JPH05301410A - Label printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To print completely a print information by selecting and printing it from a dot image storing device wherein a plurality of dot images are stored by means of a dot image width selecting device based on the printable width in a printing region and the amt. of data of printing information. CONSTITUTION:For example, in an electronic balance with a label printer, whether the numbers of figures of a price and a unit price of printing informations are each larger than 5 is judged. When the figure is at least 5, data for selecting a character--generator (C/G) file with a size C is set. When the figure is not larger than 5, whether there exists each mark of the unit on the price and the unit price is judged and when there exist the mark, the data for selecting a C/G file with a size B is set. The C/G file with a size selected based on the set data is used to develop printing information on each the price and the unit price into a dot image and printing is performed based on this dot image. C/G files with sizes A, B and C wherein the width of characters becomes narrower in this order are stored in C/GROM.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a label printer that prints print information on paper in a preset print format.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A label printer, for example, an electronic charge balance with a label printer generally has a function of printing weight data, unit price data, price data, etc. on a label or a receipt journal.

In such an electronic fee scale with a label printer, a C / G (character generator) ROM (read only memory) in which dot images of characters and the like (including numbers) are stored corresponding to character codes. This C / G ROM is known to include C / G files of a plurality of types (characters) according to the width and height of each character, font, and the like.

As for labels to be printed, preprinted (formatted) label paper is known,
For example, weight, unit price, and price data may be printed in one line of a printing area formed by preprinted ruled lines. Therefore, the operator selects a proper C / G file from a plurality of C / G files (characters) for the character type, converts the character code of the print information into a dot image, and converts the print information into a dot image. Drawing for expansion is performed, and printing is performed on the label paper based on the drawn dot image. The weight data, unit price data, and price data included in the print information are also developed into a dot image using the selected C / G file, and the above-mentioned one line based on the developed dot image is used. The weight, unit price and price were printed in the print area.

[0005]

In a conventional label printer, for example, an electronic toll scale with a label printer, if an operator selects one C / G file (character), the selected C / G file will be It will be fixed. That is, the fixed C / G file was used to draw the print information until the operator made a setting to change the type of the C / G file.

Therefore, even if the format of the label paper is not changed, for example, even if the number of digits such as price increases, C /
Since the G file is fixed, there is a problem that the price etc. may not be printed completely.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the unit price is 2966.
The price of 3210 g of beef for 6 yen should be 952,278 yen, but since there is a boundary of the print area of the format in the broken line part, the digit "8" cannot be printed.

When printing in one printing area such as weight, unit price and price, even if all the data can be printed without changing the C / G file, all the numerical values of each data are If they are printed close to each other, there is a problem that the printed weight, unit price and price are difficult to read.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the character can be changed according to the print information, so that the print information can be completely printed in the set format, and the printed data can be prevented from being difficult to read. The purpose is to provide.

[0010]

According to the present invention, in a label printer for printing print information on a paper in a preset format, dot images created with different character widths corresponding to codes designating characters and the like. A plurality of dot image storage means storing the data, the printable width of a predesignated print area that constitutes the format, and the data amount of the data to be printed in the print area included in the print information. Dot image width selecting means for selecting from a plurality of dot image storing means a dot image storing means storing a dot image capable of being printed, and a dot image stored in the dot image storing means selected by the dot image width selecting means. And a print control means for printing data in the print area using .

[0011]

In the present invention having such a structure, the plurality of dot image storage means stores dot images of characters and the like created with different character widths corresponding to codes for specifying characters and the like. ..

The dot image width selection means prints data in the print area based on the printable width of a print area designated in advance and which forms the format and the amount of data to be printed in the print area included in the print information. The dot image storage means in which the possible dot images are stored is selected from the plurality of dot image storage means.

The print control means prints the data in the print area using the dot image stored in the selected dot image storage means.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to an electronic scale with a label printer, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a main part of the electronic scale with a label printer. 1 is a CPU (central processing unit) that constitutes the main body of the control unit.
t), which is a ROM (read only memory) 2 in which program data for processing performed by the CPU 1 is stored,
RAM (random access memory) 3 in which areas of various memories used when PU 1 performs processing, PLU (price look up) in which product information is stored for each product
A communication interface 5 connected to the file 4 and a host computer via a line is connected to the CPU 1 via a system bus 6.

Further, a keyboard controller 8 for controlling the keyboard 7, a display controller 10 for controlling the display 9, a print controller 13 for controlling the print head 11 and the transport mechanism 12, and three types of different character widths (A size> (B size> C size) A C / G (character generator) ROM 14 as a dot image storage means provided with a C / G file is also connected to the CPU 1 via the system bus 6.

Further, the CPU 1 is provided with a clock circuit 15 for outputting time data, and a scale section 1 for weighing the weight of products.
A / D (analogue / d) that inputs the electric signal output from 6 and converts the electric signal to digital data and outputs it
igital) converter 17 is connected.

FIG. 2 shows the flow of the printing process performed by the CPU 1.

First, it is determined whether or not the number of digits such as the price and unit price of the print information is greater than 5. If the number of digits for the price, unit price, etc. is larger than 5 by this judgment, the data for selecting the C size C / G file is stored in the RAM.
It is set to 3, and the process proceeds to step 1 (ST1) described later.

The number of digits such as the price and unit price of the print information is 5
If it is not larger, it is determined whether or not a unit symbol is printed for the price and unit price. If a unit symbol is printed for the price and unit price, the data for selecting the B size C / G file is set in the RAM 3, and the process proceeds to step 1 described later. If there is no printing of the unit symbol, the data for selecting the A size C / G file is stored in RAM
It is set to 3, and the process proceeds to step 1 described later. (Dot image width selection means) The processing of step 1 (ST1) uses the C / G file of the selected size of the C / G ROM 14 based on the data set in the RAM 3, and price and unit price respectively. The print information such as is developed in the RAM 3 as a dot image.

Next, printing is performed on the paper based on the developed dot image (print control means), and when this printing is completed, this printing process is completed.

In this embodiment having such a structure, C
The / G-ROM 14 stores three C / G files of A size, B size, and C size in which the character width becomes narrower in order.

When the print processing is performed, if the number of digits of the price and unit price of the print information is greater than 5, the data for selecting the C size C / G file is R.
If it is set to AM3 and the number of digits is 5 or less and unit symbols are printed for prices and unit prices, B size C /
The data for selecting the G file is set in the RAM 3, and the data for selecting the C / G file of the A size is set in the RAM 3 when the number of digits is 5 or less and the unit symbol is not printed for the price or unit price. ..

Based on the data set in the RAM 3, print information is developed as a dot image using a C / G file of a selected size, and printing on paper is performed based on the developed dot image. Done.

Regarding the price and unit price of the print information, the number of digits is 5
FIG. 3 (a) shows the case where there are unit symbols for both price and unit price, and the case where only the price has unit symbols is shown in FIG. 3 (b).

FIG. 4A shows the case where the number of digits of the price of the print information is 5 digits or less, and FIG. 4B shows the case where the number of digits of the price is larger than 5 digits (6 digits).

As described above, according to this embodiment, A is determined according to the number of digits of the price of print information and the presence or absence of a unit symbol such as price.
Size C / G file, B size C / G file,
Data for selecting one of the C size C / G files is set in the RAM 3, and a dot image for printing is created using the C / G file of the size selected by the data set in the RAM 3. As a result, the C / G file (character) can be changed according to the print information, and thus the print information can be completely printed in the set format. Moreover, it is possible to prevent the printed data from becoming difficult to read.

Another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that this embodiment also applies the present invention to an electronic charge balance with a label printer. This electronic charge balance with a label printer is different from the electronic charge balance with a label printer of the above-described embodiment only in the processing performed by the CPU 1, Since the circuit configuration and the like including the C / G ROM 14 as the image storage means are the same, description of the circuit configuration and the like will be omitted here.

FIG. 5 shows the flow of the printing process performed by the CPU 1.

First, regarding the price and unit price of the print information,
The print space when an A-size C / G file stored in the C / G ROM 14 is used is calculated, and the calculated print space is the allowable print area in which the label format price and unit price are printed. Determine if it fits in the space. If the print space fits within the allowable space, the data for selecting the A size C / G file is set in the RAM 3, and step 1 (S
The process shifts to T1).

If the print space when using the A size C / G file does not fit within the allowable space, the price and unit price of the print information can be calculated as C / G.RO.
A print space when the B size C / G file stored in M14 is used is calculated, and it is determined whether or not the calculated print space is within the allowable space. If the print space fits within the allowable space, data for selecting a B-size C / G file is set in the RAM 3, and the process proceeds to step 1 described later. If the print space when the G file is used does not fit within the allowable space, the data for selecting the C size C / G file is set in the RAM 3, and the process proceeds to step 1 described later. (Dot image width selection means) The processing of step 1 (ST1) uses the C / G file of the size selected from the C / G / ROM 14 based on the data set in the RAM 3 to determine the price, unit price, etc. The print information including "" is expanded in the RAM 3 as a dot image.

Next, printing is performed on the paper based on the developed dot image (print control means), and when the printing is completed, the printing process is completed.

In this embodiment having such a structure, C
The / G-ROM 14 stores three C / G files of A size, B size, and C size in which the character width becomes narrower in order.

When the print processing is performed, the print information price, unit price, etc., even when the print space when using the B size C / G file, does not fit within the allowable space of the print area in the label format. Is the data for selecting C / G files of C size.
It is set to M3, and the print space when using an A size C / G file does not fit within that space, but it does fit within that print space when using a B size C / G file. In case B
When the data for selecting the size C / G file is set in the RAM 3 and the print space when using the A size C / G file is within the allowable space,
RAM3 is the data to select the A size C / G file.
Is set to.

Based on the data set in the RAM 3, print information is developed as a dot image using a C / G file of a selected size, and printing on paper is performed based on the developed dot image. Done.

An example of a label printed and issued according to this embodiment is shown in FIG. The label example of FIG. 6 is narrower in character width of each price value in this embodiment than the label example of FIG. As a result, it is possible to print the numeral "8", which is the ones digit. Also in this embodiment, the minimum C
Since the price is printed using the size C / G file, as shown in FIG. 6, the numerical data of "8", which is the unit of the price, can be printed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the allowable space of the printing area such as price and unit price in the label format is compared with the printing space when the C / G file of each size is used, and the printing space is compared. Is set in RAM3 to select a C / G file of a size that fits within the allowable space, and a dot image for printing is created using the C / G file of the size selected by the data set in RAM3. By doing so, the C / G file (character) can be changed according to the print information, and thus the print information can be completely printed in the set format. Moreover, it is possible to prevent the printed data from becoming difficult to read.

[0037]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a label printer that can change characters according to print information, can print the print information completely in a set format, and can prevent the printed data from becoming difficult to read.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of essential parts of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of a printing process of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a print-issued label according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a print-issued label according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of printing processing according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a printed and printed label of the same embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional printed and issued label.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... CPU, 14 ... C / G ROM.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A label printer that prints print information on a paper in a preset format, and a plurality of dot images in which dot images created with different character widths corresponding to codes for designating characters etc. are stored. The data can be printed in the print area based on the storage means, the printable width of a predesignated print area forming the format, and the amount of data to be printed in the print area included in the print information. The dot image width selecting means for selecting the dot image storing means storing the dot image from the plurality of dot image storing means, and the dot image stored in the dot image storing means selected by the dot image width selecting means are used. And a print control means for printing the data in the print area. Label printer characterized by.