Portable printing device and printing program

Abstract

To provide a portable type printing device which is compact and which enables rewriting in a recording medium, and a printing program.SOLUTION: This portable type printing device comprises: a memory; a start position detection sensor; a moving amount detection sensor; an inkjet head; and a processor. The memory stores a printed item. The start position detection sensor detects the end of a horizontal rule. The moving amount detection sensor detects a moving distance from the end of the horizontal rule detected by the start position detection sensor. The inkjet head discharges thermochromic ink. The processor controls information about the printed item stored in the memory so as to discharge the thermochromic ink from the inkjet head when the moving amount detection sensor counts a fixed moving amount.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a portable printing device and a printing program. [Background technology]

[0002] A laser rewriting device is a device that rewrites a rewritable recording medium without removing the recording medium from a returnable box or the like. Conventional laser rewriting devices read the surface information of the recording medium while transporting a returnable box or the like with a recording medium attached on a transport belt conveyor, and erase and rewrite the information. The laser rewriting device described above requires a conveyor belt to erase and rewrite the recording medium while transporting the returnable box with the recording medium. Therefore, rewriting cannot be done on the spot, and it is necessary to take the box to a laser rewriting device with a conveyor belt to perform the rewriting. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-194905 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a small portable printing device and a printing program that can be rewritten on a recording medium on the spot. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The portable printing device of the embodiment includes a memory and An inkjet head, a processor, Start position detection sensor and movement amount detection Sensor The memory stores the print items. The inkjet head is provided with a nozzle row for ejecting thermochromic ink. The processor controls the ejection of thermochromic ink from the inkjet head based on the information of the printing items stored in the memory. The start position detection sensor is , the first ruled line among the multiple ruled lines that make up the print frameThe movement amount detection sensor detects the position detected by the start position detection sensor. The portable printing device from the first ruled line Detect the distance traveled. The above Inkjet head The length of the nozzle row teeth , which is longer than the length of the character to be printed in the printing frame in the direction of the first ruled line. The processor is , the above When the movement detection sensor counts a certain amount of movement 、 Information on print items stored in the memory is printed in a center position in the direction of the first ruled line within the printing frame, From the inkjet head The above Discharges thermochromic ink Control the . [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a portable printing device 1 according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is an overall view showing an example of the overall configuration of a label according to a first embodiment; [Diagram 3] 1 is a flowchart showing a process when printing is executed in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is an overall view showing an example of the overall configuration of a label according to a second embodiment; [Diagram 5] 11 is a flowchart showing a process when printing is executed in the second embodiment. [Figure 6] 11 is a sub-flowchart showing a process during printing in the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] The present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0008] (First embodiment) This embodiment will be described taking as an example printing on a label, which is a recording medium, affixed to a returnable box used in a factory or the like.

[0009] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a portable printer 1 in the first embodiment. The portable printer 1 includes an external I / F (Interface) 6, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 7, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 8, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 9, a sensor control circuit 10, a start position detection sensor 11, a movement amount detection sensor 12, an operation panel control circuit 13, an operation panel 14, a print button 14a, a head drive circuit 15, and an inkjet head 16. The CPU 7, the ROM 8, the RAM 9, the sensor control circuit 10, the operation panel control circuit 13, and the head drive circuit 15 are connected via a bus 17. The start position detection sensor 11 and the movement amount detection sensor 12 are connected to the sensor control circuit 10. The operation panel 14 including the print button 14a is connected to the operation panel control circuit 13. The inkjet head 16 is connected to the head drive circuit 15.

[0010] The external I / F 6 transmits and receives data between the portable printing device 1 and a printing information transmission terminal (not shown). The external I / F 6 and the printing information transmission terminal may be connected by either wire or wirelessly. The external I / F 6 receives printing information and the like transmitted from the printing information transmission terminal (not shown). The external I / F 6 inputs the printing information transmitted from the printing information transmission terminal to the RAM 9. The RAM 9 also serves as a storage unit.

[0011] The CPU 7 controls the entire portable printer 1. The CPU 7 executes various processes according to programs stored in the ROM 8 etc. The CPU 7 controls the printing so that printing is executed from a specified distance based on the printing information stored in the RAM 9.

[0012] The RAM 9 stores the printing information input by the external I / F 6, the frame line 21 detected from the ruled line of the label 20 attached to the returnable box, etc. The ROM 8 stores data used by each section for processing, etc.

[0013] The sensor control circuit 10 controls a start position detection sensor 11 and a movement amount detection sensor 12 .

[0014] The start position detection sensor 11 is, for example, an optical sensor composed of a light projecting section and a light receiving section. The start position detection sensor 11 is arranged at a position parallel to the arrangement direction of the nozzle row at a predetermined distance, and is located at a portion longer than the length from one end side to the other end side of the nozzle row. Since it is arranged over a distance longer than the length of the nozzle row, it can detect the upper end and corners of the print frame 21. The detected upper end and corners of the print frame 21 become the reference points for control. The start position detection sensor 11 projects electromagnetic waves from the light projecting section toward the label 20 attached to the returnable box, receives the reflected light reflected from the surface of the label 20 with the light receiving section, and converts the surface information of the label 20 into an electrical signal. The start position detection sensor 11 detects the end of a predetermined ruled line.

[0015] The movement amount detection sensor 12 is, for example, an optical sensor composed of a light projector and a light receiver. The movement amount detection sensor 12 detects the distance that the portable printer 1 moves on the label affixed to the returnable box. The movement amount detection sensor 12 detects the movement distance from the end of the ruled line detected by the start position detection sensor 11. The temporary visual information is also used to control the timing of the next dot output after printing starts.

[0016] The operation panel control circuit 13 controls the operation panel 14 .

[0017] The head driving circuit 15 controls the operation of the inkjet head 16 .

[0018] Inkjet head 16 performs printing by ejecting ink under the control of head drive circuit 15. Inkjet head 16 has a nozzle row with nozzles equal to the number of dots in the height direction of the character. The ink ejected by inkjet head 16 is, for example, thermochromic ink, which visually fades when exposed to heat. Erasing thermochromic ink also includes changing from a specific color to a transparent color. 2 is an example of a label 20 affixed to a returnable container. This label 20 has columns arranged horizontally for a product code indicating the code of the product contained inside the returnable container, a production line number indicating the destination production line number, and a factory code indicating the destination factory code. A product code blank column S1, a production line number blank column S2, and a factory code blank column S3 are provided so that the product code, production line number, and factory code can be printed in the columns below each item. The upper left corner of the product code blank column S1 is defined as 22a, and the lower left corner of the product code blank column S1 is defined as 22b. 22a and 22b are positions where the CPU 7 detects the reference via the start position detection sensor 11. Further below that are columns for destination, which indicates the destination company, and QR code (registered trademark), which indicates the QR code (registered trademark) for digital management. Also, a destination blank column S4 and a QR code (registered trademark) blank column S5 are provided so that the destination and QR code (registered trademark) can be printed in the columns below each item. Temporary visual information is printed by the inkjet head 16 in the designated blank column for each item. In this embodiment, the portable printer 1 prints on the label 20 in print areas S1 to S5.

[0019] 3 is a flowchart for explaining the process of the printing operation of the portable printer 1. This flowchart shows an example of printing in the print area S1 on the label 20 shown in FIG. The CPU 7 judges whether or not it has received a command to print the print information transmitted from the print information transmission terminal 2 via the print button 13 (ACT1). If the CPU 7 judges that no print has been received (No in ACT1), it makes the judgment of ACT1 again after a predetermined time. If the CPU 7 judges that print has been received (YES in ACT1), it judges whether or not the start position detection sensor 11 has detected the print frame 21 using the optical sensor (ACT2). If the start position detection sensor 11 is unable to detect the print frame 21, the CPU 7 controls the start position detection sensor 11 again to perform the detection operation of the print frame 21 (NO in ACT2). If the start position detection sensor 11 is unable to detect the print frame 21 (NO in ACT2), the CPU 7 controls the start position detection sensor 11 again after a predetermined time to judge whether or not it has detected the print frame 21. If the CPU 7 detects the print frame 21 (YES in ACT2), it stores information about the print frame 21 in the RAM 9 and detects the end (corner) of a predetermined ruled line from the print frame 21 stored in the RAM 9 (ACT3). The end (corner) of the ruled line is the reference 22a and 22b, which are the starting positions for detecting the movement distance of the portable printer 1. The CPU 7 detects two points, the reference 22a and the reference 22b, as the reference 22. The CPU 7 counts using the movement amount detection sensor 12, and performs detection processing when a predetermined distance equivalent to the reference 22a and 22b is counted via the movement amount detection sensor 12 (ACT4). That is, the CPU 7 detects the movement distance from the reference 22a and the reference 22b, which are the ends of the ruled line detected by the start position detection sensor 11, via the movement amount detection sensor 12. When the movement amount detection sensor 12 detects a certain amount (distance) of movement distance, the CPU 7 judges whether the counter has reached a predetermined value (ACT5). If the numerical value counted by the counter has not reached the predetermined value (NO in ACT5), the CPU 7 increments the counter by one (ACT6). If the numerical value counted by the counter has reached the predetermined value (YES in ACT5), the CPU 7 proceeds to processing for printing.That is, the CPU 7 controls the inkjet head 16 via the head drive circuit 15 to eject the information of the printing items stored in the RAM 9 in thermochromic ink so as to output temporary visual information onto the printing area S1 (ACT7). The predetermined value is set within the printing information sent from a printing information transmission terminal (not shown). After the CPU 7 prints the temporary visual information onto the printing area S1, it ends the process. In the first embodiment, the case where temporary visual information is printed in the printing area S1 where only the item of the product code is printed is described. The same applies to the case where temporary visual information is printed only in a specific item, so the description of the case where temporary visual information is printed in any of the items in the printing areas S2 to S5 is omitted.

[0020] Since the printing of each item uses thermochromic ink that visually fades with heat, when displaying the next destination of the returnable box, the color may be erased with a dryer having a heater. The heater may be provided as a heating unit within the portable printing device 1, or may be realized by a dryer separate from the portable printing device 1. Also, the color can be erased by frictional heat using the corners of the portable printing device 1. Furthermore, the printing may be erased by providing an erasing rubber to the portable printing device 1. In the first embodiment, the marking is done by a portable printer, so the laser rewriting device can be used without taking the returnable container to the conveyor belt for replacement. Also, since ink that is erased by heat is used, it can be erased by a small device such as a dryer or by using a portable printer, so there is no need to use a conveyor belt for this either. In the first embodiment, the start position detection sensor 11 and the movement amount detection sensor 12 are described as separate sensors, but they may be a common sensor. In this case, the movement amount detection sensor 12 is composed of a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit, like the start position detection sensor 11. The start position detection sensor 11 passes through the same area as the nozzle row area by moving the portable printing device 1 in a direction parallel to the nozzle row, so it can detect, for example, the top end or corner of a ruled line. Since the start position detection sensor is longer than the nozzle row length, if the height of the print frame is known in advance and the nozzle length is longer than the character height, it is also possible to control printing to the center of the frame height. The start position detection sensor 11 may also be realized by using a line CCD sensor unit. In addition to the above-mentioned configuration example, the movement amount detection sensor 12 may be composed of a rotary encoder composed of a rotating disk having a light projecting unit, a light receiving unit, and a slit. In the first embodiment, an example was explained in which the corners of the frame were detected by printing, but control may also be performed to detect the ruled line at the right edge of the label. When controlling based on the ruled line at the right edge, it is necessary that a virtual line perpendicular to the nozzle row includes the start position detection sensor 11 and the nozzle row. When a start position detection sensor 11 of the type that detects the ruled line at the right edge of the label is used, the start position detection sensor 11 can be made smaller, which is effective for a portable printer. The movement amount detection sensor 12 is an optical sensor type that projects a light beam directly onto the label, and is therefore effective for fine position control between print dots.

[0021] Second Embodiment The same reference numerals are used for the components of the second embodiment as those of the portable printer of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The same reference numerals are also used for the components that operate similarly to the first embodiment. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a continuous printing area is printed in one printing operation. In this embodiment, the process of continuously printing the printing areas S1 to S3 shown in FIG. 4 in one printing operation will be described as an example. That is, the case where the portable printer 1 in the second embodiment prints three items, a product code, a manufacturing line number, and a factory code, which are arranged in a row on the surface of the label 20 shown in FIG. 4, will be described. The label shown in FIG. 4 has corners 22a and 22b in FIG. 2 changed to 22a(1) and 22b(1). Also, 22a(2) and 22b(2) are newly added to the upper and lower left ends (corners) of the item manufacturing line number. Also, 22a(3) and 22b(3) are newly added to the upper and lower left ends (corners) of the item factory code.

[0022] The process during the printing operation in the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. If the CPU 7 determines that the printing has been received (YES in ACT1), it sets the variable i to 1 (ACT10). The CPU 7 performs the first item printing operation, which is the product code printing operation (ACT11). Details of the first item printing operation will be described later in FIG. 6 as the i-th item printing operation. When the CPU 7 has finished the first item printing operation, it increments the variable i by 1 (ACT20). The CPU 7 performs the second item printing operation, which is the production line number printing operation (ACT21). Details of the second item printing operation will be described later in FIG. 6 as the i-th item printing operation. When the CPU 7 has finished the second item printing operation, it increments the variable i by 1 (ACT30). The CPU 7 performs the third item printing operation, which is the factory code printing operation (ACT31). Details of the third item printing operation will be described later in FIG. 6 as the i-th item printing operation. When the CPU 7 has finished the third item printing operation, it ends its operation since all printing in the horizontal row has been completed. In this way, in the second embodiment, a plurality of print items are printed continuously in a horizontal line. Next, the first to third item printing will be described as the i-th item printing item using the subflow in FIG. The CPU 7 judges whether or not the start position detection sensor 11 has detected the print frame 21 using the optical sensor (ACT2). If the CPU 7 is unable to detect the print frame 21 by the start position detection sensor 11 (NO in ACT2), it controls the start position detection sensor 11 again after a predetermined time to determine whether or not the print frame 21 has been detected. If the CPU 7 detects the print frame 21 (YES in ACT2), it stores information about the print frame 21 in the RAM 9 and detects the end (corner) of a predetermined ruled line from the print frame 21 stored in the RAM 9 (ACT40). The end (corner) of this ruled line is the reference 22a(i) and 22b(i), which are the starting positions for detecting the movement distance of the portable printer 1. The CPU 7 detects two points, the reference 22a(i) and the reference 22b(i), as the reference 22. The CPU 7 counts using the movement amount detection sensor 12, and when it has counted a predetermined distance from the reference 22a(i) and 22b(i) via the movement amount detection sensor 12, it performs detection processing (ACT41). That is, the CPU 7 detects the movement distance from the reference 22a(i) and the reference 22b(i), which are the ends of the ruled line detected by the start position detection sensor 11, via the movement amount detection sensor 12. When the movement amount detection sensor 12 detects a certain amount of movement distance, the CPU 7 judges whether the counter has reached a predetermined value (ACT5). If the numerical value counted by the counter has not reached the predetermined value (NO in ACT5), the CPU 7 increments the counter by one (ACT6). If the numerical value counted by the counter has reached the predetermined value (YES in ACT5), the CPU 7 proceeds to a process for printing. That is, the CPU 7 controls the information of the printing item (i) stored in the RAM 9 via the head drive circuit 15 so that the inkjet head 16 outputs temporary visual information to the printing area S(i) (ACT7). After the CPU 7 prints the temporary visual information in the printing area S(i), it returns to the main flow chart of Fig. 5. When i=1, the product code is printed, when i=1, the product code is printed, when i=1, the product line number is printed, and when i=1, the factory code is printed. That is, the printing item information differs depending on the value of i. The operations for the "Destination" and "QR Code (registered trademark)" rows are the same, so the explanation will be omitted. In the second embodiment, the reference position is detected for each item, the reference position is determined, and then printing is performed. However, the reference position may be determined only at the first location, and thereafter the printing position may be determined by counting the amount of movement detection sensor.

[0023] In this configuration, as in the first embodiment, by printing using a portable printing device, it is possible to carry the returnable container onto the transport belt conveyor of the laser rewriting device without having to change it. Furthermore, since a plurality of items can be printed in one printing operation, it is possible to efficiently rewrite information on the recording medium.

[0024] In the first and second embodiments, an example of printing on a label attached to a returnable container used in a factory or the like is described, but the recording medium is not limited to this. For example, the recording medium can be applied to in-house mail, destination signs, construction blackboards, etc. Also, in the embodiments, the portable printing device is moved horizontally relative to the returnable container placed thereon, but the device can also be moved vertically.

[0025] The portable printing device 1 described in the first and second embodiments performs printing processing based on the printing information transmitted from the printing information transmission terminal 2, and may additionally print a mark on the label 20 to record the number of erasures. This mark indicates how many times the label 20 printed with color-changing ink has been erased or how many times it has been printed. For example, the recorded mark may use the number of erasures as a block number, a barcode, a number, or the like. The upper limit of the number of erasures of the recording medium is, for example, 8 times. Note that the upper limit is not limited to 8 times, and the upper limit of the number of erasures may be set in consideration of the characteristics of the label 20. The mark is read by a reading unit (not shown). The CPU 7 determines the number of erasures from the reading result of the reading unit. When erasure and printing are repeated and the upper limit of erasure is exceeded, the CPU 7 may limit printing and end the printing process. The ink for printing the mark for recording the number of erasures may be a thermochromic ink, in which a previously recorded mark is erased once and a new mark is recorded. When ink that does not thermochromic is used for printing the mark, the number of erasures may be expressed as the number of blocks, and an additional block may be recorded each time the mark is erased, or a recorded mark may be filled in and a new mark recorded in a different position. When printing with a thermochromic ink, the label 20 may be reused or erased many times, which may result in insufficient erasure. However, by limiting the number of erasures in this way, it is possible to suppress the remaining part of the erased mark.

[0026] In this embodiment, the case where the function for implementing the invention is pre-recorded in the device has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the same function may be downloaded from a network to the device, or a recording medium having the same function stored therein may be installed in the device. The recording medium may be in any form as long as it is capable of storing a program such as an optical disk and is readable by the device. Furthermore, the function obtained by pre-installation or downloading may cooperate with an OS (operating system) or the like in the device to realize the function.

[0027] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. The invention as originally claimed in the present application is set forth below. [1] A memory for storing print items; a start position detection sensor for detecting the end of a ruled line; a movement amount detection sensor that detects a movement distance from the end of the ruled line detected by the start position detection sensor; An inkjet head that ejects thermochromic ink; a processor for controlling the ejection of thermochromic ink from the inkjet head according to information on print items stored in the memory when the movement amount detection sensor counts a certain distance of movement; A portable printing device comprising: [2] The processor controls printing of a plurality of print items, The portable printing device described in [1] ejects thermochromic ink from the inkjet head to print a first printing item, and then ejects thermochromic ink from the inkjet head when the movement amount detection sensor counts the movement amount of the specified distance, thereby continuously printing a second printing item different from the first printing item. [3] The portable printing device according to [1] or [2], further comprising a heating unit for erasing the ejected ink. [4] For portable printing devices A function of detecting the edge of a ruled line via a position detection sensor; A function of detecting the distance traveled from the end of the ruled line detected by the start position detection sensor via a travel amount detection sensor. An inkjet head; a printing program for realizing a function of controlling the ejection of thermochromic ink from an inkjet head based on print item information stored in a memory when the movement amount detection sensor counts a certain distance of movement. [5] A device for controlling the printing of multiple print items, The printing program described in [4] further comprises: ejecting thermochromic ink from the inkjet head to print a first printing item; and then ejecting thermochromic ink from the inkjet head when the movement amount detection sensor counts the movement amount of the specified distance, thereby continuously printing a second printing item different from the first printing item. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 1. Portable printing device 2...Printed information transmission terminal 7…Processor 11...Start position detection sensor 12...Movement amount detection sensor 16...Inkjet head 20…Label 21...Printing frame 22a(1)…Criteria 22b(1)…Standards 22a(2)…Criteria 22b(2)…Standards 22a(3)…Criteria 22b(3)…reference

Claims

1. A memory for storing print items; an inkjet head provided with a nozzle row for ejecting a thermochromic ink; a processor for controlling the ejection of thermochromic ink from the inkjet head based on the information of printing items stored in the memory; A portable printing device comprising: a start position detection sensor that detects a first ruled line among a plurality of ruled lines that constitute a printing frame; a movement amount detection sensor that detects a movement distance of the portable printing device from the first ruled line detected by the start position detection sensor; Further comprising: a length of the nozzle row of the inkjet head is longer than a length of the character to be printed within the printing frame in the direction of the first ruled line; the processor controls the ejection of the thermochromic ink from the inkjet head so that, when the movement amount detection sensor counts a certain distance of movement, a character based on the information of the printing item stored in the memory is printed in a central position in the direction of the first ruled line within the printing frame. Portable printing device.

2. The processor controls printing of a plurality of print items, After the thermochromic ink is discharged from the inkjet head to print a first print item, when the movement amount detection sensor counts a movement amount of a predetermined distance, the thermochromic ink is discharged from the inkjet head to continuously print a second print item different from the first print item.

2. The portable printing device according to claim 1.

3. 3. The portable printing device according to claim 1, further comprising a heating unit for erasing the ejected ink.

4. When executed by a processor of a portable printing device, a function of detecting a first ruled line among a plurality of ruled lines constituting a print frame via a position detection sensor; a function of detecting a distance traveled by the portable printing device from the first ruled line via a travel amount detection sensor; a function of controlling the ejection of thermochromic ink from an inkjet head provided with a nozzle row longer than the length of a character to be printed within the printing frame in the direction of the first ruled line, so that a character based on printing item information stored in a memory is printed in a central position in the direction of the first ruled line within the printing frame when the movement amount detection sensor counts a certain distance of movement; A printing program to achieve this.

5. When executed by the processor of the portable printing device, A device that controls printing of a plurality of print items, A function of controlling the ejection of thermochromic ink from the inkjet head to print a first print item, and then ejecting thermochromic ink from the inkjet head when the movement amount detection sensor counts a predetermined distance of movement, and continuously printing a second print item different from the first print item.

5. The printing program according to claim 4, for realizing the above.

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