JPH08183221A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To set automatically lots of printing form information at a time on a printing sheet by incorporating form information into an area on the sheet as a two dimensional code consisting of lined squares corresponding to bit information. CONSTITUTION: When information corresponding to each form information is inputted from an input means 101, the information is stored in a storage means 102. On a printing paper sheet, various types of form information are stored as a two-dimensional code consisting of lined squares corresponding to bit information. When a reading means 103 reads the code, a conversion means 105 refers to the code and a conversion table containing various types of form information corresponding to the code to convert the read two-dimensional code into various types of form information. Next, a read-out means 106 read out in sequence information corresponding to the converted various types of form information from the storage means 102, and a printing means 107 prints the read-out information on the printing sheet on the basis of printing form information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for information processing equipment such as a word processor and a personal computer, and more particularly to a two-dimensional code which is recorded in an area on the paper and which is composed of square cells corresponding to bit information. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a printing device that has a built-in or connectable reading device that can be readable.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in information processing equipment such as word processors and personal computers, it is possible to process inputted data such as characters / graphics in accordance with various formats and print it. 14
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing an example of a conventional label sheet. Further, FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing an example in which characters are printed by setting an appropriate format on a conventional label sheet. For example, even on a special printing paper such as the label sheet of FIG. 14, as shown in FIG. 15, the data such as a character string prepared by setting an appropriate format on the label sheet is printed at each appropriate position. can do.

In order to print at the correct position in this way, it is necessary to set an appropriate format, and the following two methods are known as being practically used. Prior art 1: A method of inputting a measured value for formatting with a keyboard or the like. This is a method in which parameters relating to the arrangement of labels on a sheet (sheet size / label size / positions of a plurality of labels, etc.) are measured in advance and input using a keyboard or the like. Prior art 2: A method for allowing information processing equipment to select from formats prepared in advance. It sets and stores the optimum format for a particular print sheet and applies it to the selected one.

As the conventional technique 2, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-302
As described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-62, for example, a barcode (first additional information) indicating the format of the document, a barcode (second additional information) indicating the content of the document, and a text name are provided near the printing paper. Bar code shown (third additional information)
A printer has been proposed in which information corresponding to each bar code is output as a printed matter from the printing unit by arranging the bar code and reading each bar code by the bar code recognition means. Therefore, in the printing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-30262, the additional information is recognized by the barcode recognition means (for example, the scanner), so that the format setting labor is simplified.

[0005]

However, in the prior arts 1 and 2 described above, in the method of the prior art 1, it takes a lot of time and effort to measure parameters when setting the format of a special printing paper such as a label sheet. Adjustment was necessary due to error, and skill was required for operation. On the other hand, according to the method of the conventional technique 2, there is a problem that the format can be accurately set on the prepared printing paper, but the format cannot be set on the unprepared printing paper.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-30262,
"By having a bar code display means with a built-in standard bar code, the setting of a document format and the execution of a specific function can be performed by selecting one bar code from the bar code display means and recognizing it. As described in "Done", although the labor of formatting can be simplified by recognizing the barcode, there is a many-to-one relationship in which one is selected from a plurality of barcodes. Since a proper format must be selected before recognizing a barcode, printing failure due to a selection error can occur.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-30262,
As described in "The information is retrieved from the built-in or external information storage device based on the bar code signal read by the bar code recognition means, and output ..."
The bar code has a meaning only as index information for searching. That is, this is a problem that only the selection operation in the conventional technique 2 is performed using the barcode recognition device, and for example, it does not correspond to a format that is not in the information storage device. Furthermore, JP-A-4-3026
The barcode described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2 is for setting a printing format and does not include format information for inputting and editing a document, so operability at the time of inputting and editing a document cannot be expected.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances. For example, by printing various format information in a two-dimensional code composed of a matrix of squares corresponding to bit information in a region on the paper, printing is performed. It is intended to provide a printing device capable of automatically setting a large number of printing format information on a sheet at one time. Another object of the present invention is that the reading means is configured to be detachable from the device, and the two-dimensional code printed on the form sheet attached to the package or the package is read, so that it is suitable for any printing paper. The present invention provides a printing device capable of reliably setting various format information. Another object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus with further improved operability by including an extended program for document input / edit in the two-dimensional code.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, according to the present invention, an input unit 101 for inputting information corresponding to various format information having format information for printing, a storage unit 102 for storing information corresponding to various format information, and various format information. Is a reading means 103 for optically reading a two-dimensional code from a printing paper recorded as a two-dimensional code composed of a matrix of squares corresponding to bit information in an area on the paper, and corresponding to the two-dimensional code and this two-dimensional code. The conversion table 104 storing the various format information, the conversion unit 105 for converting the two-dimensional code read by referring to the conversion table 104 into the various format information, and the information corresponding to the various format information converted are stored in the storage. Read-out means 1 for sequentially reading from the means 102
06, and a printing means 107 for printing the read information on a printing paper based on the printing format information.

The reading means 103 is constructed so as to be removable from the apparatus, and by reading the two-dimensional code printed on the form sheet attached to the package or the package, the printing format information corresponding to the printing format information read by the printing means 107 is obtained. It is preferable to print the information on a printing paper prepared in advance.

The two-dimensional code recorded on the printing paper is composed of various format information and an expansion program for inputting / editing, and is read by the reading means 103.
Extraction means 10 for extracting the extension program from the dimension code
8, a control means 109 for controlling input / edit based on the extracted extension program, and a display means 110 for displaying input / edit information based on various format information, the display means 110 being the control means 109. It is preferable to display the screen for inputting / editing the information to be printed on the printing paper under the control of.

Here, the two-dimensional code is, for example, a matrix-like grid corresponding to bit information is virtually set on a flat recording surface (paper surface) and can be optically read by each grid. It is digital information provided with a pattern of different marks (for example, white and black), and the reading means such as a scanner reads the pattern of the two-dimensional code to obtain the digital information. In addition, in the configuration of the present invention, as the input unit 101,
Input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse tablet are used. A scanner that optically reads is used as the reading unit 103. Storage unit 102, conversion table 10
4, converting means 105, reading means 106, extracting means 10
8. As the control means 109, CPU, ROM, RA
A microcomputer having M and I / O ports is used. In particular, the ROM therein is used as the conversion table 104. Further, as the storage means 102,
The RAM in this is used. Further, the conversion means 105 converts the read two-dimensional code into various format information and sets the converted format information at the same time.

Further, the microcomputer may also be used as a two-dimensional code generating means for converting the format information inputted in advance in an area (block) on a printing paper (eg, label sheet) into a two-dimensional code and printing it. Function. As the printing unit 107, a printer such as a thermal transfer printer, an inkjet printer or a laser printer is used. As the display means 110, a liquid crystal display (LC
D), a display such as a CRT display plasma display is used.

[0014]

According to the structure of the present invention, when the information corresponding to various format information having the printing format information is input from the input means 101 in FIG. 1, the information corresponding to the various format information is stored in the storage means 102. It Here, the reading means 10
When the 3 optically reads the two-dimensional code from the printing paper in which various format information is recorded in the area on the paper as a two-dimensional code composed of a matrix of grids corresponding to the bit information, the conversion means 105 produces the two-dimensional code. The read two-dimensional code is converted into various format information by referring to the conversion table 104 storing various format information corresponding to the code and this two-dimensional code. Next, the reading unit 106 sequentially reads the information corresponding to the converted various format information from the storage unit 102, and the printing unit 107 prints the read information on the printing paper based on the printing format information. Various format information such as left / right margins, print range,
By including each parameter such as the print interval, the format information is automatically set at one time, and the information stored in the storage means is printed based on the set format information.

If the reading means 103 is configured to be removable from the apparatus, the printing format information read by the printing means 107 by reading the two-dimensional code printed on the form sheet attached to the package or package. Since information corresponding to can be printed on a printing paper prepared in advance, appropriate format information can be reliably set for any printing paper.

The two-dimensional code recorded on the printing paper is composed of various format information and an expansion program for inputting / editing, and is read by the reading means 103.
Extraction means 10 for extracting the extension program from the dimension code
8, the control means 109 for controlling the input / edit based on the extracted extension program, and the display means 110 for displaying the input / edit information based on various format information. The display means 110 displays a screen for inputting / editing the information to be printed on the printing paper by expanding the information inputting / editing program adapted to the printing paper by 109, so that the operability at the time of inputting / editing is improved.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below based on the embodiments shown in the drawings. The present invention is not limited to this. The present invention is mainly applied to a printing device of an information processing device such as a word processor, a computer, a DTP, etc., and each component achieves a printing device for automatically setting printing format information obtained from the two-dimensional code of the present invention. .

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the printing apparatus of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the printing apparatus of the present invention has a keyboard 2 for inputting information to be printed.
A scanner 3 for reading a two-dimensional code from printing paper or its package / packaging; a CPU 1 for converting a signal read by the scanner 3 into format information or a data format that can be controlled as a program and controlling the entire apparatus; RAM controlled by CPU1
7, a printer 4, and a display 5.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram in which the configuration of FIG. 1 is rewritten as a component configuration. The keyboard 2 corresponds to the input means 101. The RAM 7 corresponds to the storage means 102 and is composed of various buffers. The scanner 3 corresponds to the reading unit 103 that optically reads a two-dimensional code. CPU
ROM 6 in which 1 and a program for controlling the same are stored
Is a conversion means 105, a reading means 106, a takeout means 10
8, control means 109, and two-dimensional code generation means. The ROM 6 also functions as a memory table of the conversion table 104. The printer 4 has a printing unit 107.
And is composed of, for example, a thermal transfer printer. The display 7 corresponds to the display means 110 and is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The scanner 3 is detachable from the printer 4, and FIG. 3 shows a state in which the scanner 3 is attached. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the scanner 3 is removed. As a first embodiment of this printing apparatus, when the two-dimensional code 31 is described (printed) on the printing paper 30, printing in which the two-dimensional code 31 is described on the printer 4 as shown in FIG. When feeding the paper 30,
The scanner 3 can read the two-dimensional code 31 to perform formatting and printing simultaneously.

As a second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, when the description of only the two-dimensional code 41 is provided at a position different from the printing paper 40, or the printing paper package 4 is used.
2 or the package 43 or the like described therein, the printer 4 and the scanner 3 cannot be operated at the same time as in the first embodiment. It cannot be done at the same time.
Therefore, by making the scanner 3 detachable, the two-dimensional code 4 can be used by using the detached scanner 3.
1 can be read individually. FIG. 4 shows such a state. In this way, the two-dimensional code 41 is read by reading the two-dimensional code 41 from the package 42 or the package 43 described separately from the printing paper 40.
Print with the format setting corresponding to 1.

The outline of the operation of the printing apparatus shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is as follows. First, the two-dimensional code 31, 41 read by the scanner 3 is converted into data by the CPU 1 (conversion means) and transferred to the RAM 7 (storage means). The CPU 1 (control means) separates the two-dimensional code into format information and extended program information, and transfers them to the RAM 7. At this time, part of the operation of the CPU 1 (control means) is RA
It operates as an extension program on M7, and prints information such as character strings by R on the keyboard 2 (input means).
Editing is performed in a document buffer (not shown) added to AM7. After that, when a printing instruction is received from the keyboard 2, the CPU 1 (control means) transmits the printing information to the printer 4 based on the format information separately stored in the RAM 7 and is printed out on the printing paper 30, 40. It

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a label sheet to which a two-dimensional code is added. In FIG. 5, 50 is a label sheet, which is printed on the label sheet 50.
The dimensional code 51 is processed in the reverse of the conversion means of FIG.
It is generated by the dimension code generating means and printed on the label by the printer 4. The function of generating a two-dimensional code from this format information / program information is a known technique, and a detailed description thereof is omitted here.

FIG. 6 is an illustration showing an example of the data structure of the format information for the label sheet of FIG. The format information in the present invention is a generic term for information that defines how print data is arranged / processed on the printing paper surface and printed. Reference numeral 61 indicates the total number N of labels on the sheet (see 5a to 5e in FIG. 5), and 62 indicates the total number M of character strings of each label (see 52 to 53 in FIG. 5), which are arranged at the beginning of the data. Next, M pairs of character pitch (character spacing) / character size are arranged (see 63 in FIG. 6), and this value is used in common for each label. For each label, there are M sets of coordinates representing the last printing position on the paper surface, and data obtained by repeating this set N times the number of labels continues (see 64 in FIG. 6).

The CPU 1 receives input of data to be printed such as character string information from the keyboard 2, and sequentially stores it in the RAM 7. After this print data operation is completed, when a print execution instruction is given from the same keyboard 2, the CPU 1 prints each character string stored in the RAM 7 in accordance with the format information as shown in FIG. Is determined on the paper surface. For example, when the format information is configured as shown in FIG. 6, first the numerical values of N and M are referred to, M character pitch / character size pairs are extracted, and then M
The attributes of the character pitch / character size / coordinates of each of the N character strings are successively determined. At the same time, the dot pattern of the corresponding character string is expanded in the print buffer set in the RAM 7 according to the determined attribute. After expanding all the print patterns, the data in the print buffer is transmitted to the printer 4 to obtain the print result.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the printing result obtained by the above series of processing. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the printing result of the label sheet of FIG. After the two-dimensional code 51 is read by the scanner 3 on the label sheet of FIG. 5, each of the first to fifth labels (5a, 5b, 5)
c, 5d, 5e) Title column 52, Date column 5
3, about the remarks column 54, the first label: "drama", "94/09/10",
"Third" -Second label: "Movie", "94/09/11",
"Preserved version" ・ The third label: "Quiz", "94/09/13",
"Rebroadcast" ・ Fourth label: "Sports", "94/09/1
4 "," Final "-Fifth label:" Music "," 94/09/15 ",
This is the result of printing after inputting the character string of "stereo broadcast".

FIG. 8 is an explanation showing a data structure example 1 of the two-dimensional code of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, the content of the data structure converted by the conversion means of FIG. 1 has an identifier 81 for determining whether it has meaning as format information or program information, and a part of the program in the latter half part. When there is, an offset 82 is arranged at the head of the data for the CPU 1 (control means) to know where is the boundary. The data of FIG. 8 is separated and extracted into the format information and the extended program information by the function of the extracting means provided in the CPU 1, and the setting / loading is performed respectively.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the operation of separating the two-dimensional code into format information and extended program information according to the present invention. In FIG. 9, the CPU 1 (extracting means) separates the two-dimensional code data structure shown in FIG. 8 into format information and extended program information. First, when it is recognized that the data is to be processed by referring to the identifier 81 in FIG. 8 (step S91), the offset 82 in FIG. 8 indicates a discrete value from the beginning of the data, and therefore this data is stored in the RAM 7. By adding this value to the start address 8a of the format information of FIG. 8 when it is loaded, the start address 6b of the extended program information of FIG. 8 is determined (step S
92).

Thereafter, the CPU 1 processes from the start address 8a of the format information to the start address 8b of the program information as the format information (step S93), and the optimum format information is set (step S94). Next, the start address 8b to the end address 8c of the extended program information is transferred to the extended program storage area provided in the RAM 7 (step S95), and then operates as a part of the information input editing program. On the other hand, in step S91,
If it is determined that the data other than the data shown in FIG. 8 has been input, the subsequent processing ends without performing anything (step S96).

When the printer of this embodiment is used with the scanner 3 removed as shown in FIG. 4, the reading direction of the separated two-dimensional code 51 is wrong, or the two-dimensional code is only partially read. May not be read. In case of such a case, a mechanism for checking whether or not the data was properly read is required. Various methods can be considered for this, and one example thereof will be described. FIG. 10 is an explanation showing a data structure example 2 of the two-dimensional code of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 10, for example, when a code for error confirmation is added so as to sandwich the data of FIG. 8, and after the reading of all two-dimensional codes, the start code 85 and the end code 86 do not match, By providing a function for prompting the reading / recognizing operation again (see the flow in FIG. 11), if the reading of the two-dimensional code is incomplete as described above, the re-operation is performed until the complete reading is performed. Can be urged.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the check processing of the two-dimensional code which is an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
The flow of No. 1 will be described. First, the two-dimensional code is read by the scanner 3 (step S111), and RA
The values of the start code 85 and the end code 86 of FIG. 10 are respectively substituted into the variables S and E provided in M7 (steps S112 and S113), and S and E are compared (step S114). If they match, it is determined that the reading has been performed normally and the process proceeds to the next process (step S115). In the case of inconsistency, an error message is displayed on the display 5 as a read error, prompting another read / recognition operation (step S116), and returning to the read / recognition standby state (step S111).

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a display example 1 of the information input editing screen which is an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 shows FIG.
9 is a diagram showing an example of an information input editing screen (editing interface screen) displayed on the display 5 when the program based on the two-dimensional code 51 shown in FIG. A program for inputting and editing information by reading the two-dimensional codes 31, 41 from the printing paper 30 shown in FIG. 3 or the package 42 / package 43 shown in FIG. Can be extended.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a second display example of the information input editing screen which is an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 shows FIG.
The information input edit screen (extended interface screen) when the program is read by the two-dimensional code 51 shown in FIG. 12 and 13 are each in a state of waiting for input of data for printing on the label sheet. In FIG. 12, the horizontal position 121 and the vertical position 122 of each label and the individual input character strings (print character strings) are shown. (The number is specified by the input box number setting item 123.) While it is necessary to input the X coordinate 21 / Y coordinate 22 from the label origin, in FIG. 13, the position of each label is grasped inside the extension program. Therefore, the character string information 131 for the number,
Only 132, 133, 134 and 135 need be input. Further, the meaning of each item can be displayed in detail, for example, the date and time 136, and input mistakes such as mistakes in character strings can be reduced.

In this way, by including not only the format information but also the information of the extended editing program in the two-dimensional code, the input editing unit can be more easily used according to the application of the sheet as in this embodiment. It creates the added value of being able to change things dynamically. Further, since the printing paper surface itself or the package / packed product thereof is used, the revision of the program and the correction of the trouble can be easily realized by reprinting the two-dimensional code.

If paper is used as the printed matter, such program replacement can be performed at a lower cost than with magnetic media such as floppy disks. Further, since it becomes possible to send the rewritten two-dimensional code to a remote place by using a facsimile or the like, it is possible to send the revised format / program information, etc. by using such existing paper surface information transmission means. It can be used for such purposes.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, the time and effort for formatting the printing paper is eliminated, and the operation time is shortened.
In addition, regardless of the preparation of the prescribed format information, the two-dimensional code on the printing paper is taken in so that the appropriate format setting can always be performed. Furthermore, since there is no scene for format selection in advance, there is no printing failure due to format selection / setting error. Further, when handling a package or a packaged product, the two-dimensional code can be printed separately from the printing paper, so that the printed matter looks good when you do not want to leave the printing surface of the two-dimensional code in the margin of the printing paper. There is a merit that printing can be performed without damaging. Furthermore, from another point of view, we will show how to use a package / bundling material as a lightweight and space-saving medium by mounting information such as a format / document editing program in a two-dimensional code on a printing paper. There is. When editing print data on print paper, it is possible to provide an input editing environment that matches the application and improve operability. Further, by using the printed matter as a medium for supplying the program, it becomes possible to deliver the revised program by utilizing a conventional information transmission network such as mail or facsimile.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a printing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a label sheet to which a two-dimensional code is added.

6 is an illustration showing an example of a data structure of format information for the label sheet of FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a print result of the label sheet of FIG.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a data structure example 1 of a two-dimensional code according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation of separating the format information and the extended program information from the two-dimensional code of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanation showing a data structure example 2 of a two-dimensional code according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a check process of a two-dimensional code which is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a first display example of an information input editing screen which is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a second display example of an information input editing screen which is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a conventional label sheet.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of printing characters by setting an appropriate format on a conventional label sheet.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 2 Keyboard 3 Scanner 4 Printer 5 Display 6 ROM 7 RAM

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An input means for inputting information corresponding to various format information having print format information, a storage means for storing information corresponding to the various format information, and various format information in bit information in an area on a paper surface. And a conversion table that stores the two-dimensional code and various format information corresponding to the two-dimensional code. A conversion means for converting the two-dimensional code read by referring to the conversion table into various format information, a reading means for sequentially reading information corresponding to the converted various format information from the storage means, and the read information. A printing apparatus comprising: a printing unit that prints on a printing sheet based on printing format information. 2. The reading means is configured to be detachable from the device, and reads a two-dimensional code printed on a foam sheet attached to a package or a package,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information corresponding to the printing format information read by the printing unit is printed on a printing paper prepared in advance. 3. A take-out means for taking out the extended program from the two-dimensional code read by the reading means, wherein the two-dimensional code printed on the printing paper comprises various format information and an extended program for inputting / editing. And a control means for controlling input / edit based on the extracted extended program and a display means for displaying the input / edit information based on various format information, wherein the display means is a print sheet under the control of the control means. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein a screen for inputting / editing information to be printed on the screen is displayed.