JP2002187328A - Printer and its controlling method, and computer readable information recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a printer in which a user can arbitrarily select a processing in such a case as a plurality of print colors are designated to be printed repetitively for the same print dot and can execute an appropriate processing depending on the situation. SOLUTION: A printer 10 comprising a print head 12 which can print the same print dot with any one of a plurality of print colors is further provided with means for comparing the print data of each print color in units of print dot (step 304), means for referring to processing selection set information when a plurality of print colors are designated to be printed repetitively for the same print dot (step 309), and a plurality of repetition avoiding means being executed selectively depending on the processing selection set information (first processing through seventh processing).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer of a thermal type or the like capable of printing a plurality of colors, and more particularly, to printing of any one of a plurality of printable colors for the same print dot. The present invention relates to a simple printer, a control method thereof, and a storage medium readable by the printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, printers capable of printing in a plurality of colors have become widespread. This type of printer includes a printer capable of printing a plurality of colors on the same print dot as in an ink jet system, and a printer capable of printing the same print dot among a plurality of printable print colors such as a color thermal system. The printer is classified as a printer that can print only one color.

[0003] Today, with the spread of printer shared networks such as LANs, the cases where the above two types of printers are mixed on the same network are increasing. On such a network, print data created according to one printing method may be printed by a printer of the other printing method.For example, when print data for a thermal printer is transmitted to an ink jet printer, an ink jet printer may be used. The printer can appropriately perform the print processing of the received print data.

[0004]

However, in a case where print data for an ink jet printer is to be printed by a thermal printer, if a plurality of print colors are specified to be overlapped with the same print dot, the thermal printer will The received print data cannot be printed properly.

[0005] Some commercial thermal printers used for printing receipts and the like are capable of registering standard print data such as a store name logo in advance. When printing a store name logo etc. in color with such a printer,
A method of adding color information when registering print data, a method of specifying the print color of registered print data when printing, a method of transmitting print data with color information from the host side, etc. are used. Also, there is a possibility that a plurality of printing colors may be specified for the same printing dot in an overlapping manner. In such a case, the thermal printer cannot properly print the print data.

Therefore, in the related art, when the above-described problem occurs, it is not possible to correct the print data on the host side, and it is difficult to share the print data between printers having different printing methods. There was a problem of becoming.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to allow a user to arbitrarily select a process when a plurality of printing colors are specified to be printed on the same printing dot in an overlapping manner. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer capable of executing appropriate processing, a control method thereof, and a computer-readable information recording medium.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a printer according to the present invention comprises a plurality of printable print colors.
A print unit that can print only one color for the same print dot, a print data comparison unit that compares the print data of each print color in print dot units, and multiple print colors that overlap the same print dot When designated, the information processing apparatus includes a setting information reference unit that refers to predetermined setting information, and a plurality of duplication avoidance processing units that are selectively executed according to the setting information.

Preferably, one of the duplication avoiding processing means is a printer designation processing means for preferentially printing a color designated by a printer in advance. In this case, the printing process can be performed even if a plurality of printing colors are specified in the same printing dot at the same time, so that the data correction work on the host side becomes unnecessary, and the printing method is not allowed. Makes it easy to share print data with printers having different printers. In addition, since a priority color suitable for the printer model can be specified, the possibility of obtaining a good print result can be increased.

It is preferable that the printer designation processing means preferentially prints a color that develops with low energy. In this case, there is a possibility that the power consumption can be saved and the printing speed can be improved.

Preferably, the printer designation processing means preferentially prints a color designated commonly for a series model to which the printer belongs. In this case, when a plurality of models of the same series are introduced, similar print results cannot be obtained, and there is an advantage that recognition of the priority color is facilitated.

Further, it is preferable that one of the duplication avoiding processing means is a user designation processing means for preferentially printing a color designated by a user in advance. In this case, the printing process can be performed even if a plurality of printing colors are specified in the same printing dot at the same time, so that the data correction work on the host side becomes unnecessary, and the printing method is not allowed. Makes it easy to share print data with printers having different printers.
In addition, since the user can specify the priority color according to the situation, the possibility of obtaining a good print result can be increased.

Preferably, the user designation processing means determines a priority color in accordance with a print data registration order of each print color. In this case, since the priority color can be changed for each registered data, it is not allowed to specify a priority color suitable for each registered data, and it is necessary to re-specify the priority color every time the registered data to be printed is changed. There is no.

Further, it is preferable that the user designation processing means preferentially prints a color designated by a user in advance, regardless of a print data registration order of each printing color. In this case, there is no advantage that the designation of the priority color can be simplified, and there is an advantage that the priority color can be easily recognized.

Further, it is preferable that the user designation processing means prints a color which develops with low energy preferentially. In this case, according to the user's specification, there is a possibility that the power consumption can be saved and the printing speed can be improved.

Further, it is preferable that the user designation processing means preferentially prints a color designated commonly to a series model to which the printer belongs. In this case, when a plurality of models of the same series are introduced according to the user's specification, there is an advantage that similar print results cannot be obtained and priority colors can be easily recognized. Further, it is preferable that one of the duplication avoiding processing units is a warning processing unit that warns that a plurality of printing colors are designated to be printed in duplicate on the same printing dot. In this case, after the warning, it is possible for the user to selectively perform processing such as correcting the print data, printing, and stopping the printing, and as a result, the printing processing contrary to the intention is executed. Possibility can be reduced.

Further, the warning processing means includes a selection means for selecting one of the plurality of duplication avoiding processing means in response to a predetermined input, and the duplication avoiding processing selected by the selecting means after the warning. It is preferred to implement the means. In this case, it is possible to easily switch the duplication avoiding processing means by setting the selecting means.

Further, it is preferable that the printer is connected to a host computer, and further comprises a changing means for changing the setting information based on a first command from the host computer. In this case, the setting information can be easily changed, and flexible printer processing can be realized.

Further, it is preferable that the printer is provided with a transmission means connected to a host computer and transmitting the setting information based on a second command from the host computer. In this case, the setting information can be known on the host computer side, the operation on the printer side can be confirmed, and various commands can be transmitted.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
A control method for a printer having a printing unit capable of printing only one of the plurality of print colors that can be printed on the same print dot, wherein the print data of each print color is compared in print dot units. In the data comparison process, when multiple print colors are specified for the same print dot,
The configuration includes a setting information reference step of referring to predetermined setting information, and a duplication avoiding processing executing step of selectively executing duplication avoiding processing according to the setting information.

In the method of controlling a printer according to the present invention, it is preferable that one of the duplication avoiding processes is a printer designation process for preferentially printing a color designated by the printer in advance.

Further, in the printer control method according to the present invention, it is preferable that the printer designation processing preferentially prints a color which is developed with low energy.

In the printer control method according to the present invention, it is preferable that the printer designation processing preferentially prints a color designated in common to a series model to which the printer belongs.

In the printer control method according to the present invention, it is preferable that one of the duplication avoiding processes is a user specifying process for preferentially printing a color specified by a user in advance.

In the printer control method according to the present invention, it is preferable that the user-specified process determines a priority color according to a print data registration order of each print color.

In the printer control method according to the present invention, it is preferable that the user-specified process preferentially prints a color specified by a user in advance, regardless of a print data registration order of each print color.

In the user-specified process, it is preferable that a color that develops with low energy is preferentially printed. In this case, according to the user's specification, there is a possibility that the power consumption can be saved and the printing speed can be improved.

It is preferable that the user-specified process preferentially prints a color specified in common to a series model to which the printer belongs. In this case, when a plurality of models of the same series are introduced according to the user's specification, there is an advantage that similar print results cannot be obtained and priority colors can be easily recognized.

In the method of controlling a printer according to the present invention, one of the duplication avoiding processes is a warning process for warning that a plurality of printing colors are designated to be duplicated for the same printing dot. preferable.

The warning process includes a selection process for selecting one of the plurality of duplication avoiding processes in accordance with a predetermined input, and executes the duplication avoiding process selected by the selecting process after the warning. Is preferred. In this case, the setting of the selection processing makes it possible to easily switch the duplication avoidance processing.

Preferably, the printer is connected to a host computer and includes a change processing step of changing the setting information based on a first command from the host computer. In this case, the setting information can be easily changed, and flexible printer processing can be realized.

Further, it is preferable that the printer is connected to a host computer and includes a transmission step of transmitting the setting information based on a second command from the host computer. In this case, the setting information can be known on the host computer side, the operation on the printer side can be confirmed, and various commands can be transmitted.

The present invention also relates to a computer-readable information recording medium on which a program for executing the above-described printer control method is recorded.

In this case, the information recording medium is a compact disk, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a digital video disk,
Includes magnetic tape, semiconductor memory and memory devices.

[0035]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a printer 10 includes a paper feed mechanism 11 and a print head 1.
2. It includes a cutter mechanism 13, a display unit 14, an operation unit 15, and a control unit 16. The paper feed mechanism 11 is for transporting roll paper rotatably stored inside the printer toward a paper discharge port, and a print head 12 and a cutter mechanism 13 are arranged on the transport path. When a print command is received from the host computer, the print head 12 is driven together with the transport of the roll paper by the paper feed mechanism 11, and desired characters and symbols are printed on the roll paper. The printed area of the roll paper is further conveyed toward the paper discharge port, and when the rear end position reaches the cutting position of the cutter mechanism 13, the paper is cut and separated by the cutter mechanism 13 to form a cut sheet from the paper discharge port. Provided to the user.

The print head 12 is of a thermal system corresponding to two-color printing, and two-color printing can be performed by using roll paper corresponding to the system. On the surface of the roll paper, color-forming layers for two colors (for example, black and red) having different color-forming energies are laminated and formed. The print head 12 changes the amount of energy to be applied so that each coloring layer is selectively colored in printing dot units, but the printing color in the same printing dot is limited to any one color.

The control unit 16 includes an interface 17, a CP
U18, ROM19, RAM20 and EEPROM21
Is provided. The interface 17 enables communication with the host computer, and mediates reception of a print command and the like and transmission of a status and the like. The CPU 18 controls the printer 10 according to a program written in the ROM 19.
The RAM 20 provides a work storage area when receiving print data, processing print execution data, and the like. EEPROM2
Reference numeral 1 denotes an electrically rewritable ROM that includes a data registration area and a setting storage area. The data registration area is for registering standard print data such as a store name logo, and secures a storage capacity for registering a plurality of standard print data.
Each standard print data is registered as a set of a registration number, print data of the first print color, and print data of the second print color,
At that time, the print data registration order of each print color is also registered as additional information.

The setting storage area contains at least selection setting information for the duplication avoidance processing. The duplication avoiding process is a process that is executed when a plurality of printing colors are designated to be printed on the same printing dot in an overlapping manner. As shown in FIG. First to seventh treatment)
Is prepared. The user of the printer 10 performs a printer designation process (first and second processes) for preferentially printing the color designated by the printer 10 in advance, and a user designation process (third to third processes) for preferentially printing the color designated by the user in advance. (Sixth process), or a warning process (seventh process) that warns that a plurality of printing colors are designated to be printed in duplicate on the same printing dot can be selected.

If the printer designation process is selected, a process of printing a color which is colored with low energy preferentially (first process), a fixed color predetermined for the printer 10, for example, A process (second process) for preferentially printing a color designated in common to the series model to which 10 belongs is selected.

On the other hand, when the user-specified processing is selected, processing for determining a priority color in accordance with the print data registration order of each print color (third and fourth processing) is further performed. Regardless of the order, any one of the processes (fifth and sixth processes) for preferentially printing the color designated by the user in advance is selected. When the priority color is determined in the registration order, one of a process of giving priority to the print color registered first (third process) and a process of giving priority to the print color registered later (fourth process) is selected. On the other hand, when the user directly specifies the priority color,
One of a process that gives priority to the first print color (fifth process) and a process that gives priority to the second print color (sixth process) is selected.

This process selection setting can be performed by either the host computer or the printer 10. For example, in the printer 10, the operation selection is performed by operating the operation unit 15 while watching the setting menu displayed on the display unit 14. .

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the print data processing of the printer, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing each stage of the print data processing. Hereinafter, a control procedure of the printer 10 will be described with reference to these drawings. Upon receiving a print command from the host computer, the printer 10 executes print data processing to generate print execution data from the print data (A in FIG. 4). When the print data processing starts, an initial value 1 is set to a variable n (step 301), and then the n-th first print color bit data and the n-th second print color bit data are read (steps 302 and 3).
03, FIG. 4B). The read bit data of both print colors are compared (step 304, C in FIG. 4), and it is determined whether the bit data of both print colors is "1" (print designation) (step 305). Any bit data is "0"
, The bit data of each print color is directly set in the print execution data of each print color (steps 306 and 30).
7) After that, the variable n is incremented (step 30).
8) Then, the process returns to step 302 to process the next bit data.

On the other hand, when the bit data of both print colors is "1", the process selection setting information of the EEPROM 21 is referred to (step 309, D in FIG. 4). If it is determined that the first to sixth processes have been selected (step 310), "0" is set to the bit data of each print color (step 311), and the selected process has priority. "1" is set to the bit data of the printing color (step 312, E in FIG. 4). Thereafter, the bit data of each printing color is set in the printing execution data of each printing color (step 30).
6, 307) and increment the variable n (step 3
08) and returns to step 302. This is repeated until the bit data of each printing color is exhausted (step 313).
The print data processing ends. Thereafter, a printing process is executed based on the printing execution data, and a printing result (F in FIG. 4) in which the above-described process selection setting is reflected is obtained.

If the seventh process is selected, a warning process (step 314) is executed. In the warning process, a warning lamp provided in the printer 10 blinks or a buzzer sounds, a status is transmitted to the host computer, and an instruction from the host computer is followed. The instructions from the host computer include
An instruction to designate any one of the sixth processes to continue the process and an instruction to stop the process are included. After the warning and the status transmission, an instruction from the host computer side is determined (step 315). If the instruction is a processing continuation instruction, the process returns to step 310 and the designated duplication avoidance processing (one of the first processing to the sixth processing) ) Is performed. In the above description, an example in which the print data processing shown in FIG. 3 is performed in response to a print command has been described. Instead, the print data processing is performed when registering data such as a logo in response to a print data registration command. It may be that.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the printer 10 is capable of printing only one of the two printable colors for the same print dot.
And print data comparing means (step 304 in FIG. 3) for comparing print data of each print color in print dot (bit data) units, and when a plurality of print colors are specified to be overlapped with the same print dot. Setting information reference means (step 309 in FIG. 3) for referring to the processing selection setting information, and a plurality of duplication avoidance processing means (first to seventh processing) selectively executed in accordance with the processing selection setting information. It is comprised including. This enables the user to arbitrarily select a process when a plurality of print colors are specified to be overlapped on the same print dot, and as a result, to execute an appropriate process according to the situation. Can be.

Further, in the first and second processes, the color specified by the printer 10 in advance is preferentially printed. Therefore, even if a plurality of printing colors are specified in the same printing dot, the printing process is not performed. As a result, data correction work on the host computer side is not necessary,
Printing data can be easily shared between printers having different printing methods. In addition, since a priority color suitable for the printer model can be specified, the possibility of obtaining a good print result can be increased.

Further, in the first processing, the color which is colored with low energy is preferentially printed, so that the power consumption cannot be saved and the printing speed may be improved.

The second processing is performed by the printer 10
Color that is specified in common to the series model to which it belongs is preferentially printed, so when multiple models of the same series are introduced, it is not possible to obtain the same print result, and it is easy to recognize the priority color There are advantages.

In the third to sixth processes, the color designated by the user is preferentially printed. Therefore, even if a plurality of printing colors are designated to be overlapped on the same printing dot, the printing process is performed. As a result, data correction work on the host computer side is not necessary, and print data can be easily shared between printers having different printing methods. In addition, since the user can specify the priority color according to the situation, the possibility of obtaining a good print result can be increased.

In the third and fourth processes, priority colors are determined according to the print data registration order of each print color.
The priority color can be changed for each registered data, and as a result,
It is not possible to specify a preferred color suitable for each registered data,
There is no need to re-specify the priority color every time the registered data to be printed is changed.

In the fifth and sixth processes, the color specified by the user in advance is preferentially printed regardless of the print data registration order of each print color, so that the designation of the priority color can be simplified. There is an advantage that the recognition of the priority color is facilitated without being allowed.

In the seventh process, a warning is issued that a plurality of printing colors are designated to be printed in duplicate on the same printing dot. After the warning, the printing data is corrected and printed.
It is possible for the user to selectively perform processing such as stopping printing, and as a result, it is possible to reduce the possibility that unintended printing processing is executed.

As described above, one embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the matters shown in the above embodiment, and is described in the claims and the detailed description of the invention. The range in which those skilled in the art can make changes and applications based on well-known techniques is included.

For example, in the above embodiment, a thermal printer for roll paper has been described as an example, but a thermal printer for cut paper may be used.

Further, even if the first to sixth processes are selected in steps 309 to 310, a warning is issued that a plurality of printing colors are specified to be overlapped on the same printing dot. And then select the first ~
The sixth process may be performed.

Further, the first process and the second process may be included in a user-specified process.

Further, the setting information may be read out and notified or changed based on a predetermined command from the host computer.

[0058]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible for the user to arbitrarily select a process when a plurality of printing colors are designated to be printed on the same printing dot in an overlapping manner. Appropriate processing according to the situation can be executed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing various duplication avoiding processes.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating print data processing of the printer.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing each stage of print data processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printer 12 Print head 16 Control part 17 Interface 18 CPU 21 EEPROM

Continued on front page F term (reference) 2C061 AQ04 HH03 HJ06 HK03 HK11 HN02 HN15 2C062 KA07 2C065 CZ02 2C087 AA15 AB05 AC05 BD01 BD31 DA07 2C187 AC05

Claims (28)

[Claims] 1. A printing unit which can print only one color for the same printing dot among a plurality of printing colors which can be printed, and a printing data comparison means for comparing printing data of each printing color in printing dot units. Setting information reference means for referring to predetermined setting information when a plurality of printing colors are designated to be printed in the same printing dot in an overlapping manner; and a plurality of duplication avoidance selectively executed according to the setting information. And a processing unit. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein one of the duplication avoidance processing means is a printer designation processing means for preferentially printing a color designated by the printer in advance. 3. The printer according to claim 2, wherein said printer designation processing means prints a color that develops with low energy preferentially. 4. The printer according to claim 2, wherein said printer designation processing means preferentially prints a color designated commonly for a series model to which the printer belongs. 5. The printer according to claim 1, wherein one of the duplication avoiding processing units is a user designation processing unit that preferentially prints a color designated by a user in advance. 6. The printer according to claim 5, wherein the user designation processing unit determines a priority color according to a print data registration order of each print color. 7. The printer according to claim 5, wherein the user designation processing means preferentially prints a color designated by a user in advance, regardless of a print data registration order of each print color. 8. The printer according to claim 5, wherein the user-specified processing unit prints a color generated with low energy preferentially. 9. The printer according to claim 5, wherein the user designation processing means preferentially prints a color designated in common to a series model to which the printer belongs. 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein one of the duplication avoiding processing means is a warning processing means for warning that a plurality of printing colors are designated to be printed in duplicate on the same printing dot. The printer described. 11. The duplication avoiding process selected by the selecting unit after the warning, wherein the warning processing unit includes a selecting unit for selecting one of the plurality of duplication avoiding processing units in response to a predetermined input. 11. The printer according to claim 10, wherein the printer executes means. 12. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer is connected to a host computer, and further includes a change unit that changes the setting information based on a first command from the host computer. 13. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer is connected to a host computer, and further includes a transmission unit that transmits the setting information based on a second command from the host computer. 14. A method for controlling a printer including a printing unit capable of printing only one of a plurality of print colors that can be printed on the same print dot, wherein print data of each print color is printed by a print dot. A print data comparison step of comparing in units; a setting information reference step of referring to predetermined setting information when a plurality of printing colors are designated to be overlapped on the same printing dot; and a duplication avoidance according to the setting information. And a duplication avoiding process executing step of selectively executing the process. 15. The printer control method according to claim 14, wherein one of the duplication avoidance processes is a printer designation process for preferentially printing a color designated by a printer in advance. 16. The printer control method according to claim 15, wherein the printer designation processing preferentially prints a color that is colored with low energy. 17. The printer control method according to claim 15, wherein the printer designation processing preferentially prints a color designated commonly for a series model to which the printer belongs. 18. The printer control method according to claim 14, wherein one of the duplication avoiding processes is a user-specified process for printing a color specified by a user in advance with priority. 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the user-specified process determines a priority color according to a print data registration order of each print color. 20. The printer control method according to claim 18, wherein in the user designation processing, a color designated by a user in advance is preferentially printed regardless of a print data registration order of each print color. . 21. The printer control method according to claim 18, wherein the user-specified processing preferentially prints a color that develops with low energy. 22. The printer control method according to claim 18, wherein the user-specified process preferentially prints a color specified commonly to a series model to which the printer belongs. 23. The method according to claim 1, wherein one of the duplication avoiding processes is a warning process for warning that a plurality of printing colors are designated to be printed in duplicate on the same printing dot.
5. The method for controlling a printer according to item 4. 24. The warning process includes a selection process of selecting one of the plurality of duplication avoiding processes in accordance with a predetermined input, and executes the duplication avoiding process selected by the selecting process after the warning. 24. The printer according to claim 23, wherein: 25. The printer according to claim 14, wherein the printer is connected to a host computer, and further comprises a change processing step of changing the setting information based on a first command from the host computer. Control method. 26. The printer according to claim 14, wherein the printer is connected to a host computer, and further comprises a transmission step of transmitting the setting information based on a second command from the host computer. Control method. 27. A computer-readable information recording medium on which a program for executing the method for controlling a printer according to claim 14 is recorded. 28. The information recording medium includes a compact disk, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a digital video disk, a magnetic tape, a semiconductor memory, and a memory device. An information recording medium on which the program according to claim 27 is recorded.