JP6052371B2 - Mountless label printer - Google Patents

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mountless label printer which is mainly used in a retail store's backyard and the like, prints a product name or price on a label sheet without a mount, cuts the label, and issues a label attached to the product. .

  Conventionally, when using a mountless label printer that requires long labels with a large print amount according to the product, or conversely, when short labels are required, each print format data can be selected, printed, and cut. As described above, there has been proposed a technique capable of saving paper and reducing paper replacement as compared with a method using paper that has been cut to a predetermined length in advance (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-8509 A

  However, this conventional technique needs to set a large number of types of print formats, and the work is enormous, and improvement has been desired. Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3106905, there is a case in which a paper on which a special frame such as a red frame surrounding a special price portion is printed in advance is used so that a label is conspicuous for a special sale product. However, since it is impossible to match the position printed by the label printer with the position of the preprinted portion, there is a problem that the preprinted paper cannot be used.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and the object thereof is small in setting work, and can cope with a case where it is desired to save paper, a case where it is desired to use preprinted paper, or the like. It is to provide a mountless label printer.

In order to solve the above problem, the mountless label printer according to the embodiment prints the print data on a mountless label sheet whose front side is the print side and the back side is the pasting side, based on the print format file, and cut In a mountless label printer that issues labels,
Storage means for storing a print format file capable of setting a plurality of format data having a format number, a position change permission flag, and a print position of each print item including a product name; and stored in the storage means If the position change permission flag of the print item of the format data called from the print format file indicates that the change is permitted, the print position of the print item indicated by the called format data is changed in the paper transport direction according to the print data amount. Change means that does not change the print position of the print item indicated by the called format data, when the position change permission flag of the print item of the format data indicates that change is not permitted, It is characterized by providing.

  According to the mountless label printer, the types of print formats can be reduced, setting work can be reduced, and paper can be saved. Moreover, printing can be performed without changing the format. Therefore, it is possible to cope with the use of preprinted paper. Furthermore, since the format data includes information that determines whether or not the print position can be changed (that is, the format can be changed) according to the amount of print data, the format is selected according to the purpose of label issuance. It is possible to reduce the possibility of change.

In addition, the mountless label printer according to the embodiment prints print data on a mountless label sheet whose front side is a print side and the back side is a pasting side based on a print format file, and cuts and issues a label. In the mountless label printer, a storage means for storing a print format file capable of setting a plurality of format data having a format number and a print position and a print range of each print item including a product name; and Changing means for changing the print position of the print item of the format data called from the stored print format file upward or downward with respect to the paper transport direction according to the print data amount in the print range of the print item; It is characterized by providing.
In the mountless label printer according to the embodiment, in the mountless label printer, the change unit may print the print item of the format data called from the print format file stored in the storage unit in the sheet transport direction. On the other hand, when arranged in parallel, when the position change permission flag of any one of the print items arranged in parallel indicates that the change is not permitted, the sheet conveyance direction indicated by the format data is The print position of print items arranged in parallel is not changed.
The mountless label printer according to the embodiment further includes switching means for switching permission or prohibition of execution of the mountless label printer changing means.

  According to the mountless label printer, the types of print formats can be reduced, setting work can be reduced, and paper can be saved. Moreover, printing can be performed without changing the format. Therefore, it is possible to cope with the use of preprinted paper.

  Further, the mountless label printer according to the embodiment is the above mountless label printer, wherein the mountless label paper is provided with position detection marks at predetermined intervals, and a sensor for detecting the position detection mark; And a determining unit that determines whether or not the change of the printing position by the changing unit is permitted, and when determining that the determining unit is not permitted, based on the output of the sensor, the mount It is characterized by cutting the less label paper.

  According to the above mountless label printer, the processing for switching between the paper with the position detection mark and the paper without the position detection mark is switched according to the information indicating whether the print position can be changed. Can be.

  According to the present invention, there are few setting operations, and it is possible to cope with a case where it is desired to save paper or a case where a preprinted paper is desired.

It is the schematic which shows the mechanism of the mountless label printer by embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mountless label printer according to an embodiment. FIG. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the mount-less label paper used with the mount-less label printer by this embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the data structure of the format file managed with the mountless label printer by this embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the data structure of the product file managed with the mountless label printer by this embodiment. It is a main flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the mountless label printer by this embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the expansion | deployment routine to dot data by this embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the cut label by this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the mechanism of a mountless label printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, a thermal head 3 and a platen roller 4 driven by a stepping motor are drawn out from a label roll 2 in which a mountless label paper 1 having a heat-sensitive coloring surface and an adhesive surface on the back is wound in a roll shape. The paper is conveyed between the paper sheets and heated to print. Further, the printed paper is cut by a cutter 5 and issued as a label 6. The sensor 7 is provided close to the printing unit composed of the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 4, and position detection marks (described later) provided on the back surface of the mountless label paper 1 at intervals of one label. ) Is detected.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mountless label printer according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the mountless label printer according to the present embodiment includes a CPU 10, a flash memory 11, a RAM 12, an operation unit 13, a display unit 14, a communication unit 15, an interface 16, a thermal head 17 (the thermal head 3 in FIG. ), A stepping motor 18, a cutter 19 (corresponding to the cutter 5 in FIG. 1), and a sensor 20 (corresponding to the sensor 7 in FIG. 1).

  The CPU 10 is a central processing unit that executes a program on the flash memory 11 to control the operation of the label printer. The flash memory 11 is a memory for storing a control program for the label printer, control data, and the like.

  The RAM 12 has a work area for temporarily calling (reading) and processing data. Among them, a dot development area for developing print data into dot data and one format data from a format file are called. A call format area for storing data and a call product data area for calling and storing product data.

The RAM 12 also includes a format file (see FIG. 4) in which a label printing format is defined, a product file (see FIG. 5) in which various product data for label printing are defined, and a font file (character generator). ) And the like are stored, and are backed up by a battery so as to retain product files and format files even when the power is turned off.
In addition, the current mode (for example, the price mode, the setting mode, the report mode, and the maintenance mode) of the mountless label printer is also stored in the RAM 12.

  The operation unit 13 is an input device for operating the label printer, and is a touch panel configured integrally with the display unit 14. The display unit 14 is a liquid crystal display that displays various menu screens and data. The communication unit 15 communicates with the host computer.

The interface 16 inputs and outputs data between the CPU 10 and the like, each driving unit described later, and a motor. The thermal head 17 generates heat on the paper 1 based on a command from the CPU 10.
The stepping motor 18 rotationally drives the label roll 2 and the platen roller 4 so that the mountless label paper 1 is conveyed to a predetermined printing position or heating position based on a command from the CPU 10. The cutter 19 cuts the mountless label paper 1 after printing based on a command from the CPU 10.
The sensor 20 detects position detection marks (described later) provided on the back surface of the mountless label sheet 1 at intervals of one label.

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the pre-printed mountless label paper 1 used in the mountless label printer according to the present embodiment. As described above, the position detection mark PM is provided on the back surface of the mountless label paper 1 at intervals of one label. In addition, on the surface of the mountless label paper 1, a promotional message such as a red frame surrounding the special price portion or a “service product” is provided for each label so that the label stands out with respect to the special sale product. Pre-printed. Further, in the case of a mountless label sheet without pre-printing, there is no position detection mark.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a data structure of a format file managed by the mountless label printer according to the present embodiment. In the format file, various print formats can be set, a format number that identifies the type of format, a position change permission flag that indicates whether or not to change the print position, a label length that determines the paper cut length, The print items include product names, additives, messages, raw materials, prices, barcodes, units, expiration dates, processing dates and times, store names, etc. Each of these print items has a print position (the upper left of the label is 0) , 0, indicating the upper left end of the print range), the height that is the print range in the paper conveyance direction, the length that is the print range in the direction orthogonal to the height, and the font that specifies the character font type.
When the change of the print position is permitted by the position change permission / denial flag, the print position is changed according to the print data amount (that is, the format is changed according to the print data amount).

  FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a data structure of a product file managed by the mountless label printer according to the present embodiment. Items such as a product number, a product name, a price, a barcode, an additive, a message, and raw materials are set in the product file. When setting multiple lines of print data for each item, insert a line feed code at the end of each line.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the mountless label printer according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart. FIG. 6 is a main flowchart for explaining the operation of the mountless label printer according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a routine for developing dot data according to this embodiment. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a cut label according to the present embodiment. The steps shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are controlled by the CPU 10.

  In FIG. 6, first, the RAM 12 is referred to and it is determined whether or not it is a valued mode for issuing a label (step S1). If it is determined that the mode is not the priced mode (step S1: NO), file data setting in the setting mode, performance report output in the report mode, maintenance in the maintenance mode, etc. are performed (step S2), and step S1. Return to.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the mode is a valued mode (step S1: YES), desired format data is called from the format file to the call format area in the RAM 12 (step S3). The desired format data is format data specified by a format number specified by the operator via the operation unit 13. For example, when the format file shown in FIG. 4 is stored in the RAM 12 and the format number # 1 is designated, the format data of the format specified by the format number # 1 is called. In the format data of the format specified by the format number # 1, it is assumed that the product name has a print range of 3 lines and the additive has a print range of 4 lines (see FIG. 8A).

Next, in the RAM 12, the product data of the product to be priced is called from the product to the calling product data area (step S4). The product to be priced is specified by the operator specifying the product number via the operation unit 13. For example, when the product file shown in FIG. 5 is stored in the RAM 12 and the product number 0001 is designated, the product data of the product specified by the product number 0001 is called as the product data of the product to be priced. Become.
Note that the product name and additive of the product specified by the product number 0001 are each a print data amount for one line (see FIG. 5).

  Next, according to the format called at step S3, the print data of the product data called at step S4 is developed into dot data (step S5). Details will be described with reference to FIG.

  Next, based on the dot data developed in step S5, the thermal head 17 and the platen roller 4 are controlled to perform printing on the paper (see step S6: FIGS. 8B and 8C).

Next, with reference to the position change permission flag in the call format area, it is determined whether or not position change is permitted (step S7). That is, it is determined whether the value of the position change permission / prohibition flag in the format data called in step S3 indicates change permission. If it is determined that the position change is permitted (step S7: YES), the cutter 19 is controlled based on the label length data to cut the paper 1 (step S8). And it returns to step 1.
For example, when the format number # 1 is called in step 3 and the product data of the product number 0001 is called in step 4, the paper 1 is cut based on the label length data. A label like this will be issued.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the position change is not permitted (step S7: NO), the cutter 19 is controlled based on the position of the position detection mark detected by the sensor 20 (hereinafter also referred to as a mark position). Then, the paper 1 is cut (step S9). More specifically, first, the position detection mark PM of the paper 1 is detected by the sensor 20, the distance between the detected mark position of the position detection mark PM and the current position, and the distance between the sensor 20 and the cutter 19. Based on the above, the paper 1 is conveyed until the mark position becomes the cutting position of the cutter 19, and the paper 1 is cut at the mark position. And it returns to step 1.
For example, when the format number # 1 is called in step 3 and the product data of the product number 0001 is called in step 4, the sheet 1 is cut based on the mark position as shown in FIG. Such pre-printing with a “service item” will result in a printed label at the preferred location on the upper left.

  In FIG. 7, first, in the format data called in step S3 in FIG. 6, the determination process (at least the determination process in step S13 among the determination processes in steps S13 to S16) has not been performed. On the other hand, the most upstream print item is searched (step S11). For example, in the first determination process, the most upstream print item is “product name”.

Next, referring to the position change permission / denial flag in the call format area, it is determined whether or not position change is permitted (step S12). That is, it is determined whether the value of the position change permission / prohibition flag in the format data called in step S3 indicates change permission.
If it is determined that the position change is permitted (step S12: YES), it is determined whether or not the print item searched in step S11 is “product name” (step S13). Determines whether it is an “additive” (step S14). If it is not an “additive”, it determines whether it is a “raw material” (step S15). Determines whether it is a “message” (step S16).

  It should be noted that the “item name”, “additive”, “raw material”, and “message” print items determined in steps S13 to S16 are in the print range (height) in the paper transport direction according to the amount of print data. Is predetermined as a print item for changing. More specifically, each print item has a smaller (shorter) print range when the print data amount (for example, the number of lines) in the paper transport direction is smaller than the print range (for example, the number of lines) in the paper transport direction. The print items to be made are predetermined.

When the print item searched in step S11 corresponds to any of the above-mentioned “product name”, “additive”, “raw material”, and “message” (step S13: YES, step S14: YES, step S15: YES, Step S16: YES), it is determined whether or not the corresponding print data for the corresponding print item satisfies the height of the print item of the format data (print range in the paper transport direction) (Step S17). That is, for each print item that is YES in steps S13 to S16, the height of the format data (print range in the paper transport direction) called in step S3 and the print data in the paper transport direction in the product data called in step S4. When the amount of print data is small with respect to the height, it is determined that it is not satisfied, and when it is not small, it is determined that it is satisfied.
For example, in the case of the print item “product name”, the print range (height) in the paper conveyance direction is for three lines, but the print data is as small as one line, so it is determined that it is not satisfied.

If it is determined that the print data does not satisfy the height of the corresponding print item of the format data (step S17: NO), the position that does not satisfy (the marginal height portion) and the paper conveyance direction overlap. It is determined whether there is print data of another print item (the other print item of the format data called in step S3) (step S18). In other words, it is determined whether or not there is print data to be printed in a print data of another print item of the called format data, which is not satisfied (a margin high part). For example, in the case of the print item “product name”, the print range (height) in the paper transport direction is for 3 lines and the print data is for 1 line, so the unfilled part (the marginal height part) is for 2 lines. Therefore, it is determined whether or not there is print data for each print item of “barcode”, “price”, “unit”, “additive”, and “store name”, and the print data to be printed in the portion corresponding to the two lines. .
That is, in step S18, when format data in which print items are arranged in parallel in the paper transport direction is called in step S3, a portion that does not satisfy one print item arranged in parallel (the margin is not enough). When there is a height portion), it is determined whether or not the print data of the other print items arranged in parallel in the format data is to be printed on the unfilled portion.

  If it is determined that there are no other print items of the print data whose height position overlaps (step S18: NO), the print range order in the call format data is as much as the height range is not satisfied (allowance). Subsequent position data in the paper transport direction for all items is subtracted so as to be narrowed upward to change the position (step S19). For example, when the print item “product name” is determined in step S17, the position data in the paper transport direction of each print item of barcode, price, unit, additive, and store name is reduced by two lines of “product name”. . That is, each print item is printed by being packed two lines upstream of the “product name” in the paper conveyance direction. The label length data is also shortened by two lines of “product name”.

  Next, it is determined whether or not all items of the call format data have been processed (step S20). If all items have not been processed (step S20: NO), the process returns to step S11.

  On the other hand, when all items of the call format data have been processed (step S20: YES), the product data of the same item in the call product data area for the print item searched in step S11 is left-justified in the print range. It is converted into dot data and written in the dot development area (step S21). At this time, it is performed based on the position of the format data in the call format area and the font data. Then, the process returns to the main routine of FIG.

  When returning to the main routine, if format number # 1 and product number 0001 are input, the dot data is developed as shown in FIG. That is, the print item after the product name moves upward by two lines of “product name”, and “store name” after “additive” moves upward by three lines of “additive”. Then, the label length data of the call format data is shortened by two lines of “product name” and three lines of “additive”.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S12 that position change is not permitted (step S12: NO), steps S13 to S19 are skipped and the process proceeds to step S20. Further, when the print item searched in step S11 does not correspond to any of “product name”, “additive”, “raw material”, and “message” (step S13: NO, step S14: NO, step S15: NO, step In step S16: NO), steps S17, S18, and S19 are skipped, and the process proceeds to step S20. If it is determined that the print data satisfies the height of the corresponding print item of the format data (step S17: YES), steps S18 and S19 are skipped and the process proceeds to step S20. If it is determined that there is another print item of the print data whose height position overlaps (step S18: YES), step S19 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S20.

  In the present invention, the label attached to the packaged fresh food has a price label on which the product name and price are printed on the surface of the product, and additives and raw materials are mainly printed on the back of the product. In some cases, a back side label may be attached, and it may be applied to a label printer that can issue these two labels at a time.

  Further, the rotation angle of the print item may be set in the format data. The items that can shorten the print range are not limited to product names, additives, raw materials, and messages, but may be items that the print range in the paper transport direction changes depending on the amount of print data of the item. The timing for changing the print position is not limited to the time of printing or dot development, but may be the time when the print data is determined or after that.

  The print position change is not limited to the case where the print data amount is less than the print range, but may be when the print range is exceeded. In this case, the position is changed in the direction away from the subsequent items. In this way, the setting operation of the print range in the paper transport direction can be omitted from the format data.

  Further, the mountless label printer may activate the adhesive surface of the paper when the label is issued. Further, the paper cutting is not limited to a solenoid-driven automatic cutter, but a manually driven cutter may be used, or a mode in which only the blade is disposed at the label outlet and the label is manually pressed against the blade, and further, Even if the perforations are provided on the paper at predetermined intervals and the perforation is pressed against the blade to cut it, as long as it controls to cut the label on the blade based on the output of the sensor. It is a mountless label printer according to the present embodiment. Moreover, it is not limited to a label printer alone, but may be a scale, an automatic sticking device, a packaging machine, or a POS.

  In this embodiment, an example in which the position change permission flag is set for each format data is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one position for the format file, that is, a position to be referred to in any format data printing Only one change permission flag may be set. For example, one position change permission / rejection flag may be stored on the flash memory.

  Further, the position change permission / denial flag may be rewritable. For example, as described above, the position change permission / rejection flag stored in the flash memory may be rewritten by the operator via the operation unit 13. In other words, it is preferable to provide switching means for switching permission or prohibition (in other words, validity or invalidity of the changing means) of the changing means for changing the printing position.

  When the position change permission / rejection flag is rewritable, the contents indicated by the position change permission / rejection flag (permission / rejection status regarding the currently set position change) may be displayed on the display unit during the value mode. As a result, the format data setting work can be reduced, and the position change permission flag value is often switched when the paper is changed. Can be switched.

  Further, the paper position detection mark is not limited to printing, but may be any mark that can be detected, such as a paper notch. In addition, the paper cutting position when the position change is prohibited is not limited to the mark position, but is a position calculated using the mark position as a base point (for example, a position when moved by a predetermined distance in a predetermined direction from the mark position). ). Note that this case is also included in detecting the position detection mark and cutting the sheet based on the output of the sensor in order to cut the sheet based on the mark position.

  In addition, even if there is no item of the print range in the paper conveyance direction of the format data, this device has determined that the interval with the next print item is too empty, too narrow, or overlaps depending on the amount of print data. In this case, control may be performed to change the position of the next print item in order to solve this problem.

  Further, in this embodiment, the print data of each item is positioned in the format printing range in the upper order. However, the present invention is not limited to this and may be positioned in the lower order. In the case of bottom adjustment, in the item position changing process in step S18, not only the items after the item determined not to satisfy the height but also the item determined not to satisfy the height are changed in position.

  In this embodiment, the position data of the format points to the upper left corner of the print range. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

1 Mount-less label paper 2 Label roll 3, 17 Thermal head 4 Platen roller 5, 19 Cutter 6 Label 7, 20 Sensor 10 CPU
11 Flash memory 12 RAM
13 Operation unit 14 Display unit 15 Communication unit 16 Interface 18 Stepping motor

Claims (3)

In a mountless label printer that issues a label by printing on the label paper on the basis of a print format file and print data on a label paper whose front side is a printing surface and the back side is a pasting surface,
Storage means for storing a print format file capable of setting a plurality of format data including at least a print position and a print range of each print item including a product name;
The print position of the print item of the format data called from the print format file stored in the storage means is set with respect to the paper transport direction according to the print data amount printed in the print range of the print item in the paper transport direction. Change means for changing in the upstream direction or the downstream direction,
When the label sheet is a pre-printed label sheet, the changing unit changes the print position of the print item in the upstream direction or the downstream direction with respect to the sheet conveyance direction according to the print data amount. A mountless label printer that does not.   The changing means is arranged such that the print items of the format data called from the print format file stored in the storage means are arranged in parallel in the paper width direction, and any one print item arranged in parallel Is a print item that is not changed in the upstream direction or the downstream direction with respect to the paper conveyance direction according to the print data amount, the print item arranged in parallel with respect to the paper conveyance direction indicated by the format data 2. The mountless label printer according to claim 1, wherein the printing position of the printer is not changed. In a mountless label printer that issues a label by printing on the label paper by a printing means based on a print format file and print data on a label paper whose front side is a printing surface and the back side is a pasting surface,
Cutting means for cutting the label sheet in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction in which the label sheet,
The print position of the print item of the format data called from the print format file that can set a plurality of format data having at least the print position and print range of each print item including the product name is set in the paper transport direction in the print item. Changing means for changing the upstream side direction or the downstream side direction with respect to the paper transport direction according to the amount of print data to be printed in the print range ,
When the label sheet is a label sheet having predetermined information indicating that the label sheet is a pre-printed label sheet, the cutting unit cuts the label sheet at the position of the predetermined information, and the label sheet A mountless label printer characterized by cutting the label paper based on the label length data changed by the changing means when the label paper is not printed in advance.

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