JP2020062754A - Label printer - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a label printer in which printing can be performed by an operation in a wirelessly connected terminal device, the operation in the terminal device is easy, and unintended information printing can be prevented.SOLUTION: A label printer 1 includes: a printing head 20 for printing on a label; a communication unit 26 wirelessly connected to a terminal device; a storage unit 101 that stores registration information in which unique identification information allocated to the terminal device is associated with selection conditions in which information to be printed on the label is set; and a control unit 100 that performs printing by the selection conditions based on the registration information corresponding to the identification information upon receiving the identification information from the terminal device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a label printer that prints information such as a product name, raw material name, expiration date, and expiration date on a label.

  The label printer is used, for example, for printing information such as a deadline for using an article on a label and issuing a deadline label.

  As a printing device such as a label printer, a printing device has been proposed which is connected to an operating terminal so that information can be transmitted and received by mutual recognition wireless communication (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 establishes an exclusive connection with only one operation terminal, and print data is acquired from the operation terminal. Then, according to the print data, the printing process on the printing paper is performed.

  In addition, an input item that is information necessary for printing is received from the user of the wireless terminal via the wireless interface, and each of the received input items is arranged at a predetermined position on the print form data registered in advance in the printer. There has been proposed a printer that generates an image obtained in (1) and prints it (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP, 2017-177370, A JP, 2002-358186, A

  Conventionally, in a configuration including a wirelessly connectable terminal device and a printing device, the printing device receives a printing execution command and variable information such as image data and character data from the terminal device, and the printing device receives the variable information. It is developed and printed.

  As a result, conventionally, it is necessary to input information to be printed by the printing device at the terminal device each time printing is performed, or to select information to be printed at the terminal device, which requires a long time for operation. Also, unintended information may be printed due to incorrect input or operation.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and is a label printer capable of printing by operation on a terminal device wirelessly connected, and image data is printed by the terminal device when printing is attempted. It is possible to provide a label printer that can easily perform input operation because it does not handle text information and character information, and can prevent unintended printing of information by not transmitting image data and variable information of character information from the terminal device side. To aim.

  In order to solve the problems described above, the present invention provides a printing unit that prints on a label, a communication unit that is wirelessly connected to a terminal device, and an input unit that selects a selection condition that sets information that is printed on the label. A storage unit that stores the unique identification information assigned to the terminal device and the selection condition selected by the input unit in association with each other; and when the identification information is received from the terminal device, the printing unit uses the selection condition corresponding to the identification information. It is a label printer including a control unit that performs printing by.

  According to the present invention, when the terminal device operates, the unique identification information is output from the terminal device, and when the label printer receives the identification information from the terminal device, the label is printed according to the selection condition corresponding to the identification information.

  According to the present invention, the printing information is received from the terminal device without transmitting variable information such as image data and character data, and the identification information is received from the terminal device. Can be printed. As a result, the terminal device does not have label print data, and it is not necessary to input information to be printed by the label printer or select information to be printed at the terminal device, and the operation at the terminal device is easy. Further, it is possible to eliminate the possibility that unintended information is transmitted by an incorrect input or operation from the terminal device and is printed by the label printer.

It is a functional block diagram which shows an example of the label printer of this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the label printer of this Embodiment. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing an example of the label printer according to the present embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows an example of the terminal device of this Embodiment. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows an example of the terminal device of this Embodiment. 3 is a table showing an example of a storage unit of the label printer according to the present embodiment. 3 is a table showing an example of a storage unit of the label printer according to the present embodiment. It is a flow chart which shows an example of label issuing processing using a terminal unit. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the label issued. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of registration processing for registering a terminal device that can issue a label in a label printer. It is an explanatory view showing an example of a registration operation screen. It is an explanatory view showing an example of a registration operation screen. It is an explanatory view showing an example of a registration operation screen. It is an explanatory view showing an example of a registration operation screen. It is a flow chart which shows an example of registration contents change processing which changes registration contents of a terminal unit which can issue a label. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a registration content change operation screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a registration content change operation screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a registration content change operation screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a registration content change operation screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a registration content change operation screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a registration content change operation screen. It is a block diagram which shows the other example of the terminal device of this Embodiment.

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

<Example of Configuration of Label Printer of Present Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a label printer of this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a label printer of this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an example of a label printer of this embodiment. FIG. Further, FIG. 4 is a functional configuration diagram showing an example of the terminal device of the present embodiment, and FIG. 5 is an external perspective view showing an example of the terminal device of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the label printer 1 is loaded with a label 12 with a mount, which is provided in a form in which a long mount 11 to which the label 10 and the like are attached is wound. The label printer 1 includes a print head 20 that prints on a label 10 attached to a label 12 with a mount, a platen roller 21 that is provided to face the print head 20, and that conveys the label 12 with a mount, and a platen roller 21. And a conveyance motor 21M for driving. The label printer 1 also includes a label sensor 22 that detects the presence or absence of a label, the leading edge position of the label, and the like, and a reading unit 23 that reads the label identification information printed on the back surface of the mount 11.

  The print head 20 is an example of a printing unit, and is a thermal head in this example. The platen roller 21 and the transport motor 21M are examples of a transport unit, and transport the label 12 with a mount. The label sensor 22 is an example of a label detection unit and detects that the leading end of the label 10 has been conveyed to a predetermined position. The label sensor 22 is composed of, for example, a sensor (transmissive sensor) including a light emitting element and a light receiving element. The reading unit 23 is composed of, for example, a sensor (reflection type sensor) including a light emitting element and a light receiving element.

  The label printer 1 includes a control unit 100 that prints, on the label 10, an article name, expiration information such as expiration date or expiration date, and encoding information as usage expiration information. The label printer 1 also includes a storage unit 101 that stores items to be printed on the label 10, label print data in which the contents of the items are set, registration information of the terminal device 30, and the like.

  The label print data is created by executing a predetermined label creation application by an information processing device (not shown) such as a personal computer. The label print data created by the information processing device is provided in an external memory or the like in this example.

  Further, the label printer 1 has an input unit 24 that receives an operation of issuing a time limit label on which the expiration date information and the like are printed on the label 10, an operation of registering the terminal device 30, an operation of changing the registration content for the terminal device 30, and the like. Prepare Further, the label printer 1 includes a display unit 25 that displays an operation screen for issuing a time limit label, a registration operation screen for registering the terminal device 30, a registration content change operation screen for changing the registration content for the terminal device 30, and the like. The label printer 1 also includes a communication unit 26 connected to the terminal device 30. Further, the label printer 1 includes a clock unit 27 that generates date / time information that specifies the date and time.

  The input unit 24 is composed of an input device such as a button-type keyboard that can input characters and numbers and can select and determine information. The display unit 25 includes a display device such as a display. The input unit 24 and the display unit 25 may be realized by a touch panel type display. The communication unit 26 connects to the terminal device 30 using an existing wireless communication technology such as BLUETOOTH (registered trademark), wireless LAN, infrared ray, or the like, and inputs / outputs information with the terminal device 30. In the clock unit 27, the date and time are set as the date and time information, and the time counting operation is executed.

  The control unit 100 includes a CPU, a microprocessor called MPU, and the like. The storage unit 101 includes a storage device such as a RAM or a flash memory.

  Next, the configuration of the terminal device 30 will be described. The terminal device 30 includes an input unit 31 that receives an operation of outputting the unique identification information UID. The terminal device 30 also includes a communication unit 32 connected to the label printer 1. Further, the terminal device 30 includes a control unit 33 that outputs the identification information UID by operating the input unit 31.

  The input unit 31 is composed of a button type switch. Similarly to the label printer 1, the communication unit 32 connects to the label printer 1 using existing wireless communication technology such as BLUETOOTH (registered trademark), wireless LAN, infrared ray, etc., and outputs information to the label printer 1. I do.

  The control unit 33 includes a CPU, a microprocessor called MPU, and the like. The terminal device 30 may be configured to store the identification information UID in the control unit 33, or may be separately provided with a storage device such as a RAM or a flash memory for storing the identification information UID.

  6A and 6B are tables showing an example of the storage unit of the label printer according to the present embodiment. In the storage unit 101 of the label printer 1, the additional value information D1 that is added to the current date and time acquired by the clock unit 27 to calculate the time limit information to be printed on the label 10 becomes an item for which a label can be issued. Correspondingly stored. The added value of the added value information D1 to be added to the current date and time is set by day, hour, minute, or up to a predetermined time, as shown in FIG. 6A.

  Further, the storage unit 101 of the label printer 1 stores the identification information UID of the terminal device 30 and the registration information D2 associated with the print data. In the registration information D2, a layout name that specifies the label print data, selection conditions such as the number of sheets set to print with the layout, and the like are stored in association with the identification information UID. In this example, the layout name is specified by the article name, but the layout name is not limited to this, and the layout name may be specified by a storage form such as refrigeration required or long-term storage.

<Operation Example of Label Printer of this Embodiment>
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the label issuing process using the terminal device. Next, the operation of issuing a label by the terminal device 30 will be described.

  The user of the label printer 1 having the terminal device 30 operates the input unit 31 of the terminal device 30 in order to issue the term label in step SA1 of FIG. In this example, the input unit 31 is composed of a button type switch, and the operation of the input unit 31 is executed by pressing a button.

  When the input unit 31 is operated, the control unit 33 of the terminal device 30 causes the communication unit 32 to output the identification information UID in step SA2.

  When the identification information UID is output from the terminal device 30 while the communication unit 26 can communicate with the communication unit 32 of the terminal device 30, the control unit 100 of the label printer 1 sends the identification information UID to the communication unit 26 in step SA3. To receive.

  Upon receiving the identification information UID, the control unit 100 acquires the label print data specified by the layout name associated with the identification information UID based on the registration information D2 in the storage unit 101 in step SA4. In step SA5, the control unit 100 acquires the additional value to be added to the current date and time from the additional value information D1 in the storage unit 101 to calculate the expiration date information of the article, and in step SA6, the current value acquired by the clock unit 27. The addition value is added to the date and time to calculate the deadline information.

  In step SA7, the control unit 100 prints the expiration date information such as the article name, the expiration date or the expiration date as the expiration date information on the number of labels set in the registration information D2. When the identification information UID is received, the selection conditions such as the article name and the number of prints specified by the identification information UID and the layout name associated with the identification information UID are printed before printing the label or during the printing of the label. May be displayed on the display unit 25. Thus, a user who is not near the label printer 1 can issue a label by operating the terminal device 30, and when another person is near the label printer 1, it is possible to recognize the situation in which the label printer 1 operates. .

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the issued label. When “A001” is received as the identification information UID in step SA3 of FIG. 7, the control unit 100 determines from the registration information D2 shown in FIG. 6B that the layout name is “cake” and the number of printed sheets is “2”. To do. Further, it is determined from the additional value information D1 shown in FIG. 6A that the additional value added to the current date and time is “0”.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 100 prints two expiration date labels 13 on which the expiration date information 13b such as the article name 13a and the expiration date or the expiration date is printed as the expiration date information.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a registration process of registering a terminal device that can issue a label in a label printer, and FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D are explanatory diagrams showing an example of a registration operation screen. Next, an operation for enabling the label to be issued by the terminal device 30 will be described.

  In the label printer 1, the input unit 24 is provided with a button for calling a registration mode relating to the setting of the terminal device 30. When the registration mode operation menu relating to the setting of the terminal device 30 is called and the registration request for the terminal device 30 is selected in SB1 of FIG. 9, the control unit 100 of the label printer 1 performs registration as shown in FIG. 10A. The operation screen 25a1 that prompts the user to operate the input unit 31 of the terminal device 30 to be displayed is displayed on the display unit 25.

  The control unit 100 determines whether the identification information UID is received from the terminal device 30 in step SB2. Note that the control unit 100 may return to the normal standby state when a certain time has elapsed after the operation menu of the registration mode regarding the setting of the terminal device 30 was called and the registration request of the terminal device 30 was selected.

  When the control unit 100 receives the identification information UID from the terminal device 30 in the state where the registration request for the terminal device 30 is selected, the control unit 100 displays on the display unit 25 a registration operation screen for selecting conditions necessary for printing the label. In step SB3, as the selection condition 1, as shown in FIG. 10B, a layout selection screen 25b1 for selecting a desired layout from the label layouts registered in advance is displayed on the display unit 25.

  When a layout is selected on the layout selection screen 25b, the control unit 100 displays the number selection screen 25c1 for selecting the number of labels to be printed on the display unit 25 as the selection condition 2 in step SB4 as shown in FIG. 10C. To do.

  When the number of sheets is selected on the number of sheets selection screen 25c, the control unit 100 displays the layout name selected on the layout selection screen 25b and the number of sheets selected on the number of sheets selection screen 25c in step SB5, as shown in FIG. 10D. A registration screen 25d1 that is registered in association with the identification information UID is displayed on the display unit 25.

  When a predetermined operation of registering the contents of the registration screen 25d is performed by the input unit 24, the control unit 100 stores the identification information UID of the terminal device 30 and the registration information D2 in which the layout name and the number of sheets are associated with each other. Remember.

  As another example of performing the registration process of registering the terminal device in the label printer, a desired layout is first selected and the above-described selection condition 1 and selection condition 2 are set, and then the registration mode is called to call the terminal device. By receiving the identification information UID from 30, the set selection condition may be registered in association with the identification information UID.

  In addition, the calling of the registration mode is not limited to the operation of the button provided on the input unit 24, and, for example, the control unit 100 of the label printer 1 may normally press the input unit 31 of the terminal device 30 such as long press or multiple press. It is conceivable that the label printer 1 calls the registration mode when a different predetermined operation is detected. At this time, the registration mode is called only when the state in which the terminal device 30 is brought close to the label printer 1 is detected by the detection means such as a proximity sensor (not shown), so that the selection displayed on the display unit 25 can be performed. The registration may be performed while confirming the conditions.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of registration content change processing for changing the registration content of a terminal device that is capable of issuing a label, and FIG. 12A, FIG. 12B, FIG. 12C, FIG. 12D, FIG. 12E, and FIG. Next, the operation of changing the registered content will be described with reference to an explanatory diagram showing an example of the operation screen.

  In the label printer 1, the input unit 24 is provided with a button for calling a registration mode relating to the setting of the terminal device 30. When the registration mode operation menu relating to the setting of the terminal device 30 is called and the request for changing the registration content of the terminal device 30 is selected in SC1 of FIG. 11, the control unit 100 of the label printer 1 is as shown in FIG. 12A. Then, the operation screen 25a2 that prompts the user to operate the input unit 31 of the terminal device 30 whose registration content is to be changed is displayed on the display unit 25.

  The control unit 100 determines whether or not the identification information UID is received from the terminal device 30 in step SC2. It should be noted that the control unit 100 returns to the normal standby state after a lapse of a certain time after the operation menu of the registration mode regarding the setting of the terminal device 30 is called and the request for changing the registered content of the terminal device 30 is selected. Is also good.

  When the control unit 100 receives the identification information UID from the terminal device 30 in the state where the request to change the registered content of the terminal device 30 is selected, in step SC3, based on the registration information D2 stored in the storage unit 101, As shown in 12B, the setting screen 25b2 indicating the selection condition associated with the corresponding identification information UID is displayed on the display unit 25. If the identification information UID received from the terminal device 30 is determined not to be registered in the registration information D2 when the request for changing the registration content of the terminal device 30 is selected, the above-described new registration process can be executed. You may do it.

  When the operation of changing the selection condition is selected in step SC4 in the state where the setting screen 25b2 is displayed, the control unit 100 is pre-registered as the selection condition 1 in step SC5 as shown in FIG. 12C. A layout selection screen 25c2 for selecting a desired layout from the displayed label layouts is displayed on the display unit 25.

  When the changed layout is selected on the layout selection screen 25c2, the control unit 100 displays the number selection screen 25d2 for selecting the number of printed labels as the selection condition 2 in step SC6 as shown in FIG. 12D. To display.

  When the number of sheets changed on the number of sheets selection screen 25d2 is selected, the control unit 100, in step SC7, as shown in FIG. 12E, the layout name changed on the layout selection screen 25c2 and the number of sheets changed on the number of sheets selection screen 25d2. Is displayed on the display unit 25 in a registration screen 25e2 for registering with the identification information UID.

  When a predetermined operation for registering the content of the registration screen 25e2 is performed by the input unit 24, the control unit 100 stores the identification information UID of the terminal device 30 and the registration information D2 in which the layout name and the number of sheets are associated with each other. Remember.

  When the operation of deleting the registration of the terminal device is selected in step SC4 while the setting screen 25b2 is displayed, the control unit 100 registers the identification information UID as shown in FIG. 12F in step SC8. The registered content deletion screen 25f2 for selecting whether or not to delete the registered content is displayed on the display unit 25 for the terminal device 30 that is operating. When the deletion of the registration content is selected on the registration content deletion screen 25f2, the control unit 100 deletes the registration information D2 corresponding to the corresponding identification information UID. When the registration content deletion screen 25f2 is selected not to delete the registration content, the control unit 100 maintains the registration information D2 corresponding to the corresponding identification information UID and ends the process.

  When the operation of terminating the registration content change processing is selected in step SC4 while the setting screen 25b2 is displayed, the control unit 100 maintains the registration information D2 corresponding to the corresponding identification information UID and performs the processing. To finish.

  FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram showing another example of the terminal device according to the present embodiment. The terminal device 30B illustrated in FIG. 13 is configured by an information processing device such as a so-called smartphone. When an application that outputs the identification information UID assigned to the terminal device 30B is installed and the application is executed, a button 32b that receives an operation of outputting the identification information UID is displayed on the display unit 31b. When the button 32b is touched, the terminal device 30B outputs the identification information UID.

  1 ... Label printer, 100 ... Control unit, 101 ... Storage unit, 20 ... Print head (printing unit), 21 ... Platen roller, 24 ... Input unit, 25 ... Display unit, 26 ... Communication unit, 27 ... Clock unit

Claims (6)

A printing section that prints on the label,
A communication unit wirelessly connected to the terminal device,
An input section where selection conditions that set the information printed on the label are selected,
A storage unit that stores the unique identification information assigned to the terminal device and the selection condition selected by the input unit in association with each other,
A label printer, which receives the identification information from the terminal device and causes the printing unit to perform printing according to the selection condition corresponding to the identification information. When the registration mode relating to the setting of the terminal device is executed and the identification information is received from the terminal device during execution of the registration mode relating to the setting of the terminal device, the control unit associates the identification information with the selection condition. The label printer according to claim 1, wherein the label printer is attached and stored in the storage unit. Further comprising a display unit for displaying the identification information received from the terminal device and the selection condition selected by the input unit,
When the control unit receives the identification information from the terminal device during execution of a registration mode relating to the setting of the terminal device, the storage unit is associated with the identification information received from the terminal device and the identification information. The label printer according to claim 2, wherein the selection condition stored in the unit is displayed on the display unit. When the control unit receives the identification information from the terminal device during execution of a registration mode relating to the setting of the terminal device, the control unit stores registration information in which the identification information and the selection condition are associated with each other in the storage unit. The label printer according to claim 2. Further comprising a display unit for displaying the identification information received from the terminal device and the selection condition selected by the input unit,
When the control unit receives the identification information from the terminal device during execution of a registration mode related to the setting of the terminal device, the storage unit stores the identification information received from the terminal device and the identification information in association with each other. The label printer according to claim 4, wherein the selection condition of the registration information stored in the unit is displayed on the display unit. The label printer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the selection condition is a layout of the specified label and the number of printed labels.

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