JP4332006B2 - Master data input device and master data input method in printer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a master data input device and a master data input method in a printer, and more particularly to a master data input device and a master data input method in a printer capable of inputting master data corresponding to a data input field on a printing paper. It is.

Conventionally, in thermal printers, thermal transfer printers, and other various printers that print on price tags and other information display pieces (printing paper) such as labels or tags, for example, depending on the product to which the label is attached, the product name, raw materials, addition A print layout or design (print format) is set by assigning items, prices, and other information as predetermined print data to a predetermined area of the label.
When setting and registering this print format, a predetermined number of data input fields independent from each other are set in advance in the print paper area, and the above product name, raw material, additive, price, and other information are set in each data input field. Is entered in advance as word data (master data), and when determining the print layout for actual labels, etc., each data entry field can be set to any location on the print paper. This is convenient for designing the print layout.
The word data itself may be created and input by the operator by editing it each time. However, in a printer, for example, these word data are often registered in advance in a memory portion such as a ROM.

However, especially for food-related products, if there is a lot of word data registered in advance as the product name, raw materials, additives and other information, it is troublesome to select and input the necessary words. There's a problem.
In printers that can be connected to a host computer, it is relatively easy to obtain print data or registration data from the host computer. However, in a so-called stand-alone printer, master data input registration processing is performed in the printer. Therefore, improvement in operability when inputting the data (master data) is desired.

JP-A-11-240210

    The present invention has been considered in view of the above problems, and in particular, a master data input device and a master data input method in a printer capable of improving the operability when inputting as master data from a large number of word data. It is an issue to provide.

    It is another object of the present invention to provide a master data input device and a master data input method in a printer that can easily select desired word data from various word data.

    The present invention also provides a master data input device and master data input in a printer that can extract necessary word data from similar word data, reduce the number of word data to be selected, and improve data input operability. It is an object to provide a method.

    That is, the present invention classifies various types of word data into product names, raw materials, additives, prices, other information, etc., and stores them in the word table storage unit as respective word tables. The first invention relates to the assignment of a data input field and a word table, focusing on the correspondence between word tables and assigning code numbers and abbreviations to each word data. A printing unit that prints on the printed paper, various word data registered in advance as print data to be printed by the printing unit, and a ROM that stores various control programs, and these control programs Therefore, it has a control unit for controlling the printing unit and a display unit for performing various operations and other displays by the control unit. A master data input device for a printer that selects and inputs the word data for each item to form a set of data and registers the master data as master data, the word data for each item Are stored in the word table storage unit as a word table for each item, and a predetermined number of data input fields that are independent from each other are set in the area of the printing paper, and the display unit inputs these data. The control unit displays a list of the word tables by selecting one of the displayed data input fields, and displays the word table corresponding to these data input fields. Each can be selected and assigned. To be set as the terpolymer table is a master data input device in the printer according to claim.

    The second invention relates to a code number conversion function using a code number of word data, and is registered in advance as a print unit for printing on a loaded print sheet and print data printed by the print unit. ROM that stores various word data and various control programs, a control unit that controls the printing unit according to these control programs, a display unit that performs various operations and other displays by the control unit, A master data input device in a printer that allows one to select and input the word data for each item to form a set of data and register it as master data. A code number is assigned to each, and the word data can be selected by the code number. Are stored in the word table storage unit as a word table for each item, and the control unit displays the corresponding word data by inputting any one of the code numbers and displays the master data. A master data input device in a printer, wherein data can be input.

    The third invention relates to an abbreviated name search function using abbreviated names of word data, and is registered in advance as a print unit for printing on a loaded print sheet and print data printed by the print unit. ROM that stores various word data and various control programs, a control unit that controls the printing unit according to these control programs, a display unit that performs various operations and other displays by the control unit, A master data input device in a printer that allows one to select and input the word data for each item to form a set of data and register it as master data. Each abbreviation is given a name, and the abbreviation can be selected by displaying the word data or some of them. Each item is classified and stored in the word table storage unit as a word table for each item, and the control unit receives the corresponding word data or some of them by inputting any of the abbreviations. Is a master data input device in a printer, wherein the master data can be selected and displayed as the master data.

    As in the first invention, the fourth invention relates to the assignment of the data input field and the word table, and the printing unit for printing on the loaded printing paper and the print data printed by this printing unit. Various word data registered in advance, ROM storing various control programs, control unit for controlling the printing unit according to these control programs, various operations and other displays by the control unit A master data input method in a printer having a display unit to perform and selecting and inputting the word data for each item to form a set of data and registering it as master data The word data is classified into the above items and stored in the word table storage unit as a word table for each item. At the same time, by setting a predetermined number of data input fields independent of each other in the area of the printing paper, enabling the display of these data input fields on the display unit, and selecting one of the displayed data input fields A list of the word tables is displayed, the word tables can be selected and assigned corresponding to the data input fields, and can be set as a master table for inputting the master data. This is a master data input method for a printer.

    In the master data input device and master data input method in the printer according to the present invention, the word data is classified into items such as product name, raw material, additive, price, and other information, and a word table storage unit as each word table Therefore, it is possible to simplify the master data input operation by calling this word table and selecting desired word data.

    In particular, according to the first invention, a predetermined number of data input fields independent from each other are set in the area of the printing paper, and a predetermined word table can be assigned to any data input field. The master data input operation can be an operation of selecting word data from the word table, and a printer with improved data input operability can be obtained.

    In particular, according to the second invention, since a code number is assigned to each of the word data, it is possible to provide a printer that can display the corresponding word data and input it as master data by inputting any of the code numbers. .

    In particular, according to the third aspect of the invention, an abbreviation is assigned to each word data, so by inputting any one of the abbreviations, the corresponding word data or some of them can be selected and displayed as master data. It can be a possible printer.

    In particular, according to the fourth invention, when inputting word data classified into each word table into the data input field, by selecting any word table according to the data input field, the corresponding word table Since the desired word data can be input as master data, the operability of data input can be improved.

Further , by assigning a code number to each word data and making it selectable, the corresponding word data can be displayed and input as master data by inputting any of the code numbers.

Also , by assigning an abbreviation name to each word data and making it selectable, by inputting any one of the abbreviation names, you can search and display the corresponding word data or some of them and enter them as master data Is possible.

    The present invention realizes a printer that can simplify master data input operations by classifying word data into word tables according to respective items, and setting a code number, an abbreviated name, and the like.

Next, a master data input device and a master data input method in a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of a thermal printer 1 (printer) equipped with a master data input device according to the present invention and capable of executing a master data input method. The thermal printer 1 communicates with a control unit 2 (CPU). It has an interface 3, a key input unit 4, a display unit 5, a printing unit 6, a ROM 7, a RAM 8, a memory card 9, and a master data input device 10.

    The control unit 2 controls the above parts based on various control programs stored in the ROM 7.

    The communication interface 3 exchanges data or commands between the thermal printer 1 and another host computer or various devices (not shown).

    The key input unit 4 includes a numeric keypad 11 for inputting numbers and a command key 12 for inputting various commands.

    The display unit 5 performs various operations and other displays by the control unit 2, and includes a display lamp 13 such as an LED and a touch panel 14.

    The printing unit 6 performs printing on printing paper such as a loaded label L, and includes a motor 16 that rotates the platen roller 15 to transfer the label L, and a thermal head 17.

    The ROM 7 stores various control programs and has a word table storage unit 18 that stores various word data registered in advance as print data to be printed by the printing unit 6 (described later). ).

    The RAM 8 temporarily stores data and control programs in the process of various controls by the control unit 2.

The memory card 9 is used to exchange the print data so that the user of the thermal printer 1 can temporarily store various print data.
The memory card 9 is provided with a master data storage unit 19 for storing the master data input according to the present invention. If the user of the thermal printer 1 creates a word table independently, the memory card 9 can be provided with a word table storage unit 18 (virtual line in FIG. 1).

The master data input device 10 can be composed of the control unit 2, the key input unit 4, the display unit 5 and the ROM 7, the memory card 9, and the RAM 8 described above.
Hereinafter, the operation of the master data input device 10 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a virtual area on the label L. In the area of the label L, a predetermined number of independent data input fields 20 are set, and these data are displayed on the display unit 5 (touch panel 14). The input field 20 can be displayed.
For example, as the data input field 20, an area for inputting product name data, an area for inputting raw material data, an area for inputting additive data, an area for inputting price data, and the like are set.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the registration mode operation screen 21 on the touch panel 14 of the display unit 5 and shows the state of the registration mode.
That is, on the registration mode operation screen 21, items such as master table registration, master data registration, and word table can be selected, and each registration process can be performed.

For example, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the master table registration operation screen 22, and it is possible to shift to the master table registration operation screen 22 by touching the “master table registration” area shown in FIG. 3. it can.
That is, on the master table registration operation screen 22, each word table 23 is assigned corresponding to the data input field 20 (FIG. 2). Specifically, by touching the word table 23 portion of the first field (data input field 20 in FIG. 2), a list of a plurality of word tables 23 that can be assigned to this field is displayed. A desired word table 23 can be selected from the list.
For example, a product name table is assigned as the word table 23 to the first field name, and a raw material table is assigned as the other word table 23 to the second field name.
By such an assignment process, a necessary word table 23 is assigned to each data input field 20, and a desired word (word data) is further selected from the word table 23 and input to the data input field 20. The layout of the label L can be made convenient.

That is, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the word table 23, and shows an example of a product name table.
As illustrated, for example, the code number 24 is “0001”, the word data 25 is “Saba miso”, and the abbreviated name 26 is “mackerel”. Similarly, the code number 24 is “0002”, the word data 25 is “saba-yaki”, and the abbreviation 26 is “mackerel”.
The contents of the word table 23 storing such word data 25 and its code number 24 and abbreviated name 26 are stored in advance in the word table storage unit 18 in the ROM 7.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the master data registration screen 27, and desired word data 25 can be selected and input from each word table 23 in each data input field 20.
It is possible to move to the master data registration screen 27 of FIG. 6 by touching the “master data registration” area of the registration mode operation screen 21 (FIG. 3).
In the master data registration screen 27, the character input screen 29 (FIG. 7) can be shifted to by touching the data input field 28 in each field name (data input field 20). For example, by touching the data input field 28 in the product name field, it is possible to shift to a character input screen 29 where a desired product name can be input.

That is, FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a character input screen 29 for inputting each word data 25 from the word table 23, and a screen having the same function as the editing screen of a general word processor on the touch panel 14. Is shown. For example, “Bento” can be displayed on the screen by inputting “Bento” and pressing a conversion key.
A table key 30 is provided on the touch panel 14, and by pressing this table key 30, it is possible to shift to each word table 23 (FIG. 5). For example, when the data input field 28 in the product name field in FIG. 6 is touched to move to the character input screen 29 in FIG. 7, it is possible to shift to a word table 23 called a product name table.
Thus, with the product name table displayed on the screen, by selecting and inputting a predetermined product name (word data 25) from the product name list, for example, “inner box lunch of special selection curtain” is input and displayed. Become. Hereinafter, the same applies to names, raw materials, and the like.

However, in the present invention, when inputting master data as described above, the data input operation can be simplified by the code conversion function and the abbreviated name search function.
That is, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, a code number 24, word data 25, and abbreviated name 26 can be associated with each other in a word table 23 such as a product name table, and can be displayed as a list. Each word data 25 can be selected or searched.

Therefore, on the character input screen 29 shown in FIG. 7, by inputting the code number 24 “0001” from the numeric keypad 11 (FIG. 1) and pressing the table key 30, “Saba miso” in FIG. 5 is selectively displayed. By confirming this, it is possible to input, for example, “Saba miso” in the product name field on the master data registration screen 27 in FIG. Therefore, it is not necessary to search for “Saba miso” from a list of many word data 25, and the master data input operation can be facilitated.
Further, when the code number 24 is unknown, if a characteristic portion (ie, “mackerel”) of the word “Saba miso” is input and the table key 30 is pressed, the abbreviated name 26 in FIG. Such a word having the part “saba” can be searched and displayed in a list, so that the search range for the word data 25 “saba miso” can be narrowed to facilitate the master data input operation. .
Thereafter, by repeating the same operation on the master data registration screen 27 in FIG. 6, desired word data 25 can be input and displayed for each item in the data input field 28 of each field name (data input field 20). it can.
A group of the word data 25 can be stored in the master data storage unit 19 in the memory card 9 as master data.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of control in the control unit 2 when the code number 24 and the table key 30 are input with respect to the desired word data 25 in the data input field 20, and the table key 30 ( It is determined whether or not the pressing of FIG. 7) has been performed, and it is determined whether or not a 4-digit number (code number 24) has been input in step S2.
In step S3, it is determined whether or not there is word data 25 with the corresponding code number 24. If there is word data 25, the word data 25 with the corresponding code number 24 is displayed on the input screen 29 as input data (step S3). S4).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of control in the control unit 2 when the abbreviation 26 and the table key 30 are input for the desired word in the data input field 20, and the table key 30 is pressed in step S11. It is determined whether there has been a decrease, and it is determined in step S12 whether one or two characters (abbreviated name 26) have been input.
In step S13, the corresponding abbreviated name 26 is searched and a list of the word data 25 is displayed. The operator selects the desired word data 25 (for example, “Saba miso”), and on the input screen 29. Can be entered.

1 is a schematic circuit diagram of a thermal printer 1 including a master data input device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention and capable of executing a master data input method. 2 is a plan view showing a virtual region on the label L. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the registration mode operation screen 21 in the touch panel 14 of the display part 5 equally. It is explanatory drawing which shows the master table registration operation screen 22 similarly. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the word table 23 similarly. It is explanatory drawing of the master data registration screen 27 similarly. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a character input screen 29 for inputting each word data 25 from the word table 23. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of control in the control unit 2 when a code number 24 and a table key 30 are input with respect to desired word data 25 in the data input field 20. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control flow in the control unit 2 when an abbreviation 26 and a table key 30 are input for a desired word in the data input field 20.

Explanation of symbols

1 Thermal printer (printer) (Figure 1)
2 Control unit 3 Communication interface 4 Key input unit 5 Display unit 6 Printing unit 7 ROM
8 RAM
9 Memory Card 10 Master Data Input Device for Thermal Printer 1 (Example, FIG. 1)
11 Numeric keypad 12 Command key 13 Display lamp 14 Touch panel 15 Platen roller 16 Motor 17 Thermal head 18 Word table storage unit 19 in ROM 7 Master data storage unit 20 in memory card 9 Data input field (FIG. 2)
21 Registration mode operation screen (Figure 3)
22 Master table registration operation screen (Figure 4)
23 Word table (Figure 5)
24 Code number 25 Word data 26 Abbreviated name 27 Master data registration screen (Fig. 6)
28 Data entry field (Fig. 6)
29 characters input screen (Figure 7)
30 Table key L Label (printing paper)

Claims (4)

A printing unit for printing on the loaded printing paper;
ROM storing various word data registered in advance as print data to be printed by the printing unit, and various control programs;
A control unit for controlling the printing unit according to these control programs;
A display unit for performing various operations and other displays by the control unit,
A master data input device in a printer that allows the word data to be selected and entered as a set of data groups for each item, and that can be registered as master data.
The word data is classified for each item, and stored in the word table storage unit as a word table for each item,
A predetermined number of data input fields that are independent from each other are set in the area of the printing paper,
The display unit can display these data input fields,
The control unit displays a list of the word tables by selecting one of the displayed data input fields, and can select and assign the word tables corresponding to these data input fields. A master data input device in a printer, which can be set as a master table for inputting the master data. The display unit includes a touch panel, and the touch panel can display each of the data input fields.
2. The master data input device for a printer according to claim 1, wherein a list of each of the word tables is displayed by touching any one of the data input fields, and any one of the word tables can be selected. . 2. The master data input device according to claim 1, wherein the master data input corresponding to the predetermined number of data input fields is stored in a master data storage unit. A printing unit for printing on the loaded printing paper;
ROM storing various word data registered in advance as print data to be printed by the printing unit, and various control programs;
A control unit for controlling the printing unit according to these control programs;
A display unit for performing various operations and other displays by the control unit,
The word data is a master data input method in a printer that selects and inputs one for each item to form a set of data, and that can be registered as master data,
The word data is classified for each item, and stored in the word table storage unit as a word table for each item,
A predetermined number of data input fields that are independent from each other are set in the area of the printing paper,
The display unit can display these data input fields,
By selecting one of the displayed data input fields, a list of the word tables is displayed, and the word table can be selected and assigned to each of the data input fields, and the master data A master data input method for a printer, characterized in that it can be set as a master table for inputting.

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