JP2010117843A - Method and program for setting of setting value of printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a setting method and a setting program for a printer setting value, allowing setting of the setting values of various setting items of a plurality of printers by an easy method, allowing easy restoration of a changed setting value, and allowing easy setting equal to before when performing replacement with a new printer. <P>SOLUTION: This setting method for the printer setting value in a system wherein a host computer 10 and at least one printer are communicably connected includes steps of: acquiring the printer setting values of the plurality of setting items of a printer A from the printer A selected by the host computer 10; storing the obtained printer setting values in a storage area of the host computer 10 as a setting value file; selecting a printer B that is a setting target; and transmitting a setting command for setting the printer setting values of the printer B that is the setting target based on the setting value file. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is a printer setting value setting method and a setting program for setting a setting value of each setting item of a printer, in which a host computer and at least one printer are communicably connected.

  Among various setting items of the printer, there are setting items that can change the initial setting values set at the time of shipment from the factory according to the use environment of the user. As described above, the setting items that can be changed can be changed from the switch of the printer main body or the host computer connected to the printer according to the specification environment of the user.

JP 2004-42623 A

  However, there are cases where it is desired that the setting values of various setting items be the same for a plurality of printers, for example, because a plurality of printers are used in the same environment. In this case, it is troublesome to set the setting values of various setting items for each printer from a switch of the printer main body or a host computer connected to the printer.

  In addition, after performing maintenance such as printer repair or replacement, when the maintenance counter that stores the number of operations is returned to the user's return state and returned to the user, the setting value changed for maintenance is returned to the user. If you want to return to the state when you are using, or if you want to replace the printer you are using with a new printer, you will need to redo the settings you made once.

  On the other hand, in Patent Document 1, when the printer on which the toner cartridge was mounted immediately before and the printer of its own do not match, the printer setting information stored in the storage element of the toner cartridge is acquired and the printer of its own Discloses a color laser printer. However, a plurality of printers cannot be set to the same setting, and the above-mentioned problem cannot be solved.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to set the setting values of various setting items with a simple method for a plurality of printers. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer setting value setting method and a setting program that can be easily performed when replacing with the same setting as before.

In order to achieve the above object, a method for controlling a setting value of a printer according to the present invention is such that a host computer and at least one printer are communicably connected,
Obtaining a setting value of the printer from the printer selected by the host computer;
Storing the acquired setting value as a setting value file in a storage area of the host computer;
Selecting a printer to be set;
Transmitting a setting command for setting the setting value to the printer to be set based on the setting value file;
It is characterized by including.
According to the above method, the setting values of the various setting items of the printer can be collectively set with a simple method on the printer selected as the setting target, and the changed setting values can be restored or replaced with a new printer. Sometimes you can easily do the same settings as before.
Preferably, the setting value file is stored with at least one of a file name and date / time information.
According to the above method, the setting value file to be set can be selected based on the file name of the setting value file and the storage date and time information, and the setting values of the printer can be collectively set.
Preferably, a plurality of printers are selected as the setting target, and the setting values of the selected plurality of printers are set.
According to the above method, setting commands can be transmitted to a plurality of selected printers at once, so that setting values of various setting items of the plurality of printers can be set in a batch.
Preferably, the plurality of printers are grouped, and a setting target is selected for each group.
According to the above method, since the setting command can be transmitted to the printers of the selected group, the setting values of various setting items can be collectively set for each group.
Further preferably, the set value is a set value related to control of a printing mechanism of the printer.
According to the above method, setting values can be collectively set for setting items related to the printing mechanism of the printer.
Further preferably, the setting value is a setting value that can be changed on a setting tool of the host computer, and at least a paper position detection setting, a paper feed amount adjustment setting, a paper cueing operation setting, a notification setting, a panel It includes any one of a button valid / invalid setting and a setting at the time of occurrence of missing dots.
According to the above method, setting values changed by the user on the setting tool of the host computer can also be set collectively.

In order to achieve the above object, a printer setting value control program according to the present invention causes a host computer to execute each step of the printer setting value setting method.
By causing the host computer to execute the above control program, the setting values of various setting items can be set in a batch for a plurality of printers, and the changed setting values can be restored or replaced with new printers. Sometimes it is possible to easily set all of the same settings as before.

  Hereinafter, a setting method for setting values of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a system configuration for explaining a batch setting method for printer setting values according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  A system using a setting value setting method for a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a host computer 10 and a printer 20 (printer A, printer) connected to each other via a network such as a LAN or a communication line such as a USB. B,..., And the host computer 10 has a display unit 11 such as a monitor display, and the printer 20 (printer A, printer B,...) Has an I / F unit 21 ( And a control unit 22.

Next, the procedure of the printer setting value batch setting method according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram for explaining a printer setting value setting method according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a setting value selection screen in the setting tool displayed on the display unit of the host computer. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a printer selection screen in the setting tool displayed on the display unit of the host computer. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a printer selection screen (screen after printer selection) in the setting tool displayed on the display unit of the host computer. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a printer selection screen (screen for selecting a printer to be set) in the setting tool displayed on the display unit of the host computer. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a setting start execution confirmation screen in the setting tool displayed on the display unit of the host computer.

First, prior to the description, setting items applicable to the printer setting value setting method according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. For example, the following setting items (1) to (25) are mentioned.
(1) Paper position detection setting (gap detection, BM detection, no detection, etc.)
The detection settings differ depending on the paper. The gap detection relates to detection of a gap between labels in the label sheet, and BM detection relates to detection of a black mark BM (black mark) indicating a mark printing position set on the back side of the mount. “No detection” is a sheet without a mark or the like for position detection, and a receipt sheet.
(2) Paper feed amount adjustment (auto cut position, print start position)
The auto cut position is a set value indicating at which position of the paper the cutter performs cutting (cutting). The print start position is, for example, a setting from which position on the label paper is printed after the gap is detected.
(3) Media cue operation setting (operation when power is turned on and cover is opened)
Set the paper cueing operation when turning on the power or replacing paper (when the cover is open). For example, when starting from the top of the label paper, the head of the label is aligned with the head position (indexing operation). Alternatively, the cueing operation is set when the position of the roll paper changes.
(4) Notification setting (buzzer, LED notification, paper difference error notification)
For example, the buzzer sounds when an error occurs, the LED blinks when the ink is low (near-end), and an error is notified when the paper set is different from the paper loaded. is there.
(5) Valid / Invalid of Panel Button This is a setting for enabling or disabling the detection of panel buttons such as a feed button (paper feed) and a cut button (paper cutting) provided on the printer panel.
(6) Settings when missing dots occur (Operation mode when missing dots, invalid logo registration)
When a missing dot occurs during printing due to nozzle clogging, etc., an operation mode setting such as cleaning is performed, and an invalid logo is registered to print “Invalid” or “NG” on the failed printing paper. It is a setting.
(7) Cue position, launch position Set mainly at the time of shipment from the factory.
(8) Gap adjustment Set mainly at the time of shipment from the factory.
(9) I / F setting This is switching of an external communication interface (I / F) such as LAN or USB.
(10) Maintenance counter This setting is related to a counter that counts the number of print lines, the number of ink discharges, the number of cuts, etc., in order to notify the time required for maintenance such as cleaning and parts replacement. There are cumulative counters that cannot be reset and resettable counters.
(11) Error pattern This is the setting of the notification method pattern when an error occurs, and sets the number of times the LED blinks.
(12) Number of buzzers Set the number of times to sound the buzzer when an error occurs.
(13) Reprint valid / invalid setting This is a setting for whether or not to discard the paper with missing dots and reprint on the next page.
(14) Communication settings (communication conditions)
(15) Paper change (continuous paper / cut paper / FF paper, etc.)
(16) Font (selection)
(17) Pitch (paper feed)
(18) EEPROM
Set which setting to prioritize between DIP switch and memory switch.
(19) Clearing the cumulative number of printed lines (20) Feeding position adjustment (21) Tear-off adjustment This is a setting for feeding the paper to a position where it is easy for the user to cut in the manual cutter.
(22) Paper thickness adjustment When the paper thickness changes, the force to press the paper is changed.
(23) Emulation selection Setting for executing commands of other models with different command systems.
(24) Paper feed method selection (25) Language selection

  The above (1) to (25) are setting items depending on each model. The above (15), (18) and the like are set on the printer body side, and the settings are stored in the printer memory and transmitted to the host computer 10. Note that (1) to (3) and the like are setting items related to the control of the printing mechanism of the printer, and (4) and the like are setting items related to notification according to the state of the printer. The setting items (1) to (6) can be set on a setting tool on a setting screen displayed on the display unit 11 such as a monitor display of the host computer 10 and set by referring to the screen. it can.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, any of the setting items can be set. In the following description, the setting item (1) is set using a setting tool (printer setting value control program). The description will be continued as a setting method related to) to (6).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the host computer 10 searches for a printer of a predetermined model (step S101). At this time, the host computer 10 transmits a device request to a network such as a LAN (step S102).

  The printer 20 (printer A, printer B,...) Connected to the network receives a device request in its own I / F unit 21, and the control unit 22 of each printer receives the device request. Device ID is acquired, and the model name is returned based on the device ID (step S103). The host computer 10 confirms whether each printer is a predetermined model based on the received printer model name (step S104). Here, it is assumed that the printer A and the printer B are searched as being the predetermined model.

  Next, the printer selection screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed, and a printer as a setting value copy source is selected from printers A and B that can communicate with the host computer 10. Here, the printer A is selected as the copy source. The screen after the selection is as shown in FIG. 5, and it can be seen that the printer A which is highlighted is selected.

  Then, the host computer 10 transmits a printer setting information acquisition command to the printer A (step S105). When the printer A receives the printer setting information acquisition command (step S106), it returns the printer setting information of each set item to the host computer 10 (step S107). The host computer 10 receives the answer and confirms the set value acquired and converts it into a character string and displays it on the setting tool displayed on the display unit 11 such as a monitor display (step S108). FIG. 3 (set value selection screen) shows a screen of the setting tool displayed on the display unit 22 which is information acquired at this time. In the setting value selection screen of FIG. 3, the setting values relating to the setting items (1) to (6) are displayed so as to be selectable.

  In step S108, if the acquired setting value of each item is within the settable range, the acquired setting value is converted into a corresponding character string and displayed. On the other hand, if any of the acquired setting value items are out of the settable range, the corresponding item is displayed as "abnormal value" (the communication is successful, so an error is displayed) Not). Alternatively, if there is an item for which the set value cannot be acquired, the character string or the like is not displayed and the column is left blank (in this case, communication is successful, so an error is not displayed).

  Next, the set value of each item acquired in step S108 is determined (step S109). When saving the setting value displayed at this time, the setting value of each item is saved as a setting value file in the storage area of the host computer 10 by pressing a “save setting value” button. This setting value file can be saved with an arbitrary file name, and the saved date and time information and the like are added to the file as attached information.

  A plurality of setting value files can be stored in the storage area. Therefore, the plurality of saved setting value files can be managed by the file name, date / time information, and the like. For the setting value file stored in the storage area, the setting value selection screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed, and the “open setting file” button is pressed to specify the file, thereby reading the file contents (setting values) again. be able to.

  In addition, when it is going to preserve | save the said "abnormal value" and the setting value of the item which cannot be acquired, you may make it not preserve | save this.

  Next, when changing the copied setting value, the user changes the setting value on the setting value selection screen (step S110). In the example of the setting value selection screen (FIG. 3) displayed on the setting value selection screen (FIG. 3), the setting value of each item can be arbitrarily changed by selecting the setting value from the pull-down menu. .

  When saving the setting value displayed at this time, the setting value of each item is set in the storage area of the host computer 10 by pressing the “save setting value” button as in step S109. Saved as a file.

  Next, on the printer selection screen, as shown in FIG. 6, the printer to be set is selected (step S111). Here, the printer B which is displayed in reverse is selected. The setting value of the printer B is set to the setting value displayed as the “user setting value” of each item in FIG. 6 by transmitting a setting command to be described later.

  By pressing the “next” button, the screen is switched to a setting start execution confirmation screen shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, by pressing the “execute” button, the setting values of each item are copied to the setting target printer B in the following procedure.

The following is a procedure for copying the setting values of each item to the printer B to be set.
In FIG. 2, a status character string reply command is transmitted in order to acquire the status of the setting target printer B (step S112). The printer B acquires its own state (step S113) and returns it to the host computer 10 (step S114). When the host computer 10 receives the status of the printer (step S115: YES), the host computer 10 performs processing according to the status of the printer to be set (step S117).

  If it is determined in step S117 that the printer is in a printable state, a setting command is transmitted to printer B (step S120). On the other hand, in the wait / cleaning state, the transmission of the status character string reply command is repeated for a predetermined time until the state changes. On the other hand, if the weight / cleaning state does not change even after the predetermined time has elapsed (step S119: YES), the process ends in an error (step S118). It should be noted that when the printer status reply waiting time has timed out (step S116: YES), or when the printer status is in another status (a status other than the printable status and the wait / cleaning status), the error end is also indicated. (Step S118).

  The setting command transmitted in step S120 is a command for transmitting the “user setting value” displayed in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7 to the setting target printer B and performing the setting. Group, a setting command group for setting a setting value of each item, and a post-processing command group.

The preprocessing command group includes an initialization command transmission and a mode transition command.
The setting command group consists of commands that set the setting values for each item.
(1) A command for executing setting of the paper position detecting means as the paper position detection setting.
(2) A command for setting the auto-cut position and the print start position for adjusting the paper feed amount.
(3) A command for setting an operation setting when the power is turned on and a cueing operation of the paper when the paper cover is closed as the paper cueing operation setting.
(4) Notification settings include buzzer notification settings when an error occurs, LED settings when ink is low (near-end), settings for notifying an error when paper is not set, and so on. Command.
(5) As valid / invalid of the panel button,
A command for setting whether to enable or disable panel buttons such as a paper feed button and a cut button for cutting paper provided on the printer panel.
(6) As a setting when a missing dot occurs,
Operation mode settings such as cleaning when a missing dot occurs during printing due to nozzle clogging, etc., whether or not an invalid logo is printed on the failed printing paper, and an invalid logo image file specification command .
Note that the setting commands (1) to (6) are collectively transmitted.
The post-processing command group includes a remote mode end command, an initialization command, a mode transition command, a set value load command, and a remote mode end command.

  Next, the printer waits until the setting command transmission of the printer is finished and the setting command setting transmitted to the printer B is reflected. That is, a wait process for a predetermined time is performed (step S121).

  After the wait process, a printer setting information acquisition command is transmitted to the printer B (step S122). When the printer B receives this printer setting information acquisition command (step S123), it returns the printer setting information of each item set in the printer B to the host computer 10 (step S124). When the host computer 10 receives the answer (step S125: YES), the host computer 10 compares the printer setting information acquired by the answer from the printer B with the printer setting information of the sent setting command (step S126). As a result, if both match (step S126: YES), the process ends normally (step S127). On the other hand, if they do not match, the process ends in error (step S128).

  It should be noted that the error is also terminated when communication is impossible, such as when the reply from the printer B cannot be received even after the predetermined time (step S125: NO).

  As described above, according to the procedure of the printer setting value batch setting method according to the embodiment of the present invention, the setting values of the items of the printer A can be batch set to the printer B by a simple method.

  The setting value file saved in the storage area of the host computer 10 is saved with an arbitrary file name, and since the saved date and time information is attached to the file as attached information, Based on the file name and save date / time information, the setting value file to be used can be selected and the printer setting values can be collectively set.

  If a plurality of printers to be set are selected, the setting command can be transmitted to the selected printers. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, various setting items are set for a plurality of printers connected via a network. It is also possible to set all of the set values.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 9, if the printers are grouped and the selection of the setting target can be set for each group, the setting command is transmitted to the printers of the selected group (A group in FIG. 9). You can also Therefore, the setting values of various setting items can be collectively set for each group.

  Alternatively, even in the case of a system with only one printer, such as when locally connected via a communication line such as USB, the previous setting value of this printer is saved as a setting value file in the host computer. If this is the case, on the same printer, you can select the setting value changed by the user for some reason, select the setting value file of the previous setting based on the file name and saved date and time information, and return to the previous setting. it can. Therefore, when replacing with a new printer, the same setting as the previous printer can be easily made. Or, when maintenance is performed, the operation of returning the setting value changed to the setting for maintenance to the original setting is also simplified.

1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a system for explaining a batch setting method for printer setting values according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram for explaining a printer setting value batch setting method according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the setting value selection screen of the setting tool displayed on the display part of the host computer in the sequence of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a printer selection screen of a setting tool displayed on a display unit of a host computer in the sequence of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a printer selection screen (screen after printer selection) of a setting tool displayed on a display unit of a host computer in the sequence of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a printer selection screen (screen for selecting a printer to be set) of a setting tool displayed on the display unit of the host computer in the sequence of FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows the execution confirmation screen of the setting start of the setting tool displayed on the display part of the host computer in the sequence of FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship which sets collectively the setting value of the setting tool of various setting items with respect to a some printer. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship in which printers are grouped and selection of a target to be set is set for each group. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship in which setting values of setting tools for various setting items are collectively set when only a host computer and one printer are used.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Host computer, 11 ... Display part, 20 ... Printer (printer A, printer B) 21 ... I / F part, 22 ... Control part

Claims (7)

The host computer and at least one printer are connected so as to be able to communicate,
Obtaining a setting value of the printer from the printer selected by the host computer;
Storing the acquired setting value as a setting value file in a storage area of the host computer;
Selecting a printer to be set;
Transmitting a setting command for setting the setting value to the printer to be set based on the setting value file;
A setting value setting method for a printer.   2. The method of setting a printer setting value according to claim 1, wherein the setting value file is stored with at least one of a file name and date / time information.   3. The setting value setting method for a printer according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of printers are selected as the setting targets, and the setting values of the selected plurality of printers are set.   The method for setting a setting value of a printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of printers are grouped, and a setting target is selected for each group.   5. The printer setting value setting method according to claim 1, wherein the setting value is a setting value relating to a printing mechanism of the printer.   The set value includes at least one of a paper position detection setting, a paper feed amount adjustment setting, a paper cueing operation setting, a notification setting, a panel button valid / invalid setting, and a setting when a missing dot occurs. A method for setting a setting value of the printer according to claim 1.   A printer setting value control program for causing the host computer to execute each step of the printer setting value setting method according to claim 1.

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