JP2000203120A - Method for setting printing content in printer and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate setting of a printing content in the case of printing by mixing character groups or symbol groups having different printing conditions by virtually forming a plurality of setting sheets each setting a part of the content, superposing the plurality of the formed set sheets, and setting the content. SOLUTION: In respective setting sheets, specifically, the sheets are set by numbers of dots, and only a size of one type of a character or a symbol, an enlargement ratio, and an interval and starting position of one type of adjacent characters or symbols are recognized. The thus set plurality of the sheets are decided at overall print starting position, and superposed to constitute one composite set sheet. The sheet is printed by a printer 4 according to printed contents of the plurality of the set sheets. That is, data are read in parallel from memory areas 6a, 6b,... of a RAM 6 for storing the content of the formed set sheets, thereby obtaining the content of the plurality of the set sheets.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer,
In particular, it relates to a method of setting print contents in a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a printer, when a character or a symbol to be printed is set, the size of the character or the symbol to be printed (specifically, one printing area) is set in addition to the type of the character or the symbol to be printed. , The number of vertical and horizontal dots), the enlargement ratio of the character or symbol to be printed to the standard pattern, the space between adjacent characters or symbols to be printed (specifically, the number of dots between the vertical and horizontal printing areas), and printing It is necessary to determine the printing conditions such as the printing start position of the character or symbol to be printed. Then, these printing conditions are determined as desired, a setting pattern of the printing content is created, and the printing process is performed according to the setting pattern.

[0003]

When the printing conditions described above are fixed (for example, all characters or symbols to be printed are fixed at 8 × 8 dots), setting of print contents is easy. It is. However, when there is a request to print a group of characters or symbols having different printing conditions on a single printing material, and to satisfy the request, a character group having different printing conditions is required. Or, when setting the print contents for printing the symbol group, there is a problem that the setting method is extremely complicated, and the deletion / addition processing is complicated. Further, in the case of performing editing in which characters or symbols are further superimposed, the complexity of setting the print contents becomes very large.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when a printing process is performed by mixing character groups or symbol groups having different printing conditions, printing in a printer that can easily set the print contents is performed. How to set the content, and
It is an object to provide a printer for performing the setting.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of setting print contents in a printer using a setting sheet created virtually, the method comprising: setting a part of the print contents in the printer. Are created virtually, and the print contents are set by superimposing the created plurality of setting sheets.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of setting print contents in a printer according to the first aspect, wherein the size of a character or a symbol to be printed, a character or a symbol to be printed on each of the setting sheets when the setting sheet is created. , The type of at least one of the enlargement ratio with respect to the standard pattern, the interval between adjacent characters or symbols to be printed, and the starting position of the characters or symbols to be printed is limited to one type.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the first or second aspect, when dots are present on at least one setting sheet when the plurality of setting sheets are superimposed, the position of the dot is determined. It is characterized by having dots.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for setting print contents in a printer according to the first or second aspect, wherein dots are not present at positions where dots overlap when the plurality of setting sheets are overlapped.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for setting print contents in a printer according to the first or second aspect, wherein the print contents of at least one of the plurality of superposed setting sheets are invalidated. .

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer for performing a printing process in accordance with a set print content, wherein a plurality of memories each storing a part of the print content, and the content stored in the memory are stored in parallel. Reading means for reading.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the sixth aspect, the print contents stored in each of the memories include a size of a character or a symbol to be printed, an enlargement ratio of the character or the symbol to be printed with respect to a standard pattern, and a neighbor to be printed. It is characterized in that at least one of the interval between the matched characters or symbols and the starting position of the characters or symbols to be printed is limited to one type.

A printer according to claim 8 is a printer according to claims 1 to 5.
Wherein information that changes over time is printed using the setting method described in any one of the above.

According to the present invention, a complicated print content is set by superimposing a plurality of simple setting content sheets instead of suddenly displaying a complicated print content by one setting sheet. Therefore, even if the print content is complicated, the print content of the setting sheet created for each may be simple. In addition, simple processing can be performed in a case where addition or deletion is performed. Further, editing such as overlapping characters or symbols can be easily performed.

In the present invention, a complicated setting is regarded as a set of simple settings, and one complicated setting is expressed as a group of a plurality of simple settings. When setting one print content,
Create multiple setting sheets. However, only the setting of simple print contents is permitted on each of these setting sheets. And
One composite setting sheet is formed by superimposing the plurality of setting sheets, and printing processing is performed according to the composite setting sheet.

For example, in one setting sheet, one type of character or symbol, one type of enlargement ratio of character or symbol, one type of space between adjacent characters or symbols, one type of character or symbol Only the starting position of Then, on each setting sheet, a pattern (printing area of one character or a symbol) arranged in a lattice having a constant size, enlargement ratio, adjacent interval, and starting position is formed, and each of the patterns is formed. Arrange the desired characters or symbols,
Create each setting sheet. Then, a plurality of setting sheets created in this manner are superposed to form one composite setting sheet. Even when complicated print contents are set, the setting processing of the print contents on each setting sheet is simple, and it is only necessary to superimpose the plurality of setting sheets.

By using such a process of superimposing a plurality of setting sheets, the following various application examples (transmission specification, exclusion specification, invalidation specification) are possible. In transparency specification, when multiple setting sheets are superimposed, 1
If a black dot exists even in one setting sheet, that portion becomes a black dot. Therefore, it is possible to easily print a character group or a symbol group having different printing conditions.
In the exclusion specification, when a plurality of setting sheets are superimposed, the positions are inverted to white dots at positions where the black dots overlap. Therefore, it is possible to easily print an inverted character or an inverted symbol having a black background and white characters or symbols. In the invalidation designation, the print content of an arbitrary setting sheet among the plurality of superposed setting sheets is invalidated. Therefore, various edits of the print contents can be easily performed by using this. By using the printing content setting method of the present invention, information that changes over time, such as the date of manufacture, expiration date, and lot number, can be easily printed.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments. Hereinafter, an inkjet printer, which is one type of a printer that performs a printing process without applying pressure (printing pressure), will be described as an example of the printer of the present invention. In this ink jet printer, printing is performed by ejecting fine particles of ink from a nozzle and striking it onto a printing material to form a dot pattern.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the ink jet printer of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an MPU, and an MPU 1 includes an input unit 2, a display unit 3, a printing unit 4, and an RO unit.
It is connected to M5 and RAM 6, and controls the operation of each hardware.

The input unit 2 receives an external input such as a character arrangement or a symbol arrangement on each setting sheet by a user. The display unit 3 displays characters or symbols set on each setting sheet and print contents of a character group or a symbol group set by overlapping a plurality of setting sheets. The printing unit 4 prints a character or a symbol on a printing material according to the set print content. That is, the printing unit 4 prints a desired character or symbol by ejecting fine particles of ink from a nozzle and hitting the printing material to form a dot pattern. The ROM 5 stores the procedure of the printing process by the printing unit 4 and the like.

The RAM 6 includes a plurality of memory areas 6a, 6
, and each of the memory areas 6a, 6b,.
It corresponds to each setting sheet created independently and stores data of characters or symbols to be printed set in each corresponding setting sheet.

Next, the operation will be described. First, the printing condition setting on each setting sheet will be described. In each setting sheet, only one type of character or symbol, one type of magnification of character or symbol, one type of space between adjacent characters or symbols, and one type of start position of character or symbol Only admit. Note that the size of these characters or symbols, the interval between adjacent characters or symbols, and the starting position of the characters or symbols are specifically set by the number of dots.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show examples of such a setting sheet. 2A and 2B, a hatched portion is a print area of one character or symbol, m is the number of vertical dots of the print area (vertical length of one character or symbol), n is the number of horizontal dots (1
S is the space between adjacent characters or symbols in the column direction (vertical direction) (line spacing), and t is the space between adjacent characters or symbols in the row direction (horizontal direction) (printing). (Interval), x indicates the starting position in the row direction (horizontal direction), and y indicates the starting position in the column direction (vertical direction). The setting sheet of FIG. 2A has a larger size of characters or symbols and the interval between adjacent characters or symbols than the setting sheet of FIG. 2B. In each setting sheet, the enlargement ratio of a character or a symbol is determined. In each setting sheet, these printing conditions in the setting sheet are constant.

Then, patterns (character or symbol printing area: FIG. 2A,
(B) of the input section
The desired characters or symbols are arranged according to the instruction input via the, and each setting sheet is created. Character or symbol arrangement data in each of the plurality of created setting sheets is stored in the corresponding memory area 6a, 6b,... Of the RAM 6.

Then, a plurality of setting sheets created in this way are determined as a whole printing start position and are superimposed to constitute one composite setting sheet. Then, according to the print content of the composite setting sheet, the printing unit 4
Print with. That is, in terms of hardware, the print content of the composite setting sheet is obtained by reading data in parallel from the memory areas 6a, 6b,... Of the RAM 6 in which the print content of the created setting sheet is stored.

In the ink jet printer of the present invention, the print contents are not indicated by a single complicated setting sheet, but are superimposed on a plurality of setting sheets having simple print contents in which setting conditions are limited. Create a sheet. Therefore, even if the print content is complicated, the print content of the actually created setting sheet may be simple, and the setting process is easy. In addition, even in the case where addition and deletion are performed, processing on each of the simple setting sheets is sufficient, so that such processing can be easily performed. Furthermore,
Editing such as overlapping letters or symbols can be easily performed.

Hereinafter, an application example of printing of the ink jet printer of the present invention utilizing the concept of the superposition of a plurality of setting sheets will be described.

(Transparency designation) When a plurality of setting sheets are superimposed and a black dot exists even in one setting sheet, that portion is regarded as a black dot. Therefore, it is possible to easily print a character group or a symbol group having different printing conditions. 3 and 4 show specific examples.

In FIG. 3, three setting sheets (1) shown in FIG.
: Large size numbers,: Small size alphabets and numbers)
As shown in (b), it is possible to easily obtain a print result in which alphabets and numbers having different sizes are mixed.

In FIG. 4, three setting sheets (1), (2) and (3) shown in FIG.
By superimposing the black frame, it is possible to easily obtain a print result in which the title and the specific date are incorporated in the black frame as shown in FIG. In this example, the print content of the setting sheet is fixed and the print content is changed, so that the update information that changes over time, such as the manufacturing date, the expiration date, and the lot number, is combined with the fixed information. And can be printed easily.

(Exclusive Designation) When a plurality of setting sheets are superimposed on each other, printing is performed by inverting white dots at positions where black dots overlap. Therefore, it is possible to easily print an inverted character or an inverted symbol having a black background and white characters or symbols. FIG. 5 shows a specific example.

First, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), three setting sheets (1): (small size numbers,: large size numbers and alphabets, all areas corresponding to numbers,:, black data) By creating and superimposing these three setting sheets, it is possible to easily obtain a print result in which the alphabet is normal black and the numbers are black and white inverted as shown in FIG. 5B. .

(Invalidation designation) The print contents of an arbitrary setting sheet among a plurality of superposed setting sheets are invalidated. Therefore, by using this, it is possible to easily set the print content combining the fixed portion and the changing portion, and such printing is facilitated. FIG. 6 shows a specific example.

First, the four setting sheets (1) to (4) shown in FIG. 6A (: only title, specific first product name, second product name different from:, third product name different from :) Create Then, when these four setting sheets are superimposed and the print content of the setting sheet is invalidated, as shown in FIG. 6B,
You can easily print the first product name with a title, as well as 4
By superimposing the two setting sheets and designating the print content on the setting sheet as invalid, the second product name can be easily printed with a title as shown in FIG. 6C.

In the example of the invalid designation, a setting sheet in which the print contents of fixed information indicating a product name and the like are set, and a kind of update information that changes over time such as a manufacturing date, a shelf life, a lot number, and the like. Is superimposed on a plurality of setting sheets having different contents, and the print contents of all the setting sheets other than the desired one setting sheet among the plurality of setting sheets on which the update information is set are invalidated. By doing so, the update information can be easily printed without changing the combination of the setting sheets to be superimposed.

Although the present invention has been described by taking an ink jet printer as an example, the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to other types of printers.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of setting sheets that allow only the setting of simple print contents are created, and the plurality of setting sheets are overlapped to set one print content. Therefore, even when a printing process is performed by mixing a group of characters or a group of symbols having different printing conditions, the setting of the printing contents can be performed easily and in a short time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an ink jet printer of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting sheet according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of print processing (transparency designation) according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows another example of the printing process according to the present invention (transmission specification).
FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating still another example (exclusive designation) of print processing according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating still another example (invalid designation) of the printing process according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 MPU 2 input unit 4 printing unit 6 RAM 6a to 6n memory area

Continued on front page F-term (reference) 2C062 AA63 AB02 2C087 AC07 BA05 BD09 CA02 5B021 CC05 DD05 LA00 LB07 LC01 LE00 5C076 AA02 AA12 AA14 AA16 AA25 CA10 9A001 HH34 JJ35 KK42

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. Using a virtually created setting sheet,
In a method for setting print contents in a printer, a plurality of setting sheets each partially setting the print contents are virtually created, and the created print sheets are overlapped to set the print contents. How to set the print contents in the printer. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the setting sheet is created, a size of a character or a symbol to be printed, a magnification of the character or a symbol to be printed with respect to a standard pattern,
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the interval between adjacent characters or symbols to be printed and the start position of the characters or symbols to be printed is limited to one type. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein when dots are present on at least one of the setting sheets when the plurality of setting sheets are superimposed, the position is set to have dots. 4. A position where dots overlap when said plurality of setting sheets are overlapped with no dots.
How to set print contents in the printer described. 5. The method for setting print contents in a printer according to claim 1, wherein the print contents of at least one of the plurality of setting sheets superimposed are invalidated. 6. A printer for performing a printing process in accordance with a set print content, comprising: a plurality of memories each storing a part of the print content; and a reading unit for reading out the content stored in the memory in parallel. A printer characterized in that: 7. The print contents stored in each of the memories include a size of a character or a symbol to be printed, an enlargement ratio of a character or a symbol to be printed with respect to a standard pattern, an interval between adjacent characters or symbols to be printed, and a character to be printed. 7. The printer according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the start positions of the symbols is limited to one type. 8. A printer which prints information that changes over time using the setting method according to claim 1. Description: