A scanning and printing method for a micro printer

Abstract

The present invention discloses a micro-printer scanning and printing method, wherein a printing control module receives a printing request sent by a host computer and starts a printing program; a scanning module starts scanning and transmits the scanned target graphic code to the printing control module; the printing control module transmits the received target graphic code data to the host computer; after the host computer receives the target graphic code data, a background database is applied to retrieve and output the printing data based on the corresponding relationship between the target graphic code data and the printing data; or the host computer corresponds the identification data in the printing request information data to the target graphic code data, and outputs the non-identification data as the printing data; the host computer sends the printing data to the printing control module; the printing control module controls the print head to complete printing in the non-identification area according to the received printing data. The micro-printer scanning and printing method disclosed by the present invention reduces the amount of printing data of the micro-printer, can shorten the printing time, and thus improves the printing efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of micro printers, and in particular to a scanning and printing method of a micro printer. Background Art

[0002] A micro printer is a small and easy-to-carry printer. It is widely used in express delivery bill printing, on-site office and other application scenarios. With the growth of express delivery business, express delivery bill printing has made significant progress in technology, efficiency and environmental protection. Express delivery bills have evolved from traditional multi-copy bills to electronic bills. Electronic bills are printed on self-adhesive thermal paper, which greatly reduces the bill area and reduces the production cost. The content of existing express delivery bills generally includes recipient information, sender information, express bill number, barcode / QR code, service type, payment information, weight (volume), express company information, delivery date, destination information, delivery terms, advertising information, etc. The existing express delivery bill printing method is usually centralized printing by express companies, or merchants print through the background management system. The printing method is such as the express delivery bill printing management method, device and system disclosed in the Chinese patent with publication number CN111782157A, which outputs data containing all express delivery bill information to the printer for printing. Although the printing efficiency of express delivery labels has been significantly improved compared to traditional multi-copy labels, with the advancement of technology and users' ever-increasing demand for work efficiency, engineers are still working tirelessly to find ways to further improve printing efficiency. Summary of the invention

[0003] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a micro printer scanning and printing method, comprising a printer body and a host computer; a paper bin and a print head are arranged in the printer body; a paper feeding channel is arranged between the paper bin and the print head;

[0004] A scanning module is provided on one side of the paper feeding channel or the paper bin; the scanning direction of the scanning module is toward the paper feeding channel or the paper bin;

[0005] The scanning module is connected to the printing control module of the printer body; the printing control module is connected to the host computer for communication;

[0006] The paper bin is provided with printing paper; the printing paper has identification areas in several printing areas; different target graphic codes are printed in the identification areas respectively;

[0007] The scanning module is used to scan the target graphic code passing by;

[0008] The method steps are as follows:

[0009] S10, the printing control module receives the printing request sent by the host computer and starts the printing program;

[0010] S20, the scanning module starts scanning and transmits the scanned target graphic code to the printing control module;

[0011] S30, the printing control module transmits the received target graphic code data to the host computer;

[0012] S40, after the host computer receives the target graphic code data, the background database is used to retrieve and output the printing data based on the corresponding relationship between the target graphic code data and the printing data;

[0013] Or the host computer matches the identification data in the print request information data with the target graphic code data, and outputs the non-identification data as print data;

[0014] S50, the host computer sends the printing data to the printing control module;

[0015] S60: The printing control module controls the print head to complete printing in the non-recognition area according to the received printing data.

[0016] Preferably, the scanning module is a photoelectric sensor.

[0017] Preferably, the target graphic code is at least one of a QR code and a barcode.

[0018] Preferably, the scanning module is arranged at a position away from the print head.

[0019] Preferably, there are two identification areas; both identification areas are provided with a target graphic code; and the two target graphic codes are the same or different.

[0020] Preferably, the printing paper is also pre-printed with an advertising graphic code.

[0021] Preferably, in step S10, the host computer needs to collect print request data before issuing a print request; when the host computer collects the print request data, it matches the identification data and the non-identification data one by one and stores them separately.

[0022] The micro-printer scanning and printing method provided by the present invention reduces the amount of printing data of the micro-printer during printing (i.e., reduces the printing area of ​​the target graphic code). In the field of micro-printers, the area of ​​the express delivery bill is relatively small, and in order to ensure the clarity of subsequent scanning, the target graphic code occupies a large part of the area of ​​the express delivery bill. Reducing the printing of the target graphic code (barcode) during the printing process of the micro-printer can shorten the printing time, thereby improving the printing efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 A flow chart of the scanning and printing method of the micro-printer provided by the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 A three-dimensional diagram of a micro printer provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Cross-section of the middle AA;

[0026] Figure 4 A diagram showing an embodiment of the setting position of the identification area on the roll paper;

[0027] Figure 5 A diagram showing an embodiment of the setting position of the identification area on a square printing paper;

[0028] Among them: 10, printer body; 11, paper compartment; 12, print head; 13, paper outlet; 131, window; 132, transparent plate; 14, scanning module; 141, bracket; 16, printing paper; 161, identification area; 162, non-identification area; 17, installation slot. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] In order to make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects achieved by the present invention easy to understand, the present invention is further described below in conjunction with specific embodiments. However, the following embodiments are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, not all of them. Based on the embodiments in the implementation mode, other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work all belong to the protection scope of the present invention. The experimental methods in the following embodiments are conventional methods unless otherwise specified. The materials, reagents, etc. used in the following embodiments are all commercially available unless otherwise specified.

[0030] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", "front end", "rear end", "two ends", "one end", "the other end" and the like indicate positions or positional relationships based on the positions or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present invention. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0031] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "provided with", "connected", etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, "connected" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or it can be the internal communication of two components. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0032] In addition, the accompanying drawings are only schematic illustrations of the present disclosure and are not necessarily drawn to scale. The same reference numerals in the figures represent the same or similar parts, and their repeated description will be omitted. Some of the block diagrams shown in the accompanying drawings are functional entities and do not necessarily correspond to physically or logically independent entities. These functional entities can be implemented in software form, or implemented in one or more hardware modules or integrated circuits, or implemented in different networks and / or processor devices and / or microcontroller devices.

[0033] The embodiment of the present invention provides a micro-printer scanning and printing method, comprising a printer body 10 and a host computer; a paper bin 11 and a print head 12 are provided in the printer body 10; a paper feeding channel is provided between the paper bin 11 and the print head 12;

[0034] A scanning module 14 is provided on one side of the paper feeding channel or paper bin 11; the scanning direction of the scanning module 14 is toward the paper feeding channel or paper bin 11;

[0035] The scanning module 14 is connected to the printing control module of the printer body 10; the printing control module is connected to the host computer for communication;

[0036] The paper bin 11 is provided with printing paper 16; the printing areas of the printing paper 16 are each provided with an identification area 161; different target graphic codes are printed in the identification areas 161;

[0037] The scanning module 14 is used to scan the target graphic code passing by;

[0038] The method steps are as follows:

[0039] S10, the printing control module receives the printing request sent by the host computer and starts the printing program;

[0040] S20, the scanning module 14 starts scanning and transmits the scanned target graphic code to the printing control module;

[0041] S30, the printing control module transmits the received target graphic code data to the host computer;

[0042] S40, after the host computer receives the target graphic code data, the background database is used to retrieve and output the printing data based on the corresponding relationship between the target graphic code data and the printing data;

[0043] Or the host computer matches the identification data in the print request information data with the target graphic code data, and outputs the non-identification data as print data;

[0044] S50, the host computer sends the printing data to the printing control module;

[0045] S60 , the printing control module controls the print head 12 to complete printing in the non-recognition area 162 according to the received printing data.

[0046] When implementing it, Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the micro printer in the present invention includes a printer body 10; a paper bin 11 and a print head 12 are provided in the printer body 10; a paper feeding channel is provided between the paper bin 11 and the print head 12; the printer body 10 adopts an existing micro printer that can communicate with an APP and a computer terminal; the micro printer includes but is not limited to a thermal printer; the host computer is an APP, a mobile phone, a computer terminal, etc.

[0047] A scanning module 14 is provided on the paper feeding channel of the paper bin 11 or on one side of the paper bin 11; the scanning module 14 is communicatively connected with the printing control module of the printer body 10; the scanning direction of the scanning module 14 is toward the paper feeding channel or the paper bin 11; the scanning module 14 is a photoelectric sensor, including but not limited to a shooting module, an infrared barcode scanner, a camera, etc.;

[0048] The paper bin 11 is provided with printing paper 16; identification areas 161 are provided in the printing areas of the printing paper 16; different target graphic codes are printed in the identification areas 161; the printing paper 16 includes roll paper printing paper and square printing paper, and the user can choose according to actual use needs; the setting position of the identification area 161 on the roll paper printing paper is as follows Figure 4 As shown; the identification area 161 is set in the square printing paper as shown Figure 5 as shown; Figure 4 , Figure 5 As shown, the length direction of the target graphic code in the identification area 161 of the roll paper and the square paper is set transversely to the paper feeding direction. Compared with setting it along the paper feeding direction, this setting structure can shorten the scanning time.

[0049] The scanning module 14 is used to scan and identify the target graphic code passing by.

[0050] During operation, the paper 16 with the target graphic code (barcode, QR code, etc.) printed on the identification area 161 is pre-placed in the paper bin 11, and the printing paper 16 moves along the paper path toward the print head 12 under the action of the printer body 10;

[0051] like Figure 1 As shown, the specific steps of the micro printer scanning and printing method are as follows:

[0052] S10, the printing control module receives the printing request sent by the host computer and starts the printing program; after the printing program is started, the printer starts feeding paper and the scanning module 14 is turned on;

[0053] S20, the scanning module 14 scans the passing printing paper 16, and transmits the scanned target graphic code to the printing control module;

[0054] S30, the printing control module encodes the received target graphic code and transmits the encoded data to the host computer;

[0055] S40, after the host computer receives the target graphic code data, the application background database retrieves and outputs the printing data based on the corresponding relationship between the target graphic code data and the printing data; in this step, the application background database pre-stores the corresponding relationship between the target graphic code data and the printing data;

[0056] Or the host computer matches the identification data in the print request information data with the target graphic code data, and outputs the non-identification data as print data;

[0057] S50, the host computer sends the printing data to the printing control module;

[0058] S60 , the printing control module controls the print head 12 to complete printing in the non-recognition area 162 according to the received printing data.

[0059] In the existing printing method of the micro printer, after receiving the printing request information, the host computer sends all the printing contents to the printer at one time, and the printer prints all the printing contents on the printing paper at one time.

[0060] In the printing method provided by the present invention, after receiving the printing request information, the host computer divides the printing request information into identification information (for example, the identification information is the information contained in the express delivery number in the express delivery bill) and non-identification information (for example, the non-identification information is the information of the public printing part in the express delivery bill), and stores the identification information as identification data, and stores the non-identification information as non-identification data; by pre-printing the target graphic code (such as a bar code) on the printing paper 16, when printing, the target graphic code is first scanned by the scanning module 14 and then uploaded to the host computer through the printing control module; the host computer assigns the identification information content to the target graphic code (the printing method in the prior art is to generate bar code information by the identification information in the received printing request information, and then print the bar code), and corresponds the target graphic code to the non-identification information, and then transmits the non-identification information as printing data to the printing control module; the printing control module then controls the print head 12 to print the printing data in the non-recognition area to complete the printing. In the printing method provided by the present invention, the amount of printing data of the micro printer during printing is reduced (that is, the printing area of ​​the target graphic code is reduced). In the field of micro printers, the area of ​​express delivery labels is relatively small, and in order to ensure the clarity of subsequent scanning, the target graphic code occupies a large part of the area of ​​the express delivery label. Reducing the printing of the target graphic code (barcode) during the printing process of the micro printer can shorten the printing time and improve the printing efficiency.

[0061] When printing the same content, although the printing method provided by the present invention adds the step of interaction between the scanning module, the printing control module and the host computer, the time occupied by the interaction process is relatively short in the entire printing process, and the printing time can still be greatly shortened compared to printing the target graphic code.

[0062] The above-mentioned printing request information includes but is not limited to recipient information, sender information, express delivery number, barcode / QR code, service type, payment information, weight (volume), express company information, shipping date, destination information, shipping terms, advertising information, other information, etc.; the host computer uses one or more of the above information as the order number information, and uses one or more of the above information as non-order number information; the identification information can be the data for producing the express delivery number barcode in the existing printing method, and the non-identification data can be the data publicly printed on the express delivery label (such as the shipping address, the receiving address, the product information, etc.).

[0063] In the step S40, the single number information is used as identification data corresponding to the target graphic code data, and the non-single number information is used as non-identification data.

[0064] like Figure 3 As shown, a window 131 is provided on the side wall of the paper feeding passage adjacent to the scanning module 14; a transparent plate 132 is provided in the window 131. The window 131 and the transparent plate 132 can isolate the scanning module 14 and the printing paper 16, preventing the paper dust generated by the printing paper 16 during the paper feeding process from entering the scanning module 14.

[0065] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, brackets 141 are provided on both sides of the scanning module 14; a mounting groove 17 is provided at the position of the bracket 141 of the printer body 10; and the bracket 141 is installed in the mounting groove 17. The mounting groove 17 can support the bracket 141 and the scanning module 14, reduce the number of installed components, reduce costs; and reduce space occupation, making the printer body more compact.

[0066] In a specific implementation, the scanning module 14 is disposed at a position away from the printing head 12. For example, the scanning window 131 of the scanning module 14 is disposed at one end of the paper feed passage close to the paper bin 11. The printing module 14 can also be disposed on a side opposite to the paper bin 11 and the paper feed passage (e.g. Figure 3 The left side of the paper bin in the middle), by advancing the scanning timing of the scanning module 14, provides more sufficient time for the interaction of the scanning module, the printing control module and the host computer.

[0067] When the printing module 14 is arranged on the side opposite to the paper bin 11 and the paper feeding channel, the print head 12 can scan the next target graphic code at the same time when printing, and upload the next target graphic code to the host computer for storage in advance. When the host computer receives the next printing information request, it can immediately enter the S40-S60 steps, thereby further shortening the printing time.

[0068] In specific implementation, when the printing control module detects that the printing paper 16 is replaced, the printing program is controlled to be initialized. The printing control module detecting the replacement of the printing paper 16 belongs to the prior art and will not be described in detail here.

[0069] In a specific implementation, two identification areas 161 are provided; the two identification areas 161 are both provided with a target graphic code; the two target graphic codes are the same or different.

[0070] When one target graphic code cannot be recognized, another spare identical target graphic code is used to ensure that the package information can be correctly read.

[0071] In specific implementation, the printing paper 16 is also pre-printed with an advertising graphic code. In order to expand the commercial value of the express delivery field, many express delivery bills currently print advertising QR codes. In this embodiment, by pre-printing the advertising graphic code together with the target graphic code on the printing paper, the printing time of the micro-printer can be increased without increasing the advertising graphic code.

[0072] In the specific implementation, in step S10, the host computer needs to collect print request data before issuing a print request; when the host computer collects the print request data, the identification data and the non-identification data are matched one by one and stored separately. By storing and classifying data separately, the data search time can be shortened.

[0073] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, and that the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A micro printer scanning and printing method, characterized in that: The printer comprises a printer body (10) and a host computer; a paper bin (11) and a print head (12) are provided in the printer body (10); a paper feeding channel is provided between the paper bin (11) and the print head (12); A scanning module (14) is provided on one side of the paper feeding channel or the paper bin (11); the scanning direction of the scanning module (14) is towards the paper feeding channel or the paper bin (11); The scanning module (14) is connected to the printing control module of the printer body (10); the printing control module is communicatively connected to the host computer; Printing paper (16) is arranged in the paper bin (11); identification areas (161) are arranged in a plurality of printing areas of the printing paper (16); different target graphic codes are printed in the identification areas (161); The scanning module (14) is used to scan a target graphic code passing by; The method steps are as follows: S10, the printing control module receives the printing request sent by the host computer and starts the printing program; S20, the scanning module (14) starts scanning and transmits the scanned target graphic code to the printing control module; S30, the printing control module transmits the received target graphic code data to the host computer; S40, after the host computer receives the target graphic code data, the background database is used to retrieve and output the printing data based on the corresponding relationship between the target graphic code data and the printing data; The application background database pre-stores the corresponding relationship between the target graphic code data and the printing data; Or the host computer matches the identification data in the print request information data with the target graphic code data, and outputs the non-identification data as print data; S50, the host computer sends the printing data to the printing control module; S60: The printing control module controls the print head (12) to complete printing in the non-identifiable area (162) according to the received printing data.

2. The micro-printer scanning and printing method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The scanning module (14) is a photoelectric sensor.

3. The micro-printer scanning and printing method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The target graphic code is at least one of a two-dimensional code and a barcode.

4. The micro-printer scanning and printing method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The scanning module (14) is arranged at a position far away from the printing head (12).

5. The micro-printer scanning and printing method according to claim 1, characterized in that: There are two identification areas (161); both identification areas (161) are provided with a target graphic code; the two target graphic codes are the same or different.

6. The micro-printer scanning and printing method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The printing paper (16) is also pre-printed with an advertising graphic code.

7. The micro-printer scanning and printing method according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the step S10, the host computer needs to collect print request data before issuing a print request; when the host computer collects the print request data, it matches the identification data with the non-identification data one by one and stores them separately.

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