Printer and recording medium

The disclosure discloses a printer including a memory that stores reference information indicating a reference setting state in relation to at least one operation setting item in relation to the printed matter production process by using a print-receiving medium, to be non-rewritable. When computer-executable instructions stored in memory executed by a processor, the printer to perform a difference information generation process and a difference information output process. In the difference information generation process, difference information is generated. The difference information indicates a difference of a setting state in relation to the at least one operation setting item at a predetermined timing determined in advance, from the reference setting state. In the difference information output process, the difference information generated in the difference information generation process is outputted to an exterior of the printer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-63967, which was filed on Mar. 28, 2017, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Field

The present disclosure relates to a printer that executes a printed matter production process, and a recording medium.

Description of the Related Art

For example, a technique according to which setting information in relation to a printing process is delivered from an operational terminal to a printer and the printer executes a printing process on which the setting information is reflected is known.

On the other hand, a user may desire to apply setting state information used when a printed matter is produced using one printer, as it is to production in another printer. With the prior art, however, to cause the setting state information to be transmitted from the one printer and to be received by the other printer, complicated and burdensome work of executing a transmission and a reception operations of the information through an operational terminal common to the printers is necessary.

SUMMARY

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a printer and a recording medium that can improve the convenience for the user by easily and simply reproducing the same setting states between printers.

In order to achieve the above-described object, according to an aspect of the present application, there is provided a printer comprising a feeder configured to feed a print-receiving medium, a printing head configured to execute formation of a print object on the print-receiving medium fed by the feeder, a processor configured to control the feeder and the printing head to execute a printed matter production process for producing a desired printed matter, and a memory that stores reference information indicating a reference setting state in relation to at least one operation setting item in relation to the printed matter production process by using the print-receiving medium, to be non-rewritable, the memory further storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the printer to perform a difference information generation process for generating difference information that indicates a difference of a setting state in relation to the at least one operation setting item at a predetermined timing determined in advance, from the reference setting state, and a difference information output process for outputting the difference information generated in the difference information generation process to an exterior of the printer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A printing process system including a printer of this embodiment will be described with reference toFIG. 1.

InFIG. 1, in a printing process system LS, an operational terminal to operate a printer1(a printer), that is, for example, a personal computer400, and the printer1that executes printing in accordance with a print command (including print data and operation setting state information) received from the personal computer400, are connected to each other by a universal serial bus (USB) cable9.

The personal computer400is, for example, a commercially available multi-purpose personal computer and includes a display part401such as a liquid crystal display, and an operational part402such as a keyboard and a mouse. At a proper location of the personal computer400(for example, in the back face portion thereof), a USB port419(seeFIG. 5described later) to attach thereto and detach therefrom a connector9H that is in one end portion of the USB cable9is disposed.

On a side face of the printer1, a USB port109(seeFIG. 5described later) to attach thereto and detach therefrom a connector9T in the other end portion on the side opposite to the side of the connector9H of the USB cable9is disposed.

The configuration of the printer1will be described with reference toFIG. 2toFIG. 4. InFIG. 2toFIG. 4, a lower right direction inFIG. 2is defined as rightward, an upper left direction therein is defined as leftward, an upper right direction therein is defined as backward, a lower left direction therein is defined as frontward, an upward direction therein is defined as upward, and a downward direction therein is defined as downward (see arrows shown in each ofFIG. 2toFIG. 4).

As shown inFIG. 2toFIG. 4, the printer1includes a substantially box-shaped housing100that constitutes the outer shell of the device. The housing100includes a top cover101that constitutes the upper portion of the outer shell of the device, and an under cover102that constitutes the lower portion of the outer shell of the device. The top cover101includes a fixed portion101A and an opening and closing lid101B.

A roll storage part161is disposed downward the opening and closing lid101B of the top cover101(inside the housing100) (seeFIG. 3,FIG. 4). The roll storage part161has a roll paper sheet S stored therein with both end portions thereof rotatably journaled by supporting members162(seeFIG. 3) and, as a result, the roll paper sheet S (a print-receiving medium) can continuously be supplied from the roll storage part161. In this case, the opening and closing lid101B is rotatably coupled to a back end portion of the under cover102through a hinge part H, and the roll storage part161can be exposed to the exterior of the device to enable easy attachment or easy replacement of the roll paper sheet S by setting the opening and closing lid101B to be opened. A discharging exit107to discharge the roll paper sheet S after the printing executed therefor is disposed in a substantially central portion of the top cover101in the front-back direction.

A platen roller111(a feeder; seeFIG. 4) is rotatably supported in the end portion on the front side of the opening and closing lid101B. The platen roller111feeds the roll paper sheet S when the opening and closing lid101B is set to be closed as above.

For the roll paper sheet S fed as above, a desired print is formed by a thermal head55(a printing head; seeFIG. 4) that is in contact with the platen roller111by a predetermined pressing contact force. In this case, a tape carry-out motor57(seeFIG. 5described later) generating a driving force to drive and rotate the platen roller111is disposed inside the housing100and, when the opening and closing lid101B is closed, the driving force of the tape carry-out motor57is transmitted to the platen roller111by a gear mechanism not shown. The driving of the tape carry-out motor57is controlled by a driving circuit56(seeFIG. 5described later) disposed on a control circuit board170(seeFIG. 4A) arranged extending backward inside the housing100. A battery power source storage part163(seeFIG. 4A) into which a battery power source is inserted to be arranged therein from the lower face side of the under cover102is disposed downward the control circuit board170in the housing100.

<Outlined Operation of Printer>

With the above configuration, when the printing is executed, the print command (including the print data and the operation setting state information) is transmitted by the personal computer400to the printer1through the USB cable9attached to the port109(seeFIG. 3) disposed in the under cover102. The roll paper sheet S in the roll storage part161is fed out by the rotation of the platen roller111on the basis of the driving force of the tape carry-out motor57. The fed-out roll paper sheet S is inserted between the thermal head55and the platen roller111to pass therethrough, and the thermal head55executes printing in the desired mode on the basis of the print data for the roll paper sheet S. The roll paper sheet S after the printing is discharged from the discharging exit107to the exterior of the housing100. A fixed blade160is disposed at a position downstream of the thermal head55in the feeding path for the roll paper sheet S. In this case, the fixed blade160is attached to a main chassis member150(seeFIG. 3) disposed in the housing100, to be along the discharging exit107inside the discharging exit107. A user can manually cut off the end portion of the roll paper sheet S whose printing is completed as above and that is discharged from the discharging exit107, by holding the end portion with the user's hand, applying the end portion to the fixed blade160, and pulling the end portion to fold back the end portion.

<Electrical Configuration of Printer>

The electrical configuration of the printer1will be described with reference toFIG. 5. As shown inFIG. 5, the printer1includes an input/output interface31, a CPU32(corresponding to a computing device), a ROM33, a RAM34, and a flash/ROM36.

The input/output interface31is connected to operational keys51, an LCDC53, two driving circuits54,56, a reader port108, the USB port109, the CPU32, the ROM33, the RAM34, and the flash/ROM36.

The operational keys51include switches capable of inputting various instructions, and output the content of the input to the CPU32and the like through the input/output interface31. The operational keys51correspond to an operation device and an instruction device described in the appended claims.

The LCDC53is connected to an LCD52that includes a liquid crystal display, and controls the display on the LCD52on the basis of the display content input thereinto through the input/output interface31.

The driving circuit54is connected to the thermal head55and, when the print data is printed on the roll paper sheet S, drives the thermal head55. The thermal head55includes plural heat generating elements that are arranged in a row in the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the roll paper sheet S. The heat generating elements form dots in print lines each formed by dividing the roll paper sheet S by the print resolution in the feeding direction.

The driving circuit56is connected to the tape carry-out motor57that is a pulse motor and that drives the platen roller111feeding the roll paper sheet S, and drives the tape carry-out motor57when the roll paper sheet S is fed out to the exterior.

A connector10T of a reader cable10described later is attached to the reader port108of the printer1, and a bar code reader200is connected to the printer1through the reader cable10.

The connector9T of the USB cable9is attached to the USB port109of the printer1and the personal computer400is connected to the printer1through the USB cable9.

The ROM33has various control programs in relation to those other than the printing, and the like stored therein.

The RAM34has working areas disposed therein for the CPU32to execute the various control programs. For example, the RAM34has an image buffer342in which image data in accordance with the print command received from the personal computer400is expanded and a print data buffer341in which the print data in accordance with the image data expanded in the image buffer342is expanded, disposed therein. The “image data” as used herein refers to image data that is formed by, for example, bitmap-expanding the print content to be formed on a print-receiving medium (in this example, the roll paper sheet S) and the “print data” as used herein includes data to control the energy to be energized to form the image data with high quality on the print-receiving medium (in this example, the roll paper sheet S).

The flash/ROM36has a control program37in relation to the printing (including a program to execute the control content shown in, for example,FIG. 10described later), a management table39, and the like, stored therein, and further has a regular storage area40disposed therein. The regular storage area40has an application program storage area41an operation setting reference information storage area42, an operation setting state information storage area43, an operation setting difference information storage area44, and the like disposed therein.

The CPU32executes the programs described later with reference toFIG. 10. In this example, the CPU32functionally includes a command processing part32A, an expansion control part32B, and a driving control part32C.

The command processing part32A receives the print command transmitted from the personal computer400, and interprets/analyzes the received print command in accordance with a known technique.

The expansion control part32B expands the image data in accordance with the result of the analysis by the command processing part32A in the image buffer342(the details thereof will be described later), produces the print data in accordance with the image data, and expands the print data in the print data buffer341.

The driving control part32C executes printing for the roll paper sheet S using the thermal head55and using the print data expanded in the print data buffer341through the driving circuits54,56, and the like. The driving control part32C also executes feeding of the roll paper sheet S through the driving circuit54.

<Printed Matter Production Operation of Printer>

In this embodiment having the above configuration, the thermal head55forms a print on the roll paper sheet S fed by the platen roller111. In this case, the platen roller111and the thermal head55execute a printing process on the basis of the control by each of the command processing part32A, the expansion control part32B, and the driving control part32C of the CPU32.

Triggered by the reception of the print command from the personal computer400, the printer1controls the platen roller111and the thermal head55to form the print object in a print area of the roll paper sheet S. The roll paper sheet S having the print formed thereon is subsequently cut off by the fixed blade160at a position upstream of the print area in the feeding direction. As a result, the cut-off roll paper sheet S is separated from the rest and becomes a printed matter (for example, a print label).

<Operation Setting State Information, and Transmission and Reception Thereof>

For the printer that forms a printed matter as above, various operation setting items including at least one of; for example, a printing density setting, a printing speed setting, and a resolution setting for forming a print object are usually present, and what setting state is set can be determined for each thereof. The platen roller111and the thermal head55operate in accordance with the determined setting states and, as a result, the print object is formed in a mode in accordance with the user's intention.

In the above, the case where the user desires to apply the setting states used in producing a printed matter using one printer1, as it is to another printer1′ may be present. For this case, in the prior art, as shown inFIG. 6as Comparative Example, pieces of information on the setting states of the operation setting items are collectively handled as operation setting state information A, and this information is transmitted as it is to the other printer1′. In this case, work to change the connection for cables to execute transmission and reception operations of information through a common operational terminal (the personal computer400) as shown, or an operation procedure for transmission and reception of the information through a server common to a communication network not especially shown is necessary and this work is complicated and burdensome.

In contrast, in this embodiment, in the operation setting reference information storage area42of the flash/ROM36, operation setting reference information A0to be reference information (indicating the reference setting states each to be the reference for all the cases) in relation to the operation setting items is stored in advance at the time of shipment from the factory that manufactures the printer1, and is stored therein to be non-rewritable. The flash/ROM36corresponds to a memory and a recording medium described in the appended claims.

When the user further changes arbitrarily the setting states for arbitrary operation setting items from the operation setting reference information A0, the pertinent operation setting state information A1is generated and is recorded in the operation setting state information storage area43of the flash/ROM36. The operation setting state information A1may be set on the personal computer400that is the operational terminal and may be received by the printer1.

As shown inFIG. 7, when the user separately inputs an operation that instructs transmission and reception of the operation setting state information between the printers1,1′, operation setting difference information a01indicating difference information indicating a portion in which the operation setting state information A1differs from the operation setting reference information A0(in the shown example, “low density” of the printing density setting, “high speed” of the printing speed setting, and “low resolution” of the resolution setting) is generated and is recorded in the operation setting difference information storage area43of the flash/ROM36.

The data amount of the operation setting difference information a01generated in this manner can significantly be reduced compared to those of the operation setting state information A1and the operation setting reference information A0that are pieces of source information thereof. As a result, in this embodiment, as shown inFIG. 8, the printer1itself generating the operation setting difference information a01converts this information into an encoded image such as a QR code and outputs this information by printing on the roll paper sheet S. The other printer1′ to which the same setting states are desired to be applied optically reads the QR code using the bar code reader200. As a result, the operation setting difference information a01is transmitted in a simple technique.

As shown inFIG. 9, the printer1′ reading the operation setting difference information a01overwrites the read operation setting difference information a01on the operation setting reference information A0similarly recorded and stored in advance in the operation setting reference information storage area42of the flash/ROM36for synthesis. As a result, the same operation setting state information A1as that of the transmission source is reproduced.

To realize the above technique, the control steps executed by the CPU32will be described with reference to a flowchart inFIG. 10. Execution of this flowchart is started at the time point at which the power source of the printer1is turned on.

InFIG. 10, at step S105, the CPU32determines whether the operation setting state information is received from the personal computer400(inFIG. 10, represented as “operational terminal”). When the CPU32determines that the operation setting state information is not received from the personal computer400, the determination is not satisfied (S105:NO) and the control step moves to step S115.

On the other hand, when the CPU32determines that the operation setting state information is received from the personal computer400, the determination is satisfied (S105:YES) and the control step moves to step S110.

At step S110, the CPU32records the received operation setting state information in the operation setting state information storage area43of the flash/ROM36. The control step moves to step S115.

At step S115, the CPU32determines whether the encoded image information (inFIG. 10, represented as “bar code information”) such as a QR code is read from the bar code reader200. When the CPU32determines that the encoded image information is not read, the determination is not satisfied (S115:NO) and the control step moves to step S130.

On the other hand, when the CPU32determines that the encoded image information is read from the bar code reader200(seeFIG. 8), the determination is satisfied (S115:YES) and the control step moves to step S120.

At step S120, the CPU32converts the read encoded image information into the operation setting difference information.

The control step moves to step S125at which the CPU32generates the operation setting state information (seeFIG. 9) on the basis of the operation setting difference information acquired at step S120and the operation setting reference information recorded in the flash/ROM36, and record the operation setting state information in the flash/ROM36. The control step moves to step S130.

At step S130, the CPU32determines whether the operation setting state information is changed by an input operation from the user through the operational keys51. When the CPU32determines that the operation setting state information is not changed by the user, the determination is not satisfied (S130:NO) and the control step moves to step S140.

On the other hand, when the CPU32determines that the operation setting state information is changed, the determination is satisfied (S130:YES) and the control step moves to step S135.

At step S135, the CPU32changes the content of the operation setting state information recorded in the flash/ROM36in accordance with the content of a change operation input from the user. The control step moves to step S140.

At step S140, the CPU32determines whether any instruction to generate the operation setting difference information and to output by printing of the encoded image (inFIG. 10, represented as “bar code information”) in accordance with the generated operation setting difference information is issued by an input operation from the user through the operational keys51. When the CPU32determines that no instruction to generate the operation setting difference information and to output by printing of the encoded image in accordance therewith is issued, the determination is not satisfied (S140:NO) and the control step moves to step S160.

On the other hand, when the CPU32determines that the instruction from the user is issued, the determination is satisfied (S140:YES) and the control step moves to step S145.

At step S145, the CPU32extracts the difference between the operation setting state information and the operation setting reference information that are recorded in the flash/ROM36at this time point and, on the basis of this difference, generates the operation setting state difference information to be recorded therein (seeFIG. 7).

The control step moves to step S150at which the CPU32converts the operation setting difference information generated at step S145into an encoded image (inFIG. 10, represented as “bar code information”) such as a QR code.

The control step moves to step S155at which the CPU32outputs by printing the encoded image acquired at step S150to the roll paper sheet S. The control step moves to step S160.

At step S160, the CPU32determines whether an instruction to output by printing the print data that is already input separately is issued by an input operation from the user through the operational keys51. When the CPU32determines that no instruction to output by printing the print data is issued, the determination is not satisfied (S160:NO) and the control step moves to step S170.

On the other hand, when the CPU32determines that the instruction to output by printing the print data is issued, the determination is satisfied (S160:YES) and the control step moves to step S165.

At step S165, the CPU32generates a print object from the print data that is already input separately on the basis of the operation setting state information recorded in the flash/ROM36at this time point, and outputs the print object by printing to the roll paper sheet S. The control step moves to step S170.

At step S170, the CPU32determines whether an instruction to cause the control process of the printer1to come to an end is issued by an input operation from the user through the operational keys51. When the CPU32determines that no instruction to cause the control process to come to an end is input, the determination is not satisfied (S170:NO) and the control step returns to step S105and the same steps are repeated.

On the other hand, when the CPU32determines that the instruction to cause the control process to come to an end is input, the determination is satisfied (S170:YES) and the CPU32causes this flow to come to an end.

In the above flow, the control step of step S165corresponds to a printed matter production process described in the appended claims. The control step of step S145corresponds to a difference information generation step and a difference information generation process described in the appended claims. The control steps of steps S150, S155correspond to a difference information output step and a difference information output process described in the appended claims.

As above, in the printer1of this embodiment, the operation setting reference information A0in relation to the operation setting items is prepared and stored and, only the difference acquired on the basis of the operation setting reference information A0is generated and output as the new operation setting difference information a01.

In this embodiment, especially, at steps S150, S155, the platen roller111and the thermal head55are controlled to form the operation setting difference information a01that is converted into a bar code on the roll paper sheet S.

In this embodiment, especially, the printer1further includes the operational keys51, and generates the operation setting difference information a01at step S145when an instruction to generate the operation setting difference information a01that is converted into a car code is issued using the operational keys51.

The encoded image output by printing as the operation setting difference information a01may be output by printing as an encoded image of a bar code shown inFIG. 11in addition to the QR code as shown inFIG. 8. When the data amount of the operation setting difference information a01becomes large, the operation setting difference information a01may be printed as plural bar codes as shown and, in this case, each of the encoded images may be divided into pieces in accordance with the content of the data, converted, and output by printing.

In this embodiment, especially, the operation setting items includes at least one of the printing density setting, the printing speed setting, and the resolution setting used when the thermal head55forms a print object.’

The present is not limited to the embodiment and various modifications can be made thereto within the scope not departing from the gist and the technical idea thereof. Examples of the modifications will sequentially be described below.

<Timing of Generation of Operation Setting Difference Information a01>

The operation setting difference information a01is generated when the generation of the operation setting difference information a01and the outputting of the bar code information thereof are instructed through the operational input by the operational keys51in the embodiment while the present disclosure is not limited to this.

When the power source of the printer1is turned on, the operation setting difference information a01may be generated using the operation setting state information A1set and stored at this time point and the operation setting reference information A0stored in advance.

Otherwise, when the operation setting state information A1is newly input into the printer1from the exterior thereof such as the personal computer400and is recorded in the operation setting state information storage area43of the flash/ROM36, the operation setting difference information a01indicating the difference from this operation setting state information A1may be generated.

Otherwise, the operation setting difference information a01may be generated when, after the operation setting state information A1is input into the printer1from the exterior thereof such as the personal computer400and is recorded in the operation setting state information storage area43of the flash/ROM36, the recorded operation setting state information A1is read and is reflected on at least one of the thermal head55and the platen roller111.

Otherwise, the operation setting difference information a01may be generated when an operation to change the setting state in relation to at least one operation setting item in accordance with an input operation on the operational keys51is executed.

<Designation of Operation Setting Items for Which Difference Information is Extracted>

The operation setting difference information a01indicating the difference extracted between the operation setting reference information A0and the operation setting state information A1at that time point is generated in the embodiment while the present disclosure is not limited to this. The operation setting difference information a01indicating the difference extracted for the operation setting items arbitrarily designated by the user may be generated, or the operation setting difference information a01may be generated by merging the above extracted difference and the actually extracted difference with each other.

In the above description, “perpendicular” is not perpendicular in a strict meaning. This “perpendicular” means “substantially perpendicular” allowing the tolerance and the error relating to the design and the production.

In the above description, “parallel” is not parallel in a strict meaning. This “parallel” means “substantially parallel” allowing the tolerance and the error relating to the design and the production.

In the above description, “equal” has no strict meaning. This “equal” means “substantially parallel” allowing the tolerance and the error relating to the design and the production.

In the above, arrows shown inFIG. 5,FIG. 6, andFIG. 8each indicate an example of the flow of the signal and each do not limit the direction of the flow of the signal.

The flowchart shown inFIG. 10does not limit the present disclosure to the steps shown in this flow, and any addition/deletion to/from, any change of order, or the like of the steps may be made within the scope not departing from the gist and the technical idea of the present disclosure.

In addition to the above, the techniques in accordance with the embodiment and the modification examples may be used properly in combination.

In addition, though not specifically exemplified, the present disclosure is implemented with various changes made thereto within the scope not departing from the gist thereof.