JPH11277853A - Portable printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten communication time by registering required format information in the memory of a portable printer thereby eliminating the need of receiving format information every time when a print data is received from a host machine. SOLUTION: The CPU of a portable printer makes a decision whether format information is received from a host machine or not (S11) and registers format information in a memory for each number designating the type thereof. Subsequently, the CPU makes a decision whether a receiving data from the host machine is present or not (S15). If a receiving data is present, INDo for specifying the portable printer is checked (S16) and then the number designating the type of format information is checked (S17). When a number designating specified format information is detected, a print data is outputted based on corresponding format information stored in the memory thus performing print processing (S18).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable printer which receives print data transmitted from a host machine and performs printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, portable small-sized printers have become widespread for the convenience of, for example, a person in charge of home delivery and collection. In such a portable printer, necessary data transmitted from a host machine such as a handy terminal is received and printed matter such as a label is issued. In this case, the portable printer and the host machine
The connection is made by a cable interface such as S-232C, an optical (infrared) interface, or a wireless interface.

In printing, print data is printed out based on format information for outputting print data on recording paper, such as fonts, character and number sizes, and the like. For example, in courier services, printed materials such as labels are printed and issued for each transaction.In such a case, the product name, price, quantity, etc. are printed out, and these data are further printed out using bar codes. Sometimes. In this case, the coordinate position of print data such as an item name, a price, a quantity, and a barcode on a recording sheet and the rotation direction of characters are usually formatted. In such a usage form, the coordinate position of the print data, the rotation direction of characters and the like, the type of barcode, and the like are treated as format information, and the format information is transmitted from the host machine to the portable printer each time. The type of the barcode is, for example, U
PC (Universal Product Code), JAN (Japanese A
rticle Number), EAN (European Article Number)
).

[0004]

Conventionally, every time print data is transmitted from the host machine, format information for outputting the print data on recording paper must be transmitted from the host machine to the portable printer. If a lot of format information is transmitted every time print data is transmitted, it takes a corresponding communication time. For this reason, in a portable printer or a host machine that is used in a portable manner, the life of the battery is shortened because the battery is used as a power supply.

When an optical interface or a wireless interface is used as a means for transmitting data between the portable printer and the host machine, noises due to disturbance light or radio wave noise may be affected by the surrounding environment. Yes, the longer the communication time, the more adversely the effect.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a portable printer which is driven by a battery and prints out print data transmitted from a host machine at a printing section, by using format information for outputting print data on recording paper. Format information registering means for separately registering in the memory, setting means for calling and setting format information specified by the host device from the memory, and printing transmitted from the host device based on the format information set by the setting device Print output means for printing out data by the print unit.

Therefore, on the portable printer side,
When print data is received from the host device and the type of format information is designated, the designated format information is called from the memory, and the print data is printed out based on the set format information.

[0008]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a printer main body. The printer body 1 includes a case 2 having an open surface, and a cover 3 for opening and closing the open surface of the case 2. As shown in FIG. 5, the cover 3 is rotatably held by a fulcrum shaft 4. The case 2 is provided with a hopper 6 for rotatably storing the long recording paper 5 wound in a roll shape. In the present embodiment, the recording paper 5 is formed by attaching a large number of labels 5b to the mount 5a at regular intervals, but other recording papers may be used. The case 2 is provided with a paper guide 7 extending from the bottom of the hopper 6 toward the cover 3. A portion of the paper guide 7 near the cover 3 is provided with a rotatable platen 8 and a platen 8. And a label releaser 9 along the longitudinal direction of the label. Further, a battery 10 is provided in the printer main body 1 in a detachable manner.

A head support 11 is provided on the inner surface of the cover 3 so as to be rotatable about a support shaft 11a. A thermal head 12 is biased in one direction by a leaf spring 13 on the head support 11 to support the head. It is held rotatably about a shaft 11a. Here, the printing unit 14 is formed by the platen 8 and the thermal head 12. A pinch roller 16 pressed against the platen 8 by the urging force of a spring 15 is rotatably provided on both sides on the free end side of the cover 3. Further, the thermal head 1 is provided on the cover 3.
A label discharge port 17 disposed between the sheet 2 and the pinch roller 16 for discharging the label 5b;
And a paper presser 18 for suppressing the floating of the paper. The case 2 is provided with a mount discharge port 19 for discharging the mount 5a between the case 2 and the free end of the cover 3.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, on the upper surface of the case 2, a power switch 20, a feed switch 21 for performing printing on a label, a lid 22 that opens and closes when the battery 10 is replaced, and a light receiving window 23 are provided. Is provided. further,
Locking claws 24 are slidably provided on both sides of the cover 3 (see FIG. 4). These locking claws 24 are urged outward and locked to the case 2, and when the cover 3 is opened, the locking claws 24 are slid inward as indicated by arrow marks to engage with the case 2. Release the stop state.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, an arc surface 25 is formed on one side of the printer body 1 opposite to the cover 3 so as to be in close contact with the waist of the operator.
Are formed with a non-slip 26 for reducing slippage with respect to the clothes of the operator, and a belt hook 27 which is hooked on the belt of the operator facing the non-slip 26.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a hardware configuration.
A CPU 28, a ROM 29 in which fixed data such as a program executed by the CPU 28 are written, and a RAM 30 in which variable data such as work data is renewably written
And a memory 31 for registering format information for outputting print data on recording paper are connected via a bus line 32. A thermal head driver 33 for driving the thermal head 12, a motor driver 35 for driving a motor 34 to which the platen 8 is connected, a sensor circuit 37 to which various sensors 36 and the voltage detection sensor 10 a are connected, , A switch circuit 40 to which the cover open switch 38 to be turned off, the feed switch 21, and the interface switch 39 are connected, an interface switching circuit 43 to which an infrared interface 41 and a wireless interface 42 as connection means are connected, the battery 10, and the like. CPU2
8 is connected. As described above, the circuit shown in FIG. 3 is formed on a substrate (not shown) provided inside the printer main body 1. The infrared interface 41 is arranged inside the light receiving window 23 described above. The interface is described as I / F in the figure.

In such a portable printer, when the recording paper 5 is set, the cover 3 is opened, and the recording paper 5 wound in a roll is stored in the hopper 6 of the printer body 1, and the cover 3 is opened. In this state, the leading end of the recording paper 5 is pulled out to a position covering the platen 8 and the label peeling body 9, and the cover 3 is closed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the leading end of the backing sheet 5 a of the recording paper 5 is pressed against the platen 8 by the thermal head 12 and the pinch roller 16, and the drawing path of the backing sheet 5 a is moved by the label releaser 9. The recording paper 5 is bent at an acute angle and is prevented from floating from the bottom surface of the hopper 6 by the paper presser 18. Although the printer main body 1 on which the recording paper 5 is set can be used by placing it on a desk, it is usually used while being attached to the waist of an operator. Then, the power switch 20 is turned on, and printing is performed by inputting print data from a host device (not shown) such as a handy terminal. This host device constitutes a small portable computer having data input means such as a keyboard and display means for displaying input data and operation status.

In this embodiment, an example will be described in which a label is printed and issued for each transaction in accordance with home delivery. Hereinafter, FIG.
The process of transmitting data from the host device to the portable printer will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The host machine determines whether or not necessary format information has been transmitted to the portable printer (S1). If it determines that the format information has been transmitted (Y of S1), the process proceeds to step S1.
6, when it is determined that the format information has not been transmitted (N in S1), a format information transmission start command is transmitted to the portable printer (S2), and the format information is transmitted together with the data of the number specifying the type of the format information. Send (S
3). The format information in this example is a coordinate position on the label 5b of print data such as a product name, a price, a quantity, a barcode, a rotation direction of characters and numbers, a font, a size of characters and numbers, a type of barcode, and the like. . When it is determined that the format information has been transmitted (Y in S4), a format information transmission end command is transmitted to the portable printer (S5). Although the process on the portable printer side will be described later, when it is determined that a signal indicating that the format information registration process has been completed has been received from the portable printer side (Y in S6), the process proceeds to step S7.

When a plurality of types of labels 5b are issued separately, format information may be different for each label 5b. Therefore, in step S7, it is determined whether all format information necessary for the portable printer has been transmitted. It is determined whether or not it is (S7). When it is determined that the data has not been transmitted (N in S7), the process proceeds to step S2,
When it is determined that the format information has been transmitted (Y in S7), the format information is not transmitted. When printing is to be started, first, a number designating the type of format information is transmitted to the portable printer (S8), and then actual print data is transmitted (S9). In this case, since the data is transmitted using the infrared interface 41 or the wireless interface 42, the plurality of portable printers receive the data before transmitting the number specifying the type of format information to the portable printer (S8). I Identify Portable Printer Assuming Case
Send the D number.

Next, the processing on the portable printer side will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. On the portable printer side, the power switch 20 is turned on, and the interface switching circuit 4 determines whether to use the infrared interface 41 or the wireless interface 42 in accordance with the data communication method from the host machine.
3 to switch and wait. This switching is performed by the interface switch 39.

The CPU 28 determines whether or not format information has been received from the host machine (S11). If it is determined that the format information has been received (Y in S11), the format information is stored in a memory for each number designating its type. 31 (S12). Subsequently, when it is determined that the registration of the format information has been completed (Y in S13), a registration end signal is transmitted to the host device (S14). The transmitted signal is recognized by the host device (S6 in FIG. 2).

Subsequently, the CPU 28 of the portable printer
Determines whether there is data received from the host machine (S1).
5). The received data includes an ID number for specifying the portable printer, a specified number for specifying the type of format information, and print data. If it is determined that there is received data (Y in S15), the ID number is checked (S16). If it is determined that this portable printer is a data receiving device (Y in S16), the type of format information is determined. Is checked (S17). When the designated number of the designated format information is detected (Y in S17), since the designated format information is registered in the memory 31, the print data is transferred based on the corresponding format information. And print processing (S1)
8). In the printing process, when the platen 8 is driven, the backing sheet 5a is pulled out in a state where it is bent at an acute angle by the label peeling body 9, and the printed label 5b is removed.
a is released from the label discharge port 17.

As described above, since necessary format information can be registered in the memory 31 of the portable printer, it is not necessary to receive the print data every time print data is received from the host machine. . Thereby, the communication time with the host device can be reduced. Therefore, the life of the battery 10 can be extended. Further, since the communication time can be shortened, the influence of noise is reduced even when data based on an optical signal is received via the infrared interface 41 or when data based on a radio signal is received via the wireless interface 42. can do.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment is an example in which data transmission from a host device to a portable printer is performed using an RS-232C cable interface (not shown). The configuration in the present embodiment is different from the infrared interface 41 and the wireless interface 42 in FIG.
This is an example in which a −232C cable interface is connected to the CPU 28. In this case, the interface changeover switch 39 and the interface changeover circuit 43 are unnecessary. Of course, the infrared interface 41, the wireless interface 42, and the RS-232C cable interface may be selectively used. The other configuration is the same as that of the previous embodiment, and the description is omitted.

When the RS-232C cable interface is used, a portable printer that receives data from the host machine is specified, and therefore, the ID number for specifying the portable printer is not transmitted from the host machine.

In the portable printer, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, the CPU 28 determines whether or not format information has been received from the host machine (S21).
If it is determined that the format information has been received (Y in S21), the format information is registered in the memory 31 for each number designating the type (S22). Subsequently, when it is determined that the registration of the format information has been completed (Y in S23), a registration end signal is transmitted to the host device (S24).
The transmitted signal is recognized by the host device (S6 in FIG. 2).

Subsequently, the CPU 28 of the portable printer
Determines whether there is data received from the host machine (S2).
5). The received data includes a designated number for designating the type of format information and print data. If it is determined that there is received data (Y in S25), the number specifying the type of format information is checked (S26). When the designated number of the designated format information is detected (Y in S26), since the designated format information is registered in the memory 31, the print data is transferred to the thermal head 12 based on the corresponding format information. And print processing is performed (S2
7).

In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which format information is transmitted from the host machine to the memory 31 of the portable printer and registered. However, necessary format information is registered in the memory 31 of the portable printer in advance. Is also good.

The memory 31 for registering the format information is an EROM in this example.
Other storage media such as AM may be used. The print data received from the host machine is temporarily stored in a storage medium and then output to the thermal head 12, but the storage medium storing the print data may be shared with the storage medium storing the format information. .

Here, S12 in FIG. 1 and S22 in FIG. 7 correspond to format information registration means for registering format information for outputting print data on recording paper in the memory 31. S17 in FIG. 1 and S26 in FIG. 7 correspond to setting means for calling and setting the format information specified by the host device from the memory 31. Further, S18 in FIG. 1 and FIG.
S27 corresponds to print output means for printing out the print data transmitted from the host machine by the printing unit according to the format information set by the setting means.

[0027]

According to the present invention, in a portable printer which is driven by a battery and prints out print data transmitted from a host machine in a print section, format information for outputting print data on recording paper is registered in a memory for each type. Format information registering means, setting means for calling and setting format information designated by the host machine from the memory, and printing the print data transmitted from the host machine according to the format information set by the setting means. And a print output unit for printing out by the unit, so that the necessary format information can be registered in the memory of the portable printer, thereby receiving the format information every time print data is received from the host machine. There is no need for this, which allows communication time with the host machine It can be shortened. Therefore, the life of the battery can be extended. further,
Since the communication time can be shortened, the influence of noise can be reduced even when data based on an optical signal is received via an infrared interface or when data based on a radio signal is received via a wireless interface. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing data processing on a host device side according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating data processing on the portable printer side.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the portable printer from the front side.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view showing the internal structure of the portable printer.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the portable printer from the back side.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating data processing on the portable printer side according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5 Recording paper 10 Battery 14 Printing unit 31 Memory 41, 42 Connection means S12, S22 Format information registration means S17, S26 Setting means S18, S27 Print output means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A portable printer, which is driven by a battery and prints out print data transmitted from a host machine by a printing unit, registers format information for outputting print data on recording paper in a memory for each type. Means, setting means for calling and setting format information designated by the host machine from the memory, and print data transmitted from the host machine according to the format information set by the setting means, which is output by the printing unit. A portable printer, comprising: