JPS63268677A - Label printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate setting of a printing format and a corresponding printing process, by making it possible to print through automatically determining an original point of printing for a label even upon a change in the size of the label. CONSTITUTION:The width of a label 2 is inputted after or simultaneously with the setting of a base paper 1. With this input, the coordinate of the center of an effective printing width (e) corresponding to a thermal head 7 is calculated by a means for setting the coordinate of the center. One half of the width of the label 2 is subtracted from the calculated coordinate, and when the value thus calculated is not less than the coordinate of the left end C of the effective printing width (e), the calculated value is made to be an original point D of printing for format coordinates. With the original point D of printing thus determined, printing can be performed without any processing at the time of calling a printing format and performing a printing processing, and accurate printing can be performed on the label 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a label printer capable of printing on labels of arbitrary width.

2. Description of the Related Art In general, label printers use thermal heads because they can accurately print barcodes. Each thermal head has its own effective printing width, and the printing reference point during printing is usually the left end of the thermal head.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention There are two methods for determining the position of the web with respect to the effective printing width using the thermal head. The first is a left edge reference method in which the left edge of the label is aligned with the left edge of the effective print width of the thermal head, and the second is the center reference method in which the center of the effective print width of the thermal head is aligned with the center of the label.

The former left edge reference method has the advantage of simple printing processing because the printing reference remains constant even if the label size changes, but the label printing position changes in the width direction. There is a problem in that processing after the label is issued is difficult.

The latter center reference method has the advantage that the label printing position remains constant even if the label width changes, and the processing is easy. Therefore, there is a problem in that accurate printing cannot be performed unless a printing format is called up and data on changes in the reference position is input into that printing format.

Means to Solve the Problem A thermal head in which a large number of heating elements are arranged in a straight line to form a constant effective printing width is provided opposite the platen, and printing on the label is based on the center of the thermal head. In the center-based label printer, the printing width storage means stores the effective printing width of the thermal head, the format storage means stores the printing format, the label width setting means sets the width of the label, and the printing width includes: a center coordinate setting means for determining the center coordinates from data stored in the width storage means; a calculation means for determining the printing origin by halving the input to the label width setting means and subtracting it from the center coordinates; format calling means for calling a necessary print format from the storage means;
and printing means for printing on the label according to the printing format called from the format calling means using this printing origin as a new reference.

In the action center reference method, even if the size of the label changes, the printing origin for that label can be automatically determined and printed, making it easy to set the printing format and print processing. be.

Example An embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

First, in FIGS. 2 and 3, labels 2 of a predetermined size are successively pasted on a mount l, and this mount 1 passes through a roller 3, a platen 4, a peeling plate 5, and a roller 6. It is wound up on a winding section (not shown). At the top of the platen 4, a thermal head 7 has a large number of heating elements arranged in a straight line to connect to the label 2 and print.
is provided. The left end of the effective printing width e by these heating elements is indicated by C. Then, the peeling plate 5
A label detector 9 for detecting the leading edge 8 of the label 2 is provided at the tip of the label 2 .

Next, the overall configuration will be explained based on FIG. 4. First, the scale IO is sent to the CPU 12 via the scale interface 11.
The label detector 9 is connected to the CPU 12, and a memory 13 consisting of a ROM and a RAM is also connected to the CPU 12. Then, the CPU 12
A key/display control 14 is connected to the key/display control 14, and a full key 15, a panel switch 16, and a display 17 are connected to the key/display control 14, respectively.

The CPtT 12 also includes a printer control 18.
A motor drive 20 for driving the motor 19 and a thermal head drive 21 for driving the thermal head 7 are connected to the printer control 18 .

Therefore, the memory 1 is centered around the CPU 12.
3. A combination of the key/display control 14, thermal head 7, etc. constitutes each processing means as shown in FIG.

That is, first, a print width storage means 22 is provided. The printing width storage means 22 stores an effective printing width e (shown in FIG. 3) which is equal to the array length of the heating elements of the thermal head 7. Connected to the print width storage means 22 is a center coordinate setting means 23 for determining the effective print width center A based on the print width and storing the data. This center coordinate setting means 23 is a calculation means 24
It is connected to the.

On the other hand, a label width setting means 25 for storing the label width d (shown in FIG. 3) of the label 2 is provided. Since the label 2 to be used is known in advance, this label width is most commonly entered manually using the full key 15, but in some cases an automatic reading mechanism that optically detects the label width may be used. Alternatively, the width of the label 2 may be automatically input at the same time as the mount 1 is set.

The label width setting means 25 is also connected to the calculation means 24, and the printing origin D (shown in FIG. 3) is calculated as coordinates by the calculation means 24 and stored.

Next, a format storage means 26 for storing a print format is provided, and this format storage means 26 is connected to a format recall means 27.

Therefore, the format calling means 27 and the calculating means 24 are connected to the printing means 28 including the thermal head 7. In such a configuration, the center of the label 2, i.e., the center of the label 2 with respect to the effective printing width center A, , because it uses a center reference method that matches the center B of the label width, so when the mount 1 is set, the center B of the label 2 attached to the mount 1 is automatically aligned with the center A of the effective printing width. It is set.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the width of the label 2 is inputted either after the setting of the mount 1 is completed or at the same time as the setting of the mount 1. Thereby, the center coordinates of the effective print width e corresponding to the thermal head 7 are calculated by the center coordinate setting means. Then, a value of -2/2 of the width of the label 2 is subtracted from the calculation result, and if the calculation result is equal to or larger than the left end C of the effective printing width e, the calculation result is set as the printing origin of the format coordinates.

As a result, since the printing origin is determined, printing can be performed without any processing when calling the printing format and performing printing processing, and the label 2
It is possible to print accurately on the top.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention provides a thermal head in which a large number of heating elements are arranged in a straight line to form a constant effective printing width, and is provided opposite to a platen, and prints on a label at the center of the thermal head. In a center-based label printer based on , a printing width storage means for storing an effective printing width of the thermal head, a format storage means for storing a printing format, and a label width setting means for setting the width of the label; a center coordinate setting means for determining center coordinates from data stored in the print width storage means; a calculation means for determining a printing origin by halving the input to the label width setting means and subtracting it from the center coordinate; The present invention includes a format calling means for calling a necessary printing format from the format storage means, and a printing means for printing on the label according to the printing format called from the format calling means using this printing origin as a new reference. When the center reference method is adopted as the printing method, even if the size of the label changes, the printing origin for that label can be automatically determined and printed, and it is possible to set the printing format and print processing. This makes it easier.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a view corresponding to the claims, FIG. 2 is a side view of the device, FIG. 3 is a plan view of a part thereof, FIG. 4 is a block diagram, and FIG. The figure is a flowchart. 2... Label, 4... Platen, 7... Thermal head, 22... Print width storage means, 23... Center coordinate setting means, 24... Calculating means, 25... Label width Setting means, 26... Format storage means, 27...
・Format calling means, 28...Printing means, Applicant: Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd. 3" Figure! 2kon U4■

Claims (1)

[Claims] A center-based label printer in which a thermal head in which a large number of heating elements are arranged in a straight line to form a constant effective printing width is provided facing a platen, and printing on a label is based on the center of the thermal head, Printing width storage means for storing the effective printing width of the thermal head, format storage means for storing the printing format, label width setting means for setting the width of the label, and data stored in the printing width storage means. a center coordinate setting means for determining the center coordinates; a calculation means for determining the printing origin by halving the input to the label width setting means and subtracting it from the center coordinates; and calling a necessary printing format from the format storage means. format calling means;
A label printer comprising: printing means for printing on the label according to a printing format called from the format calling means using the printing origin as a new reference.