JPH08174916A - Label printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a label printing apparatus capable of printing a label having individual information at high speed and in a large amount. A print command serially transmitted from the information processing device 5 is accumulated in a reception buffer 12, analyzed by a reception control circuit 13, and corresponds to a print position in a memory 14 based on a format of a format setting circuit 15. Is written to the address. These print image data are divided in the Y direction by the transmission control circuit 16 and output to the printer 2 via the transmission buffer 17 as a new print command, and a plurality of labels are arranged in parallel in the X direction. Printed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a label printing device, and more particularly to a label printing device for printing a label based on a print command sent from an information processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a manufacturing date, a manufacturing lot number, etc. of a product are converted into a bar code or the like and then printed on a label and attached. In particular, this kind of product management information is different for each individual or for a predetermined number of products, so that it is not a printing method that requires plate making, but is individually printed according to these variable information. Conventionally, in this type of label printing apparatus, a print command specific to each label is serially transmitted from an information processing apparatus that manages the product management information, and the sheets are sequentially printed out one by one.

[0003]

Therefore, in such a conventional label printing apparatus, labels are printed one by one in accordance with the received print command, which requires time for label printing. In order to print a large number of labels in a short time, it is necessary to increase the label printing speed for each sheet, and it has been difficult to significantly increase the printing speed due to the limitation of the mechanical operation speed. The present invention is intended to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a label printing apparatus capable of printing a large number of labels having individual information at high speed.

[0004]

In order to achieve such an object, a label printing apparatus according to the present invention receives a print command serially sent from an information processing apparatus and stores it in each print command. Convert the print data unique to each label to the print data of multiple labels arranged in parallel,
The data processing unit includes a data processing unit that outputs a new print command and a printer that prints a plurality of labels in parallel based on the new print command. The data processing units are arranged in parallel in the main scanning direction of the printer. Formatting means for setting and storing print position information of a plurality of labels as a format, a memory for converting print data, a print command for each received label is analyzed, and the obtained print data is based on the format. Reception control means for writing in the area in the memory corresponding to each label and the print data for each label written in the memory in the main scanning direction of the printer based on the format to generate and output a new print command. And a transmission control means for controlling the transmission.

Further, another label printing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a printing unit for printing a plurality of labels in parallel based on print data and a plurality of labels arranged in parallel in the main scanning direction of the printing unit. Formatting means for setting and storing print position information as a format, a memory for converting print data, a print command for each received label is analyzed, and the obtained print data is applied to each label based on the format. And a print control means for reading the print data of each label written in the memory in the main scanning direction of the print section based on the format and outputting it as print data to the print section. It is equipped with.

[0006]

Therefore, the received print command of each label is analyzed by the reception control means, the obtained print data is written in the area in the memory corresponding to each label based on the format, and each label is printed. The data is read by the transmission control means in the main scanning direction of the printer based on the format to generate a new print command, which is output to the printer and printed. Further, the received print command of each label is analyzed by the reception control means, the obtained print data is written in the area in the memory corresponding to each label based on the format, and the print data of each label is The print control unit reads the print data in the main scanning direction of the print unit based on the format and outputs the print data to the print unit for printing.

[0007]

Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a label printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes print data stored in a label print command from an information processing apparatus 5 in a predetermined format. The label printing apparatus includes a data processing unit 10 that performs conversion based on the new print instruction and a printer 2 that prints a plurality of labels in parallel based on the new print instruction.

In the data processing unit 10, 11 is an interface circuit (hereinafter referred to as I / F circuit) for exchanging data with the information processing device 5, and 12 is a unit for receiving a print command from the information processing device 5. Receive buffer, 1
5 is a format setting circuit for setting and storing label printing position information, 13 is a print command in the receiving buffer 12 based on the format set in the format setting circuit 15, and the obtained print data is composed of dots. The reception control circuit writes the image data to the memory 14 as the image data.

Reference numeral 16 is a transmission control circuit which reads out the print image data written in the memory 14 based on the format set in the format setting circuit 15 and generates a new print command, and 17 transmits a new print command. And a reference numeral 18 is an I / F circuit for exchanging data with the printer 2. Reference numeral 6 is an output format of each label L1 to Ln + 1 output from the information processing apparatus 5, and 3 is a print format of each label L1 to Ln + 1 output from the printer 2.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams showing the structure of the print command. FIG. 2A shows the structure of the print command, and FIG. 2B shows the relationship between the label and the print command. In FIG. 2A, reference numeral 20 denotes a print command, which includes a control code section 21 and a print data section 22.
It consists of and. The control code section 21 stores a control code that defines the type and configuration of print data in the print data section 22.

In FIG. 2B, LD11 to LD1m are individual print data (dot image data or character data), and one label L1 is divided into a plurality of print data LD11 to LD1m. As shown in the output format 6, the information processing device 5 serially outputs the print instructions of the labels L1 to Ln + 1 one by one. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2B, each label has a plurality of print data LD11 to LD11 in the sub-scanning direction of the printer 2 (hereinafter referred to as Y direction).
It is divided into LD 1 m, stored in the print data section 22 of different print commands 20, and sequentially output.

These print commands 20 are received by the I / F circuit 11 of the data processing unit 10 and stored in the reception buffer 12. The reception control circuit 13 reads the print command 20 from the reception buffer 12 in response to the reception of the print command 20, and based on the control code stored in the control code part 21, the print data stored in the print data part 22. Is analyzed and written in the memory 14 as print image data.

In this case, the reception control circuit 13 derives the address for writing the print image data based on the format preset in the format setting circuit 15. In the format setting circuit 15, print position information such as the number n of labels in the main scanning direction (hereinafter, referred to as X direction) at the time of print output in the printer 2 and the interval thereof is set as a format.
The reception control circuit 13 counts the number of the label currently processed in the X direction and counts the print command in the Y direction. The write address on the memory 14 is derived from the count value and the format.

In this way, the reception control circuit 13 analyzes the print command 20 in the reception buffer 12, writes it in the address in the memory 14 corresponding to the print position of the label as print image data, and moves it in the X direction. After all the aligned labels L1 to Ln are written in the memory 14, the write control is notified to the transmission control circuit 16.
In response to this, the transmission control circuit 16 reads the print image data from the memory 14 and generates a new print command.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing print image data in the memory 14. The print data LD11 to LD1m and LD21 to LD2m forming the labels L1 and L2 are written by the reception control circuit 13 at predetermined address positions. The transmission control circuit 16 divides these print image data into a predetermined unit of print data LD1 ... In the Y direction and adds a control code to each print data to generate a new print command. In this case, the print data LD1 is composed of the print data LD11, LD21 ... Of all the labels L1 to Ln arranged in the X direction, and the blanks between these print data.

In particular, when the printer 2 is a line printer which simultaneously prints out dot row images lined up in the X direction, the print data LD1 is the print data LD11, LD21 of all the labels L1 to Ln arranged in the X direction. ., And the space between these print data is sliced in units of a predetermined number of dots in the Y direction. Therefore, for example, the number of dots that can be printed simultaneously in the Y direction by the printer 2 is 1
If it is a dot, the print data LD1 is also 1 in the Y direction.
The data has the height of dots.

In this way, the print data LD1 generated by the transmission control circuit 16 is stored in the transmission buffer 17,
The data is output to the printer 2 via the I / F circuit 18, and the print data LD1 ... Is sequentially generated and output in the Y direction, and the printer 2 outputs a plurality of labels in the X direction as shown in the print format 3. Printed out in parallel in a lined state. Therefore, since the label print data from the information processing device 5 is converted based on a predetermined format and the data processing unit 10 that generates a new print command is provided and sequentially output to the printer 2, the general-purpose data is output. It is possible to print a plurality of labels in parallel by the printer 2 of 1., and it is possible to print a large number of labels having individual information at higher speed.

In the above description, the case where the line printer is used as the printer 2 has been described.
The same applies to the case where a serial printer that sequentially prints while moving in the X direction based on the input print data is used. In this case, the print data LD1 has a height corresponding to the number of dots which can be simultaneously printed in the Y direction by the printer 2, for example, 16 dots, and the print image data expanded on the memory 14 by the transmission control circuit 16 Is read as print data LD1 for every 16 dots in the Y direction and transmitted to the printer 2.

In the above description, the case where the transmission control circuit 16 divides the print image data in the memory 14 into the print data LD1 including the space between the labels to generate a new print command. As described above, when the printer 2 is a serial printer, the blank portion may be sent as position data separately from the print data. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the position command,
(A) shows the configuration of the position command, and (b) shows the print data in the memory 14.

In FIG. 4A, 30 is a position command, which is composed of a control code part 31 and a position data part 32. The control code section 31 stores a control code that defines the type and configuration of the position data in the position data section 32. As shown in FIG. 4B, an area for storing print data for each label arranged in the X direction is provided in the memory 14, and the received print command is analyzed by the reception control circuit 13. , Is written in the corresponding area of the memory 14.

In response to the write end notification from the reception control circuit 13, the transmission control circuit 16 first reads the print data LD11 from the area in the memory 14 corresponding to the label L1 arranged first in the X direction. Generate a new print command. Subsequently, the label interval P in the X direction is read from the format setting circuit 15, the print start position of the next label L2 is derived, and the position command 30 having the position data is generated and output. In this way, the transmission control circuit 16
The label print command and the position command are alternately output.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a printing format by the printer 2. After the print data LD11 of the label L1 is printed by the printer 2 by the first print command, the printer 2 moves by the interval P in the X direction by the position command. The print data LD21 of the label L2 is printed by the next print command, and after the printing in the X direction is completed, the print data LD21 is moved in the Y direction to repeatedly perform the printing in the X direction. Therefore, the blank print data is replaced with the position command, and the data processing device 1
The processing at 0 is speeded up, the amount of data sent to the printer 2 is reduced, and the printing speed is improved as a whole.

In this case, the print command may be converted into print image data and stored in the memory 14 as described above, or the print command may be stored in the memory 14 as it is. Generally, the data amount of the print command is smaller than that of the print image data. Therefore, by storing the print command as it is in the memory 14, it becomes possible to reduce the required storage capacity of the memory 14, and The amount of data is reduced and the processing in the data processing unit 10 is speeded up.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a label printing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and in particular, directly prints based on the print data that has undergone conversion processing. In FIG. 6, the same or similar parts as those in the above-mentioned (FIG. 1) are designated by the same reference numerals, and 43 is a print corresponding to a print command in the receive buffer 12 based on the format set in the format setting circuit 15. A reception control circuit for writing the image data in the memory 14 and a print control unit 46 for reading the print image data in the memory 14 based on the format set in the format setting circuit 15 and outputting it to the printing unit 47.

In this case, the reception control circuit 43 analyzes the print command in the reception buffer 12 to obtain the print data L.
.., LD21 ... As print image data, they are sequentially written in the address position corresponding to the print position in the same manner as shown in FIG. The print control circuit 46 reads the print data LD1 from the memory 14 in a predetermined unit based on the format in the format setting circuit 15 in response to the writing completion notification from the reception control circuit 43, and outputs it to the printing unit 47.

Therefore, when the printing section 47 has a printing mechanism equivalent to a line printer which simultaneously prints out the dot row images arranged in the X direction, the print data LD1 becomes
The print data of all the labels arranged in the X direction and the space between these print data are sliced in the Y direction in units of a predetermined number of dots. Thus, for example, when the number of dots that can be simultaneously printed in the Y direction by the printing unit 47 is 1, the print control circuit 46 causes the memory 1
The print image data developed in 4 is read out as print data having a height of 1 dot in the Y direction,
7 is output.

When the printing unit 47 has a printing mechanism equivalent to a serial printer that sequentially prints while moving in the X direction based on the input print data, the printing data LD1 is printed by the printing unit 47 in the Y direction. The print control circuit 46 has a height corresponding to the number of dots that can be printed at the same time, for example, 16 dots. The print image data developed on the memory 14 is read as print data LD1 by 16 dots in the Y direction. And output to the printing unit 47.

In this way, the print data LD1 ... Is sequentially generated and output in the Y direction, and is printed in parallel from the printing unit 47 in the state in which a plurality of labels are arranged in the X direction as shown in print format 3. Is output. Therefore, the print data of the label is converted from the information processing device 5 based on a predetermined format and directly output as print data to the printing unit 47, so that the configuration is simplified and a label having individual information can be transmitted at a higher speed. And a large amount can be printed.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, the data processing unit is provided with the reception control means and the transmission control means, and the received print command of each label is analyzed by the reception control means and obtained. The print data is written in the area in the memory corresponding to each label based on the format, and the print data of each label is read in the main scanning direction of the printer based on the format by the transmission control means to generate a new print command. Since it is configured to output to a printer, it becomes possible to print multiple labels in parallel by a general-purpose printer, and in particular, individual information can be printed without changing the output format of print commands on the information processing device side. The label it has can be printed more quickly and in large quantities.

Further, a printing section for printing a plurality of labels in parallel based on the print data is provided, the print command of each received label is analyzed by the reception control means, and the obtained print data is based on the format. The label in the memory area corresponding to each label, the print data of each label written in the memory is read out in the main scanning direction of the print section by the transmission control means based on the format, and output to the print section as print data. With this configuration, the configuration for generating and outputting the print command is simplified, and the label having the individual information can be printed at high speed and in a large amount.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a label printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a print command.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing print data in a memory.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a position command.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a print format.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a label printing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Label printing device, 2 ... Printer, 3 ... Printing format, 5
... information processing device, 6 ... output format, 10 ... data processing unit,
11, 18 ... I / F circuit, 12 ... Receive buffer, 13 ...
Reception control circuit, 14 ... Memory, 15 ... Formatting circuit, 1
6 ... Transmission control circuit, 17 ... Transmission buffer, 4 ... Label printing device, 43 ... Reception control circuit, 46 ... Printing control circuit, 4
7 ... Printing section.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A label printing device for printing a label based on a print command output from an information processing device, wherein a print command serially sent from the information processing device is received and stored in each print command. A label-specific print data is converted into print data of a plurality of labels arranged in parallel, and a data processing unit that outputs as a new print command, and a plurality of labels in parallel based on the new print command. And a printer for printing, wherein the data processing unit converts the print data by a format setting unit for setting and storing the print position information of a plurality of labels arranged in parallel in the main scanning direction of the printer as a format. Memory and the received print command of each label, and write the obtained print data to the area in the memory corresponding to each label based on the above format. And a transmission control means for reading the print data of each label written in the memory in the main scanning direction of the printer based on the format and generating and outputting a new print command. Label printing device. 2. A label printing apparatus for printing a label based on a print command output from an information processing apparatus, a print section for printing a plurality of labels in parallel based on print data, and a main scanning direction of the print section. Formatting means for setting and storing the printing position information of a plurality of labels arranged in parallel as a format, a memory for converting print data, and a print command for each received label were analyzed and obtained. Reception control means for writing print data to an area in the memory corresponding to each label based on the format, and print data for each label written in the memory in the main scanning direction of the printing unit based on the format. A label printing apparatus comprising: a print control unit that outputs print data to a printing unit.