KR101748081B1 - Printer for modifying print data according to paper type - Google Patents

Abstract

A printer for modifying print data according to a paper type is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of printing a printer includes identifying a type of paper received in the printer; Obtaining print data consisting of a first font from a host, the first font being used for printing on a first paper having a first paper width; A font of the print data is set so that the number of characters per line printed on the paper accommodated in the printer is the same as the number of characters per line printed on the first paper when the paper width of the identified paper is different from the first paper width Changing from the first font to the second font; And printing on the paper accommodated in the printer based on the print data changed to the second font.

Description

PRINTER FOR MODIFYING PRINT DATA ACCORDING TO PAPER TYPE [

The following embodiments relate to a printer that modifies print data according to a paper type.

In general, electronic cash registers (ECR), POS terminals (POS), and POS terminals are provided in convenience stores, supermarkets, restaurants, and department stores to perform functions such as transaction details, sales amount calculation, tax calculation, terminal, and a credit card terminal. However, a small printer (or a receipt printer) installed in the apparatus is used as an apparatus for printing receipts for generating receipts in the cash register, POS terminal, credit card terminal, and the like. Such a small-sized printer is a dot printer capable of printing transaction details on a paper sheet by applying a shock to a ribbon which is circulated according to the printing method, and a thermal printer for printing transaction details on the paper sheet using heat . The cash register, which is mainly used in the convenience store, the supermarket, the restaurant, etc., can input the transaction details (or the amount) of the goods using a keyboard or a scanner. The transaction details output through the display are printed on a rolled paper (normally, the paper for the cash register is rolled up in a roll form, hereinafter referred to as "paper") by the printer of the cash register, The side paper will come out. At the same time, the inside of the printer of the cash register is printed on a separate sheet of paper for auditing or the like, rolled in a roll form, stored in a main body of the cash register, or stored in a chip-type accounting memory, And stored in the body. Such a printer is used for issuing a receipt printed with a product name, a price, and the like, and includes a printer main body, a paper accommodating portion provided in the main body, a print head for printing a product name or price on the paper, A guide for guiding the sheet to the printhead, and a cutting unit for cutting the sheet to an arbitrary length when printing is completed.

Further, the printer can perform printing on paper having various widths. For example, the paper receiving portion receives paper having a width of 2 inches or paper having a width of 3 inches, and the printer head performs printing on paper having a width of 2 inches or paper having a width of 3 inches. In this case, conventionally, there has been an inconvenience in that the width of the sheet of paper to be accommodated by the user is manually inputted to the printer or the width of the paper to be accommodated in the printer is set through the host.

In addition, in the case of receiving print data for a 3-inch wide paper sheet from the host even though the printer accommodates 2-inch wide paper sheets, some of the print data to be printed is out of the 2-inch wide paper sheet, .

In recent years, efforts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems in order to improve user's convenience.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printer that corrects print data received from a host on the basis of a type of paper accommodated in the printer so as to normally print on the paper accommodated in the printer.

A method of printing a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: identifying a type of paper accommodated in the printer; Obtaining print data consisting of a first font from a host, the first font being used for printing on a first paper having a first paper width; A font of the print data is set so that the number of characters per line printed on the paper accommodated in the printer is the same as the number of characters per line printed on the first paper when the paper width of the identified paper is different from the first paper width Changing from the first font to the second font; And printing on the paper accommodated in the printer based on the print data changed to the second font.

The step of identifying the type of paper accommodated in the printer may include determining whether the type of the paper accommodated in the paper accommodating portion based on whether a switch installed in the paper accommodating portion accommodating the paper is in contact with a guide accommodated in the paper accommodating portion, As shown in FIG.

The step of identifying the type of paper accommodated in the printer may be characterized by manually inputting information on the type of paper.

Wherein the step of changing the font of the print data from the first font to the second font comprises the steps of: printing a print width of a sheet of paper accommodated in the printer among a plurality of fonts, And selecting the second font based on the dot density.

Wherein the step of changing the font of the print data from the first font to the second font includes changing the number of characters per line printed on the paper accommodated in the printer to the number of characters per line printed on the first paper, Wherein if the number of fonts that can be selected as the second font is two or more based on the print width and the dot density of the plurality of fonts, The second font may be a font that allows the least space in the paper to be printed.

Wherein the printer is configured to control the center of the paper receiving portion and the center of the print head of the printer so that the print width on the paper accommodated in the paper accommodating portion of the printer, Are not coincident with each other.

Wherein when the print data obtained from the host includes an image and the first paper width is different from the paper width of the identified paper, the image is printed on the accepted paper without the portion where the image is lost. The method may further include changing the size.

Wherein the print data obtained from the host includes an image extracting instruction, the image extracting instruction stores information about an image address where an image to be printed is stored, and a size of the image, And changing the size of the image so that if the first paper width is different, the entire image is printed on the received paper without the portion where the image is lost.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a printer for performing printing on a plurality of sheets having different paper widths, the printer including: a paper receiving unit for receiving any one of the plurality of sheets; A print head which performs printing on the paper accommodated in the paper accommodating portion; And a control unit for controlling the print head, wherein a print width on a remaining paper other than the first paper having the widest paper width among the plurality of paper sheets, the print width corresponds to an area in which the print head performs printing -, the center of the paper receiving portion and the center of the print head do not coincide with each other.

Wherein the control unit performs printing on the remaining paper using a font other than the first font used for printing on the first paper when the remaining paper is received in the paper accommodating unit, The number of characters per line printed on the first paper and the number of characters per line printed on the remaining paper are printed in the same manner.

The control unit automatically recognizes that the remaining paper other than the first paper is accommodated in the paper accommodating portion when the switch installed in the paper accommodating portion contacts the guide accommodated in the paper accommodating portion .

And the center line of the print head is spaced at least 0.8 mm from the center line of the paper receiving portion.

A method of printing a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: identifying a type of paper accommodated in the printer; Obtaining print data based on a first print setting from a host, the first print setting being used for printing on a first paper; Confirming a second print setting corresponding to the type of the identified paper if the type of the identified paper does not correspond to the first print setting; Changing a first print setting of the print data to the second print setting; And printing on the paper accommodated in the printer based on the print data changed to the second print setting.

According to the present invention, by identifying the type of paper accommodated in the printer and correcting the print data received from the host according to the type of the identified paper, the type of paper set in the print data received from the host, There is an effect that normal printing can be performed on the paper accommodated in the printer.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a printer according to one embodiment.
2 is a perspective view showing a printer according to an embodiment.
3 is a view for explaining a host and a printer according to an embodiment.
4 is a view illustrating a paper receiving portion according to an embodiment.
5 is an operational flowchart showing a printing method of a printer according to an embodiment.
6 is a flowchart illustrating a printing method of a printer according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 7 to 9 are views for explaining print results according to the arrangement of the paper accommodating portion and the print head according to the embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to or limited by the embodiments. In addition, the same reference numerals shown in the drawings denote the same members.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a printer according to one embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the printer 100 is an apparatus for performing printing on paper, and may include a receipt printer, a label printer, a mobile printer, a thermal printer, an inkjet printer, a ribbon printer, a laser printer and the like. Of course, the printers listed above are exemplary and in addition to the printers listed above, all the devices that perform printing on paper may be included in the printer 100.

The printer 100 may include a communication interface 110, a memory unit 120, a user input unit 130, an output unit 140, a printer unit 150, and a controller 160. The components shown in FIG. 1 are not essential, and an electronic device having components having more or fewer components may be implemented.

Hereinafter, the components will be described in order.

The communication interface 110 may include one or more modules that enable network communication between the printer 100 and an external device.

For example, the communication interface 110 may include a wireless Internet interface such as a wireless local area network (WLAN), a wifi (WiFi), a Bluetooth, a ZigBee, a WiGig, Wireless communication such as short range communication interfaces such as Frequency Identification (NFC), Near Field Communication (NFC), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Ultra Wideband (UWB), and WiHD Module, and can communicate data with the outside via a wireless communication module.

Of course, the communication interface 110 may include not only a wireless communication module but also a wired communication module. For example, through the communication unit 110, the printer 100 can communicate data with the outside by using at least one of a USB system, a serial system, and a parallel system.

The memory unit 120 can store various data necessary for the operation of the printer 100. [ For example, the memory unit 120 may store a program (e.g., a program for controlling the printer unit 160) for operating the control unit 160, and may store various data.

The memory unit 120 may be a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a card type memory (for example, SD or XD memory) At least one of a random access memory (RAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), a read only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM) Lt; / RTI > type of storage medium.

The user input unit 130 may perform a function of receiving necessary data and / or commands from the user. The user input unit 130 can generate input data for controlling the operation of the printer 100 based on necessary data and / or commands received from the user.

The user input unit 130 may include a keyboard, a mouse, a key pad, a dome switch, a dip switch, a touch pad (static / static), a jog wheel, And may include at least one.

In one embodiment, the user input unit 130 can receive information on the type of paper, and the controller 160 can provide the information input to the controller 160 so that the type of paper is recognized.

The output unit 140 generates an output related to the time or the auditory sense. The output unit 140 may include an audio output unit 141, a video output unit 142, and the like.

The audio output unit 141 audibly outputs information related to a function performed by the printer 100. The audio output unit 141 may include a speaker, a buzzer, and the like.

The video output unit 142 visually outputs information processed by the printer 100. [ For example, the printer 100 may display a GUI (Graphic User Interface) capable of interfacing with a user through the video output unit 142.

The video output unit 142 may be a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor liquid crystal display, an organic light emitting diode, a flexible display, a three-dimensional display display).

In a case where the video output unit 142 and the sensor for sensing the touch operation (hereinafter, referred to as 'touch sensor') have a mutual layer structure (hereinafter referred to as a 'touch screen'), the video output unit 142 It can be used as an input device in addition to an output device. The touch sensor may have the form of, for example, a touch film, a touch sheet, a touch pad, or the like.

The printer unit 150 may include a printhead 151 and a paper type recognizer 152. [ The print head 151 is a device for printing data signals of the control unit 160 on paper and performs printing according to the control. The print head 151 includes a thermal type head, an ink jet type head, a dot type head, can do.

The paper type recognizer 152 can obtain the information necessary for recognizing the type of paper to be accommodated in the printer 100. [ Here, the type of the paper may include the thickness of the paper, the width of the paper, the weight of the paper, the texture of the paper, the density of the paper, and the like. In addition, the paper may include paper used for text printing, picture printing and / or photo printing, receipt paper, ticket paper, glossy paper, glossy paper, label paper, linerless paper for labels and the like.

In addition, the paper type recognizer 152 may be in the form of a switch. For example, if the paper type recognizer 152 is a switch, the paper type recognizer 152 may generate a signal depending on whether the paper type recognizer 152 is being pressed by a guide that guides paper or paper to the print head And the width of the paper can be recognized by the controller 160 according to the generated signal.

In this case, the paper type recognizer 152 may receive different signals depending on the type of paper accommodated in the printer 100. For example, the paper type recognizer 152 may be a reflective sensor or a gap sensor, And the type of the paper can be recognized by the control unit 160 according to the generated signal.

In this case, the paper type recognizer 152 scans an indicator (for example, a bar code) including information on the paper type, and the control unit 160 controls the paper type recognizer 152 The controller 160 may provide the scanned information so that the type of the scanned image is recognized.

The paper type recognizer 152 may be an RFID reader (or an NFC reader). In this case, the paper type recognizer 152 may read an RFID tag (or an NFC tag) and the control unit 160 may provide the read information to the control unit 160 so that the type of the paper is recognized.

The control unit 160 controls the overall operation of the printer 100. In particular, the control unit 160 may control the operation of the printer 100 according to codes by an application (for example, firmware) installed in the printer 100. [ The application may include, as an application program, program codes for performing a function specific to the printer 100. In addition, the above-described application may be implemented in the form of software, stored in an operating system and / or an application memory unit 120 implemented in software, and then, if necessary, And can be provided to the printer 100.

In addition, the control unit 160 can acquire print data from the host via the communication interface 110, and perform printing on the paper with the print head 151 according to the obtained print data. At this time, the control unit 160 recognizes the type of paper accommodated in the printer 100 based on the information acquired from the paper type recognizer 152, and can appropriately modify the print data according to the type of paper. For example, if the control unit 160 acquires 3-inch print data from the host in a state in which 2-inch paper is accommodated in the printer 100, and 2-inch paper is printed in accordance with 3-inch print data, There may occur a portion where printing can not be performed on the inch paper. In order to solve such a problem, the controller 160 recognizes that the 2-inch paper is accommodated in the printer 100 so that the entire print data can be smoothly printed on the 2-inch paper without any portion that can not be printed, It is possible to convert the print data for 2-inch print data. Thereafter, the control unit 160 controls the print head 151 to print the converted 2-inch print data on 2-inch paper.

2 is a perspective view showing a printer according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2, the printer 100 includes a main body 210 for providing a predetermined internal space S1, a print head (not shown) for printing predetermined information on the paper, And a cutting unit 230 for cutting the wafer W. The printer 100 includes a cover 220 which is moved to the main body 210 so as to adjust the opening and closing of the internal space S1, And a feeding unit 240 for feeding the sheet R0 fed from the roll paper R. [

Hereinafter, the constituent elements will be described in detail.

The main body 210 can provide the appearance of the printer 100 according to the present invention, and the shape is not limited. In other words, the shape of the main body 210 can be variously changed according to the use environment of the printer 100 according to the present invention. Further, although not shown in Fig. 2, the printer 100 may include a paper receiving portion for receiving paper. In one embodiment, the paper receiving portion can accommodate various types of paper. The paper accommodating portion will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG.

The print head is a component that can print predetermined information on the paper R0 that is drawn from the roll paper R located in the inner space S1. For example, when the printer 100 is a thermal print , And the print head may be a thermal head. Since the thermal head is a well-known technology, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The transfer unit 240 may be mounted on the cover unit 220 and moved in conjunction with rotation of the cover unit 230 with respect to the main unit 210. The printer 100 according to the present invention In the case of a thermal printer, it may be a kind of rotatable roller (for example, a platen roller).

When the internal space S1 is closed by the cover portion 230, the transfer portion 240 is positioned adjacent to the print head to engage the print head (not shown) It is possible to print predetermined information by the information processing apparatus.

3 is a view for explaining a host and a printer according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3, the host 300 may be connected to the printer 100. Here, the host 300 is an apparatus that can control the printer 100. For example, when the printer 100 is a force printer, the host 300 may be a force terminal. The host 300 and the printer 100 may be wired or wirelessly connected. When the host 300 and the printer 100 are wirelessly connected, the host 300 and the printer 100 can be connected through radio-frequency identification (RFID), Bluetooth, WiFi, or any other known wireless communication method.

The host 300 may include an application 310 and a printer driver 320. The application 310 may be software or hardware capable of providing an interface for receiving various user inputs for creating a document to be printed or for printing a target document.

The printer driver 320 can receive the print request and the data for the target document to be printed from the application 310 and transmit the print command and the data necessary for printing to the printer 100 to print the target document properly . In addition, the printer driver 320 can receive and set various setting values necessary for printing from the user or the application 310. The printer driver 320 may include the set values in the print data so that the target document can be printed appropriately And transmits it to the printer 100.

The printer 100 receives necessary commands from the printer driver 320 installed in the host 300 and performs appropriate operations accordingly.

For example, upon reception of a print command from the printer driver 320, an appropriate print operation can be performed based on various parameters included in the print data and / or data to be printed.

In the case of the print command, various print commands may be used depending on the type of data to be printed. That is, different print commands may be used depending on whether the data to be printed is an image, a character string, or a code. Hereinafter, when a distinction is required, a print command for printing image data is called an image print command, a print command for printing a string is a string print command, and a print command for printing code data is called a code print command . However, in the case where such a special distinction is not required, it may be collectively referred to as a print command.

For example, when an image, a character string, and a code are included in one print data, the printer driver 320 may transmit the print data to the printer 100 together with a print command.

4 is a view illustrating a paper receiving portion according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, the paper receiving portion 410 can receive various types of paper, and the paper guide 420 guides the paper so that the paper R is aligned according to the paper width. In addition, the paper accommodating portion 410 may include a first switch 411 and a second switch 412. In one embodiment, the first switch 411 and the second switch 412 may be contacted by the paper guide 420. [ Here, the first switch 411 and the second switch 412 may be an example of the paper type recognizer 152 of Fig.

For example, when the paper R having a paper width of 80 mm (3 inches) is accommodated in the paper accommodating portion 410, as shown in (a) 1 switch 411, and the first switch 411 can be pressed by the paper guide 420. In this case, As the first switch 411 is pressed, the first switch 411 can generate a first signal, and the printer 100 (i.e., the control unit 160 in FIG. 1) It can be recognized that the portion 410 has received paper having a paper width of 80 mm (3 inches).

As another example, when the paper R1 having a paper width of 58 mm (2 inches) is accommodated in the paper accommodating portion 410, as shown in (b) 2 switch 412, and the second switch 412 can be pushed by the paper guide 420. The paper feed tray 412 is provided with a paper feed tray (not shown). As the second switch 412 is pressed, the second switch 412 can generate a second signal, and the printer 100 (i.e., the control unit 160 in Fig. 1) It can be recognized that a portion of paper having a paper width of 58 mm (2 inches) is accommodated in the portion 410.

As another example, when paper having a paper width of 83 mm (3 inches) is accommodated in the paper accommodating portion 410, the paper guide 420 is inserted into the groove or the second switch 412, which accommodates the first switch 411, And may not be mounted in the paper accommodating portion 410. [0054] Accordingly, the first switch 411 and the second switch 412 may not generate the first signal and the second signal, and the printer 100 (i.e., the control unit 160 of FIG. 1) It can be recognized that paper with a paper width of 83 mm (3 inches) is accommodated in the paper accommodating portion 410 as the signal and the second signal are not generated. In another example, when the paper guide 420 is not received in the groove accommodating the one switch 411 or in the groove accommodating the second switch 412, the first switch and / or the second switch 412 The control unit 160 of FIG. 1 may generate a third signal different from the first signal and the second signal and the printer 100 It can be recognized that the paper having the paper width is accommodated.

5 is an operational flowchart showing a printing method of a printer according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, the printer may identify the type of paper received in the printer (510). As described above, the printer includes a paper accommodating portion, and various types of paper can be accommodated in the paper accommodating portion. For example, paper having various thicknesses, widths, weights, textures, or densities can be accommodated in the paper receiving portion.

In one embodiment, the printer includes a paper recognition type recognizer and can use the paper type recognizer to identify the type of paper received in the paper receiving portion. For example, the paper type recognizer may be in the form of a switch, and the switch may be installed in the paper accommodating portion. In this case, the printer can recognize the type of paper accommodated in the paper accommodating portion based on whether the switch is in contact with the guide or the paper accommodated in the paper accommodating portion. In one example, when the switch is in contact with a guide or paper, the switch generates a first signal, and when the switch is not in contact with a guide or paper, the switch can generate a second signal. At this time, when a first signal is generated in the switch, the printer recognizes that a first type of paper (e.g., 2-inch paper) is accommodated in the paper accommodating portion, and when a second signal is generated in the switch, The printer can recognize that the second type of paper (e.g., 3-inch paper) is accommodated in the paper accommodating portion.

Further, in another embodiment, the printer can manually receive information on the type of paper. For example, the printer may display information on the type of paper that can be accommodated in the paper receiving portion through the video output portion 140 shown in FIG. In addition, the printer can receive any one type of paper from the information on the type of paper to be displayed through the user input unit 130 shown in FIG. 1, Type can be set. 1 to 4 can be directly applied to the identification of the type of paper, so that the details thereof will be omitted.

In addition, the printer may obtain print data based on the first print setting from the host (520). Here, the print setting indicates a set value of at least one print parameter. For example, the print parameters include a print start horizontal position value, a print start vertical position value (e.g., a top margin from the first end of the sheet to the first row at which printing starts), a print density level, The density level, the temperature level of the printhead, the print speed level, the font size, and the size of the image (e.g., NV image), and the first print setting may be composed of at least one of these print parameters. As an example, the first print setting may be determined at the host and reflected in the print data.

The printer can receive the print data from the host and extract the first print setting from the received print data.

In addition, if the type of the identified paper does not correspond to the first print setting, the printer can check the second print setting corresponding to the type of the identified paper (530).

In one embodiment, the printer may include information about the type of paper and corresponding print settings. For example, when the thickness of the paper is the first thickness, at least one of the first dot density level, the temperature level of the first print head, and the first print speed level may be included as the setting value of the corresponding print parameter , And when the thickness of the paper is a second thickness that is thicker than the first thickness, at least one of the first dot density level, the temperature level of the first print head, and the first print speed level is included as the set value of the print parameter . If the width of the paper is the first width, the setting value of the corresponding printing parameter may be one of the first print start horizontal position value, the first print start vertical position value, the first font size, and the first image size And when the width of the paper is a second width that is wider than the first width, setting values of the corresponding printing parameters include a second printing start horizontal position value, a second printing start vertical position value, a second font size, Size. ≪ / RTI >

In some embodiments of the present invention, information about the type of paper and the corresponding print settings can be prestored in the printer's memory. For example, information on the type of paper and the corresponding print settings can be stored in the form of a look-up table. Further, in another embodiment, the printer may receive from the outside information on the print setting corresponding to the type of the paper.

The printer can check the type of the paper identified in step 510 and whether the first print settings obtained in step 520 correspond. If the type of the identified paper does not correspond to the first print setting, the printer determines, from the information about the print setting corresponding to the type of the paper, the print setting corresponding to the type of the identified paper, 2 You can check the print settings. For example, when the thickness of the identified paper is the first thickness, and the first print setting is the first dot density level and the second print speed level, the printer obtains from the look- It can be confirmed that the printing speed level is the first dot density level and the first printing speed level and it can be determined that the type of the identified paper does not correspond to the first printing setting. Then, the printer can confirm the first dot density level and the first printing speed level with the second printing setting corresponding to the paper of the first thickness.

In addition, the printer may change the first print setting of the print data to the second print setting (540).

Further, the printer can perform printing on the paper accommodated in the printer based on the print data changed to the second print setting (550). That is, the printer can perform printing by modifying the print data received from the host based on the second print setting, without performing printing according to the print data received from the host. Accordingly, when the print data received from the host does not correspond to the type of the paper accommodated in the printer and thus can not be normally printed (for example, print quality deterioration, loss of print data) It is possible to properly perform printing on the paper accommodated in the printer by properly modifying the received print data according to the type of paper accommodated in the printer without receiving it.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a printing method of a printer according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the printer can identify the type of paper accommodated in the printer (610). For the step 610, the contents described in the above-mentioned step 510 can be applied as it is, so that the details will be omitted.

Further, the printer can obtain print data composed of the first font from the host (620). Here, the first font can be used for printing on the first paper having the first paper width.

In one embodiment, the host may generate print data in at least one font. For example, the font that can be applied to the print data may include various sizes such as 12 x 24 fonts, 9 x 17 fonts, 9 x 24 fonts, and the host may use the at least one of these various fonts to print data Lt; / RTI > Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that print data is generated based on 12 x 24 fonts at the host. Of course, the font of the print data generated at the host is not limited to 12 x 24 fonts, and fonts of various sizes can be applied to the print data. The printer can receive the print data from the host and confirm that the received print data is composed of the first font. Here, the fact that the print data is composed of the first font means that the print data is generated with only the first font, but the fact that the print data is generated with a plurality of fonts and the first font is included in the plurality of fonts It may mean.

Further, the print data may include an image. For example, the print data may include an image having a predetermined size. Also, in one embodiment, an image output command may be included to output the image stored in the printer (or an image stored in the server accessible by the printer) to a specific location without the image being included in the print data. For example, the image output command may include information about an image address and an image size in which an image (for example, an NV image) is stored. The printer can receive print data from the host and receive information about the size of the image from the received print data.

Further, the printer can adjust the print width of the print data received from the host when the paper width of the identified paper differs from the first paper width set in the print data. Here, the print width may mean a paper width that can actually be printed in the print head in the entire width of the paper. This print width may be less than the length of the print head.

For example, when print data received from a host is generated so as to be printed on 3-inch paper, but 2-inch paper is accommodated in the printer, printing is performed according to the print data, . This is because the print width on 3 inch paper is different from the print width on 2 inch paper. In order to solve such a problem, the printer can modify the print width of the print data received from the host from the print width for 3 inches (ex. 72 mm) to the print width for 2 inches (ex. 54 mm). In another example, when print data received from a host is generated so as to be printed on 2-inch paper, but when printing is performed according to the print data when 3-inch paper is accommodated in the printer, Lt; / RTI > In this case, the printer can reduce the printing margin of the print data received from the host by changing the printing width for 2 inches to the printing width for 3 inches. Of course, print parameters such as font size should also be modified to reduce the margins. This will be described in detail in step 630.

In addition, when the paper width of the identified paper is different from the first paper width, the printer sets the font of the print data so that the number of characters per line printed on the paper accommodated in the printer is the same as the number of characters per line printed on the first paper 1 < / RTI > font to the second font (630). Here, the number of characters per line may mean one line, i.e., the number of characters that can be printed in one line.

In one embodiment, the number of characters per line may be determined based on print width, dot density, and font size. Specifically, the number of characters per line can be calculated by dividing the font size by the product of the printing width and the dot density. The dot density represents the number of dots that can be printed in the reference length. For example, the dot density can be expressed by dots per inch (dpi). For example, the dot density may include 180 dpi (= 7 dots / mm) or 203 dpi (= 8 dots / mm).

In some embodiments of the present invention, the print width is variable according to the width of the paper, so that the number of characters per line can also vary depending on the width of the paper. In particular, the length of the printhead performing printing may be less than the width of the paper, and the length of the portion actually printable in the printhead may be at least a portion of the total length of the printhead. Accordingly, the print width becomes smaller than the width of the paper, and the print width can be made equal or smaller as the width of the paper becomes smaller. For example, the print head can be set to a print width of 72 mm, depending on the length. In this case, when the width of the paper is 83 mm (about 3 inches) and the width of the paper is 80 mm (about 3 inches), the printing width may be equal to 72 mm. However, if the width of the paper is 58 mm (about 2 inches) smaller than 72 mm, the print width can be 54 mm, which is smaller than 72 mm.

Further, as described above, when the paper width of the identified paper differs from the first paper width set in the print data, the printer can adjust the print width of the print data received from the host. For example, when the paper width of the identified paper is 58 mm and the print width for the first paper width set in the print data is 72 mm, the print data is lost as the paper width of the identified paper is smaller than the print width . In order to prevent the loss of such print data, the printer can adjust the print width of the print data received from the host from 72 mm to 54 mm.

Then, as the print width is changed, the number of characters per line can also be changed. For example, if the print width is 72 mm, the dot density is 203 dpi (= 8 dots / mm) and the width of the font is 12 mm (for example, a font of 12 x 24 size) The number of characters per line may be 48. However, if the dot density and the width of the font are not changed, the number of characters per line may be reduced to 36, even though the 3 inch paper is changed to 2 inch paper and the print width is reduced to 54 mm. Thus, in order to print 48 characters, one line is required for 3 inch paper, while two lines are needed for 2 inch paper. In other words, you can print 48 characters on a 2-inch paper, although you have to do a new line. As described above, when a line is printed in a line, the readability of the user who reads the printout can be lowered, and the length of the paper required for printing is increased. In order to solve this problem, the printer of the present invention can modify the print data received from the host to fit the paper accommodated in the paper accommodating portion of the printer itself, and perform printing with the modified print data.

Specifically, the printer can modify the font of the print data received from the host. For example, when the print data received from the host is generated for 3 inches, the font of the received print data may be the first font (ex. 12 x 24 font). However, as described above, when two inches of paper are accommodated in the printer, the printer can reduce the print width of the received print data to two inches, and in a state in which the print width is reduced to two inches, When the font of the print data is to be maintained, a part of the print data must be printed in a line. Thus, in order to print the print data whose print width has been modified so as to be equal to the number of characters per line of the received print data without preceding the print data, the printer stores the font of the received print data in the first font To a smaller second font (e.g., 9 x 17 font). More specifically, the printer can select the second font based on the printing width and the dot density for the paper accommodated in the printer among the plurality of sizes of the printable sizes. For example, when the print width of the received print data is reduced to 54 mm and the dot density is 203 dpi, the printer can set a font (ex. 9 x 17 font) having a width of 9 mm to the second font. As another example, when the print width is reduced to 48 mm and the dot density is 203 dpi, the printer can set a font (e.g., 8 x 16 font) having a width of 8 mm to the second font. As another example, when the printing width is reduced to 54 mm and the dot density is 180 dpi, the printer can set a font (e.g., 7 x 15 font) having a width of 7 mm to the second font.

Also, in some embodiments of the present invention, the second font is selected such that the number of characters per line printed on the paper accommodated in the printer is the same as the number of characters per line printed on the first paper, And when two or more fonts that can be selected as the first font based on the dot density are to be printed and the print data modified in the printer among the two or more fonts is printed on the paper accommodated in the printer, It is possible to set a font in which a space, that is, a margin can be printed with the smallest number, as a second font. This is to improve the readability of the user by minimizing the empty space in the printed paper. For example, the number of characters per line may be 48 when the print width of the print data received from the host is 72 mm, the dot density is 203 dpi, and the width of the first font is 12 mm. When the print width of the received print data is reduced to 54 mm, the width of the font must be 9 mm or less in order to maintain the number of characters per line to 48. [ At this time, if the 9 x 17 font and the 8 x 16 font are stored in the printer in the font selectable by the second font, the printer can select the 9 x 17 font as the second font in order to reduce the empty space in the printed paper as much as possible have. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and the printer may select an 8 x 16 font that can be printed with a lot of empty space on the paper to be printed as the second font.

Further, in some embodiments of the present invention, the printer may enlarge the font of the print data received from the host. For example, when print data received from a host is generated for 2 inches, the font of the received print data may be a first font (e.g., 9 x 17 font). At this time, when 3 inches of paper is accommodated in the printer, the printer can enlarge the print width of the received print data for 3 inches. However, when the font of the print data whose print width is enlarged is maintained in the first font, the margin of the printed paper becomes large, so that the readability of the user may deteriorate. Therefore, The second font can be changed to a larger second font. As described above, even when the font is enlarged, the printer can select the second font based on the printing width and the dot density for the paper accommodated in the printer among the plurality of sizes of the printable size fonts.

Further, in one embodiment, information about the width of the paper and the corresponding font may be stored in the memory of the printer in the form of a look-up table. In this case, when the paper width set in the print data received from the host differs from the paper width of the accommodated paper in the printer, the printer confirms the font corresponding to the paper width of the paper accommodated in the printer from the lookup table, The font of the print data can be replaced with the font identified from the look-up table.

Further, in some embodiments of the present invention, the printer may receive print data including an image of a predetermined size from a host. In this case, when the paper width set in the print data acquired from the host differs from the paper width of the paper accommodated in the printer identified in step 610, the printer sets the size of the image so that the whole image is printed on the received paper, Can be changed.

For example, information on the size of the image corresponding to the width of the sheet of paper can be stored in the memory of the printer in the form of a lookup table. In this case, the printer reads, from the lookup table, Check the size of the image, and convert the size of the image included in the print data into the size of the image identified from the look-up table. As another example, as described above, when the font of the received print data is changed from the first font to the second font, the printer converts the size of the image based on the size ratio of the first font and the second font .

Alternatively, the printer does not include an image, but may receive print data including an image output instruction to output an image previously stored in the printer (or an image stored in a server accessible by the printer) to a specific location. For example, the image output command may include information about an image address and an image size in which an image (for example, an NV image) is stored. In this case as well, when the paper width set in the print data acquired from the host is different from the paper width of the paper accommodated in the printer identified in step 610, the printer performs the image printing so that the entire image is printed on the received paper, Can be changed. For example, the printer can check information about the size of an image from an image extraction command received from the host. At this time, if the paper width set in the print data acquired from the host is different from the paper width of the paper accommodated in the printer identified in step 610, the printer reads the size of the image corresponding to the paper width of the received paper of the printer from the look- And convert the size of the image set in the image extraction command into the size of the image identified from the lookup table. Further, when the font of the received print data is changed from the first font to the second font, the printer may change the size of the image set in the image extracting command based on the size ratio of the first font and the second font have.

Further, the printer can perform printing on the paper accommodated in the printer based on the print data changed to the second font (640). In other words, the printer can perform printing by modifying the font of the print data received from the host to the second font from the first font set in the print data, without performing printing according to the print data received from the host . Accordingly, when the print data received from the host does not correspond to the width of the paper accommodated in the printer and thus the print data is lost, the printer does not receive the print data from the host, It is possible to properly perform printing on the paper accommodated in the printer.

FIGS. 7 to 9 are views for explaining print results according to the arrangement of the paper accommodating portion and the print head according to the embodiment.

7, (a) shows the inside of the printer when the center line of the paper receiving portion 710 and the center line of the print head 720 coincide with each other. The reference numeral 711 denotes the width of the paper receiving portion 710, and the reference numeral 721 denotes the length of the print head 720. In the length 721 of the print head, an identification code 722 indicates an area where printing is not performed, and an identification code 723 indicates an area where printing is performed.

7A, the center line C1 of the paper receiving portion 710 and the center line C2 of the print head 720 coincide with each other. That is, the paper receiving portion 710 and the print head 720 are aligned with respect to the same central axis. Accordingly, when the paper having the paper width of 80 mm is received in the paper receiving portion 710, the print head 720 performs printing from a point 4 mm from the first end of the paper to a point 4 mm from the second end of the paper can do. That is, when a sheet having a sheet width of 80 mm is accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion 710, the print width of the sheet having a sheet width of 80 mm can be 72 mm.

When the dot density is 203 dpi (= 8 dots / mm) and the width of the font is 12 mm in the state where the paper receiving portion 710 and the print head 720 are arranged as shown in Fig. 7 (a) The number of characters can be 48 characters. In this case, when the print head 720 performs printing on the 80 mm paper, the printing result is displayed as shown in FIG. 8 (a).

On the other hand, a paper having a paper width of 58 mm smaller than the printing width of 72 mm can be accommodated on the left side of the paper receiving portion 710 at the first end of the paper. Accordingly, the print head 720 can perform printing from a point 4 mm from the first end of the paper to the second end of the paper. That is, when the paper having the paper width of 58 mm is accommodated in the paper accommodating portion 710, the printing width of the paper having the paper width of 58 mm can be 54 mm. As described above, the printer calculates the size of the font of the print data received from the host so that the number of characters per line when printing the print data received from the host on 80 mm paper and the number of characters per line when printing on the 58 mm paper Can be adjusted. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 8B, the printer can perform printing so that the number of characters per line from the point at which it is 4 mm from the first end of the sheet is 48 characters. In addition, the printer adjusts the size of the image so that the whole image of the print data received from the host is printed on the 58 mm paper, and the size is adjusted from the point 4 mm from the first end of the paper as shown in FIG. 8 (b) It is possible to perform printing of the image.

7B shows the interior of the printer when the center line of the paper receiving portion 730 and the center line of the print head 740 do not coincide with each other. The reference numeral 731 denotes the width of the paper accommodating portion 730, and the reference numeral 741 denotes the length of the print head 740. Further, among the length 741 of the print head, the reference numeral 742 denotes an area in which printing is not performed, and the reference numeral 743 denotes an area in which printing is performed.

7B, the center line Z1 of the paper receiving portion 710 does not coincide with the center line Z2 of the print head 720, and the center line Z1 of the print head 740 moves from the center line Z2 of the paper accommodating portion 730 At least 0.8 mm or more apart. This is to increase the print width of the remaining paper except for the paper having the widest paper width among the paper that can be accommodated in the paper receiving portion 730. [ In other words, when paper having a paper width smaller than the maximum printable print width in the print head 740 is accommodated in the paper accommodating portion 730, the center line Z1 of the paper accommodating portion 730 and the center line Z1 of the print head 740 Z2 do not coincide with each other, the print width on the paper having the paper width smaller than the maximum print width can be increased. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the center line Z2 of the print head 740 is disposed at a distance of about 1 mm from the center line Z1 of the paper accommodating portion 730 to the left.

For example, when the maximum print width is set to 72 mm and the 80 mm paper is accommodated in the paper accommodating portion 730, the center line of the print head 740 is set to the paper accommodating portion 730 according to the length of the print head 740. [ The print head 740 performs printing from a point 3 mm from the first end of the sheet to a point 5 mm from the second end of the sheet, i.e., 72 mm, which is the maximum print width . The dot density is 203 dpi (= 8 dots / mm) in the state where the center of the paper receiving portion 730 and the center of the print head 740 are disposed in an inconsistent manner as shown in FIG. 7 (b) 12 mm, the number of characters per line can be 48 characters, and when the print head 740 performs printing on the 80 mm paper, the printing result appears as shown in FIG. 9 (a). In this case, unlike in FIG. 8A, the left and right sides of the paper can be printed asymmetrically.

On the other hand, a sheet having a width of 58 mm, which is smaller than the maximum printing width of 72 mm, can be received on the left side of the sheet accommodating portion 730. Accordingly, the print head 740 can perform printing from a point 3 mm from the first end of the sheet to the second end of the sheet. That is, when the paper having the paper width of 58 mm is accommodated in the paper accommodating portion 730, the printing width of the paper having the paper width of 58 mm may be 55 mm. In this manner, when the center line of the print head 740 does not coincide with the center line of the paper accommodating portion 730, the center line of the print head 740 is smaller than the maximum print width in comparison with the center line of the paper accommodating portion 730 The printing width on the paper having the paper width can be increased.

Further, as described above, the printer determines the number of characters per line when printing the print data received from the host on 80 mm paper and the number of characters per line when printing on the 58 mm paper, You can adjust the size. Accordingly, the printer can perform printing such that the number of characters per line is 48 from the point at which the printer is 3 mm from the first end of the sheet, as shown in FIG. 9 (b).

8B showing the printing result when the center line of the print head 720 coincides with the center line of the paper accommodating portion 710 and the center line of the print head 740 are aligned with the center line of the paper accommodating portion 730 9 (b), the print contents in FIG. 8 (b) and FIG. 9 (b) and the number of characters per line are the same. However, in the printing result of Fig. 8 (b), printing starts from the position of 4 mm on the left side of the sheet and there is no margin on the right side of the sheet. However, in the printing result of Fig. 9 (b) There is a margin of 1 mm on the right side of the paper. This margin is generated when the center line of the print head 740 is generated by the inconsistency of the center line of the paper accommodating portion 730. According to the margin, the print result of Fig. 9 (b) The readability of the user can be improved in the result.

When the center line of the print head 740 coincides with the center line of the paper receiving portion 730 and the margin is not formed, printing is performed to the end of the paper, Lt; / RTI > Accordingly, the number of characters per line in the paper accommodated in the paper accommodating portion 730 can be reduced as at least a part of the print data is lost. On the other hand, when the center line of the print head 740 does not coincide with the center line of the paper accommodating portion 730, printing is not performed to the end of the paper so that the margin occurs, Printing on the paper can be performed stably. Therefore, the number of characters per line in the paper accommodated in the paper accommodating portion 730 can be made equal to the number of characters per line in the 80 mm paper without reducing the number of characters per line.

The method according to an embodiment may be implemented in the form of a program command that can be executed through various computer means and recorded in a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, and the like, alone or in combination. The program instructions to be recorded on the medium may be those specially designed and configured for the embodiments or may be available to those skilled in the art of computer software. Examples of computer-readable media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs; magnetic media such as floppy disks; Magneto-optical media, and hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include machine language code such as those produced by a compiler, as well as high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like. The hardware devices described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operations of the embodiments, and vice versa.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. For example, it is to be understood that the techniques described may be performed in a different order than the described methods, and / or that components of the described systems, structures, devices, circuits, Lt; / RTI > or equivalents, even if it is replaced or replaced.

Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents to the claims are also within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (14)

In a printing method of a printer,
Identifying a type of paper accommodated in the printer;
Obtaining print data consisting of a first font from a host, the first font being used for printing on a first paper having a first paper width;
A font of the print data is set so that the number of characters per line printed on the paper accommodated in the printer is the same as the number of characters per line printed on the first paper when the paper width of the identified paper is different from the first paper width Changing from the first font to the second font; And
Printing on the paper accommodated in the printer based on the print data changed to the second font
Lt; / RTI >
The printer includes:
The center of the sheet receiving portion of the printer, in which the sheet is received, and the center of the print head do not coincide with each other so that the printing width on the sheet accommodated in the printer is widened to correspond to the region in which the printing head of the printer performs printing ≪ / RTI >
How to print the printer.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein identifying the type of paper accommodated in the printer comprises:
Recognizing the type of paper accommodated in the paper accommodating portion based on whether a switch installed in the paper accommodating portion accommodating the paper is in contact with a guide accommodated in the paper accommodating portion
/ RTI >
How to print the printer.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein identifying the type of paper accommodated in the printer comprises:
Characterized in that information on the type of paper is input manually,
How to print the printer.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein changing the font of the print data from the first font to the second font comprises:
Wherein the second font is selected based on a dot width and a print width of a plurality of fonts accommodated in the printer, the print head of the printer corresponding to an area in which printing is performed,
How to print the printer.
5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein changing the font of the print data from the first font to the second font comprises:
The second font is selected such that the number of characters per line printed on the paper accommodated in the printer is the same as the number of characters per line printed on the first paper, When a font of two or more fonts which can be selected by the second font is printed on the paper, the font which can print the least space in the paper is called the second font, Font ".< / RTI >
How to print the printer.
delete The method according to claim 1,
When the print data obtained from the host includes an image and the paper width of the identified paper is different from the first paper width,
Changing the size of the image so that the entire image is printed on the received paper without the portion where the image is lost,
≪ / RTI >
How to print the printer.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the print data obtained from the host includes an image extracting instruction, the image extracting instruction stores information about an image address where an image to be printed is stored, and a size of the image, When the first paper width is different,
Changing the size of the image so that the entire image is printed on the received paper without the portion where the image is lost,
≪ / RTI >
How to print the printer.
1. A printer for performing printing on a plurality of sheets of paper having different paper widths,
A paper receiving portion for receiving any one of the plurality of paper sheets;
A print head which performs printing on the paper accommodated in the paper accommodating portion; And
A control unit
Lt; / RTI >
The center of the paper receiving portion and the center of the paper receiving portion are increased such that the printing width on the remaining paper except the first paper having the widest paper width among the plurality of paper is increased, Characterized in that the centers of the printheads do not coincide.
printer.
10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein,
Wherein when the remaining paper is received in the paper receiving portion, printing is performed on the remaining paper using a font other than the first font used for printing on the first paper,
The number of characters per line printed on the first paper and the number of characters per line printed on the remaining paper are printed in the same manner as the printing width on the remaining paper is increased.
printer.
10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein,
And recognizes that the remaining paper, which is not the first paper, is automatically accommodated in the paper accommodating portion when a switch installed in the paper accommodating portion is in contact with a guide accommodated in the paper accommodating portion.
printer.
10. The method of claim 9,
Characterized in that the center line of the print head is spaced at least 0.8 mm laterally from the center line of the paper receiving portion.
printer.
In a printing method of a printer,
Identifying a type of paper accommodated in the printer;
Obtaining print data based on a first print setting from a host, the first print setting being used for printing on a first paper;
Confirming a second print setting corresponding to the type of the identified paper if the type of the identified paper does not correspond to the first print setting;
Changing a first print setting of the print data to the second print setting; And
Printing on the paper accommodated in the printer based on the print data changed to the second print setting
Lt; / RTI >
The printer includes:
The center of the sheet receiving portion of the printer, in which the sheet is received, and the center of the print head do not coincide with each other so that the printing width on the sheet accommodated in the printer is widened to correspond to the region in which the printing head of the printer performs printing ≪ / RTI >
How to print the printer.
A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for performing the method of any one of claims 1 to 5, 7, 8 and 13 is recorded.

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