JP2002144671A - Printer and its setting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily set various set values of a label printer. SOLUTION: Upon turn on power, the main control section of a label printer controls a display section to display a printer setting designation screen (Fig. 4(A)) and inquires a user whether a setting is altered or not. When the user selects 'YES' using an input unit, e.g. a mouse, to designate alteration of a setting, an alteration list selection screen (Fig. 4(B)) is displayed so that an item to be altered is selected. When 'print density' is selected, for example, a print density selection screen (Fig. 4(C)) is displayed so that an item corresponding to a desired print density is selected using an input unit, e.g. a mouse. Subsequently, a setting alteration end designating screen (Fig. 4(D)) is displayed so that 'YES' is selected when a next setting is altered and 'NO' is selected when alteration of setting is ended.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing apparatus setting method, and more particularly to a printing apparatus and a printing apparatus setting method capable of performing various settings such as print density and printing speed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional label printer as a printing apparatus operates, for example, by operating a plurality of keys of about 2 to 6 provided on the label printer to set various settings such as print density, print speed, and base point correction value. Values can be set and changed. In some cases, a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as a personal computer) is connected to a printer so that various setting values of the printer can be set on the screen of the personal computer.

[0003]

However, when setting various setting values by pressing keys provided in the label printer, complicated operations are required, such as operating a plurality of keys in a predetermined order or simultaneously pressing a plurality of keys. In some cases, it is necessary to perform an operation that is difficult to understand, and there is a problem that it takes time to get used to the operation.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and enables a beginner to easily and quickly set various setting values of a label printer using a pointing device such as a mouse. Things.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus for performing printing based on various set values, and a printing unit for performing printing in accordance with predetermined print data; Storage means for storing a set value, selection screen display means for displaying, on a predetermined display device, a selection screen including a plurality of selection items corresponding to settable set values for each of various set values, Selection means for selecting a predetermined one of the selection items displayed on the selection screen for setting, and setting means for storing the selection item selected by the selection means in the storage means as a set value corresponding to the selection item And control means for controlling the printing means to perform printing based on the set values stored in the storage means. Further, the selection means can be constituted by a pointing device. A setting method of a printing apparatus according to claim 3 is a setting method of a printing apparatus that performs printing based on various setting values, and includes a printing step of performing printing corresponding to predetermined print data, and A storage step of storing, a selection screen display step of displaying, on a predetermined display device, a selection screen including a plurality of selection items corresponding to settable set values for each of various set values, and setting a predetermined set value. A selection step of selecting a predetermined one of the selection items displayed on the selection screen, a setting step of storing the selection item selected in the selection step as a setting value corresponding to the selection item in a storage step, And a control step of controlling printing in the printing step based on the set values stored in the step. In the selection step, a predetermined one of the selection items displayed on the selection screen can be selected using a pointing device. In the printing apparatus and the setting method of the printing apparatus according to the present invention, printing is performed in accordance with predetermined print data, various setting values are stored, and a plurality of setting values corresponding to settable setting values are stored for each of the various setting values. A selection screen including selection items is displayed on a predetermined display device, a predetermined one of the selection items displayed on the selection screen for setting a predetermined setting value is selected, and the selected selection item is selected. The setting is stored as a setting value corresponding to the item, and control is performed so that printing is performed based on the stored setting value.

[0006]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a label printer to which a printing apparatus according to the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the label printer 1 includes an LCD (liquid cr).
display unit 3 composed of an external display (ystal display) and the like;
An operation unit 2 including a plurality of keys; a power switch 4 operated when power is turned on; a discharge unit 5 for discharging a printed label; and an input device 6 including a pointing device such as a mouse. And a connector (not shown) for connecting the.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an electrical configuration of the label printer 1 shown in FIG. Main control unit 11
Is a CPU (central) that performs processing according to a predetermined control program stored in the memory 12 described later.
processing unit), etc.
Each part is controlled according to a control program. The memory 12 loads the control program,
RAM for storing various data (random a
access memory) and a ROM (read only) for storing a boot program and a control program.
memory) and an SRAM (static land) for storing data such as setting values of various printers to be described later.
access memory).

[0008] As described above, the display section 3 is constituted by an LCD or the like, and displays various information.
The operation unit 2 includes, for example, about two to six keys, and is operated when various settings are made. The printing unit 17 includes a print head that prints on a label, a platen roller that conveys the label in the conveyance direction, and the like.
Under the control of 1, a predetermined character, graphic, bar code, or the like is printed on a label.

The input / output interface (I / O) 13
It is connected to a personal computer (personal computer (PC)) 15 via a connector (not shown), transmits and receives data to and from the PC 15, transfers data from the PC 15 to the main control unit 11, and transmits data from the main control unit 11. The data is transferred to the PC 15. Input / output interface (I
/ O) 14 is a serial interface or a parallel interface, is connected to an input device 6 such as a pointing device such as a mouse via a connector (not shown), and outputs a signal from the input device 6 to the main control unit 11. To be supplied.

Next, referring to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 and the example of the display screen of the display unit 3 shown in FIG. 4, the print density, print speed, base point correction value and the like of the label printer 1 are set. The procedure for instructing a test print will be described. In the description below, the input device 6 is configured as a mouse. Therefore, the input device 6 includes a left button operated when selecting and a right button operated when displaying a menu.

When the power switch 4 of the label printer 1 is operated by the user to turn on the power, the main controller 1 is turned on.
1 displays a mode selection screen (not shown) according to a predetermined control program. The mode selection screen includes items such as a user setting mode for setting setting values such as print density and printing speed, and a serviceman setting mode for performing various settings when a serviceman performs maintenance. Is displayed, and each item can be selected.

Here, the case where the user setting mode is selected will be described. When the user selects the user setting mode on the mode selection screen, the main control unit 11
A printer setting instruction screen as shown in FIG.

On the printer setting instruction screen, items "YES" and "NO" for the user to instruct whether or not to set various setting values of the label printer 1, exit from the printer setting instruction screen, and select a mode. Item "E" to return to the screen
SC "and a cursor for selecting each item are displayed. The user operates the input device 6 to move the cursor to a position where an item to be selected is displayed, and
By clicking the left button of, the item can be selected.

Then, in step S1, the main control unit 11 allows the user to select one of the items “YES”, “NO”, and “ESC” according to a predetermined control program.
It detects which item has been selected and determines whether or not to change the setting of various setting values. When the item “YES” is selected and it is determined that the setting of various setting values is to be changed, the process proceeds to step S2.

In step S2, a change list selection screen as shown in FIG. 4B is displayed. On the change list selection screen, items whose settings can be changed are displayed. For example, "Ingenoudo (print density)", "Ingespeed (printing speed)", "Kitene (base point correction value)",
Selectable setting items such as “test print” are displayed. When the change list selection screen is composed of a plurality of pages, the item “↑” and the item “↓” are displayed, and when the item “↑” is selected, the previous page is displayed.
When the item "↓" is selected, the next page is displayed.
When the item “ESC” is selected, the immediately preceding printer setting instruction screen shown in FIG. 4A is displayed.

On the change list selection screen shown in FIG. 4B, for example, when the user operates the input device 6 to move the cursor to the area where the item "Indigen (print density)" is displayed. Since the item “Ingenoudo” is surrounded by, for example, a thick frame, the item “Ingenoudo” can be selected by clicking the left button in that state. When the user selects the item “Ingenoudo”, the main control unit 11 causes the user to select “Inginoudo”.
Is detected, and a print density setting screen as shown in FIG.

On the print density setting screen, items "1" (light), "2" (slightly light), "3" (normal), "4" (slightly dark), "5" (dark) ) Is displayed. The user operates the input device 6 to move a cursor to an item corresponding to a desired print density, and clicks a left button of the input device 6 to select the print density. When detecting the print density selected by the user, the main control unit 11 stores data indicating the print density in the printer setting value storage area of the SRAM of the memory 12, and thereafter, printing is performed at the print density. To control.

When the setting of the print density is completed, step S
Then, as shown in FIG. 4D, the main control unit 11
The display unit 3 displays a setting end instruction screen for instructing the end of the setting value setting process. On the setting end instruction screen,
A message “Longhorn”, an item “YES” for instructing to continue the setting, and an item “NO” for instructing to end the setting are displayed.

On the setting end instruction screen, when the user operates the input device 6 and selects the item “YES” (sets the next set value), the main controller 11 causes the item “YE” to be set.
It is detected that "S" has been selected, and the process returns to step S2, and the processes after step S2 are repeatedly executed. That is,
The change list selection screen shown in FIG. 4B is displayed on the display unit 3 again, and the user selects the next item whose setting is to be changed. When the item "Inge Speed" is selected,
The print speed can be set. When the item “KIT” is selected, a base point correction value can be set. When "test print" is selected, the main control unit 1
The test print is executed under the control of
The characters and graphics corresponding to the test print data stored in the SRAM No. 2 are printed on the label by the printing unit 17.

On the other hand, when the user instructs not to perform the next setting in step S3, that is, when the item "NO" is selected on the setting end instruction screen, the process proceeds to step S5, and the normal operation is performed. Will be That is,
Printing is enabled based on the set values set at that time.

In step S1, when the user instructs not to change the setting, that is, in FIG.
In the printer setting instruction screen shown in FIG.
If "O" is selected, the process proceeds to step S4, and the normal printer is started. That is, the printer is activated so that printing is performed based on the set values already set in the printer set value storage area of the SRAM of the memory 12. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S5, where the normal operation is performed.

As described above, in the above embodiment,
The setting of various setting values of the label printer 1 and the instruction of the test print can be performed by selecting each item displayed on the display unit 3 using the input device 6 including a pointing device such as a mouse. The method is simplified, and the user does not need to be aware of complicated operations. As a result, even a beginner can easily set various set values, and work efficiency can be improved.

In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a label printer has been described.
The present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to other printing apparatuses.

In the above embodiment, the case where the input device 6 is connected via the input / output interface 14 such as a serial interface or a parallel interface has been described. However, the USB (Universal) is used.
l Serial Bus), IEEE (The In
state of Electric and
Electronics Engineers, In
c. ) 1394, IrDA (Infrared Dat)
a Association), the present invention can also be applied to a case where connection is made via a weak radio wave or the like.

In the above embodiment, the case where the input device 6 is constituted by a mouse has been described. However, the input device 6 may be constituted by another pointing device.

The configuration and operation of the above embodiment, the layout of the screen display, and the like are merely examples, and it is needless to say that they can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0027]

As described above, according to the printing apparatus and the setting method of the printing apparatus according to the present invention, printing is performed in accordance with predetermined print data, various set values are stored, and for each of the various set values, A selection screen including a plurality of selection items corresponding to settable setting values is displayed on a predetermined display device, and a predetermined one of the selection items displayed on the selection screen for setting a predetermined setting value is selected. Then, the selected selection item is stored as a setting value corresponding to the selection item, and control is performed such that printing is performed based on the stored setting value. The setting can be made easily and quickly by using a selection means including a pointing device such as a mouse. Thereby, it is possible to improve work efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an embodiment of a label printer to which a printing apparatus according to the present invention is applied.

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

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a processing procedure when setting various setting values.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of each screen displayed on a display unit and an order of display.

[Description of Signs] 1 Label printer 2 Operation unit 3 Display unit 4 Power switch 5 Paper discharge unit 6 Input device 11 Main control unit 12 Memory 13, 14 Input / output interface (I / O) 15 Personal computer (PC) 17 Printing unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus for performing printing based on various set values, a printing unit for performing printing in accordance with predetermined print data, a storage unit for storing various set values, Selection screen display means for displaying a selection screen including a plurality of selection items corresponding to settable setting values on a predetermined display device; and the selection items displayed on the selection screen for setting predetermined setting values Selecting means for selecting a predetermined one of the following: setting means for storing the selected item selected by the selecting means in the storage means as the set value corresponding to the selected item; storing in the storage means And a control unit for controlling the printing unit to perform printing based on the set value. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit includes a pointing device. 3. A setting method for a printing apparatus for performing printing based on various setting values, comprising: a printing step for performing printing corresponding to predetermined print data; a storing step for storing various setting values; A selection screen display step of displaying, on a predetermined display device, a selection screen including a plurality of selection items corresponding to settable setting values for each value; and displaying the selection screen for setting a predetermined setting value on the selection screen. A selection step of selecting a predetermined one of the selection items; and the selection item selected in the selection step,
A setting step of storing in the storage step as the set value corresponding to the selection item; and a control step of controlling to perform printing in the printing step based on the set value stored in the storage step. A setting method for a printing apparatus, comprising: 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein in the selection step, a predetermined one of the selection items displayed on the selection screen is selected using a pointing device. How to set.