JP2013202936A - Recording device, method for controlling the same, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To record an image as an inverted image by a simple process, in a recording device for recording images on a row basis.SOLUTION: A recording control section 37 of a printer 11 receives, from a host computer 10, a control command for instructing recording of images on a row basis, generates inverted image data being image data indicative of images obtained by inverting images to be recorded on a row basis based on the received control command, and executes inverted recording for sequentially recording, from an ending row to a first row, images obtained by inverting images to be recorded in the respective rows on a recording medium based on the inverted image data of the respective rows.

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus connectable to a control apparatus, a control method for the recording apparatus, and a program for controlling the recording apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a recording apparatus (thermal printer) that sequentially forms images with a print head while conveying roll paper is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
This type of recording device receives an instruction to record an image for each row from a control device such as a host computer, and records the image by developing the image data of the image to be recorded in an image buffer for each row. There is something to go.

JP 2010-69722 A

In the recording apparatus described above, it may be required to record the whole or a part of the image upside down. It is desirable from the viewpoint of improvement in processing efficiency and ease of development that an image can be inverted and recorded by simple processing as much as possible.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to enable an image to be inverted and recorded by a simple process with respect to a recording apparatus that records an image for each row.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a recording apparatus that can be connected to a control device, and receives a control command for instructing image recording for each row from the control device. Based on the inverted image data of each row in order from the last row to the first row, generating inverted image data that is an image data indicating an image that has been inverted for each row. A recording control unit that performs inverted recording in which an image obtained by inverting an image to be recorded in each row is recorded on a recording medium is provided.
Here, “row” refers to, for example, when recording an image, image data is expanded in an image buffer for each predetermined unit, and sequentially for each predetermined unit based on the image data expanded in the image buffer. In a recording apparatus that records images, this means the predetermined unit. That is, the “line” conceptually indicates the predetermined unit in a recording apparatus that records an image in a predetermined unit, and does not indicate only one line of a character string. Therefore, in the case of recording a graphic image, when image data of the graphic image is developed in the image buffer and the graphic image is recorded, the unit corresponding to the recording of the graphic image is “row”.
According to the above configuration, the recording control unit generates inverted image data based on the control command every time it receives a control command for instructing image recording, and the generated inverted image data starts from the last line. The image to be recorded is inverted by the process of recording toward the line. For this reason, for example, after all the control commands have been received, all the control commands are analyzed, and compared to the case where the inverted recording is executed, the image to be recorded is inverted by a very simple method. realizable.

Further, according to the present invention, when the inverted image data of one image is generated, the recording control unit generates the inverted image data reflecting the decoration when the decoration is instructed for the one image. It is characterized by doing.
According to this configuration, since the inverted image data is generated for each image in each row after the instructed modification is performed, the decoration according to the instruction is applied to the image recorded based on each inverted image data. It can be in a properly applied state.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the recording control unit executes the inverted recording for an image of a row belonging to a predetermined range among a plurality of rows.
Here, in a recording apparatus that records an image for each row, there may be a need to invert and record only an image related to a row belonging to a predetermined range, not all rows, According to the said structure, it can respond to the said needs appropriately.

In addition, the present invention is characterized in that it is possible to switch whether or not to execute the inverted recording.
According to this configuration, it is possible to switch whether to perform inverted recording according to the usage mode of the recording apparatus, which is convenient.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a control method for a recording device connectable to a control device, which receives a control command for instructing image recording for each row from the control device, Based on the received control command, inverted image data that is an image data indicating an inverted image of an image to be recorded is generated for each row, and the inverted image of each row is sequentially generated from the last row to the first row. Inverted recording is performed in which an image obtained by inverting an image to be recorded in each row is recorded on a recording medium based on the data.
According to this control method, the recording device generates inverted image data based on the control command every time it receives a control command for instructing image recording, and the generated inverted image data is changed from the last row to the first row. The image to be recorded is inverted by the process of recording toward the image. For this reason, for example, after all the control commands have been received, all the control commands are analyzed, and compared to the case where the inverted recording is executed, the image to be recorded is inverted by a very simple method. realizable.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a program executed by a control unit that controls a recording device connectable to a control device, wherein the control unit is transferred from the control device to each row. Receives a control command instructing image recording, and generates inverted image data, which is image data indicating an image in which an image to be recorded is inverted, for each row based on the received control command, and starts from the last row It is made to function as a recording control unit that executes inverted recording in which an image in which an image to be recorded in each row is inverted is recorded on a recording medium based on the inverted image data in each row in order toward the row. And
According to this program, the recording control unit generates inverted image data based on the control command every time a control command instructing image recording is received, and the generated inverted image data is changed from the last line to the first line. The image to be recorded is inverted by the process of recording toward the image. For this reason, for example, after all the control commands have been received, all the control commands are analyzed, and compared to the case where the inverted recording is executed, the image to be recorded is inverted by a very simple method. realizable.

  According to the present invention, a recording apparatus that records an image for each row enables an image to be inverted and recorded by a simple process.

It is a figure which shows typically the recording system which concerns on this embodiment. The block diagram which shows the functional structure of a host computer and a printer. It is a figure which shows the installation aspect of a printer. The figure which shows the image recorded based on a control command and a control command. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a printer. It is a figure utilized for description of an inverted record. The figure utilized for description of the inversion recording by the printer which concerns on another embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a recording system 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 schematically shows a state in which the recording system 1 is applied to a store providing food and drink such as a so-called fast food store. As shown in FIG. 1, the store of this example has two areas, a cashier counter area RA and a kitchen area KA.
The cashier counter area RA is provided with two cashier counters RC for the customer to order food and drinks and to pay. Each checkout counter RC is connected to a host computer 10 (control device) having a register function via a network 5 such as a LAN, and is used for issuing a receipt controlled by the host computer 10. And a printer 11 (recording apparatus). The connection mode between the host computer 10 and the printer 11 is not limited to the LAN, and may be anything such as serial communication, parallel communication, and wireless communication. The host computer 10 has a display for displaying various information related to accounting, such as the total amount to be paid by the customer, accounting for the customer, a touch panel for inputting products ordered by the customer, and a bar code recorded on the coupon Are connected to a bar code scanner for reading, etc., a key input unit for performing various inputs relating to accounting, a cash drawer for storing cash, and the like. Further, the host computer 10 controls the receipt issuing printer 11 for each transaction by the customer, and causes the printer 11 to issue a receipt relating to each transaction. The receipt issued by the printer 11 is delivered to the customer by the person in charge at each register counter RC.

The kitchen area KA is an area for cooking food to be provided to customers. In the kitchen area KA, two printers 11 (recording devices) are provided in a state of being hung on a wall. The two printers 11 provided in the kitchen area KA are in charge of cooking by appropriately issuing a piece of paper (hereinafter referred to as “order slip”) on which information indicating food and drink ordered at the checkout counter RC is recorded. It is provided for the purpose of notifying the person who makes the order. The host computer 10 controls the printer 11 provided in the kitchen area KA via the network 5 every time an order for food and drink is received at the cashier counter RC, and is ordered by the printer 11 to the thermal roll paper R. The information indicating the food and drink is recorded in a predetermined format, the thermal roll paper R is cut, and an order slip is issued.
The printer 11 provided in the cashier counter area RA and the printer 11 provided in the kitchen area KA are the same type of recording apparatus having complete compatibility. As a result, the spare recording device to be supplemented in case the printer 11 fails is only one type of recording device, so that the spare recording device can be efficiently prepared and the cost can be reduced. In the following description, the printer 11 provided in the cashier counter area RA will be referred to as a receipt printer RP, and the printer 11 provided in the kitchen area KA will be referred to as a kitchen printer KP as appropriate.
In the present embodiment, the receipt printer RP and the kitchen printer KP have different installation modes, and the kitchen printer KP is configured to perform a characteristic operation in accordance with the installation mode. The operation of the kitchen printer KP will be described in detail later.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the host computer 10 and the printer 11.
As shown in FIG. 2, the host computer 10 includes a host-side control unit 15, a host-side display unit 16, a host-side input unit 17, a host-side interface (I / F) unit 18, and a host-side storage unit 19. And.
The host-side control unit 15 centrally controls each unit of the host computer 10 and includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and other peripheral circuits. The host-side control unit 15 includes an application execution unit 20 and a printer driver execution unit 21, which will be described later. The host-side display unit 16 includes a display panel such as a liquid crystal display panel, and displays various types of information on the display panel under the control of the host-side control unit 15. The host side input unit 17 is connected to various input devices, detects operations on these input devices, and outputs them to the host side control unit 15. The host side interface unit 18 performs communication based on the communication standard with the printer 11 under the control of the host side control unit 15. The host-side storage unit 19 includes a storage device such as a hard disk or an EEPROM, and stores various data in a rewritable manner.

On the other hand, the printer 11 includes a thermal recording head 23 in which heating elements are arranged side by side, and heat is applied to the recording surface of the thermal roll paper R (recording medium) by the recording head 23 to form pixels. This is a thermal printer that records images. In particular, the printer 11 can cut the thermal roll paper R at a predetermined position after recording a predetermined image on the thermal roll paper R.
As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 11 includes a control unit 30, a display unit 31, an input unit 32, a print engine 33, a storage unit 35, and an interface (I / F) unit 36. .
The control unit 30 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, and other peripheral circuits, and centrally controls each unit of the printer 11. The control unit 30 includes a recording control unit 37, which will be described later. The display unit 31 includes a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel that displays various information such as the operation state of the printer 11 and LEDs, and displays various information on the display panel under the control of the control unit 30. Is turned on / off in a predetermined manner. The input unit 32 is connected to various operation switches provided in the printer 11, detects operations on the operation switches, and outputs them to the control unit 30 as operation signals.
In addition to the recording head 23 described above, the print engine 33 includes a transport mechanism for transporting the thermal roll paper R, a cutting mechanism for cutting the thermal roll paper R, and the like. The recording control unit 37 of the control unit 30 reads and executes the firmware, thereby controlling the recording head 23 and various motors while monitoring the detection values of various sensors based on the control command received from the host computer 10. Then, a predetermined image is recorded on the thermal roll paper R, and the thermal roll paper R is cut at a predetermined position. The function of the recording control unit 37 is realized by cooperation of hardware and software, such as a CPU reading and executing firmware.
The interface unit 36 performs communication based on the communication standard with the host computer 10 under the control of the control unit 30. The storage unit 35 includes a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM or a hard disk, and stores various data in a rewritable manner. Firmware for controlling the operation of the printer 11 is stored in the storage unit 35.

Next, the basic operation when the recording system 1 records an image on the thermal roll paper R, cuts and issues a paper piece will be described through the description of the application execution unit 20 and the printer driver execution unit 21.
The application execution unit 20 generates image information data including various types of information related to an image to be recorded on the receipt by executing an application installed in advance in the host computer 10 and outputs the image information data to the printer driver execution unit 21.
The printer driver execution unit 21 generates a control command corresponding to the command specification of the printer 11 based on the image information data input from the application execution unit 20 by executing a printer driver installed in the host computer 10 in advance. And output to the printer 11. The control command is a group of commands for causing the printer 11 to perform various operations such as image recording and cutting of the thermal roll paper R. A command for instructing image recording, a predetermined transport amount, A command for instructing conveyance of the thermal roll paper R, a command for instructing cutting of the thermal roll paper R, and the like are included. Control commands output from the host computer 10 to the printer 11 are sequentially stored in a reception buffer (not shown). The recording control unit 37 of the control unit 30 of the printer 11 sequentially reads and executes the control commands stored in the reception buffer, thereby controlling the print engine 33 to record an image on the thermal roll paper R, The thermal roll paper R is cut at a predetermined position.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams schematically illustrating a state in which the printer 11 is installed. FIG. 3A illustrates a state of the receipt printer RP provided in the register counter area RA, and FIG. 3B illustrates a state in which the printer 11 is provided in the kitchen area KA. It is a figure which shows typically the mode of the kitchen printer KP, respectively. In FIG. 3, the shape of the printer 11 is simplified for convenience of explanation.
As shown in each drawing of FIG. 3, the printer 11 includes a housing 11a and a discharge port 11b formed on one surface of the housing 11a for discharging the thermal roll paper R. Then, as shown in FIG. 3A, in the registration counter area RA, the receipt printer RP is installed such that the surface on which the discharge port 11b is formed is the upper surface. When a receipt is issued by the receipt printer RP, a predetermined image is recorded while the thermal roll paper R is conveyed in the conveyance direction Y indicated by an arrow in FIG. 3A, and the thermal roll paper R is cut at a predetermined position. Is done. On the receipt issued by the receipt printer RP, an image is recorded in the form shown in FIG.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3B, in the kitchen area KA, the printer 11 is placed on an installation stand provided on the wall in a state where the surface on which the discharge port 11b is formed becomes one side surface. The When the order slip is issued, a predetermined image is recorded while the thermal roll paper R is conveyed in the conveyance direction Y indicated by an arrow in FIG. 3B, and the thermal roll paper R is cut at a predetermined position. Is done.
The reason why the kitchen printer KP is installed in the state shown in FIG. 3B is as follows. That is, the kitchen printer KP issues an order slip in which information indicating the ordered food and drink is recorded as needed, but by installing the kitchen printer KP in the above state, a record in which an image of the thermal roll paper R is recorded. This is because the surface Ra faces upward and is exposed in a manner that is easy to see for those who cook food and drink, and the person in charge of cooking can quickly and easily grasp the contents recorded on the thermal roll paper R.

The order slip issued by the kitchen printer KP is required to be recorded in an inverted state from the normal state. Inverted means that the image is rotated 180 °. The reason is as follows.
FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an example of an order slip issued by the kitchen printer KP when the image is not inverted. In FIG. 4A, an arrow indicates a transport direction Y (a direction corresponding to the arrow in FIG. 3B).
When the image of the order slip is recorded in the form shown in FIG. 4A, the person in charge of the cooking of the printer 11 has the relationship with the kitchen printer KP provided in the state shown in FIG. When the thermal roll paper R discharged from the discharge port 11b is viewed, the entire image is visually recognized in an upside-down state as shown in FIG. In this case, it is difficult for the person in charge of the cooking to grasp the contents.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, in the case of recording an image on the thermal roll paper R in an inverted state from the state shown in FIG. When the thermal roll paper R discharged from the discharge port 11b of the printer 11 is viewed, the entire image is visually recognized in a normal state (a state in which the appearance is not upside down). The contents can be grasped quickly and easily.
Based on the above, in this embodiment, the kitchen printer KP performs the following operation and records the image on the thermal roll paper R in an inverted state. Hereinafter, recording on the thermal roll paper R in an inverted state is referred to as “inverted recording” as appropriate.

First, prior to the description of the inverted recording, the case where the host computer 10 and the printer 11 perform normal recording in cooperation with X in FIG. 4 and A in FIG. 4 will be described.
4 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a control command output from the host computer 10 to the printer 11 when issuing the order slip shown in FIG. 4A.
In the order slip shown in FIG. 4A, information (character string “2012/1/1”) indicating the date when the order slip was issued is recorded on the first line in a right size and in a normal size. Is done. The first line is an image that is developed in the image buffer based on one command group in the image to be inverted and recorded, and is first developed and recorded in the image buffer in each of a series of recorded images. The line corresponding to. In the next line, information (character string “No 53”) for identifying the order slip is recorded at the center and double the normal size. In the next line, information indicating one of the ordered foods and drinks (in this example, the character string “hamburger”) is recorded in the center and in a normal size. Similarly, in the next line (the last line), information indicating one of the ordered foods and drinks (in this example, the character string “potato”) is centered and recorded in a normal size. The The last line refers to an image that is developed in the image buffer based on one command group in the image to be inverted and recorded, and is finally developed and recorded in the image buffer in each of a series of recorded images. The line corresponding to.

On the other hand, in X of FIG. 4, the command group C1 is a control command group for instructing recording of the character string “2012/1/1” in the first line, and includes a character string decoration command MS1 and a character string recording instruction command MK1. It is comprised including.
The character string decoration command is a command for designating decoration to be applied to the character string when the character string is recorded. Decoration means performing some processing related to drawing on a character string to be recorded. For example, in addition to enlargement of a character string and movement of the position of the character string, for example, reduction, rotation, emphasis, bolding, Adding decoration characters or symbols corresponds to decoration. The character string decoration command MS1 included in the command group C1 specifies that right-justified decoration is applied to the character string.
The character string recording instruction command is a command for designating a character string and recording the designated character string. In the present embodiment, basically, the character string recording instruction command is configured by combining an instruction code and a character string formed by a combination of characters expressed by a predetermined character code (for example, ASCII code). ing. The character string recording instruction command MK1 included in the command group C1 is a command for instructing to record the character string “2012/1/1”. For example, “XXX“ 2012/1/1 ”” (however, XXX is an instruction code for instructing to record a character string, and a character string in double quotations is a character string composed of a combination of characters expressed in ASCII code.)
Similarly, the command group C2 includes a character string decoration command MS2 for designating a center-aligned decoration and a decoration having a size twice as large as the decoration to be applied to the character string, and the character string “No 53”. Includes a character string recording instruction command MK2. The command group C3 includes, as decorations to be applied to the character string, a character string decoration command MS3 for designating centered decoration and a character string recording instruction command MK3 for instructing recording of the character string “hamburger”. . The command group C4 includes, as decorations to be applied to the character string, a character string decoration command MS4 for designating centered decoration and a character string recording instruction command MK4 for instructing recording of the character string “potato”. .
A cut command CC is located at the end of the series of control commands. The cut command CC is a control command for instructing cutting of the thermal roll paper R. When the thermal roll paper R is cut based on the cut command CC, the issue of the order slip is completed.

The printer 11 that has received each control command indicated by X in FIG. 4 records the image indicated by A in FIG. 4 as follows.
First, when the received command group C <b> 1 is read, the recording control unit 37 of the control unit 30 of the printer 11 refers to the font table stored in the storage unit 35. The font table is a table that stores font data in a collective manner, and the font data is data that represents characters in a form that can be recorded on the thermal roll paper R. In the present embodiment, the font data includes bitmap font data, scalable font data, vector font data, outline font data, and the like. In the present embodiment, the “characters” recorded on the thermal roll paper R are not limited to the characters having the meaning used in the language, but on the thermal roll paper R based on the font data stored in the storage unit 35. It is a concept that indicates all “graphic figures (including spaces)” that can be recorded. In the character string recording instruction command, each character represented by the ASCII code has a corresponding relationship with any font data stored in the font table, and information indicating the corresponding relationship is stored in the storage unit 35 in advance. Yes.
Now, when recording the character string “2012/1/1” based on the command group C1, the recording control unit 37 refers to the font table based on the information indicating the correspondence between the ASCII code and the font data. Then, the font data of each character constituting the character string is acquired, the decoration (right-justified) specified by the character string decoration command MS1 is reflected, and an image buffer (not shown) is based on the acquired font data. The image data related to the character string is expanded. Next, the recording control unit 37 controls each mechanism of the print engine 33 based on the image data related to the character string developed in the image buffer so that the dots constituting the image related to the character string are formed on the thermal roll paper R. By forming the character string, the character string “2012/1/1” is recorded.
In the same manner, the recording control unit 37 records the character string “No 53” in the center and double the size based on the command group C2, and the character string “hamburger” based on the command groups C3 and C4. ”And the character string“ potato ”are recorded center-aligned.

Here, the concept of “row” in the present embodiment will be described.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the recording control unit 37 develops image data of an image in the image buffer based on a command group including a character string decoration command and a character string recording instruction command, An image is recorded, but a unit of a series of images developed and recorded in the image buffer based on one command group corresponds to “row”. For example, a character string “2012/1/1”, which is a series of images developed and recorded in the image buffer based on the command group C1, is an image belonging to one line.
Therefore, even an image consisting of a plurality of lines of character strings is an image belonging to one line as long as it is recorded based on a series of image data developed in the image buffer. For graphic images instead of character strings, one graphic image recorded based on a series of image data developed in the image buffer is an image belonging to one row.

Next, the operation of the printer 11 when executing inverted recording will be described by taking as an example the case where a control command similar to the control command indicated by X in FIG. 4 is received.
As described above, the inverted recording means that the entire image to be recorded is rotated by 180 ° and is recorded. Specifically, for an image originally recorded in the state of FIG. Say to record in the state.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer 11 when executing the inverted recording.
First, the recording control unit 37 of the control unit 30 of the printer 11 monitors whether or not a control command instructing issuance of an order slip is received from the host computer 10 (step SA1). In the following description, it is assumed that the control command indicated by X in FIG. 4 is received, and the received control commands are sequentially stored in a reception buffer (not shown).
As will be apparent from the following description, in this embodiment, the contents of the control command output from the host computer 10 to the printer 11 are completely the same when the inverted recording is executed and when it is not executed. That is, in order to execute the inverted recording, it is not necessary to make any modification to the host computer 10, for example, to modify the application or the program for the printer driver, to change various settings, etc., which is highly convenient for the user.
When a control command is received in step SA1 (step SA1: YES), the recording control unit 37 determines whether or not the setting for performing inverted recording is performed (step SA2). In the present embodiment, the dip switch provided on the control board of the printer 11 can switch whether to perform the inverted recording, and the recording control unit 37 is a predetermined CPU of the dip switch. Based on the input to the port, it is determined whether to perform the inverted recording. In this way, since it is possible to switch whether to perform the inverted recording by the dip switch, the printer 11 used as the receipt printer RP can be used as the kitchen printer KP by switching the dip switch. The reverse is also possible. In particular, since it is possible to switch whether or not to perform the inverted recording by a simple and reliable operation of switching the dip switch, even a person who is not familiar with the specifications and operation method of the printer 11 can perform the switching. Depending on the installation location, the inverted recording can be easily performed or not performed. Of course, it may be possible to switch whether or not to perform the inverted recording by means other than the dip switch. For example, the switching is performed according to an explicit instruction by a control command of the host computer 10. You may make it do.
If it is not set to perform inverted printing (step SA2: NO), the recording control unit 37 executes normal image recording by the above-described method described with reference to X in FIG. 4 and A in FIG. (Step SA3), and the process ends.
On the other hand, when it is set to perform inverted printing (step SA3: YES), the recording control unit 37 executes inverted recording (step SA4).

FIG. 6 is a diagram used for detailed description of the inverted recording performed in step SA4.
FIG. 6A shows the content of the control command (the same control command as X in FIG. 4) received in step SA1.
First, the recording control unit 37 reads the command group C1, generates image data to be developed in the image buffer based on the command group C1, and temporarily stores it in a predetermined storage area (for example, a work area formed in the RAM). Remember me. The image data generated here is data indicating an image indicating the character string “2012/1/1”, and reflects the decoration designated by the character string decoration command MS1 included in the command group C1.
Next, the recording control unit 37 generates data (hereinafter referred to as “inverted image data”) obtained by rotating (inverting) the generated image data by 180 ° using an existing image processing algorithm. B1 in FIG. 6 schematically shows the inverted image data generated in this way. As shown in B <b> 1, the inverted image data is in a state where the character string “2012/1/1” is rotated 180 ° with a right-justified decoration.
After generating the inverted image data relating to the character string “2012/1/1”, the recording control unit 37 relates to the character string “NO53” by the same means based on the command groups C2, C3, and C4. Inverted image data (see B2 in FIG. 6), inverted image data (see B3 in FIG. 6) related to the character string “hamburger”, and inverted image data (see B4 in FIG. 6) related to the character string “potato” Generate. Each of the inverted image data reflects a decoration to be applied to each character string.
While sequentially reading out the control commands, the recording control unit 37 monitors whether or not a cut command CC instructing cutting of the thermal roll paper R has been read out. As described above, the cut command CC corresponds to the last control command in a series of control commands instructing recording of the order slip. When the read control command is the cut command CC, the recording control unit 37 records images based on the inverted image data of each row in order from the last row to the first row. That the read control command is the cut command CC means that reading of all command groups instructing image recording has been completed and generation of all inverted image data to be generated has been completed.

More specifically, first, the recording control unit 37 develops the inverted image data (B4 in FIG. 6) related to the character string “potato” corresponding to the last line in the image buffer, and records the image. The image recorded here is an image obtained by inverting the character string “potato” (rotating 180 °) and reflecting the center-aligned decoration that should be applied to the character string “potato”. is there.
Similarly, the recording control unit 37 determines the character string “hamburger”, the character string “No 53”, and the character string “2012/1/1” corresponding to the first line based on the corresponding inverted image data. Record an image.
C of FIG. 6 schematically shows a state in which images are recorded based on the inverted image data of each row in order from the last row to the first row. As is apparent from a comparison between C in FIG. 6 and B in FIG. 4, the image based on the inverted image data of each row is recorded in order from the last row to the first row. An image (image shown in FIG. 4B) that is the entire image (image shown in FIG. 4A) that was to be recorded is inverted (rotated by 180 °) is recorded on the thermal roll paper R. .
As described above, in this embodiment, the recording control unit 37 generates inverted image data based on a command group each time a command group (control command) instructing image recording is read, and instructs image recording. By executing the process of recording the generated inverted image data from the last line to the first line at the stage where all the reading of the command group is completed and the generation of all corresponding inverted image data is completed, Realize an inverted image. For this reason, in the case of inverted recording, after all the control commands have been received, after analyzing all the control commands, a very simple method compared to the conventional case where recording was performed in a predetermined manner Inverting of the image to be recorded can be realized.

  Now, after performing the inverted recording, the recording control unit 37 controls the print engine 33 based on the cut command CC to cut the thermal roll paper R (step SA5). Thus, the issue of the order slip is completed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the recording control unit 37 receives the command groups C1 to C4 (control commands) instructing image recording for each row from the host computer 10, and receives the received command groups. For each line, generating inverted image data that is an image data indicating an image to be recorded inverted, in order from the last line to the first line, based on the inverted image data of each line, Inverted recording is executed by recording on the thermal roll paper R an image obtained by inverting the image to be recorded in each row.
According to this configuration, the recording control unit 37 generates inverted image data based on the control command every time a control command instructing image recording is received, and the generated inverted image data is processed from the last line to the first line. The image to be recorded is inverted by the process of recording toward the image. For this reason, for example, after all the control commands have been received, all the control commands are analyzed, and compared to the case where the inverted recording is executed, the image to be recorded is inverted by a very simple method. realizable.

In the present embodiment, when generating the inverted image data of one image, when the decoration is instructed for the one image, the recording control unit 37 reflects the decoration and generates the inverted image data. .
According to this configuration, since the inverted image data is generated for each image in each row after the instructed modification is performed, the decoration according to the instruction is applied to the image recorded based on each inverted image data. It can be in a properly applied state.

In addition, the printer 11 according to the present embodiment is configured to be able to switch whether to perform inverted recording.
According to this configuration, it is possible to switch whether or not to perform the inverted recording depending on the installation location (usage mode) of the printer 11, and it is easy to use.

Next, another embodiment will be described.
The printer 11 according to this another embodiment is configured to be able to execute inverted recording on an image of a row belonging to a predetermined range among a plurality of rows.
FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating an example of a control command that the host computer 10 outputs to the printer 11 when performing inverted recording for some rows. B of FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the content of an image recorded on the thermal roll paper R based on A of FIG.
4 differs from A in FIG. 7 in that an inverted start command Q1 exists between the command group C2 and the command group C3, and an inverted end command Q2 exists after the command group C4. .
When the control command shown in FIG. 7A is received, the recording control unit 37 of the control unit 30 of the printer 11 records the corresponding character string based on the command group C1 and the command group C2.
Then, when the inverted start command Q1 is read, the recording control unit 37 subsequently performs inverted recording until the inverted end command Q2 is read. That is, after reading the inversion start command Q1, the recording control unit 37 reads the command group C3 (corresponding to a control command for instructing recording of an image corresponding to the first row), and the corresponding inversion is performed based on the command group C3. When image data is generated and then a command group C4 (corresponding to a control command instructing recording of an image corresponding to the last row) is read, corresponding inverted image data is generated based on the command group C4. Next, the recording control unit 37 records an image (an image obtained by inverting the image in the last row) based on the inverted image data related to the command group C4, triggered by reading the inverted end command Q2, and further, the command Corresponding to the command group C3 and the command group C4 sandwiched between the inverted start command Q1 and the inverted end command Q2 by recording an image (an image obtained by inverting the image of the first row) based on the inverted image data related to the group C3. Inverted recording is executed for each row image.

As described above, the recording control unit 37 according to another embodiment performs inverted recording on an image of a row belonging to a predetermined range among a plurality of rows.
Here, in a recording apparatus that records an image for each row, there may be a need to invert and record only an image related to a row belonging to a predetermined range, not all rows, According to the said structure, it can respond to the said needs appropriately.

The above-described embodiment is merely an aspect of the present invention, and can be arbitrarily modified and applied within the scope of the present invention.
For example, the printer 11 is a thermal recording apparatus, but the recording method is not limited to this, and may be anything such as an ink jet type or a dot impact type. That is, the present invention can be widely applied to recording apparatuses that record an image for each row. Further, for example, each functional block shown in FIG. 2 can be arbitrarily realized by cooperation of hardware and software, and does not suggest a specific hardware configuration. Further, the function of each functional block of the printer 11 may be provided in another device externally connected to the printer 11. Further, the printer 11 may execute various operations including the operation according to the flowchart of FIG. 5 by executing a program stored in an externally connected storage medium.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Recording system, 10 ... Host computer (control apparatus), 11 ... Printer (recording apparatus), 30 ... Control part, 37 ... Recording control part, 60 ... Recording control part.

Claims (6)

A recording device connectable to a control device,
From the control device, for each row, a control command for instructing image recording is received,
Based on the received control command, for each row, generate inverted image data that is image data indicating an inverted image to be recorded,
A recording control unit that executes inverted recording in which an image in which an image to be recorded in each row is inverted is recorded on a recording medium based on the inverted image data in each row in order from the last row to the first row. A recording apparatus. The recording control unit
2. The inverted image data according to claim 1, wherein when the inverted image data of one image is generated, if decoration is instructed for the one image, the inverted image data is generated by reflecting the decoration. Recording device. The recording control unit
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inverted recording is executed for an image of a row belonging to a predetermined range among a plurality of rows.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus is configured to be able to switch whether to perform the inverted recording. A method for controlling a recording device connectable to a control device, comprising:
From the control device, for each row, a control command for instructing image recording is received,
Based on the received control command, for each row, generate inverted image data that is image data indicating an inverted image to be recorded,
Inverted recording is performed in which an inverted image of an image to be recorded in each row is recorded on a recording medium based on the inverted image data in each row in order from the last row to the first row. Control method of recording apparatus. A program executed by a control unit that controls a recording device connectable to the control device,
The control unit
From the control device, for each row, a control command for instructing image recording is received,
Based on the received control command, for each row, generate inverted image data that is image data indicating an inverted image to be recorded,
Function as a recording control unit that executes inverted recording in which an image in which an image to be recorded in each row is inverted is recorded on a recording medium based on the inverted image data in each row in order from the last row to the first row A program characterized by letting

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