JP2019217787A - Mountless label printer - Google Patents

Abstract

To suppress influence on look of a label.SOLUTION: A mountless label printer includes control means for controlling printing on a mountless label sheet on the basis of printing format data in which, about each printing item, at least a printing position in a sheet feeding direction and a printing range in the sheet feeding direction are set. When there exists a printing item whose printing height in the sheet feeding direction of printing data corresponding to the printing range does not meet the printing range in the sheet feeding direction, and when there exists no other printing item whose printing position in the sheet feeding direction is overlapped on a part in which the printing height does not meet the printing range of the printing item whose printing height does not meet to the printing range in the sheet feeding direction, the control means changes the printing position in the sheet feeding direction of the other printing item at a sheet feeding direction downstream side than the printing item whose printing height does not meet the printing range in the sheet feeding direction so as to be closer to a sheet feeding direction upstream side according to a different amount when the printing height does not meet the printing range in the sheet feeding direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mount-less label printer that prints and cuts an article name, price, and the like on paper without a mount, and issues the cut label as a label to be attached to a product.

  Conventionally, when a long label is required with a large amount of printing according to the product or a short label is required with a mount-less label printer, the print format data is selected, printed, and cut. There is proposed a technique capable of saving paper and reducing the number of paper exchanges as compared with a method using paper cut to a certain length in advance (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-8509 A

  However, in this prior art, it is necessary to set a number of types of print formats, but in this setting, it is necessary to set and input a print position, a print range, etc. for each print item, and furthermore, at a retail store. In the case of use, since it is used for displaying products, the size of the print items affects the appearance of the product, so it is necessary to check the format after setting, which is a major problem. .

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and its purpose is to reduce the number of print formats even when issuing labels having different print data amounts, and to improve the appearance of the labels. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mount-less label printer capable of suppressing the influence on the label.

  In order to solve the above problem, a mountless label printer according to an embodiment of the present invention is a mountless label printer, and at least a print position in a paper transport direction and a print range in a paper transport direction are provided for each print item. Control means for controlling printing on the mount-less label paper based on the set print format data, wherein the control means controls the paper transport of the print data corresponding to the print range with respect to the print range in the paper transport direction. There is a print item whose print height is less than the direction, and the portion where the print height is less than the portion where the print height is less than the print height of the print item where the print height is less than the print range in the paper transport direction. If there are no other print items with overlapping print positions, other prints on the paper transport direction downstream of the print items whose print height is less than the print range in the paper transport direction The printing position of the sheet conveyance direction of the eye, amount of the printing height is less than the printing range of the paper conveying direction, and changes as packed in the paper conveying direction upstream side.

  According to the present invention, even when a label having a different print data amount is issued, the types of print formats can be reduced, and the influence on the appearance of the label can be suppressed.

1 is a schematic view illustrating a mechanism of a mountless label printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mount-less label printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a data configuration of a format file managed by the mountless label printer according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a data configuration of a product file managed by the mountless label printer according to the embodiment. 5 is a main flowchart for explaining the operation of the mountless label printer according to the embodiment. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a dot data development routine according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a cut label according to the embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a mechanism of a mountless label printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a paper is drawn out from a label roll 2 in which a backing-less label paper 1 having a thermosensitive coloring surface on the front surface and an adhesive surface on the back surface is wound into a roll shape. The sheet is conveyed with the sheet interposed therebetween and heated to perform printing. Further, the printed paper is cut by a cutter 5 and issued as a label 6.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the mount-less label printer according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the mountless label printer according to the present embodiment includes a CPU 10, a flash memory 11, a RAM 12, an operation unit 13, a display unit 14, a communication unit 15, an interface 16, and a thermal head 17 (the thermal head 3 in FIG. 1). ), A stepping motor 18 and a cutter 19 (corresponding to the cutter 5 in FIG. 1).

  The CPU 10 is a central processing unit that executes a program on the flash memory 11 and controls the operation of the label printer. The flash memory 11 is a read-only memory that stores a control program of the label printer, control data, and the like.

  The RAM 12 has a work area for temporarily retrieving (reading out) data and processing it. The work area includes a dot development area for developing print data into dot data, and one format data from a format file. There is a call format area for calling and storing product data, and a call product data area for calling and storing product data.

  The RAM 12 also includes a format file (see FIG. 3) defining a label printing format, a product file (see FIG. 4) defining various product data for label printing, and a font file (character generator). ) Are backed up by a battery so that the product file and the format file are retained even when the power is turned off. The current mode (for example, the pricing mode, the setting mode, the report mode, and the maintenance mode) of the mount-less label printer is also stored in the RAM 12.

  The operation unit 13 is an input device for operating the present label printer, and is a touch panel integrated with the display unit 14. The display unit 14 is a liquid crystal display that displays various menu screens and data. The communication unit 15 communicates with the host computer.

  The interface 16 inputs and outputs data between the CPU 10 and the like and each of the driving units described later and the motor. The thermal head 17 generates heat on the paper 1 based on a command from the CPU 10. The stepping motor 18 rotationally drives the label roll 2 and the platen roller 4 based on a command from the CPU 10 so that the label paper 1 is transported to a predetermined printing position or a heating position. The cutter 19 cuts the printed paper 1 based on a command from the CPU 10.

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a data configuration of a format file managed by the mountless label printer according to the present embodiment. In the format file, various print formats can be set, format number specifying the type of format, label length determining the cut length of paper, and print items such as product name, additive, message, raw material, price , Bar code, unit, expiration date, date and time of processing, shop name, etc., and these print items include a print position (the upper left of the label is 0, 0, indicating the upper left of the print range), and the paper transport direction. Is set as the print range of the height, the length of the print range in the direction orthogonal to the height, and the font for specifying the character font type.

  FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a data configuration of a product file managed by the mountless label printer according to the present embodiment. In the product file, items such as a product number, a product name, a price, a barcode, an additive, a message, and a raw material are set. When setting multiple lines of print data for each item, insert a line feed code at the end of each line.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the mountless label printer according to the present embodiment will be described using a flowchart. FIG. 5 is a main flowchart for explaining the operation of the mountless label printer according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the dot data development routine according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a cut label according to the present embodiment. The steps shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are controlled by the CPU 10.

  In FIG. 5, first, it is determined with reference to the RAM 12 whether or not the mode is a pricing mode for issuing labels (step S1). If it is determined that the mode is not the value-added mode (step S1: NO), file data setting in the setting mode, output of an actual report in the report mode, maintenance in the maintenance mode, and the like are performed (step S2), and step S1 is performed. Return to

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the mode is the value-added mode (step S1: YES), the RAM 12 calls the desired format data from the format file into the calling format area (step S3). Note that the desired format data is format data of a format specified by a format number specified by an operator via the operation unit 13. For example, when the format file shown in FIG. 3 is stored in the RAM 12 and the format number # 1 is designated, the format data of the format specified by the format number # 1 is called. In the format data of the format specified by the format number # 1, it is assumed that the product name has a print range of three lines and the additive has a print range of four lines (see the left side of the arrow in FIG. 7).

  Next, the commodity data of the commodity to be priced in the called commodity data area is retrieved from the commodity in the RAM 12 (step S4). The product to be priced is specified by the operator specifying a product number via the operation unit 13. For example, when the product file shown in FIG. 4 is stored in the RAM 12 and the product number 0001 is specified, the product data of the product specified by the product number 0001 is called as the product data of the product to be priced. Become. It is assumed that the product name and the additive specified by the product number 0001 are the print data amounts for one line, respectively (see FIG. 4).

  Next, the print data of the product data called in step S4 is developed into dot data according to the format called in step S3 (step S5). Details will be described with reference to FIG.

  Next, the thermal head 17 and the platen roller 4 are controlled based on the dot data developed in step S5, and printing is performed on the paper 1 (step S6). Then, based on the label length data in the calling format area, the cutter 19 is controlled to cut the sheet 1 (step S7). That is, when the format of the format number # 1 is called in step S3 and the product data of the product with the product number 0001 is called in step S4, a label as shown on the right side of the arrow in FIG. 7 is issued. Then, the process returns to step S1.

  In FIG. 6, first, in the format data called in step S3 of FIG. 5, the determination process (at least the determination process of step S12 among the determination processes of steps S12 to S15) is not performed. On the other hand, the most upstream print item is searched (step S11). For example, if this is the first time of the determination process, the print item on the most upstream side is “product name”.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the print item searched in step S11 is "article name" (step S12). If not, it is determined whether or not it is "additive" (step S13). If it is not "additive", it is determined whether it is "raw material" (step S14), and if it is not "raw material", it is determined whether it is "message" (step S15). .

  The print items of “article name”, “additives”, “raw materials”, and “messages” determined in steps S12 to S15 correspond to the print range (height) in the paper transport direction according to the respective print data amounts. Are determined in advance as print items for changing. More specifically, when the print data amount (for example, the number of lines) in the paper transport direction is smaller than the print range (for example, the number of lines) in the paper transport direction, the above-described print items are reduced (shortened). This is predetermined as a print item to be performed.

  If the print item searched in step S11 corresponds to any of the above-mentioned “article name”, “additive”, “raw material”, and “message” (step S12: YES, step S13: YES, step S14: YES, (Step S15: YES), it is determined whether or not the print data corresponding to the print item satisfies the height of the print item in the format data (print range in the paper transport direction) (step S16). That is, for each print item that is YES in steps S12 to S15, the height of the format data (print range in the paper transport direction) called in step S3 and the print data in the paper transport direction in the product data called in step S4 When the print data amount is smaller than the height, it is determined that the print data amount is not satisfied. When the print data amount is not smaller, the print data amount is determined to be satisfied. For example, in the case of the print item "article name", the print range (height) in the paper transport direction is three lines, whereas the print data is as small as one line.

  When it is determined that the print data does not satisfy the height of the corresponding print item of the format data (step S16: NO), the position of the unsatisfied portion (the marginal height portion) and the position in the paper transport direction overlap. It is determined whether there is print data of another print item (other print items of the format data called in step S3) (step S17). In other words, it is determined whether or not there is another print item of the print data whose height position overlaps with the portion that is not satisfied (the marginal height portion). That is, it is determined whether or not there is print data of another print item of the called format data and print data to be printed in a margin height portion. For example, in the case of the print item "article name", the print range (height) in the paper transport direction is three lines, and the print data is one line, so the unsatisfied portion (the marginal height portion) is two lines. Therefore, it is determined whether or not there is print data for each of the print items of “barcode”, “price”, “unit”, “additive”, and “store name”, and print data to be printed in the two lines. . That is, in step S17, when the format data in which the print items are arranged in parallel in the paper transport direction is called in step S3, the portion that does not satisfy one of the print items arranged in parallel (the margin When there is a height portion, it is determined whether or not the print data of the other print items arranged in parallel is to be printed in the unsatisfied portion in the format data.

  Then, when it is determined that there is no other print item of the print data whose height position overlaps (step S17: NO), if the height range is not satisfied (a margin), the print position in the call format data is in the order of the print position. Subsequent position data in the paper transport direction of all items is subtracted so as to be shifted upward and the position is changed (step S18). For example, when the print item “article name” is determined in step S16, the position data in the paper transport direction of each print item of the barcode, price, unit, additive, and store name is reduced by two lines of “article name”. . In other words, each of the print items is printed two lines upstream of the “article name” in the paper transport direction. Also, the label length data is shortened by two lines of "article name".

  Next, it is determined whether or not all items of the call format data have been processed (step S19). If all items have not been processed (step S19: NO), the process returns to step S11.

  On the other hand, if all the items of the call format data have been processed (step S19: YES), for the print item searched in step S11, the product data of the same item in the call product data area is shifted to the upper left of the print range, and The data is converted into dot data and written in the dot development area (step S20). At this time, the process is performed based on the position of the format data in the call format area and the font data. Then, the process returns to the main routine of FIG.

  When returning to the main routine, if format number # 1 and product number 0001 have been input, dot data is developed as shown in the right diagram of FIG. In other words, the print items following the product name move upward by two lines of “product name”, and the “shop name” following “additive” moves upward by three lines of “additive”. Then, the label length data of the call format data is shortened by two lines of “article name” and three lines of “additive”.

  On the other hand, when the print item searched in step S11 does not correspond to any of “article name”, “additive”, “raw material”, and “message” (step S12: NO, step S13: NO, step S14: NO, step (S15: NO), skip steps S16, S17 and S18 and proceed to step S19. When it is determined that the print data satisfies the height of the print item of the format data (step S16: YES), the process skips steps S17 and S18 and proceeds to step S19. If it is determined that there is another print item of print data whose height position overlaps (step S17: YES), the process skips step S18 and proceeds to step S19.

  In addition, the present invention, in the label to be attached to the packed fresh food, on the surface of the product, affixed a label with the price of the product name and price, on the back of the product, additives and raw materials were mainly printed There is a case where a back label is attached, and the present invention may be applied to a label printer which can issue these two labels at a time.

  Further, the rotation angle of the print item may be set in the format data. The items that can shorten the printing range are not limited to the product names, additives, raw materials, and messages, but may be any items in which the printing range in the paper transport direction changes depending on the print data amount of the item. The timing of changing the print position is not limited to the time of printing or the time of dot development, but may be any time when print data is determined or after that.

  The print position change is not limited to the case where the print data amount is less than the print range, and may be the case where the print data amount exceeds the print range. In this case, the position of the subsequent item is changed in the direction away from it by the excess. By doing so, the setting operation of the print range in the paper transport direction can be omitted from the format data.

  Further, the mountless label printer may activate the adhesive surface of the paper when issuing the label. The cutting of the paper may be manually performed. The label printer is not limited to a single unit, but may be a scale, an automatic application device, a packaging machine, or a device equipped with a POS.

  Further, in this embodiment, the print data of each item is positioned in the print range of the format in the upper position, but is not limited to this, and may be positioned in the lower position. In the case of the bottom justification, in the item position change processing of step S18, not only the items following the item determined not to satisfy the height but also the item determined not to satisfy the height are changed in position.

  In the present embodiment, the format position data points to the upper left end of the print range. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may point to the upper right end, the lower left end, and the lower right end. The mountless label printer of this embodiment determines whether or not the print data corresponding to the print item satisfies the print range in the paper transport direction, and if not, at least other print items thereafter. It is also a change to reduce the position. Further, the mountless label printer of the present embodiment differs in the process of change depending on whether or not there is print data of another print item whose position in the paper transport direction overlaps with the portion that is not satisfied.

The supplementary notes are disclosed below.
(Supplementary Note 1) The mount-less label printer according to Supplementary Note 1 prints on a mount-less label paper based on print format data in which at least a print position in the paper transport direction and a print range in the paper transport direction are set for each print item. If the print height in the paper transport direction for the print data corresponding to the print range is less than the print range in the paper transport direction, The print position in the paper transport direction of one or both of the print item and the other print items is changed so that the print height is less than the print range in the paper transport direction so that the print position is shifted to the paper transport direction (paper Of the paper, or changed to be packed downstream of the paper). In other words, the print position may be filled with the print range upward or may be filled with the print range downward (the same applies hereinafter). Further, the mountless label printer compares the print range in the paper transport direction with the print height in the paper transport direction of the print data corresponding to the print range, and the print height meets the print range in the paper transport direction. For print items that are not present, the print position in the paper transport direction of one or both of the print item and the other print items may be packed in the paper transport direction by the amount that the print height is less than the print range in the paper transport direction. May be changed.

  According to the mount-less label printer, it is not necessary to change the print format for the same print item even if a label having a different print data amount is issued, so that the types of print formats can be reduced. In addition, since the interval between print items can be maintained, the influence on the appearance of the label can be suppressed.

  The mount-less label printer may compare a print range in the paper transport direction and a print height in the paper transport direction of print data corresponding to the print range for a predetermined print item. The predetermined print item may be any of a product name, an additive, a message, or a raw material.

  According to the above labelless label printer, it is determined whether or not print data satisfies a print range for a print name of an article name, an additive, a message, or a raw material. Often different and effective.

  When the print data of the print item whose print height is less than the print range in the paper transport direction and the print data of another print item in which the print position in the paper transport direction overlaps are not present, the labelless printer or the other The printing position of one or both of the printing items in the paper transport direction may be changed so that the print height is less than the printing range in the paper transport direction so as to be shifted in the paper transport direction.

  According to the labelless label printer described above, by changing the process depending on whether there is print data of another print item whose position in the paper transport direction overlaps, when the print items are arranged in parallel in the paper transport direction. Even if there is, there is no problem in saving paper.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 mount-less label paper 2 label roll 3, 17 thermal head 4 platen roller 5, 19 cutter 6 label 10 CPU
11 Flash memory 12 RAM
13 operation section 14 display section 15 communication section 16 interface 18 stepping motor

Claims (1)

A mountless label printer,
Based on print format data in which at least a print position in the paper transport direction and a print range in the paper transport direction for each print item are provided, a control unit that controls printing on the mount-less label paper,
The control means includes:
For the print range in the paper transport direction, there is a print item whose print height in the paper transport direction of the print data corresponding to the print range is less than the print range, and the print height is less than the print range in the paper transport direction. If there is no other print item in the print range of the print item where the print height is less than the print position in the paper transport direction overlaps, the print item whose print height is less than the print range in the paper transport direction Changing the printing position in the paper transport direction of the other print items downstream of the paper transport direction so that the print height is less than the print range in the paper transport direction, so that the print position is shifted to the upstream side in the paper transport direction. Characteristic mount-less label printer.

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