JP2006341539A - Printer, method for controlling paper-feeding and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer which is equipped with a paper-feeding switch for accepting the instruction of conveying a continuous paper from outside while being able to avoid the useless unloading of a label paper when the paper-feeding switch is continuously pushed, a method for controlling the paper-feeding and the program. <P>SOLUTION: By providing a control section 30 of the printer 10 with a printing control section 36, a paper-feeding control section 38, a paper-feeding acceptance section 40, a push monitoring section 42 and a paper judging section 44, the paper-feeding operation of continuously unloading the label paper only during the continuous time of pushing when a user accidentally pushes the paper-feeding switch continuously for a long time can be avoided. Accordingly, if a rolled sheet 50 is the label paper, the controlling for avoiding the useless unloading of the label paper can be performed in case the paper-feeding switch is continuously pushed longer than the predetermined time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer having a paper feed switch that accepts a continuous paper conveyance instruction from the outside, a paper feed control method, and a program. In particular, the present invention relates to a printer, a paper feed control method, and a program that can avoid wasteful discharge of label paper when a paper feed switch is continuously pressed.

  In a device such as a printer that can be operated in multiple modes, multiple operation switches are provided on the outer surface of the device. Various functions can be achieved without increasing the number of operation switches in order to reduce the size of the device and reduce production costs. There has been proposed an apparatus for executing the above.

  In the invention of Patent Document 1, there is proposed a mode control device that can operate in a plurality of operation modes but can reduce the number of operation buttons. Further, in the invention of Patent Document 2, the type of operation accepted from the user is increased without increasing the number of keys, and further, a printer that performs different operations depending on the status of the electronic device when the key operation is accepted. Has been proposed.

  Even in printers such as POS printers, receipt number issuing machines, portable printers, and the like that store roll paper in which continuous printing paper (hereinafter referred to as continuous paper) is rolled up, a paper feed switch is provided on the outer surface. A printer has been proposed in which two functions of “short press mode” and “long press mode” when the paper feed switch is pressed by the user for less than a predetermined time are operated. . When the continuous paper is a label paper, in the short press mode, the cueing process of the label for discharging the continuous paper to the predetermined print start position of the next printable label is executed once, and in the long press mode, While the switch is pressed, a continuous label cueing process is performed in which the label paper is continuously discharged.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a paper feed control procedure for label paper when a conventional paper feed switch is pressed.

  When a paper feed switch pressing signal is input and a label paper transport instruction is received, a label cueing process is executed once (S202), and it is determined whether or not the paper feed switch has been pressed for a predetermined time. It is determined (S204). That is, it is determined whether the mode is the short press mode or the long press mode. If it is the short press mode (S204; No), the label paper discharge process is stopped (S210), and the process ends. On the other hand, if it is the long press mode (S204; Yes), a continuous cueing process of labels is executed (S206), and it is determined whether or not the paper feed switch is continuously pressed (S208). If the paper feed switch is continuously pressed (S208; Yes), the process returns to S206, and a continuous cueing process for labels is executed. If the paper feed switch is not continuously pressed (S208; No), the label paper discharge process is stopped (S210), and the process ends.

  As described above, the label paper discharge process differs depending on whether the paper feed switch is continuously pressed.

Japanese Patent No. 3345176 JP 2003-335020 A

  However, when the user accidentally presses the paper feed switch continuously for a long time, the label paper is continuously discharged only for the pressed time, and expensive label paper is wasted. there were. Further, in the portable printer, since the length of the roll paper stored is short, that is, the number of label papers is small, when wasteful label paper is discharged, the number of roll paper replacement operations increases. There was also a problem that the efficiency of the printing work was reduced. Moreover, in a portable printer, a battery or the like is used as a power supply source, but there is a problem that power is wasted due to a continuous cueing operation for continuously discharging the label paper. . Further, when power is wasted, there is a problem that the number of battery replacement operations increases and the efficiency of printing operations decreases.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. When a paper feed switch is continuously pressed in a printer having a paper feed switch that accepts a continuous paper conveyance instruction from the outside, the present invention has been made. Another object of the present invention is to provide a printer, a paper feed control method, and a program that can avoid wasteful discharge of label paper.

  The following invention is provided to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems.

  A printer according to a first aspect of the present invention is a printer including a paper feed switch that accepts an instruction for conveying a continuous paper from the outside. The printer receives a pressing signal of the paper feed switch and receives the continuous paper from the outside. A paper feed accepting unit that accepts a conveyance instruction and whether or not the paper feed switch is pressed are monitored, and it is determined whether or not the paper feed switch accepted by the paper feed accepting unit is being pressed. Press-down monitoring means, paper determination means for determining the type of continuous paper, paper feed control means for controlling a transport mechanism for transporting the continuous paper, and a printing mechanism in synchronization with the paper feed control means. Print control means for printing on the continuous paper, and the paper feed control means has received an instruction to convey the continuous paper from the outside by the paper feed acceptance means The transport mechanism is controlled based on the type of the continuous paper determined by the paper determination unit and whether or not the paper feed switch is continuously pressed, which is determined by the press monitoring unit. .

  With such a configuration, the printer receives a paper feed switch pressing signal by the paper feed accepting unit, and accepts an instruction for conveying continuous paper from the outside. Further, whether or not the paper feed switch is pressed is monitored by the press monitoring unit, and it is determined whether or not the press operation of the paper feed switch accepted by the paper feed accepting unit is continued. Further, the type of continuous paper is determined by the paper determination means. Further, the transport mechanism for transporting continuous paper is controlled by the paper feed control means, and based on the type of continuous paper determined by the paper determination means and the presence or absence of continued pressing of the paper feed switch determined by the press monitoring means, The transport mechanism is controlled. Further, the printing mechanism controls the printing mechanism in synchronism with the paper feed control means to print on continuous paper.

  As a result, it is determined whether or not the continuous paper is label paper. When the paper feed switch is continuously pressed for a predetermined time or more when the paper is label paper, the wasteful discharge of the label paper is avoided. Control can be executed. Further, it is possible to avoid waste of electric power associated with the operation of continuously discharging the label sheets. Further, since the number of continuous paper replacement work and battery replacement work is reduced, the efficiency of the printing work can be increased.

  In the printer according to another aspect of the present invention, when the paper feed control unit of the printer according to the aspect of the invention described above receives an instruction for conveying the continuous paper from the outside by the paper feed acceptance unit, When the paper determination unit determines that the continuous paper type is label paper, the print control unit conveys the continuous paper to a predetermined print start position of the next printable label on the continuous paper. A cueing process is executed.

  With such a configuration, when the printer determines that the type of continuous paper is label paper when the paper determination unit receives a continuous paper conveyance instruction from the outside by the paper feed reception unit, the printer performs printing. The paper feed control means executes a cueing process for conveying the continuous paper to a predetermined printing start position of the next printable label on the continuous paper by the control means.

  As a result, it is determined whether or not the continuous paper is label paper. When the continuous paper is label paper, a cueing process for transporting the continuous paper to a predetermined print start position of the next printable label on the continuous paper is executed. Thus, it is possible to execute control to avoid wasteful discharge of the label paper. Further, it is possible to avoid waste of electric power associated with the operation of continuously discharging the label sheets. Further, since the number of continuous paper replacement work and battery replacement work is reduced, the efficiency of the printing work can be increased.

  In the printer according to another aspect of the present invention, when the paper feed control unit of the printer according to the aspect of the invention described above receives an instruction for conveying the continuous paper from the outside by the paper feed acceptance unit, When the paper determination unit determines that the continuous paper type is label paper, the cueing process is executed once regardless of whether or not the paper feed switch is continuously pressed as determined by the press monitoring unit. It is characterized by that.

  With such a configuration, the printer is pressed when the paper determination unit determines that the type of continuous paper is label paper when the paper feed reception unit receives an instruction to convey continuous paper from the outside. Regardless of whether or not the paper feed switch is continuously pressed as determined by the monitoring means, the cueing process is executed once by the paper feed control means.

  As a result, it is determined whether or not the continuous paper is label paper. When the paper is a label paper, the next printable label on the continuous paper when the paper feed switch is continuously pressed for a predetermined time or more. Thus, it is possible to execute control for avoiding wasteful discharge of the label sheet, in which the cueing process for conveying the continuous sheet is performed only once up to the predetermined printing start position. Further, it is possible to avoid waste of electric power associated with the operation of continuously discharging the label sheets. Further, since the number of continuous paper replacement work and battery replacement work is reduced, the efficiency of the printing work can be increased.

  A paper feed control method for a printer according to a first aspect of the present invention is a paper feed control method for a printer provided with a paper feed switch for accepting a continuous paper transport instruction from the outside, and determines the type of the continuous paper. A paper determination step, a paper feed switch pressing signal for inputting the paper feed switch and receiving an instruction for conveying the continuous paper from the outside; monitoring whether the paper feed switch is pressed; When a press monitoring step for determining whether or not the pressing operation of the paper feed switch accepted by the feed accepting step is continued, and when an instruction for conveying the continuous paper from the outside is accepted by the paper feed accepting step, Based on the type of the continuous paper determined by the paper determination step and whether or not the paper feed switch is continuously pressed determined by the press monitoring step. Te, and characterized in that it comprises a conveying step of conveying said continuous paper.

  Thereby, an effect equivalent to that of the printer according to the aspect of the present invention described above can be obtained.

  The paper feed control method for a printer according to another aspect of the present invention is such that the transport step of the paper feed control method for a printer according to the above-described aspect of the present invention transports the continuous paper from the outside by the paper feed acceptance step. When the instruction is received, if the type of the continuous paper is determined to be label paper by the paper determination step, the continuous paper up to a predetermined print start position of the next printable label on the continuous paper A cueing process is performed to carry the cue.

  Thereby, an effect equivalent to that of the printer according to the aspect of the present invention described above can be obtained.

  The paper feed control method for a printer according to another aspect of the present invention is such that the transport step of the paper feed control method for a printer according to the above-described aspect of the present invention transports the continuous paper from the outside by the paper feed acceptance step. When the instruction is received, if the continuous paper type is determined to be label paper by the paper determination step, the paper feed switch determined by the press monitoring step is regardless of whether or not the paper feed switch is continuously pressed. A cueing process is executed once.

  Thereby, an effect equivalent to that of the printer according to the aspect of the present invention described above can be obtained.

  A program according to a first aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute processing for controlling paper feed of a printer having a paper feed switch that accepts a continuous paper transport instruction from the outside. According to another aspect of the invention, the computer is caused to execute processing for realizing each unit of the printer according to the aspect.

  With such a configuration, when the program is read by the computer and the computer executes processing by the read program, the same operation and effect as those of the printer according to the aspect of the present invention described above can be obtained.

  According to the present invention, it is determined whether or not the continuous paper is label paper, and when the paper is a label paper, if the paper feed switch is continuously pressed for a predetermined time or more, the label paper is wasted. It is possible to execute control that avoids discharge. Further, it is possible to avoid waste of electric power associated with the operation of continuously discharging the label sheets. Further, since the number of continuous paper replacement work and battery replacement work is reduced, the efficiency of the printing work can be increased.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a printer provided with a paper feed switch that accepts a continuous paper conveyance instruction to which the present invention can be applied from the outside. FIG. b) is a diagram showing a state in which the cover is opened.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 includes a printer frame 12 and a cover 14, and roll paper 50 is accommodated therein as a print medium. Although not shown, the printer 10 includes a transport mechanism that pulls out the end of the roll paper 50 and transports it as continuous paper, and a print head that performs printing on the drawn continuous paper. . The printer 10 also includes a paper feed switch 18 that accepts a continuous paper conveyance instruction from the outside. When the paper feed switch 18 is pressed by the user, the printer 10 is based on the type of the roll paper 50 and the pressed duration. Thus, the roll paper 50 is conveyed to a predetermined print start position on the roll paper 50 that can be printed next. Further, the roll paper 50 is discharged from the discharge port 16 to the outside of the printer 10. Here, the type of roll paper 50 is receipt paper or label paper. Further, when the roll paper 50 is a label paper, the conveyance of the roll paper 50 to a predetermined print start position of the next printable label on the roll paper 50 is referred to as “label cueing”.

  Next, printer control will be described.

  FIG. 2 is an example of a functional block diagram of a printer including a paper feed switch that accepts a continuous paper conveyance instruction to which the present invention can be applied from the outside.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 10 includes a printing mechanism 20 including a print head, a conveyance mechanism 22 including a conveyance roller and a conveyance transmission gear, a paper feed switch 18 that receives a conveyance instruction for the roll paper 50 from the outside, and the like. It is comprised from the control part 30 which controls.

  The control unit 30 includes a connection interface 32 with an external device that controls a printer such as a host device, a main control unit 34 that manages and controls the overall operation of the printer 10, a print control unit 36 that controls the printing mechanism 20, and a transport mechanism 22. A paper feed control unit 38 that controls the paper feed switch 18, a paper feed accepting unit 40 that inputs a press signal of the paper feed switch 18, a press monitoring unit 42 that monitors whether or not the press operation of the paper feed switch 18 is continued, and the printer 10. Is provided with a paper determination unit 44 that determines the type of roll paper 50 stored in the paper.

  The main control unit 34 receives a control command such as a print command and a paper feed command and data such as setting data and print data from an external device via the interface 32. The paper feed acceptance unit 40 accepts an instruction to carry the label paper 50 from the outside by inputting a signal indicating that the paper feed switch 18 has been pressed. The press monitoring unit 42 monitors whether or not the pressing operation of the paper feed switch 18 accepted by the paper feed accepting unit 40 is continued. The paper determination unit 44 determines whether the roll paper 50 stored in the printer 10 is a receipt paper or a label paper. The paper feed control unit 38 controls the transport mechanism 22 based on the received paper feed command and the transport instruction of the roll paper 50 received by the paper feed accepting unit 40 and causes the roll paper 50 to be fed. The print control unit 36 controls the printing mechanism 20 to print the received print data based on the setting data while synchronizing with the paper feed operation by the paper feed control unit 38.

  When the paper feed control unit 38 receives a roll paper 50 conveyance instruction from the paper feed reception unit 40 and the paper determination unit 44 determines that the roll paper 50 is a label paper, the paper feed control unit 38 monitors the paper feed control unit 38. Regardless of the duration of the pressing operation of the paper feed switch 18, the label cueing operation is executed only once in both the short press mode and the long press mode. When the paper determination unit 44 determines that the roll paper 50 is a receipt paper, the length of the roll paper 50 according to the duration of the pressing operation of the paper feed switch 18 monitored by the press monitoring unit 42. Only the roll paper 50 is fed.

  Here, the printer 10 is not shown, but the CPU controls the calculation and the entire apparatus based on the control program, the ROM that stores the CPU control program in a predetermined area, the ROM 10 and the like. And a RAM for storing calculation information required in the calculation process of the CPU. The CPU, ROM, RAM, and interface 32 are connected to each other and capable of exchanging information with each other through a bus that is a signal line for transferring information.

  Next, a paper feed process for label paper when the press of the paper feed switch 18 is accepted will be described.

  FIG. 3 is an example of a flowchart illustrating a paper feed control procedure for label paper when the paper feed switch 18 is pressed, which is executed by a control program stored in advance in the ROM of the printer 10.

  When a paper feed switch pressing signal is input and a label sheet conveyance instruction is accepted, a label cueing process is executed once (S102), and the label sheet discharge process is stopped (S104). Next, it is determined whether or not the paper feed switch has been pressed for a predetermined time (S106). That is, it is determined whether the mode is the short press mode or the long press mode. If it is the short press mode (S106; No), the process ends. On the other hand, if it is the long press mode (S106; Yes), it is determined whether or not the paper feed switch is continuously pressed (S108). When the paper feed switch is continuously pressed (S108; Yes), it is repeatedly determined whether or not the paper feed switch is continuously pressed until the continuation of the pressing operation of the paper feed switch ends. If the paper feed switch is not continuously pressed (S108; No), the process is terminated.

  As described above, the control unit 30 of the printer 10 includes the print control unit 36, the paper feed control unit 38, the paper feed reception unit 40, the press monitoring unit 42, and the paper determination unit 44. When the feed switch is continuously pressed for a long time, it is possible to avoid a paper feed operation that continuously discharges the label paper for the duration of the press. Therefore, when the roll paper 50 is a label paper, it is possible to execute control to avoid wasteful discharge of the label paper when the paper feed switch is continuously pressed for a predetermined time or more. Further, it is possible to avoid waste of electric power associated with the operation of continuously discharging the label sheets. Further, since the number of continuous paper replacement work and battery replacement work is reduced, the efficiency of the printing work can be increased.

  In the printer 10 of the above-described embodiment, the print control unit 36 corresponds to the print control unit of the present invention, the paper feed control unit 38 corresponds to the paper feed control unit and the transport process of the present invention, and the paper feed reception unit 40. Corresponds to the paper feed acceptance means and paper feed acceptance process of the present invention, the press monitoring unit 42 corresponds to the press monitoring means and press monitoring process of the present invention, and the paper determination unit 44 corresponds to the paper determination means and paper determination of the present invention. Corresponds to the process.

  Further, the case where the control program stored in advance in the ROM of the printer 10 is executed when the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is executed has been described, but the information that records the program for executing these steps is described. The program may be read from the recording medium into the RAM and executed.

  Here, the information recording medium is a semiconductor recording medium such as RAM or ROM, a magnetic storage type recording medium such as FD or HD, an optical reading type recording medium such as CD, CDV, LD, or DVD, or a magnetic storage such as MO. Any type / optical reading type recording medium, including any information recording medium that can be read by a computer, regardless of electronic, magnetic, optical, or other reading methods. The program may be downloaded and executed via a network.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a printer including a paper feed switch that receives a continuous paper conveyance instruction to which the present invention can be applied from the outside. FIG. 1A illustrates an appearance of the printer, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the state which opened. FIG. 3 is an example of a functional block diagram of a printer including a paper feed switch that accepts a continuous paper conveyance instruction to which the present invention can be applied from the outside. It is an example of the flowchart which shows the paper feed control procedure of a label paper when the paper feed switch 18 is pressed down. It is a flowchart which shows the paper feed control procedure of a label paper when the conventional paper feed switch is pressed down.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printer 12 Printer frame 14 Cover 16 Ejection port 18 Paper feed switch 20 Printing mechanism 22 Transport mechanism 30 Control part 32 Interface 34 Main control part 36 Print control part 38 Paper feed control part 40 Paper feed receiving part 42 Press monitoring part 44 Paper determination 50 roll paper

Claims (7)

A printer having a paper feed switch for receiving a continuous paper conveyance instruction from the outside,
A paper feed receiving means for inputting a press signal of the paper feed switch and receiving an instruction to carry the continuous paper from the outside;
Press monitoring means for monitoring whether or not the paper feed switch is pressed, and for determining whether or not the pressing operation of the paper feed switch received by the paper feed receiving means is continued;
Paper determination means for determining the type of the continuous paper;
A paper feed control means for controlling a transport mechanism for transporting the continuous paper;
Print control means for controlling the printing mechanism in synchronization with the paper feed control means and printing on the continuous paper;
With
The paper feed control means is determined by the continuous paper type determined by the paper determination means and the press monitoring means when the continuous paper transport instruction is received from the outside by the paper feed reception means. A printer that controls the transport mechanism based on whether or not the paper feed switch is continuously pressed.   The paper feed control means, when the paper feed accepting means accepts an instruction for conveying the continuous paper from the outside, when the paper judging means determines that the type of the continuous paper is label paper, 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein a cueing process for conveying the continuous paper to a predetermined printing start position of a next printable label on the continuous paper is executed by a print control unit.   The paper feed control means, when the paper feed accepting means accepts an instruction for conveying the continuous paper from the outside, when the paper judging means determines that the type of the continuous paper is label paper, 3. The printer according to claim 2, wherein the cueing process is executed once regardless of whether or not the paper feed switch determined to be pressed is continued. A paper feed control method for a printer having a paper feed switch for receiving a continuous paper transport instruction from the outside,
A paper determination step of determining the type of the continuous paper;
A paper feed accepting step of inputting a press signal of the paper feed switch and accepting an instruction to carry the continuous paper from the outside;
A press monitoring step of monitoring whether or not the paper feed switch is pressed, and determining whether or not the press operation of the paper feed switch accepted by the paper feed acceptance step is continued;
The type of continuous paper determined by the paper determination step and the pressing of the paper feed switch determined by the press monitoring step when an instruction for conveying the continuous paper from the outside is received by the paper feed reception step A transporting process for transporting the continuous paper based on the presence or absence of continuation;
A paper feed control method for a printer, comprising:   In the transporting step, when the continuous paper transport instruction from the outside is received in the paper feed receiving step, and the continuous paper type is determined to be label paper in the paper determination step, the continuous paper 5. The paper feed control method for a printer according to claim 4, wherein a cueing process for conveying the continuous paper to a predetermined print start position of the next printable label is executed.   In the transport step, when the continuous paper transport instruction from the outside is received in the paper feed reception step, the press monitoring is performed when the continuous paper type is determined to be label paper in the paper determination step. 6. The paper feed control method for a printer according to claim 5, wherein the cueing process is executed once regardless of whether or not the paper feed switch is continuously pressed as determined in the process. A program for causing a computer to execute processing for controlling paper feeding of a printer having a paper feed switch for receiving a continuous paper conveyance instruction from the outside,
A program for causing a computer to execute processing for realizing each unit of the printer according to claim 1.

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