JP2612937B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a printing device such as a label printer that performs printing based on data received from a host controller or data stored in a memory card.

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional printing device connected to, for example, a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as a personal computer) as a higher-level controller transmits format data such as coordinates, character type, magnification, etc. from a personal computer in accordance with a preset program. When print data is sequentially transmitted, the printing unit is driven based on the received data to perform printing on a predetermined sheet.

On the other hand, some printing devices of this type can read the contents of a memory card. In this device, by registering the format data in the memory card in advance, it is necessary to send only the printing data from a personal computer. There is an advantage that printing can be performed in the same format.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Conventionally, data registration to a memory card has been performed by using a dedicated program and transmitting necessary data from a personal computer. For this reason, when a memory card is used, it is necessary to prepare a dedicated program for data registration, which requires a lot of trouble and time.

Therefore, the present invention can register data related to printing on a memory card based on a program for transmitting data related to printing from a host controller,
An object of the present invention is to provide a printing device that can simplify the labor and time required for creating a memory card.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In a printing device that performs printing based on data related to printing received from a higher-level controller, data related to printing received from the higher-level controller in response to a registration start command from the higher-level controller is stored in a memory card. Data registration means for registering, registration end means for ending the registration of the received data in the memory card in response to a registration end command from the host controller, and printing based on data relating to printing read from the memory card in response to the call command Print control means for executing printing and executing printing based on data relating to printing received from the host controller when there is no call command.

[Operation] In the printing apparatus having the above-described means, when the registration start command is received, the data regarding the printing that is continuously received is registered in the memory card. This data registration to the memory card is continued until a registration end command is received. Then, when a call command is input, printing is performed based on data relating to printing read from the memory card.
The printing is performed based on the printing data received from the host controller.

Accordingly, data registration to the memory card can be performed only by generating a registration start command before data relating to printing is transmitted from the host controller and a registration end command when transmission of data relating to printing is completed. By generating a call command at the start of printing, printing using the memory card becomes possible.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a label printer will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a label printer.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a microprocessor including a CPU (central processing unit), a ROM (read only memory), and the like, which constitutes a control unit main body. Reference numeral 2 denotes a RAM (random access memory) for storing setting data, print data, and the like; 3, a keyboard / display controller for controlling the keyboard 4 and the display 5; and 6, a data transmission / reception with a personal computer 7 as a higher-level controller. The external interface 8 is an I / O port. The RAM 2, keyboard / display controller 3, external interface 6 and I / O port 8 are connected to the microprocessor 1 via a bus line.

The I / O port 8 includes a head drive circuit 10 for driving a thermal head 9 for printing, a ribbon motor 11 for operating a drive mechanism for driving an ink ribbon, a feed motor 12 for operating a transport mechanism for label paper, and the like. Various sensors
13 and so on are connected.

14 is a RAM card as a memory card, and this R
The microprocessor 1 can read and write data from and to the AM card 14.

When the microprocessor 1 receives a command from the personal computer 7 via the external interface 6 as shown in FIG. 2, it checks the type of the command. Here, if the received command is a registration start command, the command received thereafter is used as a memory card.
As a preparation for registration in the RAM card 14, for example, a card registration mode flag is set, and a command from the personal computer 7 is waited for. In this state, when a command is received from the personal computer 7 via the external interface 6, the type of the command is similarly checked. Here, the received command is not a registration end command, but a label format,
If the command is related to printing such as a ruled line format and a label size format, the command is written to the RAM card 14 and registered. The command registration to the RAM card 14 is continued until a registration end command is sent from the personal computer 7, and when the registration end command is received, the RAM
As the command registration to the card 14 is completed, for example, the card registration mode flag is reset.

On the other hand, if the command received from the personal computer 7 via the external interface 6 is not a registration start command but a call command, the command relating to printing is read from the RAM card 14 and printing is performed on label paper according to the command. Then, a label is issued (print control means).

If the command received from the personal computer 7 via the external interface 6 is neither a registration start command nor a call command, printing is performed on label paper in accordance with the received command, and a label is issued (printing). Control means).

In the label printer having such a configuration, when format data such as coordinates, character type, magnification, etc. and actual character print data are sequentially transmitted from the personal computer 7 in the same manner as in the related art, a label paper is formed based on the received data. Is printed.

On the other hand, if a registration start command is sent from the personal computer 7 before receiving data relating to this type of printing, the format data and the like sent thereafter are stored in the RAM.
Registered on the card 14. The data registration to the RAM card 14 is continued until a registration end command is sent from the personal computer 7.

Thereafter, when a call command is sent from the personal computer 7, the registered command in the RAM card 14 is read, and label issuance is performed based on the command. At this time,
By sequentially sending only print data from the personal computer 7, labels in the same format are issued many times.

As described above, by simply generating a registration start command before transmission of data relating to printing by the personal computer 7, a registration end command at the end of transmission of data relating to printing, and a call command at the start of printing, data relating to printing to the RAM card 14 can be obtained. Registration and printing using the card can be performed. Therefore, printing by the RAM card 14 becomes possible only by adding the processing of each of the above commands to the printing control program by the conventional personal computer 7, and a dedicated program for registering data in the memory card becomes unnecessary. And the time and effort when using are simplified.

Note that the present invention is not limited to a label printer, and a function of performing printing based on printing-related data received from a host controller such as a personal computer and a function of performing printing based on printing-related data read from a memory card. The present invention can be applied to all printing apparatuses having the following.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the call command is generated from the personal computer 7 has been described. However, the call command may be generated by a key input of the keyboard 4 in the label printer.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, data relating to printing can be registered in a memory card based on a program for transmitting data relating to printing from a host controller. It is possible to provide a printing device capable of simplifying the time and labor required for preparation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a label printer. FIG. 1 is a block diagram, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing main operations. 1 ... microprocessor, 6 ... external interface, 7 ... personal computer (PC), 14 ...
... RAM card.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printing apparatus for performing printing based on printing-related data received from a host controller, wherein the printing-related data received from the host controller is registered in a memory card in response to a registration start command from the host controller. Data registration means, registration end means for ending the registration of received data in the memory card in response to a registration end command from the host controller, and printing based on data relating to printing read from the memory card in response to a call command Along with
A printing control means for executing printing based on printing-related data received from a host controller when there is no call command.