JP7183683B2 - label printer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a label printer that prints information such as product names, raw material names, use-by dates, and best-before dates on labels.

A label printer is used, for example, for printing information such as the expiration date for using an article on a label to issue an expiration date label.

As a printing apparatus such as a label printer, there has been proposed a printing apparatus that is connected to an operation terminal via mutual recognition wireless communication so that information can be sent and received (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-200013). The printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 establishes an exclusive connection with only one operation terminal, and acquires print data from the operation terminal. Then, according to the print data, the printing process is performed on the paper to be printed.

Also, input items, which are information necessary for printing, are received from the user of the wireless terminal via a wireless interface, and each of the received input items is arranged at a predetermined position on print form data registered in advance in the printer. There has been proposed a printer that generates an image obtained by a method and prints it (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2017-177370 A JP 2002-358186 A

Conventionally, in a configuration including a wirelessly connectable terminal device and a printing device, the printing device receives a print execution command and variable information such as image data and character data from the terminal device, and the printing device outputs the variable information. It is expanded and printed.

As a result, conventionally, it is necessary to input information to be printed by the printing apparatus into the terminal device each time printing is performed, or to select the information to be printed by the terminal device, which takes a long time to operate. In addition, there is a possibility that unintended information may be printed due to incorrect input or operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and is a label printer capable of printing by operating a terminal device connected wirelessly. To provide a label printer capable of facilitating an input operation because it does not handle character information, and capable of preventing unintended printing of information by not transmitting variable information of image data and character information from a terminal device side. aim.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a printing unit that prints on a label, a communication unit that is wirelessly connected to a terminal device, a layout name that specifies label print data to be printed on the label, and a label label. an input unit for selecting the number of prints , a storage unit for storing the unique identification information assigned to the terminal device , the layout name selected by the input unit and the number of labels to be printed in association with each other, and identification from the terminal device and a control unit configured to control the printing unit to print label print data specified by a layout name on the number of printed labels associated with the identification information when information is received.

In the present invention, when the terminal device outputs unique identification information by operating the terminal device, and the label printer receives the identification information from the terminal device, the label is printed according to the selection conditions corresponding to the identification information.

According to the present invention, receiving identification information from the terminal device without transmitting variable information such as image data and character data from the terminal device is set as a print execution command, and label printing is performed according to selection conditions stored in the label printer. can be printed. As a result, the terminal device does not have label print data, and there is no need to input information to be printed by the label printer on the terminal device or to select information to be printed on the terminal device, thereby facilitating operations on the terminal device. In addition, it is possible to eliminate the possibility that unintended information is transmitted by an erroneous input or operation from the terminal device and printed by the label printer.

1 is a functional configuration diagram showing an example of a label printer according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a label printer according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an example of a label printer according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is a functional configuration diagram showing an example of a terminal device according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an example of a terminal device according to an embodiment; FIG. It is a table showing an example of a storage unit of the label printer of the present embodiment. It is a table showing an example of a storage unit of the label printer of the present embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of label issuing processing using a terminal device; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a label to be issued; 6 is a flow chart showing an example of registration processing for registering a label-issuable terminal device in a label printer. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a registration operation screen; FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a registration operation screen; FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a registration operation screen; FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a registration operation screen; FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of registration content change processing for changing the registration content of a label-issuable terminal device; FIG. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a registered content change operation screen; FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a registered content change operation screen; FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a registered content change operation screen; FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a registered content change operation screen; FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a registered content change operation screen; FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a registered content change operation screen; FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing another example of the terminal device according to the present embodiment;

An embodiment of the label printer of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Configuration example of the label printer according to the present embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a functional configuration diagram showing an example of a label printer according to this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a label printer according to this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an example of a label printer according to this embodiment. It is an external perspective view showing the. 4 is a functional configuration diagram showing an example of the terminal device of this embodiment, and FIG. 5 is an external perspective view showing an example of the terminal device of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, the label printer 1 is loaded with a label 12 with a backing sheet provided in a form in which a long backing sheet 11 to which a label 10 or the like is attached is wound. The label printer 1 includes a print head 20 that prints on the label 10 attached to the label 12 with the liner, a platen roller 21 that is provided facing the print head 20 and conveys the label 12 with the liner, and the platen roller 21 . is provided with a transport motor 21M that drives the . The label printer 1 also includes a label sensor 22 that detects the presence or absence of a label, the leading edge position of the label, and the like, and a reading unit 23 that reads label identification information printed on the back surface of the backing paper 11 .

The print head 20 is an example of a printing unit, and is configured by a thermal head in this example. The platen roller 21 and the conveying motor 21M are an example of a conveying section, and convey the label 12 with the liner. The label sensor 22 is an example of a label detection unit, and detects that the leading edge of the label 10 has been conveyed to a predetermined position. The label sensor 22 is composed of, for example, a sensor (transmissive sensor) composed of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. The reading unit 23 is composed of, for example, a sensor (reflective sensor) composed of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element.

The label printer 1 includes a control unit 100 that prints on the label 10 the product name, expiration information such as expiration date or best-before date, coding information, and the like as expiration date information. The label printer 1 also includes a storage unit 101 that stores items to be printed on the label 10, label print data in which the contents of the items are set, registration information of the terminal device 30, and the like.

The label print data is created by executing a predetermined label creation application on an information processing device (not shown) such as a personal computer. The label print data created by the information processing device is provided by an external memory or the like in this example.

The label printer 1 also includes an input unit 24 for receiving an operation to issue an expiration date label on which expiration date information or the like is printed, an operation to register the terminal device 30, an operation to change the registered contents of the terminal device 30, and the like. Prepare. The label printer 1 further includes a display unit 25 that displays an operation screen for issuing expiration labels, a registration operation screen for registering the terminal device 30, a registered content change operation screen for changing the registration content for the terminal device 30, and the like. The label printer 1 also includes a communication section 26 connected to the terminal device 30 . Further, the label printer 1 includes a clock section 27 that generates date information specifying the date and time.

The input unit 24 is composed of an input device such as a button-type keyboard that can input characters and numbers, and select and determine information. The display unit 25 is configured by a display device such as a display. Note that the input unit 24 and the display unit 25 may be realized by a touch panel type display. The communication unit 26 connects to the terminal device 30 using existing wireless communication technologies such as BLUETOOTH (registered trademark), wireless LAN, and infrared rays, and inputs and outputs information to and from the terminal device 30 . The clock unit 27 is set with date and time as date information, and performs a clocking operation.

The control unit 100 includes a CPU, a microprocessor called MPU, and the like. A storage unit 101 is configured by a storage device such as a RAM or a flash memory.

Next, the configuration of the terminal device 30 will be described. The terminal device 30 includes an input unit 31 that receives an operation such as outputting unique identification information UID. The terminal device 30 also includes a communication section 32 connected to the label printer 1 . Further, the terminal device 30 includes a control section 33 that outputs identification information UID by operating the input section 31 .

The input unit 31 is composed of a button-type switch. As with the label printer 1, the communication unit 32 connects to the label printer 1 using existing wireless communication technology such as BLUETOOTH (registered trademark), wireless LAN, infrared rays, etc., and outputs information to the label printer 1. I do.

The control unit 33 includes a microprocessor called CPU, MPU, and the like. The terminal device 30 may be configured to store the identification information UID in the control unit 33, or may be separately provided with a storage device such as a RAM or a flash memory for storing the identification information UID.

6A and 6B are tables showing an example of the storage unit of the label printer of this embodiment. In the storage unit 101 of the label printer 1, the current date and time acquired by the clock unit 27 is added to the additional value information D1 to calculate the expiration date information to be printed on the label 10. stored correspondingly. As shown in FIG. 6A, the addition value of the addition value information D1 to be added to the current date and time is set by day, hour, minute, or until a predetermined time.

Further, the storage unit 101 of the label printer 1 stores identification information UID of the terminal device 30 and registration information D2 in which print data is associated with each other. The registration information D2 stores selection conditions such as a layout name specifying label print data and the number of sheets set to be printed in the layout in association with identification information UID. In this example, the layout name is specified by the product name, but the layout name is not limited to this, and the layout name may be specified by the preservation form such as refrigeration required or long-term preservation.

<Example of operation of the label printer according to the present embodiment>
FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an example of the label issuing process using the terminal device. Next, the label issuing operation with the terminal device 30 will be described.

The user of the label printer 1 who has the terminal device 30 operates the input unit 31 of the terminal device 30 to issue the expiration date label at step SA1 in FIG. In this example, the input unit 31 is composed of a button-type switch, and the operation of the input unit 31 is executed by pressing the button.

When the input unit 31 is operated, the control unit 33 of the terminal device 30 outputs the identification information UID from the communication unit 32 in step SA2.

When the identification information UID is output from the terminal device 30 in a state where the communication section 26 can communicate with the communication section 32 of the terminal device 30, the control section 100 of the label printer 1 sends the identification information UID to the communication section 26 at step SA3. to receive.

Upon receiving the identification information UID, the control unit 100 acquires the label print data specified by the layout name associated with the identification information UID based on the registration information D2 of the storage unit 101 at step SA4. At step SA5, the control unit 100 acquires the addition value to be added to the current date and time to calculate the expiry date information of the article from the addition value information D1 of the storage unit 101, and at step SA6, the current The time limit information is calculated by adding the additional value to the date and time.

At step SA7, the control unit 100 prints the name of the product, the expiration date or expiration date information, etc., as use-by date information on the number of labels set in the registration information D2. When the identification information UID is received, selection conditions such as the item name specified by the identification information UID and the layout name associated with the identification information UID, the number of prints, etc. may be displayed on the display unit 25. As a result, a user who is not near the label printer 1 can issue a label by operating the terminal device 30, and when another person is near the label printer 1, he or she can recognize that the label printer 1 has been activated. .

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a label to be issued. When "A001" is received as the identification information UID in step SA3 of FIG. 7, the control unit 100 determines that the layout name is "cake" and the number of prints is "2" from the registration information D2 shown in FIG. 6B. do. Also, from the added value information D1 shown in FIG. 6A, it is determined that the added value to be added to the current date and time is "0".

As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 100 prints two expiration labels 13 on which expiration information 13b such as the product name 13a and expiration date or expiration date are printed as expiration date information.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing an example of a registration process for registering a label-issuing terminal device in a label printer; Next, the operation of enabling the terminal device 30 to issue a label will be described.

In the label printer 1, the input unit 24 is provided with a button for calling a registration mode regarding settings of the terminal device 30. FIG. When the operation menu of the registration mode regarding the setting of the terminal device 30 is called and the registration request of the terminal device 30 is selected at SB1 in FIG. The display unit 25 displays an operation screen 25a1 for prompting the user to operate the input unit 31 of the terminal device 30 to be used.

Control unit 100 determines whether identification information UID has been received from terminal device 30 at step SB2. Note that the control unit 100 may return to the normal standby state after a certain period of time has elapsed after the operation menu of the registration mode regarding the setting of the terminal device 30 is called and the registration request of the terminal device 30 is selected.

When receiving the identification information UID from the terminal device 30 with the registration request for the terminal device 30 selected, the control section 100 displays on the display section 25 a registration operation screen for selecting the conditions necessary for label printing. In step SB3, as selection condition 1, as shown in FIG. 10B, a layout selection screen 25b1 for selecting a desired layout from the layouts of labels registered in advance is displayed on the display unit 25. FIG.

When a layout is selected on the layout selection screen 25b, the control unit 100 displays a number selection screen 25c1 for selecting the number of labels to be printed on the display unit 25 as selection condition 2 in step SB4, as shown in FIG. do.

When the number of sheets is selected on the number selection screen 25c, the control section 100, as shown in FIG. A registration screen 25 d 1 for registration in association with the identification information UID is displayed on the display unit 25 .

When a predetermined operation for registering the contents of the registration screen 25d is performed by the input unit 24, the control unit 100 stores the registration information D2 in which the identification information UID of the terminal device 30, the layout name, and the number of sheets are associated with each other. memorize to

As another example of performing the registration process for registering the terminal device in the label printer, a desired layout is first selected, and after setting the selection conditions 1 and 2 described above, the registration mode is called and the terminal device is registered. By receiving the identification information UID from 30, the set selection condition may be registered in association with the identification information UID.

In addition, the registration mode is not limited to the operation of the button provided on the input unit 24. For example, the control unit 100 of the label printer 1 can press the input unit 31 of the terminal device 30 for a long time, press it multiple times, or the like. It is conceivable to call the registration mode in the label printer 1 when a different predetermined operation is detected. At this time, the registration mode is called only when the terminal device 30 is brought close to the label printer 1 by detecting means such as a proximity sensor (not shown). Registration may be performed while confirming the conditions.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of registration content change processing for changing the registration content of a terminal device that can issue a label. Next, an operation for changing registered contents will be described with reference to an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation screen.

In the label printer 1, the input unit 24 is provided with a button for calling a registration mode regarding settings of the terminal device 30. FIG. When the operation menu of the registration mode regarding the setting of the terminal device 30 is called and the change request of the registered content of the terminal device 30 is selected in SC1 of FIG. Then, the display unit 25 displays an operation screen 25a2 prompting the user to operate the input unit 31 of the terminal device 30 whose registered contents are to be changed.

Control unit 100 determines whether identification information UID has been received from terminal device 30 in step SC2. Note that the control unit 100 returns to the normal standby state after a certain period of time has passed after the operation menu of the registration mode regarding the setting of the terminal device 30 is called and a change request for the registered content of the terminal device 30 is selected. Also good.

Control unit 100 receives identification information UID from terminal device 30 in a state in which a request for changing the registered content of terminal device 30 is selected, and in step SC3, based on registration information D2 stored in storage unit 101, changes to FIG. As shown in 12B, the display unit 25 displays a setting screen 25b2 showing selection conditions associated with the corresponding identification information UID. Note that when it is determined that the identification information UID received from the terminal device 30 is not registered in the registration information D2 while the request for changing the registered content of the terminal device 30 is selected, the above-described new registration processing can be executed. You can do it.

When the operation to change the selection condition is selected in step SC4 while the setting screen 25b2 is displayed, the control unit 100 sets the selection condition 1 as shown in FIG. 12C in step SC5. A layout selection screen 25c2 is displayed on the display unit 25 for selecting a desired layout from among the layouts of the labels displayed.

When the changed layout is selected on the layout selection screen 25c2, the control unit 100 displays the number selection screen 25d2 for selecting the number of labels to be printed as the selection condition 2 in step SC6 on the display unit 25 as shown in FIG. 12D. to display.

When the changed number of sheets is selected on the number selection screen 25d2, the control unit 100 selects the layout name changed on the layout selection screen 25c2 and the number of sheets changed on the number selection screen 25d2 in step SC7, as shown in FIG. 12E. is displayed on the display unit 25 as a registration screen 25e2 for registering the ID in association with the identification information UID.

When a predetermined operation for registering the contents of the registration screen 25e2 is performed on the input unit 24, the control unit 100 stores the registration information D2 in which the identification information UID of the terminal device 30, the layout name, and the number of sheets are associated with each other. memorize to

When the operation to delete the registration of the terminal device is selected in step SC4 while the setting screen 25b2 is displayed, the control unit 100 registers the identification information UID as shown in FIG. 12F in step SC8. The registered content deletion screen 25f2 is displayed on the display unit 25 for selecting whether or not to delete the registered content for the terminal device 30 that is registered. When deletion of the registered content is selected on the registered content deletion screen 25f2, the control unit 100 deletes the registration information D2 corresponding to the corresponding identification information UID. Further, when it is selected not to delete the registered content on the registered content deletion screen 25f2, the control unit 100 maintains the registration information D2 corresponding to the corresponding identification information UID and ends the process.

With the setting screen 25b2 displayed, when an operation to end the change processing of the registered content is selected in step SC4, the control unit 100 maintains the registration information D2 corresponding to the corresponding identification information UID and processes it. exit.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram showing another example of the terminal device of this embodiment. A terminal device 30B shown in FIG. 13 is configured by an information processing device such as a so-called smart phone. An application for outputting the identification information UID assigned to the terminal device 30B is installed, and when the application is executed, a button 32b for receiving an operation for outputting the identification information UID is displayed on the display section 31b. The terminal device 30B outputs identification information UID when the button 32b is touched.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Label printer 100... Control part 101... Storage part 20... Print head (printing part) 21... Platen roller 24... Input part 25... display unit, 26... communication unit, 27... clock unit

Claims (4)

a printing unit for printing on labels;
a communication unit wirelessly connected to a terminal device;
a layout name specifying label print data to be printed on the label, an input part for selecting the number of labels to be printed ;
a storage unit that associates and stores the unique identification information assigned to the terminal device with the layout name and the number of printed labels selected by the input unit;
a control unit configured to control the printing unit to print label print data specified by the layout name on the number of printed labels associated with the identification information when the identification information is received from the terminal device; with label printer. It is possible to display a layout selection screen for selecting a desired layout name from layout names specifying label printing data registered in advance in the storage unit, and a number selection screen for selecting the number of labels to be printed. display,
The input unit includes a button related to registration of the terminal device,
When the identification information is received from the terminal device after the button is operated, the control unit causes the display unit to display the layout selection screen and the number of sheets selection screen. When the layout name and the number of prints are selected from the number selection screen, the received identification information , the selected layout name and the number of prints are associated with each other and stored in the storage unit.
A label printer according to claim 1. It is possible to display a layout selection screen for selecting a desired layout name from layout names specifying label printing data registered in advance in the storage unit, and a number selection screen for selecting the number of labels to be printed. display,
The input unit includes a button related to registration of the terminal device,
When the control unit receives the identification information from the terminal device after the button is operated to select a request to change the registered content of the terminal device, the control unit stores the information in the storage unit in association with the identification information. a setting screen indicating the layout name and the number of copies to be printed is displayed on the display unit, and when an operation to change the registered contents of the setting screen is selected, the layout selection screen and the number of copies selection screen are displayed. and when the layout name and the number of prints are selected from the layout selection screen and the number of sheets selection screen, the received identification information is associated with the selected layout name and the number of prints. 2. The label printer according to claim 1 , wherein the label is stored in the storage unit . It is possible to display a layout selection screen for selecting a desired layout name from layout names specifying label printing data registered in advance in the storage unit, and a number selection screen for selecting the number of labels to be printed. display,
The input unit includes a button related to registration of the terminal device,
The control unit displays the layout selection screen and the number of copies selection screen on the display unit, and after the layout name and the number of copies are selected from the layout selection screen and the number of copies selection screen, the button is operated to receive the identification information from the terminal device, the received identification information, the selected layout name and the number of prints are associated with each other and stored in the storage unit . printer.

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