JP5104601B2 - Printer and tape printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer and a tape printer which can prevent a password necessary for printing of a document from being forgotten. <P>SOLUTION: The printer is equipped with a display means 5 which displays inputted information, a printing means which prints the information, a password generating means which generates the password necessary for displaying the information to the display means 5 when a power supply of the apparatus is on, a memory means 44 which stores the inputted information and the password relating with each other to be nonvolatile. When the information is displayed on the display means 5 in a state immediately before the power supply of the printer is turned off, the printing means prints the password when the power supply of the apparatus is turned off. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a tape printing apparatus that execute predetermined processing in accordance with power operation of the apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a print control apparatus that requires a password input when printing a print document is known. The print control apparatus includes an operation panel for inputting a password, reading means for reading a password included in print data, and means for comparing the input password with the read password. Then, the print control apparatus receives print data from the host apparatus, and starts printing when the password included in the print data matches the input password (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to this configuration, only a user who knows the password can print the document, so that the document can be prevented from being lost and confidential.
JP 2000-76028 A

However, if the document can be printed only when the passwords match, as in the above print control device, if the user forgets the password of the target document, the document itself cannot be printed, and the result There is a problem that the document is lost.
In particular, in recent years, from the viewpoint of improving security, a complicated password is often set, and it is difficult for the user to remember the password correctly. It is conceivable to write down the password on paper or the like to prevent the password from being forgotten. However, in the case of a complicated password as described above, the password may be mistakenly written, and as a result, the document cannot be printed.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a printing apparatus and a tape printing apparatus that can prevent a password required for printing a document from being lost.

  A printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a display unit that displays input information, a printing unit that prints information, and a password generation unit that generates a password necessary for displaying information on the display unit when the apparatus is turned on. Storage means for associating and storing the input information and password in a nonvolatile manner, and when the information is displayed on the display means in a state immediately before the apparatus is turned off, the printing means A password is printed when the printer is off.

According to this configuration, the printing apparatus of the present invention generates a password necessary for displaying information (text, image, etc.) input by the user when the apparatus is turned on, and the input information, the password, Are stored in association with each other. When information is displayed immediately before the apparatus is turned off (when there is information input by the user), a password corresponding to the information is printed when the apparatus is turned off.
By storing the information input by the user and the password in association with each other, it is possible to keep the information confidential. In addition, by printing the password, it is possible to prevent the display of information from becoming impossible due to the user forgetting the password (as a result, the information is lost). In addition, even if the password is complicated, it is possible to provide the user with an accurate password as a printed matter. For example, it becomes impossible to display information due to a mistake in writing the password that occurs when the password is kept on paper or the like. This can be prevented.

  In the printing apparatus of the present invention, when information is displayed on the display unit immediately before the apparatus is turned off, the display unit preferably displays a password when the apparatus is turned off.

  According to this configuration, the password is displayed on the display means (display screen) when the apparatus is turned off. Thereby, for example, even when there is no medium (paper, printing tape, etc.) used for printing and the password cannot be printed, the user can surely recognize (understand) the password.

  The printing apparatus according to the present invention further includes an input unit that inputs a password when the apparatus is turned on, and a password determination unit that determines whether or not the same password as the input password exists in the storage unit, As a result of determination by the password determination unit, when it is determined that the input password exists in the storage unit, the display unit preferably displays information associated with the password.

  According to this configuration, it is determined whether or not the same password as the password input at the time of power-on of the device exists in the storage unit, and when the corresponding password exists, information associated with this password is displayed. . As a result, only the user who knows the password can display (browse) the information, so that information can be prevented from leaking to other users (information can be kept confidential).

  In the printing apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the printing unit prints at least a part of the information associated with the password in addition to the password.

  According to this configuration, in addition to the password, by printing at least a part of the information associated with the password, the user can easily grasp the relationship between the password and the information.

  The tape printer of the present invention is characterized by comprising each means in the printer described above.

  According to this configuration, a password required for displaying information (text, image, etc.) input by the user when the apparatus is turned on is generated, and the input information and the password are stored in association with each other. Then, when information is displayed immediately before the apparatus is turned off (when there is information input by the user), a tape printer capable of printing a password corresponding to the information when the apparatus is turned off is provided. can do.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, a tape printing apparatus that creates a label by printing on a tape-like medium will be described as an example of the printing apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the tape printer 1 according to the present embodiment with the opening / closing lid 4 opened. As shown in FIG. 1, the tape printer 1 has an exterior formed by a device case 2, and a keyboard 3 (input means) having various input keys is disposed on the front upper surface of the device case 2, and a rear upper surface. Open / close lid 4 is attached to the left part thereof, and display screen 5 (display means) is arranged on the right part thereof. A cartridge mounting portion 6 for mounting a tape cartridge C is recessed inside the opening / closing lid 4, and the tape cartridge C is detachably mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 6 with the opening / closing lid 4 opened. The The open / close lid 4 is formed with a viewing window 7 for visually confirming mounting / non-mounting of the tape cartridge C in the closed state.

  On the keyboard 3, a character key group 3a and a function key group 3b for designating various operation modes are arranged. The character key group 3a has a full key configuration based on the JIS layout, and is similar to a general word processor or the like, including a shift key for suppressing an increase in the number of keys to be operated. The function key group 3b includes a [print] key 11 for instructing execution of printing, a [power] key 12 for operating power on / off (power on / off), and a cursor movement and scroll operation. Cursor keys ([↓], [↑], [←], [→]) 13, [Selection] key 14 for selecting and confirming selection candidates (options), and canceling selection of selection candidates [ Cancel key ([Cancel] key) 15 and the like are included. These key inputs may be individually provided for each key input as in a general keyboard, or may be input using a smaller number of keys in combination with a shift key or the like. .

  The display screen 5 is formed of a liquid crystal display. The display screen 5 allows the user to input desired information (text, images, etc.) using the keyboard 3 to create / edit print data such as text data and image data, and to visually check (confirm) the results. Used when

  A tape discharge port 21 is formed on the left side of the apparatus case 2 to communicate the cartridge mounting portion 6 with the outside. The tape discharge port 21 is exposed to a tape cutter 22 for cutting the printing tape T that has been sent out. It is out. Then, the printed printing tape T is fed out from the tape discharge port 21 by a predetermined length, and the printed printing tape T is cut by the tape cutter 22 in a state where the feeding is temporarily stopped. Create a label. As for the cutting process, the driving of the cutter motor 23 (see FIG. 2) can be set depending on whether automatic cutting is performed or not.

  On the other hand, the cartridge mounting unit 6 has a head unit 24 in which a thermal type print head 26 is built in a head cover 25, a platen drive shaft 27 facing the print head 26, and a winding for winding an ink ribbon R described later. A drive shaft 28 and a positioning projection 29 of a tape reel 32 described later are provided. In addition, a tape feed motor 30 (see FIG. 2) for rotating the platen drive shaft 27 and the take-up drive shaft 28 is incorporated below the cartridge mounting portion 6.

  The tape cartridge C has a tape reel 32 around which a printing tape T having a certain width (about 4 mm to 48 mm) is wound at an upper central portion inside the cartridge case 31, and a ribbon reel 33 around which an ink ribbon R is wound at the lower right. The printing tape T and the ink ribbon R are configured with the same width. A through-hole 34 is formed in the lower left part of the tape reel 32 to be inserted into the head cover 25 that covers the head unit 24. Further, the head unit 24 inserted into the through-hole 34 is provided with a platen roller 35 that is fitted to the platen drive shaft 27 and rotated to correspond to a portion where the printing tape T and the ink ribbon R overlap. . On the other hand, a ribbon take-up reel 36 is arranged in the vicinity of the ribbon reel 33, and the ink ribbon R fed out from the ribbon reel 33 is arranged so as to go around the head cover 25 and is taken up by the ribbon take-up reel 36. It is like that.

  When the tape cartridge C is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 6, the through hole 34 is formed in the head cover 25, the center hole of the tape reel 32 is formed in the positioning protrusion 29, and the center hole of the ribbon take-up reel 36 is formed in the winding drive shaft 28. Then, the print head 26 is brought into contact with the platen roller 35 with the print tape T and the ink ribbon R interposed therebetween, and printing becomes possible. Thereafter, when the user inputs desired text (characters such as letters, numbers, symbols, and simple figures) and an image with the keyboard 3 while confirming the editing result of the display screen 5 and instructs printing, the tape printer 1 The print tape T is fed from the tape cartridge C by the tape feed motor 30 and the heat generating elements of the print head 26 are selectively heated to perform desired printing on the print tape T. The printed portion of the printing tape T is sent to the outside from the tape discharge port 21 as needed, and when printing is completed, the tape feeding motor 30 feeds the printing tape T to the position of the tape length including the margin, The feeding is stopped (then, the process proceeds to the cutting process).

  On the other hand, the printing tape T is composed of a recording tape Ta having an adhesive layer formed on the back surface, and a release tape Tb attached to the recording tape Ta by the adhesive layer. The printing tape T is wound in a roll shape with the recording tape Ta on the outside and the release tape Tb on the inside, and is accommodated in the cartridge case 31. In addition, a plurality of types of printing tape T having different tape types (tape width, tape ground color, ground pattern, material (texture), etc.) are prepared, and each of the cartridge cases 31 has one type. The printing tape T and the ink ribbon R are accommodated. A plurality of holes (not shown) for specifying the type of the tape cartridge C are provided on the back surface of the cartridge case 31. A plurality of tape identification sensors (such as microswitches) 37 (see FIG. 2) for detecting these are provided in the cartridge mounting portion 6 corresponding to the plurality of holes. By detecting the state of the hole, the tape type can be determined.

  Next, the control configuration of the tape printer 1 will be described with reference to the control block diagram of FIG. The tape printer 1 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 41, a random access memory (RAM) 42, a read only memory (ROM) 43, a flash ROM 44 (storage means), a display screen 5, a keyboard 3, and a cutter. A motor 23, a tape cutter 22, a tape feed motor 30, a print head 26, and a tape identification sensor 37 are provided. The CPU 41 is connected to the ROM 43, the flash ROM 44, the display screen 5, the keyboard 3, the cutter motor 23, the tape feed motor 30, the print head 26, and the tape identification sensor 37 via the bus 46.

  The RAM 42 is directly connected to the CPU 41 and is used as a work area when the CPU 41 performs various controls. The ROM 43 stores a control program and control data for the CPU 41 to perform various controls.

  The flash ROM 44 stores text and image data (hereinafter referred to as “user data”, which corresponds to “information” in the claims) input by the user, and a password assigned to the user data in association with each other. (save). This password is automatically generated by the CPU 41 when the apparatus is turned off, and is given to the target user data. The user data includes environment setting information (typeface, character size, etc.) when the data is created.

  As described above, the display screen 5 is used to display the password and the password input screen 5a for inputting the password, in addition to being used for creating and editing text data, image data, and the like and confirming the result. It is done. Specifically, a password input screen 5a is displayed when the apparatus is turned on to provide a password input environment to the user. When the apparatus is turned off, a password corresponding to user data to be saved is displayed.

  The cutter motor 23 is connected to the tape cutter 22 and functions as a cutting means. The tape feed motor 30 and the print head 26 function as printing means for performing printing on the printing tape T. The CPU 41 prints the password on the printing tape T by the printing means when the apparatus is turned off.

  With the above configuration, the CPU 41 stores user data and a password in association with each other when the apparatus is turned off. Then, the CPU 41 displays the password on the display screen 5 and prints the password on the print tape T. Further, when the apparatus is turned on, the CPU 41 displays a password input screen 5a. When the same password as the password input by the user is stored in the flash ROM 44, the CPU 41 reads (calls) user data associated with the password and displays it on the display screen 5 (details will be described later). To do).

  Here, with reference to FIG. 3, a process when the tape printer 1 is turned off will be described. First, when the user presses the [Power] key 12 while the power of the tape printer 1 is on, the tape printer 1 starts a power-off process (S01). At this time, the tape printer 1 determines whether there is user data created or edited (whether there is information input by the user on the display screen 5) (S02).

  When there is no user data (S03; No), the tape printer 1 turns off its own power and ends the process. In this case, the tape printer 1 does not generate a password. On the other hand, when there is user data (S03; Yes), the tape printer 1 determines whether the user data is data read from the flash ROM 44 (S04).

  When the user data is not data read from the flash ROM 44 (in the case of newly created data, S05; No), the tape printer 1 generates a password corresponding to the user data (S06, password generation). Means), the user data and the password are stored in association with each other (S07). Then, the tape printer 1 displays the generated password on the display screen 5 (S08).

  Next, the tape printer 1 determines whether or not the print tape T is present (S09). When there is the print tape T (S10; Yes), the tape printer 1 prints the generated password on the print tape T (S11), and ends the process. On the other hand, when there is no printing tape T (S10; No), the tape printer 1 displays a screen indicating that there is no printing tape T (S12). In this state (state of S12), when the printing tape T is loaded (when the tape cartridge C having the printing tape T is loaded, S13), the tape printer 1 prints the generated password on the printing tape T. (S11), and the process ends. On the other hand, when the print tape T is determined as being not attached in the above-described state (state of S12) (S14), the tape printer 1 does not print the generated password and ends the process.

  On the other hand, when the user data is the data read from the flash ROM 44 (including the edited data) in S05 described above (S05; Yes), the tape printing apparatus 1 "stores the user data by overwriting" "Or" New saving (save as separate data) "is displayed (S15).

  When "Overwrite" is selected (S16), the user data is overwritten and saved (S17), and the process ends. In this case, since the password for the user data is not changed, the password is not displayed on the display screen 5 and the password is not printed. On the other hand, when “New Store” is selected (S18), the tape printer 1 generates a password corresponding to the user data by executing the processes from S06 to S14 described above, and the generated password. After displaying and printing, the process ends.

  Next, processing when the tape printer 1 is turned on will be described with reference to FIG. First, when the user presses the [Power] key 12 with the power of the tape printer 1 turned off, the tape printer 1 starts a power-on process (S21). At this time, the tape printer 1 determines whether or not an arbitrary password (or arbitrary user data) exists in the flash ROM 44 (S22).

  If there is no arbitrary password (or arbitrary user data) (S23; No), the tape printer 1 displays the initial display screen 5 (display screen 5 in which nothing is input) (S24). . On the other hand, when an arbitrary password (or arbitrary user data) exists (S23; Yes), the tape printer 1 displays the password input screen 5a (S25).

  When the password is entered without being entered by the user on this password entry screen 5a (when the password entry is canceled, S26), the tape printer 1 displays the display screen 5 in the initial state (display in which nothing is entered). A screen 5) is displayed (S24). On the other hand, when the password is input by the user (S27), the tape printer 1 determines whether or not the same password as the input password exists in the flash ROM 44 (S28, password determination means).

  When the corresponding password exists (S29; Yes), the tape printer 1 reads the user data associated with the password (input password) and displays the content of the user data on the display screen 5 (S30). ). On the other hand, when the corresponding password does not exist (S29; No), the tape printer 1 displays the password input screen 5a again (S25). Thereby, since only the user who knows the password can display (view) the contents of the user data, it is possible to prevent information from leaking to other users.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the tape printer 1 generates a password necessary for displaying user data (information input by the user) created or edited by the user when the apparatus is turned on. The user data and the password are stored in association with each other. When there is user data created or edited by the user immediately before the device is turned off (when information input by the user is displayed), the password corresponding to the user data is printed when the device is turned off. To do.

  By storing the user data and the password in association with each other, it is possible to keep the information confidential. In addition, by printing the password, it is possible to prevent the display of information from becoming impossible due to the user forgetting the password (as a result, the information is lost). In addition, even if the password is complicated, it is possible to provide the user with an accurate password as a printed matter. For example, it becomes impossible to display information due to a mistake in writing the password that occurs when the password is kept on paper or the like. This can be prevented.

  Further, by displaying the password on the display screen 5 when the apparatus is turned off, for example, when there is no printing tape T used for printing and the password cannot be printed, the user can surely recognize (understand) the password. Can do.

  In the present embodiment, only the password is printed on the printing tape T, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, by printing at least a part of information (contents of user data) associated with the password in addition to the password, the user can easily grasp the relationship between the password and the information.

  In this embodiment, the password is generated when the power is turned off. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the password may be generated when the power is turned on.

  In this embodiment, when the read user data is overwritten and saved (S27 in FIG. 4), the password for the user data is not changed regardless of whether the user data is edited or not. Although printing is not performed, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when overwriting and saving, a new password may be generated regardless of whether or not the user data has been edited, and the password may be displayed and printed. Alternatively, if the user data is edited, a new password may be generated / displayed / printed, and if not edited, the password may not be changed, and the password may not be displayed / printed.

  When user data is present when the power is turned off (when the display screen 5 includes information input by the user), a screen for confirming whether or not a password is set for the user data may be displayed. On this screen, if the user answers “Set”, the password is generated / displayed / printed. If the user answers “No”, the password is not generated / displayed / printed. Data may be erased from the display screen 5.

  Further, in the conventional tape printer 1, the information input by the previous user is displayed when the power is turned on unless the user consciously deletes information (such as input text). For this reason, when the tape printer 1 is shared and used, there is a problem that information leaks to other users. The user who uses the tape printer 1 next inputs information desired by the user after deleting the information (text or the like) created by the previous user. However, there are many problems in determining whether the information is important, and there is a problem that it cannot be easily deleted. Therefore, as in this embodiment, when the password is authenticated, the user data associated with the password is displayed. When the password is not entered, the initial screen is displayed. Can be solved.

  Further, regardless of the above-described embodiments, the apparatus configuration of the tape printer 1 and each process of the processing can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

1 is an external perspective view of a tape printer according to an embodiment of the present invention in an open state. It is a control block diagram of the tape printer concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process at the time of power-off. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process at the time of power-on.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tape printer 3 ... Keyboard 5 ... Display screen 41 ... CPU 44 ... Flash ROM T ... Printing tape

Claims (5)

Display means for displaying the input information;
Printing means for printing the information;
Password generating means for generating a password necessary for displaying the information on the display means when the apparatus is turned on;
Storage means for storing the input information and the password in association with each other in a nonvolatile manner,
When the information is displayed on the display means in a state immediately before the device is turned off,
The printing apparatus, wherein the password is printed when the apparatus is powered off. When the information is displayed on the display means in a state immediately before the device is turned off,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the password when the apparatus is powered off. Input means for inputting the password when the device is powered on;
Password determining means for determining whether or not the same password as the input password exists in the storage means; and
As a result of the determination by the password determination unit, when it is determined that the input password exists in the storage unit,
The display means includes
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information associated with the password is displayed. The printing means includes
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in addition to the password, at least a part of the information associated with the password is printed.   5. A tape printing apparatus comprising the means of the printing apparatus according to claim 1.

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