JPH09254449A - Manual printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To contrive the way to dispense with the input of data each time a printing operation is performed and perform it instantaneously only by a simple manipulation regarding formatted print data such as data or name and other types of similar data, in a manual printing device. SOLUTION: First, the travelling direction of this manual printing device is detected (S2), then it is interpreted whether the pattern of this travelling direction coincides with a registered pattern (S7) and if it is interpreted that the coincidence is established, stored data is set (S8, S9) to initiate a printing operation (S5). Thus it is possible to print data only by moving the device according to a specified pattern without the necessity to enter the data each time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a manual printing device for a user to hold a device by hand and print a predetermined pattern on a recording medium such as paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, since a printer of this type can easily print on any member, it is relatively frequent to print semi-fixed standard contents such as date and name.
Even in the case of printing such a standard content, the data or pattern is set and input and printed each time. Therefore, it has been desired to realize an apparatus capable of printing such standard contents by a simpler operation.

[0003]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention meets the above-mentioned demands, and, for example, it is necessary to input data of fixed print data such as date, name, etc. every time printing is performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a manual type printing device that can perform printing immediately by performing a simple operation and has excellent operability.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, a manual printer according to a first aspect of the present invention is a manual printer having a recording means for printing on a recording medium by manually scanning the recording medium. Type printing apparatus, a moving direction detecting means for rotating a recording medium to detect a manual moving direction of the apparatus, a pattern storing means for storing a predetermined pattern of the moving direction of the apparatus, and a moving direction detecting means Determination means for determining whether the pattern detected in the moving direction matches the pattern stored in the pattern storage means, and data storage means for storing in advance data for performing a predetermined recording operation by the recording means. And a control means for reading the data from the data storage means and causing the recording means to perform a recording operation when the determination means makes a match determination.

In the above structure, the moving direction of the device is detected by the moving direction detecting means, and the judging means judges whether the detected moving direction pattern matches the pattern stored in the pattern storing means. When the coincidence determination is made, the control means reads the data stored in the data storage means and causes the recording means to perform a recording operation.
Therefore, the data stored in the data storage means can be printed by simply moving the device in the stored pattern. By preparing multiple types of patterns and storing multiple data corresponding to them,
It becomes possible to deal with many standard print contents.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the structure according to the first aspect, the pattern of the moving direction stored in the storage means is a combination of forward movement and backward movement of the apparatus. Is. In this configuration, since the pattern in the moving direction of the device is a combination of forward and backward movements, it becomes easy to detect the pattern and determine the coincidence when the device moves. The manual printer according to the third aspect of the invention is
The structure according to claim 1, further comprising: a moving speed detecting unit that rotates on a recording medium to detect a manual moving speed of the apparatus, and the moving speed detected by the moving speed detecting unit is a predetermined speed or more. At some times, printing by the recording means is started. With this configuration, printing is started when the moving speed of the device becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined speed, and therefore, it is possible to prevent the print operation from being carelessly soiled. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the manual printing apparatus according to the first aspect, the recording means is an inkjet type recording head. In this structure, since the recording head is not in contact with the recording medium, the apparatus can be moved arbitrarily whether it is moving forward or backward.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a manual printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of a manual printing apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, the body 1b of the manual printer 1 has a rectangular shape and is configured so that the user can easily support it by hand. A roller 2 is rotatably provided at the lower end of the body 1b. At the upper end of the body 1b, an interface unit 3 for infrared communication for transmitting and receiving various data such as print data to and from an external device is provided. Further, the body 1b is provided with a switch 4 for turning on / off the power and selecting a printing mode of the manual printing apparatus 1. An ink jet recording head 5 as recording means is provided near the roller 2 of the body 1b. The roller 2 is configured to be supported by a frame 1c, and a projection 1d is formed on the frame 1c. The protrusion 1d is made of a material such as a resin having good slidability.

Then, the user supports the body 1b with his / her hand and moves the roller 2 and the protrusion 1d on the recording medium (recording paper or the like) P.
By scanning in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 while making contact with, the print data or the like input from an external device or the like is printed on the recording medium P. When printing, roller 2 and protrusion 1d
Is configured to maintain the posture of the body 1 and maintain the positions of the recording head 5 and the recording medium P at a constant position, and the roller 2 is rotated by this scanning, whereby the recording head 5 and the recording medium P are relatively moved. The position is detected and predetermined printing is performed.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of the manual printer 1. At the lower end of the body 1b, a roller 2 is configured to be rotatable about a shaft 7. A recording head 5 is disposed behind the roller 2 in the scanning direction. Above the recording head 5, an ink tank 8 for supplying ink to the recording head 5 is arranged.

On the shaft 7 of the roller 2, a pulley 9 is attached to the roller 2.
It is arranged to rotate with the rotation of. Pulley 9
, A belt 10 is arranged to transmit the rotational force of the pulley 9 that rotates with the rotation of the roller 2 to the rotating disk 12 of the encoder 11. The encoder 11 is provided substantially near the center of the body 1b. The rotary disk 12 is provided with slits on the circumference at a predetermined interval, and the rotation speed of the roller 2 (recording head 5 and recording medium The relative position with respect to P) is converted into the interval of the electric pulse signal, and the signal is input to the control device described later. The photo interrupter 13 is also configured to detect the rotation direction of the roller 2, thereby detecting the traveling direction of the manual printing device 1.

Above the inside of the body 1b, there is a recording operation by the recording head 5, a detection operation by the photo interrupter 13, and a control section 14 for controlling the interface section 3 and the like provided for receiving print data. It is arranged. A power supply 15 for supplying power to each of the functional blocks described later is arranged in the vicinity of the side. The power supply 15 includes a small power supply unit such as a dry battery and a device for stabilizing the power.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the recording head 5 and the roller 2 portion of the body 1b as seen from above. Hereinafter, the positional relationship between the recording head 5 and the roller 2 will be described with reference to FIG. A plurality of ink ejection nozzles 5 a are provided at the tip of the recording head 5. The width is formed at a maximum L width (maximum recording width) in a direction perpendicular to the printing direction X (scanning direction) of the printing area. The roller 2 is disposed forward of the recording head 5 in the printing direction X. The portion M where the roller 2 comes into contact with the recording medium P is set so as to be within the area of the above-mentioned width L, and the protrusion 1d is set so as to maintain the same relationship.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system of the manual printer 1. A host computer 21 is connected via an interface unit 3 to a control unit (CPU) 14 that controls the entire manual printer 1, and a control for controlling each functional block according to a predetermined program. A ROM 22 storing a program, a RAM 23 for storing print data input from the host computer 21 via the interface unit 3, and an operation panel 24 including the switch 4 and the like are connected. Also,
Encoder 1 that measures the rotation speed and rotation direction of roller 2
The pulse from 1 is input to the speed detecting circuit 25, the moving direction detecting circuit 25 ', and the position detecting circuit (recording position detecting means) 26, and the speed of the manual printer 1 is detected by these circuits.
The moving direction and the relative position to the recording medium P are detected,
This detection signal is input to the control unit 14. Timer circuit 2
8 measures the time from the start of movement and inputs the measured time data to the control unit 14.

Further, the present apparatus 1 is constructed so that when the apparatus is moved and operated in a predetermined pattern, the print head 5 carries out a predetermined printing operation in response to the movement operation.
A registration pattern setting key 29 for pre-storing the correspondence between the pattern for that purpose and print data, and a registration pattern storage section (pattern storage means, data storage means) 30 for storing the registration pattern data are provided. .
The pattern and the print data corresponding to the pattern may be stored in the ROM 22. The control unit 14 has a function (determination means) for determining whether the pattern in the moving direction detected by the moving direction detection circuit 25 'matches the pattern stored in the registered pattern storage unit 30. The control unit 14 is also configured to drive the recording head 5 via the head driver 33 based on various input information.

The operation of the manual printer 1 having the above-mentioned structure will be described. The manual type printing device 1 includes a ROM 22
Is operated in accordance with a predetermined program stored in the. The print data is input by the control unit 14 when the switch 4 selects the print mode.
The print data is input from the host computer 21 via the interface unit 3 by an infrared signal, and the input print data is temporarily stored in the RAM 23. Control unit 14
When the print start signal is received by operating the switch 4, after confirming that the print data is stored in the RAM 23, the manual printer 1 is set to the print standby state.

Next, when the controller 14 determines that the manual printing device 1 has been manually scanned by the user and the rotary disk 12 of the encoder 11 has rotated, the print data of the print data is changed according to the rotation amount of the roller 2. Output control is performed,
Printing is performed on the recording medium P by driving the recording head 5. Therefore, even if the traveling speed of the body 1b on the recording medium P is not uniform, it is possible to always perform uniform printing on the recording medium P.

The control unit 14 in the manual type printer 1 according to the present embodiment takes in a pulse from the encoder 11 according to the rotation of the roller 2 via the moving direction detection circuit 25 'and the like, so that the apparatus can record the recording medium P. When the movable head is moved and scanned in a predetermined registered pattern, the print head 5 prints predetermined fixed data stored in advance. FIGS. 5A and 5B show the correspondence between the pattern in the moving direction of the apparatus for entering such an operation and the print content. The pattern data is stored in the registered pattern storage unit 30. As shown in (a) of the figure, when the pattern movement first moves backward from the stopped state of the apparatus, then moves forward, and then stops, the pattern moves forward at a predetermined speed or more before a predetermined time (T1) has elapsed. When moved, date printing will start. Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the pattern movement is first retracted from the stopped state of the apparatus, then advanced, further retracted and then stopped, a predetermined time (T1) from that point. Name printing is started when the print head is moved forward at a predetermined speed or more before the passage of time.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are views showing the manner in which the apparatus performs a printing operation on typical data when the apparatus is moved and scanned in a predetermined registration pattern, where (a) is date data and (b) is data.
Shows time data, and (c) shows the case of printing name data.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the printing operation performed by the control unit 14 when the apparatus is moved and scanned in a predetermined registered pattern. The controller 14 uses the encoder 11
Based on the signal from the device, it is checked whether or not the device has started to move, that is, manually scanned (S1). When the start of movement is detected, then the moving direction is checked (S2). Here, when the backward movement is detected, it is checked whether the movement pattern is the movement of the registered pattern (S7). When the backward movement is once detected, it is determined whether or not the movement of the registered pattern is performed regardless of the forward movement or the backward movement for a predetermined time thereafter, and if any one of the plurality of registered patterns is moved, it is handled. Set print data (S
8, S9). The print data is set in the RAM 23. If it is not the movement of the registered pattern, the process returns to S1 after a predetermined time has elapsed, the movement is started again, and if the movement direction is forward (YES in S2), normal data is set (S3). Normal data settings are made by the host computer 21.
Is input by an infrared signal from the interface unit 3 through the interface unit 3.

After any data is set as described above, it is checked whether the moving speed is the designated speed or more (S
4) If the speed exceeds the specified speed before the specified time (T1) has elapsed, printing is started (S5). When the time measured by the timer circuit 28 has passed the specified time (S10: YES) while the moving speed is not higher than or equal to the specified speed, the process returns to S1 again and the same process as above is repeated. After the start of printing in S5, when the movement is stopped (S6 ・ YE
S), the process returns to S1.

In this way, by simply moving and scanning the manual printing device 1 in the pre-registered forward and backward patterns, it is possible to automatically enter into the printing operation of the setting data for the fixed data and the like. There is no need to input and set data each time, and the troublesome operation is eliminated. When the recording head 5 is of a type that contacts the recording medium P like a thermal head, it is impossible to move the device backward. However, when the recording head 5 is of a type that does not contact the recording medium P such as an inkjet type, It is possible to move backward, and an arbitrary registered pattern can be adopted as the movement pattern of the device corresponding to the print data.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, the moving direction pattern of the apparatus for starting the printing operation of the setting data and the typical data corresponding thereto are not limited to the example of FIG.
Any pattern and any data can be set.

[0023]

As described above, according to the manual printer according to the invention of claim 1, the predetermined setting data can be printed only by moving the device in the registered pattern. It is not necessary to input and set data by the method described above, and operability can be improved. In particular, it is effective because it frequently uses fixed print data such as date and name. Further, by preparing a plurality of types of registered patterns and storing data corresponding to each of them, it is possible to cope with many standard patterns and other arbitrary printing. Further, according to the manual type printing apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, the pattern for moving the apparatus for performing the printing operation is a combination of forward movement and backward movement. Therefore, the detection of the movement direction and the movement direction and the pattern are performed. It is possible to relatively easily determine the coincidence, and it is possible to reduce malfunctions. Also,
According to the manual printer of the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the printing operation from being performed carelessly when the moving speed is less than the predetermined speed. Further, according to the manual printing apparatus of the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the recording is performed by the ink jet method without contact with the recording medium, any combination of forward movement and backward movement can be used as the movement pattern of the apparatus for performing the printing operation. Can be used and, thus, relatively many types of print settings are possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an outline view of a manual printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal configuration of the manual printing device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a recording head and a roller portion of the body as seen from above.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system of the manual printing device.

FIG. 5 is a pattern diagram showing that a setting printing operation is performed according to a movement pattern of the apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing how a setting printing operation is performed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for performing a setting printing operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Manual printer 2 Roller 5 Recording head (recording means) 14 Control part (determination means, control means) 22 ROM (data storage means) 25 Speed detection circuit 25 'Moving direction detection circuit (moving direction detection means) 30 Registration pattern Storage (Pattern Storage Means) P Recording Medium

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A manual printer comprising a recording means for printing on a recording medium by manually scanning the recording medium, wherein a movement for rotating the recording medium to detect a manual movement direction of the apparatus. Direction detecting means, pattern storing means for storing a predetermined pattern of the moving direction of the apparatus, pattern of the moving direction detected by the moving direction detecting means, and pattern stored in the pattern storing means Determination means for determining a match, data storage means for storing in advance data for performing a predetermined recording operation by the recording means, and data for storing the data from the data storage means when the determination means determines a match. A manual printing apparatus, comprising: a control unit that reads out and causes the recording unit to perform a recording operation. 2. The manual printing device according to claim 1, wherein the pattern of the moving direction stored in the storage means is a combination of forward and backward movements of the device. 3. The recording apparatus further comprises moving speed detecting means for rotating the recording medium to detect a manual moving speed of the apparatus, and when the moving speed detected by the moving speed detecting means is a predetermined speed or more, the recording is performed. 2. The manual printer according to claim 1, wherein printing by means is started. 4. The manual printer according to claim 1, wherein the recording means is an inkjet recording head.