JPH08124356A - Medium printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve working efficiency and to eliminate printing errors by constituting a device for subjecting an information recording medium to label printing corresponding to data written thereon in such a manner that data writing and label printing are simultaneously executed. CONSTITUTION: This medium printer has a means for storing the data to be written to the medium 27, a means for storing the printing data for printing the label corresponding to the data to be written, a means 23 for writing the data on the medium, means 24, 25 for printing the label corresponding to the data to be written, and a means 21 which contains the data writing means 23 and holds the medium 27. The data writing means 23 executes writing of the prescribed data stored by the writing data storing means on the medium 27 held by the medium holding means 21 and simultaneously, the label printing means prints the label corresponding to the data to be written on the medium 27 in accordance with the printing data stored by the printing data storing means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medium printing device, and more particularly to a device for printing a label corresponding to write data on an information recording medium.

On an information recording medium such as a floppy disk (hereinafter referred to as "medium"), a label corresponding to the written data is displayed to identify the data written on the medium.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a conventional example. Hereinafter, an example of label display conventionally performed to identify the data written on the medium will be described with reference to FIG.

First, predetermined write data is written in the medium 61 by the data writing means. On the other hand, a label roll 64 in which a large number of labels 63 with predetermined prints are attached on a mount 62 is created in a separate process. After that, the data written on the medium is checked, the label 63 corresponding to the data is peeled from the label roll 64, and the label 63 is attached to the medium. In this way, the label corresponding to the data written on the medium is displayed.

Further, without using the label roll 64, the data written on the medium is checked and the label corresponding to the data is printed on the label paper attached to the medium.

In any case, in the conventional method, the writing of data on the medium and the label display on the medium are performed by dedicated workers using their respective dedicated devices.

[0007]

Conventionally, a label is printed by pasting a label printed on a medium or by printing on a label paper which has already been pasted in accordance with write data. When a display error was made, that is, a label that did not correspond to the written data was displayed, it was necessary to remove the label that was once applied and then reapply or reprint it. Therefore, the conventional method has a problem that work efficiency is poor.

Further, there is a problem in that if a label display error is made, that is, if a label display that does not correspond to the write data is made, it will be overlooked. Furthermore, the conventional method has a problem that the work efficiency is poor because the data writing and the label display are divided into separate steps.

The present invention solves the above problems and enables data writing and label printing to be performed at the same time to improve work efficiency and eliminate printing mistakes, in particular, information recording apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for performing label printing corresponding to write data on a medium.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows. (1) A device for printing a label corresponding to write data on an information recording medium, a write data storage unit for storing data to be written on the medium, and print data for printing a label corresponding to the data to be written. Data storing means for storing the data, a data writing means for writing the data to the medium, a label printing means for printing a label corresponding to the written data, and a medium holding means for holding the medium by incorporating the data writing means. The data writing means writes the predetermined data stored in the write data storage means to the medium held by the medium holding means, and at the same time, the label printing means is the print data storage means. Based on the print data stored in, the label corresponding to the data written on the medium is printed.

(2) In the above (1), when a writing failure occurs when the data writing means writes predetermined data to the medium, the label printing means temporarily erases the label printed on the medium. After that, the data writing means writes the predetermined data stored in the write data storage means to the medium held by the medium holding means, and at the same time, the label printing means sets the print data storage means. Based on the print data stored in, the label corresponding to the data written on the medium is printed.

(3) In the above (1) or (2),
A laser emitting device is used as the label printing means, and a transparent plate is provided on the portion of the medium holding means for printing the label, so that the label can be printed directly on the medium.

(4) In the above (3), the medium holding means is provided with a cooling gas supply port and a cooling gas discharge port.

(5) In the above (3) or (4),
The medium holding means is provided with a cleaning means for cleaning the transparent plate at the same time when the medium is inserted and removed.

(6) In one of the above (3) to (5), a laminate of layers coated with different colors is provided on the print portion of the medium, and a laser emitting device is used as a label printing means. The label is printed in color by changing the intensity of the laser light.

(7) In the above (1) or (2),
A laser emitting device, a thermal transfer device, or an inkjet device is used as the label printing means, and an opening is provided in a portion of the medium holding means where the label is printed so that the label can be printed directly on the medium.

[0017]

The present invention is intended for an apparatus for printing a label corresponding to write data on an information recording medium. However, unlike the prior art, there is provided a medium printing apparatus capable of simultaneously writing data on a medium and label printing. To be realized.

To this end, the medium printing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a write data storage means, a print data storage means,
The data writing unit, the label printing unit, and the medium holding unit are provided.

The write data storage means stores data to be written in the medium. The write data may be one data or a plurality of data. The print data storage means is
The print data for printing the label corresponding to the written data is stored. When the write data storage means stores a plurality of write data, the print data corresponding to each is stored.

The data writing means writes data on the medium. The label printing means prints a label corresponding to the data to be written. The medium holding means has a built-in data writing means. Then, it holds a medium for writing data and printing labels.

The medium printing device according to the present invention operates as follows. First, the medium holding means holds the medium. Next, the data writing means built in the medium holding means writes the predetermined data stored in the write data storing means to the medium held by the medium holding means, and at the same time, the label printing means. Prints a label corresponding to the data written on the medium based on the print data stored in the print data storage means.

Further, when the data writing means writes a predetermined data stored in the write data storage means to the medium held by the medium holding means, if a writing failure occurs, a label is printed. The means temporarily erases the label printed on the medium, and then the data writing means again writes the predetermined data stored in the write data storage means to the medium held by the medium holding means. At the same time, the label printing means prints a label corresponding to the data written on the medium, based on the print data stored in the print data storage means.

As described above, according to the present invention, the data writing and the label printing can be performed at the same time, so that the working efficiency is improved and the printing error is eliminated.

[0024]

1 is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention. 1 and 2 show an example in which a laser emitting device is used as the label printing means of the medium printing device according to the present invention.

1 and 2, 1 is a medium supply unit, 2 is a medium transfer unit, 3 is a drive, 4 is a laser emission unit, 5 is a laser control unit, 6 is a medium ejection unit, and 7 is a medium insertion / ejection cylinder. , 8 is a medium ejecting cylinder, 9 is a medium ejecting cylinder, and 10 is an operating unit.

In the medium printing apparatus according to the present invention constructed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the drive 3 corresponds to the medium holding means having the data writing means built therein, and the laser emitting section 4 and the laser control section 5 are Corresponds to data writing means,
The write data storage means and the print data storage means are configured as a file device of a computer built in the operation unit 10 or a file device of an external computer connected to the operation unit 10.

The operation of the medium printing apparatus according to the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described below. First, the medium supply unit 1
And set it to a cassette containing a predetermined number of media. An empty cassette is set in the medium ejecting unit 6. The medium supply unit 1 takes out one medium from the cassette and places it on the medium transfer unit 2. The medium transfer unit 2 conveys the medium to the position of the drive 3. At this position, the medium insertion / extraction cylinder 7 inserts the medium into the drive 3.

For the medium inserted in the drive 3,
A predetermined write data is written by the data write head built in the drive 3, and at the same time, the laser control unit 5 controls the laser emitting unit 4 to cause the laser light to label the label printed portion of the medium corresponding to the write data. Is printed.

The medium for which data writing and label printing have been completed is removed from the drive 3 by the medium insertion / extraction cylinder 7 and placed on the medium transfer unit 2. The medium transfer unit 2 conveys the medium to the position of the medium ejection unit 6. At this position, the medium is ejected to the medium ejecting section 6 by the medium ejecting cylinder 8.

The above operation is continued until there is no medium stored in the cassette set in the medium supply unit 1. The medium eject cylinder is for ejecting (removing) a defective medium (data writing defective medium, label printing defective medium).

Next, the system configuration of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, 11 is a scheduling host computer, 12 is a write data file in which write data for the medium is stored, 13 is a print data file in which label print data for the medium is stored, 14 is a data write / print control unit, 15 is a write data file in which write data to be written in the medium currently being processed is stored,
Reference numeral 16 is a print data file in which print data for printing a label corresponding to the write data stored in the write data file 15 is stored, 17 is a main control unit, 1
Reference numeral 8 is a drive control unit, 19 is a laser control unit, and 20 is a mechanism control unit.

The write data file 12 stores a plurality of write data for writing on the medium, and the print data file 13 stores a plurality of print data for performing label printing on the medium. . The scheduling host computer 11 transfers predetermined write data from the write data file 12 to the write data file 15 via the data write / print control unit 14 and prints corresponding to the predetermined write data according to a predetermined procedure. Data is transferred from the print data file 13 to the print data file 16 via the data write / print control unit 14.

The main controller 17 controls the transport of the medium by the mechanism controller 20 as described in the operation of the medium printer according to the present invention shown in FIGS. Further, the drive control unit 18 writes data to the medium, and at the same time, the laser control unit 19 prints a label on the medium. The write data to the medium and the label print data are transferred from the write data file 15 and the print data file 16 via the data write / print control unit 14, respectively.

Next, the operation of the medium printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in more detail using the operation flow of the present invention shown in FIG. (S1) One medium is supplied to the drive.

(S2) Data is written on the medium. (S3) A label corresponding to the write data is printed on the medium. Data writing in S2 and label printing in S3 are performed simultaneously.

(S4) It is judged whether or not data writing to the medium has succeeded. If YES, the process proceeds to S5, N
If it is O, the process proceeds to S10. (S5) It is determined whether or not the label printing on the medium has succeeded. If YES, the process proceeds to S6, and if NO, S13.
Go to processing.

(S6) It is judged whether or not the data writing to the medium is completed. If YES, the process proceeds to S7, N
If O, the process returns to S4. (S7) It is determined whether the label printing on the medium is completed. If YES, the process proceeds to S8, and if NO, the process returns to S4.

(S8) The medium is removed from the drive and ejected to the medium ejecting section. (S9) It is determined whether the processing of all the media set in the media supply unit has been completed. If YES, the operation ends,
If NO, the process returns to S1.

(S10) It is determined whether or not the retry writing is the Nth predetermined time. If YES, S11
If NO, the process returns to S2. (S11) The process ends as a medium failure (NG: no good).

(S12) The medium is removed from the drive and ejected (discharged to the defective medium discharge portion). (S13) It is determined whether or not the retry printing is the Nth predetermined printing. If YES, the process proceeds to S11,
If NO, the process proceeds to S14.

(S14) After erasing the previous data already printed on the medium, the label printing process of S3 is performed again. The medium printing apparatus according to the present invention operates through the above steps.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of label printing by a thermal transfer system using a thermal transfer device as the label printing means. A process for reprinting a label on a medium will be described with reference to FIG.

The label printing area of the medium is coated with a heat-sensitive film, and by placing a thermal transfer head in this area, the label can be directly printed on the medium. Figure 5
(A) shows a state in which a label is printed halfway by the thermal transfer method. FIG. 5B shows a state in which the label printing is once cleared (erased). In the thermal transfer method, the printing can be cleared (erased) by performing the temperature processing opposite to the printing. FIG. 5C shows a state where the label printing is performed again.

Next, referring to FIG. 6, an example of label printing by the laser system will be described. In the figure, 21 is a drive, 22 is a glass plate, 23 is a writing head, 24 is a laser emitting section, 25 is a laser control section, 26 is a main control section,
27 is a medium.

A portion of the upper surface of the drive 21 corresponding to the label printing area of the medium 27 inserted in the drive 21 is composed of a glass plate 22. As a result, the laser light emitted by the laser emitting section 24 can pass through the glass plate 22 and reach the label printing area of the medium 27.

The label printing on the medium 27 is performed by the laser control unit 25 controlling the laser emission and deflection of the laser emission unit 24 based on the print data transferred through the main control unit 26.

At this time, in the label print area of the medium 27,
Labels can be printed in color by stacking layers of different colors and changing the intensity of the laser beam emitted by the laser emitting section 24.

Next, an example of the drive used in the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7A shows an example of a drive when a laser system is used for label printing. In the figure, 31 is a drive, 32 is an opening, 33 is a medium, 3
Reference numeral 4 is a writing head, 35 is a glass plate, and 36 is a laser emitting portion.

In the case of this example, the laser emitting section 3 is used for label printing.
Since the laser light emitted by the laser light 6 is used, the laser light is emitted from the medium 3
A glass plate 35 is provided in the opening portion 32 of the upper surface of the drive 31 which is an upper portion of the label printing area so as to reach the label printing area.

FIG. 7B shows an example of a drive when the ink jet method is used for label printing. In the figure, 31 is a drive, 32 is an opening, 33 is a medium, and 34 is a medium.
Is a writing head, and 37 is an inkjet unit.

In the case of this example, the ink jet unit 37
An opening is provided in a portion of the upper surface of the drive 31, which is an upper portion of the area, so that the ink jet ejected by the ink can reach the label printing area of the medium 33. This example is shown in FIG.
Since the glass plate 35 of the example shown in (a) is not provided, it can be applied to the laser system.

FIG. 7C shows an example of a drive when the thermal transfer system is used for label printing. In the figure, 31 is a drive, 32 is an opening, 33 is a medium, 34 is a write head, and 38 is a thermal transfer unit.

The structure of this example is the same as that shown in FIG. 7B. Label printing is performed by bringing the thermal transfer unit 38 into contact with the label printing area of the medium 33 through the opening 32.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a modified example (1) of the drive, which is a modified example shown as an example of the drive for the laser system in FIG. 7A. The figure (a) is an outline figure, and the figure (b) is a sectional view.

In the figure, 41 is a drive, 42 is a medium, 43 is a write head, 44 is a glass plate, 45 is a cooling air supply port, 46 is a cooling air discharge port, 47 is a laser emitting section, 48 is a laser beam, 49 is smoke.

When the medium 42 is inserted into the drive 41, dust enters the drive 41. Further, when the label is printed on the medium 42 by the laser light 48 emitted from the laser emitting section 47, smoke 49 is generated, and the quality of the label printing is deteriorated. Further, the heat generated during label printing by the laser light 48 also adversely affects the medium 42 and the drive 41.

In this example, cooling air is supplied from the cooling air supply port 45 into the drive 41 to remove dust in the drive 41.
Since the smoke 49 and the heat are exhausted from the cooling air exhaust port 46, the above problem can be solved.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a modified example (2) of the drive, which is a modified example shown as an example of the drive for the laser system in FIG. 7A. In the figure, 51
Is a drive, 52 is a glass plate, 53 is a medium, 54 is an upper lever, 55 is a lower lever, 56 is an upper cleaner, 57 is a lower cleaner, and 58 is an insertion / extraction lever.

In this example, the front and bottom surfaces of the glass plate 52 provided on the upper surface of the drive 51 can be cleaned at the same time when the medium 53 is inserted into and removed from the drive 51. As described above, when the label is printed on the medium 53 by the laser method, smoke is generated. This smoke causes the lower surface of the glass plate 52 provided on the upper surface of the drive 51 to fog and reduces the transmittance of laser light. Further, the upper surface of the glass plate 52 is fogged due to the irradiation of laser light. In this example, the fogging generated on the upper surface and the lower surface of the glass plate 52 is automatically removed when the medium 53 is inserted into or removed from the drive 51.

Therefore, in this example, the upper cleaner 56 that comes into contact with the glass plate 52 provided on the upper surface of the drive 51 is used.
The lower cleaner 57 is held by the upper lever 54 and the lower lever 55. Further, the upper lever 54 and the lower lever 55 are connected to each other on the side surface of the drive 51.

When the medium 53 is inserted into the drive 51, the insertion / removal lever 58 pushes the upper lever 54, so that the upper cleaner 56 and the lower cleaner 57 attached to the upper lever 54 and the lower lever 55 are the upper and lower surfaces of the glass plate 52. To clean. In addition, from the drive 51 to the medium 53
Since the insertion lever 58 pulls the upper lever 54 when removing, the upper cleaner 56 and the lower cleaner 57 attached to the upper lever 54 and the lower lever 55 clean the upper surface and the lower surface of the glass plate 52.

A more effective drive is realized by using this example together with the structure provided with the cooling air supply port / exhaust port shown in FIG.

[0063]

According to the present invention, data writing and label printing can be performed at the same time in a medium printing apparatus, particularly in an apparatus for printing a label corresponding to write data on an information recording medium, so that work efficiency is improved. As a result, printing errors are eliminated.

Further, since it is not necessary to attach a label to the medium as in the conventional case, it becomes possible to easily and efficiently perform the label printing on the medium.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a system configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation flow of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of label printing by a thermal transfer method.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of label printing by a laser system.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a drive used in the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a modified example (1) of the drive.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a modified example (2) of the drive.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 medium supply unit 2 medium transfer unit 3 drive 4 laser emission unit 5 laser control unit 6 medium ejection unit 7 medium insertion / extraction cylinder 8 medium ejection cylinder 9 medium ejection cylinder 10 operation unit 11 scheduling host computer 12 writing data to medium Stored write data file 13 Print data file that stores label print data to medium 14 Data write / print control unit 15 Write data file that stores write data to write to the medium currently being processed 16 Write data file 15 A print data file storing print data for printing a label corresponding to the write data stored in 17 Main control unit 18 Drive control unit 19 Laser control unit 20 Mechanism control unit 21 Drive 22 Glass plate 23 Write head 24 Laser emission unit 25 Laser control unit 26 Main control unit 27 Medium

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for printing a label corresponding to write data on an information recording medium, comprising: write data storage means for storing data to be written on the medium; and a label for printing a label corresponding to the data to be written. A medium that includes a print data storage unit that stores print data, a data writing unit that writes data to a medium, a label printing unit that prints a label corresponding to the written data, and a data writing unit, and that holds the medium. Holding means, the data writing means writes the predetermined data stored in the write data storing means onto the medium held by the medium holding means, and at the same time, the label printing means prints the print data. A medium printing device, which prints a label corresponding to the data written on the medium based on the print data stored in the storage means. . 2. The label printing unit according to claim 1, wherein when the data writing unit has a writing error when writing predetermined data to the medium, the label printing unit temporarily erases the label printed on the medium, Once again, the data writing unit writes the predetermined data stored in the write data storage unit to the medium held by the medium holding unit, and at the same time, the label printing unit stores the print data storing unit in the label printing unit. A medium printing device, which prints a label corresponding to the data written on the medium based on the printed data. 3. The laser emitting device as the label printing means according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a transparent plate is provided in a portion of the medium holding means for performing label printing, and the label is printed directly on the medium. Media printing device. 4. The medium printing device according to claim 3, wherein the medium holding means is provided with a cooling gas supply port and a cooling gas discharge port. 5. A medium printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the medium holding means is provided with a cleaning means for cleaning the transparent plate at the same time when the medium is inserted and removed. 6. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein a laminate of layers coated with different colors is provided on the print portion of the medium, and a laser light emitting device is used as the label printing means. A media printing device characterized by printing labels in color by changing the strength of the label. 7. The laser emitting device, the thermal transfer device or the ink jet device as the label printing means according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an opening is provided in a portion of the medium holding means for performing label printing, and the label printing is directly performed on the medium. A medium printing device characterized by performing.