JP2017007247A - Printing device, printing method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique capable of easily directing a printing medium to a predetermined direction even when a printer is held by any hand in the printer which can perform printing in the state of being held by one hand.SOLUTION: A handy label printer 100 is a printer which can be held by one hand, and comprises: a thermal head being printing means for performing printing to a label L being a printing medium; and a control part controlling the thermal head. The control part controls the thermal head so as to perform printing to the label L by making the direction of the printing contents different in accordance with the hand holding the handy label printer 100.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that can be held with one hand, a printing method thereof, and a program.

  Conventionally, a handy type label printer is known. Such a label printer (hereinafter referred to as a handy label printer) is described in Patent Document 1, for example. Since handy label printers are configured to be held with one hand, the other hand that does not hold the handy label printer usually grabs and receives printed labels ejected from the handy label printer. is there.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-156028

  The hand holding the handy label printer varies depending on the user's device usage status and dominant hand. For example, even if a right-handed (or left-handed) person normally holds the handy label printer with his right hand (or left hand), the handy label printer with his left hand (or right hand) may be used for reasons such as device usage restrictions. It is thought that it may hold.

  By the way, in the conventional handy label printer, the direction of printing on the output label is constant, and as a result, it is not possible to print on the label in the direction according to the user's device usage status and dominant hand. It was. For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, the handy label printer 1 is arranged so that the upper side of the print contents (characters, symbols, etc.) is arranged on the right side of the device and the print contents are output in order from the head. Next, a case where printing is performed on the label 2 and the printed label 2 is output in a state where the printing surface faces the front will be described as an example. In this example, as shown in FIG. 9 (c), when the handy label printer 1 is held with the right hand and the label 2 is gripped with the left hand, the label 2 is oriented relatively easily in a predetermined application direction. Can do. Here, the predetermined pasting direction may be any direction, but for example, an orientation in which the upper side of the print content is arranged on the upper side of the pasting target area (for example, pasting on a vertical wall) , Vertically upward). On the other hand, when the handy label printer 1 is held with the left hand and the label 2 is held with the right hand as shown in FIG. 9B, if the output label 2 has the same position, the print contents are turned upside down. Therefore, it is difficult to direct the label 2 in the same predetermined application direction with only one hand.

  In light of the above circumstances, the present invention can facilitate directing a print medium in a predetermined orientation in a printing apparatus capable of printing while being held with one hand, regardless of which hand holds the printing apparatus. The purpose is to provide technology.

  One aspect of the present invention is a printing apparatus that can be held with one hand, and a printing unit that performs printing on a printing medium and a printing content that varies depending on a handle that holds the printing apparatus. There is provided a printing apparatus comprising: control means for controlling the printing means so as to perform printing on a print medium.

  The handy-type printing apparatus may further include an acquisition unit that acquires information for specifying the handle, and the control unit specifies the handle based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit. Then, the printing unit may be controlled so that the print content is printed on the print medium in a direction according to the specific result. In that case, the acquisition means includes first acquisition means for acquiring information for specifying a holding mode, which is a mode in which the printing apparatus is held, and information for specifying whether the printing apparatus is held. You may provide the 2nd acquisition means to acquire. The second acquisition unit may include an acceleration sensor or an angular velocity sensor. The first acquisition means includes a right hand holding information acquisition means for acquiring information for specifying that the handle is a right hand, and a left hand holding for acquiring information for specifying that the handle is a left hand. You may have only one of the information acquisition means. Then, the control means specifies that the handle is the right hand based on the information acquired by the first acquisition means when the first acquisition means has only the right hand holding information acquisition means. If the first acquisition means has only the left-hand holding information acquisition means, based on the information acquired by the first acquisition means, specify that the handle is a left hand Also good.

  The handy-type printing apparatus may further include a print instruction receiving unit that receives a print instruction from a user. In addition, the control means is configured to maintain a constant value regardless of whether the handle is a right hand or a left hand when the vertical direction of the printed content printed on the print medium is parallel to the transport direction of the print medium. The printing unit may be controlled such that printing on the print medium is performed in a direction, and when the vertical direction of the printed content and the transport direction of the print medium are not parallel, the handle is held with the right hand. The printing unit may be controlled so that printing on the print medium is performed in a different direction depending on whether it is left hand or left hand.

  The handy-type printing apparatus may further include a storage unit that stores print data. In this case, the control unit sequentially divides the print data into a plurality of transfer data in a predetermined unit. In addition, the transmission order of the plurality of transfer data when transmitting from the storage unit to the printing unit may be changed according to the handle. Further, the control unit may change the arrangement of data in the transfer data transmitted from the storage unit to the printing unit according to the handle.

  The handy-type printing apparatus may further include display means for displaying the contents to be printed. In this case, when the surface with the display means is the front face of the printing apparatus, the acquisition means You may locate in at least one of the left side surface or right side surface of a printing apparatus.

  Another aspect of the present invention is a printing method for a printing apparatus that includes a printing unit that performs printing on a printing medium and can be held with one hand, and the handle holding the printing apparatus is a right hand or a left hand. Provided is a printing method for controlling the printing means so that printing on the print medium is performed in different orientations depending on whether or not there is.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer of a printing apparatus that includes a printing unit that performs printing on a print medium and can be held with one hand, and whether a handle holding the printing apparatus is a right hand or a left hand According to the present invention, there is provided a program for functioning as a control means for controlling the printing means so that printing on the printing medium is performed in different orientations.

  According to the present invention, in a printing apparatus capable of printing in a state of being held with one hand, it is possible to provide a technique capable of easily directing the print medium in a predetermined direction when the printing apparatus is held with either hand. it can.

1 is a front perspective view of a handy label printer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a rear perspective view of the handy label printer 100. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a printer unit 180. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a handy label printer 100. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the effect | action of the handy label printer. 4 is a flowchart of a printing process performed by the handy label printer 100. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating print data in a printer buffer. It is a front perspective view of the handy label printer 200 which concerns on another embodiment of this invention. It is a front perspective view of the handy label printer 1 according to the prior art.

  1 and 2 are perspective views of the handy label printer 100 according to the present embodiment, FIG. 1 is a front perspective view, and FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the printer unit 180 included in the handy label printer 100. The handy label printer 100 is a handy type printing apparatus that can print while being held with one hand, and is a printer that uses a label as a print medium and prints on the label. The method of the label printer is not particularly limited. For example, a thermal method using thermal paper or a thermal transfer method using an ink ribbon may be used. Further, the printed label discharged by the handy label printer 100 may be a label with a release paper in which a release paper is pasted on an adhesive layer on one side, or a label without a release paper. Good.

  The handy label printer 100 includes a display unit 110 and a key input unit 120 on the front surface of the housing. The display unit 110 is a display unit that displays the content to be printed, and is, for example, a liquid crystal display. The contents to be printed are input by key input using the key input unit 120, for example. Various keys (power key, character key, cross key, conversion key, print key, etc.) are arranged in the key input unit 120. The print key is a key for the user to instruct the handy label printer 100 to print, and the key input unit 120 including the print key functions as a print instruction receiving unit that receives a print instruction from the user. In the present specification, the front surface of the housing (printing apparatus) refers to the surface on which the display unit 110 is provided. Also, the top, bottom, left, and right are defined based on the state in which characters and the like are displayed on the display unit 110 in the correct orientation.

  The handy label printer 100 includes switches (switch 131 and switch 132) on the left and right side surfaces of the housing. Both switches constitute a sensor unit 130 that is an acquisition unit that acquires information for specifying the handle, more specifically, information for specifying whether the handle is the right hand or the left hand. That is, the sensor unit 130 is located on at least one of the left side surface and the right side surface of the handy label printer 100. Details of the sensor unit 130 will be described later. A switch (left hand holding information acquisition means) 131 disposed on the right side is a position where a finger is applied and force is applied when the handy label printer 100 is held with the left hand with the display unit 110 facing the user. Is formed. Similarly, the switch (right hand holding information acquisition means) 132 provided on the left side is applied with a finger when the handheld label printer 100 is held with the right hand while the display unit 110 is directed toward the user. It is formed at the position where. That is, the switch 131 is formed so as to be naturally turned on when the handle is the left hand, and the switch 132 is formed so as to be naturally turned on when the handle is the right hand.

  The handy label printer 100 includes a discharge unit 140 that is a discharge unit that discharges a printed label on the upper side surface of the housing. In the handy label printer 100, when a user instructs printing using the key input unit 120, the printed label from the discharge unit 140 is in a state where the printing surface faces the front, that is, the printing surface is approximately the front. It is discharged in a parallel state.

  The handy label printer 100 includes a printer unit 180 inside the housing. As shown in FIG. 3, the printer unit 180 is provided with a thermal head 160 and a transport roller 170, and stores a long label L wound up in a roll shape. The thermal head 160 is a printing unit that performs printing on a label L that is a printing medium. The conveyance roller 170 is a driving roller that is driven by a conveyance motor 171 (see FIG. 4) (not shown), and is a conveyance unit that conveys the label L toward the discharge unit 140. The label L is transported toward the discharge unit 140 by the transport roller 170, printed by the thermal head 160 disposed in the middle of the transport path, and then discharged from the handy label printer 100.

  The printer unit 180 may be provided with a cutter that cuts the label L. The cutter may cut the entire label L or may cut a part of the label L (for example, a seal layer). Cutting of the entire label L or a part of the layers is performed at a place where the printed content is separated.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the handy label printer 100. The handy label printer 100 includes a display unit 110, a key input unit 120, a sensor unit 130, a thermal head 160, a transport roller 170, a transport motor 171 that drives the transport roller 170, and a control that controls the operation of the handy label printer 100. A device 150 (computer) is provided.

  The sensor unit 130 includes a sensor 133 including an acceleration sensor or an angular velocity sensor in addition to the switches (switch 131 and switch 132) described above. The switch 131 and the switch 132 are means (first acquisition means) for acquiring information for specifying the mode (hereinafter referred to as the holding mode) in which the handy label printer 100 is held, whereas the sensor 133 is a handy device. It is means (second acquisition means) for acquiring information for specifying whether or not the label printer 100 is held. In addition to the information that specifies how the sensor unit 130 is held (for example, the mode held by the right hand or the mode held by the left hand), the control unit 150 outputs information specifying whether or not the sensor unit 130 is held. As a result, the control device 150 can specify the handle with higher accuracy. Note that the sensor 133 is not limited to use for the purpose of specifying whether or not the sensor 133 is held, and may be used to specify the holding mode, similarly to the switches 131 and 132.

  The control device 150 includes a control unit 151 including a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) 152, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 153 as a configuration for executing a program. . In the control device 150, the control unit 151 controls the operation of the handy label printer 100 by loading the control program stored in the ROM 152 into the ROM 152 and executing it.

  Specifically, the control device 150 controls the display unit 110 to display the content to be printed input using the key input unit 120. In addition, when a user issues a print instruction using the key input unit 120, the control device 150 converts the content displayed on the display unit 110 into a bitmap print pattern (hereinafter referred to as print data). Then, it is expanded in the printer buffer of the RAM 153. Then, the thermal head 160 is controlled so that printing on the label L is performed based on the print data. At this time, the control device 150 controls the thermal head 160 so that printing on the label L is performed in different directions depending on whether the handle holding the handy label printer 100 is the right hand or the left hand. . More specifically, the thermal head is identified so as to identify whether the handle is a right hand or a left hand based on the information acquired by the sensor unit 130 and to print on the label L in an orientation according to the identification result. 160 is controlled.

  In the handy label printer 100 configured as described above, when the handle is the left hand, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the upper side of the print content is the left side of the device (the lower side is the right side). If the print contents are printed in order from the back and the handle is the right hand, as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (c) Printing is performed so that the side is arranged on the right side (the lower side is the left side) and the print contents are sequentially output from the front. As a result, the printed label L1 (label L1a, label L1b) is output in a state where the upper end of the print content is directed to the handle side, so that the label L1 is received by the hand opposite to the handle, The printed content can be easily oriented in the correct direction. That is, the label L1 can be received in the correct orientation with the hand opposite to the hand regardless of the hand (the user's dominant hand). Therefore, in the handy label printer 100, since it is not necessary to change the printed label L1 to the label L1, if the label L1 is a label without release paper, the user can smoothly apply the label. Can do.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of print processing performed by the handy label printer 100. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating print data in the printer buffer. FIG. 7A shows how the print data is composed of a plurality of line data. FIG. 7B shows the positions of the most significant bit (MSB) and the least significant bit (LSB) in the line data. Hereinafter, an example of processing performed by the handy label printer 100 after a print instruction is input will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

  When the print instruction is input, the handy label printer 100 develops the print pattern in the printer buffer (step S1). Here, the control device 150 executes the print program, converts the content displayed on the display unit 110 into a bitmap format print pattern (print data), and expands it in the printer buffer of the RAM 153. That is, the printer buffer of the RAM 153 is a storage unit that stores print data.

  Thereafter, the handy label printer 100 calculates the total number of print lines (step S2). Here, the control device 150 counts the number of lines of print data expanded in the printer buffer, and calculates the total number of print lines. The calculated number of lines is substituted into the variable total_line.

  Next, the handy label printer 100 specifies a handle (step S3). Here, the control device 150 specifies whether the handle is the right hand or the left hand based on the information acquired by the sensor unit 130. For example, information indicating acceleration or angular velocity equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold is acquired by the sensor 133, and information indicating that the switch 131 is pressed (information indicating that the switch 131 is in the ON state) is acquired. Then, the control device 150 specifies that the handle is the left hand based on these pieces of information. In addition, information indicating acceleration or angular velocity equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold is acquired by the sensor 133, and information indicating that the switch 132 is pressed (information indicating that the switch 132 is in the ON state) is acquired. Then, the control device 150 specifies that the handle is the right hand based on these pieces of information. That is, when the sensor 133 acquires information indicating acceleration or angular velocity equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold, it is determined that the handy label printer 100 is held by the user, and at the same time, the switch 131 (or switch 132) is pressed. When the information indicating that the handy label printer 100 has been acquired is determined, the user holding the handy label printer 100 is determined to be the left hand (or right hand).

When the handle is specified, the handy label printer 100 sets various variables according to the handle (steps S4, S5, and S6). Here, the control device 150 substitutes values corresponding to the handle shown below for various variables. The variable hand_flg is a variable indicating whether the handle is a right hand or a left hand, the variable read_pos is a variable indicating the position of data for one line to be read next from the printer buffer (hereinafter, line data), and the variable plus_cnt is This is a variable indicating the moving direction of the position of the line data to be read.
(If the handle is right hand) hand_flg = 0, read_pos = 0, plus_cnt = 1
(If the handle is the left hand) hand_flg = 1, read_pos = total_line-1, plus_cnt = -1

  Thus, when the handle is the right hand, the line data is read sequentially from the top (first line), and when the handle is the left hand, the line data is read sequentially from the rear (last line). The handy label printer 100 is set.

  When the hand is the right hand (YES in step S7), the control device 150 of the handy label printer 100 reads the line data at the position indicated by read_pos from the printer buffer sequentially from the most significant bit MSB and transfers it to the thermal head 160. (Step S8). On the other hand, if the handle is the left hand (NO in step S7), the line data at the position indicated by read_pos is read from the printer buffer sequentially from the least significant bit LSB and transferred to the thermal head 160 (step S9).

  When the line data is transferred to the thermal head 160, the control device 150 energizes the thermal head 160 to perform printing for one line on the label L, and rotates the transport motor 171 to transport the label L for one line. (Step S10).

  Thereafter, the control device 150 updates the variable read_pos and the variable total_line (step S11 and step S12), and determines whether or not the updated variable total_line is 0 (step S13). If the variable total_line is not 0, the processing from step S7 to step S12 is repeated until the variable total_line becomes 0. When the variable total_line becomes 0, since all line data has been printed, the printing process is terminated.

  As described above, the control device 150 of the handy label printer 100 divides the print data into a plurality of transfer data (line data) in a predetermined unit and sequentially transmits the print data from the printer buffer to the thermal head 160. At this time, the transmission order of the plurality of transfer data (line) is changed depending on whether the handle is the right hand or the left hand, and the arrangement of the data in the transfer data (line data) is also determined by the handle. It is changed according to whether it is a right hand or a left hand. That is, for example, when the handle is specified as the left hand, the data is transmitted without changing the order of the data in the transfer data (line data), and when the handle is specified as the right hand, Then, the data is transmitted with the order of data in the transfer data (line data) reversed. As a result, printing on the label L is performed in a direction corresponding to the handle.

  The above-described embodiment is a specific example for facilitating understanding of the invention, and the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. The handy-type printing apparatus, printing method, and program can be variously modified and changed without departing from the scope of the present invention described in the claims.

  In the above-described embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the handy label printer 100 in which the label L is discharged from the discharge unit 140 so that the printing surface of the label L is substantially parallel to the front surface is illustrated. Like the handy label printer 200, the label L may be discharged from the discharge unit 240 so that the printing surface is substantially orthogonal to the front surface. In this case, for example, when the printing surface of the seal layer of the label L is on the right side and the handle is the left hand, the upper side of the print content is arranged on the front side of the handy label printer 200 (the lower side is the back side). And when the handle is the right hand, the upper side of the print content is arranged on the back side (the lower side is the front side) and the print content is printed. May be printed so as to be output in order from the front. In this case, since the roll-shaped label L can be accommodated in the printer unit 180 in a compact manner, the thickness of the handy label printer 200 can be reduced. Further, the discharge unit 140 and the discharge unit 240 are provided on the upper side surface of the handy label printer, but may be formed on the lower side surface.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the key input unit 120 functions as the print instruction receiving unit has been described. However, the switch 131 and the switch 132 which are acquisition units may also serve as the print instruction receiving unit. As a result, the user can easily instruct printing while holding the handy label printer. In this case, the switch 131 may not be naturally turned on simply by holding the handy label printer 100 with the left hand with the display unit 110 facing the user. For example, the switch 131 and the switch 132 are defined. It may be configured not to be in the ON state unless it is pushed down to the depth of. Instead of the key input unit 120 serving also as a print instruction receiving unit, a touch panel display on which software buttons are displayed may be provided, and software buttons for instructing printing may be displayed on the touch panel display. The key input unit 120 may also serve as the sensor unit 130. The control device 150 may specify that the handle is the right hand by pressing a key of the key input unit 120, and the handle can be determined by pressing another key of the key input unit 120. The left hand may be specified.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which printing is performed in horizontal writing on the label L has been shown. However, the handy label printer may have a function of switching between horizontal writing and vertical writing. In this case, the controller 150 causes the thermal head 160 to perform printing in different orientations according to the handle when horizontal writing is performed (that is, the vertical direction of the printed content and the label transport direction are not parallel). When printing vertically (that is, the vertical direction of the printed content printed on the label L is parallel to the transport direction of the label), printing is performed in a fixed direction regardless of the handle. Alternatively, the thermal head 160 may be controlled. Thereby, it is possible to prevent a change in the printing direction in an unnecessary scene.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the sensor unit 130 includes the switch 131, the switch 132, and the sensor 133 has been described. However, the sensor unit 130 acquires mechanical quantities (pressure, acceleration, etc.), light, heat, and the like. Arbitrary sensors may be combined. For example, pressure sensors are provided on the left and right side surfaces, the number of locations where pressure is generated (pressure locations) is identified from the pressure distribution acquired by the pressure sensor, and You may specify whether the hand is a right hand or a left hand.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the switch 131 and the switch 132 themselves are means (first acquisition means) for acquiring information for specifying the holding mode of the handy label printer 100, and the sensor 133 itself is the handy label. Although it is a means (second acquisition means) for acquiring information specifying whether or not the printer 100 is held, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the control unit can be configured by temporarily storing each piece of information specified by the switch 131, the switch 132, or the sensor 133 in a storage unit such as the RAM 153 and acquiring the information by the control unit 151. 151 may function as either the first acquisition unit or the second acquisition unit.

  In the embodiment described above, the sensor unit 130 includes the switch 131, the switch 132, and the sensor 133. However, the sensor unit 130 includes only one of the switch 131 and the switch 132 and the sensor 133. May be. For example, when the sensor unit includes the switch 131 (or switch 132) and the sensor 133, the control device 150 determines that the handy label printer 100 is held by the user based on the acquisition result of the sensor 133, and the switch 131. (Or the switch 132), it is determined that the handle is the left hand (or right hand) based on the acquisition result. Also in this case, the user can specify that the handle holding the handy label printer 100 is the left hand (or the right hand). When only one of the switch 131 and the switch 132 is provided, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where both of them are provided.

  In the above-described embodiment, the label printer is exemplified as the printing apparatus. However, the printing apparatus may be a handy type printing apparatus and is not limited to the label printer.

Hereinafter, the invention described in the scope of claims at the beginning of the application of the present application will be added.
[Appendix 1]
A printing device that can be held with one hand,
Printing means for printing on a print medium;
Printing means comprising: a control means for controlling the printing means so as to perform printing on the printing medium by changing the direction of printing contents according to a handle holding the printing apparatus. apparatus.
[Appendix 2]
In the printing apparatus according to attachment 1,
An acquisition means for acquiring information identifying the handle;
The control unit specifies the handle based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit, and controls the printing unit so that the print content is printed on the print medium in a direction corresponding to the specified result. The printing apparatus characterized by performing.
[Appendix 3]
In the printing apparatus according to attachment 2,
The acquisition means includes
First acquisition means for acquiring information for specifying a holding mode that is a mode in which the printing apparatus is held;
And a second acquisition unit that acquires information specifying whether or not the printing apparatus is held.
[Appendix 4]
In the printing apparatus according to attachment 3,
The printing apparatus, wherein the second acquisition unit includes an acceleration sensor or an angular velocity sensor.
[Appendix 5]
In the printing apparatus according to appendix 3 or 4,
The first acquisition means includes a right hand holding information acquisition means for acquiring information specifying that the handle is a right hand, and a left hand holding information acquisition for acquiring information specifying that the handle is a left hand. Have only one of the means,
The control means includes
If the first acquisition means has only the right hand holding information acquisition means, based on the information acquired by the first acquisition means, specify that the handle is a right hand,
When the first acquisition unit has only the left-hand holding information acquisition unit, the printing is characterized in that the handle is specified as a left hand based on the information acquired by the first acquisition unit. apparatus.
[Appendix 6]
In the printing apparatus according to attachment 2,
Provided with a print instruction receiving means for receiving a print instruction from a user;
The printing apparatus, wherein the print instruction receiving unit also serves as the acquisition unit.
[Appendix 7]
In the printing apparatus according to attachment 1,
The control means includes
When the vertical direction of the printed content printed on the print medium is parallel to the transport direction of the print medium, the print medium is directed to the print medium in a certain direction regardless of whether the handle is a right hand or a left hand. Controlling the printing means so that printing is performed,
When the vertical direction of the printed content and the transport direction of the print medium are not parallel, printing on the print medium is performed in different orientations depending on whether the handle is a right hand or a left hand, A printing apparatus for controlling the printing means.
[Appendix 8]
In the printing apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 6,
Storage means for storing print data;
The control unit divides the print data into a plurality of transfer data in a predetermined unit and sequentially transmits the plurality of transfer data when the handle is transmitted from the storage unit to the print unit. The printing apparatus is characterized in that it is changed depending on the printer.
[Appendix 9]
In the printing apparatus according to attachment 8,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes the arrangement of data in the transfer data transmitted from the storage unit to the printing unit according to the handle.
[Appendix 10]
In the printing apparatus according to attachment 2,
A display means for displaying the contents to be printed;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit is located on at least one of a left side surface and a right side surface of the printing apparatus when a surface on which the display unit is provided is a front surface of the printing apparatus.
[Appendix 11]
A printing method for a printing apparatus comprising printing means for printing on a print medium and capable of being held with one hand,
A printing method comprising: controlling the printing unit so that printing on the print medium is performed in a different direction depending on whether a handle holding the printing apparatus is a right hand or a left hand. .
[Appendix 12]
A printing apparatus computer having printing means for printing on a printing medium and capable of being held with one hand,
For functioning as a control means for controlling the printing means so that printing on the print medium is performed in different orientations depending on whether the handle holding the printing apparatus is a right hand or a left hand program.

1, 100, 200 Handy label printer 2, L, La, Lb Label 110 Display unit 120 Key input unit 130 Sensor unit 131, 132 Switch 133 Sensor 140, 240 Discharge unit 150 Computer 151 Control unit 152 ROM
153 RAM
160 Thermal head 170 Conveying roller 171 Conveying motor 180 Printer unit

Claims (12)

A printing device that can be held with one hand,
Printing means for printing on a print medium;
Printing means comprising: a control means for controlling the printing means so as to perform printing on the printing medium by changing the direction of printing contents according to a handle holding the printing apparatus. apparatus. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
An acquisition means for acquiring information identifying the handle;
The control unit specifies the handle based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit, and controls the printing unit so that the print content is printed on the print medium in a direction corresponding to the specified result. The printing apparatus characterized by performing. The printing apparatus according to claim 2,
The acquisition means includes
First acquisition means for acquiring information for specifying a holding mode that is a mode in which the printing apparatus is held;
And a second acquisition unit that acquires information specifying whether or not the printing apparatus is held. The printing apparatus according to claim 3.
The printing apparatus, wherein the second acquisition unit includes an acceleration sensor or an angular velocity sensor. The printing apparatus according to claim 3 or 4,
The first acquisition means includes a right hand holding information acquisition means for acquiring information specifying that the handle is a right hand, and a left hand holding information acquisition for acquiring information specifying that the handle is a left hand. Have only one of the means,
The control means includes
If the first acquisition means has only the right hand holding information acquisition means, based on the information acquired by the first acquisition means, specify that the handle is a right hand,
When the first acquisition unit has only the left-hand holding information acquisition unit, the printing is characterized in that the handle is specified as a left hand based on the information acquired by the first acquisition unit. apparatus. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
Provided with a print instruction receiving means for receiving a print instruction from a user;
The printing apparatus, wherein the print instruction receiving unit also serves as the acquisition unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
The control means includes
When the vertical direction of the printed content printed on the print medium is parallel to the transport direction of the print medium, the print medium is directed to the print medium in a certain direction regardless of whether the handle is a right hand or a left hand. Controlling the printing means so that printing is performed,
When the vertical direction of the printed content and the transport direction of the print medium are not parallel, printing on the print medium is performed in different orientations depending on whether the handle is a right hand or a left hand, A printing apparatus for controlling the printing means. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising:
Storage means for storing print data;
The control unit divides the print data into a plurality of transfer data in a predetermined unit and sequentially transmits the plurality of transfer data when the handle is transmitted from the storage unit to the print unit. The printing apparatus is characterized in that it is changed depending on the printer. The printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes the arrangement of data in the transfer data transmitted from the storage unit to the printing unit according to the handle. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
A display means for displaying the contents to be printed;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit is located on at least one of a left side surface and a right side surface of the printing apparatus when a surface on which the display unit is provided is a front surface of the printing apparatus. A printing method for a printing apparatus comprising printing means for printing on a print medium and capable of being held with one hand,
A printing method comprising: controlling the printing unit so that printing on the print medium is performed in a different direction depending on whether a handle holding the printing apparatus is a right hand or a left hand. . A printing apparatus computer having printing means for printing on a printing medium and capable of being held with one hand,
For functioning as a control means for controlling the printing means so that printing on the print medium is performed in different orientations depending on whether the handle holding the printing apparatus is a right hand or a left hand program.