JP5469299B2 - Thermal printer printing control apparatus and thermal printer printing control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermal printer printing control apparatus capable of printing in a page mode having a good print quality as much as possible in terms of memory size in a thermal printer, and capable of dealing with long printing as required, and thermal printer printing. It relates to a control method.

  Thermal printers, one of the information printing terminals, include retail and logistics industries. It is used in various system forms. In this thermal printer, a thermal head in which a plurality of heating elements are arranged in a line shape is pressed against thermal paper, and the heating element selected from the plurality of heating elements is energized and a pulse is applied to the thermal head. Printing is performed by alternately repeating energization and paper feeding of thermal paper.

  By the way, when printing data is sent from the host computer to the thermal printer and printing is performed by the thermal printer, there are roughly two printing modes as printing control methods. One is a mode in which all the print data in one page is once expanded in a page memory mounted on the printer and then printed at once (hereinafter referred to as a page mode). The other is a mode in which printing is started when print data for one line is prepared (hereinafter referred to as a standard mode).

  However, when using the page mode, the size of one page of paper that can be set is expanded into print data, or the size of one page of image data expanded into print data is the memory size of the page memory installed in the printer. Therefore, there is a problem that long paper printing (for example, printing of 1 m or more) cannot be performed.

  In the standard mode, it is possible to print a long sheet as long as the command parameter permits. However, the printing speed may not be stable due to the influence of the data reception status and the print quality may not be good.

  Furthermore, it is possible to virtually enlarge the paper (image) size by repeating the page mode, but due to the print stop period that occurs when the page mode is repeated, uneven printing occurs more than the standard mode. There is a case.

  For this reason, it is desirable to provide a thermal printer printing control apparatus that can print in a page mode with the best print quality as much as possible in terms of memory size, and can also support long printing as necessary. It was.

  Note that there is a conventional print control apparatus having a page mode and a standard mode (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The print control apparatus of Patent Document 1 is intended to enable emphasized printing even in page mode printing of a printing apparatus having a serial dot impact head. For this purpose, print data for performing page mode printing is stored in a memory (page memory), and page mode printing is performed on a print area of a print medium based on the page data. Thereafter, this page data is reused and page mode printing is repeated on the same print area.

However, the print control apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a thermal printer print control apparatus that can print in the page mode with the best print quality as much as possible in the above-described memory size, and can also support long printing as required. The present invention is different from the present invention in the object and configuration.
JP 2005-53115 A

  As described above, in the conventional thermal printer, when the page mode is used, the size of the entire printable paper that can be set is expanded to the print data or the size of the image data for one page expanded to the print data is included in the printer. There was a problem that it was limited to a range that fits in the memory size to be mounted. In the standard mode, a long paper length can be printed as long as the command parameter permits, but the printing speed is not stable due to the influence of the data reception status and the print quality may not be good.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to allow a thermal printer to print in a page mode having a good print quality as much as possible in terms of memory size, and a long length if necessary. It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal printer printing control apparatus and a thermal printer printing control method that can cope with printing and the like.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and a thermal printer printing control apparatus according to the present invention presses a thermal head having heating elements arranged in a line in the main scanning direction against thermal paper. A thermal printer printing control apparatus including a thermal printer that performs printing for each dot line and a host computer that transmits printing data to the thermal printer to perform printing, and print data for one page to be printed. The printer is configured to perform printing in a page mode that is printed after being developed on the page memory of the thermal printer, and a standard mode that starts printing when print data for one line is determined, and is a printing target. If it is determined that the entire image data for one page fits in the page memory of the thermal printer, Printed with Jimodo, otherwise, it is configured to print in standard mode, characterized by.
In the thermal printer printing control apparatus of the present invention configured as described above, a page mode for printing after all the printing data for one page is expanded in the page memory of the thermal printer and printing is performed when the printing data for one line is determined. Enable to print in 2 modes of standard mode. If it is determined that the size of the print data for one page to be printed falls within the memory size of the page memory of the thermal printer, printing is performed in the page mode, and in other cases, printing is performed in the standard mode.
Thus, it is possible to perform printing by determining an optimum print mode based on the memory size of the page memory mounted on the thermal printer. For this reason, it is possible to print in a page mode having a good print quality as much as possible in terms of memory size, and it is also possible to cope with long printing as required.

In the thermal printer printing control apparatus according to the present invention, the host computer has a printer memory size acquisition unit for acquiring a memory size of a page memory mounted on the thermal printer, and image data for one page to be printed. Is compared with the memory size of the thermal printer page memory, and if it is determined that the print data for one page can be expanded in the page memory of the thermal printer, the page mode is In addition, when the print data for one page cannot be expanded in the page memory of the thermal printer, a mode switching determination unit that selects the standard mode and the page mode or standard selected by the mode switching determination unit Depending on the mode, the thermal printer A print data generation unit that generates print data to be transmitted; and a print data transmission unit that transmits the print data generated by the print data generation unit to the thermal printer. The thermal printer performs printing from the host computer. A print data receiving unit for receiving data, and determining whether the print data received from the host computer is page mode data or standard mode data, and the print data is page mode data. If there is, a received data mode determination unit that expands and stores the print data in the page memory, and in the case of page mode, the print data stored in the page memory is read, and 1 dot line data for printing is read. Sequentially generated and printed by driving the thermal head, When Tan hindered mode, characterized in that it comprises, a print processing unit for printing data received from the host computer initiates printing by driving said thermal head each aligned one dot line.
Here, “print data” refers to data when image data is expanded for printing.
In the thermal printer printing control apparatus of the present invention configured as described above, the host computer acquires information on the memory size of the page memory of the thermal printer. Then, it is determined whether or not the print data for one page to be printed has a size that can be expanded in the page memory in the thermal printer. As a result, if it is determined that the data can be expanded, print data to be printed as a page mode is transmitted to the thermal printer. If it is determined that the data cannot be expanded, the print data for printing in the standard mode is transmitted to the thermal printer. In the thermal printer, the print mode of print data transmitted from the host computer is determined. In the page mode, the print data is temporarily stored in the page memory, and then the print data stored in the page memory is read and printed. In the standard mode, printing is performed every time print data received from the host computer is aligned for one dot line.
Accordingly, it is possible to perform printing by determining an optimum print mode based on the memory size of the page memory mounted on the thermal printer. For this reason, it is possible to print in a page mode having a good print quality as much as possible in terms of memory size, and it is also possible to cope with long printing as required.

In the thermal printer printing control apparatus according to the present invention, the host computer stores image data to be printed, and causes the printer to perform printing, and a memory of a page memory mounted on the thermal printer. The printer memory size acquisition unit is configured to acquire the memory size of the page memory of the thermal printer from the storage unit.
In the thermal printer printing control apparatus of the present invention having the above configuration, the thermal printer to be printed is associated with the memory size of the page memory mounted on the thermal printer and stored in advance in the storage unit. deep.
Thereby, the host computer can determine whether to print the image data in the page mode or the standard mode by using the memory size information of the page memory of the thermal printer stored in the storage unit in advance.

In the thermal printer printing control apparatus of the present invention, the host computer is connected to one or more thermal printers in communication, and the printer memory size acquisition unit starts printing from the thermal printer to be printed. It is configured to receive information on the memory size of the memory.
In the thermal printer printing control apparatus of the present invention having the above-described configuration, the host computer is connected to one or more thermal printers in communication, and receives information on the memory size of the page memory from the thermal printer to be printed. get. Then, based on the acquired memory size of the page memory, the optimum print mode is determined and printing is performed.
As a result, the thermal printer print control device can acquire information on the memory size of the page memory of the thermal printer even when the memory size of the page memory of the thermal printer to be printed is unknown. Can be selected.

The thermal printer printing control method of the present invention includes a thermal printer that presses a thermal head having heating elements arranged in a line in the main scanning direction against thermal paper and performs printing for each dot line, and the thermal printer. A thermal printer printing control method in a thermal printer printing control apparatus comprising a host computer for sending printing data to the printer and printing the printing data for one page to be printed on the page memory of the thermal printer The procedure for enabling printing in the page mode for printing after development and the standard mode for starting printing when the print data for one line is determined, and the entire image data for one page to be printed are If it is determined that it fits in the page memory of the thermal printer, it is printed in the page mode. And, otherwise, to include a step of printing in the standard mode, the.
In the thermal printer printing control apparatus of the present invention including the above-described procedure, a page mode for printing after all the printing data for one page is expanded in the page memory of the thermal printer and printing is performed when the printing data for one line is determined. Enable to print in 2 modes of standard mode. If it is determined that the data size obtained by expanding the image data for one page to be printed into the print data fits in the memory size of the page memory of the thermal printer, printing is performed in the page mode. Print in mode.
Thus, it is possible to perform printing by determining an optimum print mode based on the memory size of the page memory mounted on the thermal printer. For this reason, it is possible to print in a page mode having a good print quality as much as possible in terms of memory size, and it is also possible to cope with long printing as required.

The thermal printer printing control method of the present invention includes a printer memory size acquisition procedure for acquiring a memory size of a page memory mounted on the thermal printer by a CPU in the host computer, and a print target for one page. When comparing the data size of the image data developed into the print data with the memory size of the page memory of the thermal printer and determining that the print data for one page can be developed into the page memory of the thermal printer, When the page mode is selected and the print data for one page cannot be expanded in the page memory of the thermal printer, the mode switching determination procedure for selecting the standard mode and the page selected by the mode switching determination procedure Depending on the mode or standard mode, A print data generation procedure for generating print data to be transmitted to the thermal printer, and a print data transmission procedure for transmitting the print data generated by the print data generation procedure to the thermal printer. The CPU determines the print data reception procedure for receiving print data from the host computer, and whether the print data received from the host computer is page mode data or standard mode data, and When the print data is page mode data, the received data mode determination procedure for expanding and storing the print data in the page memory, and in the page mode, reading the print data stored in the page memory, Sequentially generate 1 dot line data for printing A print processing procedure for driving the thermal head to start printing each time the print data received from the host computer is aligned for one dot line in the standard mode. It is performed.
In the thermal printer printing control method of the present invention including the above procedure, the host computer acquires information on the memory size of the page memory of the thermal printer. Then, it is determined whether or not the print data for one page to be printed has a size that can be expanded in the page memory in the thermal printer. As a result, if it is determined that the data can be expanded, print data to be printed as a page mode is transmitted to the thermal printer. If it is determined that the data cannot be expanded, the print data for printing in the standard mode is transmitted to the thermal printer. In the thermal printer, the print mode of print data transmitted from the host computer is determined. In the page mode, the print data is temporarily stored in the page memory, and then the print data stored in the page memory is read and printed. In the standard mode, printing is performed every time print data received from the host computer is aligned for one dot line.
Accordingly, it is possible to perform printing by determining an optimum print mode based on the memory size of the page memory mounted on the thermal printer. For this reason, it is possible to print in a page mode having a good print quality as much as possible in terms of memory size, and it is also possible to cope with long printing as required.

  In the thermal printer printing control apparatus of the present invention, printing can be performed by determining the optimum printing mode based on the memory size of the page memory mounted on the thermal printer. For this reason, it is possible to print in a page mode having a good print quality as much as possible in terms of memory size, and it is also possible to cope with long printing as required.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

“First Embodiment”
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a thermal printer printing control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows portions related to the present invention.

  The thermal printer printing control apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a host computer 1 that holds image data to be printed (image data), and a thermal printer 2 that prints print data received from the host computer 1 on thermal paper. The

  The host computer 1 is a computer system including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. For example, a personal computer or the like.

  Image data (image data) to be printed is stored in the storage unit 15 in the host computer 1. The storage unit 15 stores a table “model: page memory size” in which the thermal printer model (or identification number) and the memory size of the mounted page memory are recorded in association with each other. .

  The printer memory size acquisition unit 11 in the host computer 1 refers to the table stored in the storage unit 15 and acquires the memory size of the page memory installed in the thermal printer 2 to be printed. .

  The mode switching determination unit 12 compares the data amount for one page when the print data to be printed acquired from the storage unit 15 is expanded in the memory and the memory size of the page memory 25 of the thermal printer 2. When it is determined that the print data for one page can be expanded in the page memory mounted on the thermal printer 2, the page mode is selected. This page mode is a mode in which print data for one page is printed after all the data is expanded in the page memory of the thermal printer 2. If it is determined that the print data for one page cannot be expanded in the page memory 25, the standard mode for starting printing when the print data for one line is ready is selected.

  The print data generation unit 13 generates print data to be transmitted to the thermal printer 2 according to the page mode or the standard mode selected by the mode switching determination unit 12.

  The print data transmission unit 14 performs processing for transmitting the print data generated by the print data generation unit 13 to the thermal printer 2. The host computer 1 and the thermal printer 2 are communicatively connected via respective interface units (I / F) 16 and 22 so as to enable bidirectional communication. A USB or the like can be used for this communication connection. . Further, if desired, a wireless LAN can be used.

Next, the configuration of the thermal printer 2 will be described.
In the thermal printer 2, the print control unit 21 is a control unit that performs print processing of print data received from the host computer 1. The print control unit 21 is configured by a computer system including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like.

  A print data receiving unit 23 in the print control unit 21 performs a process of receiving print data transmitted from the host computer 1 via the interface unit (I / F) 22.

  The reception data mode determination unit 24 determines whether the print data transmitted from the host computer 1 is data transmitted as the page mode or data transmitted as the standard mode. In the page mode, the reception data mode determination unit 24 develops and stores the print data in the page memory 25.

  The print processing unit 26 generates print data to be transmitted to the head drive circuit unit 41. The print processing unit 26 includes a page mode print processing unit 27 and a standard mode print processing unit 28.

  In the page mode, the page mode print processing unit 27 in the print processing unit 26 reads out print data stored in the page memory 25, sequentially generates one dot line data for printing, and generates a head drive circuit unit. 41.

  In the standard mode, the standard mode print processing unit 28 generates one dot line data for printing when the print data for one line received from the host computer 1 is prepared, and sends it to the head drive circuit unit 41. Send.

  The head drive circuit unit 41 is a circuit unit that drives the heating elements R <b> 1 to Rn of the thermal head 42. On the thermal head 42, heating elements R1 to Rn are arranged in a line in the main scanning direction (direction perpendicular to the paper feed direction), and heat is generated by applying a pulse to the selected heating element to generate heat. Print one dot line on paper.

  The motor control unit 29 is a processing unit for controlling the paper feeding motor 52. The motor drive unit 51 is a control unit for driving the motor 52 in accordance with a control command from the motor control unit 29 and rotating it by a desired angle. The rotation of the motor 52 is transmitted to the platen 53, and the thermal paper is fed by rotating the platen 53. As a result, the one-dot line printing operation and the paper feeding operation are alternately performed to develop an image on the thermal paper.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the thermal printer printing control apparatus shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the printer memory size acquisition unit 11 of the host computer 1 acquires the memory size information of the page memory of the thermal printer 2 from the storage unit 15 (step S1). Then, the size in which the entire paper to be printed is expanded into print data or the size in which image data for one page is expanded into print data is compared with the memory size of the page memory of the thermal printer 2 (step S2).

  Then, it is determined whether the print data size of the paper to be printed or the print data size for one page can be expanded in the page memory 25 in the thermal printer 2 (step S3). As a result, when it is determined that development is possible (step S3: Yes), print data to be printed as the page mode is transmitted to the thermal printer 2 and printing is performed in the page mode (step S4).

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the data cannot be expanded in the page memory 25 (step S3: No), print data to be printed as the standard mode is transmitted to the thermal printer 2 and printing is performed in the standard mode (step S5).

  For example, assuming that the memory size of the page memory 25 in the thermal printer 2 can handle up to 10 × 10 cm paper size, printing is performed in the page mode when the size of print data in one page is 10 × 10 cm or less. carry out.

  As described above, in the thermal printer printing control apparatus according to the present invention, when image data is expanded into print data and printed by a thermal printer, printing is performed in a page mode having the best print quality as much as possible in terms of memory size. To do. In addition, standard mode printing enables printing such as long printing as required.

[Second Embodiment]
In the thermal printer printing control apparatus according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the memory size of the page memory mounted in the thermal printer is stored in advance in the storage unit in the host computer (it is known in advance). ) Explained the example. In the second embodiment of the present invention, an example in which the host computer acquires the memory size information of the page memory of the thermal printer from the thermal printer will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a thermal printer printing control apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The thermal printer printing control apparatus shown in FIG. 3 is different from the thermal printer printing control apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in that the memory size transmission unit 31 is newly installed in the printing control unit 21A of the thermal printer 2A shown in FIG. It is a point added to. Other configurations are the same as those of the thermal printer printing control apparatus shown in FIG. For this reason, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same component and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In FIG. 3, a memory size transmission unit 31 in the print control unit 21 </ b> A of the thermal printer 2 </ b> A is a processing unit for transmitting information on the memory size of the page memory 25 to the host computer 1. The memory size transmission unit 31 performs a process of transmitting memory size information to the host computer 1 in response to a memory size transmission request received from the host computer 1.

  In the host computer 1, the printer memory size acquisition unit 11 issues a memory size transmission request to the thermal printer 2A. Further, the printer memory size acquisition unit 11 transmits the memory size information received from the memory size transmission unit 31 of the thermal printer 2 </ b> A to the mode switching determination unit 12 and stores it in the storage unit 15. When storing in the storage unit 15, the model or identification number of the thermal printer is associated with the memory size and stored in the storage unit 15. Thereafter, when printing is performed using the same thermal printer, the memory size information stored in the storage unit 15 can be used.

  With the above configuration, even when the memory size information of the page memory mounted on the thermal printer is unknown in the host computer, it is possible to acquire the page memory information of the thermal printer and select the page mode or standard mode. become.

  FIG. 4 shows an example in which a plurality of printers 2A are connected to the host computer 1, and the host computer 1 selects and designates the printer 2A to perform printing. Also in this case, the host computer 1 can acquire information on the memory size of the page memory 25 from the thermal printer 2A to perform printing, and can perform printing by selecting the page mode or the standard mode.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the thermal printer printing control apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the above illustrated example, and various modifications are made within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course you get.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the thermal printer printing control apparatus concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in the thermal printer printing control apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the structure of the thermal printer printing control apparatus concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example by which the some thermal printer was connected to the host computer.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Host computer, 2 and 2A ... Thermal printer, 11 ... Printer memory size acquisition part, 12 ... Mode switch determination part, 13 ... Print data generation part, 14 ... Print data Transmission unit, 15 ... storage unit, 16 ... interface unit, 21, 21A ... print control unit, 22 ... interface unit, 23 ... print data receiving unit, 24 ... received data mode Determining unit, 25 ... page memory, 26 ... print processing unit, 27 ... page mode print processing unit, 28 ... standard mode print processing unit, 29 ... motor control unit, 31 ... Memory size transmission unit, 41... Head drive circuit unit, 42... Thermal head, 51... Motor drive unit, 52.

Claims (6)

A thermal printer that presses a thermal head in which heating elements are arranged in a line in the main scanning direction against thermal paper, and a printer that performs printing for each dot line, and a host that transmits printing data to the thermal printer for printing A thermal printer printing control device comprising a computer,
A page mode for printing after the print data of the entire paper to be printed is expanded on the memory mounted on the thermal printer, and a standard that starts printing when print data for one line is determined without using the memory Configured to print in mode, and
The size of the print data of the whole paper to be printed is compared with the memory size of the memory, and if it is determined that the print data of the whole paper to be printed fits in the memory, printing is performed in the page mode, If configured to print in standard mode,
A thermal printer printing control device characterized by the above. The host computer
A printer memory size acquisition unit for acquiring the memory size of the memory mounted in the thermal printer;
Comparing the data size of the image data of the entire paper to be printed into print data and the memory size;
If it is determined that the print data can be expanded in the memory, the page mode is selected, and if the print data cannot be expanded in the memory, a mode switching determination unit that selects the standard mode;
A print data generation unit that generates print data to be transmitted to the thermal printer according to the page mode or the standard mode selected by the mode switching determination unit;
A print data transmission unit that transmits the print data generated by the print data generation unit to the thermal printer;
With
The thermal printer is
A print data receiving unit for receiving print data from the host computer;
It is determined whether the print data received from the host computer is page mode data or standard mode data. If the print data is page mode data, the print data is stored in the memory. Received data mode determination unit that expands and stores
In the page mode, the print data stored in the memory is read, one dot line data for printing is sequentially generated and the thermal head is driven for printing. In the standard mode, the print data is read from the host computer. A print processing unit that starts printing by driving the thermal head every time the received print data is aligned for one dot line;
The thermal printer printing control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The host computer
A storage unit that stores the image data of the entire paper to be printed and stores a thermal printer that is intended to perform printing and a memory size of a memory that is mounted on the thermal printer;
The printer memory size acquisition unit
Configured to obtain the memory size from the storage unit;
The thermal printer printing control apparatus according to claim 2. The host computer
Communicatively connected to one or more thermal printers,
The printer memory size acquisition unit
The memory size information of the memory mounted on the thermal printer is received from the thermal printer to be printed.
The thermal printer printing control apparatus according to claim 2. A thermal printer that presses a thermal head in which heating elements are arranged in a line in the main scanning direction against thermal paper, and a printer that performs printing for each dot line, and a host that transmits printing data to the thermal printer for printing A thermal printer printing control method in a thermal printer printing control apparatus configured with a computer,
A page mode for printing after the print data of the entire paper to be printed is expanded on the memory mounted on the thermal printer, and a standard that starts printing when print data for one line is determined without using the memory The procedure to enable printing in mode,
The size of the print data of the whole paper to be printed is compared with the memory size of the memory, and if it is determined that the print data of the whole paper to be printed fits in the memory, printing is performed in the page mode, If you want to print in standard mode,
A thermal printer printing control method. By the CPU in the host computer,
A printer memory size acquisition procedure for acquiring the memory size of the memory mounted in the thermal printer;
Comparing the data size of the image data of the entire paper to be printed into print data and the memory size;
When it is determined that the print data can be expanded in the memory, the page mode is selected, and when the print data cannot be expanded in the memory, a mode switching determination procedure for selecting the standard mode;
A print data generation procedure for generating print data to be transmitted to the thermal printer according to the page mode or the standard mode selected by the mode switching determination procedure;
A print data transmission procedure for transmitting the print data generated by the print data generation procedure to the thermal printer;
Is done,
By the CPU in the thermal printer,
A print data receiving procedure for receiving print data from the host computer;
It is determined whether the print data received from the host computer is page mode data or standard mode data. If the print data is page mode data, the print data is stored in the memory. Received data mode determination procedure to expand and save to,
In the page mode, the print data stored in the memory is read, one dot line data for printing is sequentially generated and the thermal head is driven for printing. In the standard mode, the print data is read from the host computer. A print processing procedure for starting printing by driving the thermal head every time the received print data is aligned for one dot line;
The thermal printer printing control method according to claim 5, wherein:

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