JP2015212034A - Label issuing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a label issuing device capable of issuing a label on which a table with an optimal frame width is printed according to printing items and their contents.SOLUTION: A label issuing device 1 for issuing a label on which printing items on a product are printed in a tabular format includes: a storage part (RAM, ROM, etc.) for storing content data of the printing items, and a label format indicating at least an arrangement of the printing items; table creation means 204 for arranging the printing items and the content data in a predetermined position in the frame of a table on the basis of the label format, and creating the table; and width adjustment means 203 for removing a blank portion in the frame of the table and reducing the vertical width or the horizontal width of the frame of the table on the basis of the data amount of the printing items and the content data.

Description

  The present invention relates to a label issuing device.

A label printer that issues a label is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
There is also known a label printer that prints print items relating to products on a label in a tabular format. In this label printer, for example, print items and their contents are arranged in a table frame according to a pre-defined label format.

JP 2014-8647 A

However, a label printer that prints the above-mentioned print items on a label in a table format creates a table according to the horizontal and vertical widths of the frame defined by the label format. For example, when the amount of content data related to the print items is small In some cases, useless blanks may occur in the table frame.
If a label is issued in a state where a blank portion exists in the table frame, the label may be issued longer than necessary.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and provides a label issuing device capable of issuing a label printed with a table of optimum frame widths according to print items and contents thereof, For the purpose.

In order to achieve such an object, a label issuing apparatus according to the present invention comprises at least the following components.
A label issuing device that issues a label in which print items related to products are printed in a tabular format,
A storage unit that stores content data of the print items, and at least a label format indicating the print item arrangement;
Table generating means for generating a table by arranging the print item and the content data at a predetermined position within a table frame based on the label format;
Width adjusting means for reducing the vertical or horizontal width of the table frame by deleting blank portions in the table frame based on the data amount of the print item and the content data.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the label issuing apparatus which can issue the label which printed the table | surface of the optimal frame width according to the printing item and its content can be provided.

The perspective view which shows an example of the label issuing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows an example of a label issuing apparatus, (a) is an electrical functional block diagram which shows an example of a label issuing apparatus, (b) is a functional block diagram of a control part. The flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the label issuing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the setting screen of a label issuing apparatus. The figure which shows an example of a setting screen. The figure which shows an example of the setting screen which displayed the label format. The figure which shows an example of the label image which shows a printing item and the content in a table form (when there is a blank part). The figure which shows an example of the label image which shows a printing item and contents in a table form (when a blank part is deleted). The figure which shows the other example of the label image which shows a printing item and the content in a table form (when a blank part is deleted). The figure which shows an example of the label image of multilingual notation, such as Japanese, English, and French.

A label issuing device according to an embodiment of the present invention issues a variable-length label in which print items related to products are printed in a tabular format. The label issuing device includes a storage unit that stores a print item, content data of the print item, and a label format indicating an arrangement of the print item and the content data, and a predetermined frame within a table frame based on the label format. Table generating means for generating a table by arranging the print items and the content data at positions; and deleting the blank portion in the table frame based on the data amount of the print items and the content data. Width adjusting means for reducing the vertical or horizontal width of the frame.
Hereinafter, a label issuing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a label issuing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The label issuing device 1 includes a printing mechanism unit 3 in a main body unit 1a. The printing mechanism unit 3 issues a label. The main body 1a can accommodate, for example, a label roll. For example, a sheet-like label having a printing surface on the front surface and an adhesive surface on the back surface of the label is generated by pulling out the label paper from the label roll and cutting the label paper with a cutting means such as a cutter. The label issuing device 1 may be in a mode that does not include cutting means.

A display input unit 5 is provided in the upper part of the main body 1 a of the label issuing device 1. The display input unit 5 includes a display unit 9b such as a liquid crystal display, a touch panel 9a, and an operation unit 7 (key operation unit) such as a keyboard.
In the present embodiment, the casing 5a of the display unit 9b is provided on the casing 7a of the operation unit 7 so as to be freely tilted.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the label issuing device 1. FIG. 2A is an electrical functional block diagram showing an example of the label issuing device 1. FIG. 2B is a functional block diagram of the control unit.

  In detail, the label issuing apparatus 1 has the control apparatus 100 in the main-body part 1a. The control device 100 comprehensively controls the printing mechanism unit 3, the display input unit 5, and the like.

  The control device 100 includes a control unit 20 (CPU) that is a control unit, a printing / conveyance control unit 22, a display control unit 25, an operation control unit 24, a RAM 30, a ROM 40, and the like. Each component of the control device 100 is electrically connected by a communication line such as a bus.

  The control unit 20 comprehensively controls each component of the control device 100. Specifically, the control unit 20 executes the control program stored in the storage unit such as the RAM 30 or the ROM 40, thereby causing the label issuing device 1 as a computer to realize the function according to the present invention.

  The RAM 30 and the ROM 40 as storage units store control programs, product data, various parameters, and the like. Specifically, the storage unit such as the RAM 30 or the ROM 40 stores print items related to products, content data of the print items, a label format indicating the arrangement of the print items and the content data, and the like.

  The display control unit 25 causes the display unit 9 b of the display input unit 5 to display an image related to the label issuing device 1 under the control of the control unit 20.

  The operation control unit 24 receives a signal from an input device such as the operation unit 7 (key operation unit) of the display input unit 5 or the touch panel 9 a and outputs the signal to the control means 20. The control means 20 performs each operation | movement which concerns on this invention based on the input from an input device.

  The printing / conveying control unit 22 is electrically connected to the printing mechanism unit 3 and causes the printing mechanism unit 3 to issue a label based on the control of the control unit 20.

The printing mechanism unit 3 includes a feeding unit 31, a printing unit 32, a peeling unit 33, a cutting unit 34, and the like.
The feeding means 31 includes a platen roller and a paper discharge roller that are rotationally driven by a motor, and feeds the label paper from the label roll at a set feeding speed.

  The printing unit 32 includes a print head provided on the downstream side (downstream side in the label issuing direction) of the feeding unit 31 and performs printing by the print head under the control of the control unit 20. Specifically, the printing unit 32 performs printing on a label (label paper) by the print head.

  The peeling means 33 is provided as necessary when a label sheet having a label temporarily attached to the mount is used. The peeling means 33 peels the label of the label paper fed out by the feeding means 31 from the mount. Specifically, the peeling unit 33 includes a dispenser provided on the downstream side of the printing unit 32, and peels the label from the mount using the dispenser. Note that the label issuing device 1 may not be provided with the peeling means 33 as long as it is an issuing form in which the label is not peeled from the mount by the peeling means 33.

  The cutting unit 34 has a cutter or the like disposed on the downstream side of the printing unit 32, and cuts the label paper as necessary under the control of the control unit 20. In addition, the structure which does not provide the cutting means 34 in the label issuing apparatus 1 may be sufficient.

Next, the function of the control means 20 will be described in detail.
The control unit 20 includes, for example, an instruction unit 201, a setting unit 202, a width adjustment unit 203, a table generation unit 204, and the like by executing a control program.

  The instruction unit 201 instructs whether or not to perform processing related to table creation based on a signal from an input device such as the operation unit 7 (key operation unit) or the touch panel 9a.

The setting means 202 sets the horizontal width and vertical width of each frame of the table based on signals from input devices such as the operation unit 7 (key operation unit) and the touch panel 9a.
The setting unit 202 performs settings related to the print item, the content data of the print item, the arrangement of the print item and the content data, and the like based on a signal from an input device such as the operation unit 7 (key operation unit) or the touch panel 9a. .
In addition, the setting unit 202 sets whether or not to reduce the vertical width or the horizontal width by the width adjusting unit 203 for each print item.

  The width adjusting unit 203 deletes the blank portion in the table frame and reduces the vertical or horizontal width of the table frame based on the print item and the data amount of the content data.

  Based on the label format, the table generation unit 204 generates a table by arranging print items and content data at predetermined positions within the table frame. In addition, the table generated by the table generating unit 204 is appropriately adjusted in vertical or horizontal width of the table frame by the width adjusting unit 203 as necessary.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the label issuing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
In step ST1, the control means 20 determines whether there is a table generation instruction based on a signal from an input device such as the operation unit 7 (key operation unit) or the touch panel 9a, and there is a table generation instruction. In this case, the process proceeds to step ST3. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step ST2.

  In step ST2, the control means 20 performs a normal label generation process. Specifically, the control unit 20 controls the printing mechanism unit 3. Specifically, the control unit 20 feeds the label sheet from the label roll by the feeding unit 31, and prints the label (label sheet) by the print head of the printing unit 32. Then, a label is issued, and the processing related to label is completed.

  In step ST3, the control means 20 sets a print item (item name), contents, and the like based on a signal from an input device such as the operation unit 7 (key operation unit) or the touch panel 9a. The control unit 20 stores the set print item (item name), content data, and the like in the storage unit.

  In step ST4, the control means 20 determines whether or not to adjust the width of the table frame based on a signal from an input device such as the operation unit 7 (key operation unit) or the touch panel 9a. If it is determined that the width adjustment is to be performed, the process proceeds to step ST5. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step ST6.

  In step ST5, the control means 20 performs width adjustment. More specifically, the width adjusting unit 203 performs processing for deleting the blank portion in the table frame and reducing the vertical or horizontal width of the table frame based on the print item and the data amount of the content data.

In step ST6, the control means 20 produces | generates a table | surface based on the processing result of said step ST3, step ST4, step ST5.
Then, the control means 20 controls the printing mechanism section 3 based on the above table. Specifically, the control means 20 feeds the label sheet from the label roll by the feeding means 31 at the set feeding speed, and the print head of the printing means 32. To print on the label (label paper). At this time, the control means 20 issues a variable-length label by adjusting the length of the label in the transport direction based on the table size (vertical size or horizontal size) generated as described above.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the setting screen of the label issuing device.
When performing the process related to the label setting process, the control unit of the label issuing apparatus displays a setting screen on the display unit as shown in FIG. 4, for example.
On the setting screen, for each product name, label angle setting, horizontal writing or vertical writing setting, character spacing setting, line spacing setting, variable length printing enabled / disabled setting, table setting enabled / disabled Various areas such as settings, settings related to line feed removal printing, and settings related to line feed start line are provided.
When the table composition is set to be effective by operating the table composition button 91, the control means displays a setting screen on the display unit and performs processing related to table creation.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen related to table creation.
When a product name, unit, or the like is input on the setting screen and the table assembly icon 92 is operated, a table image is displayed on the label image.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen that displays a label format (a layout of price labels).
The label format relating to the table has a plurality of frames, and the horizontal width and vertical width of each frame can be freely set.
The label format indicates the layout of print items and content data.
In the example shown in FIG. 6, the product name, raw material, content, expiration date, precautions for use, manufacturer, etc. are set as print items in each frame on the left. The display position of the content data related to is set.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a label image showing print items and contents in a table format (when there is a blank portion). Specifically, FIG. 7 shows an example of a table generated by arranging print items and content data at predetermined positions in the table frame based on the label format.
In the example shown in FIG. 7, the content data of the print item is simply arranged and described. When the amount of content data related to print items is relatively small, there may be many blank portions in the frame.
The control means performs processing for deleting the white part of the blank part in the frame and reducing the vertical or horizontal width of the table frame.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a label image indicating print items and contents in a table format (when blank portions are deleted).
The example shown in FIG. 8 shows the result of deleting the blank portion in each frame of the table and reducing the vertical or horizontal width of the table frame based on the print item and the data amount of the content data. Blank parts are deleted, and a table with a small vertical or horizontal width is generated.

  The print items to be displayed in the table can be set to display or non-display as needed. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another example of a label image indicating print items and contents in a tabular format (when blank portions are deleted).

In the example shown in FIG. 9, the internal capacity and its content data are set to be non-displayed as compared with FIG. When the designated print item is set to non-display, the control means deletes the frame in which the designated print item and content data are arranged, and performs processing to reduce the vertical width of the entire table.
By doing so, it is possible to automatically create a table of optimum vertical width and horizontal width according to the designated print item and content data without performing complicated operations.

As described above, the label issuing device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention issues a label in which print items related to products are printed in a table format. The label issuing device 1 can issue variable-length labels and fixed-length labels. When the label issuing device 1 issues a variable-length label, it is preferable that only the issuing direction be variable length. Further, when the label issuing device 1 issues a variable length label, it is preferable to employ a label without a mount.
The label issuing device 1 can be applied even in a mode in which the mount is not peeled (running mode) when issuing a label with a mount.
The label issuing device 1 includes a storage unit (such as a RAM 30 and a ROM 40) that stores a print item, content data of the print item, and a label format indicating an arrangement of the print item and the content data, and a table based on the label format. Table generation means 204 for generating a table by arranging print items and content data at predetermined positions in the frame, and deleting blank portions in the table frame based on the data amount of the print items and content data. Width adjusting means 203 for reducing the vertical or horizontal width of the frame.
By doing so, it is possible to provide a label issuing device 1 that can issue a label on which a table with an optimum frame width is printed according to the print item and its contents.
Also, depending on the item name and content data amount, for example, if the content data amount is relatively small, a label with a relatively short length in the vertical direction (print conveyance direction (print issue direction)) is issued. can do.
By doing so, the blank portion is not wasted and the amount of label used can be reduced.
Also, for normal printing (not variable-length label issuance), the horizontal and vertical widths of the labels are fixed, and the vertical and horizontal widths of the entire table can be reduced, but there is no effect in reducing the amount of label usage. In the case of variable-length label issuance, the amount of label usage in the label issuance direction can be reduced by the function of reducing the vertical width of the width adjusting unit 203.
In addition, by setting (specifying) the printing direction to 90 degrees or 90 degrees in the reverse direction with respect to the label conveyance direction, the horizontal width of the table (in this case, the width in the same direction as the selected conveyance direction) can be reduced. The amount of label used can be reduced.

  Further, in the label issuing device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the setting unit sets whether or not to reduce the vertical width or the horizontal width by the width adjusting unit 203 for each print item. Specifically, whether to perform variable length printing is set for each print item. By doing so, it is possible to select between fixed length printing and variable length printing as required. Also, a good-looking label can be easily created.

  In the above embodiment, the control device of the label issuing device includes the storage unit, the table generation unit, the width adjustment unit, the setting unit, and the like, but is not limited to this mode. For example, the aspect which implement | achieves the function based on this invention in the computer may be sufficient when a computer (PC) provided outside the label issuing apparatus executes a program.

As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and there are design changes and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention. Is included in the present invention.
Further, the embodiments described in the above drawings can be combined with each other as long as there is no particular contradiction or problem in the purpose and configuration.
Moreover, the description content of each figure can become independent embodiment, respectively, and embodiment of this invention is not limited to one embodiment which combined each figure.

  In the above-described embodiment, the table printed on the label has two columns, but the table may have three or more columns. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, a multi-column notation such as Japanese, English, French, etc. may be used in a three-column table. As shown in FIG. 10, in the case of horizontal writing, the width adjusting unit adjusts the vertical width of each row of the table based on the largest vertical width (vertical width corresponding to the number of rows) among the plurality of frames in each row. . For example, in the case of FIG. 10, in the first line of the table, the data indicating the print item is in a mixed state of one line or two lines, and in the second line of the table, the data indicating the print item is two lines or three. A mixed state that is a row.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Label issuing apparatus 3 Printing mechanism part 5 Display input part 7 Operation part 9a Touch panel 9b Display part 20 Control means 30 RAM (memory | storage part)
40 ROM (storage unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Control apparatus 201 Instruction means 202 Setting means 203 Width adjustment means 204 Table generation means

Claims (3)

A label issuing device that issues a label in which print items related to products are printed in a tabular format,
A storage unit that stores content data of the print items, and at least a label format indicating an arrangement of the print items;
Table generating means for generating a table by arranging the print item and the content data at a predetermined position within a table frame based on the label format;
Width adjustment means for reducing a vertical width or a horizontal width of the frame of the table by deleting a blank portion in the frame of the table based on the data amount of the print item and the content data Issuing device.   The label issuing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit that sets whether to reduce the vertical width or the horizontal width by the width adjusting unit for each print item.   The label issuing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the label is a variable-length label.

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