JP2002215345A - Printing device and control method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently issue a product label. SOLUTION: When an operator performs a printing request operation from an operation panel 304 of a printer 303, the printer 303 issues a printing request status to a personal computer 302. The personal computer 302 receiving the same generates a printing command with using label information to be printed on a label as printing data and send the same to the printer 303 that originally issued the printing request status. The printer 303 receives the same and prints the label.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for printing an image on a printing medium such as a label or a card using a recording head, and a control method therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a cell production method as one of methods for producing articles and the like. Usually, the produced product is shipped attached with a label indicating the product name, product code, production record and the like. In a production site employing a cell production system, when printing labels and cards attached to products, a printing device is placed in each cell, and necessary labels and cards are printed from there.

FIG. 6 shows a configuration of a first production system of a conventional example. Each of the cells 1 to 4 includes a printer and a personal computer connected to the printer. When a worker of each cell performs a predetermined operation on the personal computer, a label issuance program loaded in the personal computer in advance is executed. Thereby, the personal computer transmits the label data together with the print command to the printer, and the printer that has received the label prints the label.

As a second system configuration, as shown in FIG. 7, there is a configuration in which one personal computer and a printer arranged in each cell are connected via a network such as a LAN.

[0005]

However, in the first configuration, personal computers are required for the number of cells and the cost is high.

In the second configuration, while the number of personal computers can be reduced, there are some problems since a print request must be issued by operating one personal computer. For example, if cells that produce different products are mixed, the operator must know the cell to which the label is issued and what is being produced in that cell, and erroneous operations can be avoided. Absent. Also,
It is difficult to manage data uniquely assigned to each product, for example, data to be printed, such as a product code and a serial number. In addition, in order to issue a label, it is necessary to go to a place where a personal computer is installed, which causes a decrease in productivity.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example, and can minimize the number of external devices such as a personal computer for supplying data, eliminate the possibility of erroneous operation, and facilitate data management. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus that does not reduce productivity and a control method thereof.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, the present invention has the following arrangement. That is, a printing device that prints an image on a print medium based on print data, a connection unit that connects to an external device, a request unit that requests print data from the external device, and the request from the external device. Means for receiving and printing the print data for.

[0009] More preferably, there is further provided input means for inputting by an operator, and the request means requests print data in accordance with an instruction from the operator input by the input means.

Further, another configuration of the present invention has the following configuration.

An information processing apparatus connected to one or more printing apparatuses and transmitting print data in response to a request from each printing apparatus. The information processing apparatus receives the request and identifies a printing apparatus that has issued the request. Then, the print data corresponding to the identified printing device is transmitted to the printing device.

[0012] More preferably, the information processing apparatus according to claim 3 is connected to the printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 as an external apparatus.

[0013]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a color printer having a full-line recording head according to an ink-jet system, which is a typical embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the circuit of the printer device includes an engine controller which controls communication with a host computer, analysis of commands, etc., various controls of a recording head, a transport motor, and various sensors.

In this embodiment, the function of the engine controller is determined as follows. -Network interface with the host PC-Analysis of commands (commands) sent from the host PC-Generation of image data based on the above commands-Storage of the above image data-Control of operation panel-Control of ink supply system-Recording paper Control of transport system ・ Control of data transfer to print head ・ Control of energization of heater to print head ・ Temperature management The operation of engine controller is performed by network communication interface with host PC, command analysis from host PC, print data from host PC The main functions are ink supply control for taking in and sending ink to the recording head, conveyance control of a motor or the like for conveying recording paper, and data transfer control to the recording head.

The engine controller includes a CPU for controlling the above functions, a RAM used as a work area thereof, a rewritable ROM for storing the control program, various network communication interfaces with a host computer (IEEE1284, USB, 10BASE-T), Bitmap RAM for storing image data, dedicated circuit GA for controlling writing of image data to bitmap RAM in accordance with instructions from CPU
E, an EEPROM for storing various settings inside the printer,
It is composed of input / output general-purpose I / Os such as sensors and motors.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the printer described in FIG. In the figure, a Y head is a full line recording head that performs recording using yellow (Y) ink, an LM head is a full line recording head that performs recording using light magenta (LM) ink, and a MY head is magenta. (M) Full-line recording head for recording using ink, LC head for full-line recording head for recording using light cyan (LC) ink, and C head for cyan (C) ink. The full-line recording head Bk for performing recording is a full-line recording head that performs recording using black (Bk) ink.
They are arranged along the recording paper conveyance direction.

The transport belt is driven to rotate by a transport motor, and the recording paper on the belt is transported by the movement of the transport belt.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a signal flow when a print request is issued when a printer (printing device) installed in a plurality of cells is connected to a personal computer (PC) as an external device via a network. .

As shown in FIG. 3, if printing is required in one of a plurality of cells (here, cell 2), the operator presses a predetermined key on the operation panel 304 to perform the operation. From the panel 304 to the printer body 3
03, a print request signal is input. Printer 30
3 issues a print request status on the network 301 in response to the signal input, the PC 302 receives the print request status, and issues a necessary print command to the printer 303 which is the source of the print request status. I do. The operation panel 304 is a printer 303
However, in the present embodiment, the operation panel 304 constitutes a part of the printer 303.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a signal flow in the printer 303 when a print request signal is input from the operation panel 304. Here, for convenience, the connection between one printer 303 and the PC 302 is shown. Also, in the figure, the print request status is issued directly from the CPU to the network. However, as shown in FIG. 1, it goes without saying that the print request status is via an appropriate network interface.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the flow of image data during printing.

As shown in FIG. 5, a command is sent from the host PC 302 to the engine controller of the printer 303 via each communication interface. The CPU of the printer 303 analyzes it, monitors the state of each part of the engine,
The status is changed to PC302 according to the command of PC302.
To return. In this manner, the PC 302 is connected to the printer 303.
Is confirmed, and if the printer 303 is in a printable state, a print command including image data is transmitted to the PC 302 or the printer 303, and the image data in the printer 303 is transferred to the engine controller.

The engine controller analyzes the image data from the PC 302, converts the image data into a form of image data that can be handled in the printer 303, and transfers the image data to a gate array (GAE) constituting a circuit for performing a predetermined function. The GAE sequentially writes the image data into the bit map RAM as print data. At this time, the address of the bitmap RAM is specified in advance by the CPU, and during transfer, the so-called DMA (Direct
Memory Access) transfer. Thereby, the CP
U can transfer image data at high speed while controlling each part in real time.

When a predetermined amount of print data is stored, the CPU instructs the GAE to transfer the print data to the print head, and the print data is sent to the print head, and printing is performed in accordance with the transport of the print paper. .

According to the above procedure, the label data can be transmitted from the personal computer to the printer and printed according to the instruction input from the operation panel of the printer.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a label to be printed. In this example, the product handled in the cell is tomato, which is an agricultural product. In the cell, operations such as quality evaluation and bagging are performed, and the cell is shipped with a label 800 indicating the product. The label 800 includes a product name 801 including a product name (“5 ripe tomatoes”), a product number, a name of a distributor and a manufacturer, a photograph 802 indicating the product, and a two-dimensional barcode 803 defined corresponding to the product. , Expiration date 805, and serial number 804. Among them, product identifier 80
1 and the photograph 802 are parts that are commonly included in the same product. Further, the expiration date 805 is common for each manufacturing date if the products are the same. The production number 804 is a number uniquely given to each product, and is updated every time one label is issued. The barcode 803 may correspond to only the product identifier, or may include the expiration date or the serial number. However, the barcode 803 is provided for mechanically identifying the product. The label includes the label information as described above.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a print request status 901 issued from a printer and a print command 902 issued from a personal computer in the system shown in FIG. The print request status 901 includes a header portion, a print request status ID indicating that the print request status is the print request status, and a cell ID that is an identifier of a cell in which the issuing printer is installed. In addition, instead of the cell ID, the identifier of the printer of the issuer is provided in the header,
The cell can be specified with that.

The print command 902 includes a header part and a print command ID indicating that the print command is a print command.
And print data which is data of a label to be printed.

FIG. 10 shows a case where an operation for printing a label (a label printing key is pressed) is performed in the printer (FIG. 1).
0 (A)) and a processing procedure realized by executing a predetermined program by the CPU of the printer controller when a command is received from the personal computer (FIG. 10 (B)).

In FIG. 10A, when the label print key is depressed, first, the print request status shown in FIG. 9 is created in the memory (step S1001) and transmitted to the host computer. (Step S10
03). Here, the cell I included in the print request status
In D, an identifier indicating the cell in which the printer is installed is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM of the printer in advance.

In FIG. 10B, when a command is received, it is first determined whether the command is a print command (step S1005). If it is not a print command, a process corresponding to the command is executed. For example,
If the inquiry is about the status of the printer, the status of the printer (busy / idle, etc.) at that time is returned to the source of the command.

On the other hand, if it is a print command, it is determined whether printing is possible (step S1007). If printing is not possible, a busy status is returned to the source of the print command (step S1011).

If printing is possible, the print data received together with the print command is expanded into printable print data,
The printing is performed by controlling the GAE in FIG. 1 (step S1).
009). GAE causes an image to be printed as described above.

FIG. 11 shows a processing procedure in the personal computer which has received the print request status.

First, the source cell is identified (step S1101). That is, for example, if the cell ID is included, the ID is taken out, and if not, the cell is specified from the ID of the printer of the transmission source. Then, from the obtained cell ID, the label information of the product manufactured there is obtained (step S1103). This label information
It is managed by a database or the like in a personal computer. In the database, each cell is stored in association with an identification code for specifying a product produced there. Further, for each identification code, label information, that is, the product identifier 801 of FIG.
2, the serial number 804 and the expiration date 805 are stored. If the bar code 803 contains information such as a serial number that is updated every time a label is issued,
Each time a print command for label data is created, it is newly generated.

Finally, a print command including the acquired label information as print data is generated and transmitted to the printer that issued the print request status.

The printer 303 receives the command and performs the processing shown in FIG.

It should be noted that management such as update of label information is separately performed by a management system for managing the update.

As described above, the personal computer 302 transmits the label information to the requesting printer in response to the request from the printer 303, and prints the label. Since the input of the request for printing the label is performed in the operation unit of the printer, the operator can print the label without leaving the cell. Also,
In the personal computer, the cell that issued the print request status can be specified from the information included in the status, so that the label information corresponding to the product produced there can be reliably transmitted to the cell.
For this reason, the number of personal computers in the system is one, except for the minimum number in the system, for example, the limitation on the number of connected network devices and the limitation due to the processing capacity of the personal computer itself, and the cost of the system can be reduced. In addition, the operator does not need to be aware of the products, cells, and the like produced by the operator, and can prevent erroneous operations. Further, label information can be centrally managed by one personal computer. If information such as the production amount is stored in association with the label information, production management can be performed more easily.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, the number of external devices such as a personal computer for supplying data can be minimized, and the possibility of an erroneous operation by the operator can be eliminated. This has the effect of facilitating data management and preventing a decrease in productivity.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a color printer having a full-line printhead according to an ink-jet system, which is a typical embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the printer described in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a signal flow when a print request is generated according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a flow of signals in the printer when a print request is generated according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a flow of image data during printing according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a device configuration and a signal flow when a print request is generated according to Conventional Example 1.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a device configuration and a signal flow when a print request is generated in the second conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a label attached to a product.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a format of a print request status and a print command.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a part of a processing procedure in the printer.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a part of a processing procedure in the personal computer.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus for printing an image on a print medium based on print data, comprising: a connection unit for connecting to an external device; a request unit for requesting the external device for print data; Means for receiving and printing print data in response to the request. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: input means for inputting by an operator, wherein said requesting means requests print data in accordance with an instruction from said operator input by said input means. Item 6. The printing device according to Item 1. 3. An information processing apparatus connected to one or more printing apparatuses and transmitting print data in response to a request from each printing apparatus, the printing apparatus receiving the request and issuing the request An information processing apparatus for identifying a print apparatus and transmitting print data corresponding to the identified print apparatus to the print apparatus. 4. A printing system comprising the printing device according to claim 1 and the information processing device according to claim 3 connected as an external device. 5. A control method for a printing apparatus for printing an image on a print medium based on print data, comprising: a request step for requesting print data to a connected external device; Receiving the print data and printing the print data. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein in the requesting step, print data is requested in accordance with an instruction from an operator input by an input unit. 7. A computer, comprising: a request unit for requesting print data from a connected external device; and a unit for receiving print data corresponding to the request from the external device and printing by the printing unit. Characteristic computer program. 8. The computer program according to claim 7, wherein the request unit requests the print data in accordance with an instruction from an operator input by the input unit. 9. A computer-readable storage medium storing the computer program according to claim 7. Description: 10. A production system having one or a plurality of production cells, wherein a label is attached to an article in each production cell, wherein the printing device according to claim 2 is provided in each of said cells, and said printing device is A production system that receives the label data as the print data from the external device and prints the print data in response to an instruction from an operator.