JP2008168580A - Printer, operational environment setting method of printer and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer which can regulate printer operation based on the posture of the printer itself. <P>SOLUTION: The printer 1 is equipped with a printing mechanism 20 for making a print on a paper, a paper outlet slot for discharging the paper after printing with the printing mechanism 20, posture detection means 31, 32 for detecting the printer posture, an operational environment setting means which establishes the operational environment based on the results detected by the posture detection means 31, 32. The operational environment setting means inhibits the printing mechanism 20 from printing by based on the results detected by the posture detection means 31, 32. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that sets an operating environment based on the attitude of the apparatus, an operating environment setting method for the printing apparatus, and a program.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an information processing apparatus that controls a printing operation according to a posture of a print head (recording head) is known. In this information processing apparatus, a position sensor detects whether or not the print head is in a range vertically below the horizontal direction (recordable position), and based on the detection result, a warning display and start / stop of a printing operation are performed. Do. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1.) As a result, in an information processing apparatus incorporating an ink jet recording unit, the problem is that the printing is blurred or ink is clogged due to printing at a position not suitable for printing (recording). To avoid.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-015933

  By the way, a small printing apparatus such as a tape printer may be used in a standing posture with the back side down or the side face down. In such an apparatus posture, even if the print head is maintained in a printable posture, the paper discharge outlet for discharging the print paper is not in an appropriate position (for example, the posture of the apparatus is such that the discharge outlet is closed). In some cases, the printing paper discharge failure, jamming, and the like occur, and not only a normal print product cannot be obtained, but also a failure of the apparatus occurs.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of regulating a printing operation based on the attitude of the apparatus itself, an operation environment setting method for the printing apparatus, and a program.

  A printing apparatus according to the present invention is a printing apparatus having a printing mechanism that prints on a sheet, and a sheet discharge port that discharges a sheet after printing by the printing mechanism, and a posture detection unit that detects a posture of the printing apparatus. An operating environment setting unit that sets an operating environment based on a detection result by the posture detecting unit, and the operating environment setting unit has a surface having a sheet discharge port based on the detection result of the posture detecting unit. When a device orientation that is either upward or downward with respect to the mounting surface is detected, the printing operation by the printing mechanism is prohibited.

  Similarly, an operating environment setting method for a printing apparatus according to the present invention is an operating environment setting method for a printing apparatus having a printing mechanism for printing on paper and a paper discharge port for discharging paper after printing by the printing mechanism. A posture detecting step for detecting the posture of the printing apparatus, and an operating environment setting step for setting the operating environment based on the detection result of the posture detecting step. The operating environment setting step includes a sheet discharge port. However, when a posture that is either upward or downward with respect to the mounting surface of the printing apparatus is detected, the printing operation by the printing mechanism is prohibited.

  According to these configurations, the posture of the printing apparatus itself can be detected, and the printing operation by the printing mechanism can be controlled based on the detection result. In other words, the printing operation is prohibited when an abnormal device posture such as the paper discharge port facing the desk is detected, so that it is possible to prevent paper discharge failure, jamming, and printer failure. .

  In this case, the apparatus further includes a device power supply, a battery housing unit that houses the battery, and a lid that covers the battery housing unit, and the operating environment setting unit has a lid based on the detection result of the posture detection unit. However, it is preferable to turn off the apparatus power when an apparatus posture is detected that faces upward with respect to the mounting surface of the printing apparatus.

  According to this configuration, the power of the printing apparatus can be automatically turned off when the battery is replaced. As a result, battery replacement in a state where the power is forgotten to be turned off is not performed, and erroneous erasure of data in the internal memory can be prevented.

  In these cases, a display unit that displays various information is further provided, and the operating environment setting unit changes the display direction of the display content displayed on the display unit with respect to the display unit based on the detection result of the posture detection unit. It is preferable.

  According to this configuration, since the orientation of the display content on the display screen can be changed based on the orientation of the printing apparatus, the display can be easily visually recognized by the user regardless of the orientation of the printing apparatus. it can.

  In these cases, it is preferable that the operation environment setting unit changes the notation direction of the print characters printed by the printing mechanism with respect to the print medium based on the detection result of the posture detection unit.

  According to this configuration, the print character notation direction (vertical writing and horizontal writing) can be changed based on the orientation of the printing apparatus. Printing can be performed. Note that, for example, mirror image printing may be enabled based on the device orientation that is vertically inverted.

  In these cases, a connection unit for connecting to an external device and a connection detection unit for detecting a connection state to the connection unit are further provided, and the operating environment setting unit is configured to detect the detection result by the posture detection unit and the connection detection unit. Based on this, it is preferable to set the operating environment.

  According to this configuration, an appropriate operating environment can be set according to the detection result of the posture of the printing apparatus and the connection state of the external apparatus without requiring user operation.

  In this case, the operating environment setting means turns off the apparatus power when the attitude detection means detects the attitude of the predetermined device and the connection detection means does not detect connection with the external device, and the attitude detection means When the posture is detected and the connection means detects the connection with the external device, it is preferable to turn on the device power.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to switch the apparatus power ON / OFF without requiring a user operation by connecting / disconnecting with an external apparatus in a predetermined apparatus posture.

  In this case, it is preferable to further include an operation content changing unit for changing the content of the operating environment set by the operating environment setting unit in response to a detection item by at least one of the posture detecting unit and the connection detecting unit.

  According to this configuration, the operating environment can be set according to the purpose of use of each user.

  A program according to the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute each step in the operation environment setting method described above.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to provide a program for realizing an operation environment setting method for setting an operation environment based on the attitude of the printing apparatus.

  Hereinafter, a printing apparatus, an operating environment setting method for the printing apparatus, and a program according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present invention, the posture of the printing apparatus itself (a standing posture, an inverted posture, etc.) is detected by a posture detection sensor, and printing operation, power ON / OFF, and the like are controlled based on the detection result.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a tape printer 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1A, in the tape printer 1, an outer shell of the apparatus main body 2 is constituted by an apparatus case 3. A key input unit 4 having various keys is disposed at the front portion of the tape printer 1, and a display 5 for displaying various input information and the like is disposed at the upper right side of the rear portion. Also, an input / output interface 6 for connecting to the external device 12 (see FIG. 3) is formed on the right side of the device case 3, and the external device 12 is connected to the input / output interface 6 so that the external device 12 transmits and receives data and the like.

  A tape discharge port 7 for discharging the printed tape T is formed on the left side of the apparatus case 3, and a tape cutter 8 (see FIG. 2) for cutting the tape T faces the tape discharge port 7. Then, the tape T is cut by the tape cutter 8, whereby the printed tape T is discharged from the tape discharge port 7. As shown in FIG. 1B, a battery housing portion 10 that houses the battery 9 (see FIG. 2) is formed at the bottom of the device case 3, and a lid 11 that covers the battery housing portion 10. Is arranged.

  Next, the control configuration of the tape printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The tape printer 1 includes a key input unit 4 and a display 5, an operation unit 15 that controls input of character information and display of various information by a user, a print head 21, and a tape feed motor 22, and print data A printing unit 20 for printing on the tape T, a tape cutter 8 and a cutter motor 27, a cutting unit 25 for cutting the printed tape T to a predetermined length, a horizontal sensor 31 and a vertical sensor. 32, a detection unit 30 for detecting the attitude of the tape printer 1 itself, an input / output interface 6 for connecting to the external device 12, an input / output unit 35 for transmitting / receiving data to / from the external device 12, and a battery 9 and a power switch 41, and a power supply unit 40 for supplying power to each unit, a display driver 46, a head driver 47, and a tape feed driver 48 And has a cutter motor driver 49, a drive unit 45 for driving the respective portions, are connected to these units, a control unit 50 for controlling the entire tape printing apparatus 1 is constituted by.

  The operation unit 15 changes various setting environments in accordance with the purpose of use of each user by input of character information by the user and an operation environment content changing unit for changing the operation environment content. In addition to displaying various operation setting contents, the direction of the display contents on the display 5 is changed and displayed according to the orientation of the apparatus itself according to an instruction from the control unit 50.

  The printing unit 20 drives the print head 21 and the tape feed motor 22 based on the print data, thereby printing on the tape T and sending the tape T to the tape discharge port 7 along a tape feed path (not shown). To do. Further, based on the attitude of the tape printer 1 detected by the detection unit 30, the printing character notation direction (vertical writing and horizontal writing) is changed. The cutting unit 25 operates the tape cutter 8 by driving the cutter motor 27, and cuts the printed tape T sent to the tape discharge port 7 to have a predetermined length.

  The detection unit 30 detects the inclination of the tape printing apparatus 1 in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction by the horizontal sensor 31 and the vertical sensor 32 (attitude detection means), and based on the detection result, the attitude information of the tape printing apparatus 1 itself. Are detected (for example, standing posture, inverted posture, etc.). Further, connection / disconnection with the external device 12 is detected based on the connection state of the input / output interface 6 (connection detection means). Note that the posture of the device is the “normal posture” (see FIG. 3A) when the surface having the key input unit 4 and the display 5 is the upper surface, and the device is erected from this “normal posture”. Postures (including postures that are inverted upside down) are “standing postures” (see FIG. 3B), and postures in which the device in the “normal posture” is turned over are “inverted postures” (see FIG. 3C). ), A posture inclined 90 degrees from the “standing posture” and the tape discharge port 7 positioned in the upward direction or the downward direction is referred to as a “side-down posture” (see FIG. 3D).

  The input / output unit 35 connects the input / output interface 6 and the external device 12 with the connection cable 13 and transmits / receives data such as character information and a print instruction from the external device 12. The power supply unit 40 supplies power to each unit, and switches on / off the power of the tape printing apparatus 1 according to an instruction from the control unit 50 based on the operation environment set by the operation environment setting unit.

  The control unit 50 includes a CPU 60, a ROM 70, a RAM 80, and an input / output control device 90 (hereinafter referred to as “IOC: Input Output Controller”), which are connected to each other via an internal bus 100. The ROM 70 is set by a control program block 71 for storing a control program for controlling various processes such as a printing process by the CPU 60, an attitude control program block 72 for storing an attitude control program related to the attitude of the apparatus, and an operating environment setting unit. And an operating environment data block 73 for storing the operated operating environment.

  The RAM 80 stores various work area blocks 81 used as flags and the like, a posture information block 82 that stores posture information of the device detected by the horizontal sensor 31 and the vertical sensor 32, and a connection state with the external device 12. The connection information block 83 is used as a work area for control processing.

  And CPU60 inputs various signals and data from each part in the tape printer 1 via IOC90 according to the control program in ROM70 by the above-mentioned composition. In addition, various data in the RAM 80 is processed based on the set operating environment and the various signals and data that have been input, and various signals and data are output to each unit in the tape printer 1 via the IOC 90. Thus, each part of the tape printer 1 is controlled by the controller 50, and the entire tape printer 1 is controlled.

  For example, when the user changes the posture of the device or connects / disconnects to / from the external device 12, the posture information block 82 in the RAM 80 indicates the current device inclination with respect to the reference normal posture, etc. Information regarding the posture is stored, and connection information regarding connection / disconnection with the external device 12 is stored in the connection information block 83. The CPU 60 processes the information stored in the posture information block 82 by the posture control program to determine the posture of the device. The CPU 60 controls the power supply unit 40 based on the determined attitude of the device, the setting information stored in the operating environment data block 73 in the ROM 70, and the connection information stored in the connection information block 83. The device power ON / OFF control is performed, and the character notation direction (vertical writing / horizontal writing) of the print data is changed. Further, permission / prohibition of the printing operation is controlled based on the determined posture of the apparatus, and when the posture of the apparatus is the above-described “side-down posture”, the drive of the print head 21 and the drive of the tape feed motor 22 are stopped. This prohibits (interrupts) printing.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the operation state by the attitude | position of the tape printer 1 is demonstrated. FIG. 3 shows an example of an operation state depending on the posture of the apparatus when the operation environment setting is an initial setting (default setting). The setting items of the operating environment are the posture operation setting for setting the power ON / OFF state based on the posture of the device, and the connection time for setting the power ON / OFF state based on the posture of the device when the external device 12 is connected. There is a setting. FIG. 3A shows a case where the device is in the “normal posture” state and is not connected to the external device 12. In this case, based on the setting contents of the posture operation setting, the tape printer 1 is turned on and operates in a printable state. Further, the display content of the display 5 is displayed horizontally (in horizontal writing notation).

  FIG. 3B shows the “standing posture” in which the tape printer 1 of FIG. In this case, since the posture operation setting is set to “standing posture: power OFF”, the power of the tape printer 1 is automatically turned off. FIG. 3C shows a “inverted posture” in which the tape printer 1 of FIG. Also in this case, since “inverted posture: power OFF” is set in the posture operation setting, the power is automatically turned off as in FIG. FIG. 3D shows a “sideways posture” in which the tape printer 1 of FIG. 3A is inclined 90 degrees from the “standing posture”. In this case, since the posture operation setting is set to “sideways posture: power ON”, the power of the tape printer 1 is turned on, but the tape discharge port 7 for discharging the tape T is blocked. Therefore, the CPU 60 controls to prohibit the printing operation. Further, the display content of the display 5 is displayed horizontally (in horizontal writing notation).

  FIG. 3E shows that the external device 12 is connected to the tape printer 1 in the “standing posture”. In this case, the “standing posture: power ON” set in the connection setting is valid, and when the external device 12 is connected, the power of the tape printer 1 is automatically turned on. In other words, when the operating environment setting is set to “standing posture: power OFF” in the posture operation setting, and “standing posture: power ON” is set in the connection setting, the power supply state for the same posture is different. , Reflect the settings at connection priority.

  In this embodiment, the CPU 60 automatically controls the permission / prohibition of the printing operation based on the posture of the apparatus. However, a setting screen is provided so that the user can permit / prohibit the printing operation based on the posture of the apparatus. The setting may be selected and set.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the change setting method of the operating environment according to the attitude | position of the tape printer 1 is demonstrated. First, a setting procedure for posture action setting will be described. When the “operating environment key” of the key input unit 4 is pressed by the user, the operating environment screen is displayed (D01). When “posture movement setting” is selected in this state (D01), the posture movement setting screen is displayed. Here, the contents of the posture action setting currently set (power supply state corresponding to each posture) are displayed (D02).

  In this state (D02), when the "determine key (selected line feed key)" is pressed by the user, the screen changes to the normal posture screen, and the power state of the normal posture of the tape printer 1 can be selected (D03). Next, when “Power OFF” is selected by the “Up / Down key (Left / Right key)” and the “Enter key” is pressed, the setting is changed to “Normal posture: Power OFF” and the screen changes to the standing posture screen ( D04). Thereafter, similarly, the power states of “standing posture” (D04), “reversing posture” (D05) and “side-down posture” (D06) are set. When the “side-down posture” is set, the setting is completed and the newly set information is displayed on the screen (D07).

  Next, the connection setting will be described with reference to FIG. First, when the “operating environment key” of the key input unit 4 is pressed by the user, an operating environment screen is displayed (D11). When the “up / down key” is pressed in this state (D11) and “setting at connection” is selected, a connection setting screen is displayed. Here, the currently set content at the time of connection when the external device is connected (the state of the power supply corresponding to each posture when the external device is connected) is displayed (D12).

  In this state (D12), when the “determine key” is pressed by the user, the screen transits to a connection (normal posture) screen, and the power state of the normal posture of the tape printer 1 can be selected (D13). Next, when “NO” is selected by the “up / down key” and the “OK” key is pressed, the setting is changed to “normal posture: not ON”, and when connected (standing posture) The screen changes (D14). When this “normal posture: not turned on” is set, when the tape printer 1 is in the normal posture and the power is on, the tape printer 1 is kept powered on. On the other hand, when the tape printer 1 is in the normal posture and the power is off, the power of the tape printer 1 is kept off until the “power key” of the tape printer 1 is pressed by the user. Thereafter, similarly, the power supply states of “when connected (standing posture)” (D14), “when connected (turned posture)” (D15) and “when connected (sideways posture)” (D16) are set. When the setting of “when connected (sideways posture)” is completed, the setting is completed, and the newly set information is displayed on the screen (D17).

  Note that when setting at the time of connection, regardless of the orientation of the tape printer 1, “power ON” or “not ON (ON by key)” is selected and set based only on the connection detection result of the external device 12. It may be.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 6, the notation direction of the printed characters according to the posture of the tape printer 1 will be described. FIG. 6 shows an operation state depending on the posture of the apparatus when the printing character notation direction setting in the operation environment setting is set to the initial setting (default setting). FIG. 6A shows a case where the apparatus performs horizontal writing in the “normal posture”. FIG. 6B shows the case where the apparatus performs vertical writing with the “standing posture”. FIG. 6C shows a case where the apparatus performs horizontal writing in the “inverted posture”. The notation direction of the print character based on the attitude of these devices is selected and set by the user on the print direction setting screen shown in FIG. Note that the arrows in FIG. 6 indicate the discharge direction of the tape T.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 7, a description will be given of a method for setting the printing character notation direction according to the orientation of the tape printer 1. FIG. First, when the “operating environment key” of the key input unit 4 is pressed by the user, an operating environment screen is displayed (D21). In this state (D21), when the “up / down key” is pressed and “print direction setting” is selected, a print direction setting screen is displayed. Here, the character printing direction corresponding to the currently set posture of the apparatus is displayed (D22).

  In this state (D22), when the “determine key” is pressed by the user, the screen shifts to the normal posture screen, and the print character notation direction when the tape printer 1 is in the normal posture can be selected (D23). . Next, when “vertical writing” is selected by the “up / down key” and the “decision key” is pressed, the setting is changed to “normal posture: vertical writing”, and the screen changes to the standing posture screen (D24). Thereafter, similarly, the printing character notation directions of “standing posture” (D24) and “turned posture” (D25) are set. When the “inverted posture” setting is completed, the setting is completed and the newly set information is displayed on the screen (D26).

  In addition, it is good also as mirror image printing based on the attitude | position which turned the tape printing apparatus 1 upside down as a description direction at the time of printing a character on the tape T. FIG.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, the posture of the tape printer 1 itself can be detected, and the printing operation can be controlled based on the detection result. Thereby, it is possible to prohibit the printing operation when an abnormal posture such as the tape discharge port 7 facing the desk is detected, and to prevent discharge failure of the tape T, jamming, and failure of the tape printer 1. it can.

  In addition, since it is possible to set ON / OFF switching of the apparatus power supply according to at least one of the attitude of the apparatus and the connection state with the external apparatus 12, it is possible to set an operating environment according to the purpose of use of each user. For this reason, for example, when the device is turned upside down, the power is turned off so that when the device is turned over by replacing the battery, the tape printer 1 is automatically turned off and the power is forgotten. Battery replacement in the state is not performed, and erroneous erasure of data in the internal memory can be prevented.

  Moreover, it is also possible to provide each part (each function) of the tape printer 1 shown in the embodiment described above as a program. It is also possible to provide the program stored in a storage medium (not shown). As the recording medium, a CD-ROM, a flash ROM, a memory card (compact flash (registered trademark), smart media, memory stick, etc.), a compact disk, a magneto-optical disk, a digital versatile disk, a flexible disk, and the like can be used.

  In addition, the configuration and processing steps of the tape printer 1 can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention, regardless of the above-described embodiment.

It is the schematic diagram (a) of the normal attitude | position of the tape printer which concerns on embodiment, and the schematic diagram (b) of a flip-over attitude | position. It is a control block diagram of a tape printer. (A)-(e) is a figure explaining the operation state based on the attitude | position of a tape printer. It is a figure explaining the setting procedure of the operating environment setting based on the attitude | position of a tape printer. It is a figure explaining the setting procedure of an operating environment setting based on the attitude | position of a tape printer, and a connection state with an external device. (A)-(c) is a figure explaining the description direction of the printed character based on the attitude | position of a tape printer. It is a figure explaining the setting procedure of the notation direction of the printing character based on the attitude | position of a tape printer.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tape printer 5 ... Display 6 ... Input / output interface 7 ... Tape discharge port 9 ... Battery 10 ... Battery accommodating part 11 ... Lid 20 ... Printing part 31 ... Horizontal sensor 32 ... Vertical sensor T ... Tape

Claims (9)

A printing apparatus comprising: a printing mechanism for printing on paper; and a paper discharge port for discharging the paper after printing by the printing mechanism,
Attitude detecting means for detecting the attitude of the printing apparatus;
Operating environment setting means for setting an operating environment based on a detection result by the posture detection means,
The operating environment setting means, based on the detection result of the attitude detection means, when an attitude in which the surface having the paper discharge port is either upward or downward with respect to the mounting surface of the printing apparatus is detected, A printing apparatus for prohibiting a printing operation by the printing mechanism. Device power supply,
A battery housing for housing the battery;
A lid that covers the battery accommodating portion;
The operation environment setting unit is configured to detect the apparatus power supply when the apparatus attitude in which the surface having the lid is upward with respect to the mounting surface of the printing apparatus is detected based on the detection result of the attitude detection unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is turned off. A display unit for displaying various types of information;
The operation environment setting unit changes the display direction of the display content displayed on the display unit with respect to the display unit based on a detection result of the posture detection unit. Printing device.   4. The operating environment setting unit changes a notation direction of a print character printed by the printing mechanism with respect to a print medium based on a detection result of the posture detection unit. The printing apparatus as described. A connection for connecting to an external device;
A connection detection means for detecting a connection state to the connection unit,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operating environment setting unit sets the operating environment based on detection results by the posture detection unit and the connection detection unit.   The operating environment setting means turns off the apparatus power when the attitude detection means detects the attitude of a predetermined apparatus and the connection detection means does not detect connection with the external apparatus, and the attitude detection means The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the apparatus power is turned on when a posture of a predetermined apparatus is detected and the connection unit detects connection with the external apparatus.   The operation content changing means for changing the content of the operating environment set by the operating environment setting means in response to a detection item by at least one of the posture detecting means and the connection detecting means, The printing apparatus according to claim 6. An operating environment setting method for a printing apparatus, comprising: a printing mechanism that prints on a sheet; and a sheet discharge port that discharges the sheet after printing by the printing mechanism,
An attitude detection step for detecting an attitude of the printing apparatus;
An operation environment setting step for setting an operation environment based on the detection result of the posture detection step,
The operation environment setting step prohibits a printing operation by the printing mechanism when a posture in which the surface having the paper discharge port is either upward or downward with respect to the mounting surface of the printing apparatus is detected. An operating environment setting method for a printing apparatus.   The program for making a computer perform each step in the operating environment setting method of the printing apparatus of Claim 8.

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