JP5970773B2 - Label printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a label printer that prints predetermined items on a label.

  Conventionally, in a label printer that prints and issues predetermined items on a label, it is possible to check on the display screen whether the content printed on the label is correct before actually printing on the label. A printer is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). According to the label printer, if an error in the printing content is found on the display screen, the printing content (setting value) is corrected in the setting mode for setting the printing items. Labels with no etc. can be issued.

JP 2000-246972 A

However, in a normal label printer, a large number of various print items can be set, and there are many similar setting items. If you want to print characters on a label and the content is related to an advertisement (for example, the character “Today's special sale”), the character is set as the setting value (comment text) of the setting item “comment” It can also be set as a setting value (advertising text) of the setting item “advertising text”.
For this reason, for example, even if it is found that “this month's sale item” should be “today's sale item” in the above example, “this month's sale item” is displayed in the setting item “comment”. ”Is the setting value (comment text), or the setting item“ ad text ”is set as the setting value (ad text) No one other than the person who set it will know immediately. Therefore, it is necessary to check the setting items that are likely to be set with incorrect setting values that are subject to correction, search for the setting values, and correct them to the correct setting values. Even if a mistake in the contents is found, there is a problem that it takes time to correct the set value and the label cannot be issued quickly.
Also, for example, different setting values with the same attribute, such as setting item “comment 1” and setting item “comment 2” (for example, “XXX” for comment 1 and “YYY” for comment 2). ) Can be set multiple times, the number of setting items further increases, so that it takes time to search for the set value, and when the label is issued after correction, there is a problem that the label cannot be issued quickly. is there.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a label printer that can easily change the content printed on the label while checking the content printed on the label. To do.

In order to solve the above problems, the label printer according to an embodiment of the present invention is a label printer for issuing print the print data to be printed on the calling label, store Printout data you said printed in association with each file comprising storage means for the print data stored in the storage means, based on the format information for printing the indicia character data on the label, and display means for displaying the label image to be printed on the label, the The display means displays the file name corresponding to the print data of the displayed label image .

In the label printer, the display unit may display the file name on the label image.

In the label printer, the display unit may display a print position change button for changing a print position in the label image together with the label image.

In the above label printer, the display means, before SL if it is specified in the print data on the label image, among the plurality of types of input screen for changing the print data, corresponding to print data to which the specification is An input screen may be displayed.

  According to the present invention, as described above, the content printed on the label can be easily changed while confirming the content printed on the label.

It is an example of a display by the label printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is an example of a display in a label printer. It is an example of the block diagram showing the structure of a label printer. It is an example of the information which a label printer memorize | stores. It is an example of the information which a label printer memorize | stores. It is an example of the information which a label printer memorize | stores. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of a label printer.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. A label printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a device that issues a label to be attached to a product or a product container. 1 and 2 are display examples by the label printer 1.

  The label printer 1 displays a screen (hereinafter referred to as a label information screen) for displaying information relating to a label to be issued as shown in FIG. 1A on a liquid crystal display (to be described later) that is a touch panel. Can be issued. The label information displayed on the label information screen is information for each product (label) (for example, the label information shown in FIG. 1A is information related to the product “beef loin”). On the label information screen, for example, the user can confirm the label size, the print contents printed on the label, and the like, and can issue a label by pressing an issue key (not shown). The screen transitions from a first screen (menu screen) (not shown) to the screen shown in FIG. 1A, and each item in the screen shown in FIG. Transition to the matching screen.

  Further, the label printer 1 displays a screen (hereinafter referred to as a label image screen) for displaying a label image (hereinafter referred to as a label image) issued in accordance with print settings (format file (described later)). Specifically, when the button “label print image” is pressed (designated or selected) on the label information screen, the label printer 1 displays the label image screen (transition from the label information screen to the label image screen). For example, when the button “label print image” is pressed on the label information screen shown in FIG. 1A, the label printer 1 displays a label image screen as shown in FIG.

  The label image displayed on the label image screen includes an area of each information actually printed on the label based on the setting value of the setting item. For example, the label image shown in FIG. 1B includes an area (advertising) of character information “Today's sale item” of the advertisement text actually printed based on the setting value “Today sale item” of the setting item “Advertisement”. Sentence area), the character information “beef loin” area (article name area) of the product name actually printed based on the set value “beef loin” of the setting item “product name”, and the set value “512345” of the set item “barcode” 014340 ”(barcode information), the barcode image area (barcode area) that is actually printed (printed), and the setting item“ production date ”set value“ 02.6.5 ” Manufacturing date character information “02.6.5” (manufacturing date region) to be printed, and the expiration date actually printed based on the setting value “02.6.7” of the setting item “expiration date” Area of character information “02. 6.7” (award The expiration date area) and the setting value “600” of the setting item “unit price” and the area (price area) of the character information “1434” of the price actually printed based on the weight are included. The user can confirm the content actually printed on the label on the label image screen.

  Note that the setting value set in the setting item includes a setting value itself printed on a label (for example, the “advertisement text” and “product name”) and information based on the setting value (for example, the “bar” Code information ") and information (for example, a format number described later) in which even information based on the set value is not printed on the label exist. Among the setting items, those in which the setting value itself is printed on the label, or information in which information based on the setting value is printed on the label is referred to as a printing item, and the setting value of the printing item (and printing when printing is performed) Item) is also referred to as print data.

The label printer 1 displays a screen for inputting characters (hereinafter referred to as a character input screen). Specifically, the label printer 1 displays a character input screen when touching each area displayed in the label image (when touching and releasing at that position) (from the label image screen to the character input screen). To transition). For example, the label printer 1 is displayed in the advertising text area as shown in FIG. 2A when the “Today's special sale date” which is the advertising text area is touched on the label image screen shown in FIG. A character input screen for changing the print data (current setting value “Today's special sale item” of the advertisement text 1 of the setting item “advertisement text”) is displayed.
The user can change the print data of each area on the label image on the character input screen. In addition, the user can change the setting value that is the basis for display in each area in addition to the print data of each area on the label image on the character input screen. For example, when the user changes the print data “Today's special sale item” to “5 times the point” on the character input screen shown in FIG. 2A, the setting value “Today” of the setting item “Advertisement text” The “sale item” can be automatically changed to “5 times the point”.

  The label printer 1 displays a character input screen corresponding to the touched area on the label image screen. For example, on the label image screen shown in FIG. 1B, when “02.6.5” that is the manufacturing date, “02.6.7” that is the expiration date, or “1343” that is the price is touched, Instead of a character input screen for inputting hiragana as shown in FIG. 2 (a), a character input screen (numeric keypad) for inputting numbers is displayed. When “Return” in FIG. 1B is pressed, the screen in FIG.

  Further, the label printer 1 accepts the movement of the display position of each area displayed in the label image on the label image screen. That is, when the user presses the “change position” key in the display of FIG. 1B, for example, as shown in FIG. 2B, a display in which each print area is surrounded by a dotted line so that the print area can be moved. For example, it is possible to touch “Today's special sale item” and move it to a desired position while touching the portion with the finger in the vertical and horizontal directions. Further, when the display position of each area is moved on the label image, the label printer 1 updates the format information in the format file to the display position after the movement. Note that when “Return” in FIG. 2B is pressed, the screen in FIG. 1B returns. In addition, the change of the print data of the “advertisement text” and “manufacturing date” and the change of the print position of “Today's special sale date” have been described. Pressing the "Return" key when exiting the screen displays a message that allows you to select whether or not to store the changed data in each file. By selecting to store, each file is overwritten and stored. Is done. For example, in the case of the “advertising text”, “today's special sale date” of the advertising text number 1 is overwritten and stored in the advertising text file. Since the “manufacturing date” and “price” are data set directly in the product file as shown in the example of the product file in FIG. 4, the product file is overwritten when the print data is changed. Will be remembered.

  FIG. 3 is an example of a block diagram showing the configuration of the label printer 1. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the label printer 1 includes a control unit 100, a scale 2, a printing mechanism unit 3, and an operation unit 5. The scale 2 includes a load cell 2a and measures the weight of the product. The label printing mechanism unit 3 performs label printing and discharges the printed label. The printing mechanism unit 3 includes, for example, a thermal head that performs dot printing, a shift register that accumulates data for one dot line and supplies the data to the thermal head, and a stepping motor that moves the label one dot line at a time. Print any letters, numbers, and images.

  The operation unit 5 includes a key operation unit 7 and an operation display unit 9. The key operation unit includes a numeric keypad and a print key. The numeric keypad accepts numeric input. The print key accepts input of a print instruction. The operation display unit 9 has a touch panel 9a laminated on the upper surface of the liquid crystal display 9b, and can display and input data on the same surface. The liquid crystal display 9b displays various data by dot display of 480 × 200 dots, for example. The touch panel 9a is a transparent panel and is provided on the upper surface of the liquid crystal display 9b. When the operator's finger touches the touch panel 9a, the touch panel 9a detects the touched position and receives an input corresponding to the detected position.

  The control unit 100 includes a CPU 20, a load cell control unit 21, a print control unit 22, an operation control unit 24, a display control unit 25, a RAM 30, and a ROM 40. The CPU 20 is connected to each unit included in the control unit 100 via a bus in a state where data can be input and output.

  The CPU 20 reads out the control program stored in the ROM 40 and various information stored in the RAM 30, and controls each unit based on the read-out control program and various information. Further, the CPU 20 stores necessary information in the RAM 30. The load cell control unit 21 controls the load cell 2 a included in the scale 2. The print control unit 22 controls the print mechanism unit 3. The operation control unit 24 controls the key operation unit 7 and the touch panel 9a. The display control unit 25 controls the liquid crystal display 9b. The RAM 30 is a temporary storage area that stores information used by the CPU 20. Further, the RAM 30 stores various files (described later) in which values are input (set) by the user. The ROM 40 stores a control program.

4 to 6 are examples of information stored in the RAM 30 by the label printer 1.
FIG. 4 is an example of a product file stored in the RAM 30 by the label printer 1. The product file shown in FIG. 4 has setting items such as a product number, product name, unit price, date of manufacture, expiration date, advertisement number, comment number, and format number. The setting item “product name”, the setting item “manufacturing date”, and the setting item “best before date” are printing items as shown in FIG.
Note that the configuration of the product file shown in FIG. 4 is an example. For example, the date of manufacture and the expiration date are not a format for setting the date, but the reference values (external keys) of other files are used in the same manner as the ad text number. It is good also as a format to set.

  FIG. 5 is an example of an advertisement text file stored in the RAM 30 by the label printer 1. The ad text file shown in FIG. 5 has setting items for an ad text number and an ad text. The setting item “advertising text” is a print item as shown in FIG.

  Further, the label printer 1 may store a comment file (not shown) having the setting items of the comment number and the comment text in the RAM 30 in the same manner as the advertisement text file. The setting item “comment text” is a print item.

  FIG. 6 is an example of a format file stored in the RAM 30 by the label printer 1. The format file shown in FIG. 6 has setting items for format number, print item, print position (X coordinate), print position (Y coordinate), orientation (vertical writing / horizontal writing), and font. For example, the lower left corner of the rectangular label is the origin (0, 0) of the X axis and Y axis, and the lower left point in the area of each rectangular print item from that position is the print position of each print item. To do. Each print item is stored with a width (ΔX, ΔY, that is, a width of an area in each print item) (not shown) from the print position in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. The size of each print area can be changed by changing the ΔX and ΔY. That is, in the format file, as the format information, for each format number, the type of print items to be printed on the label, the print position of each print item, the print direction, and the font are defined.

  The display example by the label printer 1 and the configuration of the label printer 1 have been described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. Further, the label printer 1 will be described from the functional aspect. The label printer 1 includes storage means (RAM 30), display means (liquid crystal display 9b), designation means (touch panel 9a), print data change means (CPU 20), and format change means (CPU 20).

  The storage means (RAM 30) stores print data for each print item. For example, the storage means stores a product file (FIG. 4), an advertisement text file (FIG. 5), a format file (FIG. 6), and the like.

  The display means (liquid crystal display 9b) displays the label image on the label image screen based on the print data stored in the storage means and the format information in the format file. The display means displays a character input screen corresponding to the print data when the print data is designated on the label image by the designation means. In addition, the item of the designated area | region will be received by designating by a designation | designated means.

  The designation means (touch panel 9a) designates the print data on the label image displayed by the display means. For example, the designation unit accepts designation of corresponding print data based on the touch position on the label image by the user. In other words, the designating unit designates the print data to be changed in display content by touching the label image.

  The designation means (touch panel 9a) instructs to change the display position of the print data on the label image displayed by the display means. For example, when the operation of moving the contact position (the operation of sliding while keeping contact) is recognized, the designating unit accepts it as an instruction to change the display position of the print data.

  The print data changing means (CPU 20) changes the display content (print data) in the label image of the print data that has been designated by the designation means. Specifically, when a character is input on the character input screen, the print data changing unit changes the display content in the label image to the input content via the display control unit 25.

  The print data changing means (CPU 20) updates the print data stored in the storage means when the display content of the print data in the label image is changed. That is, the print data changing unit similarly updates the setting values of the setting items stored in the storage unit in addition to the display contents described above. For example, when the print data changing means changes “Today's special sale”, which is the advertisement text number 1 on the label image, to “Point 5 times”, the “Today special sale” on the advertisement file is changed to “Point 5”. Update to "Double".

  The format changing means (CPU 20) changes the display position in the label image of the print data designated by the designation means. Specifically, the format changing unit is configured to perform an operation of touching and moving the display position of the print data acquired via the specifying unit and the operation control unit 24, and a format file stored in the storage unit. Based on this, the designated print data is specified, the movement amount in the X-axis or Y-axis direction (dot amount of the liquid crystal display slid while being in contact) is stored, and the display position of the print data is The amount of movement in the X-axis or Y-axis direction is changed, and the print position of the corresponding print item in the format file is updated. That is, the format changing unit changes (updates) the display position and the format information so as to match the movement amount by the user.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the label printer 1. The flowchart shown in FIG. 7 starts when a product is specified on the first screen. Each step is controlled by the control unit 100.

Step S10: Using the product number key and the numeric key (not shown), information related to the product with the input number is read from the product file, and the read information is displayed on the liquid crystal display. In other words, the label information screen of the product with the input number is displayed.
Step S12: It is determined whether or not a printing instruction is accepted on the label information screen displayed in S10. That is, it is determined whether or not an “issue” key (not shown) is pressed. If step S12 is NO, the process proceeds to step S14. If step S12 is YES, the process proceeds to step S50.
Step S14: It is determined whether an instruction to display a label image is accepted on the label information screen displayed in S10. That is, it is determined whether or not the button “label print image” is pressed. If step S14 is YES, the process returns to step S12. If step S14 is YES, the process proceeds to step S20.

Step S20: A label image is displayed on the label image screen.
Step S22: It is determined whether or not an instruction to change the display content of the print data is received on the label image screen. That is, it is determined whether one area of information printed on the label is touched on the label image. If step S22 is NO, the process proceeds to step S24. If step S22 is YES, the process proceeds to step S40.
Step S24: It is determined whether or not an instruction to change the display position of the print data is received on the label image screen. That is, it is determined whether or not there is an operation for moving the contact position (operation for sliding while keeping contact) in the area of one information printed on the label on the label image. If step S24 is YES, the process proceeds to step S26. If step S24 is NO, the process proceeds to step S30.
Step S26: The display position of the print data on the label image is moved by the movement amount (dot amount in the liquid crystal display slid while being in contact).
Step S28: Store the format file format data stored in the RAM 30 and the print position after changing the display position.
Step S30: It is determined whether an instruction to end the label image screen has been received. That is, it is determined whether or not the button “END” has been pressed. If step S30 is NO, the process returns to step S22. If step S30 is YES, the process returns to step S10.

Step S40: A character input screen corresponding to the print data for which the instruction has been accepted is displayed.
Step S42: It is determined whether or not there is a character input on the character input screen. If step S42 is YES, the process proceeds to step S44. If step S42 is NO, the process proceeds to step S48.
Step S44: The print data on the label image is changed to the content input on the character input screen.
Step S46: The print data stored in the RAM 30 is updated to the contents input on the character input screen.
Step S48: It is determined whether or not a “return” instruction on the character input screen is accepted. That is, it is determined whether or not the button “return” is pressed. If step S48 is NO, the process returns to step S42. If step S48 is YES, the process returns to step S20.

Step S50: A label is issued based on the set value. Then, this flowchart ends.

  As mentioned above, according to the label printer 1 by embodiment of this invention, the content printed on a label can be changed easily, confirming the content printed on a label. In the above embodiment, a mode has been described in which any screen (label information screen, label image screen, character input screen, etc.) is switched and displayed on the liquid crystal display 9b. However, a plurality of windows are displayed on the liquid crystal display 9b. These screens may be displayed simultaneously.

In addition, when moving each print item to the left or right or up and down, an example is shown in which the print item is moved by sliding on the screen while touching each print item with a finger. Not limited to this, each numeric key for inputting a number may have a function of moving each print item, and may continue to move in a predetermined direction by continuously pressing a predetermined key. For example, numeric keys from 1 to 9 are arranged in 3 rows and 3 examples. The function is assigned so that “4” moves in the left direction, “6” moves in the right direction, “8” moves up, and “2” moves down. You may keep it.
Further, the file name to which each print item belongs may be displayed in the label image. For example, a small “advertising text” may be displayed in the vicinity of “Today's Specials” in FIG. Basically, if there is a print item you want to correct in the label image, you can correct the print data in that image, but even if you want to correct it after leaving the label image screen, In the image display, you can see which file each print item belongs to, so it helps to remember which file the print item you want to modify belongs to. Print data can be changed in the file data setting mode.

  Note that a program for executing each process of the label printer 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read into a computer system and executed. Thus, each process of the label printer 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention may be performed. Here, the “computer system” may include an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. Further, the “computer system” includes a homepage providing environment (or display environment) if a WWW system is used. The “computer-readable recording medium” means a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a writable nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory, a portable medium such as a CD-ROM, a hard disk built in a computer system, etc. This is a storage device.

  Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” means a volatile memory (for example, DRAM (Dynamic DRAM) in a computer system that becomes a server or a client when a program is transmitted through a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. Random Access Memory)), etc., which hold programs for a certain period of time. The program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, and what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes designs and the like that do not depart from the gist of the present invention.
The following notes are disclosed.
(Appendix 1)
The label printer according to Supplementary Note 1 is a label printer that prints print data to be printed on a calling label and issues it, storage means for storing print data of each print item to be printed, and print data stored in the storage means Display means for displaying a label image to be printed on a label based on the format information of the print data, designation means for designating print data on the label image displayed by the display means, and the designation means And a print data changing means for changing the print data designated by.
According to the label printer of Supplementary Note 1, it is possible to specify print data on a label image that is actually printed on the label and change the print data in the label image. Therefore, the content printed on the label can be easily changed on the screen for confirming the content actually printed on the label. Therefore, even if a person other than the person who actually set the print data in the print item finds an error in the print contents in the label image, the print contents are corrected immediately and the correct label is issued immediately. Will be able to.
(Appendix 2)
In the label printer, the designation unit may designate print data at a position corresponding to the touch position based on a touch position on the label image by a user.
According to the label printer according to Supplementary Note 2, the user can easily designate print data to be corrected.
(Appendix 3)
In the label printer, the print data changing means may update the print data stored in the storage means when the display content of the print data in the label image is changed.
According to the label printer according to appendix 3, when the print data in the label image is changed, the print data stored in the storage unit is also updated. Accordingly, the label with the correct print contents can be issued without performing the same operation from the next time. Therefore, as a whole, the time required for label issuance can be shortened.
(Appendix 4)
In the label printer, the display unit may display a character input screen for inputting characters when print data is designated on the label image by the designation unit.
According to the label printer of Supplementary Note 4, when the print data is designated, the character input screen is displayed. Therefore, when the print data to be corrected is specified, it can be easily corrected to the correct contents on the displayed character input screen, and the label image is displayed before the specification, so the label is displayed on the character input screen. The image display is not reduced and can be confirmed in a large screen area.
(Appendix 5)
The label printer may include a format changing unit that changes a display position of the print data designated by the designation unit in the label image and updates the format information.
According to the label printer according to Supplementary Note 5, it is possible to change the print position of the designated print item and update the format information on the label image. Therefore, for example, when the print data of a plurality of print items overlap each other in the label image, it can be easily and accurately corrected to the correct print position. Therefore, even if a person other than the person who actually set (defines) the print position etc. in the format information finds an error in the format, the contents are immediately corrected and the correct label is issued immediately. Will be able to.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Label printer, 2 ... Scale 2a ... Load cell, 3 ... Printing mechanism part, 5 ... Operation part 7 ... Key operation part, 9a ... Touch panel (designating means), 9b ... Liquid crystal display (display means), 20 ... CPU (Print data change means, format change means), 21 ... load cell control section, 22 ... print control section, 30 ... RAM (storage means), 24 ... operation control section, 25 ... display control section, 40 ... ROM, 100 ... control Part

Claims (3)

In a label printer that prints and issues print data on a call label,
Storage means for storing the print data to be printed in association with each file;
Display means for displaying a label image to be printed on a label based on print data stored in the storage means and format information for printing the print data on a label;
The label printer, wherein the display means displays the file name corresponding to the print data of the displayed label image on the label image . The display means includes
The label printer according to claim 1 , wherein a print position change button for changing a print position in the label image is displayed together with the label image. The display means includes
When print data is designated on the label image, an input screen corresponding to the designated print data is displayed among a plurality of types of input screens for changing the print data. The label printer according to claim 1 or 2 .

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