JPH0316764A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To save labor and time required for the preparation of a memory card by registering data on print received from a host controller in accordance with a registration start command in a memory card and printing data based on data on print registered in response to a call command. CONSTITUTION:If a microprocessor 1 receives a registration start command from a personal computer 7 through an external interface 6, and sets, for example, a card registration mode flag in preparation for the registration of a command to be received later in a RAM card 14 as a memory card. If a reception command for printing of a label format is issued by the personal computer 7, data is written and registered in the RAM card 14. Then the RAM card 14 remains connected until a registration end command is received from the personal computer 7, and the card registration mode flag is reset, if data reception is completed. Consequently, it is possible to register data on print in the memory card based on a program for sending data from a host controller, and also save labor and time required for the preparation of a memory card.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a printing device such as a label printer that prints based on data received from a host controller or data stored in a memory card.

[Prior Art] A conventional printing device connected to a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) as a host controller, for example, receives format data such as coordinates, character type, magnification, etc. from the personal computer according to a preset program, as well as actual data. When character printing data is sequentially sent, the printing section is driven based on the received data to print on a predetermined sheet of paper.

On the other hand, some printing devices of this type can read the contents of a memory card, and by registering format data in the memory card in advance, you can simply send only the print data from your computer. It has the advantage of being able to print in the same format every time.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the past, data was registered in a memory card by using a dedicated program and sending the necessary data from a personal computer. Therefore, when using a memory card, it is necessary to prepare a dedicated program for data registration, which requires unnecessary effort and time.

Therefore, the present invention provides a printing device that can register printing-related data to a memory card based on a program for sending printing-related data from a host controller, thereby simplifying the effort and time required to create a memory card. This is what we are trying to provide.

[Means for solving the problem] In a printing device that has a function of printing based on data related to printing received from a higher level controller and a function of performing printing based on data related to printing read from a memory card, the upper level controller data registration means for registering printing-related data received from the host controller in a memory card in response to a registration start command from the host controller; and registration for terminating registration of received data in the memory card in response to a registration end command from the host controller. The apparatus includes a termination means and a means for printing based on data related to printing registered in a memory card by a data registration means in response to a call command.

[Operation] In a printing device that takes such a measure, when a registration start command is received, data related to printing that is subsequently received is registered in the memory card. This data registration to the memory card continues until a registration end command is received. Then, when a call command is input with data registered in the memory card, printing is performed based on the data related to printing registered in the memory card. On the other hand, when data related to printing is sent from the host controller after the registration end command is received, printing is performed based on the data related to printing.

Therefore, data can be registered in the memory card by simply generating a registration start command before sending print-related data from the host controller, and by generating a registration end command when printing-related data ends. Furthermore, by generating a call command at the start of printing, printing using the memory card described above becomes possible.

[Embodiment J] Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a label printer will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a label printer, with 1
is a microprocessor consisting of a CPU (central processing unit), ROM (read-only memory), etc.
It constitutes the main body of the control unit. 2 is a RAM (random access memory) that stores setting data, print data, etc.;
3 is a keyboard/display controller that controls the keyboard 4 and display 5; 6 is an external interface that sends and receives data to and from a personal computer 7 as a host controller;
8 is an I/O boat, and these RAM 2, keyboard/display controller 3, external interface 6, and I/O port 8 are connected to the microprocessor 1 via a bus line.

The I/O port 8 includes a head drive circuit 10 that drives a thermal head 9 for printing, a ribbon motor 11 that operates a drive mechanism that drives an ink ribbon, a feed motor 12 that operates a label paper transport mechanism, and others. Various sensors 13 and the like are connected.

14 is a RAM card as a memory card, and the microprocessor 1 is connected to this RAM card 14.
can read and write data.

When the microprocessor 1 receives a command from the personal computer 7 via the external interface 6 as shown in FIG. 2, it checks the type of the command.

Here, if the received command is a registration start command, the subsequently received command is R A as a memory card.
In preparation for registration in the M card 14, for example, a card registration mode flag is set, and the next command from the personal computer 7 is waited for. In this state, when a command is received from the personal computer 7 via the external interface 6, the type of the command is similarly checked. Here, if the received command is not a registration end command but a command related to printing such as label format, ruled line format, label size format, etc., the command is sent to RA.
Write and register on the M card 14. This RAM card 1
The command registration to the RAM card 14 is continued until a registration end command is sent from the personal computer 7, and when the registration end command is received, the command registration to the RAM card 14 is completed, for example, the card registration mode flag is reset.

On the other hand, if the command received from the personal computer 7 via the external interface 6 is a calling command rather than a registration start command, a printing-related command is read from the RAM card 14, and printing is performed on label paper according to the command. and issue a label.

Further, if the command received from the personal computer 7 via the external interface 6 is neither a registration start command nor a call command, printing is performed on label paper according to the received command, and a label is issued.

In a label printer having such a configuration, format data such as coordinates, character type, magnification, and actual character printing data are sequentially sent from the personal computer 7 in the same way as before, and label paper is printed based on the received data. is printed.

On the other hand, prior to receiving data regarding this type of printing,
When a registration start command is sent from the personal computer 7, format data etc. sent thereafter are registered in the RAM card 14. This data registration into the RAM card 14 continues until a registration end command is sent from the personal computer 7.

Thereafter, when a calling command is sent from the personal computer 7, the registered command in the RAM card 14 is read out, and label issuance is executed based on the command. At this time, only print data is sequentially sent from the personal computer 7, so that labels in the same format are issued many times.

In this way, the printing-related data on the RAM card 14 can be stored in the RAM card 14 by simply generating the registration start command from the personal computer 7 before sending the printing-related data, the registration end command when the printing-related data has finished sending, and the calling command when printing starts. registration and printing using that card becomes possible. Therefore, the conventional personal computer 7
Printing using the RAM card 14 is possible simply by adding the processing of each of the above commands to the printing control program using the ``Printing Control Program'', which eliminates the need for a dedicated program to register data on the memory card, reducing the time and effort required when using a memory card. and time is simplified.

Note that the present invention is not limited to label printers, but includes a function of printing based on data related to printing received from a host controller such as a personal computer, and a function of performing printing based on data related to printing read from a memory card. It is applicable to all printing devices having

Further, in the embodiment described above, a case has been shown in which the calling command is generated from the personal computer 7, but it may also be generated manually using keys on the keyboard 4 of a label printer.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, data related to printing can be registered in a memory card based on a program for sending data related to printing from a host controller, and data related to printing can be registered in a memory card. It is possible to provide a printing device that can simplify the labor and time required for printing.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figures are diagrams showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a label printer, in which Fig. 1 is a block diagram and Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the main operations. 1...Microprocessor, 6...External interface, 7...Personal computer (personal computer),
14...RAM card.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a printing device having a function of printing based on data related to printing received from a higher level controller and a function of performing printing based on data related to printing read from a memory card, in response to a registration start command from the higher level controller, data registration means for registering data regarding the printing received from the upper controller in the memory card; registration termination means for terminating the registration of the received data in the memory card in response to a registration termination command from the upper controller; 1. A printing device comprising: means for printing based on data regarding the printing registered in the memory card by the data registration means in response to a command.