JP7403873B2 - mountless label printer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a liner-less label printer that prints a product name, price, etc. on paper without a liner, cuts it, and issues it as a label to be attached to a product.

Conventionally, with liner-less label printers, if you needed a long label with a large amount of printing to match the product, or if you needed a short label, you could select the print format data for each, print, and cut. A technique has been proposed that can save paper and reduce the number of paper replacements compared to a method that uses paper cut to a certain length in advance (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-8509

However, with this conventional technology, it is necessary to set many types of print formats, and this setting requires setting and inputting all the print position, print range, etc. for each print item. When using it, it was a big problem because it was used to display products, so it was necessary to check the format after setting it up, since the dimensions between the printed items affected the appearance. .

The present invention was made in consideration of these circumstances, and its purpose is to reduce the number of printing formats and improve the appearance of the label even when printing labels with different amounts of print data. To provide a liner-less label printer that can suppress the influence on the paper.

In order to solve the above problem, a liner-less label printer according to an embodiment of the present invention is a liner-less label printer, and for each printing item, at least a printing position in the paper transport direction and a printing range in the paper transport direction are provided. The controller includes a control means for controlling printing on liner-less label paper based on set print format data, and the control means controls paper transport of print data corresponding to the printing range with respect to a print range in the paper transport direction. There is a printing item whose printing height is less than the printing height in the paper transport direction, and the printing height is less than the printing range in the paper transport direction. If there is no other printing item whose printing position overlaps, the printing position in the paper transport direction of the other printing item downstream of the printing item whose printing height is less than the printing range in the paper transport direction. , the print height is changed to be closer to the upstream side in the paper transport direction by an amount that is less than the printing range in the paper transport direction.

According to the present invention, even when issuing labels with different amounts of print data, the number of types of print formats can be reduced, and the influence on the appearance of the labels can be suppressed.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a mechanism of a liner-less label printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a liner-less label printer according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the data structure of a format file managed by the mountless label printer according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the data structure of a product file managed by the mountless label printer according to the present embodiment. It is a main flowchart for explaining the operation of the liner-less label printer according to the present embodiment. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a routine for expanding into dot data according to the present embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the cut label by this embodiment.

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the mechanism of a liner-less label printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the paper is pulled out from a label roll 2 in which liner-less label paper 1, which has a heat-sensitive coloring surface on the front side and an adhesive surface on the back side, is wound into a roll. The paper is conveyed by being sandwiched between the two, and the paper is heated and printed. Furthermore, the paper after printing is cut by a cutter 5 and issued as a label 6.

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

The CPU 10 is a central processing unit that executes programs on the flash memory 11 and controls the operation of the label printer. The flash memory 11 is a read-only memory that stores a control program for the label printer, control data, and the like.

The RAM 12 has a work area for temporarily recalling (reading) and processing data, which includes a dot development area for developing print data into dot data, and a work area for recalling one format data from a format file. There is a call format area for calling and storing product data, a call product data area for calling and storing product data, etc.

This RAM 12 also contains a format file (see Figure 3) that defines the label printing format, a product file (see Figure 4) that defines various product data for label printing, and a font file (character generator). ), etc., and is backed up by a battery so that product files and format files are retained even when the power is turned off. Further, the current mode of the mountless label printer (for example, pricing mode, setting mode, report mode, maintenance mode) 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 integrated 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 other drive units and motors, which will be described later. The thermal head 17 generates heat in the paper 1 based on a command from the CPU 10 . The stepping motor 18 rotates the label roll 2 and the platen roller 4 based on a command from the CPU 10 so that the label paper 1 is conveyed to a predetermined printing position or heating position. The cutter 19 cuts the printed paper 1 based on a command from the CPU 10.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the data structure of a format file managed by the mountless label printer according to this embodiment. The format file allows you to set various print formats, including a format number that identifies the format type, a label length that determines the paper cut length, and print items such as product name, additives, message, raw materials, and price. , barcode, unit, expiration date, processing date and time, store name, etc., and these printing items include the printing position (the top left of the label is 0,0, and the top left corner of the printing range is the top left corner of the printing range), paper transport direction, etc. Set the height that is the printing range, the length that is the printing range in the direction orthogonal to the height, and the font that specifies the character font type.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the data structure of a product file managed by the mountless label printer according to this embodiment. Items such as product number, product name, price, barcode, additives, message, and raw materials are set in the product file. When setting multiple lines of print data for each item, enter a line feed code at the end of each line.

The operation of the liner-less label printer according to this embodiment will be described below using a flowchart. FIG. 5 is a main flowchart for explaining the operation of the liner-less label printer according to this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the dot data expansion routine according to this embodiment. Moreover, FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a cut label according to the present embodiment. Note that each step shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is controlled by the CPU 10.

In FIG. 5, first, with reference to the RAM 12, it is determined whether the mode is a pricing mode in which labels are issued (step S1). If it is determined that it is not the pricing mode (step S1: NO), perform file data settings in the setting mode, output a performance report in the report mode, perform maintenance in the maintenance mode, etc. (step S2), and then perform step S1. Return to

On the other hand, if it is determined that it is the pricing mode (step S1: YES), desired format data is called from the format file to the call format area in the RAM 12 (step S3). Note that the desired format data is format data in a format specified by a format number designated by the operator via the operation unit 13. For example, when the format file shown in FIG. 3 is stored in the RAM 12 and format number #1 is specified, the format data of the format specified by format number #1 will be called. It is assumed that in the format data of the format specified by format number #1, there is a printing range of three lines for the product name and four lines for the additive (see the left side of the arrow in FIG. 7).

Next, in the RAM 12, the product data of the product to be priced is called from the product into the called product data area (step S4). Note that 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. 4 is stored in the RAM 12 and product number 0001 is specified, the product data of the product specified by product number 0001 will be called as the product data of the product to be priced. Become. It is assumed that the product name and additives of the product specified by product number 0001 each have the amount of print data for one line (see FIG. 4).

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

Next, based on the dot data developed in step S5, the thermal head 17 and platen roller 4 are controlled to print on the paper 1 (step S6). Then, based on the label length data in the call format area, the cutter 19 is controlled to cut the paper 1 (step S7). That is, if the format with format number #1 is called in step S3 and the product data of the product with product number 0001 is called in step S4, a label as shown on the right side of the arrow in FIG. 7 will be issued. Then, the process returns to step S1.

In FIG. 6, first, among the format data called in step S3 in FIG. In contrast, the most upstream printing item is searched (step S11). For example, if the above-mentioned judgment process is performed for the first time, the most upstream printing item is "product name."

Next, it is determined whether the printed item searched in step S11 is "product name" (step S12), and if it is not "product name", it is determined whether it is "additive" (step S13). ), if it is not an "additive", it is determined whether it is a "raw material" (step S14), and if it is not a "raw material", it is determined whether it is a "message" (step S15). .

In addition, each printing item of "product name", "additive", "raw material", and "message" determined in steps S12 to S15 has a printing range (height) in the paper transport direction depending on the amount of printing data for each. This is predetermined as a printing item that changes. More specifically, each of the above printing items makes the printing range smaller (shorter) when the amount of print data (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. These are predetermined items to be printed.

If the printing item searched in step S11 corresponds to any of the above "product name", "additives", "raw materials" and "message" (step S12: YES, step S13: YES, step S14: YES, Step S15: YES), it is determined whether the corresponding print data for the corresponding print item satisfies the height (print range in the paper conveyance direction) of the print item in the format data (step S16). In other words, for each printing item for which YES was answered in steps S12 to S15, the height (print range in the paper transport direction) of the format data called in step S3 and the print data in the paper transport direction in the product data called in step S4 If the amount of print data is less than the height, it is determined that the requirement is not met, and if it is not, it is determined that the requirement is met. For example, in the case of the print item "product name", the print range (height) in the paper conveyance direction is three lines, but the print data is only one line, so it is determined that this is not satisfied.

If it is determined that the print data does not satisfy the height of the corresponding print item in the format data (step S16: NO), the portion that does not satisfy the height (extra height portion) overlaps the position in the paper conveyance direction. It is determined whether there is print data of other print items (other print items of the format data called in step S3) (step S17). In other words, it is determined whether there is another print item of the print data whose height position overlaps with the unsatisfied portion (marginal height portion). That is, it is determined whether or not there is print data of other print items of the called format data that is to be printed in a portion with an extra height. For example, in the case of the printing item "Product Name", the printing range (height) in the paper transport direction is 3 lines, and the print data is 1 line, so the area that is not filled (the extra height) is 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" to be printed in the two lines. . That is, in step S17, when format data in which print items are arranged in parallel in the paper conveyance direction is called in step S3, the part that does not satisfy the print item arranged in parallel (the margin height portion), it is determined whether in the format data, print data of other print items arranged in parallel are to be printed in the portion that does not satisfy the height portion.

If it is determined that there is no other print item in the print data whose height position overlaps (step S17: NO), the height range that is not filled (margin) is determined in the order of the print position in the recall format data. The positions are changed by subtracting the position data of all subsequent items in the paper conveyance direction so as to move them upward (step S18). For example, if the printing item "product name" is determined in step S16, the position data in the paper transport direction for each printing item of barcode, price, unit, additive, and store name will be two lines smaller than "product name". . That is, the respective print items are printed two lines upstream of the "product name" with respect to the paper conveyance direction. In addition, the label length data is also shortened by two lines of "product name".

Next, it is determined whether all items of the call format data have been processed (step S19), and if all items have not been processed (step S19: NO), the process returns to step S11.

On the other hand, if all items in the calling format data have been processed (step S19: YES), for the printing item searched in step S11, the product data of the same item in the calling product data area is aligned to the upper left of the printing range, The data is converted into dot data and written in the dot development area (step S20). At this time, this is done 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 have been input, dot data is expanded as shown in the right diagram of FIG. That is, the printed items after the product name are moved two lines above the "product name", and furthermore, the "store name" after the "additives" are moved three lines above the "additives". The label length data of the calling format data is shortened by two lines for "product name" and three lines for "additives."

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

In addition, in the present invention, in the case of labels attached to packed fresh foods, a value label with the product name and price printed on the front side of the product is attached, and additives and raw materials are mainly printed on the back side of the product. A label may be attached to the back side, and the printer may be applied to a label printer that can issue these two labels at once.

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

Further, the print position may be changed not only when the amount of print data is less than the print range but also when it exceeds the print range. In this case, the positions of the subsequent items are changed in the direction of moving away by the amount exceeded. By doing so, it is possible to omit the operation of setting the printing range in the paper transport direction from the format data.

Further, the mount-less label printer may activate the adhesive surface of the paper when printing the label. Further, the paper may be cut manually. Furthermore, the label printer is not limited to a single unit, but may include a scale, an automatic pasting device, a packaging machine, or a POS.

Further, in this embodiment, the print data of each item is positioned in the print range of the format in a top-justified manner, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the print data may be positioned in a bottom-justified manner. In the case of bottom alignment, in the item position change process in step S18, not only the items subsequent to 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 format position data points to the upper left end of the print range, but is not limited thereto, and may also point to the upper right end, the lower left end, or the lower right end. Note that the liner-less label printer of this embodiment judges whether or not the corresponding print data for a print item satisfies the print range in the paper conveyance direction, and if it does not satisfy the print data, at least other print items after that are determined. It also changes the position of . Further, in the mount-less label printer of this embodiment, the change processing is different depending on whether or not there is print data for other print items whose positions in the paper conveyance direction overlap with the unfulfilled portion.

Additional notes are disclosed below.
(Additional Note 1) The liner-less label printer according to Appendix 1 prints on liner-less label paper based on print format data in which at least the print position in the paper transport direction and the printing range in the paper transport direction are set for each printing item. In a liner-less label printer that prints, cuts, and issues labels, if there is a printing item whose print height in the paper transport direction of the print data corresponding to the print range is less than the print range in the paper transport direction. , change the printing position of either or both of the printing item and other printing items in the paper transport direction by the amount that the printing height is less than the printing range in the paper transport direction (paper (changed so that the paper is packed on the upstream side of the paper, or changed so that the paper is packed on the downstream side of the paper). That is, the printing position may be arranged to be closer to the top of the printing range, or may be closer to the bottom of the printing range (the same applies below). In addition, the above-mentioned liner-less label printer compares the printing range in the paper transport direction with the printing height in the paper transport direction of the print data corresponding to the printing range, and the printing height satisfies the printing range in the paper transport direction. For printing items that are not available, the printing position of either or both of the printing item or other printing items in the paper transporting direction is reduced by the amount that the printing height is less than the printing range in the paper transporting direction. It may be changed to

According to the mount-less label printer, there is no need to change the print format even when printing labels with different amounts of print data for the same print item, so the number of types of print formats can be reduced. Furthermore, since the intervals between printed items can be maintained, the impact on the appearance of the label can be suppressed.

The above-mentioned mount-less label printer may compare a printing range in the paper transport direction with respect to a predetermined printing item and a print height in the paper transport direction of print data corresponding to the printing range. The predetermined printing item may be a product name, an additive, a message, or a raw material.

According to the above-mentioned liner-less label printer, by determining whether or not the printing data satisfies the printing range for printing items such as product name, additives, messages, or raw materials, the amount of printing data for these items varies depending on the product. They are often different and effective.

The above-mentioned liner-less label printer is capable of printing a print item whose print height is less than the print range in the paper transport direction when there is no print data for another print item whose print position in the paper transport direction overlaps with the print item or other print item whose print height is less than the print range in the paper transport direction. The printing position of one or both of the printing items in the paper transport direction may be changed so that the printing height is less than the printing range in the paper transport direction, so that the print position is narrowed in the paper transport direction.

According to the above liner-less label printer, by changing the process depending on whether or not there is print data for other print items whose positions in the paper transport direction overlap, it is possible to eliminate the problem when print items are arranged in parallel in the paper transport direction. Even if there is, you can save paper without any problems.

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

Claims (1)

In addition to the format number that specifies the type of print format and the label length that determines the length to cut the liner-less label paper, at least a print position in the paper transport direction and a print range in the paper transport direction are set for each print item. Liner-less label paper is printed on liner-less label paper so that the top and bottom directions are reversed between the paper conveyance direction and the printing items, and each printing item is aligned to the top of the respective printing range based on the print format data. In label printers,
Starting from the upstream side in the paper transport direction, for a given print item, there is a portion of the print range of the print item that does not meet the print height in the paper transport direction of the print data of the print item, and Determine whether there are any other printing items whose printing position in the paper transport direction overlaps with the part of the print data that does not meet the print height in the paper transport direction,
For one predetermined printing item, there is a portion of the printing range of the printing item that does not meet the printing height in the paper transport direction of the print data of the printing item, and the printing height of the print data of the printing item in the paper transport direction If it is determined that there is no other printing item whose printing position in the paper transport direction overlaps with the part that does not meet the print height of the print height, the print height in the paper transport direction of the print data of the print item is the same as the print height of the print item. To compensate for the range , the printing positions of all other printing items on the downstream side of the printing item in the paper transporting direction are changed to be closer to the upstream side in the paper transporting direction, and the printing height is increased. Change the label length so that it is shorter than the print range of the relevant print item.
A mountless label printer characterized by:

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