JP2001071597A - Printing format setting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing format setting method capable of setting one kind of a printing format from a large number of printing formats even in a printing having no exclusive setting key. SOLUTION: A power supply lamp 21 is flashed when a power supply switch 22 is turned ON while a key 25d is pushed and the number of times of the flashing of the lamp is preliminarily related to the inherent numbers applied to a plurality of the printing formats registered in a printer P. The selection of the printing format is again performed by pressing the key 25d and ON operation is again performed after the power supply switch 22 is once turned OFF to register a set printing format.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for setting a print format of weighing data in a weighing system in which one or a plurality of weighing devices are connected to one printer. The present invention relates to a print format setting method capable of setting a print format in a printer that does not have a setting key.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in the case of an explosion-proof printer, it is necessary to minimize the number of external operation units in order to stabilize the explosion-proof quality, and by doing so, it is possible to reduce the cost. For this reason, explosion-proof printers usually do not have a numeric keyboard for printing and other operations. Because there are only a few key switches for printer operation, the printer can only select from a very limited variety of print formats when determining the print format of the scale.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has been made in consideration of the above-described problems. A printing format setting method capable of setting one type of printing format from a large number of printing formats even if the printer does not have a dedicated setting key. The task is to provide

[0004]

An object of the present invention is to provide a weighing system in which one or more weighing devices are connected to one printer, and the printer prints weighing data of the weighing devices. A print format setting method in which the printer does not have a dedicated setting key for setting the print format in the operation, and the print format is set in an operation. The print format is set by associating a unique number assigned to each of a plurality of print formats registered in the printer in advance with the number of times of operation of the notification unit. Print format setting method.

That is, according to the present invention, even if the printer does not have a dedicated setting key for setting a print format, the printer is provided with a notification means which operates at a predetermined cycle, and is registered in the printer in advance. By associating the unique numbers respectively assigned to the plurality of print formats with the number of times of operation of the notification means, the print format can be set. Here, the notification means includes a means such as a lamp or a buzzer that can detect its operation visually and audibly.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. A plurality of printers (four weighing devices W1, W2, W3, and W4 in this embodiment) are connected to one printer P by communication lines C1, C2, C3, and C4, respectively.
The weighing devices W1 to W4 each have the same configuration, and mainly include a weighing unit 11 including a mounting table for mounting an unillustrated object.
A display setting panel 12 for displaying weighing data and performing various settings; a weighing unit 11 and a display setting panel 1
2 and a support portion 13 for supporting the support member 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, printer P has a pressure-resistant explosion-proof structure, and includes a power lamp 21, a power switch 22,
A recording paper discharge port Pe formed in the main body 23, a viewing window 24 for checking the remaining amount of recording paper, and a key operation unit 25 are provided. The key operation unit 25 is limited to a minimum necessary operation in terms of the function of the printer P. In this example, a "paper feed" key 25a, a "subtotal printing" key 25b, and a "total printing" key 25c are used. , And a "correction" key 25d.

Using the printer P, each weighing machine W1 to W1
In order to set the print format of the weighing data of the object weighed in W4, in the present embodiment, the printer P is provided with the following configuration.

That is, the power lamp 21 is turned on when the power switch 22 is turned on.
When the power switch 22 is turned on while pressing d, the power lamp 21 is configured to blink at a predetermined cycle. Then, the number of times the power supply lamp 21 blinks is associated with a unique number assigned to each of a plurality of print formats registered in advance in a storage unit incorporated in the printer P. Table 1 shows a list of combinations of the print format numbers (No.) and print items.

[0011]

[Table 1]

When the power supply lamp 21 blinks, it flashes with two colors of light (for example, red and green). When the number of blinks is even, it is one color (for example, red). Light is emitted in the other color (for example, green). "Correction" again when the power lamp 21 blinks
When the key 25d is pressed, the printing format of the number corresponding to the number of times the power lamp 21 blinks is determined, and the blinking operation of the power lamp 21 is stopped, and the power lamp 21 is always lit in the one color. At this time, "subtotal printing" key 25b
By pressing, the set print format No. is printed on the recording paper and discharged from the recording paper discharge port Pe.

After setting the print format, turn off the power once.
By turning it on and turning it on again, the set print format is registered. Here, in the present embodiment,
The measurement data of all the weighing devices W1 to W4 is configured to be printed in a common printing format.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a print format on the recording paper 20 discharged from the recording paper discharge port Pe of the printer P. In the figure, “#” is a unique number of the measuring devices W1 to W4,
For example, the scale W1 is 1 and the scale W2 is 2. In addition, "No.
"Indicates the number of weighings, that is, the number of weighings,
For example, “# 1 No. 2” means “second weighing of the weighing device W1”. “ITEM” indicates the product number, that is, the object to be weighed by a two-digit integer, and has a different number depending on the type of the object to be weighed. "WEIGHT" is literally
This is the measurement result (net amount in this case) of the object to be weighed. Shown below is each weighing device W after the weighing operation is completed.
This is a total of the measurement data of 1 to W4, and the total value is printed for each measuring device.

The print format shown in FIG. 3 is “journal print”, “date / time”, “slave station (meter) No.
, "Number of weighings", "article number", "net amount", and "subtotal / total", and corresponds to print format No. 12 in Table 1. The “journal printing” here means that the weighing data received by the printer P from the weighing machines W1 to W4 is sequentially and chronologically recorded on the recording paper 20.
This is a printing mode in which printing is performed.

FIG. 4 shows a print format corresponding to print format No. 4, which is obtained by adding a print item of "print every time for each slave station (meter)" to the print format shown in FIG. . This means that each individual weighing data E1,
E2, E3 and E4 are printed. That is,
The weighing data printed in the upper journal print portion is rearranged and printed for each weighing instrument No., and is realized by using a storage means and a sorting means built in the printer P. Such a print format makes it possible to grasp at a glance the transition of the weighing data for each weighing device, and greatly contributes to a reduction in the management burden as compared with a mere printing of only the aggregated values.

The print format shown in FIG.
IGHT ”as the tare amount“ TARE ”, net amount“ NET ”and total amount“ GR ”
OSS ”, and corresponds to format No. 10. The print format shown in FIG. 6 is obtained by printing the print content of FIG. 5 by “interval print” instead of “journal print”, and corresponds to format No. 14. This interval print mode is used for separating each print data and for managing each measuring device. FIG. 7 shows FIG.
"Time" at the time of each weighing is added as a print item to the print content of, and corresponds to format No. 9.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

In this embodiment, a case where the print format is set to the print format (No. 4) shown in FIG. 4 will be described. First, the printer P which is powered off
On the other hand, after turning on the power switch 22 while pressing the "correction" key 25d as described above,
The pressing operation of 5d is released. Then, the power lamp 21 starts blinking alternately with two colors of light. When the number of times of blinking is counted four times, when the "correction" key 25d is pressed again, the blinking operation of the power lamp 21 is stopped. To confirm whether the print format shown in FIG. 4 has been set properly, press the "subtotal print" key 25b to check whether the desired print format No. is printed on the recording paper discharged from the discharge port Pe. You can judge it. Next, the power switch 22 is turned off once and turned on again, so that the print format No. 4
Registered in.

Note that even if the power of the printer P is turned off, the set print format is stored without being erased, and is different from the time when the print format is set by a normal power-on operation (ie, without pressing the "correction" key 25d). When the power switch 22 is turned on), the latest print format set in the past is registered.

As described above, even when a dedicated key for setting a print format is not provided, the print format can be easily set by employing the above-described method, and a large number of print formats can be set. It is possible to prepare and select one print format based on the number of times the power supply lamp 22 blinks. In particular, in the present embodiment, the power supply lamp 22 emits light of two colors alternately (divided into even-numbered and odd-numbered), so that counting errors in the number of blinks can be suppressed.

When the number of blinks of the power lamp 21 exceeds a predetermined number of print formats, the print format is returned to the first print format. Return to the third print format so that workers can distinguish it.

Referring to FIG. 1, the printing operation of the printer P is performed, for example, on the weighing data of the object to be weighed by the weighing device W1 by the operator using the "print key" on the display setting panel 12 of the weighing device W1. Is transmitted to the printer P via the communication line C1 together with the weighing data, and when the printer P receives this, the printing operation is started. After the printing operation is completed, a printing completion signal is transmitted from the printer P to the weighing device W1 via the communication line C1, and a buzzer or a lamp indicator provided on the weighing device W1 is operated to inform the operator of the weighing data. Notifies that the printing operation has been completed.

The printing operation is performed independently in the same manner as described above on the basis of the printing start signals from the other measuring devices W2 to W4. After the printing operation is completed, the printing completion signal is sent to the corresponding measuring device. Send. Here, for example, when the printer P receives a print start signal from any or all of the other weighing devices W2 to W4 while printing the weighing data of the weighing device W1,
After printing the weighing data of the weighing device W1, the printer P
A known buffer and the like are provided in such a manner that the received weighing data of the weighing device (for example, W2) is printed, and after the printing operation is completed, the weighing data of the next received weighing device (for example, W3) is printed. A built-in memory function performs printing operation of the weighing data of each of the weighing devices W1 to W4 in the order of arrival of the printing start signal. Since the print start signal may be simultaneously received from each of the weighing devices W1 to W4, the priority order of the weighing data from which weighing device to print may be determined in advance.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is, of course, not limited to this, and various modifications can be made based on the technical concept of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, a common print format is set for all the measuring devices W1 to W4. However, if the number of blinks of the power lamp 21 is associated with the number of each measuring device, It is also possible to set a different print format for. For example, the printer may be provided with two types of lamps and two setting keys, one for the print format and the other for the weighing device identification, by specifying the weighing device number and setting the printing format. In the configuration of the above-described embodiment, one of the power lamps 21 that emits light in two colors can be used for the print format and the other color can be used for specifying the measuring instrument. 25d is a setting key for the print format, and the "paper feed" key 25a
May be used.

In the above embodiment, the printer P
The power lamp 21 is adopted as the notification means provided in the
This may be used as a buzzer.

Further, in the above embodiment, the blinking operation of the power supply lamp 21 is alternately blinked by two different colors of light. Alternatively, for example, the blinking frequency may be 1 to 10 times.
In this case, even if light is emitted in one color and thereafter in the other color, it is effective in preventing miscounting of the number of blinks.

Further, in the above embodiment, four weighing devices are connected to one printer P, but the present invention is also applicable to a configuration example in which only one weighing device is connected. Further, the types of print formats are not limited to those listed in Table 1, and further addition of print items and selection of combinations thereof can be appropriately performed.

[0030]

As described above, according to the print format setting method of the present invention, even if a printer that does not have a dedicated key for setting the print format is used, the print format can be easily set by the printer. In addition to this, it is possible to prepare a large number of print formats and select a desired print format.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a weighing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the entire printer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a first example of a print format according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a second example.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a third example.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a fourth example.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a fifth example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 power lamp 22 power switch 23 main unit 25 key operation section P printer Pe recording paper outlet W1 weighing device W2 weighing device W3 weighing device W4 weighing device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A weighing system comprising one or more weighing devices connected to one printer, wherein a print format setting in a printing operation of weighing data of the weighing devices by the printer is printed. What is claimed is: 1. A print format setting method which is performed by a printer that does not have a dedicated setting key for setting a format, wherein a notifying unit that operates at a predetermined cycle is provided in the printer,
The print format is set by associating a unique number assigned to each of a plurality of print formats registered in the printer in advance with the number of operations of the notification unit. Format setting method. 2. The print format setting method according to claim 1, wherein said notifying unit is a power lamp which blinks and displays at a predetermined cycle when the printer is turned on under a predetermined condition. 3. The power supply lamp is capable of blinking with two colors of light, and emits one color when the number of blinks is even and emits the other color when it is odd. Item 3. The print format setting method according to Item 2. 4. The print format setting method according to claim 1, wherein the printer is an explosion-proof type printer.