . But,
According to the time clock of the present invention, a computer often used as a word processor or the like can be used as a terminal device to easily and quickly perform character input, and use the input data to perform necessary printing on a time card. ing. Further, after the character is input, the necessary printing can be automatically performed only by inserting the time card into the time clock, so that the operation is simple. In addition, since data that has been entered once can be saved, it is unlikely that the data will have to be entered every time the month changes.
This has the effect that the time for writing characters on the card, which has been performed each time the month changes, can be saved.

The invention according to claim 2 has the following effects. That is, there is an effect that it is possible to provide another means having the same operation and effect as the above-described effect. In other words, data can be provided to the time clock via a storage medium, so that a plurality of time clocks having the same function can be provided.
The same data can be provided. Thus, when a plurality of time clocks are provided, there is an effect that a card for all employees can be created in a short time by using a plurality of time clocks at the same time.

The inventions according to claims 3 and 4 have the following effects. That is, since a widely used personal computer can be used as a data input device, the above-described effects can be obtained while effectively using existing equipment without newly providing a new equipment. Has become.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of a time card printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a time clock and a terminal device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a time card.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of input by a terminal device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the time card printing system of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 card printing system 3 time recorder 5 terminal device (personal computer) 7 internet line 9 management device (server device) 11 time card 12 control means 13 clock means 15 display means 16 card recognition means 17 printing means 19 input means 21 storage means 23 communication Means 25 Control means 27 Storage means 29 Input means 31 Communication means 33 Display means 35 Printing means 37 Reading and writing means 41 Name field 42 Affiliation field 43 Number field 44 Year / month field 45 Perforated part (identification information) 46 Perforated part (identification information) 47 Chamfering section 48

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A time recorder having a function of printing the time of attendance and departure on a predetermined time card to which identification information is attached, comprising at least card recognition means, printing means, storage means, communication means, and control means. The card recognizing means is means for recognizing identification information attached to the time card, and the printing means is means for printing characters, numerals, etc. on the time card. The storage unit is a unit for at least temporarily storing identification information of the plurality of time cards and storing print information corresponding to the identification information; Means for communicating with an external device having print information to be printed on a card, wherein said control means operates according to a predetermined program.
An arithmetic processing unit having a PU or the like, and having a function of controlling each of the units and performing predetermined printing on a time card based on print information obtained via the communication unit. 2. A time recorder having a function of printing the time of attendance and departure on a predetermined time card to which identification information is added, wherein at least card recognition means, printing means, storage means, storage medium reading means and control Means, the card recognizing means is means for recognizing identification information attached to the time card, and the printing means is means for printing characters, numerals and the like on the time card The storage means is means for constantly or temporarily storing identification information of the plurality of time cards and print information corresponding to the identification information, and the storage medium reading means is at least the storage medium reading means. A control unit for reading print information from a storage medium storing print information to be printed on a time card; Works with C
An arithmetic processing unit having a PU or the like, having a function of controlling each of the units and performing predetermined printing on a time card based on print information obtained via the storage medium reading unit. That you are. 3. A terminal device for providing predetermined print information to a time clock having a function of printing the time of attendance and departure on a time card, wherein at least input means such as a keyboard and storage means are provided. A control unit and a communication unit or a read / write unit for a storage medium; the input unit is a unit for inputting character information to be printed on a time card; and the storage unit is a control unit. Is a means for storing a predetermined program executed by the input means, and for constantly or temporarily storing the character information input by the input means.
U, etc., for controlling each of the units, and for outputting the character data input by the input unit via the communication unit or writing the character data to a predetermined storage medium via the read / write unit. That 4. A storage medium storing a predetermined control program provided to the terminal device according to claim 3, wherein the control program stores character data input from the input means, A print data corresponding to the character data is generated, and the print data and print position information of a character printed by the print data are stored in a terminal device via the communication unit or a storage medium via a read / write unit. Output. 5. A time recorder having a function of printing the time of attendance and departure on a predetermined time card to which identification information is attached, and font data of characters to be printed on the time card is provided to the time recorder. And a terminal device for printing the font data provided by the terminal device on a predetermined time card using a printing unit of the time recorder.