JP2008074029A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer enabling an easy judgment on whether the printer is in an on-line mode ro an off-line mode. <P>SOLUTION: This printer 1, which is equipped with a display portion 11 and an operating portion 12, does printing by switching between the on-line mode of performing printing issue on the basis of print data transmitted from a personal computer, and the off-line mode of performing printing issue on the basis of internally stored print data. The printer is provided with an operating portion 12 removably, and a connector detection circuit for determining whether the operating portion 12 is removed or not. The mode is switched to the on-line mode when the connector detection circuit detects removal of the operating portion 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more particularly to a printing apparatus capable of selecting an online mode for receiving print data from the outside and an offline mode for not receiving print data.

  Conventionally, when the online mode is set, print data / print format sent from a PC (personal computer) is received and issued, and inside the printing device without accepting the print data / print format from the PC There is a printing apparatus capable of switching between an offline mode in which the print data and print format stored in is called and print issuance is issued.

Such a printing apparatus can be set to any mode by operating an operation key provided in the printing apparatus when switching between the online mode and the offline mode.
However, the operator who operates the printing apparatus is not always near the printing apparatus, and cannot determine which mode the currently set mode of the printing apparatus is set from a position away from the printing apparatus. There is a case.
In addition, when there is a printing device provided with a sleep mode and no operation is performed for a predetermined period of time, the power supply is cut off on the display screen of the printing device. May not be understood.

JP 2000-190594 A

SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a printing apparatus that can easily determine either an online mode or an offline mode.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus that can easily determine either the online mode or the offline mode even from a location away from the printing apparatus.

The present invention focuses on an operation unit of a printing apparatus, and the gist of the invention described in claim 1 is an on-line mode that includes a display unit and an operation unit and issues a print based on print data transmitted from an external device. And an off-line mode in which printing is issued based on print data stored therein, and a printing device that prints by switching, wherein the operating unit is detachably provided, and determining means for determining whether or not the operating unit has been detached When the determination means determines that the operation unit has been disconnected, the printer switches to the online mode.
The gist of the invention according to claim 2 is the printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the judging means switches to the off-line mode when it is judged that the operation section is mounted.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the printing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the display unit and the operation unit are provided with coupling means for coupling to each other.

The printing apparatus of the present invention can easily determine either the online mode or the offline mode.
Further, it is possible to easily determine either the online mode or the offline mode even from a place where the operator is away from the printing apparatus.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
1 is a schematic external view from an operation unit showing an example of a printing apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic side external view of the printing apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration showing an example of a mechanism of the printing apparatus. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the control unit in FIG.

The printing apparatus 1 includes a main body unit 2, an opening / closing cover unit 3, and an operation display unit 4.
The main body 2 is mainly provided with operation levers 5 and 5, a discharge port 6, a communication interface 7, a power switch 8, and a printing mechanism unit 10 to be described later.
The operation levers 5 and 5 can be composed of a pair of levers that can be operated in the vertical direction. By operating the operation levers 5 and 5 downward, the open / close cover portion 3 can be opened upward using a rotation shaft (not shown) as a support shaft.
The discharge port 6 is formed with an opening having a predetermined length through which the printed paper P can be discharged.
The communication interface 7 is provided behind the main body 2 and can be connected to a PC (personal computer) 50 via a communication cable C.
The power switch 8 can supply (close) or disconnect (open) power to the control unit 30 and the like, and by closing the power switch 8, the printing apparatus 1 can be in an operating state.

The opening / closing cover 3 is provided on the upper portion of the main body portion 2 and can be provided to be openable / closable with respect to the main body portion 2 using a rotation shaft (not shown) as a support shaft as described above.
The opening / closing cover 3 can be provided with a neck portion 9. An operation display unit 4 is provided through the neck portion 9.
The neck portion 9 is provided with a rotation shaft (not shown) that allows the operation display portion 4 to rotate.

The operation display unit 4 is provided with a display unit 11 and an operation unit 12.
The display unit 11 includes a substantially rectangular frame 13 and a display screen 14 provided on the frame 13. The display screen 14 can display characters, symbols, graphics, and the like such as print information and function information of the printing apparatus 1 so as to be visible.
The operation unit 12 mainly includes an “issue / stop” key 12a, an “arrow” key 12b, a “function” key 12c, a “setting” key 12d, and a numeric keypad provided with numbers “0” to “9”. 12e etc. are provided.
The “Issuance / Stop” key 12a can issue a command to start printing on the paper P or a command to stop printing to the control unit described later.
The “arrow” key 12 b can select various items displayed on the display screen 14.
The “function” key 12c is a key for setting various functions of the printing apparatus 1. For example, when the “function” key 12c is pressed, the display screen 14 displays the print speed, print density, test print, and the like. Various items can be selected by the “arrow” key 12b.
The “setting” key 12d can select and set various functions and store them.
For example, by selecting the printing speed with the “arrow” key 12b and pressing the “setting” key 12d, the display screen can be changed to change the printing speed, and the desired printing speed is selected with the “arrow” key 12b. Then, the printing speed can be set by pressing the “setting” key 12d.

Moreover, the display part 11 and the operation part 12 can be provided so that isolation | separation is possible.
A plurality of fishing hooks (engagement means) 15 for engaging the operation unit 12 are provided on the back side of the display unit 11 (the surface opposite to the display screen). The operation portion 12 can be locked by engaging the hook portion 15 with a plurality of pins 16 provided on the surface opposite to the key).
The display unit 11 is provided with an electrically connectable display unit side connector 17 (broken line portion in FIG. 1), and the operation unit 12 is provided with an electrically connectable operation unit side connector 18 (in FIG. 1). A one-dot chain line portion) is provided. The display unit side connector 17 and the operation unit side connector 18 can be provided so as to be fitted.
The display unit side connector 17 and the operation unit side connector 18 can function as a coupling means that can be coupled to each other.
The neck portion 9 can be provided on the display portion 11.

When the operation unit 12 is detached from the display unit 11, the hook unit 15 is disengaged from the pin 16, and the operation unit 12 is removed by pulling out the connected operation unit side connector 18 from the display unit side connector 17. be able to.
When the operation unit 12 is attached to the display unit 11, the operation unit side connector 18 of the operation unit 12 is fitted and connected to the display unit side connector 17 of the display unit 11, and the hook unit 15 is engaged with the pin 16. By combining, the operation unit 12 can be attached to the display unit 11.
In this manner, the operation unit 12 can be attached to and detached from the display unit 12.

On the other hand, an electrical signal can be supplied from the control unit 30 to be described later to the display unit side connector 17, and the display unit side connector 17 and the operation unit side connector 18 are connected (the operation unit is connected to the display unit). In the attached state), the signal supplied to the display unit side connector 17 can be supplied as a return signal to the control unit 30 via the operation unit side connector 18.
On the other hand, in a state where the display unit side connector 17 and the operation unit side connector 18 are not connected (a state where the operation unit 12 is removed from the display unit 11), the signal supplied from the control unit 30 to the display unit side connector 17 is Since it is electrically disconnected, a reply signal cannot be supplied to the control unit 30.

The main body 2 mainly includes a paper supply unit 20, a pitch detection unit 21, a printing unit 22, and a control unit 30.
The paper supply unit 20 includes a paper supply shaft 23 that rotatably holds a label continuous body P formed by rolling a label continuous body (paper) P temporarily attached with a plurality of labels L to the belt-like mount D at predetermined intervals. Can be provided to the printing unit 22 via the guide roller 24.
The pitch detection unit 21 receives light reflected from the belt-like mount D and light emitted from the light emitting unit (not shown) that emits predetermined light and the light emitted from the light emitting unit, and the intensity of the received light (the amount of light received per unit time). A reference mark (not shown) formed by printing or the like on the back surface of the belt-like mount D. The light-receiving portion (not shown) outputs an electrical signal corresponding to A light reflection sensor 25 that detects (a black rectangular mark) based on the amount of light received by the light receiving unit is disposed below the conveyance path of the label continuum P.
The light reflection sensor 25 is controlled by the control unit 30 so that the print reference position of the label L can be set based on the detection result of the reference mark.
The label L of this embodiment will be described as a label on which a heat-sensitive color forming layer that develops color by heat is formed.

The printing unit 22 is provided with a platen roller 26 and a thermal head 27, and the thermal head 27 is provided so as to be able to contact with and separate from the platen roller 26. Further, the platen roller 26 is connected to a stepping motor 34 via a timing belt (not shown), and the platen roller 26 is rotatably driven as the stepping motor 34 is driven.
The continuous label P sandwiched between the platen roller 26 and the thermal head 27 is driven by the print signal from the control unit 30 and the thermal head 27 selectively generates a heating element (not shown). By generating heat, the thermosensitive coloring layer of the label L is colored to print characters / symbols or barcodes.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electrical configuration of the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the control unit 30 includes a ROM (ready memory) 32 that stores a predetermined control program, and a CPU (central processing unit) 31 that operates according to the control program stored in the ROM 32 and controls each unit. The CPU 31 supplies a pulse signal to a RAM (Random Access Memory) 33 for storing various data necessary for operation, print data necessary for printing, a print format, and the like, and a stepping motor 34 to rotate the stepping motor 34. A motor control circuit 35 and a head control circuit 36 that generates control signals corresponding to print data such as characters, figures, and barcodes to be printed supplied from the CPU 31 and supplies the control signals to the thermal head 27 to perform a printing operation. When, Under the control of the CPU 31, the light emitting unit of the light reflection sensor 25 is controlled to emit light, and the electric signal output from the light receiving unit is received, converted into digital data, and supplied to the CPU 31 as pitch detection data. A circuit 37, a communication interface 7, and interfaces (IF) 39 and 42 are provided.

The communication interface 7 can transmit and receive print data and commands to and from various devices that supply print data such as a personal computer (PC) 50 connected to the outside.
The interface 39 is connected to the display unit 11 for displaying various information, and the operation unit 12 for inputting various data and commands is connected to the display unit 11 via the display unit side connector 17 and the operation unit side connector 18. It is connected. Various data and commands from the operation unit 12 are supplied to the CPU 31 via the operation unit side connector 18, the display unit side connector 17 and the interface 39.

Further, the control unit 30 may be provided with a connector detection circuit 40 that determines whether or not the operation unit side connector 18 is connected. Whether or not the operation unit side connector 18 is connected is determined by supplying an electrical signal from the connector detection circuit 40 to the display unit side connector 17 and in a state where the operation unit side connector 18 is connected, the operation unit Since the signal returned via the side connector 18 is returned to the connector detection circuit 40, it can be determined that the operation unit 12 is connected.
In a state where the operation unit side connector 18 is not connected, an electrical signal is not returned from the connector detection circuit 40 to the connector detection circuit 40, and therefore it can be determined that the operation unit 12 is not connected.

Further, the control unit 30 can be provided with a switching circuit (switching means) 41. The switching circuit 41 can switch between the online mode and the offline mode based on the determination result of the connector detection circuit 40.
When the connector detection circuit 40 determines that the operation unit 12 is connected, the switching circuit 41 can switch to the offline mode based on the result. When the connector detection circuit 40 determines that the operation unit 12 is not connected, the switching circuit 41 can switch to the online mode based on the result.
Note that an LED (light emitting diode) 43 is connected via an interface 42 as necessary. The LED 43 can constitute an LED that is lit when an error occurs under the control of the CPU 31.
Although the description has been made so that the LED is configured to generate an error, a plurality of LEDs can be provided separately from the error LED for power display.

In the printing apparatus 1 configured as described above, in a state where the operation unit 12 is provided on the side surface of the display unit 11, a signal supplied from the connector detection circuit 40 of the control unit 30 is transmitted to the control unit 30 via the operation unit 12. Since it is supplied to the connector detection circuit 40, it is determined that the operation unit 12 is connected, and the switching circuit 41 switches to the off-line mode. Therefore, when the PC 50 is connected, the print data and the print format are output from the PC 50. Cannot be received by the printing apparatus 1 side, the operator calls the print data and print format stored in the RAM 33 of the printing apparatus 1 by operating the operation unit 12, and based on the called print data and print format. Printing can be issued on the paper P.
In this case, since the operation unit 12 is attached to the printing apparatus 1, the operation unit 12 can be visually confirmed from a position away from the printing apparatus 1, so that the operator can easily determine that the offline mode is set. be able to.

Further, since the signal supplied from the connector detection circuit 40 of the control unit 30 is not returned to the connector detection circuit 40 in a state in which the operation unit 12 is removed (a chain line in FIG. 1), the connector detection circuit 40 is not connected to the operation unit. 12 is determined not to be connected, the switching circuit 41 can be switched to the online mode. When the online mode is selected and the PC 50 is connected, when the print data and the print format are supplied from the PC 50 to the printing apparatus 1 side, the print is issued based on the print data and the print format from the PC 50. Can do.
In this case, since the operation unit 12 has been removed, the operator can visually confirm that there is no operation unit 12 from a position away from the printing apparatus 1, so that the operator can easily confirm that the online mode is set. Judgment can be made.
Thus, an operator (not shown) can easily recognize whether the operation unit 12 is online or offline.

In the present embodiment, the online mode or the offline mode is switched by detaching the operation unit 12, but the operation display unit 4 in which the display unit 11 and the operation unit 12 are fixed and integrated is detached. You can also. In this case, the online display mode or the offline mode can be switched by detaching the operation display section 4 from the neck section 9.
Moreover, although the example which provided the operation part 12 in the side surface of the display part 11 demonstrated, it is not limited to this, As long as the operation part 12 is provided in the printing apparatus 1, any position may be sufficient, Preferably, by providing on the upper side of the printing apparatus 1, the operator can easily confirm from a remote position.
Furthermore, the connector detection circuit 40 has been described as being supplied to the display unit side connector 17 as an electrical signal, but it may be a command or an electrical pulse signal.

  In this embodiment, the number, position, shape, and the like of each constituent member are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the number, position, shape, and the like suitable for implementing the present invention can be achieved. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is obvious that the embodiments can be appropriately changed within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic external view from an operation unit illustrating an example of the printing apparatus of the present invention. It is a schematic side external view of the printing apparatus. It is the schematic block diagram which showed an example of the mechanism of the printing apparatus same as the above. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a control part same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing apparatus 2 Main body part 3 Opening / closing cover 4 Operation display part 10 Printing mechanism part 11 Display part 12 Operation part 17 Display part side connector 18 Operation part side connector 30 Control part 40 Connector detection circuit (determination means)
41 switching circuit (switching means)
50 Personal computer (external device)

Claims (3)

A display unit and an operation unit;
In a printing apparatus that switches printing between an online mode for issuing a print based on print data transmitted from an external device and an offline mode for issuing a print based on print data stored therein,
The operation unit is detachably provided,
A determination means for determining whether or not the operation unit is disconnected;
A printing apparatus, comprising: a switching unit configured to switch to the online mode when the determination unit determines that the operation unit is disconnected.   2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit switches to the offline mode when determining that the operation unit is attached.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit and the operation unit are provided with coupling means for coupling to each other.

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