JP3179670B2 - Time stamp printing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is used in the technical field of time stamps for printing the start and end times of various kinds of work, parking lots or playgrounds, numbers, etc. on paper. More specifically, the present invention relates to a printing device suitable for use in the above time stamp.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional time stamp is used as a printing device, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 39591/1992 discloses a type in which a plurality of type rings are arranged in a line, or for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 4-502.
No. 53, a dot printer was used.

[0003] An embossing printing device using the above-described type ring is as follows.
The arrangement and printing width of characters (printed characters) are constant and cannot be changed. Also, in the case of a printer using a dot printer, the printing width and the size of characters (printing) cannot be changed constantly. The time and other information were always printed in the same character size and space between characters.

[0004]

However, the size of the printing paper or the printing frame specified by the user varies widely.
The characters printed by the above-mentioned type ring or dot printer do not fit inside the print frame of the printing paper and protrude outside, or conversely, the entire print frame is too large compared to the characters to be printed. However, there is a case where the balance of the entire printing is deteriorated, so that improvement has been desired.

Accordingly, a technical problem of the present invention is to provide a printing method for printing the size and width of a character (hereinafter simply referred to as a printing width) when a time stamp is printed on the inserted printing paper. That is, it can be variably adjusted according to the size of the frame.

[0006]

Means taken by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned technical problems are as follows.

[0007] One side of the printing paper inserted from the insertion slot
Guide plate, and while being guided by this guide plate
A knob is provided to determine the printing position of the inserted printing paper.
In the designated printing frame of the inserted printing paper.
In the time stamp configured so that the printer prints the time, etc.

(1) A print width input means capable of arbitrarily setting a print width of a character string to be printed in the print frame, and printing based on the input print width and the number of characters. Character adjustment means that automatically selects and determines the optimal character size and inter-character space that can fit within the print width range, and the print width that sets and registers the optimal character size and inter-character space determined in these ways A setting registering means; and a print control unit for performing printing in the print frame by the printer with an optimum character size and an inter-character space set and registered.

(2) Adjustment of the optimum character size and inter-character space by the character adjusting means is performed by selecting a font that matches the printing width and the number of characters from a plurality of fonts registered in advance and determining the character size. After that, select a space between characters that matches this character size.

(3) The selection of the font by the character adjusting means is determined such that the size is gradually enlarged to a point where the size gradually becomes larger than the input print width, and then reduced by one rank. .

(4) On the front of the body of the time stamp,
A plurality of switches for performing setting mode switching operations, printing width input and registration operations, and a display for displaying these operations on a monitor.

(5) Outside the body of the time stamp,
When the upper case is removed from the fuselage, a mode switch is provided to switch the time stamp operation mode from the normal mode to the setting mode, and a mode selection display panel is provided around the display with the upper case removed. To be provided.

[0013]

The respective means described in the above (1) to (5) operate as follows.

According to the means described in the above (1), the inserted
The print position for the printed paper
And print it in the designated print frame on the print paper.
Time stamp configured to print the time
In the printing of the time and the like by the printer, the printing width (length) of the character string such as the date and time to be printed according to the size of the printing frame of the printing paper is input and set. Since the optimal character size (font) and inter-character space are selected and set based on the dimensions and the number of characters of the character string, subsequent printing by the printer can be performed according to the optimal character size and inter-character space. Various prints such as date and time can be printed in a well-balanced print style in a predetermined print frame of print paper.

According to the means described in the above (2), in adjusting the character size and the inter-character space, first, an optimum character size is selected from a plurality of fonts and determined. In order to select the optimal inter-character space based on the character size, number of characters, and printing width, various characters should be placed in the designated print frame on the printing paper just in the right size and inter-character space. Enables printing with good balance.

According to the means described in the above (3), in selecting a font, first, the font is gradually enlarged, and when the entire size becomes larger than the input print width, the font is changed. In order to determine the character size by reducing the rank by one, it is necessary to print in a well-balanced character size that just fits in the fixed printing frame of the printing paper, that is, neither too large nor too small. enable.

According to the means described in (4), the switching operation of the setting mode, the input setting of the printing width, and the registration thereof can be easily and accurately performed according to the switch operation while looking at the display. Therefore, it is possible for anyone to easily input and change the print width.

According to the means described in (5) above, when the upper case body is removed from the body of the time stamp, the mode changeover switch is operated to automatically switch the time stamp mode from the normal mode to the setting mode. Therefore, it is not necessary to operate the mode change switch each time, and when the upper case body is removed, a display panel for mode selection appears around the display, so that the display on the display panel and the display can be viewed. By comparing, each input operation and setting operation described above can be performed accurately.

As described above, the above-mentioned technical problems can be solved by the above-mentioned means, and the problems of the conventional technology can be solved.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the above-described time stamp printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a time stamp provided with a printing device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the time stamp with the upper case removed. In the drawings, etc., the reference numeral 1 generally indicates a time stamp body constituted by a lower case body 1A and an upper case body 1B, and 1T is between the lower case body 1A and the upper case body 1B. The provided printing paper insertion opening, 2 is a guide plate for guiding one side of the printing paper inserted into the insertion opening 1T, and 3 is the insertion of the printing paper inserted into the insertion opening 1T.
A knob for determining the printing position by controlling the printing amount is shown.

4, the upper case body 1B can be removed from the body 1 by rotating it by 90 ° to the “open” position as shown in FIG. 3, and by turning it to the “closed” position. The body 1B can be locked in the mounting state shown in FIG.
The key switch is configured so that the operation mode of the time stamp can be switched from the normal mode to the setting mode when the key switch is set to the position of “setting”.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a display for displaying the number to be printed, the current time, or input data as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, reference numerals 6 and 7 denote touch plates for printing, and reference numeral 8 denotes input data. A registration key 9 used for registration is a viewing window. When the upper case body 1B is removed at positions on the back side of the plates 6 and 7 and the registration key 8, as shown in FIG. Button switches 6S, 7 for "-" and "Registration"
S, 8S appears.

FIG. 4 illustrates the function and use of each of the button switches 6S, 7S, 8S when the operation mode is switched to the setting mode by removing the upper case body 1B. The width is set by operating these button switches 6S, 7S, 8S.

Further, in FIG. 2, 1F is a frame body, 1F
Fa is a front frame plate on which the display 5 is mounted, 12 and 13
Reference numeral denotes a printer for printing and a ribbon cassette attached to the upper case body 1B side. Reference numeral 12T denotes a lock plate which is lowered during printing by the printer 12 and presses printing paper from above. Reference numeral 10 denotes a body of the upper case body 1B. When the switch is removed from the switch 1, the switch is turned on to switch the operation mode of the time stamp from the normal mode to the setting mode. Reference numeral 11 denotes a frame axis.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the time stamp according to the present invention. In FIG. 5, A is a CPU which forms the center of the system, B is a display unit for connecting the display unit 5, C is a clock control unit for transmitting a reference clock signal, D is a printing paper detection unit which is connected to a trigger (not shown) which is pressed by the leading end of the inserted printing paper and turns on the switch, E
Is a switch unit having the above-described button switches 6S, 7S, 8S, F is a print control unit for connecting the printer 12,
G is a number control unit that manages the number printed by the time stamp, H is a counter control unit that manages various setting data, S is a key switch input unit that connects the key switch 4 and the mode switch 10, and T is a key switch input unit. An I / O drive unit for connecting the head motor 12A and the head lowering motor 12B of the printer 12 described above, wherein the respective units B to T are connected to the CPU as shown in the drawing, and each of them is controlled under the monitoring of the CPU. It has a working mechanism.

FIG. 6 shows a display example of the display 5 in the normal use mode shown in FIG. 1, that is, in the normal mode.
In addition to indicating the position of W on “Thursday”, “12345”
6 "total number," 12 "date and" 1 "
7:15 "is displayed .
When the paper is inserted into the insertion slot 1T, the designated mark on the printing paper is
For example, in the character frame "123456 12-12-'94
17:15 "is printed.

FIG. 7 shows the upper case body 1B as shown in FIG.
Is a display example of the display 5 when the operation mode is switched to the setting mode by removing the
FG is a display panel on which setting items are displayed. When the operation mode is switched to the print width setting mode, the cursor switch 5A is operated by operating the lower "+" and "-" button switches 6S and 7S so that the cursor 5A is displayed. The width may be adjusted to the width of the display panel FG.

FIG. 8 shows the button switches 6S-8 described above.
This shows a display example in a case where an arbitrary print width (mm) is input and set using the S and the display 5. In setting the print width, the cursor 5A is set to “print width setting”. After setting the print width setting mode to match the display panel FG of
It is sufficient to input the specific numerical value 5X using the "+" and "-" button switches 6S and 7S while watching the monitor display on the display unit 5. After the input, the "register" button switch 8S is turned on. In this way, a mechanism is set and registered in the memory. In the illustrated case, a horizontal width (print width) of 21 mm is input and set.

Next, a processing procedure for adjusting the print character size and the space between characters to the optimum print width in accordance with the input and set print width will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In setting the character size, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, an optimum font (character size) is selected and set from each rank of a plurality of fonts X1 to X6 programmed in advance. However, the types of fonts shown in FIG. 12 are merely examples, and the character size set according to the present invention is not limited to these fonts X1 to X6.

In the first step S1 shown in FIG. 9, a print example (for example, a character string such as '94 -08-29 12:34) is input, and in the next step S2, the print example is made in accordance with the procedure described in FIG. Is input and set in units of mm.

In the next step S3, the current value (the width value at the time of shipment or last use) which has already been input is compared with the input value which has been input. Since the interspace can be used as it is, the process is terminated. However, if the current value is smaller and the font needs to be enlarged, the process proceeds to step S4. Conversely, the current value is larger and the font is reduced. If it is necessary to proceed, the process proceeds to step S12.

In step S4, the rank of the font shown in FIG. 12 is enlarged by one rank from the current value, and then in step S5, the width of the print obtained by enlarging the font by one rank is calculated. It is determined whether the value is within the range of the set value input in step S2.

If it is determined in step S6 that the horizontal width of the print is within the range of the set value, the process returns to step S4 to enlarge the font by one rank again. Repeat one rank at a time as many times as possible until the set value is exceeded.

If it is determined in step S6 that the horizontal width of the print exceeds the set value, the flow advances to step S7 to reduce the font by one rank and determine the maximum optimal font that falls within the set value range. Next, the process proceeds to step S8, where an inter-character space (dot space shown in FIG. 13) is inserted between the characters, and the process proceeds to the next step S9.

In step S9, the width of the print including the space between characters is calculated. In the next step S10, the newly calculated width is compared with the set value input in step S2, and the new width is set as the set value. If it is within the range, the flow returns to step S8 to insert the inter-character space again, and this insertion of the inter-character space is repeated until the width exceeds the range of the set value.

If it is determined in step S10 that the new width exceeds the set value, the flow advances to step S11 to delete the inserted inter-character space only once, thereby determining the optimum inter-character space. To finish the process.

On the other hand, in the above-mentioned step S12, the font of the character size is reduced by one rank, and in the next step S13
After calculating the width of the print in step S14, it is determined in step S14 whether the width of the new print is within the range of the set value. If the width is within the range, the process proceeds to step S15. Returning to S12, the font is reduced by one rank until the horizontal width of the print falls within the range of the set value, and the largest and most suitable font that falls within the range of the set value is selected.

In step S15, an inter-character space is inserted. In step S16, the width of a new print including the inter-character space is calculated. Next, in step S17, the new width is compared with a set value to determine whether the new width is within the range. In this case, the process returns to step S15 to re-insert the inter-character space, and repeats this process any number of times until it exceeds the range of the set value.

When the new width exceeds the set value in this way, the process proceeds to step S11, in which the inserted inter-character space is deleted only once to determine the optimum inter-character space, and the process is terminated.

As described above, according to the present invention, the largest font (character size) falling within the range of the input print width set value is selected while gradually expanding or reducing one rank at a time. The character width can be printed in a well-balanced manner by inserting a space between characters to compensate for the difference between the new width and the set value of the character string composed of the characters. By storing the inter space in the memory, the printing paper Y having a small printing frame as shown in FIG.
In the case of A, and also in the case of printing paper YB having a large printing frame as shown in B, printing can be performed in a well-balanced manner with the character size and inter-character space according to the size of each printing frame. it can.

A, B, and C in FIG. 11 show an example of printing in a small space, a standard printing example, and an example of printing in a large space, and show a printing apparatus according to the present invention. According to the above, by simply inputting and setting the width of the character string to be printed (14 mm, 33 mm, and 54 mm in the case shown), printing can be performed in a well-balanced manner with different character sizes and spaces between characters as shown in the figure.

Further, FIG. 13 shows that the printing example is "'94 -11-
22 "shows a pattern explaining the relationship between the character size (font) and the space between characters (dot space). In the case shown, it is possible to print in a total of 24 types of patterns. .

FIG. 14 is a block diagram for explaining the whole of the present invention.

[0046]

As described above, according to the time stamp printing apparatus of the present invention, an optimum character size and an inter-character space suitable for the size of the printing paper or the size of the printing frame are printed. Since it can be automatically set only by inputting the printing width of the character string, the printing balance and appearance in the printing frame are good, and the printing quality by the time stamp can be greatly improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a time stamp provided with a printing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the time stamp with the upper case removed.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a key switch.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing functions and uses of a button switch in a table.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a display device when a normal mode is used.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a display device when a setting mode is used.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a display device when setting a print width input.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a print width setting process.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of printing on a small print column and a large print column.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a print width.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a font in a table.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an actual configuration of a font and a space between characters arranged in ascending order from the smallest one.

FIG. 14 is an overall configuration diagram of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Time stamp 1A Lower case body 1B Upper case body 1T Insertion opening 2 Guide plate 3 Knob for determining printing position 4 Key switch 5 Display 6S, 7S, 8S Button switch 10 Mode changeover switch YA, YB Printing paper

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Daisuke Fujita 275 Soyodo-cho, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Inside Amano Corporation (56) References JP-A-58-186890 (JP, A) JP-A-5-57985 (JP, A) JP-A-63-122568 (JP, A) JP-A-63-80385 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 21/00 B41J 19/64 B41J 29 / 40 G07C 1/00

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. One side of a printing paper inserted from an insertion slot
A guide plate to guide, and a guide plate
Knob to determine the printing position of the printing paper
Equipped with the specified printing frame of the inserted printing paper
A print width input means for arbitrarily setting a print width of a character string to be printed in the print frame in a time stamp configured so that a printer prints time or the like therein; Character adjustment means that automatically selects and determines the optimal character size and space between characters that can fit the print within the range of the print width according to the width and the number of characters, and the optimal character size determined based on these And a printing width setting registration means for setting and registering a space between characters , and a mark in the printing frame by the printer.
A printing device for a time stamp, comprising: a printing control unit for performing a character in an optimum character size and an inter-character space set and registered. 2. Adjustment of the optimum character size and inter-character space by the character adjusting means is performed by selecting a font that matches the print width and the number of characters from a plurality of fonts registered in advance and determining the character size. 2. The time stamp printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an inter-character space corresponding to the character size is selected and performed. 3. A method for selecting a font by the character adjusting means,
2. The time stamp printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the size is first enlarged gradually to a point where the printing width becomes larger than the input printing width, and then reduced by one rank. 4. A plurality of switches for performing a setting mode switching operation, a printing width input operation and a registration operation, and a display for displaying these operations on a monitor are provided on the front surface of the time stamp body. 2. The time stamp printing device according to claim 1, wherein: 5. A mode changeover switch for switching an operation mode of a time stamp from a normal mode to a setting mode when the upper case body is removed from the body of the time stamp body, and a display device from which the upper case body is removed. 5. The time stamp printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a display panel for mode selection is provided in a peripheral portion of the time stamp.