DE69329666T2 - Device for printing labels and word processing system - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a label printing apparatus for printing information on a label sheet on which a large number of labels having a standardized layout and shape are adhered.

State of the art

From US-A-4 546 449 an output device is known which is capable of automatically generating a symmetrical output format and comprises: a unit for measuring the width of a recording medium, a unit for determining an output format, such as a character pitch and margin values, based on the width of the recording medium and the number of characters per line to be recorded on the recording medium, and a recording unit which outputs characters in accordance with the determined output format.

US-A-4 827 358 describes a recording apparatus suitable for recording data of an appropriate size according to the size of the recording sheet. A plurality of pattern generating means are provided for generating a plurality of different patterns for each character code, one of the patterns being selected in accordance with the size of the recording sheet.

Identical index labels are often attached to a large number of exhibits, such as in an exhibition. There was a great need for appropriate sorting using Directory labels according to the types of information when diversifying information. In addition, the same information may be shared by multiple people in multiple places. Traditional labels of this kind are hand-written, which leads to laborious work and poor readability.

In order to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, a printing apparatus is provided which is capable of economically printing the same contents at upper and lower positions of a ruled label by appropriately selecting a printing direction (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-178, 948).

In addition, a label printing apparatus is provided for setting an input number of characters and an input number of lines to fit on a label and calculating a label number for a label sheet as an integer (Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-175722)

Furthermore, a label printing apparatus is provided for automatically calculating a character size to a full height and full width or a full height and half width so that the characters can be printed within a predetermined label width (Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-189276).

In addition, there is a label printing device that can input a print format of a label as a single sheet and that can print information on labels of different sizes (Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-158072).

In the device of Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-178948, the method for properly printing information on a directory label is described in detail, but no explanation is given for the procedure for detecting the positions and sizes of multiple Directory labels and the process for controlling printing information on each label.

The prior art described in Japanese Patent Publications No. 61-175722, No. 63-189276 and No. 62-158072 deals with orderly printing information on a label, but not with printing information on a large number of labels arranged on a label sheet.

In a conventional label printing device, information is printed on each label in a predetermined character size. However, since the labels include several hundred different types, the character size must be selected in accordance with the size of each label. In addition, the character size must be changed in accordance with the number of characters and the number of lines of characters to be printed. An operation for setting these conditions is so cumbersome because a printing operation is carried out in accordance with a user's desired layout.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a word processing apparatus capable of printing a character string in an appropriate state on a large number of labels adhered to a label sheet and capable of eliminating a cumbersome character size adjustment required to perform a proper printing operation on a desired label.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

Of a first to fourth processor means, the third processor means calculates the horizontal length of the generated character string in units of lines as the number of characters input for each line is increased or decreased, and

the fourth processor means may select a character size that is smaller than a character size of the character string and change the character sizes of all lines to this small character size if the fourth processor means always compares the horizontal length of the generated character string with the horizontal length of the print area of the label in units of lines and a line exists in which the horizontal length of the character string is larger than that of the print area.

If this process is carried out in the third and fourth processor means, a fifth processor means may be provided.

The fifth processor means adds the vertical lengths of the character sizes determined by the fourth processor means to obtain a total length of all lines, compares the total length to the vertical length of the print area of the label, selects a character size smaller than the character string if the total length is greater than the vertical length of the print area, and changes the character sizes of all lines to this selected small character size.

The label sheet used in the label printing device having the above-mentioned structure basically has standard vertical and horizontal lengths of labels arranged on the label sheet and standard arrangement positions of labels on the sheet in accordance with the label sheet type. Identification codes are assigned to the standards, respectively.

Please note that any type of label can be used, provided that it can be separated from the label sheet. For example, the labels can be peeled off and attached to the label sheet, cut out of the label sheet, or attached in another way.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a word processing device comprising:

a keyboard with keys assigned to characters, symbols and numbers, cursor shift keys, a conversion key and a confirmation key;

a display device for displaying data entered using the keyboard;

a memory device for storing a plurality of symbols or digits in divided groups;

49th processor means for displaying a symbol or number associated with a pressed key as unconfirmed data on the display means when a key associated with the symbol or number on the keyboard is pressed;

a 50th processor means for reading out all data of the same group as that of the unconfirmed data and displaying all of these data as a selected data group when the conversion key is pressed; and

51st processor means for confirming desired data as input data replacing the desired data with unconfirmed data, and for displaying the unconfirmed data as the desired ones on the display means after the cursor shift keys are operated to move a cursor to the desired data in the selected data group displayed on the display means and the confirmation key is pressed.

The present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description, which with the aid of the accompanying drawings which are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be considered as limiting the present invention.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given below. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while describing preferred embodiments of the invention, are for descriptive purposes only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a label printing apparatus according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal mechanism of the label printing apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the internal mechanism of the label printing apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the key arrangement of the label printing device;

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an arrangement of a leaf sensor;

Fig. 6 is a control block diagram of the label printing apparatus;

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the positional relationship of labels on a label sheet;

Fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure for a startup screen;

Fig. 9 is a flow chart for explaining an initial value setting of character sizes in automatic character size adjustment;

Fig. 10 is a flow chart for explaining automatic character size adjustment;

Figs. 11A and 11B are views for explaining a method for setting initial values of character sizes in accordance with label shapes;

Fig. 12 is a flow chart for explaining automatic adjustment of a character pitch and a line spacing;

Fig. 13 is a schematic plan view for explaining the relationship between lengths (e.g., a character pitch and a line pitch) of the respective portions of a label to be printed, the symbols representing these portions;

Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing the process when an input number of characters or lines exceeds the size of the print area;

Fig. 15 is a flow chart showing the process when an input number of lines exceeds the size of the print area at a line feed;

Figs. 16A, 16B and 16C are diagrams for explaining messages displayed when a line overflow occurs;

Fig. 17 is a diagram for explaining a state in which an overflow mark is displayed within a character string;

Fig. 18 is a flowchart showing the character size changing process of a character string;

Fig. 19 is a diagram showing the contents of a character size setting table;

Figs. 20A to 20F are illustrations of the display contents in the process of character size change;

Figs. 21A to 21E are illustrations of the display contents in the process of character size change;

Figs. 22A to 22E are illustrations of the display contents in the process of character size change;

Fig. 23 is a flowchart showing the flow of an image display process;

Fig. 24 is a flowchart showing the flow of an image display process;

Fig. 25 is a flowchart showing the flow of an image display process;

Fig. 26 is a flowchart showing the flow of an image display operation;

Figs. 27A to 27D are conceptual diagrams showing the contents of the image display process;

Figs. 28A to 28C are conceptual diagrams showing the contents of the image display process;

Figs. 29A to 29C are conceptual diagrams showing the contents of the image display process;

Figs. 30A to 30C are conceptual diagrams showing the contents of the image display process;

Figs. 31A to 31C are conceptual diagrams showing the contents of the image display process;

Fig. 32 is a flow chart showing the input process of a character string to be printed on an index adhesive label;

Fig. 33 is a flow chart showing the input process of a character string to be printed on an index adhesive label;

Fig. 34 is a diagram for explaining the display of a selection screen;

Fig. 35 is a flow chart showing the input process of a character string to be printed on a cassette label;

Figs. 36A and 36B are illustrations for explaining the display of a selection screen;

Fig. 37 is a flow chart showing the label sheet feeding control in a printing operation;

Fig. 38 is a schematic perspective view of a sheet sensor and a paper feed roller part as a main component of the feed control;

Fig. 39 is a plan view showing the positional relationship of labels with a label sheet;

Fig. 40 is a flowchart showing the print start position setting;

Fig. 41 is a flow chart showing the execution of a printing operation;

Fig. 42 is a flowchart of the initial setting when a printing operation is carried out without interruption on the printing label sheet;

Fig. 43 is a view illustrating the general concept of the character label storing operation and the character label reading operation;

Fig. 44 is a flowchart showing the character label storing process;

Fig. 45 is a flowchart showing the memory file creation process;

Fig. 46 is a flow chart showing the character label reading process;

Fig. 47 is a flowchart illustrating the memory file reload process;

Fig. 48 is a flowchart showing a process for comparing retrieval characters with storage characters;

Figs. 49A and 49B are diagrams showing the external appearance of label molds;

Figs. 50A and 50B are diagrams showing the external appearance of label molds;

Figs. 51A and 51B are diagrams showing the external appearance of label molds;

Fig. 52 is a flowchart showing the process of inputting a character string and storing it in a storage unit;

Fig. 53 is a flowchart showing the reading process of the character string stored in the storage unit;

Fig. 54 is a flowchart showing the reading process of the character string stored in the storage unit;

Fig. 55 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a word processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 56 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of a retrieval program;

Fig. 57 is a flowchart showing the contents of a symbol retrieval process of this embodiment;

Figs. 58A and 58B are a perspective view of the external appearance of the word processor and a plan view of the display unit, respectively;

Fig. 59 is a diagram showing the group formation of a conversion table; and

Fig. 60 is a diagram showing the group formation of the conversion table.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

< First embodiment >

Fig. 1 to 4 show the external appearance and the internal mechanism of the label printing device 1. The label printing device 1 (hereinafter referred to as the device) is a device for printing a large number of labels 4a which are evenly arranged on a label sheet 4. The device 1 has an upper half 2 and a lower half 3. An insertion opening 5 for the label sheet 4 is formed between the upper and lower halves 2 and 3.

A large number of keys 6 which can be used to input characters or the like are arranged on the upper half 2 of the apparatus 1. A liquid crystal display panel for displaying a predetermined number of characters, a number of lines or an input character string is provided above the keys 6. The screen portion of the liquid crystal display unit 7 is shifted in four directions when the number of characters and lines exceeds the size of the screen. The keys 6 include character keys such as the alphabet, function keys such as a "function" (FC in Fig. 4), "delete" (CA/LC in Fig. 4), "convert" (CV in Fig. 4), "execute" (EX/RT in Fig. 4) and "Print" key (PT in Fig. 4) and cursor keys as arrow keys representing four directions. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 4, some of the alphabet keys each have special functions that are executed when pressed together with the function keys. The functions are indicated by symbols on the upper right side on the top of the key. For example, "RG" shows the area designation, "SZ" the change size, "CS" the character string, etc.. The contents of the keys are marked on their tops.

The insertion opening 5 and a feeding path 11 extending rearward from the insertion opening 5 are formed in the lower half 3. A guide roller 9 for guiding the inserted label sheet 4 is located on the upper side of the feeding path 11. Three paper feed rollers 8 driven and rotated by a sheet feed motor 16 are arranged behind the guide roller 9 to feed the inserted label sheet 4. A printing unit 20 is located behind the paper feed rollers 8.

A guide side wall 18 is formed on one side, for example, the left side, of the insertion opening 5 and the feed path 11. The label sheet 4 is inserted with the left side guided along the side wall 18. The apparatus 1 serves as a mechanism for performing a printing operation with respect to the leading end of the left side (i.e., the front left corner portion) of the label sheet 4. The left side of the label sheet 4 abuts against the side wall 18 to position the label sheet 4.

A sheet sensor 19 in the form of a photo-interrupter or the like, which consists of a light-emitting element 19a and a light-receiving element 19b on the upper and lower surfaces, is provided on the side wall 18 at the downstream position of the feeding path of the feeding rollers 9 so as to detect whether the feeding is proceeding properly, as shown in Fig. 5. That is, while the fed sheet is between the light-emitting element 19a and the light-receiving element 19b and When light from the light emitting element 19b is received by the light receiving element 19b, the sheet sensor 19 detects that the left side of the label sheet is touching the side wall 18. In this case, the sheet sensor 19 detects that a proper feeding state exists.

The lower part of the printing unit 20 is screwed to a worm shaft 12, which extends in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the label sheet 4, wherein the rotation of a conveyor motor 14 is transmitted to the worm shaft 12 through a gear 15. The printing unit 20 moves back and forth along the rotating worm shaft 12. A bracket 13 is held in the upper region of the printing unit 20 in such a way that it runs parallel to the worm shaft 12. The teeth of the bracket 13 are formed at the lower portion in such a way that they face the printing unit 20, so that a gear in the printing unit 20 engages the bracket 13. A thermal head 28 consisting of a dot array capable of printing a character extends from the lower portion of the printing unit 20. A rubber plate 17 is arranged in the lower half 3 at the lower portion of the thermal head 28. The printing unit 20 also serves as a cassette holder for mounting a ribbon cassette (not shown) of an ink ribbon. The printing unit 20 includes a take-up shaft 25 for taking up the ink ribbon.

The liquid crystal display unit 7 can display selection screens of an inputted character string, an edited character string, an identification code, character string information read from a storage unit 31, and other information.

The control block diagram of the label printing device is explained with reference to Fig. 6.

The device 1 includes a central processing unit 30 (hereinafter referred to as CPU) to control the entire operation of the device, and the storage unit 31 consists of a ROM, a RAM and the like.

The CPU 30 is connected to a head drive unit 36 for driving the thermal head 28 to bring it into contact with and separate it from the label sheet and to output a character signal, a transport motor drive unit 37 for driving the transport motor 14, a sheet feed motor control unit 38 for driving the sheet feed motor 16 to synchronously drive the sheet feed rollers 8 and the sheet discharge rollers 23, and a display control unit 39 for controlling the liquid crystal display unit 7.

The CPU 30 has an internal counter for counting the number of sheets and a timer for synchronizing the sheet feed. The CPU 30 receives input information from a key input unit 6' and a detection signal from the sheet sensor 19, outputs control signals to the corresponding circuit sections, and systematically controls character input, character editing, label sheet type selection, display operations, and printing operations (which will be described later).

The CPU 30 monitors the detection signal from the sheet sensor 19. The CPU 30 determines whether the setting and feeding of the label sheet 4 are properly performed in accordance with whether a detection signal representing the front left corner of the label sheet 4 is input. At the same time, the CPU 30 indirectly measures the position of the label sheet during feeding in accordance with rotation pulses of the sheet feed motor 16 when the detection signal is generated or with the timing management.

The storage unit 31 stores a program for controlling the overall operation (e.g. editing and printing) of the device, a kana/kanji conversion dictionary memory, label information representing the arrangement positions of the labels arranged on each type of label sheet and the vertical and horizontal size of the label, a sheet number in Form of an identification code for specifying the label sheet type and the following character size table (Table 1): Table 1 (vertical · horizontal; unit: point)

Table 1 shows character sizes from SS size to 3L size. In the label printing machine of this type, there are several hundred kinds of printable label sheets. A large number of character sizes are required to be printed. The horizontally stretched characters and the vertically stretched characters can be selected in addition to the square characters. In this way, the work of selecting can be carried out by selecting the character sizes using the classification symbols.

Different shapes of label sheets are available for a generally rectangular label, a ruled label, an index adhesive label, a file box label and a cassette label. In addition, there are different adhesive positions on the label sheets, each of which is standardized. Turning to Fig. 6, an external input/output device such as an expansion tray shown as an auxiliary storage unit 40 is connected to the apparatus in Fig. 6. It is possible to store new types of label sheets and non-standard formats when the types of label sheets are to be expanded or when printing is to be performed on a desired non-standard label sheet.

Fig. 7 shows a relationship between a label sheet and labels. The labels R₁, R₂, ... having the same size are regularly arranged on a label sheet 4 at predetermined intervals. The label positions on the label sheet 4 are indicated by 1, 2, 3, ... in the column direction and by A, B, C, ... in the row direction. Note that the numerals or letters representing the positions are preferably indicated on the label sheet 4.

The sheet number is selected by inputting an identification code consisting of one or two characters (including a number), thereby simplifying the work of selecting. A table (not shown) in which sheet numbers are stored in this embodiment represents sheet numbers as label sizes. The table stores sizes with reference to the corner position as the leading end of the left side of the label sheet 4 detected by the sheet sensor 19. The sizes are determined by data required to determine label positions on the label sheet from the horizontal and vertical length of a label sheet, the shape of a label, the vertical and horizontal length of a label, the vertical and horizontal intervals between labels, and the number of labels on the label sheet. If only the position data of the print start point with respect to the front end of the left side of the label sheet is used instead of the above-mentioned lengths and intervals, the storage capacity can be reduced. The sizes are indicated in millimeter units (mm). In this embodiment, the sizes are coded to reduce the storage capacity. The CPU 30 calculates a print position, i.e., the label position, based on the stored size data of the designated sheet number (identification code), which will be described later.

The table in which the sheet numbers are stored contains separating sizes. The separating sizes define the non-binding sizes of the label edge sections that are not printed. Firstly, a system for actually measuring a label position and perform printing, but a simple system for controlling all positions with respect to the corner position of the label sheet. Information can be printed on each label without error even if a slight feeding error of the sheet occurs by the paper feed rollers 8 and the like. Second, the same effect as described above can be achieved if the label size is stored in a size slightly smaller than the actual size. In this case, an image character (on the screen) does not match the character actually printed, causing inconvenience.

Different operations for entering characters into Device 1 are described below.

The basic sequence for a startup screen is explained with reference to a flow chart in Fig. 8.

When a power switch 6a is turned on (#2), the RAM in the storage unit 31 is initialized, the printing unit 20 is set to the initial position, the hardware is initialized and the built-in battery is checked (#4).

The initial screen including the "label information" and "address book" selection menus is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 7 (#6). The cursor keys are used to move the cursor to the position of the desired item, and the "execute" key is pressed, thereby obtaining the next working screen. The CPU 30 determines which item is selected and designated (#8). If the "label information" selection menu is selected, necessary initialization is carried out (#12). During this operation, a message such as "Please wait" is displayed on the screen. On the other hand, if the "address book" selection menu is selected, the current screen is switched to a working screen for storing, changing and reloading a name, telephone number and address (#10).

When the "Label Information" selection menu is selected and the above-described initialization is completed, the "New Creation" and "Continue" selection menus are displayed on the screen (#14). The CPU 30 determines which selection menu is selected and indicates it (#16). When the "Continue" selection menu is selected, the contents of the previous work are displayed on the screen (#18). If a character string has already been created, a sheet number or the like is displayed. If a postcard has already been created, a message indicating this is displayed. When the "Execute" key is pressed (#20), the previous work screen is displayed so that the user can enter a character (#22). Since the previously created work contents are stored in the RAM of the storage unit, interrupted work can be resumed without any problem in this way.

On the other hand, if the selection menu "New Creation" is selected ("YES" in #16), the screen is switched to a screen for designating a label sheet so that a new character string is created (#24). If a desired sheet number (identification code) is entered ("YES" in #26), the CPU determines whether this sheet number is present in the table in the ROM in the storage unit 31 (#28). If the designated sheet number is present, the screen is switched to a character input screen (#30). If not, a message such as "This sheet is not stored" is displayed for three seconds and the previous designation screen (#24) is restored.

However, if the user does not know a stored sheet number, he presses the "Execute" key without entering anything ("NO" in both #26 and #32 and "YES" in #34) and the screen is switched to a file loading screen (#36). If a character string is selected to be loaded at this time, that character string information is displayed on the screen along with its sheet number.

When the "Postcard" selection menu is selected on the screen in #24 ("YES" in #32), the screen is switched to a "direction designation of sentence" screen. When the user designates the direction of a sentence and presses the "Execute" key, the screen is switched to a normal character input screen (#38). Since the character input method according to #22, #30, #36 and #38 is almost the same as that of a conventional word processor, a detailed description of it is omitted.

After the initial conditions are set as described above, a desired character string is created on the character input screen. In this device 1, the character size is automatically set in accordance with the number of characters and lines of an input character string. Automatic setting of this character size means automatically setting the size of characters that can be printed correctly on the label in accordance with the character string that is input on the character input screen. The character size is selected from the sizes of Table 1.

The automatic character size adjustment process is described with reference to the flow charts in Figs. 9 and 10.

The initial value of the character size is set. In the initial setting described above, a label to be used is specified (#102) and a print area on the label is set based on this label information. The vertical length of the print area is compared with the horizontal length of the print area (#104). By this comparison, the shorter length is selected. If the horizontal length is smaller than the vertical length as shown in Fig. 11A, a rectangular area S with the horizontal length l is assumed as one side (#106). However, if the vertical size is shorter than the horizontal size as shown in Fig. 11B, a rectangular area S with the vertical length l is assumed as one side (#108). The character character size corresponding to the character size of a maximum rectangular character that fits in the rectangular area S is selected from Table 1. The selected character size is set as the initial value (#110).

After the initial value of the character size is set, the CPU 30 waits for the input of a character (including a symbol and the like). Each time the number of characters input is increased or decreased by one, the horizontal length of the created character string is calculated. If the character string extends over multiple lines, the horizontal length of each line is calculated (#202). The horizontal length of the character string is compared with the horizontal length of the set print area in units of lines to determine whether the created character string can be printed on the horizontal length of the set label (#204). If the horizontal length of the character string is greater than the horizontal length of the print area, a character size one size smaller than the set character size is selected from Table 1. The character sizes of all lines are set to this new character size (#206). Then repeat the activities in #202 and #204. In this way, an appropriate character size is determined with reference to the horizontal length of each line of the character string and the horizontal length of the print area.

All vertical lengths of the lines are added based on the determined character size to obtain a total vertical length (#208). The total vertical length is compared with the vertical length of the print area. The CPU 30 determines whether the created character string can be printed within the total vertical length of the set label (#210). If the total vertical length of the created character string is greater than the vertical length of the label, a character size one size smaller than the determined character size is selected from Table 1 and the character sizes of all lines are changed to this new character size (#212).

Then, the operations in #208 and #210 are repeated. In this way, the maximum character size at which the character string can be printed within the print area is finally set. Note that each calculation equation is stored in advance in the ROM of the storage unit 31, but the calculation result is applied using a stored conversion table.

The same character size is used for all lines within the created character string. Inconveniences caused when different character sizes are set for all lines having different numbers of characters can be solved. When the character size is to be switched from the S size to the SS size smaller than the S size in Table 1, the character size is changed to the SS size of the horizontally stretched character without necessarily being changed.

This automatic character size adjustment is performed whenever the input character or line state is changed in such a way that the character size already entered changes, the character appearance attributes already entered change, or a line feed or deletion of a line feed is performed.

Each character size can be set to a specific size manually in advance or as needed. In this case, at #202, the horizontal length of the manually set character is added to the horizontal length of each automatically calculated character to calculate the length of the character string in line units. At #208, characters each having the maximum vertical size are extracted from all lines and added to each other.

< Second embodiment >

Although the character size is set automatically, as described above, the distance between characters to be printed, ie a character In a device 1 of this embodiment, the character spacing can be automatically set to be constant (character spacing allocation device).

The automatic character pitch adjustment will be explained with reference to a flow chart in Fig. 12. Symbols used in this flow chart are defined below with reference to Fig. 13. Fig. 13 shows a label 4a on which characters of different sizes are printed in the hatched areas.

ln: a distance between the end portion of the print area and the front or rear portion of the nth line

kn: a character spacing on the n-th line

q: a distance between the end portion of the print area and a character of the maximum vertical length on the top or bottom line

p: a line spacing (i.e. a spacing with respect to a character with maximum vertical length)

Referring to Fig. 12, when the automatic character pitch adjustment is to be performed ("YES" in #302), the horizontal lengths of the input characters are added to each other to obtain a total horizontal length of each line (#304). At this time, when the automatically adjusted characters are mixed with the manually adjusted characters, the horizontal lengths of both the automatically and manually adjusted characters are added to obtain a total. The operation in #304 is the same as that in #202 for the automatic character size adjustment. For this reason, each time the number of input characters is increased or decreased by one or the character size is changed, the operation in #304 is carried out.

On the other hand, the horizontal length of the print area is already obtained in the flow chart (Fig. 9). The sum of the lengths of the characters calculated in #304 is subtracted from the horizontal length of the print area (#306). This gives a horizontal length A of the remaining free area that is formed in the printing area.

The value of this length A is divided equally between the characters. In this case, the value of the length A is divided by a value obtained by adding 1 to the number of characters so that the blank areas each having the same length as the character pitch are formed at the front and rear portions of the character string. As a result, a quotient B and a remainder C are obtained (#308), with the quotient B being obtained as a character pitch kn of the target value (#310). When the remainder C is obtained, it is divided into halves which are assigned as character pitches (ln) formed at the front and rear portions of the character string (#312). If any other line subjected to character pitch adjustment exists (i.e., "NO" in #314), control is shifted to the line subjected to character pitch adjustment and the operations from #304 to #312 are repeated.

As described above, the character spacing of all lines in the horizontal direction is set equal ("YES" in #314). In device 1, when a character string extending over multiple lines exists within the print area ("YES" in #316), the line spacing can also be assigned equal (line spacing assignment device).

A character size with a maximum vertical length is extracted in line units. The extracted vertical lengths of the character sizes are added to each other to obtain a sum of the vertical lengths of all lines (#318). The operation in #318 is the same as in #208 for automatic character size setting. For this reason, when the maximum character size of each line is changed, that is, when a line feed or deletion of a line feed is performed, or an input character or line state is changed, the operation in #318 is always performed.

The sum of the vertical lengths of all lines, calculated in #318, is subtracted from the vertical length of the print area. This gives a vertical length D of a free area that is created in the print area (#320).

The value of length D is divided equally between the lines. In this case, the value of length D is divided by a value obtained by adding 1 to the number of lines to obtain a free area that has the same width as the line spacing above the top line or below the bottom line. As a result, a quotient E and a remainder F (#322) are obtained. The quotient is determined as a line spacing p (#324). If there is a remainder F, it is divided into halves that are assigned to the line spacing g above the first and below the last line (#326).

The device 1 can automatically adjust the character and line spacing as described above. However, specific character and line spacing can be manually adjusted by the user. In manual adjustment, either the character spacing or the line spacing is manually adjusted, and the remaining spacing can be automatically adjusted. In the flow chart of Fig. 12, the process in #328 is performed to manually adjust the character spacing. The process in #330 is performed to manually adjust the line spacing. In this case, the space calculation described above is not performed.

The character spacing equalization operations in #306 to #314 and the line spacing equalization operations in #318 to #326 are executed whenever a key input representing an end of character editing for a label is detected, i.e., each time the "Print" key is pressed, each time a key for displaying an image of the arrangement of the input characters during editing is pressed, or each time an operation for storing the created character string is performed.

An apparatus 1 shown in this embodiment can perform printing even on a non-standard label sheet if that sheet can actually be inserted through an insertion opening 5. When the label information is properly stored, the character size on a label sheet (sheet to be printed) of free size can be automatically set, the label information (e.g., label sheet size) of the same being set and stored by the user in accordance with the flow chart.

In this embodiment, the automatic character pitch setting was explained in units of lines. However, as another processing method, a minimum character pitch set within the print area may be set as the character pitch of all lines, and only the distance ln with the end of the print area may be determined for each line. In this case, the character pitch kn is predetermined on each line so that the print is arranged symmetrically along the vertical center line.

Note that when the automatic character spacing setting is canceled and printing is performed, printing is performed with a predetermined character spacing that is arbitrarily set, with the printed characters aligned at the left edge. Similarly, when the automatic line spacing setting is canceled, printing is performed with a predetermined line spacing that is arbitrarily set, with the printed characters aligned at the top edge.

The character spacing equalization process and the line spacing equalization process are executed each time a key input is detected that represents an end of character editing for a label. However, the above process is executed each time the number of characters or lines entered is increased. or decreased or the character size is changed as in the automatic character size adjustment.

< Third embodiment >

A device 1 always calculates a printable line number based on a label size and a character size. When the user inputs characters or edits a character string on lines that exceeds the printable line number, a message indicating this is displayed, thereby preventing operations such as character input or line feed (line overflow detection means). In addition, in the device 1, overflow characters that do not fit on a line during current editing (input) are added to the same line after an overflow mark so that the user is notified that the characters do not fit on a line (character string overflow detection means). Thus, the overflow characters of a line are not automatically fed to the next line against the user's will.

The operation performed when the number of input characters or lines exceeds the printable number of characters per line or the printable number of characters will be explained with reference to a flowchart in Fig. 14.

A CPU 30 determines whether entered characters can be printed on the vertical length of the print area of a currently displayed label. When a character input from the user is detected, the automatically set character sizes on the line during the current input operation (editing) and the line already edited are set to the minimum character size in Table 1 (#402). The maximum vertical character sizes of the lines except the current line are extracted and added to obtain a total vertical length of all lines (#404), since characters with arbitrary character sizes may be in the lines. The total length obtained in #404 is added to the vertical length of the currently entered character. n line size is added (#406). If the character currently being input is an automatically set character, this is the minimum character size. However, if the character currently being input is an arbitrarily set character, the vertical length of the arbitrarily set character is added to the total length obtained in #404. The resulting total vertical length is compared with the vertical length of the set print area to determine whether the input characters can be printed within the print area (#408). If the total vertical length is greater than the vertical length of the print area ("NO" in #408), the CPU 30 determines that printing within the print area is impossible, and a message indicative of line overflow is displayed on a liquid crystal display unit 7 for 3 seconds (#410). The screen returns to the edit display screen (#412).

A line overflow message shown in Fig. 16A is displayed when the number of characters is larger than that of the print area due to the large character size. A line overflow message shown in Fig. 16B is displayed when the size of the confirmed character is changed or the characters overflow the line due to a frame or an underline. When the space suitable for printing characters in the print area is determined ("YES" in #408), an unconfirmed character string before conversion and confirmation is stored as character information in a storage unit 31 (#414).

Various editing operations are performed so that the input characters are converted into characters having a predetermined font such as Courier, Roman, etc., an input character is converted into a character having a predetermined size, thereby confirming the input characters one by one. In addition, in a device used in Japan, the conversion may include the conversion from Hirakana to Kanji. In this case, the operations from #402 to #408 are repeated each time the input character is confirmed.

Each time the character is confirmed, this editing operation also determines whether the confirmed character string fits on one line during editing. If the character size is an automatically set character, since the minimum character size is set in #402, the character size is the total horizontal length of characters each having the minimum character size. However, if a character with an arbitrarily set character size is included, the horizontal length of that character is added. This value increases each time an input character is confirmed (#416). Then, the added character length is compared with the horizontal length of the print area (#418). If the added character string length is greater than the horizontal length of the print area, overflowing characters that do not fit on one line are included in the character string during editing. These overflow characters are sent to an overflow storage area in the storage unit 31 in sequence from the right end of the character string within the edit line so that the overflow characters appear to be deleted from the input character string (#420). This process is repeated until "YES" is obtained at #418. If "YES" is obtained at #418, only one inputtable character string is present in the input character string, with the overflow portion of the character string stored separately in the overflow storage area.

If an overflow character of this type is not present, "NO" is determined in #422 and the character string is displayed on the editing screen during editing (#412).

On the other hand, if an overflow character is present, "YES" is determined in #422, and the character string part stored in the overflow storage area and the character string fitting on the one line are displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 7 (#424). As shown in Fig. 7, after the character string such as "new business" fitting on the print area, an overflow mark 50 is displayed in a repeatedly flashing state of a negative display. An unconfirmed overflow character string such as "advertising department" is displayed as a word to the right of the overflow marker 50. That is, the confirmed printable characters are on the left side of the overflow marker 50, and the unconfirmed overflow character string is displayed on the right side of the overflow marker 50.

In this way, the user is informed of the character string located on the right side of the overflow mark 50 that does not fit in the print area. This overflow mark 50 is displayed when the input character size or character appearance attributes are changed or the horizontal length of the input character string exceeds the print area. When this overflow mark 50 is displayed, the user changes the size of the confirmed characters or a line feed is performed to advance the character string located on the right side of the overflow mark 50 to the next line. This creates a desired character string that fits in the print area.

The above describes the operation that is performed when the number of characters or lines exceeds the printable horizontal or vertical length. However, Fig. 15 shows a flow chart for performing a line feed from the bottom line to create a new line.

In this case, the automatically set character size is changed to the minimum character size in Table 1 (#502), and the maximum character sizes of all lines in the vertical direction are extracted and the extracted vertical lengths are added (#504). The vertical length of the smallest character size is added to the vertical length obtained in #504 to obtain a total vertical length of all lines (#506). The total vertical length of all lines is compared with the vertical length of the print area (#508). If the total vertical length is greater than the vertical length of the print area ("NO" in #508), after a message that the line feed is disabled is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 7 for 2 seconds (#510) as shown in Fig. 16C, the edit screen is displayed. (#512). On this editing screen, when a character is entered or deleted or the character size is changed, the character size is automatically adjusted in accordance with the flow charts of Figs. 9 and 10 (#514). However, if the total vertical length is less than the vertical length of the print area ("YES" in #508), the CPU 30 detects a line feed so that the cursor is moved to a new line (#516). Then, a character size is automatically adjusted under the condition that the new line is created (#514).

< Fourth embodiment >

A device 1 can arbitrarily change the character size of a temporarily input character and displays the character size in the actual size (character size display device).

The process for changing the character size of a character string will be described with reference to a flow chart in Fig. 18. When a predetermined key 6 is pressed by the user as a designator for displaying a size setting screen (#600), the character size currently determined is read from the storage unit 31 (#601). A character size setting table shown in Fig. 19 is stored in the storage unit 31. The character size information is held in this table. The character sizes are classified in accordance with six character sizes from S5 to 3L and three character shapes, i.e., a square (square character), a flat character (a horizontally stretched character) and a squashed character (vertically stretched character).

The character size information is represented by a print dot number on a printing unit 20 and a display dot number on a liquid crystal display unit 7. The information read out in #601 is represented by the display dot number. The dot pitch on the printing unit 20 is about 0.141 mm and the dot pitch on the liquid crystal display unit 7 is about 0.141 mm. crystal display unit 7 is about 0.5 mm. Thus, the table has the following relationship between the pressure point number and the display point number:

(pressure point number) · 0.141 mm = (display point number) · 0.5 mm,

where the print and display dot numbers are each predetermined integers.

A rectangle with the read vertical and horizontal lengths as two adjacent sides is displayed in the central right area of the liquid crystal display unit 7 (#602). The selection screen for selecting the shape of a target character string from the square, flat and squashed character is displayed in the upper left area of the liquid crystal display unit 7, and a selection screen for selecting the character size from SS to SL is displayed in the lower left area of the liquid crystal display unit 7. The rectangle displayed in #602 indicates the character size of a character string to be printed on a label. However, the display position may be slightly shifted from the printing position due to the difference between the dot pitches of the printing unit 20 and the liquid crystal display unit 7.

When the user instructs a change in the character shape of the character string by operations of the keys 6 while observing the display contents of the liquid crystal display unit 7 (#603 and #604), the size of a new character shape is read out from the table in the storage unit 31 (#605). When the user instructs to change the character size to any of the sizes from SS to 3L (#603 and #606), a new character size is read out from the table in the storage unit 31 (#607). A rectangle created by the read out vertical and horizontal lengths is displayed in the central right area of the liquid crystal display unit 7 (#608). Until the character size change operation is completed, the operations in #603 to #608 are repeated (#609).

The display contents of the liquid crystal display unit 7 in the above-mentioned changing process are shown in Figs. 20A to 22E. Figs. 20A to 20F show a change of character size when a character string to be printed has a square shape. Fig. 20A shows a case where a character with a size of "3L" is selected. In this case, "3L" is displayed in the central right area of the liquid crystal display unit 7, and a rectangle representing the square frame of the character size is displayed. This rectangle indicates the actual size when a character is printed on a label. Fig. 20B shows a case where a character with a size of "LL" is selected. Figs. 20C to 20F show cases where characters with a size of "L" and "SS" are selected, respectively.

Similarly, Figs. 21A to 21E show a case where the character size is changed when the character form of a character string to be printed is the flat character, and Figs. 22A to 22E show a case where the character size is changed when the character form of a character string to be printed is the compressed character.

As described above, when changing the character size, the actual size is displayed, allowing smooth character editing and label creation by the user.

The rectangle displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 7 is displayed in the form of a frame of a character to be actually printed. The user can easily grasp the actual character size by this display.

< Fifth embodiment >

In a conventional label printing device, an entered character string is displayed on the display device so that the user can confirm whether the input is correct. However, the user does not know how the entered string will be printed on the label until it is actually printed. For this reason, a string must be printed on the labels a number of times to check whether a desired label is produced.

In the label printing apparatus according to the present invention, the image of each character to be printed on a label is displayed (image display device).

This image display process will be described with reference to the flow charts in Figs. 23 to 26 and the conceptual diagrams of Figs. 27A to 31C. In this process, the user inputs a sheet number of a label sheet on which printing is to be performed (#701). In a state where input of a character string is possible or in a state where an image is already displayed, when the user presses keys (shift key + H key) to display an image (#702), a CPU 30 determines whether the character has already been input (#703). If "NO" in #703, an image cannot be displayed, the key input for displaying an image is invalidated and the flow returns to #702. If a character has already been input, the vertical and horizontal lengths of the label are read from a list table 31a of a storage unit 31 corresponding to the sheet number input in #701 (#706; Fig. 28B). The list table 31a stores the vertical and horizontal lengths of a plurality of labels in mm. From the readout lengths, a reduction factor corresponding to the long side is extracted from a reduction table 31b in the storage unit 31 (#707; Figs. 28B and 28C). The reduction table 31b is a table of correspondences between a plurality of reference size data (1 mm, 64 mm, 95 mm, ...) and reduction factors (4 times, 6 times, 8 times, ...), where the reduction factor corresponding to the largest reference length smaller than the long side is selected from the reference sizes. The label represented by the reduction table 31b is changed to a size that can be displayed on the screen of a liquid crystal display unit 7. The vertical The vertical and horizontal lengths read out in #706 are reduced in accordance with the reduction factor to obtain the reduction data (#708). In this reduction process, the unit of the vertical and horizontal lengths is changed from millimeters (mm) to a number of points (Fig. 27A). The converted values are divided by the reduction factor to obtain the actual display size (Fig. 27B). The data obtained by extracting a point at each corner is given as outer frame data based on a rectangular frame obtained by the reduction data (Fig. 27C). If the label is a directory label (#709), a non-printable area is set at the center of the outer frame data (#710; Fig. 27D). The outer frame data thus created is set in the work area in the storage unit 31 (#711).

The characters are extracted in order from the input character string to obtain the basic font size (#712; Fig. 29A). The basic sizes of the fonts are represented as 16 dots and 24 dots. When characters are to be printed downwards (#713), the vertical and horizontal lengths of the characters to be extracted are reversed (#714, Fig. 29B). The magnification of the vertical and horizontal lengths for the basic font is determined in accordance with the types of the extracted characters (#715). The basic font size is increased using this magnification (#716; Fig. 29C). When italic characters are to be printed downwards (#717 and #718), the size is increased in the vertical direction (#719; Fig. 30A). Magnification is carried out by adding {(Horizontal Length)/3-1} to the vertical length. When italic characters are selected but these characters are not to be printed downwards (#717 and #718), the horizontal length is increased (#720). Magnification is also performed by adding {(Vertical Length)/3-1} to the horizontal length. The inclination of each italic character at the magnifications described above is one horizontal point to three vertical points (or three horizontal points to one vertical point). The amount of magnification varies in Dependence on the character size of the extracted characters, since the characters in all character sizes are set to be tilted at the same angle.

When the print position of the extracted character is set to an upper end (#721), the upper end of the extracted character is aligned with the position of the upper end of a character whose largest size meets the same line, obtaining the actual scores between the upper end of the label and this extracted character and between the left end of the label and the extracted character (#722; Fig. 30B). When the print position of this extracted character is set to the lower end (#723), the lower end of the extracted character is aligned with the position of the lower end of a character whose largest size meets the same line, obtaining the actual scores between the upper end of the label and the extracted character and between the left end of the label and the extracted character (#724; Fig. 30B). When the printing position of the extracted character is set to a middle position, the center of the extracted character is aligned with the position of the center of a character whose largest size falls on the same line, obtaining the actual dot count between the top end of the label and the extracted character and between the left end of the label and the extracted character (#725; Fig. 30B).

The actual dot numbers obtained in the above-described manner are divided by the reduction factor extracted in #707 to obtain reduction distance data representing the relative positions on the outer edge data created in #708 (#726; Fig. 30C). Similarly, the character size of the extracted character is divided by the reduction factor to obtain a reduction character size having the same reduction factor as that of the outer frame data (#727; Fig. 31A). If the character code of this extracted character does not represent a space (#728), a dot pattern representing this extracted character is inserted into the outer frame data in the work area. the storage unit 31 (#729; Fig. 31B). Specifically, a rectangle determined by the reduction character size is set at the relative positions of the outer frame data represented by the reduction distance data. In addition, the inside of the rectangle is filled with dots, thereby creating a dot pattern. The process from #712 to #729 is carried out for all the input characters (#730).

When the vertical length of the label is less than the vertical length of the liquid crystal display unit 7 (#731), the outer frame data set in the working area of the storage unit 31 and the image data consisting of dot data representing each character are read out and displayed at a central position of the liquid crystal display unit 7 (#732; Fig. 31C). When the vertical length of the label is greater than the vertical length of the liquid crystal display unit 7 (#731), the read out image data is displayed from the upper end of the liquid crystal display unit 7 (#733). In this case, since all the image data cannot be displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 7, the display position can be changed by sliding.

When the operations in #732 and #733 are completed, an image (portrait image) whose direction matches the label insertion direction is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 7.

The CPU 30 determines whether an instruction to rotate the display direction of this portrait image is input (#734).

A rotation is entered into device 1 using the keys (shift key + H key). While the image is displayed, its rotation can be instructed using these keys. A key for instructing rotation is not provided in order to avoid increasing the number of keys.

If rotation is specified in #734 (YES), CPU 30 determines whether the image is displayed as a portrait image (#735).

If CPU 30 determines in #735 that the image is displayed as a portrait format image, the portrait format image is rotated 90º counterclockwise (#736).

By this rotation, for example, in a state where the vertical length of the label is longer than the length of the liquid crystal display unit 7 and the portrait image is displayed, and when some image data cannot be displayed without changing the display position by sliding, all the image data can be displayed along the longitudinal direction of the liquid crystal display unit 7.

When the upright image in #735 is displayed, an arrow indicating the insertion direction of the displayed label is displayed (#737).

However, if the displayed image is not a portrait image in #735, the displayed image is rotated clockwise by 90º (#738).

The image rotated clockwise is a portrait image.

When the operation in #732 or #733 is completed, the portrait image is always displayed. The first rotation instruction ("YES" in #734) rotates the portrait image 90º counterclockwise. The second instruction replaces the image rotated 90º counterclockwise with the portrait image.

If no rotation instruction is entered in #734 ("NO"), the CPU 30 waits for an image display end key (clear key) to be pressed (#739). When the end key is pressed, the image display is terminated and the screen returns to the normal editing screen (#740).

In the label printing apparatus of this embodiment, an image of a label of any size can always be displayed as a reduced image printed on the length of the liquid crystal display unit. For this reason, printed images of all labels can be visually perceived without information actually being printed on the labels.

< Sixth Embodiment>

A conventional label printing device can print information on a label that has multiple input columns, such as an index label or a cassette label. In this case, the cursor must be manually moved to each input column after the user recognizes the positions and sizes of the input columns, resulting in troublesome operations.

In contrast, a label printing apparatus of this embodiment can easily perform an input operation on a label having a plurality of input columns, such as an index adhesive label or a cassette label.

The input operation for character strings to be printed on an index adhesive label and a cassette label will be described with reference to Figs. 32 to 36B.

Figs. 32 and 33 are flow charts showing the input process for a character string to be printed on an index adhesive label.

The sheet number assigned to the index sheet is entered to specify all pieces of information such as the vertical and horizontal lengths and the arrangement positions of the index adhesive labels (#800). A print pattern selection screen is displayed as the index adhesive label input screen (#801). This selection screen consists of six kinds of label patterns 51 to 56 shown in Fig. 34. The label patterns 51 to 53 are patterns each designed to print identical character strings in two print areas (columns), while the label patterns 54 to 56 are patterns each designed to print different character strings in two printing areas. When the user moves the cursor to select the desired label pattern (#802), the edit screen selection screen is displayed (#803). The edit screen includes an A-side edit screen and a B-side edit screen. The A-side indicates the upper printing area of the index adhesive label, and the B-side indicates the lower printing area of the index adhesive label. When the user selects the A-side edit screen (#805), the A-side edit screen is displayed on this selection screen (#806). On the other hand, when the user selects the B-side edit screen (#805), the B-side edit screen is displayed (#807). However, when label patterns 51 to 53 are selected on the print pattern selection screen, the B-side edit screen cannot be selected because a character string input entered on the A-side edit screen is copied to the B-side.

On these editing screens, editing operations are performed for character strings to be printed on a label. Even if a character string is to be printed upside down in these editing operations, the screen is displayed in a portrait state. To return to the editing screen selection operation from the editing operation, the cursor is moved upward. When the cursor is moved, the display is switched from the editing screen to the selection screen (#809 and #803). Then, the operation of #804 is performed without interruption. When the cursor is moved further upward, the selection screen is switched to the print pattern selection screen (#810 and #801). Then, the operation of #802 is performed without interruption.

When the editing operation in #806 or #807 is completed (#808), it is checked in #802 whether patterns 51 to 53 are selected (#811). If YES, the character string entered in the editing operation is copied to the B-side work area (#812). In addition, it is checked in #813 whether label patterns 52 and 55 are selected in #812. Since an inverted character string is printed in the A-side print area, information is not printed when this selection is made. for inverting the A-side input character string (#814). In addition, it is checked in #815 whether the label patterns 53 and 56 have been selected in #802. Since an inverted character string is printed in the B-side print area, this selection sets information for inverting the B-side input character string (#816). Upon completion of the above-described processing, the edited character strings and various types of information are stored in a predetermined area of a storage unit 31 (#817). Since the input character strings and the selection contents are stored in the storage unit 31, even if the power is turned off and then turned on, the input character strings are displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 7 in the input form. When the processing in #817 is completed, the processing returns to #801 and the operation continues.

Fig. 35 is a flowchart showing the procedure for entering a character string to be printed on a cassette label.

When a sheet number associated with a cassette sheet is input, all items of information such as the vertical and horizontal lengths and arrangement position of the cassette labels are selected (#820). A selection screen is displayed as a cassette label input screen (#821). This selection screen has three selections 61 to 63 (album title creation, A-side creation and B-side creation) as shown in Fig. 35A. Selection 61 of these selections is a selection for inputting a character string to be printed in an album title column 71 of a cassette label 70 shown in Fig. 36B. Similarly, selections 62 and 63 are selections for inputting character strings to be printed in A-side song title columns 72 and B-side song title columns 73, respectively. When the "Album Title Creation" option is selected (#822), the Album Title Edit screen is displayed (#823) of these options. When the "A-Side Creation" option 62 is selected (#822), the A-Side Edit screen is displayed. (#824). When the "B-side creation" option 63 is selected (#822), the B-side editing screen is displayed (#825). The user edits the character strings to be printed on the label on these editing screens. To return to the selection screen from the editing operation, the cursor is moved upward. When the cursor is moved, the editing screen is switched to the selection screen (#821). Then, the operation of #822 is carried out without interruption. When the editing operation in #823, #824 or #825 is completed (#826), the edited character strings are stored in a predetermined area of the storage unit 31 (#827). Then, the flow returns to #821 and the operation continues.

Since the character strings to be printed can be entered into the appropriate columns of the label, selection errors can be minimized and the label can be created quickly.

< Seventh Embodiment >

The character strings to be printed are prepared as described with reference to the above-described embodiments. The prepared character strings are stored as character string information in a storage unit 31. Under the control of a CPU 30, printing is performed on labels arranged on a label sheet based on the stored data and the preset label information.

In carrying out this printing operation, a device 1 merely detects a corner position as the leading end of the left side of a label sheet and controls different printing operations with reference to this position.

The label sheet feeding control in the printing operation will be described with reference to Figs. 37 and 38.

It is assumed that the character input operation is completed, the stored character strings are loaded, the "Print" key is pressed, and various setting operations are completed. A message such as "Please insert sheet" is displayed on a liquid crystal display unit (#902) to prompt the insertion of a label sheet. The user brings the left side of a label sheet 4 into contact with a side wall 18 and inserts the label sheet through an insertion opening 5. The label sheet 4 is inserted until the leading end of a label sheet A touches two paper feed rollers 8 (Fig. 38). In this state, the label sheet is completely inserted. When the user presses the "Execute" key ("YES" in #904), a sheet feed motor 16 is driven (#906), causing the paper feed rollers 8 to rotate by rotation of the sheet feed motor 16. The feeding of the inserted label sheet A is started in the direction of a printing unit 20.

On the other hand, the CPU 30 monitors the presence/absence of a label sheet using a sheet sensor 19 when feeding the label sheet. The distance between the paper feed rollers 8 and the sheet sensor 19 is defined as L1. When the label sheet is detected by the sheet sensor 19 while being fed by the paper feed rollers 8 by a distance corresponding to L1, the CPU 30 determines that the label sheet is correctly fed ("NO" in #908 and "YES" in #910). After the label sheet is detected by the sheet sensor 19 and further fed by a distance L2, the label sheet is positioned as label sheet C at a predetermined location directly under the printing unit 20. Then, a message "Print" is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 7 (#914) and a predetermined printing operation is carried out (#916).

However, if the label sheet is not detected by the sheet sensor 19 even though the label sheet is fed by a distance greater than the distance L₁ by rotating the paper feed rollers 8 ("NO" in #910 and "YES" in #908), the CPU 30 determines that the label sheet is not fed properly. In this case, the CPU 30 causes the sheet feed motor 16 to move in the reverse direction (#918) to discharge the label sheet from the insertion opening 5. The CPU 39 causes the liquid crystal display unit 7 to display a message instructing to re-feed the label sheet. At the same time, the CPU 30 causes the liquid crystal display unit 7 to display a message prompting a key input to start printing. The process of #904 is repeated.

In the device 1, the label information specifying the shape of the label and the arrangement positions of the labels is stored with respect to the corner position as the leading end of the left side of the label sheet. Since the printing is carried out based on this label information, it is very important to determine whether the corner position of the label sheet is precisely set at the prescribed position.

In this embodiment, the determination of erroneous setting of the label sheet is carried out based on the feeding pitch of the label sheet by the paper feed rollers and the presence/absence of the label sheet by the sheet sensor. However, this determination is not limited to this. Another method for determining erroneous setting of the label sheet may be used as follows. If a label sheet is not detected by the sheet sensor within a predetermined time from the start of feeding by a timer or the like, erroneous setting may be determined.

< Eighth Embodiment >

During the printing process, a so-called skip position can be marked in such a way that a printout on a specific label is not carried out with regard to some hand-written labels of all the labels on the label sheet.

The following describes a printing procedure using this function.

Fig. 39 shows the relationship between a label sheet and labels. A large number of labels 4a having the same size are adhered to a label sheet so that they are arranged at predetermined intervals from each other in the x and y directions. Coordinates (x, y) as position codes are assigned to these labels 4a such that 1, 2, ..., N are assigned in the x direction and 1, 2, ..., M are assigned in the y direction.

After the number of labels to be printed is determined, the first label to be printed is selected from the large number of labels on the label sheet. Note that M represents the number of labels in the y-direction (horizontal direction) and N represents the number of labels in the x-direction (vertical direction) (Fig. 39).

Since the types of label sheets are specified by the setting operations performed previously, the number of labels arranged on one label sheet is determined based on this label information. If the label sheet is determined to be a label sheet having a plurality of labels ("NO" in #1002 or "YES" in #1002 and "NO" in #1004), a print start position setting screen is displayed (#1006). A print start position is input on this setting screen (#1008). This input operation is performed by inputting the coordinate position of the first label to be printed, since coordinates are assigned to the labels on the label sheet. As characters input by the user, letters A, B, G, ... are assigned to the x direction and numerals 1, 2, 3, ... are assigned to the y direction (Fig. 7). For example, to start printing from the label at the coordinate position (1, 2), enter "A-2" and to start printing from the label at the coordinate position (2, 1), enter "B-1". If an unused label sheet is loaded, "A-1" is always set as the initial value, which represents the print start position. This coordinate position is displayed on the Setting screen is displayed. To start printing from this position, the user simply presses the "Execute" key, entering this position as the print start position. The entered coordinate position is stored as the start position (Xs, Ys)₁ (#1010).

A screen for setting the position of one label of all labels on the label sheet that is not printed, i.e., the omission position (#1012), is displayed. The user enters the omission position on this setting screen (#1014). This input operation is performed by entering the coordinate position of the corresponding label in the same way as the print start position input operation. After the coordinate position of one omission position is entered, that coordinate position is stored (#1016). If there is another omission position ("NO" in #1018), the operation in #1014 to #1018 is repeated until all omission positions are determined.

In #1012 and #1014, a label omission position is marked with a marking operation. However, when the omission positions are continuous, an omission range can be set. In this case, a screen for entering the start omission position and the end omission position of the continuous omission positions can be displayed in #1012, and the start and end coordinate positions can be entered at #1014.

However, if the label sheet has only one label ("YES" in #1002 and "YES" in #1004), the print start position and the skip position do not need to be set, and the setting operation is terminated immediately.

After the print start positions and the skip positions are set, the printing process shown in Fig. 14 is carried out.

The coordinate position (Xs, Ys)1 as the print start position specified by the above-described setting operation is set to (x, y) (#1102) to determine whether the coordinate position (x, y) is selected as an ellipsis position (#1004). If no ellipsis position is specified ("NO" in #1104), the print data representing a character string to be printed is set in a memory area corresponding to the position (x, y). If multiple labels to be printed are set ("NO" in #1108), y of the coordinate position is set to y+1 in #1110. The control is moved to a label located to the right of the label at the start position, repeating the operation from #1104 to #1112. In this way, print data to be printed are set sequentially in memory areas according to the corresponding coordinate positions.

When y is set to y+1 in #1110 and the actual horizontal label number exceeds a horizontal label number M ("NO" in #1222), a CPU 30 determines that the print data is already set for a row of labels arranged on the label sheet. In this case, y is set to 1 (#1114) and x is set to x+1 (#1116), so that control is shifted to the next row. At the same time, the position of the left outermost label of this row (row) is stored as a new print start position (Xs, Ys)2 (#1118). When x is set to x+1 in #1116 and the actual vertical label number exceeds a vertical label number N ("NO" in #1120), the CPU 30 determines that the print setting of all the labels arranged on this label sheet is completed. In this case, since y is already set to 1, x is set to 1 in #1222 so that the print start position (Xs, Ys)₂ is updated to a new label sheet position (1, 1).

In this way, after the next print start coordinate position is stored, printing of a label row is performed based on the currently set print data (#1124). In the device 1, the labels arranged on the label sheet are processed in units of rows, and printing is performed in order.

When printing of a series of labels is completed and then printing of all the labels designated is completed ("YES" in #1126), printing is completed. However, if the number of labels printed is not equal to the number of labels to be printed ("NO" in #1126), the CPU 30 determines in #1118 whether the print start position (Xs, Ys)2 is set to (1, 1), that is, whether printing has been completed for all the labels on that label sheet. If there is an unprinted label on the label sheet ("NO" in #1128), the process of #1102 is repeated based on the updated print start position (Xs, Ys)2. If the CPU 30 determines in #1128 that all the labels arranged on the label sheet are printed ("YES" in #1128), a message for requesting the insertion of a new label sheet is displayed on a liquid crystal display unit 7. At the same time, a printing operation for a new label sheet is continued (#1130).

On the other hand, when the print data for the position (x, y) is set in #1106 and the CPU 30 determines that the print data for all the selected labels is set ("YES" in #1108), y of the coordinate position (x, y) is set to y+1 in #1132. From the coordinate position of the label to the right of the label for which the print data is the next print start position, the coordinate position is updated to that coordinate position in #1118. The updated position is stored. Then, printing of a series of labels for which the current print data is set is performed (#1124). Printing is performed for all the selected labels ("YES" in #1126), and printing is completed.

When y in #1132 is set to y+1 and the actual horizontal label number exceeds the horizontal label number M ("NO" in #1134), the CPU 30 determines that the print data is already set for a row of labels arranged on this label sheet. The coordinate position of a label located at the left end of the next line is set as the next print start position (#1136 and #1138). When x in #1138 is set to x+1, and the actual vertical label number exceeds the vertical label number N ("NO" in #1140), the CPU 30 determines that the print setting of all the labels on this label sheet is completed. In this case, the print start position (Xs, Ys)₂ is set to a new label sheet position (1, 1) (#1142 and #1118).

When the printing is finally completed, since the coordinate position serving as the next printing start position is stored in #1118, the coordinate position (Xs, Ys)2 representing the next printing start position is stored in a storage unit 31 corresponding to the sheet number of the label sheet of which some labels have already been used.

An initial setting procedure for the next printing using the label sheet of which some labels have already been used will be described with reference to a flow chart in Fig. 42.

When a power button 6a is pressed, a hardware initialization is performed. If the user selects "Label Creation", two selection menus for "Recreate" and "Continue" are displayed on the screen (#1202).

If the user selects "Continue" at this time ("NO" in #1204), the sheet number of a label sheet of which some labels have already been used is displayed (#1206). If the user confirms the sheet number displayed on the screen and presses the "Execute" button ("YES" in #1208), an editing screen is displayed as a character input screen (#1210). At this time, the previously stored character string is displayed on the screen.

However, if "New Creation" is selected in #1204 ("YES" in #1204), the screen is switched to a selection screen for selecting the sheet number of a label sheet to be used (#1212). If the user enters a sheet number (#1214), the designated label sheet is marked as unused. required label sheet is determined and a coordinate position (1, 1) is set as the print start position (#1216).

Since the flowchart of Fig. 42 partially overlaps the flowchart of Fig. 8, the description made with reference to Fig. 8 also applies thereto.

This embodiment represents a case where the print start position and the like are set for a label sheet having a plurality of groups of labels arranged in the x and y directions. However, when setting data is to be set for a label sheet having only one group of labels in the x or y direction, a setting screen for designating only one of the coordinates such as "A-" or "-1" is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 7.

Since the apparatus 1 has the above-described function, a position where no label exists can be input and selected before printing a label sheet having some hand-written labels, an expensive sensor or the like for detecting the presence/absence of a label is not necessary, and unnecessary areas can be precisely detected. In addition, when printing must be restarted on a label sheet on which some labels have already been used, the user does not need to set the print start position, thus minimizing cumbersome operations to be performed by the user.

< Ninth Embodiment >

The storage and retrieval process of the created character strings is generally described with reference to Fig. 43. A storage unit 31 has a working area 311, a storage area 312 and a retrieval storage area 313. When a character string is is given, this data is stored in the work area 311. The input character string (character string information) is stored in such a way that the character string information read from the storage area 311 and additional information corresponding to this character string information are written into the storage area 312 as a storage file (storage information). The storage files are generally divided into a collective storage file 312a and a single storage file 312b. The collective storage file 312a stores plural pieces of character string information in combination with additional information. The single storage file 312b stores one character string information in combination with additional information. The character string information is loaded into the work area by writing the character string information read from the storage area 312. The reload storage area 313 is a storage area used to reload the character string information in the storage area 312. The additional information written in the storage area together with the character string information includes data for distinguishing bulk storage from individual storage, a label attribute, storage characters, and a sheet number.

The storage operation of a created character string will be described with reference to a flow chart in Fig. 44. A selection screen for selecting the bulk storage or the individual storage is displayed on a liquid crystal display unit 7 (#1301). When the user selects the bulk storage on the selection screen (#1302 and #1303), the CPU 30 determines whether there is enough space in the storage area 312 to store all the character string information held in the work area 311 (#1304). If there is not enough space in the storage area 312, a message indicating a lack of memory is displayed (#1305) and the flow returns to #1301. When the user selects the individual storage on the selection screen (#1302 and #1303), the CPU 30 determines whether there is enough space in the storage area 312 to store a predetermined character string information held in the work area 311 (#1304). area 311 (#1306). If there is not enough space in memory area 312, an out of memory message is displayed (#1307) and the process returns to #1301.

If there is sufficient space in the storage area 312, a storage character input screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 7 (#1308). The storage characters are formed of two characters for identifying each storage file in the storage area 312. When the user inputs storage characters in accordance with the prompt on the input screen, a storage file is created (#1310).

The detailed contents of a storage file creation process in #1310 are shown in a flow chart in Fig. 45. In this process, the start address of an empty area in the storage area 312 is set (#1321). If the user selects the bulk storage in #1302 ("YES" in #1322), a bulk storage identification code is written in the area designated by the start address (#1323). However, if the user selects the individual storage in #1302 ("NO" in #1322), a individual storage identification code is written in the area designated by the start address (#1324). The type (attribute) of the label corresponding to the character string information to be stored is checked to see if it is a cassette label (#1325). If the label type is a cassette label, an attribute code corresponding to the cassette label is written in the area where the identification code is written (#1326). Similarly, the GPU 30 determines whether the label type is an index label (#1327). If YES in #1327, an attribute code corresponding to the index label is written in the next area (#1328). Similarly, it determines whether the label type is a box-shaped label or a ruled label (#1329 to 1332). If the label type does not correspond to any of the above labels, an attribute code corresponding to a normal label is written (#1333). The storage characters are written in an area near the area of the attribute code (#1334). The current sheet number and the character string information are added to the row written to the area near the storage character area (#1335). The storage file shown in Fig. 43 is created by the above procedure.

Since the apparatus 1 can perform batch storage for storing a plurality of pieces of character string information together in addition to individual storage for storing each piece of character string information, the pieces of character string information can be read out collectively. In the printing process, a cumbersome operation for reading out all pieces of character string information one by one to perform individual printing can be avoided. Even a plurality of character strings can be processed in the batch printing process.

A reading operation of the stored character string information is described with reference to a flow chart in Fig. 46. A selection screen for selecting a collective storage scheme or a individual storage scheme of a memory file to be read out is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 7 (#1341). The user selects one of the storage schemes on this selection screen (#1342). An input screen for requesting a key input for retrieval characters is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 7 (#1343). The retrieval characters are defined as memory characters or characters obtained by replacing some or all of memory characters with a space (blank) or spaces. This space indicates any character. For example, if "A" ("A" and a space) is given as the retrieval character, all memory files in which the first character is "A" are retrieved. The memory file reload operation is performed (#1345) when the user enters the reload characters (#1344).

If a designated memory file is not found during the reloading process (#1346), a message regarding the absence of the designated memory file is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 7 (#1347) and the The flow returns to #1343. However, if the selected memory file is found during the retrieval operation (#1346), the first seven characters of the character string information in the retrieved memory file are displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 7 (#1348). If the retrieval characters are only alphanumeric characters without a space, only one memory file is retrieved. Thus, only one character string information of the memory file is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 7. However, if the retrieval characters contain a space, multiple memory files can be retrieved. In this case, multiple pieces of the character string information of multiple memory files are displayed in sequence on the liquid crystal display unit 7.

When the user designates a memory file to be loaded (#1349), the designated memory file is read from the memory area 312 and the memory file string information is written to the work area 311 (#1350).

The detailed contents of the memory file retrieval process in #1345 are shown in a flow chart in Fig. 47. In this process, the memory address of the first memory file is set as the retrieval address (#1361). Additional information of the memory file designated by this retrieval address is loaded (#1362). If the determination result (#1363) of the selection (#1341) of the storage pattern does not match the storage type, i.e., bulk or individual storage, represented by the additional information, retrieval of this memory file is terminated (#1364 and #1365). If the label attribute in the additional information does not match the attribute of the currently edited label, retrieval of this memory file is terminated (#1366). In addition, if the retrieval characters entered in #1344 do not match the storage characters in the additional information, retrieval of this memory file is terminated (#1367). If the reload characters match the memory characters, the memory positions ation information (e.g., a start address) of the retrieved memory file is stored in the retrieval result storage area 313 in the storage unit 31 (#1368). When the retrieval characters include a space, since the space indicates any character, the input retrieval characters may match different pairs of memory characters. In this case, multiple pieces of memory position information are stored in the retrieval result storage area 313. For example, when "A"("A" and a space) is input as the retrieval character, all pieces of memory position information of all memory files that start with the character "A" are stored. When "" (two spaces) is input as the retrieval character, all pieces of memory position information of all memory files are stored. The operation from #1362 to #1368 is performed for all memory files (#1369), while the retrieval address is updated in an order of the memory address of the next memory files (#1370).

A comparison process between the retrieval and storage characters in step #1367 will be described with reference to a flow chart in Fig. 48. The storage characters are read from the additional information of the storage file (#1381). The first character of the retrieval characters is compared with the first character of the storage characters (#1382). If these first characters do not match, it is checked whether the first character of the retrieval characters is a space (#1383). If the first character of the retrieval characters matches that of the storage characters, or the first character of the retrieval characters is a space, the second character of the retrieval characters is compared with the second character of the storage characters (#1384). If the second character of the retrieval characters does not match the second character of the storage characters, it is checked whether the second character of the retrieval characters is a space (#1385). If the second character of the retrieval characters matches that of the retrieval characters or the second character of the retrieval characters is a space, the CPU 30 determines that the retrieval characters match the storage characters (#1386) and the process runs proceeds to #1386. If the first character of the retrieval characters in #1383 is not determined to be a space, or the second character of the retrieval characters in #1385 is not determined to be a space, the CPU 30 determines that the retrieval characters do not match the storage characters, and the process proceeds to step #1369.

The label attributes compared in #1366 represent a classification into a cassette label, a directory label, a card box label, a ruled label and a normal label. The label shapes can be identified in accordance with the sizes of the predetermined sections of the respective labels and the sheet numbers assigned to the respective labels.

Fig. 49A to 51B show the shapes of the respective labels. Fig. 49A shows an index adhesive label sheet and the shape of each index adhesive label adhered to this sheet. "A" to "K" in Fig. 49A define the sizes and the number of the labels. The label is discriminated according to the presence/absence of "J" and "K". As shown in Fig. 49A, a pitch "K" is set, but a length "J" is not.

Fig. 49B shows a card index label sheet and the shape of each card index label adhered to that sheet. A pitch "K" is set in the card index label, but a length "J" is not. For this reason, since the index adhesive label sheet cannot be distinguished from the card index label sheet based on the presence/absence of "J" and "K", the label attributes are distinguished based on the sheet names.

Fig. 50A shows an index adhesive title sheet and the shape of each normal label adhered to this sheet. Referring to Fig. 50A, "J" and "K" are set on the index adhesive title sheet.

Fig. 50B shows a ruled index adhesive label title sheet and the shape of each ruled label adhered to that sheet. Referring to Fig. 50B, "J" is set on the ruled index adhesive label title sheet, but "K" is not.

Fig. 51A shows the shape of a cassette label and Fig. 51B shows the shape of the album title printing area on this cassette label. Referring to Fig. 51A, both "J" and "K" are set on the cassette label.

Since the index adhesive label cover sheet, the ruled index adhesive label cover sheet, and the cassette label can be distinguished from each other based on the presence/absence of "J" and "K", their label attributes can be distinguished from each other based on the presence/absence of "J" and "K". That is, the label attributes are distinguished from each other based on the presence/absence of "J" and "K", and the label attributes of the labels (i.e., the index adhesive label sheet and the card box label sheet) that cannot be distinguished based on the presence/absence of "J" and "K" are distinguished based on the sheet numbers.

As described above, the scheme for distinguishing the label attributes in accordance with the sizes of the predetermined sections ("J" and "K" in this embodiment) of the labels is used. For this reason, when a non-standardized label is to be stored in the storage unit 31 and then used, the labels whose label attributes can be distinguished based on the sizes of the predetermined sections do not need to be assigned the label information associated with the label attributes, whereby storage capacity can be gained.

In this embodiment, if the memory files have different label attributes when compared in #1366, those memory files are deleted from the objects to be reloaded. For this reason, the reloading operation can be performed at high speed. In this way, the memory files with different label attributes are deleted from the objects with different label attributes, because the labels with different label attributes have different shapes, and an expression on the labels cannot be performed even if the string is loaded.

< Tenth Embodiment >

A device 1 can perform a printout on different types of label sheets if these have the same label attributes as those when stored when reading the stored character string.

The corresponding procedures for performing this printing are described below.

Fig. 52 is a flow chart showing the process for inputting a character string and storing it in a storage unit 31. When a sheet number (identification code) of a label sheet on which a character string is to be printed is input (#1400), the vertical and horizontal lengths of a label printing area corresponding to that sheet are read out from the storage unit 31 (#1401). A maximum number of lines (Lmax) suitable for printing characters each having a minimum character size is calculated in accordance with the vertical length of the printing area (#1402). A maximum number of characters (Mmax) suitable for printing characters each having a minimum character size is calculated in accordance with the horizontal length of the printing area (#1403). Then, operations for inputting and editing a character string to be printed are carried out (#1404). If the edited character string is intended to be saved (#1405), a save operation is performed upon completion of the input and editing operations (#1406). This save operation is an operation for saving the edited character string (character string information) and additional information of this character string as a storage file (storage information) in the storage unit 31. The additional information includes character size information of characters constituting the character string, the character appearance attribute of the character string, the sheet number of the label sheet on which the character string is printed, and information for distinguishing an automatic character size from the character size specified by the user.

When the printing operation is instructed to print information on a label upon completion of the operation in #1404, the character string edited by the input/edit operation is printed on a label corresponding to the sheet number input at #1400.

53 and 54 are flow charts for reading out a character string stored in the storage unit 31. When a sheet number of a desired label sheet on which a character string is to be printed is input (#1450), the vertical and horizontal lengths of a print area of a label corresponding to the sheet number are read out from the storage unit 31 (#1451). A maximum line number (Lmax) capable of printing characters each having a minimum character size is calculated in accordance with the vertical length of the print area (#1452). A maximum character number (Mmax) capable of printing characters each having a minimum character size is calculated in accordance with the horizontal length of the print area (#1453). When the storage characters for specifying a storage file are input (#1454), retrieval from a large number of pieces of stored additional information is started (#1455). The storage characters consist of two predetermined characters input when storing the character string information or the like. If no storage file can be found (#1456), as a result of reloading, a message saying that the designated storage file does not exist is displayed and the operation is terminated (#1457). On the other hand, if the storage file is found (#1456), as a result of retrieval, the first seven characters of the character string in the memory file are displayed on a liquid crystal display unit 7 (#1458). This retrieval can be performed by designating one of the two characters as the memory character as described above. In this case, a plurality of memory files can be retrieved with the first seven characters of this plurality of character strings being displayed one after another on the liquid crystal display unit 7. The user moves the cursor vertically to designate a predetermined memory file (#1459). It is checked whether the sheet number entered in #1450 matches the sheet number in the retrieved additional information (#1460). If YES in #1460, the character string information corresponding to this additional information is loaded (#1461). If NO in #1460, the next operation is performed. The line number of the character string in the memory file selected in #1459 is calculated (#1462). If this number of lines is longer than the maximum number of lines (Lmax) calculated in #1452 (#1463), a message saying "This label cannot be loaded" is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 7 (#1464), and the operation returns to #1458. If the maximum number of lines calculated in #1462 is equal to or less than the maximum number of lines (Lmax) (#1463), the maximum number of characters on the line of the character string of the storage file determined in #1459 is calculated in #1465. If this maximum number of characters is greater than the maximum number of characters (Mmax) calculated in #1453 (#1466), a message saying "This label cannot be loaded" is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 7 (#1464), and the operation returns to #1458. If the maximum number of characters calculated in #1456 is equal to or less than the maximum number of characters (Mmax) calculated in #1453 (#1466), the memory file is loaded (#1467). The character size information and the character appearance attribute information in the memory file are deleted, and the character size of the character string in the memory file is set to the automatic character size (#1468). The character appearance attribute information is deleted because the character size is significantly affected by the character appearance attribute. The character size of this character string is set to fit within the print area of the label read out from the memory unit 31 in #1451 (#1469). The character string in the memory file is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 7 in the character size set as mentioned above.

Thereafter, the editing operation of the character string displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 7, the storing operation of the memory file in the storage unit 31, or the printing operation is carried out.

< Eleventh embodiment>

Special digits and symbols that cannot be converted into kanji characters are included in the characters entered by the user. All of these symbols and digits, except for common characters, must be entered using codes or a recall function. For this reason, when these symbols appear frequently, the input operation is time-consuming, causing inconvenience.

A device 1 has a word processing function, which is described below.

With this word processing function, when the user enters a punctuation mark ",", a punctuation mark group consisting of ", ; / \" is displayed on the display. When a period "." is entered, a period group consisting of " . ? !" is displayed on the display. In addition, when a link character "~" is entered, a link character group consisting of "~ - ...·..." is displayed on the display. Similarly, when a parenthesis "(" is entered, a parentheses group consisting of "( [ ..." is displayed on the display. When a digit "2" is entered, a digit group consisting of "2 (2) II ..." is displayed on the display.

Then the user uses the cursor movement keys to move the cursor to the desired data in the data selection group shown on the display. When the user presses the "Confirm" key at that position, the desired data is confirmed. The desired data is updated as unconfirmed data, which is then shown on the display.

A word processing device that has the functions described above is described in detail below.

Fig. 55 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the word processor according to this embodiment. The word processor includes a keyboard 110 for inputting kana characters or letters, a display 120 for displaying character data or converted data, a storage device 130 for storing a conversion program 131, and a CPU 130 for controlling these components. The storage device 130 stores a kanji dictionary 132 in which conversion kanji data is stored, and a retrieval table 133 in which a series of symbol groups and a series of digit groups are stored in addition to the conversion program 131.

The retrieval program 131 stored in the storage unit 130 performs general character retrieval operations and symbol retrieval operations as a characteristic feature of this embodiment. The character retrieval operation is an operation for converting attribute data inputted from the keyboard 110 into Kanji data. On the other hand, the symbol retrieval operation is an operation for converting specific symbol data or digit data inputted from the keyboard 110 into other symbol data.

The contents of the operation of the retrieval program 131 are shown in Fig. 56. The retrieval program 131 monitors a data input via the keyboard 110 by the user and detects a key input of a conversion key (#1510). When the conversion key press is detected, the data input until the conversion key press is checked (#1520). If the input data is character data, character recall is performed (#1530). If the input data is symbol or digit data, symbol recall is performed (#1540).

The symbol retrieval operation as the characteristic feature of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 57 to 58B. Fig. 57 is a flow chart showing the contents of the symbol retrieval operation. Fig. 58A is a view showing the external appearance of the word processor. Fig. 58B is a plan view showing the display contents of the display 120. In the symbol retrieval operation, a group list in which the input symbol or digit data is stored is retrieved and read out from the conversion table 133 (#1610). To enter " " after the already entered data "«New product launch" when ")" is entered in the same group as " " assigned to the keyboard, the symbol group ") "] > ..." is read from the conversion table 133. The read list is displayed in a lower column 121 of the display 120 (#1620). When the user moves a cursor 122 to select a desired symbol from the symbol group (#1630), that symbol becomes confirmed data and is replaced with the entered data (#1640).

The symbol recall operation is performed for the following reasons. A symbol input operation is time-consuming in the conventional word processor because the number of keys of the keyboard is limited and the number of symbols directly assigned to the keys is small. For this reason, a large number of symbols assigned to the keys are input using codes or a recall function. However, according to this embodiment, since a plurality of symbols are divided into groups, even if a desired symbol is not assigned to a specific key, the desired symbol can be selected and input by inputting another symbol belonging to the same group as the desired symbol. In the conventional word processor, the symbols and digits are not objects to be converted and are confirmed simultaneously with the input operation. However, according to this embodiment, when a symbol or digit is input and the conversion key is pressed, a group list is displayed and the selected data is selected from this list, thereby converting the input data into the desired data.

Figs. 59 and 60 show a list of groups of the conversion table 133. In this list, the symbols or digits that can be directly inputted with keys are listed in the left columns and group elements are listed in the right columns. Since the symbols (digits) that are not assigned to the keyboard are normally inputted by codes, several operations are required. However, according to this embodiment, any symbol (digit) in the element list is inputted with a key, the list of the symbol group (element group) is displayed on the display 120, and the user can select a desired symbol (digit) from this element list. In addition, the punctuation group, the period group, the link character group, and the left (right) parentheses group are obtained in such a way that symbols with great geometric similarities are grouped. In addition, digits that represent the same values but have different representation methods are grouped. For example, the numbers "1, (1), I, ..." are grouped. For this reason, even if the group list is not stored, a desired symbol (number) can be found out almost precisely.

According to the word processing apparatus of this embodiment, a time-consuming retrieval of a desired symbol due to the non-assignment of the symbols to the keyboard can be solved, resulting in excellent operability. That is, another symbol (i.e., a symbol assigned to the keyboard) belonging to the same group as the desired symbol is input to select the desired data from the displayed list.

This allows the entered data to be converted into the desired data. By carrying out this input process, the reload time can be significantly reduced.

From the invention thus described, it will be apparent that the invention is susceptible of many variations. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such changes as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (24)

1. A label printing device for entering a desired character string by keys (6) and for printing the entered character string in units of labels (4a) arranged on a label sheet (4), comprising: a display (7) for displaying the character string to be printed, a label sheet sensor (19) for detecting the print reference position of a label on which the character string is to be printed, a storage device (31) which stores: Label information for specifying the size and arrangement position of each label (4a) arranged on the label sheet (4), Identification codes corresponding to different parts of the label information, and Character size information that defines multiple character sizes as character sizes to be printed, and a processor device (30) with a first, second, third and fourth processor device, wherein the first processor means determines the label information according to an input identification code, the second processor means determines a print area of the label from the specified label information to automatically adjust the print area of the label from the detected print reference position on the label, the third processor device performs an optimization calculation to automatically determine the character size to be printed and the to arrange the character string in relation to the horizontal and vertical directions on the label, and the fourth processor device controls the display in such a way that the display shows a print status for the entered character string, and a printing device (20) for carrying out a printing operation on each label (4a). 2. Device according to claim 1, in which the third processor means calculates the horizontal length of the generated character string in units of lines as the number of characters input for each line is increased/decreased, and the fourth processor device selects a character size that is smaller than a character size of the character string and changes the character sizes of all lines to this small character size when the fourth processor device always compares the horizontal length of the generated character string with the horizontal length of the print area of the label in units of lines and a line is present in which the horizontal length of the character string is greater than that of the print area, and the device also contains: fifth processor means for adding the vertical lengths of the character sizes determined by the fourth processor means to obtain a total length of all lines, comparing the total length with the vertical length of the print area of the label, selecting a character size smaller than the character string if the total length is greater than the vertical length of the print area, and changing the character sizes of all lines to this selected small character size. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processor means (30) includes a character spacing assigning means for equally assigning spacings for the input characters, where the character spacing allocation device contains: a sixth processor device for determining the print area of the label from the label information of the label sheet to be printed and for calculating the horizontal length of the print area, a seventh processor means for calculating a total horizontal length of all characters on each line each time the number of input characters is increased/decreased or the size of the input characters is changed, an eighth processor means for subtracting the total horizontal length of the characters calculated by the seventh processor means from the horizontal length of the print area calculated by the sixth processor means in units of lines upon receipt of a key input representing the end of character editing and for calculating a length of a blank area formed in the print area in units of lines, and a ninth processor means for similarly allocating each blank area obtained by said eighth processor means to the characters input for each line based on the blank area of each line obtained by said eighth processor means and the number of characters input for each line. 4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said ninth processor means, when a remainder is formed in the uniform allocation of the blank area to the character spaces, divides the remainder into halves and allocates the halves equally to the blank areas formed at the leading and trailing portions of the character string. 5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the processor means includes a line spacing assigning means for uniformly assigning spacing to the input character string, where the line spacing allocator contains: a tenth processor device for determining the print area of the label from the label information of the label sheet to be printed and for calculating the vertical length of the print area, an eleventh processor means for extracting a character size having a maximum vertical length in units of lines and calculating a total vertical length of all extracted character sizes each time the number of input characters is increased/decreased or the size of the input characters is changed, a twelfth processor means for subtracting the total vertical length calculated by the eleventh processor means from the vertical length of the print area calculated in the tenth processor means upon receipt of a key input representing the end of a character edit and for calculating a vertical length of a blank area formed in the print area, and a thirteenth processor means for equally allocating the blank area obtained in the twelfth processor means to the lines input in the print area on the basis of the blank area obtained in the twelfth processor means and the input lines. 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, when a remainder occurs in the equal allocation of the blank area to the line spaces, the 13th processor means divides the remainder into halves and allocates the halves equally to the blank areas formed over a top and bottom line. 7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the processor means further comprises: a string overflow detection device for determining whether a string fits on a line during editing, where this string overflow detector contains: 14. Processor means for changing an automatically set character size present in this line during editing to a minimum character size in the character size information, 15. Processor means for adding a total horizontal length of the automatically set character size changed to the minimum character size and a total horizontal length of the character sizes arbitrarily set and obtaining a character string length of a character string on one line during editing, and 16. Processor means for always comparing the character string length with the horizontal length of the print area and, if the character string length is longer than the horizontal length of the print area, displaying a character overflow flag between a character string lying in the print area and a character string overflowing the print area in the character string being edited and displayed on the display means. 8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the processor means further includes line overflow detection means for determining whether a character string being edited and entered over multiple lines fits within the print area of the label, where the line overflow detection device contains: 17. Processor means for changing an automatically set character size present in each line during editing to a minimum character size in the character size information, 18. Processor means for extracting a character size having a vertical maximum length from a character string of lines containing arbitrarily set character sizes and a currently edited line, and for obtaining a total vertical length of all lines by adding the vertical lengths of the extracted character sizes, and 19. processor means for continuously comparing the total vertical length of all lines with the vertical length of the print area and, if the total vertical length is greater than the vertical length of the print area, Display a message indicating a line overflow on the display device. 9. An apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the processor means further comprises character size display means for displaying a set character size in an actual size, wherein the character size display device includes: 20. Processor means for reading the vertical and horizontal lengths of a character size from the character size information of the storage means when a change in the character size is instructed, and 21. processor means for causing the display means to display a square corresponding to the read vertical and horizontal lengths. 10. An apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the label information stored in the storage device includes: a list table in which the vertical and horizontal lengths of the different labels are stored, and a reduction table for storing a plurality of predefined reference size data to determine the reduction factors of the different labels and the reduction factor data for reducing the reference size data into smaller sizes than a length of the display device, the plurality of the predefined reference size data being set to correspond to the reduction factor data, respectively, and said processor device further includes an image display device, with: a 22nd processor means for, when the image display of a predetermined label is instructed, reading the vertical and horizontal length data of the predetermined label from the list table and generating the reduction factor data corresponding to a longest size of the reference size data. which is smaller than a longer size of the read vertical and horizontal lengths, and a 23rd processor means for reducing the vertical and horizontal lengths of the predetermined label and a character size of a character to be printed on the predetermined label based on the reduction factor selected by the 22nd processor means, displaying the reduced predetermined label in the form of a rectangular frame on the display means, and displaying each character to be printed on the predetermined label as a dot pattern having a reduced character size at a position corresponding to an interior of the frame. 11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said image display means further includes 24. processor means for swapping the vertical and horizontal lengths of said rectangular frame, reversing vertical dot data and horizontal dot data, and displaying the reversed dot pattern on said image display means when an image is displayed on said display means by said image display means and an instruction for rotating the image by 90º is input. 12. An apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 11, wherein the label printing apparatus is an apparatus for carrying out a printing operation on a label having two columns and the processor means includes: 25. processor means for causing the display means to display a selection screen offering a plurality of selections including a choice of whether each character string printed in each of the two columns of the label is an upright or inverted character string and a choice of whether the character strings printed in the two columns are the same or different, 26. Processor means for displaying an input screen to prompt for input of a type of character string when a predetermined selection is made in accordance with an instruction on the selection screen screen and the character strings to be printed in the two columns are the same, or an input screen for prompting the input of two types of character strings, when the predetermined selection is made in accordance with the instruction on the selection screen and the character strings to be printed in the two columns are different, and 27. Processor means for, when a predetermined character string is entered in accordance with an instruction on the input screen, executing a printing operation on the label in accordance with the selection contents of the predetermined character string. 13. An apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 12, wherein the label printing apparatus is a apparatus for printing input character strings each on a label having three columns, and the processor device contains: 28. processor means for causing the display means to display a selection screen for selecting a desired column from all columns, 29. processor means for causing the display means to display an input screen for prompting input of a character string to be printed in a predetermined column when the predetermined column is selected on the selection screen, and 30. Processor means for executing a printing operation of a plurality of character strings on the label when the plurality of character strings are inputted in accordance with an instruction on the input screen. 14. An apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 13, wherein the label printing apparatus includes: a feeding device for feeding an inserted label sheet to a printing position in the printing process and a position detecting device for detecting whether the label sheet fed by the feeding device is set to a position serving as a reference for the printing process, and the processor device contains a feed control device for controlling the feed of the label sheet to be printed, said feed control device comprising: 31. processor means for causing the display means to display a message prompting a key input to start a printing operation to the user after the user has completed a printing setting operation, 32. processor means for causing the feeder means to begin feeding the label sheet upon receipt of the key input for beginning the printing operation, and 33. Processor means for reversing a feeding direction of the label sheet fed from the feeding means when the label sheet is not detected by the position detecting means when the label sheet is fed by the feeding means by a predetermined distance. 15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said feeding control means further includes processor means for causing said display means to display a message for requesting return of said label sheet when the feeding direction of said label sheet fed by said feeding means is reversed. 16. An apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 15, wherein the label information stored in the storage means includes position information representing the arrangement positions of the labels on different label sheets, size information representing the sizes of the labels, and position codes corresponding to the arrangement positions of the labels, and the processor device still contains 35. Processor means for setting the position information of an unnecessary print label of a plurality of labels arranged on the label sheet on the basis of an input position code when the position code is input to set an arrangement position of the unnecessary required printing labels of the labels arranged on the label sheet, and a 36th processor means for sequentially executing printing operations of the input character strings on respective labels except for the unnecessary label on the basis of the position information determined by the 35th processor means and the position and size information of the label sheet stored in the storage means. 17. An apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 16, wherein the label information stored in the storage means includes position information representing the arrangement positions of the labels on different label sheets, size information representing the sizes of the labels, and position codes corresponding to the arrangement positions of the labels, wherein the storage device includes a position storage unit for storing a predetermined one of the position codes, and This processor device contains: 37. processor means for causing the position storage unit to store the position code representing a print start position of the label sheet to be printed, 38. processor means for defining an arrangement position specified by the position code stored in the position storage unit as a print start position and for sequentially performing a printing operation on the labels based on the position information and the size information of the labels arranged on the label sheet, 39. processor means for determining the position code representing a print start position in the next printing operation based on the arrangement position of a label last printed in the printing operation, and 40. Processor means for updating the position code stored in the position storage unit and for storing the position code, which is determined by the 39th processor device as the new print start position in the position storage unit. 18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said 37th processor means automatically stores a predetermined specific position code in said position storage unit when an unused label sheet is subjected to a printing operation. 19. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said 37th processor means stores a position code arbitrarily inputted by a user into said position storage unit. 20. An apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 19, wherein the processor unit further comprises a storage processor means for storing a combination of the character string information edited by the fourth processor means and the additional information including the label attribute information added in accordance with the label sheet types during the character editing of the character string information in the storage means, wherein the storage processor device includes: single-storage processor means for combining an inputted item of additional information and an inputted item of character string information and storing a combination as single-storage information in the storage means, Preview storage processor means for combining a plurality of pieces of the character string information and an inputted single piece of the additional information and storing a combination as preview storage information in the storage means, selection processor means for causing the display means to display a selection screen to alternatively enable storage of the character string information is selected by one of the single memory processor means and the preview memory processor means. 21. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the additional information according to claim 20 includes a storage character data entry for identifying the character string information stored corresponding to the additional information, and the processor device contains a read-out processor device for reading the memory information stored in the memory device, wherein the read-out memory device contains: 41. processor means for causing the display means to display a screen for prompting input of the memory character data to be read out, 42. Processor means for sequentially reading the additional information from the storage means and selecting the additional information having the same label attribute data as that of a currently edited label sheet, and 43rd processor means for selecting the additional information having the same storage character data as that input by the 41st processor means from the additional information selected by the 42nd processor means. 22. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the additional information includes the identification code of the label sheet which is set during character editing, and the readout processor device further contains: 44. processor means for causing the display means to display a screen for prompting an input or identification code of a desired label sheet to be printed, a 45th processor device for comparing the identification code contained in the additional information provided by the 43rd processor direction with the identification code entered by the 44th processor device and for determining whether the identification codes match each other, a 46th processor means for setting the character string information corresponding to the additional information selected by the 43rd processor means as the character string information to be printed when the 44th processor means determines that the identification codes agree with each other, and 47th processor means for causing the second through fourth processor means to change the character string information to be appropriate for the desired label sheet to be printed when the 45th processor means determines that the identification codes do not match each other. 23. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said readout processor means includes 48. Means for calculating a maximum number of characters and a maximum number of lines of a character string that can be printed within the print area determined by said second processor means using the character having the minimum character size in the character size information, and at the same time causing said display means to display a message representing that a character string selected by said 43. processor means cannot be loaded when the number of characters of the character string selected by said 43. processor means is greater than the calculated maximum number of characters or the number of lines of the character string selected by said 43. processor means is greater than the maximum number of lines. 24. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said readout processor means includes means for calculating a maximum number of characters and a maximum number of lines of a character string that can be printed within the print area determined by said second processor means, wherein said character having the minimum character size in the character information, and simultaneously causing the display means to display a message that a character string selected by the 43rd processor means cannot be loaded when the character number of the character string selected by the 43rd processor means is greater than the calculated maximum character number or the line number of the character string selected by the 43rd processor means is greater than the maximum character number.