JP2019123198A - Label printer - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a label printer capable of adjusting a change of data arrangement with a change of a size of a print column on the basis of a relative position between another print column.SOLUTION: A label printer changes a size of a print column in accordance with an amount of data to be printed in the print column. The label printer has storage means, arrangement means, and change means. The storage means stores set data set to the print column by a reference print column as a reference when adjusting the arrangement of data to be printed in the print column when changing a size of the print column. The arrangement means arranges the data in each of a plurality of print columns on the basis of a format indicating the arrangement of the plurality of print columns and the arrangement of data to be printed in the print column. The change means changes a size of the print column by filling a blank part generated by arranging the data in the plurality of print columns, and changes the arrangement of the data in the print column changed in the size on the basis of the arrangement of the data in the reference print column set to the print column.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  Embodiments of the present invention relate to label printers.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a label printer is known which prints labels on a plurality of items relating to goods in a tabular format. The label printer, for example, arranges and prints data such as characters to be printed in each printing section in a frame in accordance with a label format in which a plurality of printing sections (items) set in advance are provided.

  In recent years, a label printer having a function of making the size of the print field variable according to the amount of data to be printed in the print field is known. For example, with respect to the size of the print field in the preset label format, the blank portion generated when the number of characters printed in the print field is small is padded to reduce the size of the print field and printing is performed. In this way, it is possible to prevent wasteful blanks in the label. In addition, in the case of a label printer in which labels are printed on a roll of label sheet and the label is cut for each label, consumption of the label sheet can be reduced.

  However, when the size is adjusted so as to fill the blank portion according to the amount of data to be printed in the printing section, the relative positional relationship of the data to be printed in each of the plurality of printing sections is in the preset label format. It may be different from the positional relationship. That is, it becomes impossible to print the label as the image indicated by the label format.

JP, 2016-027964, A

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a label printer capable of adjusting a change in arrangement of data accompanying a change in size of a print box based on a relative position with another print box. .

  According to the embodiment, the label printer changes the size of the print field according to the amount of data to be printed in the print field. The label printer has storage means, placement means, and change means. The storage means stores the setting data set for the print field as a reference print field used as a reference when adjusting the arrangement of data to be printed in the print field when changing the size of the print field. . The arrangement means arranges the data in each of the plurality of printing sections based on the arrangement of the plurality of printing sections and the format indicating the arrangement of the data to be printed in the printing section. The changing means arranges the data in the plurality of printing fields, fills in the blank portions generated and changes the size of the printing field, and arranges the data in the printing field whose size is changed with respect to the printing field. It changes based on the arrangement | positioning of the data in the set said reference | standard printing column.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a label printer in the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a setting screen in the label format setting process according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a view showing details of a label format displayed in the label format area shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 6 is a view showing a specific example of a print column list area and a print column property area in the present embodiment. 5 is a flowchart showing print processing of the label printer in the present embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing variable-length print data generation processing in print processing. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of printing a label when variable-length printing is not performed. The figure which shows the printing image of the label which filled the blank part which arose in each of the printing | printed_character column. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of changing the arrangement of print data in the print section.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a label printer 10 in the present embodiment. The label printer 10 in the present embodiment has a function of changing the size of the print section and printing the label according to the amount of data to be printed in the print section set in the label format.

  The label printer 10 has a touch panel 12 on the upper surface of the apparatus main body, and, for example, has a label issue port on the front. The label printer 10 incorporates a folder for storing label sheets in the apparatus main body and the printer 14. The label sheet is, for example, a linerless label (label not using a backing sheet), and a strip-shaped label is wound in a roll.

  The printer 14 includes a sheet conveyance mechanism and a printing mechanism. The sheet conveyance mechanism includes a conveyance motor, a conveyance path, a winding roller, and the like. In the printing mechanism, a printing head such as a thermal head and a platen roller are disposed to face each other. The sheet conveyance mechanism feeds the label sheet stored in the folder by the action of the conveyance motor, and guides the label of the label sheet between the print head and the platen roller. The printing mechanism drives the print head to a label guided between the print head and the platen roller to print print data of a product label such as a product name and a bar code. The sheet conveying mechanism conveys the label sheet to the label issue port, cuts each label, and issues a label.

  The label printer 10 according to the present embodiment can reduce the size of one label by changing the size so as to close the blank portion of the print field set in the label format in the conveyance direction of the label sheet. . That is, the consumption of label paper can be reduced.

  The label printer 10 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 101, a flash read only memory (ROM) 102, a random access memory (RAM) 103, a clock unit 104, a communication interface 105, a touch panel controller 106, a printer driver 107, and I / O (Input / Output) port 108 is provided. The label printer 10 also has a bus line 109 such as an address bus and a data bus, and the CPU 101, the flash ROM 102, the RAM 103, the clock unit 104, the communication interface 105, the touch panel controller 106, the printer driver 107 and the I / O The O port 108 is connected to configure a control circuit. The control circuit is mounted inside the device body 11.

  The CPU 101 controls each unit to realize various functions as the label printer 10 in accordance with an operating system and an application program.

  The flash ROM 102 stores an operating system and application programs. The flash ROM 102 also stores data used when the CPU 101 performs various processes, and data generated by the process of the CPU 101. The flash ROM 102 stores, for example, data relating to the label format of the label printed in the label printer 10.

  The RAM 103 stores data necessary for the CPU 101 to execute processing. The RAM 103 is also used as a work area in which information is appropriately rewritten by the CPU 101. For example, when changing the size of the print field, the RAM 103 stores setting data set in the print field as a reference print field used as a reference when adjusting the arrangement of data to be printed in the print field. . The setting data may be stored in the flash ROM 102.

  The clock unit 104 is a time information source of the label printer 10. The label printer 10 acquires the current date and time from the time information clocked by the clock unit 104.

  The communication interface 105 performs data communication with the server 20 connected via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The server 20 includes a so-called POS server that collects sales data of each product registered for sales at each POS (Point Of Sales) terminal of a store and aggregates sales performance data. The server 20 may include servers other than the POS server.

  The touch panel controller 106 controls the touch panel 12. The touch panel 12 includes a flat-type liquid crystal display 12 a and a touch sensor 12 b disposed so as to overlap the screen of the display 12 a. The touch panel controller 106 causes the display 12a to display an image. The touch panel controller 106 specifies a touch position on the screen by a two-dimensional coordinate system including, for example, an X-axis and a Y-axis based on a signal of the touch sensor 12 b.

  The printer driver 107 controls the printing operation of the printer 14. The printer driver 107 includes a motor driver that drives a conveyance motor that is a part of the sheet conveyance mechanism, and a head driver that drives a print head that is a part of the printing mechanism.

  The I / O port 108 inputs a signal input through an input interface (not shown) such as various sensors 15 or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface. The I / O port 108 also outputs drive signals to the various LEDs 16. The sensor 15 includes a sheet presence sensor that detects the presence or absence of label sheet, a sheet jam sensor that detects a sheet jam of label sheet, and the like. The LED 16 includes a power lamp, an error lamp, a warning lamp and the like.

Next, setting of a label format for printing a label in the label printer 10 will be described.
The setting of the label format is executed by an electronic device different from the label printer 10 such as the server 20 or a personal computer, or the label printer 10, for example. The electronic device such as the server 20 executes setting processing of a label format to be described later based on the setting program to generate setting data. The setting data is input to the label printer 10 via data communication or a portable storage medium such as a USB memory.

  When setting of the label format is executed in the label printer 10, the setting program stored in the flash ROM 102 is activated in response to the input operation on the touch panel 12, and the setting process is executed. The setting data set by the setting process is stored in the flash ROM 102 or the RAM 103, and is referred to when printing a label.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen in the label format setting process according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, by designating a tag for label format creation, a setting screen D1 for label format creation is displayed. In the setting screen D1, a label format area AR1, a printing field list area AR2, and a printing field property area AR3 are provided.

  In the label format area AR1, a label format in which a plurality of print fields (input items) are arranged is displayed, for example, in tabular form. In the printing field list area AR2, contents (objects) to be input to each of the plurality of printing fields set in the label format are displayed in a list format. In the printing field property area AR3, various setting contents (properties) of the printing field selected in the printing field list area AR2 are displayed.

  In the setting program, a plurality of basic label formats are prepared in advance. By designating the format number (“format No.”), contents for which the corresponding basic label format is to be set are displayed in the respective areas AR1 to AR3 on the setting screen D1. In the example shown in FIG. 2, a setting screen D1 is displayed in which a basic label format in which “format No.” is “12” and “format name” is “food processing label (without price)” is a setting target.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the details of the label format displayed in the label format area AR1 shown in FIG.
The label format area AR1 displays a label format in which a plurality of print fields are set. Since the label format is displayed in tabular form, the rectangular frame of the table shows one print field. Further, in each print section, an arrangement frame indicating the arrangement of data (such as characters) to be printed in the print section is displayed.

  In FIG. 3, for example, an arrangement frame CA1 indicating the arrangement of data is displayed for the print field PA1 corresponding to "[title] additive". Further, an arrangement frame CA2 indicating the arrangement of data is displayed for the print field PA2 corresponding to the "additive".

  In addition, contents (objects) to be input as printing targets are displayed in the layout frame of each printing section. Based on the display of the contents to be input displayed in the arrangement frame, data such as specific characters to be printed can be input (set). For example, “[title] additive” is displayed in the arrangement frame CA 1 and indicates that a character as a title of the additive is set. In addition, in the arrangement frame CA2, "additive" is displayed, which indicates that a character indicating the additive is set.

  Therefore, the arrangement frame CA1 of the label format area AR1 can be selected, and a character string as a title of the additive, for example, "raw material name" can be input. Similarly, the layout frame CA2 can be selected, and a character string indicating the additive, for example, "raw material name: rice, beef carbus (beef carb, sesame, grilled with yakiniku), grilled egg ..." can be input.

  In addition, although the printing column and arrangement | positioning frame which are shown in FIG. 3 are each clearly shown by the rectangular frame, a range may be clearly shown by display forms other than a rectangular frame. For example, it is also possible to indicate the corresponding ranges in the print box and the arrangement frame by marks indicating the positions of the four vertices of the rectangular frame, or by indicating the difference in the display color of the background.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of the printing column list area AR2 and the printing column property area AR3 in the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 4A, in the printing field list area AR2, a printing field list showing contents (objects) to be input in each of the printing fields provided in the label format displayed in the label format area AR1 is displayed. It is displayed. In the print column list, for one input column, a set display area in which a mark indicating that the setting has been made is displayed, and a setting in which the size (arrangement of data) of the print column is variable according to the data input to the input column. A variable setting display area for displaying what is being done and an object name display area for displaying contents (objects) to be input are provided. When objects in all print fields can not be displayed in the print list in one screen, the print field list can be scrolled in accordance with an operation on a button or a slider provided on the right side of the print field list, for example.

  By selecting any print field (object) displayed in the print field list shown in FIG. 4A, various setting contents (properties) of the selected print field (object) are displayed in the print field property area AR3. It can be done. FIG. 4A shows a state in which the print field (object) 30 of “[title] additive” of “No. 0038” is selected.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, in the printing field property area AR3, various setting contents (properties) for the printing field (object) 30 of the "[title] additive" selected in the printing field list area AR2 are displayed. It is displayed.

  In the property shown in FIG. 4B, for example, the reference position 40 in the label format of the print field of "[title] additive", the print data 41 ("raw material name") input for the print field, the print field In the case where the size of the data (data arrangement) is changed, a setting item 42 for adjusting the data arrangement is provided.

  As the reference position 40, reference coordinates (reference X coordinates, reference Y coordinates) of the printing section are set with the upper left corner of the label format as the coordinate reference (origin) (X0, Y0). Note that the horizontal direction of the label format is the X coordinate system, and the vertical direction is the Y coordinate. The conveying direction of the label sheet (linerless label) is the longitudinal direction of the label format shown in FIG. Therefore, the label can be made smaller (consumption of the linerless label can be reduced) by reducing the size of the printing section so as to pack the blank portion in the vertical direction (Y coordinate direction).

  The setting items 42 include, for example, "relative coordinates", "reference print field", "arrangement (X)", "arrangement (Y)", "X coordinate (mm)" and "Y coordinate (mm)".

  "Relative coordinate" is set as valid or invalid for the change of the arrangement of data based on the reference print area when the arrangement of data to be printed is changed according to the change of the size of the print area. When "relative coordinate" is set to be effective, the arrangement of data is adjusted based on the position of the other print field set as the "reference print field". When set to invalid, data is arranged (printed) based on the position designated by the reference coordinates (reference X coordinates, reference Y coordinates). In the "reference print field", another print field is set as a reference when changing the arrangement of data to be printed in accordance with the change in the size of the print field. In the example shown in FIG. 4B, the "additive" is set as the "reference print field". Therefore, based on the position of the printing section (printing section PA2) where the data of "additive" is input, or the arrangement of data printed in the printing section (arrangement frame CA2), printing of "[title] additive" The arrangement of data printed in the column is adjusted.

  In the "arrangement (X)" and "arrangement (Y)", the arrangement of each direction for printing the data in the printing section is set. For “arrangement (X)”, for example, any one of “left alignment”, “center alignment”, and “right alignment” is set as a setting value. For “arrangement (Y)”, for example, any one of “upper alignment”, “upper and lower center alignment”, and “lower alignment” is set as a setting value. When the arrangement of data is adjusted based on the "reference printing field", the arrangement based on the position of data printed in the other printing field set as the "reference printing field" is designated.

  As “X coordinate (mm)” and “Y coordinate (mm)”, numerical values for adjusting the arrangement of the print data in each direction for printing data are set. “X coordinate (mm)” specifies how many mm in the X coordinate direction to be arranged from the position according to the arrangement set as “arrangement (X)”. “Y coordinate (mm)” specifies how many mm in the Y coordinate direction to be arranged from the position according to the arrangement set as “arrangement (Y)”. For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 4B, "-7 mm" is set for "X coordinate (mm)", and "-3 mm" is set for "Y coordinate (mm)".

  When the arrangement of data is adjusted based on the “reference print column”, the arrangement setting including “arrangement (X)”, “arrangement (Y)”, “X coordinate (mm)” and “Y coordinate (mm)” Based on the data printing position (positioning frame position) in the printing section is adjusted.

  Thus, the contents set in the setting screen D1 are stored as setting data of the label format of "format No. 12" and "food processing label (without price)". The setting data is transmitted to the label printer 10 and stored in the flash ROM 102 or the RAM 103. The setting data is called in accordance with the setting of the label format to be printed on the label in the label printer 10, and is referred to when the label is printed.

  Next, the printing operation of the label printer 10 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the printing process of the label printer 10 in the present embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing data generation processing for variable-length printing in the printing process.

  In the label printer 10, the label format (format number) to be printed is designated by, for example, the operation of the touch panel 12 by the operator. The CPU 101 calls setting data corresponding to the label format from the flash ROM 102 or the RAM 103 according to the designated label format, and sets it as a print target (Act 1). Further, the CPU 101 sets the print data input to each print section in the arrangement frame based on the label format set as the print target (Act 2).

  Here, in accordance with the amount of data to be printed in the print field, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the variable-length printing for changing the size of the print field is set. The setting of variable-length printing may be set, for example, in association with the label format in the setting screen D1 at the time of label format creation, or may be set by an operation on the touch panel 12 by the operator when printing a label. good. Further, in the basic settings relating to label printing of the label printer 10, “on / off” of variable-length printing may be set.

  When the CPU 101 is not set to execute variable-length printing (Act 3, NO), the CPU 101 generates data for normal printing (Act 4). That is, as a result of setting the print data input in the print field in the arrangement frame, the size of the print field is not changed even if a blank portion exists.

  The CPU 101 generates data for normal printing and causes the printer 14 to execute label printing via the printer driver 107 (Act 6). When printing of the label for one sheet is completed, the printer 14 cuts and discharges the printed label (Act 7).

FIG. 7 shows an example of label printing when variable-length printing is not performed.
In the example shown in FIG. 7, when print data is set in the print column CA2 of "additive", a blank portion occurs because the amount of data is smaller than the size of the arrangement frame CA2. Since variable-length printing is not performed, printing is performed as it is in the label format even if blank portions occur.

  On the other hand, when the CPU 101 is set to execute variable-length printing (Act 3, YES), the CPU 101 executes variable-length printing data generation processing (Act 5).

  In the variable-length printing data generation process, the CPU 101 changes the size of the printing section and the layout of the data to be printed in the printing section for each of the plurality of printing sections set in the label format (Acts 20 to 30). The print data corresponding to the print field and the layout of the data are generated (Act 31).

  First, the CPU 101 selects one print field to be processed (Act 21), and as a result of arranging print data in this print field, determines whether a blank portion is generated. Here, if there is no blank portion (Act 22, NO), the CPU 101 assumes that the size of the print field is not changed, and leaves the arrangement of the print field and the print data in the label format.

  On the other hand, if there is a blank portion (Act 22, YES), the CPU 101 determines based on the label format whether there are other print fields in the horizontal direction (X coordinate direction). That is, it is determined whether there is a print field that can be filled with the blank portion together with the print field to be processed.

  Here, if there is no other print field (Act 23, NO), the CPU 101 changes the position (size) of the print field to be processed so as to close the blank portion (Act 24). As a result, the size of the printing section can be reduced in the conveyance direction of the label sheet (linerless label).

  If there is another print field (Act 23, NO), the CPU 101 sets the position (size) of the print field to be processed to a blank portion in the range common to the blank portion existing in the other print fields. Change to packing (Act 24). As a result, it is possible to reduce the size of the printing section to be processed and the other printing sections arranged side by side with the printing section in the conveyance direction of the label sheet (linerless label).

  For example, in the case of the label shown in FIG. 7, blank portions are generated in each of the print fields PA1 and PA2 arranged in the lateral direction. Therefore, the sizes of the print fields PA1 and PA2 can be changed so that the blank portions generated in the print fields PA1 and PA2 are filled.

  FIG. 8 shows a print image of a label in which blank portions generated in the print fields PA1 and PA2 are filled. As shown in FIG. 8, the size of the entire label can be changed by filling the blank portions of the print fields PA1 and PA2. However, the arrangement of the print data “raw material name” input to the print field PA1 is at the bottom of the print field PA1.

  If the "relative coordinates" of the setting item 42 is not set to "valid" for the print field to be processed (Act 25, NO), the CPU 101 does not change the arrangement of data based on the reference print field. Determine. When the process for all print fields is completed (Act 30, YES), the CPU 101 generates print data (Act 31), and causes the printer 14 to execute label printing via the printer driver 107 (Act 6). In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, a label is printed in which the arrangement of the print data in the print field PA1 is not adjusted in accordance with the change in the size of the print field.

  On the other hand, when the "relative coordinates" of the setting item 42 is set to "valid" for the print field to be processed (Act 25, YES), the CPU 101 changes the arrangement of data based on the reference print field. It distinguishes it as a thing.

  The CPU 101 determines another print field set in the “reference print field” of the setting item 42 with respect to the print field to be processed (Act 26). For example, in the setting item 42 shown in FIG. 4B, it is determined that the "additive" (printing field PA2) is set as the "reference printing field" in the printing field PA1.

  Furthermore, the CPU 101 changes the arrangement of print data according to the arrangement set in the “arrangement (X)” and “arrangement (Y)” of the setting item 42 for the print field to be processed. Set a point (Act 27). The CPU 101 changes the arrangement (print position) of the print data in the print section after the size change based on the reference point set for the reference print section (Act 28).

  For example, in the setting item 42 shown in FIG. 4B, “left alignment” for “arrangement (X)” and “upper and lower center alignment” for “arrangement (Y)” are set for “arrangement (X)” . In this case, in order to adjust the layout of the print data so that "left alignment" and "upper and lower center alignment" are made with respect to the layout of the print data in the reference print area, With respect to (arrangement frame CA2 after changing the size of the print field), the position of “upper and lower center” of “left side” is set as a reference point.

  For example, with respect to “arrangement (X)”, “left alignment”, “center alignment”, and “right alignment” are set. If "left-justified" is set, set to "left side" for the layout of the print data in the reference print field as described above, and in the case of "center-aligned" similarly, "left-right center" , In the case of "right alignment", it is set to the "right side".

  Also, for “arrangement (Y)”, “upper alignment”, “upper and lower center alignment”, and “lower alignment” are set. If “Align top and bottom center” is set, set “Top and bottom center” to the layout of print data in the reference print field as described above, and in the same way, for “Top alignment”, “Top Set to “bottom edge” in the case of “bottom alignment”.

  That is, according to the combination of the setting of “arrangement (X)” and “arrangement (Y)”, arrangement of print data at any of four vertices of the arrangement frame after resizing of the printing section and the middle point of each side. Set the reference point according to Thus, by setting the reference point according to the arrangement indicated by “arrangement (X)” and “arrangement (Y)”, “X coordinate (mm)” and “Y” for adjusting the arrangement of print data from the reference point Designation of "coordinates (mm)" can be facilitated. That is, the specification of the relative position with respect to the reference print field is easy to image.

FIG. 9 shows an example of changing the arrangement (arrangement frame CA1) of the print data in the printing section PA1.
As shown in FIG. 9, a reference point P1 is set at the “upper and lower center” position of the “left side” with respect to the arrangement F1 (arrangement frame CA2) of the print data of the print column PA2 whose size is changed.

  The CPU 101 sets the layout F2 (arrangement frame CA1) of the print data in the print field PA1 after changing the size (operation point P2) to “-7 mm” set for the “X coordinate (mm)” of the setting item 42, Change according to "-3 mm" set for "Y coordinate (mm)". That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the position is changed to “−7 mm” in the X coordinate direction from the reference point P 1 and to “−3 mm” in the Y coordinate direction.

  In the example shown in FIG. 9, the operation point P2 with respect to the arrangement F2 (arrangement frame CA1) of the print data of the print column PA1 is set to the top left corner. The operation point P2 may be fixed regardless of the setting content in the setting item 42, or may be set according to "arrangement (X)" and "arrangement (Y)" as in the reference point P1.

  When the process for all print fields is completed (Act 30, YES), the CPU 101 generates print data (Act 31), and causes the printer 14 to execute label printing via the printer driver 107 (Act 6). In this case, as shown in FIG. 9, a label is printed in which the layout of the print data in the print field PA1 is adjusted along with the change in the size of the print field for deleting the blank portion. That is, the consumption of label paper is reduced by using a small label from which a blank portion is deleted, and the balance of the relative positional relationship of the print data between the print fields in the correspondence relationship in which the reference print fields are set is maintained. be able to.

  In the above description, one reference printing field is set for one printing field, but one reference printing field common to a plurality of printing fields may be set.

  Also, in the above description, the direction in which the blank portion is filled is the vertical direction (linerless label transport direction), but it may be the horizontal direction. In addition, it is also possible to set in which direction the space is to be padded in the same manner as in the reference printing section.

  Further, in the above description, as shown in FIG. 8, based on the arrangement F1 of the print data in the "additive" print column, which is the reference print column, the print data of the "[title] additive" print column The arrangement F2 of is adjusted, but the arrangement after changing the size of the “additive” as the reference printing column, ie, the arrangement of the rectangular frame indicating the range of the printing column PA1 corresponding to the “additive” is adjusted as a reference You may do so.

  Further, in the above description, the case where the layout of the print data is adjusted based on the reference print column is described along with changing (reducing) the size of the print column so as to close the blank portion generated in the print column. However, it is also possible to apply to the case of changing the size of the print field to be large. For example, when the data size of the print field is changed because the data amount of the print data input to the print field is large, the print data arrangement is performed based on the reference print field as described above. It can be changed.

  In this manner, in the label printer 10 according to the present embodiment, by setting the reference printing field, the arrangement of the printing data after changing the size (position) of the printing field according to the data amount of the printing data It becomes possible to adjust based on the relative position with the reference printing section.

  While certain embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and the gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

  Also, the processing described in the above-described embodiment may be a program that can be executed by a computer, for example, a recording medium such as a magnetic disk (flexible disk, hard disk, etc.), an optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD, etc.), semiconductor memory, etc. Can be provided to various devices. Moreover, it is also possible to transmit by a communication medium and to provide to various apparatuses. The computer reads the program recorded in the recording medium, or receives the program via the communication medium, and executes the above-described processing by controlling the operation by the program.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Label printer, 12 ... Touch panel, 14 ... Printer, 101 ... CPU, 102 ... Flash ROM, 103 ... RAM, 104 ... Clock part, 105 ... Communication interface.

Claims (5)

In a label printer which changes the size of the print field according to the amount of data to be printed in the print field,
A storage unit that stores setting data set for the print field, a reference print field used as a reference when adjusting the arrangement of data to be printed in the print field when changing the size of the print field;
Arrangement means for arranging the data in each of the plurality of printing fields based on the arrangement of the plurality of printing fields and the format indicating the arrangement of the data to be printed in the printing field;
The data is arranged in the plurality of printing fields, and the blank portion generated is filled to change the size of the printing field, and the arrangement of the data in the printing field whose size is changed is set for the printing field. And a changing unit configured to change based on the arrangement of data in the reference printing section. The setting data includes a setting that makes a change in arrangement of data based on the reference print field valid or invalid,
The label according to claim 1, wherein the changing unit changes the arrangement of the data based on the position of the reference printing field, when the setting of validating the change of the arrangement of data based on the reference printing field is set. Printer. The setting data includes an arrangement setting for specifying an arrangement based on the reference print field,
The label printer according to claim 1, wherein the changing unit changes an arrangement of the data according to the arrangement setting.   4. The label printer according to claim 3, wherein the changing unit sets a reference point to the arrangement of data in the reference printing section according to the arrangement setting, and changes the arrangement of the data based on the reference point.   The label printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the changing unit changes the size of the print section by filling the blank portion in at least one of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction.