JPH0410866B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a label printer that sequentially prints line by line using a thermal head equipped with a heating element line having a length equal to the label printing width.

Technical Background of the Invention and Problems Therein Generally, in printers, not only label printers, a character generator is called in response to key input or data input, and data elements (dot elements) stored in this character generator are called. ) is used to print characters, etc. based on Here, the character generator has a ROM configuration, is provided by the manufacturer, and generally cannot be rewritten. However, in some cases, it may be necessary to print special kanji characters that are not available in the character generator, so a rewritable character generator is provided as a preliminary measure so that the user can create and print any characters, figures, etc. has been done. As a result of having such a rewritable character generator, even uppercase letters, figures, etc. that cannot be processed by a single character generator,
Printing can be performed by combining a plurality of character generators. For example, if the area of one character radiator is 16 bits x 16 bits, by combining four character radiators vertically and horizontally, uppercase letters etc. can be created in a 32 bits x 32 bits area. and can be printed. If printing is possible in this manner, the label printer can also print the store's trademark etc. on the label in a large size, thereby improving the image of the product.

However, in the conventional method, it is inconvenient when printing characters and the like created by combining a plurality of character generators. For example, four character generators a, b, c,
When creating a character in which d are combined vertically and horizontally, the character generators a, b, c, and d are called individually, and the data elements to be assigned to each are stored by key input. When setting up printing, the operator must be careful not to mess up the order of these character generators a, b, c, and d, and input each content individually using keys at the position where it is to be printed. It is. In other words, the entire combination constitutes a character, but when setting up printing, the operator must perform key processing for each character generator that makes up the combination.
This is troublesome and causes loss of time in the print setting mode, and it is easy to make mistakes in the order of character generators.

Purpose of the Invention The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a label printer that can easily process characters, etc. created by combining a plurality of character generators as a whole when setting print settings. The purpose is to obtain a method for setting external characters.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention sets codes for combinations including the number and arrangement order of character generators constituting the combination in the creation mode, thereby eliminating the need to pay attention to each character generator in the print setting mode. , it is only necessary to input the code of the combination, and thus the configuration is such that the printing settings for the entire combination can be easily made.

Embodiment of the Invention An embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.
First, FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a label printer, in which a CPU 1 is connected via an I/O block 2 to a thermal head 3, a registration mode changeover switch 4, a deep switch 5, a display block 6, and a journal printer/CMT interface. Ace 7 is connected. A front keyboard 8 and a remote keyboard 9 are connected to the display block 6. Further, a load cell 11 is connected to the CPU 1 via an ADC 10, and it is set so that measurement data from the load cell 11 is input.
Character generator blocks 12 and 13 are connected to the CPU 1. 14 is a label issue mode changeover switch.

Here, the front keyboard 8 is shown in FIG. A numeric keypad 15 with numbers "0" to "9", an erase key 16, and a * key (execution key) 17 are provided. Also, in the center are a zero setting key 18, a fixed amount key 19, a product number key 20, a date/time key 21, an effective date OP code key 22, an auxiliary print key 23, a department key 24, a wind setting 1 key 25, and a wind setting 2. key 26,
A wind/wind setting key 27 and a subtotal key 28 are provided. A mode key 29, an issue number key 30, a setting number key 31, and a paper feed key 32 are provided on the right side. Here, the deep switch 5
When is set to "7", the character creation mode is entered, the fixed amount key 19 is "A", the effective date OP code key 22 is "B", and the wind setting 2 key 26 is set.
functions as "C", zero setting key 18 "D", date/time key 21 as "E", wind setting 1 key 25 as "F", and in conjunction with numeric keypad 15, data elements are keyed in as hexadecimal numbers. It's something you get. Further, the subtotal key 28 functions as a "setting label" and the setting number key 31 functions as a "return".

Further, the character generator block 12
is composed of 1000 character generators each having 16 bits x 16 bits and assigned numbers 000 to 999. For example, character generators numbered 000 to 799 have data elements such as kanji already stored by the manufacturer and cannot be rewritten, but character generators numbered 800 to 999 can be rewritten by the user. It is set up so that it can be done. On the other hand, in the character generator block 13, one character generator is 8 bits x 8 bits, and the number is 000.
It consists of ~799 800 character generators. Here, data elements such as lowercase letters are already stored in character generators numbered 000 to 479 and are considered unrewritable, but character generators numbered 480 to 799
The character generator number is set so that it can be rewritten by the user.

Therefore, in the creation mode for creating a character or pattern, the rewritable character generators in the character generator block 12 can be combined vertically, horizontally, or vertically and horizontally, and the character generators constituting the combination are The code can be set for the entire combination, including the number and arrangement order of neerators. FIG. 3 shows a combination of code settings. For example, the code _N11 shown in (a) is a combination of two character generators horizontally, and includes the content of combining specified character generators in the order of 1 and 2.
Similarly, the code _N12 in (b) includes the content of vertically combining two character generators and the character generator number. The code _N13 in (c) includes the content of combining four character generators, two each in the vertical and horizontal directions, and the character generator number. (d)
The code _N14 includes the combination contents of 4 horizontal items. or,
The same holds true for the rewritable character generators in the character generator block 13, and the combinations can be coded. For example, (e)
The combination of code _N21 consists of four characters horizontally and includes the content of assigning designated character generators in order from the left. The code _N22 in (f) is a combination of eight characters horizontally and includes the content of assigning designated character generators in order from the left.

In such a configuration, let us consider, for example, a case where a butcher's shop creates and prints a pig figure as shown in FIG. 4 as a trademark. First, for pattern creation, the deep switch 5 is set to "7" to set the creation mode, and the power switch is turned on. Here, since a figure is created using four character generators, the four character generators are shown in Figure 3, and the information to be combined in the order of arrangement and the character generator to be used, for example 970. Enter number 971, 972, and 973.
As a result, the combination shown in Figure 5 is constructed according to the input order, so this is code N ₁₃ a
Set the code as , and press the product number key 20. With such code settings, a 32 bit x 32 bit area is constructed, and in order to create figures etc. in this area, data elements are sequentially input and set. Here, the data input method is to input hexadecimal numbers in 1-byte units sequentially using keys starting from the right side of the lowest line line by line. For example, in the case of the figure shown in Fig. 4, 1-byte data elements are key-input in the order indicated by the circled numbers in the figure (set by pressing the * key 17 after each data entry... Therefore, *Key 17
The number of times you press matches the number in a circle). Here, the data element is stored, but if 0≦n≦15, the number of times the *key 17 was pressed is 4n+1 or 4n+2
If it is 4n+3 or 4n+4, it is stored in the character generator numbered 973, and if it is 4n+3 or 4n+4, it is stored in the character generator numbered 972. Also, 16≦n≦31
If it is 4n+1 or 4n+2, it will be stored in the 971st character generator, and if it is 4n+3 or
If it is 4n+4, it will be stored in character generator number 970. In other words, the corresponding character generator is designated by the number of times the * key 17 is pressed.
In addition, if you make an input error in a data element,
It can be canceled by pressing the set number key 31 as a return key. In this way, by keying in data elements 128 times, a pattern is created using the entire combination of character generators numbered 970 to 973. Then, by pressing the setting label key 28, the figure just created is printed on the journal, so the progress of the pattern creation can be checked.

On the other hand, in the label printing setting mode,
Along with key input settings such as "pig" (stored in character generator number 663) and "meat" (stored in character generator number 600), the contents of character generator number 970 are displayed. Code of the combination you want to print at the desired print position N ₁₃ a
By keying in the entire combination, i.e.
The position where the contents of character generator numbers 970 to 973 are to be printed is automatically set. FIG. 6 shows an example of printing on the label 33 based on such key input and data from the load cell 11. Here, to explain the printing operation for the combination specified by code input, printing is performed line by line sequentially by the heating element line of the thermal head 3, and more specifically, as in the case of pattern creation, the printing operation is performed sequentially line by line. Data elements are sequentially output line by line.

The creation of such characters or patterns and printing settings are the same even on the character generator block 13 side. For example, in the creation mode, if you set a combination of 8 character generators horizontally and specify numbers 480 to 487, the code N ₂₂ a, 488
Code N ₂₂ b for those designated by numbers 495 to 503, code N ₂₂ c to those designated from 504 to 511, and code N ₂₂ d for those designated by numbers 504 to 511.
As shown in ~d, ingredients, additives, advertising slogans, etc.
If you create it freely within the bit x 64 bit area, you can print by simply inputting a code when setting the print. Here, the method of inputting the data elements is the same as in the case described above, and an example thereof is shown by the circled numbers in FIG.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when creating a pattern etc. by combining a plurality of character generators, the code is set in the combination state, so the operator can set the individual character generators when making print settings. Print settings can be easily made by simply inputting a code to specify a combination that creates a desired pattern, etc., without having to pay attention to the neuter and key input.

Effects of the Invention As described above, when a character or pattern is created by combining a plurality of character generators, the code is set as a combination including the number and arrangement order of the character generators. Therefore, when setting up printing, the operator only needs to input the required character or the combination that created the pattern by inputting a code.Therefore, there is no need to enter individual keys for each character generator, making it easy to set up printing. Moreover, since the data element input in the creation mode corresponds to the printing operation for each heating element line of the thermal head, the control system between the two can be simplified.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a block diagram, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the keyboard, and FIGS. 3 a to 3 are explanatory diagrams of combinations in which codes are set.
Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram of specific code settings and pattern creation examples, Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram of their combination, Fig. 6 is a plan view showing an example of label printing, and Fig. 7 a to d are other specific examples. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an example of code setting and character creation. 3...Thermal head.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a label printer that sequentially prints line by line using a thermal head equipped with a heating element line with a length equal to the label printing width, a plurality of character generators that can be rewritten in the creation mode are combined vertically, horizontally, or vertically and horizontally. Set the combination including the number and arrangement order of character generators as a code, and sequentially input and set data elements for each print line in the entire character generator area based on this combination and store them in the corresponding character generator. A method for setting external characters for a label printer, characterized in that a desired character or pattern such as a capital letter or a figure is created in the entire area of a plurality of character generators that are combined.