JP2006297700A - Thermal printer and method for outputting printing rate dumping of thermal printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To judge which line exceeds a specified printing rate by using a printing rate dumping function and calculating the printing rate after printing data are image-developed on a plotting region. <P>SOLUTION: A thermal printer comprises a first plotting region 29 for image-developing the printing data, a thermal printing head 8 dividing continuous dot printing elements of a printing head into a specified groups with plural line units, a printing rate calculating means for calculating the printing rate on every group, a printing rate comparing means for comparing the printing rate calculated on every group with a set value and emitting an alarm discriminating ID when the printing rate exceeds the set value, a second plotting region for editing and developing the printing rate and the alarm discriminating ID on every one dot line and on every group, a printout means for outputting the printing rate and the alarm discriminating ID, and a printing rate dumping mode for starting operations from the image development to the first plotting region to the printout means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention particularly relates to a thermal printer having a print rate dump mode function and a print rate dump output method of the thermal printer.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a small printing apparatus (printer) that is driven by a battery and prints a label to be attached to and displayed on a product at a supermarket site (sales floor) or the like is known.
In the battery-driven small-sized printing apparatus (printer), since there is a limit to the current that can be passed to the thermal head, the thermal head 1 can be calculated from the values of the battery voltage, the thermal head resistance, the number of on dots, and the like. When a line is printed, the number of divisions for dividing the on dots is calculated, and the current flowing through the heating element of the thermal head corresponding to the divided on dots is finely controlled (for example, , See Patent Document 1).
However, in the above printing apparatus, the number of divisions for dividing the print data for one line at the time of label issuance is obtained by calculation, and the current supplied to the thermal head is controlled, so that the software is complicated, and There is a problem that it takes time to issue.
Therefore, instead of at the time of issuance, the printing rate, that is, the printing rate, which is the number of on-dot printing elements that require voltage application to the total number of dot printing elements in one dot line of the thermal print head, is checked. It was desired to develop a so-called print rate dump function.
JP 2001-315372 A

The present invention has been made paying attention to the above problems, and by using the print rate dump function, by calculating the print rate after developing the print format and print data to be printed in the drawing area, It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal printer and a printing rate dump output method for a thermal printer that can determine in advance which line exceeds a specified printing rate.

A thermal printer according to the present invention includes a print head having a plurality of dot print elements in the width direction of a recording medium, and a platen roller that sandwiches and conveys the recording medium between the print heads. In a battery-driven thermal printer that prints print data including a predetermined print format for each dot line by a section, a first drawing area that develops an image of the print data in accordance with the print format and a continuous print head A thermal print head in which the dot printing elements are divided into predetermined groups in units of a plurality of columns, and a print rate that is the number of on dots in one dot line of the print format and print data developed in the first drawing area The printing rate calculation means for calculating for each group and the calculation for each group. The printing rate is compared with a preset setting value, and when the printing rate exceeds the setting value, a printing rate comparison unit that issues a warning identification ID and the printing rate calculation unit calculates the printing rate. The printing rate and the warning identification ID are edited for each dot line and for each group, and the second drawing area is developed for the image developed in the first drawing area, and is developed in the second drawing area. Print output means for outputting the printed print rate and warning identification ID via the thermal print head, and a print rate dump mode for starting operations from image development to the print output means in the first drawing area; When the print rate dump mode is activated, the print rate of print data and the warning identification ID are printed on a recording medium according to the print format.
Furthermore, a total average printing rate calculating means for calculating the total average printing rate of all the dot lines can be provided.
Further, the preset printing rate setting value can be set based on the allowable voltage of the battery.
Also, the printing rate dump output method of the thermal printer according to the present invention includes a thermal print head in which a plurality of continuous dot print elements are divided into a predetermined group of a plurality of columns in the width direction of the recording medium, and the thermal print head A platen roller that sandwiches and conveys the recording medium, and a battery, and the print unit prints print data including a predetermined print format for each dot line. A thermal printer, comprising: a first image development step of developing the print data in a first drawing area according to the print format; and one of the print format and print data developed in the first drawing area. A print rate calculation scan that calculates the print rate, which is the number of on dots in a dot line, for each group. And a print rate comparison step for issuing a warning identification ID when the print rate exceeds a set value, and comparing the print rate calculated for each group with a preset set value. A second image developing step of editing the printing rate and warning identification ID calculated in the rate calculating step for each dot line and for each group, and developing the second drawing area; A print output step for outputting the print rate and warning identification ID developed in the drawing area via the thermal print head, and a print rate dump step for starting operations from the first image development step to the print output step. And.

The thermal printer of the present invention calculates a print rate based on a predetermined print format and print data for each dot line and each group, and sets a print rate calculated for each group in advance. In comparison, if the set value is exceeded, a warning identification ID is issued and the printing rate for each group and for each dot line is printed on the recording medium, so which dot line exceeds the set printing rate. It is possible to visually determine whether or not the print rate of the corresponding dot line, or even the same dot line, is reduced by adjusting the position such as shifting the print position of the print format in advance. In addition, the “print rate dump mode” is activated for the print format and print data after the position adjustment and change. You can also know the printing rate after the change by an effect that can be achieved with good printing balanced.
If the total average printing rate of all the dot lines is calculated, the printing load in the corresponding printing format can be known.
Further, the printing rate dump output method of the thermal printer of the present invention includes a first image developing step for developing print data in a first drawing area according to a printing format, a printing rate calculating step for calculating a printing rate for each group, Print rate dump step for starting a series of steps of a print rate comparison step for comparing the print rate for each group with a set value, a second image development step for developing the print rate, and a print output step for outputting the print rate As a result, the printing rate can be confirmed visually.

    Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of an embodiment of a thermal printer used in the printing rate dump output method of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the thermal printer 1 includes a medium supply unit 3 on which a strip-shaped recording medium 2 is mounted, a reflection sensor 4 as a position detection unit, a printing unit 5 as a printing unit, a fixed blade 6, And a control unit 7.
The recording medium 2 is a “continuous label” in which a plurality of unillustrated labels having a thermosensitive coloring layer on the front surface and an adhesive layer on the back surface are temporarily attached to the mount, or a continuous so-called adhesive that is exposed. It is possible to adopt a “continuum without mount”.
The reflection sensor 4 includes a light emitting unit 4 a that emits predetermined light and a light receiving unit 4 b that receives the light, and the light emitting unit 4 a and the light receiving unit 4 b are configured to detect the back side of the recording medium 2. It is arranged between the supply unit 3 and the printing unit 5.
The printing unit 5 includes a thermal print head (hereinafter, simply referred to as a print head) 8 and a platen roller (hereinafter, simply referred to as a platen) 9 as a print head. The platen 9 includes a stepping motor ( Hereinafter, it is simply connected via a belt 11 to a motor 10). The print head 8 can print desired print data (described later) on the recording medium 2.
The fixed blade 6 is fixed to a housing (not shown) of the issue port 12 of the recording medium 2 on which desired print data is printed by the print head 8 so that the issued recording medium 2 can be torn off. It has become.
Moreover, the control part 7 is connected with the said each part, and can control operation | movement of each part.
The recording medium 2 mounted on the medium supply unit 3 is pulled out to the printing unit 5 side, is sandwiched between the print head 8 and the platen 9 via the reflection sensor 4, and is pulled out to the issuing port 12. When the motor 10 is rotated by being pressed by the print head 8, the rotation of the motor 10 is transmitted to the platen 9 via the belt 11, and the sandwiched recording medium 2 is conveyed by the heat of the print head 8 while being conveyed. Information is printed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of the embodiment of FIG. As shown in the figure, the present embodiment includes a CPU (central processing unit) 20 that controls each unit, a ROM (read only memory) 21 that stores a control program and various data for controlling the operation of the CPU 20, A random access memory (RAM) 22 for storing data and the like, a print head controller 23 for controlling the print head 8 for executing a printing process, a sensor controller 24 for controlling a signal of the reflection sensor 4, A motor control unit 25 that controls the motor 10, a battery 26, an external interface 27, and the like are mainly provided. Each unit is connected by a bus 28 so that data and commands can be transmitted and received.
Also, various data and commands can be transmitted / received to / from various devices such as a personal computer (not shown) connected to the outside via the external interface 27.
Further, the RAM 22 is provided with a first drawing area 29 and a second drawing area 30 which will be described later.

Here, an outline of the print head 8 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in the figure, the print head 8 is provided with a plurality of dot printing elements 31 that are heating elements provided continuously in the width direction (column direction), and a voltage is applied to the predetermined dot printing elements 31. Current is supplied, and black dots are printed on the recording medium 2 via the dot printing element 31. The dot printing element 31 to which the current is supplied is referred to as “on dot”.
The print head 8 is divided into a predetermined number of groups in which the dot print elements 31 of a plurality of columns are grouped in consideration of the consumption of the battery 26, that is, the voltage drop. In the illustrated example, the left side in FIG. The first group 8a and the second group 8b are divided into two.

Next, the printing format and the image development of the printing data will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 shows the first drawing area 29. When the “print rate dump output mode” to be described later is set, the print format and print data to be printed on the recording medium 2 by the thermal printer 1 are developed into an image. In the illustrated example, the overlay unit 32 and the print data 33 (“123” in the illustrated example) are developed.
The controller 7 calls the image developed in the first drawing area 29 for each dot line, and calculates the “printing rate” that is the number of “on dots” in which the actual data is developed. It has become.
Here, the processing outline of the control unit 7 will be described.
(1) Initial setting process (a) Head division number setting The division number of the print head 8 is stored. The number of divisions of the print head 8 is set in advance depending on the model.
(B) Setting the upper limit of printing rate (set printing rate) Store the upper limit of printing rate. It is assumed that the upper limit value of the printing rate is determined in advance according to the capacity of the battery 26, for example, within 30%.
(C) Setting of print rate dump output mode Judge whether or not “print rate dump output mode” is selected. This mode is set by an input means (not shown) or a dip switch.
(2) Execution of “print rate dump output” When the setting means (not shown) recognizes that the “print rate dump output mode” is set, the “print rate” is calculated and printed. A series of processing is executed.
(3) Image development of print data According to a predetermined print format, the print data is developed in the first drawing area (first image development step).
(4) Calculation of printing rate The printing rate is calculated for each predetermined group 8a, 8b set in advance from the number of ON dots of one dot line in the first drawing area 29 (printing rate calculation step).
(5) Comparison of printing rate The upper limit value of the set printing rate is compared with the printing rate calculated for each of the groups 8a and 8b. When the printing rate exceeds the set value (upper limit value), a warning is identified. ID is issued (print rate comparison step).
(6) Image development of printing rate The calculated printing rate and the warning identification ID when the printing rate exceeds a set value (upper limit value) for each dot line and for each of the divided groups 8a and 8b. The image is edited and image-developed in a later-described second drawing area 30 so as to be visible (second image development step).
(7) Print rate output The print rate and warning identification ID developed in the second drawing area 30 are printed on the recording medium 2 via the print head 8 (print output step).

Here, the image development of the printing rate will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 5 shows the second drawing area 30, and the “printing rate” for one print format and print data developed in the first drawing area 29 is the first drawing area 29. Each of the first and second groups 8a and 8b of the print head 8 is shown, and the line number 40 assigned to each dot line and the entire one dot line are shown. The print rate 41, the print rate 42 corresponding to the first group 8a of the divided print head 8, the print rate 43 corresponding to the second group 8b, and the warning identification ID column 44 are configured. The warning identification ID column 44 includes the line number 40 and the print rate 41 of the entire one dot line, the print rate 41 and the print rate 42 of the first group 8a, and the print rate 42 and the second group 8b. They are provided between the printing ratios 43 respectively.
Reference numeral 45 denotes a total average print rate for one sheet of print format and print data developed in the second drawing area 30.

Next, details of the print rate dump output will be described mainly with reference to FIG.
In step S01, it is determined whether or not “print rate dump output mode” has been set. That is, it is determined whether the start of the same mode is input from an input unit (not shown) or whether the dip switch is set to the same mode when the thermal printer 1 is turned on (not shown). If “mode” is set, the process proceeds to the next step (step S02), and if not set, the process ends.
In step S02, an initial setting process is executed. That is, the division number (number of groups) of the print head 8 and the set value (upper limit value) of the print rate that are stored in the ROM 21 or set in advance by a dip switch or the like are stored in the RAM 22.
In step S03, the image of the print data is developed in accordance with a predetermined print format (see FIG. 4).
In step S04, the printing rate is calculated. That is, the actual data is set for each group corresponding to the first group 8a and the second group 8b of the print head 8 with respect to one dot line of the image developed in the first print area 29. Extract "on dots" and count (count)
The printing rate of each group = the number of on dots / the number of dots in the group (I) is calculated. Also,
Print rate of one dot line = (number of on dots of first group 8a + number of on dots of second group 8b) / total number of dots of one dot line (II) is calculated. further,
Total average printing rate = (printing rate of the 0001 line +... + Printing rate of the nth line) / total number of lines n... (III). That is, the printing rate of one dot line of the formula (II) is added by the total number of lines n for one sheet (the amount drawn in the first drawing area 29), and the total average value is calculated by dividing by the total number of lines. To do.
Next, in step S05, the printing rates are compared. That is, when the printing rate set in advance is compared with the printing rate (Equation (I)) of each group calculated for each group 8a, 8b, and the set value (upper limit value) is exceeded. In step S06, a warning identification ID is added. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S05 that the printing rate does not exceed the set value, the process goes to step S07.
In step S07, the image of the printing rate is developed. That is, the printing rate calculated for each group and for each dot line and compared with the set value is transferred to the second drawing area 30, and the printing rate for which the warning identification ID is issued includes * (Asterisk) is added to the warning identification ID column 44 of the prefix (see FIG. 5).
In step S08, the printing rate image-developed in the second drawing area 30 is printed and output to the recording medium 2 via the print head 8.

As described above, the print rate based on a predetermined print format and print data is calculated for each group of one dot line, and the print rate calculated for each group is compared with a preset set value. When the value is exceeded, a warning identification ID is issued, and the printing rate for each group and for each dot line is output as a visually observable numerical value. Which dot line exceeds the set printing rate By adjusting the position such as shifting the print position of the print format in advance, the print rate of the corresponding dot line, or even the same dot line, can reduce the print rate of the group. After changing the print format and print data after starting the position adjustment and starting the “print rate dump mode” You can know the printing rate can be achieved a good printing free balance of causing a printing failure due to a voltage drop of the battery 26.

Further, if the total average printing rate of all the dot lines is calculated, it is possible to determine a standard for knowing the printing load in the corresponding printing format, that is, whether or not the printing with the thermal printer 1 equipped with the battery 26 can be tolerated.

It should be noted that the configuration and operation of the above-described embodiment are examples, and it goes without saying that they can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the “print rate dump output mode” is set by inputting from an input unit (not shown), or the dip switch is set to the same mode when the thermal printer 1 is turned on (not shown). The example in which the determination is made based on whether or not the setting is made has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the online command is displayed at the head of the print data and format received from the external device (not shown) via the external interface 27. The “print rate dump output mode” may be set as the ID.

1 is a schematic side view illustrating an entire thermal printer of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the print head. FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a print format and image development of print data in the first drawing area. FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating image development of a printing rate in the second drawing area. It is a flowchart which shows a printing rate dump output process similarly.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thermal printer 2 Recording medium 3 Medium supply part 4 Reflection sensor (position detection means)
5 Printing section (printing means)
6 Fixed blade 7 Control unit 8 Thermal print head (print head)
9 Platen roller (platen)
10 Stepping motor (motor)
11 Belt 12 Issuing port 20 CPU
21 ROM
22 RAM
23 Print head control unit 24 Sensor control unit 25 Motor control unit 26 Battery 27 External interface 28 Bus 29 First drawing area 30 Second drawing area 31 Dot printing element 32 Overlay part 33 Print data 40 Line number 41 One dot line Printing rate 42 First group printing rate 43 Second group printing rate 44 Warning identification ID column 45 Total average printing rate

Claims (4)

A print head having a plurality of dot printing elements in the width direction of the recording medium;
In a battery-driven thermal printer that prints print data including a predetermined print format for each dot line by a print unit including a platen roller that sandwiches and conveys the recording medium between the print head,
A first drawing area for developing an image of the print data in accordance with the print format;
A thermal print head in which the dot print elements that are continuous in the print head are divided into a predetermined group of a plurality of rows; and
A print rate calculating means for calculating, for each group, a print rate that is the number of on dots in one dot line of the print format and print data image-developed in the first drawing area;
The printing rate calculated for each group is compared with a preset value, and when the printing rate exceeds the setting value, a printing rate comparison unit that issues a warning identification ID;
A second drawing that edits the printing rate and warning identification ID calculated by the printing rate calculation means for each dot line and for each group, and develops the image developed in the first drawing area. Area,
Print output means for outputting the print rate and warning identification ID developed in the second drawing area via the thermal print head;
A print rate dump mode for starting operations from image development to the first drawing area to print output means,
When the printing rate dump mode is activated, a printing rate of printing data and a warning identification ID are printed on a recording medium according to the printing format.   2. The thermal printer according to claim 1, further comprising a total average printing rate calculating means for calculating a total average printing rate of all the dot lines. The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein the preset printing rate setting value is set by an allowable voltage of the battery. A thermal print head in which a plurality of continuous dot printing elements are divided into a predetermined group of a plurality of columns in the width direction of the recording medium, and a platen roller for sandwiching and transporting the recording medium between the thermal printing heads A thermal printer that prints print data including a predetermined print format for each dot line by using the print unit, and a battery.
A first image development step of developing the print data in a first drawing area according to the print format;
A printing rate calculation step of calculating, for each group, a printing rate that is the number of on dots in one dot line of the printing format and print data that is image-developed in the first drawing area;
A printing rate comparison step for comparing the printing rate calculated for each group with a preset setting value and issuing a warning identification ID when the printing rate exceeds the setting value;
A second image developing step of editing the printing rate and warning identification ID calculated in the printing rate calculating step for each dot line and for each group, and developing the second drawing area;
A print output step of outputting the print rate and warning identification ID developed in the second drawing area via the thermal print head;
A printing rate dumping method for a thermal printer, comprising: a printing rate dumping step for starting operations from the first image development step to the printing output step.

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