JPH01215552A - Label publishing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To select the optimum font, by providing a means for converting the font data read from a character generator to font data of every character form to perform selective output. CONSTITUTION:A microprocessor 11 takes out the corresponding font data from a character generator 21 on the basis of the key data from a keyboard 12 and a character converting block 22 converts taken-out fundamental font data to font data of every character form to allot the same to addresses 1 to n. The font data of every kind is selectively read from the addresses 1 to n to be displayed on a display device 17 and printed on label paper by a printer 20. By this method, the optimum font can be selected on the basis of printing or display and, further, a printing or display by using one character generator.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention is a label issuing method in which a product is weighed and the name, unit price, weight, price, and other characters of the product are printed on label paper. Regarding equipment.

[Prior Art] Generally, a label issuing device, as shown in Fig. 7, includes a weighing section 1 for weighing products, a keyboard 2 used for setting unit price, tare weight, inputting product number, etc., product name, unit price, weight, and price. A display 3, a label issuing section 4, etc., which display the following information, are provided outside. As shown in FIG. 8, the label issued by the label issuing unit 4 is printed with the product name a, processing date b1 effective date C1 product number d1 unit price e1 weight f1 price g, etc.

Conventionally, in such a label issuing device, both the print font printed on the label paper and the display font displayed on the display 3 are configured with the same font.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, if the same font is used for both printing and display, it is not possible to use the optimal font for both printing and display. This is because the optimal font usually differs depending on whether the font is viewed up close or relatively far away, or depending on the resolution and whether it is printed or displayed. However, there were problems such as insufficient display.

To solve this problem, it would be possible to use multiple stages of character generators with various types of font data, but this would increase the number of character generators used, which would increase the required memory capacity and increase costs. Problems such as this occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention aims to provide an economical label issuing device that can select the most suitable font depending on printing and display, as well as printing form and display form, and requires only one character generator. be.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention sets the product name, unit price, etc., calculates the price based on the weight from the weighing section, and prints the product name, unit price, etc. on label paper using a printer using a font character generator. In a label issuing device that prints weight, price, other characters, etc. and issues labels, and also displays product name, unit price, weight, price, etc. on a display, font data read from a character generator is converted into font data in various character formats. The apparatus is provided with a converting means for converting, and an output control means for selectively taking out various font data converted by the converting means and selectively outputting the data to a printer and a display.

[Operation] In the present invention having such a configuration, when font data of a certain character is read from the character generator, the font data is converted into font data of various character forms by the converting means. Then, depending on the purpose, the font data of various character forms converted by the converting means is selectively extracted and printed on label paper by a printer or displayed on a display. That is, font data in a character form suitable for printing at that time is selected and output to the printer, and font data in a character form suitable for display at that time is selected and output to the display.

[Example] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a microprocessor constituting the main body of the control unit, and this microprocessor 11 performs key processing based on key data taken into a key buffer 14 from a keyboard 12 by a keyboard controller 13. Further, the display data output from the display buffer 15 is displayed on the display 17 via the display controller 16. Further, the print data output to the print buffer 18 is printed on label paper by the printer 20 via the printer controller 19.

The microprocessor 11 also controls a font character generator 21 in which basic font data of various characters is stored.
Extract the corresponding font data from 1.

Further, the microprocessor 11 controls a character conversion block 22 and writes the basic font data read from the character generator 21 to address 0 of the block 22.

The character conversion block 22 converts the basic font data written at address 0 into font data of various character forms, and allocates them to addresses 1.2.3, . . . n.

The microprocessor 11 is the character conversion block 2.
Various types of font data are selectively read from addresses 1 to n of 2.

Here, we will discuss an example of font conversion.
This is basic font data set in the character generator 21. This basic font data has well-balanced characters and is suitable for display on the display 17. However, when printing a label using this basic font data, the product name becomes thin as shown in Figure 6 (a) "For Beef Layered Yakiniku", making it difficult to confirm the product name from a relatively far distance. There is a problem.

Therefore, if we shift this basic font data one dot to the right and take the logical sum of each dot between the shifted font data and the unshifted font data, we can obtain (
As shown in a), the font becomes thicker, and font data suitable for printing characters is obtained.

Note that this conversion process has the disadvantage that the portion indicated by point P1 in FIG. 2 is collapsed.

Next, rlJ in the horizontal direction in the basic font data.
If we perform the same conversion process as above with the condition that when there is a pattern rOJ rlJ, we cancel the shift in that part and leave "0", we get (b) in Figure 3.
) is obtained in which the portion of point P1 remains white.

Note that in this conversion process, the part indicated by point P2 is rl
Since it is J rOJ rlJ, it will remain white. If this part remains white, it has the disadvantage that unnecessary irregularities will appear in the font.

Next, rlJ in the horizontal direction in the basic font data.
If there are two consecutive patterns rOJ rlJ above and below, cancel the shift of that part and set it to "0".
and rlJ rOJ r in the horizontal direction.
There is a pattern lJ, and rOJ of that pattern
If we perform the same conversion process as above with the condition that if there is a "1" above or below, the shift in that part is canceled and a "0" is left, we get (C) in Figure 3.
The font data shown in is obtained. With this font data, relatively good thick printed characters can be obtained without the point Pl being crushed or the point P2 becoming uneven.

Note that this conversion process has the disadvantage that the hardware configuration is complicated because it manages the top, bottom, left, and right dot data, and the conversion takes time when processed by software.

Next, by enlarging the basic font data twice in the vertical and horizontal directions, enlarged font data as shown in FIG. 4(a) is obtained. This font data has the disadvantage that it is too thin.

Next, enlarge the basic font data by 2 times vertically and horizontally, shift it horizontally by 1 dot, and take the logical sum, as shown in Figure 4 (
As shown in b), the enlarged font data becomes slightly thicker.

Next, first convert the basic font data as shown in Figure 3 (b), then enlarge it twice in the vertical and horizontal directions, and then make the void P2 part black by one dot, as shown in Figure 5 (a).
The enlarged font data is shown in the figure below. Although this font data is sufficiently thick, it has the disadvantage that some unevenness occurs.

Next, the basic font data is first converted as shown in Figure 3 (C), then enlarged by 2 times vertically, horizontally, and then shifted horizontally by 1 dot and logically summed, resulting in Figure 5 (B). The enlarged font data is shown in the figure below.

Although this font data is the thickest, it has the disadvantage that the balance is somewhat degraded and the conversion process is complicated.

In this way, the fonts shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are all obtained by converting the basic font shown in FIG. 2, and each has its advantages and disadvantages, but they can be used depending on the purpose.

The character conversion block 22 performs such various font conversions, and each converted font is assigned to addresses 1 to n.
It is possible to selectively read out by reading from.

In this embodiment having such a configuration, the microprocessor 11 reads basic font data from the font character generator 21 and writes it to address 0 of the character conversion block 22. Character conversion block 22
Then, the basic font data written at address 0 is subjected to various conversion processes, and each converted font data is assigned to addresses 1 to n.

Thus, the microprocessor 11 can obtain font data of various character forms by reading the font data from any one of addresses 1 to n.

If the font data selected in this way is used to print on label paper, for example, by the printer 20,
As shown in FIGS. 6(a), (b), and (c), labels printed in various types of printed characters can be issued.

The address to be selected by the microprocessor 11 may be specified manually using keys from the keyboard 12, or may be automatically selected by a program set depending on the purpose.

In this way, font data suitable for display, printing, display form, and print form can be obtained. Moreover, the required character generator is one that sets the basic font data, so the required memory capacity does not become enormous, and it is also highly economical.

In the above embodiment, the font conversion is performed using a character conversion block, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this, and the font conversion process may be performed entirely by software.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, it is possible to select the optimal font for printing and display, and furthermore, depending on the printing form and display form, and it is economical because only one character generator is required. Therefore, it is possible to provide an excellent label issuing device.

[Brief Description of the Drawings] Figures 1 to 6 show embodiments of the present invention, in which Figure 1 is a block diagram, Figure 2 is a diagram showing basic font data, Figures 3 and 4 are diagrams showing basic font data. Figures 5 and 5 are diagrams showing various converted font data, Figure 6 is a diagram showing examples of labels printed with various font data, Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a general label issuing device, and Figure 8 is a diagram showing examples of labels printed with various font data. It is a figure showing an example of an issue label. 11...Microprocessor, 17...Display unit, 2
0...Printer, 21...Font/Character/
Generator, 22...Character conversion block. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue (C) Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8

Claims (1)

[Claims] Set the product name, unit price, etc., calculate the price based on the weight from the scale, and print the product name, unit price, weight, price, and other characters on label paper using a font, character generator, and label. Along with issuing the product name,
A label issuing device that displays unit price, weight, price, etc. on a display device includes a conversion means for converting font data read from the character generator into font data of various character forms, and various font data converted by the conversion means. 1. A label issuing device comprising: an output control means for selectively extracting and outputting selectively to the printer and display device.