JP2010214690A - Printing system and tape printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system and a tape printer which can print a desired printed matter easily when required by a user. <P>SOLUTION: An information processing terminal 2 includes a data preparation means 18b for preparing data to be printed to which order information showing the printing order is related for each printing content, and a data transmission means 15 for transmitting the prepared data to be printed to a printer 3. The printer 3 includes a data receiving means 71 for receiving the data to be printed from the information processing terminal 2, a data storage means 94 for storing the received data to be printed in a non-volatilizing manner, and a printing control means for printing each print content in order according to order information based on the stored data to be printed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system and a tape printer that perform printing on a print medium based on print target data received from an information processing terminal.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing system (print support system) that prints print data provided from a server via a network with a printer is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This system includes a print service server for registering print data (image data), a mobile communication terminal connected to the print service server via a network, and a printer for executing printing based on the print data. Then, the print data on the print service server is downloaded by the mobile communication terminal, and the print data is printed on the print medium by the printer and output.

JP 2002-175226 A

  However, the above printing system prints the print data downloaded from the print service server at that time. For this reason, for example, there is a problem that printing cannot be performed in a place where a network connection with the print service server is not possible. In addition, a plurality of print data is stored in the printer, and the user cannot print desired print data later, which is inconvenient.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a printing system and a tape printing apparatus that can easily print a desired printed matter when a user needs it.

  The printing system of the present invention is a printing system comprising a printing apparatus and an information processing terminal connected to the printing apparatus via a network, and the information processing terminal displays order information indicating the printing order for each print content. Data creation means for creating the associated print target data, and data transmission means for sending the created print target data to the printing apparatus, wherein the printing apparatus receives the data to be printed from the information processing terminal Means, data storage means for storing the received print target data in a non-volatile manner, and print control means for printing each print content in the order based on the order information based on the stored print target data. Features.

  According to this configuration, the print target data created by the information processing terminal is downloaded to the printing apparatus, stored (stored), and printed in the order based on the order information. Accordingly, for example, in a site where a printed material is required, it is possible to print a desired printed material in order while confirming the content to be printed by the user and the situation of the site, which is convenient.

  In the printing system of the present invention, the data creation means creates print target data by further associating the number of prints for each print content, and the print control means prints each print content in the order based on the order information. In addition, it is preferable to perform only the number of printed sheets.

  According to this configuration, by associating the number of printed sheets for each print content, it is possible to automatically create a target printed matter for the required number of printed sheets, which is convenient.

  In the printing system of the present invention, for a single print command, a continuous print function for continuously printing all print contents in an order based on the order information associated with each print content, and a single print command. On the other hand, the printing control means further comprises a printing function selection means for selecting one of the single printing functions for printing the printing contents one by one in the order based on the order information associated with each printing contents. It is preferable to perform printing using any one of the printing functions selected by the function selection unit.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to select whether to print all the print contents sequentially in sequence or to print the print contents one by one based on the order. Can be convenient.

  In the printing system of the present invention, when the single print function is selected in printing of each print content, the first process for executing the print content to be printed and the printing of the print content to be printed are canceled. It is preferable to further include a process selection means for selecting one of the second process and the third process for ending the printing process based on the single printing function.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to select execution of printing contents to be printed, cancellation, and termination of printing processing, so that only printed matter on which printing contents required by the user are printed can be created. Convenience is good.

  The tape printer of the present invention is characterized by comprising each means in the printer described above.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to provide a tape printer capable of downloading and storing (storing) print target data created by an information processing terminal and printing in the order based on the order information of the print target data. Can do.

1 is a schematic diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment. It is a block diagram of an information processing terminal. It is a figure explaining the data structure of the printing object data. It is an external appearance perspective view in the open lid state of a tape printer. It is a block diagram of a tape printer. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating “DL printing” in a print setting menu. FIG. 10 is a screen transition diagram illustrating a printing process when “print all” is selected in “DL printing”. FIG. 10 is a screen transition diagram illustrating print processing when “print one number at a time” is selected in “DL print”.

  A printing system including an information processing terminal and a printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present embodiment, a tape printer that creates a label by printing on a tape-like medium will be described as an example of the printer.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printing system 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 1 includes an information processing terminal 2 and a tape printer 3, which are connected via a cable 4. As the information processing terminal 2, a general personal computer having a keyboard 11, a mouse 12, a display 13, and the like can be used. That is, the PC application 18b and the printer driver 18c (both see FIG. 2) stored in the CD-ROM 5 can be installed in a personal computer to function as the information processing terminal 2 of the present embodiment.

  The tape printer 3 uses the long tape T (see FIG. 4) as a print medium, and based on the print target data (see FIG. 3) received (downloaded) from the information processing terminal 2, the tape T A label is created by printing and cutting the image.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the information processing terminal 2 and the tape printer 3 are directly connected via the cable 4 is illustrated, but may be connected via a network (Internet or local area network). However, they may be connected via wireless communication.

  Next, the control configuration of the information processing terminal 2 will be described with reference to FIG. In addition to the keyboard 11, mouse 12 and display 13 shown in FIG. 1, the information processing terminal 2 includes a CD drive 14, a connection interface 15 (data transmission means), a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 16, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 17. , An HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 18 and a connection bus 19 for connecting these components.

  The CD drive 14 is for reading data stored in the CD-ROM 5, and is used for installing the PC application 18b and the printer driver 18c in this embodiment. The connection interface 15 is connected to the connector 46 of the tape printer 3 via the cable 4 to transmit / receive various data. In this embodiment, a USB interface is employed.

  The CPU 16 controls the entire information processing terminal 2 by performing arithmetic processing of various data. The RAM 17 is directly connected to the CPU 16 without going through the connection bus 19, and is used as a work area when the CPU 16 performs various processes.

  In addition to the operating system (OS) 18a, the HDD 18 stores a PC application 18b (data creation means) and a printer driver 18c read from the CD-ROM 5. The PC application 18b is application software incorporated and used in the operating system 18a. The PC application 18b captures drawing data (for example, CAD data) and prints it in a predetermined format for sending it to the tape printer 3 from this data. It is a program that creates data. The format (structure) of the print target data will be described later with reference to FIG. The printer driver 18c serves as a bridge between the operating system 18a and the tape printer 3.

  Here, the data structure of the print target data will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the print target data has three elements: a print number (order information), print contents, and the number of prints. The print content indicates the content printed on the label to be created. The number of printed sheets indicates the number of labels to be created. The print number indicates the order of printing, and the tape printer 3 prints the print contents associated with the print number on the tape T according to the order of the print numbers (ascending order or descending order).

  Each element (print number, print contents, and number of prints) of the print target data is automatically generated by fetching the drawing data by the PC application 18b. At the time of automatic generation, print numbers are assigned to each print content in ascending order (or descending order), and the number of printed sheets is generated as one sheet. Note that after the automatic generation, the user can correct (edit) these elements.

  For example, by correcting the number of prints associated with “downlight” to “2”, two labels whose print contents are “downlight” can be created when the tape printer 3 creates a label. . In this way, by associating the number of printed sheets for each print content, the required number of labels can be automatically created, which is convenient. When the print number is corrected by the user, the PC application 18b performs a duplicate number check. If they are duplicated, error processing such as displaying a message to that effect is performed.

  Next, the apparatus configuration of the tape printer 3 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the tape printer 3 with the open / close lid 34 opened. As shown in FIG. 4, the tape printing apparatus 3 has an outer case formed by an apparatus case 32, and a keyboard 33 having various input keys is disposed on the front upper surface of the apparatus case 32, and the rear upper surface thereof An opening / closing lid 34 is attached to the left part, and a display screen 35 is disposed on the right part thereof.

  A cartridge mounting portion 36 for mounting the tape cartridge C is recessed in the opening / closing lid 34, and the tape cartridge C is detachably mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 36 with the opening / closing lid 34 opened. The In addition, the open / close lid 34 is formed with a viewing window 37 for visually confirming whether the tape cartridge C is mounted or not mounted in the closed state.

  On the keyboard 33, a character key group 33a and a function key group 33b for designating various operation modes are arranged. The character key group 33a has a full key configuration based on the JIS layout, and is similar to a general word processor or the like including a shift key for suppressing an increase in the number of keys to be operated. The function key group 33b includes a [Print] key 41, a cursor key 42, a [Select] key 43, a [Cancel] key 44, a [Print setting] key 45, and the like. These key inputs may be individually provided for each key input as in a general keyboard, or may be input using a smaller number of keys in combination with a shift key or the like. .

  [Print] key 41 is a key for instructing execution of printing. The cursor key 42 is composed of up / down / left / right keys ([↑], [↓], [←], [→]), and is a key for moving the cursor and scrolling. [Selection] key 43 is a key for selecting and confirming selection candidates (options). [Cancel] key 44 is a key for canceling selection of selection candidates.

  On the other hand, the [print setting] key 45 is a key for performing various print settings of the tape printer 3. Although details will be described later, in the present embodiment, it is used to create a label based on print target data (see FIG. 3) received from the information processing terminal 2.

  The display screen 35 is formed by a liquid crystal display. The display screen 35 allows the user to input desired information (text, images, etc.) using the keyboard 33 to create and edit print data such as text data and image data, and to visually check (confirm) the results. Used when

  A tape discharge port 51 is formed on the left side of the device case 32 to communicate the cartridge mounting portion 36 with the outside, and a tape cutter 52 for cutting the tape T fed out faces the tape discharge port 51. Yes. Then, the printed tape T is sent out from the tape discharge port 51 by a predetermined length, and after the feeding is temporarily stopped, the printed tape T is cut by the tape cutter 52 to create a strip-shaped label. . Regarding the cutting process, the driving of the cutter motor 53 (see FIG. 5) can be set by selecting “Yes” or “No” for automatic cutting.

  Although not shown, a power supply port for supplying power and a connector 46 (see FIG. 2) for connecting to an external device such as the information processing terminal 2 are formed on the right side of the device case 32. ing.

  On the other hand, the cartridge mounting portion 36 has a head unit 54 in which a thermal type print head 56 is built in a head cover 55, a platen drive shaft 57 facing the print head 56, and a take-up for winding an ink ribbon R described later. A drive shaft 58 and a positioning projection 59 of a tape reel 62 described later are provided. In addition, a tape feed motor 60 (see FIG. 5) for rotating the platen drive shaft 57 and the take-up drive shaft 58 is incorporated below the cartridge mounting portion 36.

  The tape cartridge C includes a tape reel 62 in which a tape T having a certain width (about 4 mm to 48 mm) is wound at an upper central portion inside the cartridge case 61, and a ribbon reel 63 in which an ink ribbon R is wound on the lower right. The tape T and the ink ribbon R have the same width. A through hole 64 for inserting the head unit 54 is formed in the lower left portion of the tape reel 62. Further, in a state where the head unit 54 is inserted into the through hole 64, the print head 56 built in the head unit 54 is opposed to the print tape 56 and the ink ribbon R across a portion where the print tape T and the ink ribbon R overlap each other. A platen roller 65 that is fitted to the platen drive shaft 57 and rotationally driven is disposed. On the other hand, a ribbon take-up reel 66 is arranged in the vicinity of the ribbon reel 63, and the ink ribbon R fed out from the ribbon reel 63 is arranged so as to go around the head cover 55 and is taken up by the ribbon take-up reel 66. It is like that.

  When the tape cartridge C is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 36, the through hole 64 is formed in the head cover 55, the center hole of the tape reel 62 is formed in the positioning projection 59, and the center hole of the ribbon take-up reel 66 is formed in the take-up drive shaft 58. Then, the print head 56 comes into contact with the platen roller 65 with the tape T and the ink ribbon R interposed therebetween, and printing becomes possible. Thereafter, when the user inputs desired text (characters such as letters, numbers, symbols, and simple figures) and an image with the keyboard 33 while confirming the editing result of the display screen 35 and instructs printing, the tape printer 3 The tape T is fed from the tape cartridge C by the tape feed motor 60, and the heating elements of the print head 56 are selectively heated to perform desired printing on the tape T. The printed part of the tape T is sent to the outside from the tape discharge port 51 at any time. When the printing is completed, the tape feed motor 60 feeds the tape T to the position of the tape length including the margin and then feeds the tape T. (After that, the process proceeds to the cutting process).

  On the other hand, the tape T includes a recording tape Ta having a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed on the back surface and a release tape Tb attached to the recording tape Ta by the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. The tape T is wound in a roll shape with the recording tape Ta on the outside and the release tape Tb on the inside, and is accommodated in the cartridge case 61. In addition, a plurality of tapes T having different tape types (tape width, tape color, ground pattern, material (texture), etc.) are prepared, and each cartridge case 61 has one type of tape T. A tape T and an ink ribbon R are accommodated.

  A plurality of holes (not shown) for specifying the type of the tape cartridge C are provided on the back surface of the cartridge case 61. A plurality of tape identification sensors (such as microswitches) 67 (see FIG. 5) for detecting these are provided in the cartridge mounting portion 36 corresponding to the plurality of holes. By detecting the state of the hole, the tape type can be determined.

  Next, the control configuration of the tape printer 3 will be described with reference to FIG. The tape printer 3 is connected to the data input / output unit 71 (data receiving means), the operation unit 72, the print processing unit 73, the cutting unit 74, the detection unit 75, the drive unit 76, and each of these units, and the tape printing device 3 as a whole. It is comprised by the control part 77 which controls. The “printing control means” in the claims mainly includes the print processing unit 73 and the control unit 77 described above.

  The data input / output unit 71 includes a data supply interface (DS-IF) 80 and receives print target data from the information processing terminal 2 via the connector 46. The operation unit 72 includes a keyboard 33 and a display screen 35 (liquid crystal display), and manages a user interface such as input of character information by a user and display of various information.

  The print processing unit 73 includes a tape cartridge C, a print head 56, and a tape feed motor 60, and prints character information and image data input or received on the tape T while feeding the tape T and the ink ribbon R. The cutting unit 74 includes a tape cutter 52 and a cutter motor 53 that drives them, and cuts the printed tape T.

  In addition to the tape identification sensor 67, the detection unit 75 includes a sensor such as a rotation speed sensor (not shown) that detects the rotation speed of the tape feed motor 60, and performs various types of detection. The drive unit 76 includes a display driver 81, a head driver 82, a tape feed motor driver 83, and a cutter motor driver 84, and drives each unit.

  The control unit 77 includes a CPU 91, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 92, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 93, a flash ROM 94 (data storage means), and an input / output control device (IOC: Input Output Controller) 95. Connected by. The ROM 92 stores a control program and control data for the CPU 91 to perform various controls. The RAM 93 is used as a work area for the CPU 91 to execute various processes. The flash ROM 94 stores print target data received from the information processing terminal 2.

  The CPU 91 inputs various signals and data from each part of the tape printer 3 via the IOC 95 according to the control program in the ROM 92. Further, various data in the RAM 93 is processed based on the various signals / data input, and various signal data is output to each part in the tape printer 3 via the IOC 95, thereby controlling printing processing and the like. For example, the CPU 91 stores print target data received from the information processing terminal 2 in the flash ROM 94 via the data supply interface 80. Then, the CPU 91 creates a label based on the stored print target data (details will be described later).

  Here, with reference to FIG. 6, “download data printing (printing function selection means, hereinafter referred to as“ DL printing ”)” of the print setting menu, which is one function of the tape printer 3 of the present invention, will be described. “DL printing” can be selected from the print setting menu (pressing the [print setting] key 45). This “DL printing” is “print all (continuous printing function)” and “print one number at a time (single printing). Function) ”. “Print all” prints all the print contents continuously in the order based on the print number associated with each print content of the print target data.

  “Print one number at a time” is to print each print content one by one in the order based on the print number associated with each print content of the print target data. “Print execution (first process)”, “ There are three selection candidates: “Next without printing (second process)” and “Cancel printing (third process)”.

  When “print execution” is selected, the print content associated with the print number to be printed is printed. When “next without printing” is selected, printing of the print content associated with the print number to be printed is canceled, and the print content associated with the next print number can be printed. That is, it is selected when printing is performed with one printing number skipped (skip). “Cancel printing” ends printing processing based on the selection of “print one number at a time”. For example, before printing the print contents associated with the last printing number, the printing processing is terminated halfway. Selected when. In this way, by selecting each selection candidate of “DL printing” according to the user's needs, it is possible to create only the label on which the printing content required by the user is printed, which is convenient.

  Next, a procedure for printing a label based on the print target data downloaded from the information processing terminal 2 by the above-described “DL printing” will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. It is assumed that the print target data shown in FIG. 3 is stored in the flash ROM 94.

  FIG. 7 is a screen transition diagram showing print processing when “print all” is selected in “DL print”. First, when “DL printing” is selected from the “print setting” menu by the user, the tape printing apparatus 3 displays a DL printing screen (D01). Subsequently, in the state of the screen D01, when “print all” is selected by the user (pressing the [Select] key 43), the tape printer 3 starts printing based on the print target data, A printing status notification screen for notifying the printing status is displayed (D02). In this screen D02, the reference number 101 indicates the print number currently being printed, and the reference number 102 indicates the number of prints currently being executed. That is, the screen D02 indicates that the first sheet of the print content with the print number 1 (No. 1) ("Downlight", see FIG. 3) is being printed.

  Subsequently, when the printing of the first sheet of the print content with the print number 1 is completed, the tape printer 3 displays on the print status notification screen that the second sheet related to the print content is being printed (D03). ). Thereafter, the tape printer 3 executes print processing in the order of print numbers. When printing of the print contents associated with the last print number (here, “No. 6”) is completed (D04), a print end notification screen indicating that is displayed (D05), and the print processing is ended. .

  Next, FIG. 8 will be described. FIG. 8 is a screen transition diagram showing print processing when “print one number at a time” is selected in the above-mentioned “DL print”. First, when “DL printing” is selected from the “print setting” menu by the user, the tape printing apparatus 3 displays a DL printing screen (D11). When the user selects “print one number at a time” in the state of the screen D11 (pressing the [Select] key 43), the tape printer 3 transitions to the print processing selection screen (D12).

  On this screen D12, three selection candidates of “print execution”, “next without printing” and “cancel printing (see D18)” are displayed, and a print number (reference number 103) to be processed is displayed at the upper right of the screen. ) Is displayed. That is, the screen D12 indicates that the selection of the processing related to the printing of the printing content with the printing number 1 (No. 1) can be performed.

  When “print execution” is selected by the user in the state of this screen D12, the tape printer 3 indicates that the first sheet of the print content with the print number 1 (No. 1) is being printed. A printing status notification screen is displayed (D13), and then a printing status notification screen (D14) indicating that the second sheet is being printed is displayed.

  Then, when printing of all the print contents with the print number 1 is completed (for two sheets), the tape printer 3 displays a print processing selection screen regarding printing of the print contents with the next print number (No. 2). (D15). Thereafter, each time “print execution” is selected by the user, the tape printer 3 executes printing based on the order of the printing numbers (processing between the screen D16 and the screen D17) and associates it with the last printing number. When printing of the printed contents is finished, a print end notification screen is displayed (D17), and the print processing is ended.

  Further, for example, when the user presses the [↓] key 42 in the state of the screen D12 and selects "Next without printing" (D18), the tape printer 3 prints the print number 1 While canceling the printing of the contents, a cancel notification screen for notifying the user is displayed (D19, D20). Then, a printing process selection screen relating to printing of the printing contents of the next printing number (No. 2) is displayed (D15). That is, when “next without printing” is selected, the tape printer 3 executes the printing process by skipping the printing with the printing number “1”.

  For example, in the state of the screen D15, when the user presses [↓] twice and selects “Cancel printing” (D21), the tape printer 3 may end the printing process in the middle. A confirmation screen for confirming whether or not is present is displayed (D22). When the user presses the [Select] key 43 in the state of the screen D22, the tape printing apparatus 3 ends the printing process halfway, and when the [Cancel] key 44 is pressed, the screen transitions to the screen D21. .

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the print target data created by the information processing terminal 2 is downloaded and stored in the tape printer 3, and each print content is based on the print number based on the print target data. Print in the order you selected. Thus, for example, in a site where a label is required, a user can print desired labels in order while confirming the contents to be printed and the status of the site, which is convenient.

  In this embodiment, print processing related to DL printing is selected from the print setting menu, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a DL print key may be newly provided, or may be realized by a combination of an existing key and a shift key.

  In addition, the apparatus configuration and processing steps of the printing system 1 and the device configuration and processing steps of the information processing terminal 2 and the tape printing apparatus 3 are not limited to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Any change can be made as appropriate.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing system 2 ... Information processing terminal 3 ... Tape printer 15 ... Connection interface 18b ... PC application 71 ... Data input / output part 73 ... Print processing part 77 ... Control part 94 ... Flash ROM

Claims (5)

A printing system comprising a printing device and an information processing terminal connected to the printing device via a network,
The information processing terminal
Data creation means for creating print target data in association with order information indicating the print order for each print content;
Data transmission means for transmitting the created print target data to the printing apparatus,
The printing apparatus includes:
Data receiving means for receiving the print target data from the information processing terminal;
Data storage means for storing the received print target data in a nonvolatile manner;
A printing system comprising: a printing control unit that prints the print contents in an order based on the order information based on the stored print target data. The data creation means includes
For each print content, create the print target data by further associating the number of prints,
The print control means includes
The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing contents are printed in the order based on the order information and for the number of printed sheets. A continuous print function for continuously printing all the print contents in an order based on the order information associated with each print content for one print instruction, and each print content for one print instruction A printing function selection means for selecting any one of the single printing functions for printing the print contents one by one in the order based on the order information associated with
The print control means includes
The printing system according to claim 1, wherein printing is performed by any one of the printing functions selected by the printing function selection unit. In the printing of each print content, when the single print function is selected,
A first process for executing printing of the print content to be printed;
A second process for canceling printing of the print content to be printed;
4. The printing system according to claim 3, further comprising a process selection unit for selecting any one of a third process for ending the printing process based on the single printing function.   5. A tape printing apparatus comprising the means of the printing apparatus according to claim 1.

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