Printer and program

Abstract

To provide a printer and a program capable of creating a label corresponding to an interface that receives a printing instruction.SOLUTION: A printer receives a printing instruction via any of a radio interface, a wired interface and a reception part. Two types of objects to be printed on a label are stored in a storage device. The printer determines whether or not the designated interface has received the printing instruction (S15). The printer, when determining that the radio interface has received the printing instruction, prints one of the two types of objects on the label and does not print the other on the label. The printer, when an interface other than the radio interface has received the printing instruction, prints the other object and does not print the one.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printer and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a label printer that prints product information objects on a label based on a predetermined format. A conditional expression is defined for the object. When printing on a label, the label printer determines whether a conditional expression, for example, time information on date and time, is satisfied. If the label printer determines that the conditional expression is satisfied, it prints the object on the label, and if it determines that the conditional expression is not satisfied, it does not print the object on the label. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-118952 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Label printers are used by users under various conditions. For example, a user may connect a terminal and the label printer with a cable in a store and instruct the label printer to print from the terminal. In this case, the label printer accepts the print instruction via the cable. The same user may also carry a label printer in front of the store and instruct the label printer to print from a mobile terminal. In this case, the label printer accepts the print instruction wirelessly. In this way, when the label printer is used in different situations, the interface that accepts printing differs for each situation. Here, the object to be printed on the label may be changed depending on the situation. However, with the above-mentioned label printer, the user needs to set the object to be printed on the label printer each time depending on the situation.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a printer and a program that can create a label according to an interface that accepts a print instruction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A printer according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a print head that prints an object on a label, a plurality of interfaces that accept a print instruction for the label, the plurality of interfaces including a specific interface that accepts the print instruction in a specific manner, a memory that stores a first object and a second object different from the first object, and a control unit, the control unit executes a reception process that accepts the print instruction via any of the plurality of interfaces, and a label creation process that prints the first object on the label but not the second object if the specific interface accepts the print instruction in the reception process, and prints the second object without printing the first object on the label if the interface other than the specific interface accepts the print instruction in the reception process.

[0007] According to the printer of the first aspect, the printer switches the object to be printed on the label between the first object and the second object depending on whether a print command is received through a specific interface depending on the user's usage scene, and therefore the printer can create a label that corresponds to the interface through which the print command is received.

[0008] A printer according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises a print head which prints an object on a label, a plurality of interfaces which accept a print instruction for the label, the plurality of interfaces including a specific interface which accepts the print instruction in a specific manner, a memory which stores a first object, a second object and a fixed object which are different from each other, and a control unit, wherein the control unit executes a reception process which accepts the print instruction via any of the plurality of interfaces, and a label creation process which, if the specific interface accepts the print instruction in the reception process, prints the first object and the fixed object on the label but does not print the second object, and, if the interface other than the specific interface accepts the print instruction in the reception process, prints the second object and the fixed object on the label but does not print the first object.

[0009] According to the printer of the second aspect, when a print command is received through a specific interface, the printer prints the first object and the fixed object on the label, and when a print command is received through an interface different from the specific interface, the printer prints the second object and the fixed object on the label. In this way, the printer can print the fixed object on the label while switching the object to be printed depending on the user's usage scene. Therefore, the printer can create a label according to the interface through which the print command was received.

[0010] A program according to a third aspect of the present invention is a program to be executed by a computer that controls a print head that prints an object on a label, a plurality of interfaces that accept a print instruction for the label, the plurality of interfaces including a specific interface that accepts the print instruction in a specific manner, and a memory that stores a first object and a second object different from the first object, the program causing the computer to execute a receiving step of accepting the print instruction via any of the plurality of interfaces, and a label creation step of printing the first object on the label but not printing the second object if the specific interface accepts the print instruction in the receiving step, and printing the second object without printing the first object on the label if the interface other than the specific interface accepts the print instruction in the receiving step. The program according to the third aspect has the same effect as the printer according to the first aspect.

[0011] A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a program for causing a computer to control a print head that prints objects on labels, a plurality of interfaces that accept a print instruction for the label, the plurality of interfaces including a specific interface that accepts the print instruction in a specific manner, and a memory that stores a first object, a second object, and a fixed object that are different from one another, the program causing the computer to execute a receiving step of accepting the print instruction via any of the plurality of interfaces, and a label creation step of printing the first object and the fixed object on the label but not printing the second object if the specific interface accepts the print instruction in the receiving step, and printing the second object and the fixed object on the label but not printing the first object if the interface other than the specific interface accepts the print instruction in the receiving step. The program according to the fourth aspect provides the same effects as the printer according to the second aspect. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a printer 1. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the printer 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 shows label 31A. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing label 31B. [Diagram 5] FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram of table 81. [Figure 6] FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram of table 82. [Figure 7] 13 is a flowchart of a printing process. [Figure 8] 13 is a flowchart of a generation process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings are used to explain technical features that the present invention can employ. In other words, the configurations and the like shown in the drawings are not intended to be limiting, but are merely illustrative examples.

[0014] <Printer 1 Configuration> As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 is a thermal printer that prints an object 32 (see FIG. 3) on a print medium 3. The object is, for example, a letter, a symbol, a number, a figure, a pictogram, etc. The print medium 3 is not limited to a specific medium, but is, for example, in the form of a sheet or a tape. In this embodiment, the print medium 3 is a plurality of labels 31 continuously attached to a long mount 30 (see FIG. 3).

[0015] The printer 1 has a case 2, a reception unit 23, a display unit 24, a transport unit 25 (see FIG. 2), and a print head 26 (see FIG. 2). The case 2 stores therein a print medium 3. The case 2 has a rectangular discharge opening 29 formed therein.

[0016] The reception unit 23 is a touch panel provided on the surface of the case 2. The reception unit 23 is a user interface that receives operations by the user. In this embodiment, the reception unit 23 is a touch panel that detects a position pressed by the user. The reception unit 23 does not have to be a touch panel, and may be, for example, a keyboard with multiple keys, a push button switch, or a toggle switch. The display unit 24 is a liquid crystal display (LCD) provided on the surface of the case 2.

[0017] Although not shown, the transport unit 25 includes a platen roller for transporting the print medium 3, and a motor for driving the platen roller. In this embodiment, the motor is a stepping motor. The transport unit 25 transports the print medium 3 stored inside the case 2 to the discharge port 29. The print head 26 is, for example, a line head, and is stored inside the case 2. The print head 26 has multiple heating elements (not shown), and prints on the print medium 3 by selectively activating the heating elements.

[0018] <Printer 1 communication> The printer 1 is capable of communicating with external terminals, which are known information processing devices. In this embodiment, the external terminals are a wireless terminal 91 and a wired terminal 92.

[0019] The wireless terminal 91 is, for example, a smartphone or a tablet PC. The printer 1 performs wireless communication with the wireless terminal 91. The wireless communication is performed in accordance with a known wireless communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Wi-Fi (registered trademark), or a unique wireless communication standard. In this embodiment, the printer 1 performs wireless communication with the wireless terminal 91 in accordance with Bluetooth.

[0020] The wired terminal 92 is, for example, a PC or a cash register. The printer 1 performs wired communication with the wired terminal 92. The wired communication is performed in accordance with a known wired communication standard such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) or Ethernet (registered trademark), or a unique wired communication standard. In this embodiment, the printer 1 performs wired communication with the wired terminal 92 via a cable 93 in accordance with USB.

[0021] <Printer 1 Electrical Configuration> 2, the printer 1 has a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a storage device 14, a clock unit 15, a wireless interface 21, and a wired interface 22. The CPU 11 controls the printer 1. The CPU 11 is electrically connected to the ROM 12, the RAM 13, the storage device 14, the clock unit 15, the wireless interface 21, the wired interface 22, the reception unit 23, the display unit 24, the transport unit 25, and the print head 26.

[0022] The ROM 12 stores programs and the like for executing a printing process (see FIG. 7) described later. The RAM 13 stores various parameters required when executing the programs. The storage device 14 is non-volatile, and stores various information such as templates, a table 81 (see FIG. 5), and a table 82 (see FIG. 6) described later. The clock unit 15 outputs date and time information related to the current date and time.

[0023] The wireless interface 21 is an interface for performing wireless communication conforming to Bluetooth with a wireless terminal 91. The wired interface 22 is an interface for performing wired communication conforming to USB with a wired terminal 92 connected via a cable 93.

[0024] <Accepting printing instructions> As shown in FIG. 1, when printer 1 receives a print instruction, it prints on print medium 3 using print head 26. Printer 1 receives the print instruction via any of wireless interface 21 (see FIG. 2), wired interface 22 (see FIG. 2), or reception unit 23. When wireless terminal 91 outputs a print instruction via wireless communication, printer 1 receives the print instruction via wireless interface 21. When wired terminal 92 outputs a print instruction via wired communication, printer 1 receives the print instruction via wired interface 22. When a user operates reception unit 23 to input a print instruction, printer 1 receives the print instruction via reception unit 23.

[0025] <Label 31 and Template> As shown in Figures 3 and 4, a plurality of objects 32 are printed on the label 31. The label 31 has a plurality of designated areas 33-36. The designated areas 33-36 are areas that designate the positions on the label 31 where the objects 32 are to be printed, and are indicated by dashed lines in Figures 3 and 4. The printer 1 stores the positions of the designated areas 33-36 on the label 31 in the storage device 14 as a template.

[0026] Each of the objects 32 is printed inside the designated areas 33 to 36. In the label 31 shown in FIG. 3, an object 32A relating to the printing location is printed in the designated area 33. An object 32C relating to the service center's telephone number is printed in the designated area 34. An object 32D relating to the product name is printed in the designated area 35. An object 32F relating to the product price is printed in the designated area 36. Hereinafter, the label 31 shown in FIG. 3 will be referred to as label 31A.

[0027] The label 31 shown in FIG. 4 differs from label 31A in the objects 32 printed in the designated areas 33, 35, and 36. In the label 31 shown in FIG. 4 in detail, an object 32B relating to the printing location is printed in the designated area 33. An object 32E relating to the product name is printed in the designated area 35. An object 32G relating to the product price is printed in the designated area 36. Note that an object 32C is printed in the designated area 34, similar to label 31A. Hereinafter, the label 31 shown in FIG. 4 will be referred to as label 31B.

[0028] <Object 32> The printer 1 changes the object 32 to be printed in the designated area 33 depending on the interface that accepted the print instruction. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, when the wireless interface 21 accepts the print instruction, the printer 1 prints an object 32B in the designated area 33. When an interface other than the wireless interface 21 accepts the print instruction, the printer 1 prints an object 32A in the designated area 33. The interfaces other than the wireless interface 21 in this embodiment are the wired interface 22 and the reception unit 23.

[0029] The object 32 that the printer 1 prints in the designated areas 35, 36 differs depending on the date and time when the print instruction is received. Hereinafter, the date and time when the print instruction is received is referred to as the reception date and time. If the reception date and time is between September and November, the printer 1 prints object 32E in the designated area 35. If the reception date and time is not between September and November, the printer 1 prints object 32D in the designated area 35. If the reception date and time is between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., the printer 1 prints object 32G in the designated area 36. If the reception date and time is not between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., the printer 1 prints object 32F in the designated area 36.

[0030] In this way, the object 32 to be printed varies depending on the interface through which the print instruction is received and the date and time of receipt in the printer 1. Hereinafter, the interface through which the print instruction is received and the date and time of receipt, which are conditions for determining the object 32 to be printed, will be collectively referred to as the receiving conditions.

[0031] Table 81 shown in Fig. 5 shows the relationship between templates and objects 32. Each row in table 81 shows the relationship between a template and an object 32 to be printed in the designated areas 33-36 specified by the template. The Nth row (N is a natural number) shows the object 32 to be printed in each of the designated areas 33-36 of the Nth label. A plurality of objects 32 specified in each row of table 81 are printed on the label 31. When printing the Nth label 31 using printer 1, the user specifies in the print instruction that the Nth label 31 be printed.

[0032] Each column in table 81 indicates an object 32. In detail, columns A and B indicate objects 32A, 32B to be printed in designated area 33. Column A indicates object 32A, and column B indicates object 32B. Column C indicates object 32C to be printed in designated area 34. Columns D and E indicate objects 32D, 32E to be printed in designated area 35. Column D indicates object 32D, and column E indicates object 32E. Columns F and G indicate objects 32F, 32G to be printed in designated area 36. Column F indicates object 32F, and column G indicates object 32G.

[0033] 6 shows the relationship between the columns of table 81 and the acceptance conditions. The row showing row number 1 shows the setting of the acceptance conditions for object 32 related to the print location. The row showing row number 1 sets that a determination is made as to whether or not the interface that accepted the print instruction is the wireless interface 21. The TRUE column, which corresponds to a positive determination result, is associated with column B of table 81, and the FALSE column, which corresponds to a negative determination result, is associated with column A of table 81.

[0034] The line showing line number 2 indicates the setting of the acceptance condition for the telephone number-related object 32. The line showing line number 2 indicates that a determination is made as to whether the interface that accepted the print instruction is the wireless interface 21. In the line showing acceptance number 2, column C of table 81 is associated with both the TRUE column and the FALSE column.

[0035] The line showing line number 3 indicates the setting of the reception condition for object 32 related to the product name. The line showing line number 3 indicates that a judgment will be made regarding the condition related to the reception date and time. Hereinafter, the condition related to the reception date and time will be referred to as the date and time condition. The line showing line number 3 indicates that the date and time condition to be judged is whether the reception time is between September and November. The TRUE column is associated with column E of table 81, and the FALSE column is associated with column D of table 81.

[0036] The line indicated by line number 4 indicates the setting of the acceptance condition for the object 32 related to price. In the line indicated by line number 4, it is set that the date and time condition is to determine whether the acceptance time is between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. The TRUE column is associated with column G of table 81, and the FALSE column is associated with column F of table 81.

[0037] In this way, each row of the table 82 indicates an acceptance condition corresponding to the object 32 to be printed in one of the specified areas 33 to 36. A determination is made based on the acceptance conditions for all rows of the table 82, thereby determining the object 32 to be printed on the label 31.

[0038] <Label 31 Printing Overview> An overview of printing the label 31 will be described with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 1, the user inputs a print instruction for the label 31 to the wireless terminal 91, the wired terminal 92, or the reception unit 23. The print instruction includes an instruction to print the Nth label 31. When the wireless terminal 91 receives a print instruction for the label 31 from the user, the wireless terminal 91 outputs the print instruction to the wireless interface 21 by wireless communication conforming to Bluetooth. The wireless interface 21 receives the print instruction and outputs it to the CPU 11. When the wired terminal 92 receives a print instruction for the label 31 from the user, the wired terminal 92 outputs the print instruction to the wired interface 22 by wired communication conforming to USB. The wired interface 22 receives the print instruction and outputs it to the CPU 11. When the reception unit 23 receives a print instruction by a user operation, it outputs the print instruction to the CPU 11.

[0039] The CPU 11 that has received the print instruction obtains the interface that has output the print instruction to the CPU 11. The CPU 11 also obtains from the clock unit 15 the time of receipt.

[0040] The CPU 11 refers to the table 81 in FIG. 5 and obtains the object in the Nth row corresponding to the Nth label 31 included in the print instruction. The CPU 11 refers to the table 81 and the table 82 in FIG. 6 and determines the object 32 to be printed in the designated area 33 to 36. The object 32 related to the print location is printed in the designated area 33. The CPU 11 determines whether the interface that accepted the print instruction is the wireless interface 21 or not based on the table 82. If the interface that accepted the print instruction is the wireless interface 21, the CPU 11 prints the object 32B corresponding to the B column in the designated area 33 based on the table 81, and does not print the object 32A corresponding to the A column in the designated area 33. If the interface that accepted the print instruction is an interface other than the wireless interface 21, the CPU 11 prints the object 32A corresponding to the A column in the designated area 33 based on the table 81, and does not print the object 32B corresponding to the B column in the designated area 33.

[0041] An object 32 relating to a telephone number is printed in the designated area 34. The CPU 11 determines whether or not the interface that accepted the print instruction is the wireless interface 21 based on the table 82. Regardless of whether the interface that accepted the print instruction is the wireless interface 21 or an interface other than the wireless interface 21, the CPU 11 prints an object 32B corresponding to column C in the designated area 34 based on the table 81.

[0042] An object 32 relating to the product name is printed in the specified area 35. The CPU 11 determines whether the month of the reception time is between September and November based on the table 82. If the month of the reception time is between September and November, the CPU 11 prints the object 32E corresponding to column E in the specified area 35 based on the table 81, and does not print the object 32D corresponding to column D in the specified area 35. If the month of the reception time is not between September and November, the CPU 11 prints the object 32D corresponding to column D in the specified area 35 based on the table 81, and does not print the object 32E corresponding to column E in the specified area 35.

[0043] An object 32 relating to price is printed in the designated area 36. The CPU 11 determines whether the reception hours are between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. based on the table 82. If the reception hours are between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., the CPU 11 prints the object 32G corresponding to column G in the designated area 36 based on the table 81, and does not print the object 32F corresponding to column F in the designated area 36. If the reception hours are not between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., the CPU 11 prints the object 32F corresponding to column F in the designated area 36 based on the table 81, and does not print the object 32G corresponding to column G in the designated area 36.

[0044] The objects 32 are printed in all of the specified areas 33 to 36, and printing of the label 31 is completed. The label 31A shown in Fig. 3 is the label 31 printed when an interface other than the wireless interface 21 accepts the print instruction, the date and time of receipt is not between September and November, and the date and time of receipt is not between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. The label 31B shown in Fig. 4 is the label 31 printed when the wireless interface 21 accepts the print instruction, the date and time of receipt is between September and November, and the date and time of receipt is between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

[0045] <Printing process> The printing process executed by the CPU 11 will be described with reference to Fig. 7. The printing process is a process for printing an object 32 on a label 31. The printing process is read from the ROM 12 when the printer 1 is powered on, and is started by the CPU 11.

[0046] When the print process is started, the CPU 11 determines whether or not a print instruction has been received (S1). The CPU 11 receives the print instruction via any of the interfaces, the wireless interface 21, the wired interface 22, and the reception unit 23. If the CPU 11 has not received the print instruction via any interface (S1: NO), the process returns to S1.

[0047] When any of the wireless interface 21, the wired interface 22, and the reception unit 23 receives a print instruction, it outputs the print instruction to the CPU 11. When the CPU 11 receives a print instruction via any of the interfaces (S1: YES), it obtains whether the interface that output the print instruction to the CPU 11 is the wireless interface 21, the wired interface 22, or the reception unit 23, and stores this in the RAM 13 (S2).

[0048] The CPU 11 obtains the reception time from the clock unit 15 and stores it in the RAM 13 (S3). The CPU 11 executes a generation process (S4). The generation process is a process for generating raster data. The raster data is data for selectively heating multiple heating elements of the print head 26 in order to print the object 32 on the label 31.

[0049] The generation process executed in the print process (see FIG. 7) will be described with reference to FIG. 8. When the generation process is started, CPU 11 acquires a template specified by a print instruction from storage device 14 (S11). CPU 11 acquires an object in the Nth row corresponding to the Nth label 31 included in the print instruction from table 81 (S12). CPU 11 sets the value of variable K to 1. Variable K corresponds to the row number in table 82 (see FIG. 6). In this embodiment, the maximum value Kmax of variable K is 4.

[0050] The CPU 11 determines whether or not the receiving condition in the Kth row of the table 82 is a condition related to the interface that received the print instruction (S14). If the receiving condition is a condition related to the interface that received the print instruction (S14: YES), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the interface specified in the table 82 has received the print instruction (S15). In this embodiment, the interface specified in the table 82 is the wireless interface 21. The CPU 11 makes the determination in S15 based on the interface information stored in the RAM 13 in S2 (see FIG. 7).

[0051] When the CPU 11 determines that the wireless interface 21 has received a print instruction (S15: YES), it specifies the column of table 81 associated with the TRUE column of table 82, and sets the object 32 corresponding to the specified column to be printed for the object 32 in the Nth row of table 81 (S16). The CPU 11 transitions the process to S21.

[0052] When the CPU 11 determines that an interface other than the wireless interface 21 has received the print instruction (S15: NO), it specifies the column of table 81 associated with the FALSE column of table 82, and sets the object 32 corresponding to the specified column to be printed for the object 32 in the Nth row of table 81 (S17). The CPU 11 transitions the process to S21.

[0053] If the reception condition is not a condition related to the interface that received the print instruction (S14: NO), the CPU 11 determines whether the reception time satisfies the date and time condition specified in the table 82 (S18).

[0054] When the CPU 11 determines that the reception time satisfies the date and time condition (S18: YES), it specifies a column of table 81 associated with the TRUE column of table 82, and sets the object 32 corresponding to the specified column to be printed for the object 32 in the Nth row of table 81 (S19). The CPU 11 shifts the process to S21.

[0055] When the CPU 11 determines that the reception time does not satisfy the date and time condition (S18: NO), it specifies a column of table 81 associated with the FALSE column of table 82, and sets the object 32 corresponding to the specified column to be printed for the object 32 in the Nth row of table 81 (S20). The CPU 11 shifts the process to S21.

[0056] The CPU 11 determines whether the value of the variable K is the maximum value Kmax (S21). If the CPU 11 determines that the value of the variable K is not the maximum value Kmax (S21: NO), it adds 1 to the value of the variable K (S22) and returns the process to S14. If the CPU 11 determines that the value of the variable K is the maximum value Kmax (S21: YES), it generates raster data for printing the object 32 that has been set to be printed (S23). The CPU 11 returns the process to the print process.

[0057] 7, when the generation process (S4) is completed, the CPU 11 transports the print medium 3 by the transport unit 25 (S5). Based on the raster data generated in the generation process, the CPU 11 prints an object 32 on the label 31 that is transported together with the print medium 3 (S6). The CPU 11 ends the transport of the print medium 3 and the printing of the label 31 (S7) and returns the process to S1.

[0058] <Actions and Effects of the Present Embodiment> As described above, the printer 1 has the wireless interface 21, the wired interface 22, and the reception unit 23, which are interfaces that accept a print instruction. The storage device 14 stores the objects 32A and 32B as the objects 32 to be printed in the designated area 33 of the label 31. The CPU 11 accepts the print instruction via one of the interfaces (S1). The CPU 11 determines whether the interface specified in the table 82 has accepted the print instruction (S15). If the CPU 11 determines that the interface specified in the table 82 has accepted the print instruction, the CPU 11 prints the object 32B in the designated area 33, but does not print the object 32A. If the CPU 11 determines that the interface other than the interface specified in the table 82 has accepted the print instruction, the CPU 11 prints the object 32A in the designated area 33, but does not print the object 32B. In this case, the printer 1 can change the object 32 to be printed in the specified area 33 to object 32A or object 32B depending on whether a specific interface specified in the table 82 accepts a print command or not. Thus, the printer 1 can create a label 31 that corresponds to the interface that accepted the print command.

[0059] In printer 1, the interface specified in table 82 is wireless interface 21. When CPU 11 determines that wireless interface 21 has accepted a print instruction, it prints object 32B in designated area 33, but does not print object 32A in designated area 33. When an interface other than wireless interface 21 has accepted a print instruction, CPU 11 prints object 32A in designated area 33, but does not print object 32B in designated area 33. In this way, printer 1 can change the object 32 to be printed in designated area 33 to object 32A or object 32B depending on whether wireless interface 21 has accepted a print instruction or not. Thus, printer 1 can create label 31 according to the interface that accepted the print instruction.

[0060] The storage device 14 stores the object 32D and the object 32E as the object 32 to be printed in the specified area 35 of the label 31. When the CPU 11 receives a print instruction, it acquires the reception time from the clock unit 15 (S3). The CPU 11 judges whether the acquired reception time satisfies the date and time condition specified in the table 82 (S18). When the CPU 11 judges that the reception time satisfies the date and time condition, it prints the object 32E in the specified area 35, and does not print the object 32D. When the CPU 11 judges that the reception time does not satisfy the date and time condition, it prints the object 32D in the specified area 35, and does not print the object 32E. In this case, the printer 1 can change the object 32 to be printed in the specified area 35 to the object 32D or the object 32E depending on whether the reception time satisfies the date and time condition specified in the table 82 or not. Thus, the printer 1 can create the label 31 according to the date and time when the print instruction was received.

[0061] The printer 1 stores the designated areas 33-36 as a template in the storage device 14. The designated areas 33-36 are areas for specifying the position of the object 32 on the label 31. In this case, the printer 1 can change the object 32 to be printed in the designated areas 33-36 of the template according to the interface through which the print command is received. Therefore, the printer 1 can create the label 31 according to the interface through which the print command is received.

[0062] A table 81 is stored in the storage device 14. A plurality of objects 32 specified in each row of the table 81 are printed on the label 31. Each column in the table 81 indicates an object 32. In detail, columns A and B indicate objects 32A and 32B that are objects 32 to be printed in the specified area 33. Column A indicates object 32A that corresponds to the wireless interface 21, and column B indicates object 32B that corresponds to an interface other than the wireless interface 21. In this way, the printer 1 stores the correspondence between the object 32 and the interface in the table 81, and can change the object 32 to be printed in the specified area 33 by referring to the table 81. Thus, the printer 1 can create the label 31 corresponding to the interface for which a print command has been received with a simple configuration.

[0063] When the CPU 11 determines that the interface specified in the table 82 has accepted the print instruction, it prints the objects 32B and 32C on the label 31, but does not print the object 32A. When the CPU 11 determines that the interface other than the interface specified in the table 82 has accepted the print instruction, it prints the objects 32A and 32C on the label 31, but does not print the object 32B. For example, there is an object 32 that is desirably printed regardless of the interface that accepted the print instruction, such as the telephone number of a service center. The printer 1 prints the objects 32B and 32C when a specific interface specified in the table 82 has accepted the print instruction, and prints the objects 32A and 32C when an interface other than the specified interface has accepted the print instruction. Thus, the printer 1 can create the label 31 according to the interface that accepted the print instruction.

[0064] <Modification> The present invention can be modified in various ways from the above-described embodiment. The various modifications described below can be combined with each other as long as no contradiction occurs.

[0065] For example, a microcomputer, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), etc. may be used instead of the CPU 11. The print processing may be distributed processing using multiple CPUs 11, or may be processed by combining the CPU 11 and an ASIC.

[0066] A non-transient storage medium such as the ROM 12 or the storage device 14 may be a storage medium capable of retaining information regardless of the period for which the information is stored. A non-transient storage medium may not include a temporary storage medium (e.g., a transmitted signal). The program for executing the print process, the tables 81 and 82, and the template may be downloaded (i.e., transmitted as a transmission signal) from a server connected to a network not shown, for example, and stored in the storage device 14. In this case, the program, etc. may be stored in a non-transient storage medium such as an HDD provided in the server.

[0067] In the above embodiment, the interface specified in table 82 is the wireless interface 21, and the object 32 to be printed is changed depending on the result of the determination as to whether or not the wireless interface 21 has accepted a print instruction. In contrast, the wired interface 22 may be specified in table 82 instead of the wireless interface 21, and the object 32 to be printed may be changed depending on the result of the determination as to whether or not the wired interface 22 has accepted a print instruction. The reception unit 23 may be specified in table 82 instead of the wireless interface 21, and the object 32 to be printed may be changed depending on the result of the determination as to whether or not the reception unit 23 has accepted a print instruction. Even in this case, the printer 1 can create a label 31 that corresponds to the interface that accepted the print instruction.

[0068] Printer 1 only needs to have two or more interfaces that accept print instructions in different methods, and the number of interfaces may be changed as appropriate. Different methods include, for example, wireless communication and wired communication, wireless communication and a user interface, wired communication and a user interface, etc. When printer 1 has two interfaces, printer 1 does not need to have any one of wireless interface 21, wired interface 22, and acceptance unit 23.

[0069] The printer 1 does not need to determine the reception time. In this case, one of the objects 32D and 32E is printed in the designated area 35 of the label 31, and one of the objects 32F and 32G is printed in the designated area 36. The processes of S18 to S20 may be omitted in the generation process.

[0070] The template does not have to be stored in the storage device 14. In the above embodiment, the template includes four designated areas 33-36, but the number of designated areas included in the template may be changed as appropriate. The positions on the label specified by the designated areas 33-36 and the ranges of the designated areas 33-36 may be changed as appropriate.

[0071] An object 32 that is printed regardless of the reception conditions, such as object 32C, may not be stored in table 81. CPU 11 may set to print object 32C on label 31 without performing the determination of S15 for object 32C indicating a telephone number. An object other than objects 32 stored in table 81 may be printed on label 31.

[0072] The configuration of the printer 1 may be changed as appropriate. The printer 1 in the above embodiment is a thermal printer that prints an image on a label by heating the label with a thermal head to develop color, but the printer may be a printer that prints an image on a label by another method. For example, the printer may be a thermal transfer printer that prints an image on a label by transferring ink from an ink ribbon to the label with a thermal head, an inkjet printer that prints an image on a label by spraying ink onto the label with an inkjet head, or an electrophotographic printer that prints an image on a label by transferring a toner image onto the label. The print medium 3 may be transported by a transport device different from the printer 1. The transport device is, for example, a rewinder. In this case, the printer 1 does not need to have a transport unit 25.

[0073] <Other> Object 32B is an example of a "first object" of the present invention. Object 32A is an example of a "second object" of the present invention. Storage device 14 is an example of a "memory" of the present invention. CPU 11 is an example of a "control unit" of the present invention. The process of S1 is an example of a "reception process" and a "reception step" of the present invention. The processes of S4 to S6 are an example of a "label creation process" and a "label creation step" of the present invention. Wireless interface 21 is an example of a "wireless communication interface" of the present invention. Wired interface 22 is an example of a "wired communication interface" of the present invention. Clock unit 15 is an example of a "clock" of the present invention. Objects 32E and 32G are examples of a "third object" of the present invention. Objects 32D and 32F are examples of a "fourth object" of the present invention. The process of S3 is an example of an "acquisition process" of the present invention. Column B is an example of a "first column" of the present invention. Column A is an example of a "second column" of the present invention. Object 32C is an example of a "fixed object" of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 1. Printer 11 CPU 14 Storage device 21 Wireless Interface 22 Wired Interface 23 Reception 32, 32A-32G Objects Tables 81 and 82

Claims

1. a print head for printing an object on the label; a plurality of interfaces for receiving an instruction to print on the label, the plurality of interfaces including a specific interface for receiving the instruction to print in a specific manner; a memory for storing a first object and a second object different from the first object; A control unit. The control unit is a receiving process for receiving the print instruction via any one of the plurality of interfaces; When the specific interface accepts the print instruction in the reception process, the first object is printed on the label, but the second object is not printed; when the print instruction is received by an interface other than the specific interface in the reception process, the second object is printed on the label without printing the first object. To perform label creation processing A printer characterized by:

2. The specific interface is a wireless communication interface that accepts the print instruction via wireless communication with an external terminal as the specific method.

2. The printer according to claim 1,

3. The specific interface is a wired communication interface that accepts the print instruction via wired communication with an external terminal as the specific method.

2. The printer according to claim 1,

4. A reception unit that receives an operation by a user, The specific interface is the reception unit that receives the print instruction via an operation by the user as the specific method.

2. The printer according to claim 1,

5. A clock is provided to output date and time information indicating the date and time, the memory stores a third object and a fourth object different from the first object and the second object; The control unit is executes an acquisition process for acquiring, from the clock, date and time information on the date and time when the print instruction was accepted in the acceptance process; In the label creation process, When the date and time information acquired in the acquisition process satisfies a date and time condition related to the date and time information, the third object is printed on the label and the fourth object is not printed; If the date and time information acquired in the acquisition process does not satisfy the date and time condition, the third object is not printed on the label, and the fourth object is printed.

2. The printer according to claim 1,

6. The memory stores a template that specifies a position of the object on the label.

2. The printer according to claim 1,

7. A plurality of the objects are printed on one of the labels, the memory stores a table storing a plurality of correspondence relationships between the objects and the interfaces; The table includes: A plurality of the objects to be printed on one of the labels are designated by rows, and the corresponding relationships are designated by columns, arranging the first objects in a first column corresponding to the particular interface; arranging the second objects in a second column different from the first column; The control unit refers to the table in the label creation process and prints one of the first object and the second object.

2. The printer according to claim 1,

8. a print head for printing an object on the label; a plurality of interfaces for receiving an instruction to print on the label, the plurality of interfaces including a specific interface for receiving the instruction to print in a specific manner; a memory for storing a first object, a second object, and a fixed object, the first object and the second object being different from each other; A control unit. The control unit is a receiving process for receiving the print instruction via any one of the plurality of interfaces; When the specific interface accepts the print instruction in the reception process, the first object and the fixed object are printed on the label, but the second object is not printed; when an interface other than the specific interface accepts the print instruction in the reception process, the second object and the fixed object are printed on the label, and the first object is not printed. and performing the label creation process. A printer characterized by:

9. A program to be executed by a computer that controls a print head that prints an object on a label, a plurality of interfaces that accept a command to print on the label, the plurality of interfaces including a specific interface that accepts the command to print in a specific manner, and a memory that stores a first object and a second object different from the first object, the program comprising: a receiving step of receiving the print instruction via any one of the plurality of interfaces; When the specific interface accepts the print instruction in the accepting step, the first object is printed on the label, but the second object is not printed; if the print instruction is received by an interface other than the specific interface in the receiving step, the second object is printed on the label without printing the first object. causing the computer to execute a label creation step; A program characterized by.

10. A program to be executed by a computer that controls a print head that prints an object on a label, a plurality of interfaces that accept a print instruction for the label, the plurality of interfaces including a specific interface that accepts the print instruction in a specific manner, and a memory that stores a first object, a second object, and a fixed object that are different from one another, the program comprising: a receiving step of receiving the print instruction via any one of the plurality of interfaces; When the specific interface accepts the print instruction in the accepting step, the first object and the fixed object are printed on the label, but the second object is not printed; when the print instruction is received by an interface other than the specific interface in the receiving step, the second object and the fixed object are printed on the label, and the first object is not printed. causing the computer to execute a label creation step; A program characterized by.

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