JPH04339675A - label printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a label printer that prints characters, bar codes, etc. on labels and issues them.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the following label printers are known. This label printer is provided with a frame memory in which label printing pattern data is stored, receives issuing data transmitted from an external host computer, and draws printing pattern data on the frame memory in accordance with the issuing data. The print pattern data stored in this frame memory is printed line by line on label paper.

[0003] In actual label printing, the label printer secures a data storage area in the frame memory for the number of print lines corresponding to the data for one label, and then stores the data for one label in this secured data storage area. The print pattern data is drawn by developing and storing the print information into characters, numbers, or barcode patterns. This printing pattern data is read line by line and printed.

[0004] In the above-mentioned label printer, when printing contents are partially changed during label printing, new printing pattern data is stored in the frame memory, and then printing processing for the subsequent label is started.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Generally, it takes a certain amount of time to draw print pattern data in a frame memory, so when labels with different contents are issued in succession, it is virtually impossible to print the next label. Printing was interrupted while pattern data was being drawn, and printing using new print pattern data could not be started promptly. Therefore, there was a problem that labels with different contents could not be issued in a short time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a label printer that can print labels with different contents continuously without interruption, thereby reducing the time required to issue labels.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a label printer that prints and issues labels based on print pattern data such as characters and bar codes, which includes a frame memory for storing print pattern data, and at least two frame memories. A frame memory management means that divides the area into two areas and determines that each area is unused when no print pattern data is stored or when the stored print pattern data has already been printed, and a frame memory management means that divides the area into two areas and determines that the area is unused when no print pattern data is stored or when the stored print pattern data has already been printed, and the print information of one label. a printing pattern data drawing means for dividing the divided printing pattern data into at least two parts and sequentially drawing the divided printing pattern data in areas determined to be unused by the frame memory management means; and printing pattern data stored in each area of the frame memory. and printing control means for sequentially printing on the label in the order of storage.

[0008]

[Operation] In the present invention having such a configuration, the print information on one label is printed by the print pattern data drawing means.
The image is divided into at least two parts and sequentially drawn in areas of the frame memory that are determined to be unused by the frame memory management means. The print pattern data stored in each area of the frame memory are sequentially printed on the label in the order in which they are stored by the print control means.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a first CPU (central processing means) constituting the main body of the control section.

A first ROM (read only memory) 2 in which program data for processing performed by the CPU 1 is stored, and a ROM (read only memory) 2 in which various memory areas used when the first CPU 1 performs processing are formed. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 3 and a communication interface 4 connected to the host computer via a line are connected to the first CPU 1 via a first system bus 5 .

Further, a keyboard circuit 7 for controlling signals input from the keyboard 6, a frame memory 8 for forming print data, and a printer unit 9 for printing labels are also connected to the first computer via the system bus 5. CPU1
It is connected to the.

As shown in FIG. 2, the frame memory 8 is managed by dividing its storage area into two areas of equal storage capacity: an upper area 8a and a lower area 8b. . The RAM 3 is provided with an upper stage clear request flag, a lower stage clear request flag, an upper stage in use flag, a lower stage in use flag, etc., corresponding to the upper stage area 8a and the lower stage area 8b. Print data is input from the frame memory 8 to the printer section 9 via a data line 10. FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the main part configuration of the printer section 9. As shown in FIG.

A second CPU 11 constituting the control unit main body of the printer unit 9 is connected to the system bus 5 via a bus interface 12. Also, the first
The CPU 11 is connected to the frame memory 8 via a data line 10, and print pattern data is directly input thereto.

A second ROM 13 stores program data for processing performed by the second CPU 11, and a second RAM 14 includes various memory areas used when the second CPU 11 performs processing. It is connected to the second CPU 11 via a second system bus 15. Furthermore, a head drive unit 17 that drives the thermal head 16 and a motor drive unit 19 that drives a feed motor 18 that transports label paper are also connected to the second CPU 11 via the system bus 15. There is. FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the drawing process performed by the first CPU 1. First, a command received from the host computer via the communication interface 4 is confirmed. Next, it is determined whether the confirmed command is a frame memory clear command, a drawing command, or another command.

If the confirmed command is a frame memory clear command, it is determined whether or not on-the-fly printing is in progress, in which one label is printed using the divided frame memory, and if on-the-fly printing is not in progress, the frame memory 8 is
A clear process is performed to clear the entire drawing process, and if on-the-fly is being issued, the upper and lower clear request flags provided in the RAM 3 are set, and the process returns to the beginning of the drawing process. Furthermore, if the confirmed command is a drawing command, upper/lower drawing processing, which will be described later, is performed and the drawing processing is completed.

Furthermore, if the confirmed command is a command other than a frame memory clear command or a drawing command, the command is processed and the process returns to the beginning of the drawing process. FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the upper and lower row drawing processing.

First, it is confirmed whether the upper and lower in-use flags provided in the RAM 3 are set, and the usage status of the upper area 8a and lower area 8b of the frame memory 8 is checked. (Frame memory management means)

First, if the upper area 8a is not in use, the print information to be printed on the label is divided into two in label size into an upper label and a lower label, for example, as shown in FIG. 6(a).
The label 30 is divided into an upper label 30a and a lower label 30b as shown in FIG. 2, and it is checked whether the upper stage clear request flag is set. If the upper stage clear request flag is set, the upper stage area 8a of the frame memory 8 is cleared, and the upper stage clear request flag is cleared. If the upper stage clear request flag is cleared in this way or the upper stage clear request flag is not set,
Print pattern data is drawn in the upper area 8a based on the print information on the upper label. When the drawing of the print pattern data is completed, the upper stage in use flag is set, the upper stage issuing command is registered in the bus interface 10 of the printer section 9, and the process returns to the beginning of the upper stage/lower stage drawing process.

Next, if the upper area 8a is in use and the lower area 8b is not in use, the Y coordinate of the print information on the lower label of the label is corrected as the specified Y coordinate+frame memory/2. Here, the Y coordinate is the coordinate on the print pattern data formed in the frame memory indicated by the transport direction when printing, and the designated Y coordinate is
This is the Y coordinate when print pattern data is temporarily drawn in the upper area 8a based on the print information on the lower label. Y
Once the coordinates are corrected, it is checked whether the lower stage clear request flag is set. If the lower clear request flag is set, the lower area 8 of the frame memory 8
Clear b and clear the lower clear request flag. In this way, if the lower clear request flag is cleared or if the lower clear request flag is not set, the lower clear request flag is cleared based on the print information on the lower label.
Print pattern data is drawn on b (print pattern data drawing means). When the drawing of this print pattern data is completed, the lower row in use flag is set, a lower row issue command is registered in the bus interface 10 of the printer section 9, and this upper row/lower row drawing process is completed.

When at least one of the upper issue command and the lower issue command is registered in the bus interface 10, the second CPU 11 performs printing processing. FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of the printing process.

First, printing conditions are set based on the upper issue command or the lower issue command registered in the bus interface 10. Then, according to the printing conditions, one step of printing is performed on the label based on the printing pattern data drawn in the upper area 8a or lower area 8b of the frame memory 8, and this one step printing is performed on the upper label or lower area of the label. This is repeated until printing is completed (printing control means). When printing is completed, it is determined whether the printing was based on the print pattern data drawn in the upper area 8a or the lower area 8b, and if the print pattern data is in the upper area 8a, the upper area in use flag is set. If the lower area 8b is printed based on the print pattern data, the lower area in use flag is cleared and this printing process is ended.

In this embodiment having such a configuration, two different labels 30 and 31 shown in FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) are consecutively issued in the order of label 30 and label 31, for example. In this case, first, a frame memory clear command is sent from the host computer, and the entire area of the frame memory 8 is cleared. Next, a drawing command for the label 30 is sent from the host computer,
According to the drawing command, the print information on the label 30 is divided into print information on the upper label 30a and print information on the lower label 30b, as shown in FIG. 6(a).

Print pattern data is drawn in the upper area 8a of the frame memory 8 based on the print information on the divided upper label 30a. As shown in FIG. 2A, when the drawing of this print pattern data is completed, the upper stage in use flag is set and the upper stage issue command is registered in the bus interface 12 of the printer section 9.

Based on this upper issue command, the printer unit 9 starts printing the upper label 30a of the label 30 based on the print pattern data of the upper area 8a. On the other hand, print pattern data is drawn in the lower area 8b based on the print information of the divided lower label. As shown in FIG. 2B, when the drawing of this print pattern data is completed, the lower row in use flag is set and the lower row issue command is registered in the bus interface 12.

Next, a frame memory clear command is sent from the host computer. However, since it is being issued on the fly, the upper stage clear request flag and the lower stage clear request flag are set. Next, a drawing command for the label 31 is sent, but the frame memory 8
Since the upper area 8a and the lower area 8b are in use according to the upper in use flag and the lower in use flag, they are in a standby state until the upper area 8a or the lower area 8b is no longer in use.

When the printer section 9 finishes printing the upper label 30a, the upper section in use flag is cleared, and at that time, the printer section 9 prints the lower section 8b based on the lower section issue command registered in the bus interface 12.
Printing on the lower label 30b of the label 30 is started based on the printing pattern data. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6(b), the print information on the label 31 is divided into print information on the upper label 31a and print information on the lower label 31b.

Further, by setting the upper clear request flag, only the upper area 8a is cleared, and the upper label 31a is cleared.
Print pattern data is drawn in the upper area 8a based on the print information. As shown in FIG. 2C, when the drawing of this print pattern data is completed, the upper stage in use flag is set and the upper stage issue command is registered in the bus interface 12. Then, the system enters a standby state again until the upper area 8a or the lower area 8b is no longer in use.

When the printer section 9 finishes printing the lower label 30b of the label 30, the lower section in use flag is cleared, and at this time, the printer section 9 prints the upper section area 8a based on the upper section issue command registered in the bus interface 12. Printing on the upper label 31a of the label 31 is started based on the printing pattern data. On the other hand, by setting the lower clear request flag, only the lower area is cleared, and print pattern data is drawn in the lower area 8b based on the print information on the lower label 31b. Figure 2
As shown in (d), when the drawing of this print pattern data is completed, the lower stage in use flag is set and the lower stage issue command is registered in the bus interface 12.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the frame memory 8 is managed by dividing it into the upper area 8a and the lower area 8b, and the print information of the labels to be issued also corresponds to the upper label and the lower label according to the label size. By dividing the frame memory, print pattern data is drawn for each upper area 8a or lower area 8b based on the print information corresponding to the upper label or lower label, and then for each upper area 8a or lower area. Based on the drawn print pattern data, printing can be performed on the upper label or the lower label of the label.

Therefore, while printing on the upper label or the lower label, printing pattern data can be drawn in the lower area 8b or the upper area 8a based on the printing information corresponding to the lower label or upper label to be printed next. , different labels can be printed and issued consecutively. In other words, the time required to issue different labels can be reduced.

[0031] Also, even when issuing only one label,
Printing starts when the print information for the upper label is drawn on the print pattern data, and the print information for the lower label is drawn while the upper label is being printed, so the time required to draw the print information for the lower label can be reduced. Therefore, the time can be shortened even when printing only one sheet.

[0032]

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention,
To provide a label printer that can print labels with different contents continuously without interruption, and therefore can shorten the time in issuing labels.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the main configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of printing pattern data drawn in the frame memory of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the main part configuration of a printer section showing the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the flow of drawing processing in the same embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the flow of upper and lower row drawing processing in the same embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a printed label of the same embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the flow of printing processing in the same embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1... First CPU, 3... RAM, 8... Frame memory,
9...Printer section, 11...Second CPU, 12...Bus interface.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A label printer that prints and issues labels based on print pattern data such as characters and barcodes, comprising: a frame memory for storing the print pattern data; and a frame memory that is divided into at least two areas, each of which has a frame memory management means that determines that the area is unused when no print pattern data is stored or when the stored print pattern data has already been printed; printing pattern data drawing means for sequentially drawing the divided printing pattern data in areas determined to be unused by the frame memory management means; and printing pattern data drawing means for sequentially drawing the printing pattern data stored in each area of the frame memory in the order in which they are stored. A label printer characterized in that it is provided with a printing control means for printing.