JP2004042645A - Tape printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tape printer of which the tape using efficiency is higher and the power consumption can be reduced. <P>SOLUTION: This tape printer forms a label having a margin with a designated length at the front and rear sides of a character string. The tape printer comprises (1) a driving pulse time period information holding means for holding information in relation to a pulse time period of a driving pulse signal to be applied to a print head in accelerating time and decelerating time of a motor forming a tape feeding means and (2) a printing control means that applies the driving pulse signal having the pulse time period to the print head by taking the information in relation to the pulse time period of the driving pulse signal from the driving pulse time period information holding means when a printing mode for printing a character string even in the accelerating time and the decelerating time of the motor is designated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a tape printing apparatus that prints one or more input character strings on a belt-shaped tape.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventional tape printing apparatuses used for spine covers of binders, VCRs (VIDEO CASETTE RECORDER), and title labels of VTRs (VIDEO TAPE RECORDER), etc., use a character input key or the like to input characters. The desired printing tape was produced by printing on the other surface of the tape formed on the surface of the substrate by a thermal transfer method or the like.
[0003]
In a conventional tape printing apparatus, operating elements (keys or buttons, etc.) for inputting characters are arranged on an operation panel, and the user operates these operating elements for inputting characters to select a desired character string in advance. input. In a tape printing apparatus, a tape is sent out from a tape discharge port by driving a tape feeding mechanism. A printing mechanism provided with a thermal head and a tape cutting mechanism are sequentially arranged in the tape conveyance path.
[0004]
When the print operator is operated, the control means of the tape printer controls the tape feeding mechanism to feed the tape at a predetermined speed, and controls the printing mechanism to control the characters inputted beforehand to the sent tape. Cause the columns to print. Further, the control means of the tape printing apparatus continuously controls the tape feed mechanism even when printing of the character string is completed, and feeds the tape until the printed tape portion comes out of the apparatus (idle feed). Thereafter, the running of the tape is stopped.
[0005]
After the user stops the tape running, the user operates the tape cutting mechanism to obtain a user original label in which a desired character string is printed.
[0006]
In the label formed in this way, before and after the character string in the tape longitudinal direction is not printed, a blank space is added by the above-mentioned idle feeding of the tape. In the conventional tape printer, the length of such a margin is fixed. In fact, the tape used in the tape printing apparatus has a release paper on the back side so that the release paper can be peeled off and pasted, and furthermore, it is made possible to perform thermal transfer, and the tape cartridge Since it is housed, it is expensive, and conventionally, the margin was fixed to the shortest possible length.
[0007]
However, since the label is composed of the text portion and the front and rear margins, for example, if the lengths of the front and rear margins are fixed, the user can arbitrarily set the balance between the text portion and the margin. In some cases, the user may not be able to satisfy the label balance.
[0008]
Therefore, a tape printing apparatus that allows the user to specify the front and rear margin lengths from a plurality of types has already been proposed. However, there are tapes having various tape widths that can be loaded into the tape printing apparatus. Even if the margin length is set to be optimal for a tape having a certain tape width, printing on a tape having another tape width is not possible. The margin length of the resulting label is too long or too short. Therefore, every time the loaded tape is changed, it is necessary to change the margin length every time, and it can be said that there is room for improvement in operability.
[0009]
Further, since the tape feeding mechanism performs a mechanical operation, power consumption is large. As mentioned above, tapes are expensive. Therefore, there is a demand to minimize useless tape portions when producing labels. In the conventional tape printing apparatus, the tape portion between the print head and the cutter mechanism is also used as a front margin for the next printing to increase the efficiency of tape use and power consumption. If the length is short, the tape portion between the print head and the cutter mechanism is wasted, and the above requirement is not sufficiently satisfied.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the conventional tape printing apparatus, there is a case where the tape is wastefully used in connection with the function of forming the front and rear margins, and wasteful power consumption is caused by feeding the wasteful tape portion.
[0011]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a tape printing apparatus in which tape use efficiency is higher and power consumption can be reduced.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, an input character string of one or more lines is printed on a tape by a print head while the tape is moved by a tape feeding means, and the printed tape is cut by a cutter, and the front and rear sides of the character string are cut. (1) Information on a pulse period of a drive pulse signal given to the print head when the motor constituting the tape feeding means is accelerated and decelerated. And (2) a drive pulse signal from the drive pulse period information holding means when a print mode for printing a character string is also instructed when the motor is accelerated and decelerated. Print control means for extracting information on the pulse period of the above and providing a drive pulse signal having the pulse period to the print head. It is characterized in.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a tape printer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the tape printing apparatus according to this embodiment.
[0014]
In the tape printer 5, various information necessary for printing is input to the control unit 20 via the input unit 10, and the output unit 30 is controlled by the control unit 20, and the character input from the input unit 10 is performed. The columns and the like are monitored and the character strings are printed.
[0015]
The input unit 10 includes a key input unit 11 that detects a user operation and a tape width detection sensor 12 that detects a width of the tape. The key input unit 11 includes a plurality of operators for inputting characters, an operator for printing, an operator for tape feed, and the like. In response to the operation of these operators, a character code representing a character, each character , And a control code for printing or the like. Thus, the tape printer 5 is formed so that the character input and the character spacing to be printed can be set by operating the key input unit 11 and the character string to be printed can be input in advance. To get you started.
[0016]
In this embodiment, an operation element for instructing the key input unit 11 to stop printing as described later is also provided.
[0017]
The tape width detection sensor 12 detects a physical identification element such as a hole formed in the tape cartridge as indicated by a symbol K in FIG. 3 and outputs the detection result to the control unit 20. Here, the tape cartridge stores and holds the tape in the housing. In the tape printer 5, the tape cartridge is set at a predetermined storage position and a tape is loaded. In the tape cartridge, identification elements such as holes are formed corresponding to the width of the stored tape. The tape printer 5 detects the width of the loaded tape based on the detection result, and further detects the detected tape. The size of a character to be printed can be set according to the width of the character.
[0018]
The output unit 30 includes a printing unit 30a that prints a character string on a tape, and a display unit 30b that displays a character string and the like input via the key input unit 11.
[0019]
The printing unit 30a includes a tape feeding mechanism 31, 33 for feeding the tape T stored in the tape cartridge K at a predetermined speed, a printing mechanism 32 for printing an input character string on the tape sent at the predetermined speed, 34.
[0020]
Here, in this embodiment, as schematically shown in FIG. 3, the tape printing apparatus defines a tape T as shown by an arrow B by driving a tape ribbon feed motor 31 which is a stepping motor. The thermal head 32 and the tape cutting mechanism 37 are arranged in this order along the running path of the tape T. The tape feed mechanism includes a tape / ribbon feed motor 31 for feeding the tape, and a motor drive circuit 33 for driving the tape / ribbon feed motor 31 according to a control command from the control unit 20. In FIG. 3, the illustration of the traveling configuration of the ink ribbon, which is different from the features of this embodiment, is omitted.
[0021]
The thermal head 32 is formed by closely arranging a plurality of heating elements in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tape T, and heats each heating element to thereby separately store the ink ribbon separately stored in the tape cartridge K. Is thermally transferred, and characters and the like are printed on the tape T. The printing mechanism is formed by the thermal head 32 and a head drive circuit 34 that drives the thermal head 32 according to a control command from the control unit 20. In this embodiment, the thermal head 32 is inserted into and held by a window formed in the tape cartridge K so as to press the tape T from an ink ribbon (not shown).
[0022]
Thus, in the tape printer 5, the tape feed mechanism supplies the tape T to the thermal head 32 at a predetermined speed, and at the same time, drives the printing mechanism to sequentially print a character string or the like on the tape T. The tape T can be idle-driven by driving only the feed mechanism alone.
[0023]
The tape cutting mechanism 37 includes two types of cutters 38 and 39 and a cutting operator (not shown) arranged at the end of the operation panel. As shown by an arrow C, the cutter 39 is rotated so as to intersect with the cutter 38 fixed to the tape 38, thereby cutting the tape T with the cutters 38 and 39. As a result, in the tape printer 5, the tape T that has been printed is separated from the tape conveyed from the tape cartridge K by pressing the cutting operator, and a label is formed using the separated tape T. I have. Note that the tape cutting mechanism 37 may automatically cut under the control of the control unit 20.
[0024]
The display unit 30b includes a liquid crystal display 35 disposed on the operation panel, and a display drive circuit 36 that drives the liquid crystal display 35 according to a control command from the control unit 20. This allows the tape printer 5 to confirm the input character string, print typeface, character spacing, and the like via the liquid crystal display 35.
[0025]
The control unit 20 is formed by a microcomputer, and has a central processing unit (CPU) 21, a read only memory (ROM) 22, a random access memory (RAM) 23, a character generator ROM (CG-ROM) 24, an input interface (IF). 25, an output interface (IF) 26 is formed by being connected via a system bus 27.
[0026]
The input interface 25 outputs a control code or the like input from the input unit 10 to the system bus 27 at a specified timing.
[0027]
The CPU 21 executes a processing procedure stored in the ROM 22 in accordance with a control code or the like input via the system bus 27, and thereby controls the operation of the entire tape printer 5.
[0028]
For this reason, the ROM 22 stores a processing program to be executed by the CPU 21, and also stores dictionary data for kana-kanji conversion. Note that the ROM 22 also stores a print cancel processing program described later (see FIG. 1).
[0029]
The RAM 23 forms a work area of the CPU 21 and stores a character string or the like input via the key input unit 11 and a character string subjected to kana-kanji conversion processing together with a control code in the form of a character code. Here, the control code stored in the RAM 23 is a code unique to the tape printing apparatus 5 representing a typeface for printing and display, a character interval, a character size, and the like.
[0030]
A certain area is allocated to the RAM 23 as a print memory 23a, and the tape printer 5 uses the print memory 23a as a buffer memory for printing.
[0031]
The character generator ROM 24 stores font information of characters and symbols to be printed and displayed by the tape printer 5, and in this embodiment, stores bitmap font or outline font information as the font information. I have.
[0032]
The output interface 26 is controlled by the CPU 21 to output font information of the character generator ROM 24 and a control command sent from the CPU 21 to the output unit 30.
[0033]
Accordingly, the CPU 21 accesses the character generator ROM 24 according to the character codes and control codes stored in the RAM 23, and displays the character string input by the user on the liquid crystal display 35.
[0034]
When the CPU 21 detects that the printing operator has been pressed through the input interface 25, the CPU 21 sends a printing start control command to the head driving circuit 34 and the motor driving circuit 33, and then similarly transmits the character generator ROM 24. And outputs the output data of the character generator ROM 24 to the head drive circuit 34 in a prescribed order. At this time, the CPU 21 temporarily stores the font information output from the character generator ROM 24 in the print memory 23a and outputs the same, thereby switching the write and read addresses to and from the print memory 23a, and changing the print size and the character size. The direction and the like are switched.
[0035]
Thus, the CPU 21 sequentially prints the character strings displayed on the liquid crystal display 35 on the tape T in a format desired by the user. When the printing of the character string is completed, the CPU 21 drives the motor driving circuit 33 and then controls the motor driving circuit 33 so as to stop the operation, whereby the tape T is skipped and the printing process is completed.
[0036]
Therefore, after the user operates the key input unit 11 to input a desired character string while monitoring the liquid crystal display 35 on the tape printer 5, the user can simply press the print operator to perform a simple operation. Then, a tape formed by printing the input character string is output to the tape cutting mechanism 37, and the tape cutting mechanism is operated by pressing the cutting operator by completing the feeding of the tape. The label is formed by cutting.
[0037]
When a print stop operation element or a power supply operation element is operated during the printing, the input interface 25 interrupts the CPU 21, and the CPU 21 executes the processing procedure shown in FIG. I do.
[0038]
Note that a dedicated operator may be provided as a print stop operator, but in this embodiment, a general-purpose operator is used in consideration of efficient arrangement of the operation panel surface. For example, a print operator, a delete operator, or an erase operator is used. Here, since the print control is a control related to printing, it is preferable to use the print control as a control at the time of stopping printing because the user can easily recognize the function of the control. The delete operator is an operator having a function of deleting a file or the like, and the cancel operator (some devices are shared with the delete operator) is erroneously input when inputting characters. These controls have the function of canceling past operations, and both of these controls have the same function as the print cancel function of canceling past operations of printing. Is preferable because it is easy to remember as a control to which the print stop function is assigned.
[0039]
When the CPU 21 starts the process of interrupting printing, first, in step 101, it sends a control command to the head drive circuit 34 to stop printing of a character string. Accordingly, when the user notices an error and presses the print stop operation element or the power operation element, the CPU 21 immediately stops printing and effectively avoids wasteful tape consumption. Although a tape printer that manages the number of times a character string is printed has already been proposed, such a tape printer retains the number of prints up to that point in the forced termination during printing in step 101.
[0040]
Subsequently, the CPU 21 proceeds to step 102 and blinks the message “Stop printing!” On the liquid crystal display 35. Thus, in the tape printer 5, even a user unfamiliar with the operation can confirm through the liquid crystal display 35 that the intended operation has been performed.
[0041]
Thereafter, the CPU 21 proceeds to step 103, and waits for the elapse of a specified time of a timer that has started measuring time from the end of step 101, and sends a control command for stopping operation to the motor drive circuit 33. As a result, the tape T has been fed by the specified amount. Here, the idle feeding at the time of normal printing is performed to secure a blank area that is not printed by a length selected by the user after the printed character string, whereas in this embodiment, The idle feeding performed after the printing is stopped is performed for a distance L from the position of the printing unit of the thermal head 32 (that is, the position where the heating elements are arranged) to the cutting position by the cutters 38 and 39 (see FIG. 3). ).
[0042]
The tape printing apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured to be able to cut the tape T at the rear end of the character string whose printing has been stopped when the cutting operation is pressed by the user after the end of the idle feeding. I have. Therefore, the tape can be cut in such a manner that the tape is minimized without the need for the user to perform an operation such as tape feeding. That is, even when a user unfamiliar with the operation of this type of tape printing apparatus 5 operates, the wasteful consumption of the tape T can be reduced without performing a complicated operation after printing is stopped.
[0043]
When the tape T has been fed in this way, the CPU 21 proceeds to step 104, turns off the blinking display of the print stop, and then determines in step 105 whether the operated operator is an operator of the power supply. I do.
[0044]
Here, if the user operates the power supply operator to generate an interrupt, the CPU 21 proceeds to step 106, turns off the power supply, and ends this processing procedure. On the other hand, if the print cancel operation is operated and an interrupt occurs, the user wants to operate the tape printing apparatus 5 continuously, so the interrupt processing procedure is immediately terminated and continued. Wait for the operation of the operator.
[0045]
In the above configuration, the character string input in advance via the key input unit 11 is stored in the RAM 23 together with the control code in the form of a character code. When the printing operator is operated in this state, the tape T is supplied to the thermal head 32 at a predetermined speed by the tape / ribbon feed motor 31, and the print memory 23a is further stored in the print memory 23a in accordance with the character codes and control codes stored in the RAM 23. The font information is output from the character generator ROM 24 to the head driving circuit 34 via the character generator ROM 24, and the character string input in advance is printed on the tape. If printing is stopped or the power supply is operated in the middle of this printing, the printing by the thermal head 32 is controlled to stop, and then a message of printing stop blinks, and the thermal head 32 is disconnected by the cutters 38 and 39. The tape T is fed by the distance L to the position. Further, when the operator of the power supply is operated, the power supply is subsequently cut off and the operation ends. On the other hand, if the operator for canceling printing is operated, the idle feeding is performed, and then the operation of the following operator is awaited.
[0046]
According to the above-described embodiment, when printing is stopped or a power switch is operated in the middle of printing, printing is immediately stopped, and then the tape is fed by the distance from the thermal head to the cutting position by the cutter. As a result, the tape can be fed and held so as to minimize the waste of the tape, whereby complicated operations can be simplified and the waste of the tape can be reduced.
[0047]
Further, according to the above embodiment, the print stop message is displayed, so that the user can know that the tape printing apparatus has received the print stop command, and the usability can be improved.
[0048]
Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, general-purpose operators that are easy for the user to remember that the print suspension function is assigned are applied as the print suspension operators, so that the layout efficiency of the operators can be increased. At the same time, usability can be improved.
[0049]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the tape T is idle-fed by the distance L from the thermal head 32 to the cutting position by the cutters 38 and 39 after stopping the printing has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. In all cases other than the stop of printing, if the tape T is fed at least by the distance L from the thermal head 32 to the cutting position by the cutters 38 and 39 after printing the last character, waste in subsequent printing is reduced. This can also reduce unnecessary consumption of tape.
[0050]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which printing is stopped when a general-purpose print stop operator or a power source operator is operated during printing. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A dedicated operator may be arranged for use.
[0051]
Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the case where the tape is manually cut by pressing the cutting operator has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be widely applied to the case where the tape is cut by a motor or the like. it can. In this case, the usability of this type of tape printing apparatus can be improved by cutting the tape after stopping the printing and feeding the tape idle.
[0052]
Furthermore, in the above embodiment, when the printing is stopped, the tape T is fed by the distance L from the thermal head 32 to the cutting position by the cutters 38 and 39, but the rear side margin is formed. The idle feed amount when print stop is instructed during the post-feed may be smaller than this. The point is that the tape may be fed idly even after the print stop command to the position where the last print position is eliminated by cutting by the cutters 38 and 39.
[0053]
Next, a second embodiment of the tape printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described.
[0054]
First, the overall electrical configuration of the tape printing apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG.
[0055]
5 differs from FIG. 2 in the first embodiment in part of the processing programs and data stored in the ROM 22. The ROM 22 according to the second embodiment also stores various processing programs and fixed data such as kana-kanji conversion dictionary data.
[0056]
Processing programs and fixed data unique to the second embodiment stored in the ROM 22, data stored in the RAM 23, and the like will be described in detail later. The ROM 22 stores a processing program 22a for taking in input characters, which will be described later, and a development program 22b for printing. When the programs 22a and 22b are executed, a work area for the processing is appropriately formed in the RAM 23. You. Other configurations are the same as those in FIG.
[0057]
In this embodiment, two half-width numerals (1/2 reduced numbers) having the same size as other characters are provided. In the following, a half-width numeral input process and an expansion process at the time of printing are provided. Will be described in order with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B.
[0058]
FIG. 4A is a flowchart showing a process for inputting a half-width numeral and the like. In the case of this embodiment, half-width numerals are prepared as symbols, and when a key for instructing symbol input (for example, a key for exclusive use of symbol input) is operated, the CPU 21 stores in FIG. ) Is started.
[0059]
In this embodiment, as the half-width numbers to be provided for input, those for "0" to "9" are prepared.
[0060]
First, in step 201, the CPU 21 causes the liquid crystal display 35 to display an initial candidate for the symbol type. For example, various types of symbols, such as symbols for VTR cassettes, unit symbols, symbols for description, creature symbols, vehicle symbols, mathematical symbols, etc., are prepared. In this embodiment, half-width numerals are used as described above. Are also prepared as one symbol type, and the symbol type most frequently used among them or the symbol type selected immediately before by the learning function is displayed as an initial candidate. In the case of a device that displays a plurality of symbol types at once, for example, the cursor is positioned at the current candidate and blinked.
[0061]
Thereafter, the CPU 21 determines in step 202 whether a selection key or a change key (for example, a cursor movement key corresponds) has been operated, and when the change key has been operated, in step 203, the current candidate of the symbol type ( Then, the process returns to step 202 described above.
[0062]
When the selection key is operated in a situation where a certain symbol type is currently a candidate, the process proceeds from step 202 to step 204, where the CPU 21 determines the selected symbol type. When a symbol type other than a half-width numeral is selected, the CPU 21 proceeds to the processing routine shown in step 205 and performs a symbol selection process within the symbol type.
[0063]
On the other hand, if the selected symbol type is a half-width numeral, the CPU 21 causes the liquid crystal display 35 to display any half-width numeral as an initial current candidate in step 206. In the case of this embodiment, the display of half-width numbers is displayed by taking an area for one character for display. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, a dot pattern S1 indicating a half-width number and the number itself are displayed. The combination symbol of the hatched dot pattern S2 is displayed in the size of one character, and a display different from the representation of a numeral having the same character width as a general kanji character as shown in FIG. Done. Naturally, the CG-ROM 24 is provided with a font as shown in FIG.
[0064]
When the half-width numeric character of the current candidate is displayed, the CPU 21 determines in step 207 whether a selection key or a change key (for example, a cursor movement key corresponds) has been operated. In, the current half-width numeral candidate (the blinking half-width numeral) is changed, and the process returns to step 207 described above.
[0065]
When the selection key is operated in a situation where a certain half-width numeral is currently a candidate, the process proceeds from step 207 to step 209, where the CPU 21 determines that the half-width numeral of the current candidate has been selected, and enters the input character in the RAM 23. This half-width numeric code is stored next to the last character code in the buffer area of the column, and the display buffer area is also operated to return the display to the character input screen at the stage when the symbol key is operated. At the same time, a dot pattern as shown in FIG. 6A for defining the selected half-width numeral is displayed at the character input position indicated by the cursor when the symbol key is pressed, and a series of processing ends. I do.
[0066]
Here, in this embodiment, the code of the half-width numeral is not a set of the code representing the half-width and the numeral code, but one code having the same bit number as the code of the other character represents the half-width numeral. For example, when “1”, “0”, “2”, and “3” of the character string “October 23” are each half-width numerals, each character of these character strings is represented by hexadecimal notation, “EC61”, “EC61” EC60 "," 8C8E "," EC62 "," EC63 ", and" 93FA ". By doing so, it is easy to extract the display font of half-width numerals from the CG-ROM 24.
[0067]
Although the description has been omitted above, the symbol selection operation can be canceled halfway by the user pressing the cancel key during the symbol selection process.
[0068]
As described above, in this embodiment, the user needs to select from among the symbols each time a half-width numeral is input. Therefore, when inputting N half-width numeric characters, the user needs to execute the selecting operation from the symbol N times.
[0069]
By the way, as a method of designating a half-width numeral, a method is provided in which a key for designating a half-width mode is provided, and a number input between two presses of this key is taken in as a half-width numeral (this itself constitutes another embodiment). Also, when the half-width designation key is operated twice, the numbers from the already-entered number at which the cursor is located at the first operation to the already-entered number at which the cursor is located at the second operation are taken in as half-width numbers. There is a method (which itself constitutes another embodiment). However, in this embodiment, selection is made from symbols as described above for the following reasons.
[0070]
Since the tape printer has various character sizes, it is possible to respond to a request for reduction of alphabets or the like by selecting a character size. Therefore, in this embodiment, only half-width characters (half-width numbers) are used for numbers only. It is to be applied. Since the number of half-width characters is thus limited, it is not necessary to prepare a large number of symbols even if the characters are selected from the symbols, and the configuration of the apparatus (such as the CG-ROM 24) is hardly complicated. In the other selection method as described above, a new input processing routine that does not exist in the conventional tape printing apparatus must be provided. It is not efficient in terms of effective utilization of capacity. On the other hand, in the method of selecting from symbols, it is not necessary to provide a new input processing program, and it can be dealt with by partially changing the symbol selection processing program.
[0071]
In this embodiment, one half-width numeral is displayed on the liquid crystal display 35 in the size of one full-width character as shown in FIG. 6A for the following reason. Displaying in the size of one full-width character can be easily performed by preparing a font according to the CG-ROM 24. On the other hand, if two half-width numerals are to be displayed in the size of one full-width character (which itself constitutes another embodiment), an arithmetic process for that is required, and the process becomes complicated. Moreover, it is necessary to change the display position according to the progress of the input, and it is inefficient to perform a process of displaying two half-width numerals in the size of one full-width character every time the display position is changed.
[0072]
Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 4B, of a process of expanding each character during printing (naturally, a process of expanding half-width numbers).
[0073]
Character expansion at the time of printing is performed by repeatedly executing expansion of each character unit of a character string. FIG. 4B is a flowchart showing the expansion processing of each character that is repeatedly executed as described above. In the case of vertical printing, a method of rotating the font (dot pattern) from the CG-ROM 24 at the time of development and a method of storing the font (dot pattern) from the CG-ROM 24 as it is at the time of development and driving the thermal head 32 There is a method of rotating and reading out the data when it is performed, but the following description will be made on the assumption that the latter is used. In other words, the description will be made on the assumption that the development processing itself is the same for both horizontal writing and vertical writing.
[0074]
When starting the process shown in FIG. 4B, the CPU 21 first determines in step 211 whether the current character to be expanded is a half-width numeral. If it is not a half-width numeral, in step 212, the same expansion processing as in the past is performed, and the expansion processing for the current expansion target character is completed.
[0075]
On the other hand, if the current character to be expanded is a half-width numeral, the CPU 21 determines in step 213 whether the next character to be expanded is also a half-width numeral.
[0076]
If the next expansion target character is also a half-width numeral, the CPU 21 proceeds to step 214 and places the first one of two consecutive half-width numerals in the font development area (area 1) defined by the print pointer. Is read out from the CG-ROM 24 and expanded. The character size in this case is determined by the attribute of the print target character string. Further, for example, a correspondence table between half-width numeric codes and corresponding full-width numeric codes is stored in the ROM 22, and this table is used in the processing of step 214. FIG. 7A shows an image of the expansion processing in step 214. Subsequently, in step 215, the CPU 21 compresses the decompressed font in half (１ ／) only in the horizontal direction, and stores it in the left half of area 1. FIG. 7B shows an image of the compression storage processing in step 215.
[0077]
As a method of compressing the developed font in half (１ ／) only in the horizontal direction, a method of calculating the logical sum of two dots adjacent in the horizontal direction can be applied as shown in the following equation.
[0078]
Dnew (Xn, Ym) = Dold (X2n-1, Ym) + Dold (X2n, Ym)
Next, the CPU 21 proceeds to step 216 to place an unused font development area (referred to as area 2; for example, the area next to the area defined by the print pointer) among the two consecutive half-width numbers. The font (dot pattern) of the full-width numeral having the same number as the first half-width numeral is read from the CG-ROM 24 and developed. FIG. 7C shows an image of the expansion processing in step 216. Subsequently, in step 217, the CPU 21 compresses the expanded font in half only in the horizontal direction, and stores it in the right half of the area 1. FIG. 7D shows an image of the compression storage processing in step 217.
[0079]
On the other hand, if the current character to be expanded is a half-width numeral but the next character to be expanded is other than a half-width numeral, the CPU 21 proceeds to step 219 and places the current expansion target character in the font expansion area 1 defined by the print pointer. After reading from the CG-ROM 24 a full-width numeral font having the same number as the half-width numeral as the target character and decompressing it, in step 220, the decompressed font is compressed only in the horizontal direction by half, and the left half of area 1 In step 221, the right half of the area 1 is blanked.
[0080]
When the dot development for the area 1 defined by the print pointer is completed as described above, in step 218, the CPU 21 increments the print pointer by one and ends a series of development processing for the current character to be developed.
[0081]
When the font information expanded by such expansion processing is printed, if the print target character string includes, for example, two half-width numerals, as shown in FIG. 8A or FIG. As a result, a label in which two half-width numbers are printed in the size of one other character is obtained. FIG. 8A shows the case of horizontal writing, and FIG. 8B shows the case of vertical writing.
[0082]
As described above, in this embodiment, the CG-ROM 24 is prepared with only double-byte numeric printing fonts, and corresponds to half-width numeric characters by reduction processing. Even in the conventional tape printing apparatus, there is a reduced character size in which a font of a certain character size is reduced and treated as a full-width character in order to diversify the character size. Available for
[0083]
As described above, the expansion processing which is different from the conventional processing by introducing the half-width numerals has been described. However, as the processing at the time of printing which is different from the conventional processing by introducing the half-width figures, the flowchart is not illustrated. Although omitted, there are other processes depending on the number of characters, such as a tape length determination process and a character size determination process. When N half-width numerals continue, the number of characters is processed as a rounded integer of N / 2 when N is even and N / 2 when N is odd.
[0084]
According to the above-described embodiment, since it is made possible to receive and print the input of half-width numbers, it is possible to increase the variety of number printing and obtain a print label that does not give a sense of incongruity even for multi-digit numbers such as month, day and address. A tape printer can be realized.
[0085]
In the above, another embodiment with respect to the second embodiment has been described. However, the following other modified examples can be further provided.
[0086]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where “0” to “9” are prepared as half-width numerical symbols to be used for input selection is shown, but symbols for two digits of “00” to “99” are also prepared. You may do it.
[0087]
In the above-described embodiment, only full-width fonts are prepared as print numeric fonts. However, half-width numeric fonts may be prepared. In this case, a two-digit font of "00" to "99" may be prepared. By doing so, the capacity of the CG-ROM 24 increases, but a higher speed of the expansion processing can be expected.
[0088]
In the above embodiment, when an odd number of half-width numerals are consecutively printed, the last one is printed in a half-width size. However, printing may be performed in a full-width size. In addition, when an odd number of half-width numbers are consecutive, the first one may be printed independently, and thereafter, the two half-width numbers may be printed in a full-width size as a set.
[0089]
Next, a third embodiment of the tape printer according to the present invention will be described. Although the second embodiment can deal with only 1/2 reduced numbers (half-width numbers) as printable reduced numbers, the third embodiment can deal with a plurality of types of reduced numbers. is there. That is, if M reduced numbers are printed side by side, 1 / M reduced numbers printed in the same size as normal full-width characters are not only those having a reduction rate of 1/2, but also 1/3, .., 1 / J reduction ratio is also available.
[0090]
The overall configuration of the third embodiment is almost the same as that of the second embodiment shown in FIG.
[0091]
The process of inputting reduced numbers is almost the same as that of the second embodiment (see FIG. 4A), but differs in the following points.
[0092]
Also in the case of the third embodiment, the reduced numbers are prepared as symbols, and the CPU 21 is stored in the ROM 22 when a key for instructing symbol input (for example, a dedicated key for symbol input) is operated. A processing program for capturing symbols (see FIG. 4A) is started. In this embodiment, the reduction numbers of each reduction ratio (1/2, 1/3,..., 1 / J) to be provided for the input are prepared for "0" to "9". I have.
[0093]
First, the CPU 21 causes the liquid crystal display 35 to display the initial candidates of the symbol type, and when the change key is operated, changes the current candidate of the symbol type. When the key is operated, the CPU 21 determines the type of the selected symbol (see steps 201 to 204). When a symbol type other than the 1 / M (M is 2 to J) reduced number is selected, the CPU 21 performs a symbol selection process within that symbol type (see step 205). If it is a 1 / M reduced number, the CPU 21 causes the liquid crystal display 35 to display any 1 / M reduced number as an initial current candidate (see step 206). In the case of this embodiment, the display of the 1 / M reduced number is displayed taking an area for one character for display. For example, as shown in FIG. 9 (A) or (B), 1 / M (1 / 3 or 1/4) A combination symbol of a dot pattern S1 indicating a reduced number and a hatched dot pattern S2 indicating the number itself is displayed in the size of one character, and has the same character width as a general kanji character. Is displayed differently from the numeric representation. Naturally, the CG-ROM 24 is provided with fonts as shown in FIG. 9 (A) or (B).
[0094]
When the 1 / M reduced number of the current candidate is displayed, the CPU 21 determines whether the selection key or the change key is operated, and when the change key is operated, changes the current candidate of the 1 / M reduced number, When the selection key is operated in a situation where a certain 1 / M reduced number is currently a candidate, the CPU 21 determines that the 1 / M reduced number of the current candidate has been selected, and stores a buffer of the input character string in the RAM 23. The code of the 1 / M reduced number is stored next to the last character code in the area, and the display buffer area is also operated to return the display to the character input screen at the time when the symbol key is operated. In addition, a dot pattern as shown in FIG. 9A or 9B for defining the selected 1 / M reduced numeral is displayed at the character input position indicated by the cursor when the symbol key is pressed. Is allowed by the series of processing is terminated (see step 207-209).
[0095]
Also in the third embodiment, the code of the 1 / M reduced number is not a set of the code representing the 1 / M reduction and the number code, but one code having the same bit number as the code of the other character is 1 / M. M represents a reduced number. This makes it easy to extract the display font of the 1 / M reduced number from the CG-ROM 24.
[0096]
Next, expansion processing of each character at the time of printing (naturally, expansion processing of 1 / J reduced numbers) will be described with reference to FIG.
[0097]
Character expansion at the time of printing is performed by repeatedly executing expansion of each character unit of a character string. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the expansion processing of each character which is repeatedly executed as described above. In the case of vertical printing, a method of rotating the font (dot pattern) from the CG-ROM 24 at the time of development and a method of storing the font (dot pattern) from the CG-ROM 24 as it is at the time of development and driving the thermal head 32 There is a method of rotating and reading out the data when it is performed, but the following description will be made on the assumption that the latter is used. In other words, the description will be made on the assumption that the development processing itself is the same for both horizontal writing and vertical writing.
[0098]
When starting the processing shown in FIG. 10, the CPU 21 first determines in step 301 whether or not the current expansion target character is a reduced number. If it is not a reduced number, in step 302, the same expansion processing as in the past is performed, and the expansion processing for the current expansion target character is completed.
[0099]
On the other hand, if the character to be expanded this time is a reduced number, the CPU 21 recognizes the reduction rate 1 / M in step 303 and then, in step 304, reduces the reduction rate including the reduced number to be expanded this time. It recognizes how many (here L) numbers are consecutive. The upper limit of the continuous number L to be recognized is the reciprocal M of the reduction rate 1 / M recognized in step 303. That is, L ≦ M.
[0100]
Next, in step 305, the CPU 21 sets a parameter K for defining the order of the L consecutive numbers to one. Then, the CPU 21 proceeds to step 306, and uses an unused font development area (area 2) unrelated to the font development area (area 1) defined by the print pointer; Area), a font (dot pattern) of the same full-width numeral as the K-th 1 / M reduced numeral is read from the CG-ROM 24 and developed. The character size in this case is determined by the attribute of the print target character string. Further, for example, a correspondence table between the 1 / M reduced numeral code and the corresponding full-width numeral code is stored in the ROM 22, and this table is used in the processing of step 306.
[0101]
Subsequently, in step 307, the CPU 21 compresses the font in the area 2 to 1 / M in the horizontal direction, and stores it in the K-th M divided area in the area 1. As a method of compressing the expanded font to 1 / M only in the horizontal direction, a method of calculating the logical sum of M dots adjacent in the horizontal direction can be applied as shown in the following equation.
[0102]
Dnew (Xn, Ym)
= Dold (XMn- (M-1), Ym))
+ Dold (XMn- (M-2), Ym))
...
+ Dold (XMn-1, Ym)
+ Dold (XMn, Ym)
Thereafter, in step 308, the CPU 21 compares the parameter K with the continuous number L to determine whether or not the expansion for the last 1 / M reduced numeral in L has been completed. In step 309, after the parameter K is incremented by one, the process returns to step 306 described above.
[0103]
When the processing loop consisting of steps 306 to 309 as described above is repeated and dot development of L 1 / M reduced characters for the area 1 defined by the print pointer is completed, a positive result is obtained in step 308, and the CPU 21 In step 310, the print pointer is incremented by one, and a series of expansion processing for the current expansion target character is completed.
[0104]
FIGS. 11A to 11F show the area 1 and the area at the time of dot development for three consecutive 連 続 reduced numbers “1”, “2”, and “0” by the development processing shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a change of No. 2 in time series. In the dot development processing for two consecutive 1/3 reduced numbers "1" and "2", the contents stored in the area 1 at the end of the development are as shown in FIG.
[0105]
According to the third embodiment described above, it is possible to cope with various numeric expressions desired by the user in the second embodiment and above.
[0106]
As a partially modified embodiment of the third embodiment, the same modified embodiment as that of the second embodiment can be used, and description thereof will be omitted.
[0107]
Next, a fourth embodiment of the tape printer according to the present invention will be described. The fourth embodiment relates to a printing effect on the entire character string to be printed (hereinafter referred to as a sentence), not on the effect on numeral printing as in the second and third embodiments.
[0108]
Note that the overall electrical configuration in the fourth embodiment is also represented in the same manner as the functional block diagram of FIG. 5 described above, and thus description thereof will be omitted. However, some processing programs executed by the CPU 21 are different.
[0109]
Hereinafter, the storage format setting processing executed by the CPU 21 and related to the features of the fourth embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0110]
Here, the format refers to a printing effect on the text to be printed. That is, regardless of whether vertical and horizontal character strings are mixed, whether there are portions with different numbers of lines, or where there are portions with different character sizes of lines, the printing effect is for the entire text. For example, it refers to a label length, a length of a margin before and after a label, and a printing effect such as whether or not all characters are mirror characters.
[0111]
The format includes a storage format stored on the device side and a text format set for each text to be printed. When a new text is created, the storage format is copied as a text format, and in the case of the fourth embodiment, the format change is allowed for the storage format.
[0112]
When the format key of the key input unit 11 is operated, the CPU 21 starts the process shown in FIG. 13, and in step 400, information relating to the label length and the print position of the text on the label (hereinafter, print position attribute information and In step 401, the print position attribute information is determined.
[0113]
The tape printing apparatus according to this embodiment also allows the user to specify the length of the label to be printed and ejected, and the print position attributes include “normal”, “forward alignment”, “center alignment”, and “center alignment”. There is "backward alignment" and "assignment."
[0114]
"Normal" means that the user does not specify the length of the label, and the effective length of the label is the length of the margin and the sentence before and after the instruction as described later. "Left-justify" means to take the margin length specified in the front margin of the label length specified by the user, and then secure the necessary length in the text part, and the rear margin is the remaining length. It is assumed that. "Centered" means that the required length of the text part is secured in the center of the label length specified by the user, and the remaining part before and after becomes a margin, and at least the user specifies the margin The margin should be greater than the margin. "Left-justify" takes the margin length specified in the margin behind the label length specified by the user, secures the necessary length in the text part before that, and replaces the margin on the front with the remaining margin. Length. “Assignment” is to assign the designated margin length to the margins before and after the label length specified by the user, and to evenly allocate the sentence portion to the remaining central part. The CPU 21 causes any of these to be selected, for example, by a menu method.
[0115]
If “normal” is designated, the CPU 21 fetches margin length information in step 403, and then fetches other format information in step 404. If any of “front alignment”, “back alignment”, “center alignment”, and “layout” is instructed, the CPU 21 sequentially acquires label length information and margin length information in steps 402 and 403. After that, in step 404, other format information is fetched.
[0116]
The menu stored in the storage format area of the RAM 23 is also used as the first menu displayed when the various types of information described above are fetched. When the power is turned on, a default value of the storage format stored in the ROM 22 is set in the storage format area.
[0117]
When the end of the setting is instructed after other format information (mirror characters and the like) is set, the CPU 21 stores the storage format contents of the storage format buffer used at the time of input in the storage format area of the RAM 23 in steps 405 to 407. At the same time, after storing as a text format stored in the text area of the RAM 23 (newly storing or updating existing content), the state is returned to the state before the setting of the storage format was instructed. The processing is executed, and a series of save format setting processing ends.
[0118]
Next, the process of capturing the margin length in step 403 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0119]
When such processing is started, the CPU 21 displays an initial candidate option of a margin type in step 410, and then determines an input key in step 411. Note that the initial candidate options are, for example, those that have been set so far. When a key input for instructing the change of the candidate option is made, the CPU 21 changes and displays the candidate option in step 412 in accordance with, for example, the change order of the candidate option shown in FIG. 12B, and returns to step 411. On the other hand, when the selection key is operated, in step 413, the CPU 21 stores in the storage format setting buffer of the RAM 23 the determined blank type of the candidate option and returns to the main routine (FIG. 13).
[0120]
Even if a specific length is displayed and a margin is selected, it is difficult for the user to understand the image. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, “extremely small”, “smallly”, “normal”, “largely”, “largely” Characters such as "extra large" are displayed and the margin is selected. The margin length for these “extremely small”, “slightly less”, “normal”, “largely”, and “extra large” is fixedly selected, for example, as shown in FIG. The table is stored. In FIG. 12 (C), the number is shown in mm, but is actually stored as the number of pulses for feeding of the tape / ribbon feeding motor 31 which is a stepping motor. Therefore, the margin length shown in FIG. 12C and FIG. 12D described later is an approximate length.
[0121]
In the fourth embodiment, in addition to the general margin types for selecting a fixed length as described above, margin types such as “automatic”, “continuous”, and “cutout” are provided.
[0122]
Here, “automatic” is a margin type for automatically setting the margin length according to the width of the loaded tape, and the label is almost similar even if the width of the loaded tape is changed. Is obtained. For example, as shown in FIG. 12D, a margin length corresponding to the tape width is set. A conversion table for this purpose is also provided in the ROM 22.
[0123]
The reason why the margin length is set to 9 mm when the tape width is 6 mm and 9 mm is as follows. In the case of the third embodiment, the distance between the thermal head 32 and the cutter is 8 mm, and after the tape / ribbon feed motor 31, which is a stepping motor, rotates at a steady speed, the thermal head 32 is driven and Printing is to be started, and the tape feed amount from the stop state to the steady rotation of the tape / ribbon feed motor 31 is about 1 mm. Therefore, even if the text printing is started immediately at the time of printing, there is a 9 mm blank portion before the text.
[0124]
Therefore, the blank portion of 9 mm was used as a blank length for tapes of 6 mm and 9 mm width. For a 6 mm wide tape, a shorter blank length is preferred in terms of obtaining an approximate label. For this reason, it is conceivable to print a cut mark and then print a sentence portion while securing the front margin, but in this case, the user cuts the discharged label at the position of the cut mark. And the term "automatic", which means that manual operation is unnecessary, is not well-known.
[0125]
Therefore, the blank length is set to 9 mm for a 6 mm wide tape.
[0126]
In the fourth embodiment, when the margin length is "extremely small" of 1 mm, a method of printing a cut mark, and securing a front margin, and then printing a text portion is adopted. .
[0127]
“Continuous” is a type of margin for printing a sentence with a margin length of 0, and takes into account the label efficiency when the sentence is printed plural times continuously. That is, as shown in FIG. 14A, in the first printing, a cut mark is printed immediately, and the process proceeds to the printing of the text portion. When the printing of the text portion is completed, the tape is stopped without feeding the tape. Even in the second and subsequent printings, a cut mark is printed immediately, and the printing of the text portion proceeds. When the printing of the text portion is completed, the tape is stopped without feeding the tape.
[0128]
The "margin left" shown in FIGS. 12 and 14 is a blank portion of the ejected tape that does not constitute a label portion of the tape, and is a portion that is unnecessary as a label and should be removed.
[0129]
“Cutout” is a pattern (a pattern in which dots are arranged in a matrix form, hereinafter referred to as a grid dot or a grid dot pattern) consisting only of intersections of lines on grid paper, and is superimposed on a text portion to cover the entire printing area. The type of margin to print. That is, as shown in FIG. 14B, at the time of the print command, the printing of the grid dots is started immediately, and when the front blank portion is completed, the text portion and the grid dots are overlapped and printed, and after the printing of the text portion is completed. Prints square dots in the rear margin.
[0130]
Here, the provision of the "cutout" is intended as a guide when the user cuts the discharged label and processes it into a label having desired front margin, rear margin, upper margin and lower margin. This is because the convenience of cutting has been improved.
[0131]
Next, the process at the time of printing, particularly the process of forming the front and rear margins, will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0132]
In the text area of the RAM 23, a text with a format is stored, and the user can instruct printing at an arbitrary time while the text is stored in the text area.
[0133]
When the print key is operated, the CPU 21 starts the printing program shown in FIG. 15, first fetches the tape width information in step 500, and in step 501 based on the format information of the text area, , The length of the rear margin (therefore, the length of the label), the front feed amount, the rear feed amount, and the like. Here, the idle feeding of the tape is called a feed. A feed before the text is called a front feed, and a feed after the text is called a post feed.
[0134]
Here, when the margin type is “automatic”, information on the tape width is directly used to determine the lengths of the front margin and the rear margin.
[0135]
The tape width information may be taken in from the tape width detection sensor 12 at this time, or the tape width information read out from the tape width detection sensor 12 and stored in the RAM 23 when the tape cartridge is loaded may be taken out. Is also good. When a tape is not loaded, although a process is not shown, a warning is displayed and a series of processes is immediately terminated.
[0136]
When the tape portion (8 mm) between the thermal head 32 and the cutter can be used for the front margin, it is used as it is, so the length of the front margin does not always match the front feed amount. The rear feed amount is basically the sum of the length of the rear margin and the length (9 mm) due to the displacement between the thermal head 32 and the cutter. The rear feed is performed to form the rear margin and adjust the final position of the rear margin (and thus the final position of the label) to the cutter position.
[0137]
Thereafter, in step 502, the CPU 21 develops the text in the text area of the RAM 23 into a print buffer. If a half-width number or a 1 / M reduced number exists in the text, the above-described expansion method of the second or third embodiment is applied.
[0138]
Next, the CPU 21 determines in step 503 whether or not to print a cut mark. If a cut mark is required, the CPU 21 prints the cut mark in step 504. As described above, printing of cut marks is required for the “continuous” and “minimum” margin types. The printing of the cut mark may be performed by developing dots, or may be performed by controlling a dot on / off signal given to the thermal head 32 by software.
[0139]
Thereafter, in step 505, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the previous feed is necessary. If necessary, in step 506, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the previous feed is accompanied by printing of grid dots. Then, if the feed is the front feed without the printing of the grid dots, the CPU 21 controls the drive of the tape / ribbon feed motor 31 to perform the feed before in step 507. In step 508, the drive control of the tape / ribbon feed motor 31 and the drive control of the thermal head 32 are also performed appropriately to execute the pre-feed accompanied by the printing of the grid dots.
[0140]
As is clear from FIGS. 12C and 12D, the types of margins that require the front feed are “normal”, “large”, “extra large”, and “cutout” (FIG. 12C). "Automatic" (FIG. 12D) when a tape having a width of 12 mm or more is loaded. As described above, “cutout” involves printing square grid dots.
[0141]
Thereafter, in step 509, the CPU 21 controls the drive of the tape / ribbon feed motor 31 and also controls the drive of the thermal head 32 in accordance with the contents of the print buffer to execute the printing of the text.
[0142]
Next, in step 510, the CPU 21 determines whether or not a post-feed is necessary. If necessary, in step 511, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the post-feed is accompanied by printing of grid dots. Then, in the case of the post-feed without the printing of the grid dots, the CPU 21 drives and controls the tape / ribbon feed motor 31 in step 513 to cause the post-feed. In step 512, the drive control of the tape / ribbon feed motor 31 and the drive control of the thermal head 32 are also performed appropriately to execute the post-feed with the printing of the grid dots by the amount of the rear margin, and further, the final margin A simple post-feed is performed until the position reaches the cutter position.
[0143]
When the post-feed is completed or when the post-feed is unnecessary, the CPU 21 ends a series of printing processes and returns to the text display screen at the time of the print instruction.
[0144]
As is apparent from FIG. 12C, the rear feed is necessary except for “continuous”.
[0145]
The tape / ribbon feed motor 31 is continuously driven throughout the preceding feed, sentence printing, and subsequent feed periods, and the thermal head 32 is appropriately driven according to the tape position. Therefore, in practice, the total number of drive pulses is initially set for driving the tape / ribbon feed motor 31, and is decremented by 1 each time a pulse is given to the tape / ribbon feed motor (stepping motor) 31. A control method for stopping the motor 31 when is set to 0 is adopted.
[0146]
Here, during the processing of steps 503 to 513, if the operation key of “print stop” is operated, the print stop interruption processing as described in the first embodiment is executed.
[0147]
The printing of the grid dots may be performed by developing them in a print buffer, or may be performed by software control when transferring the dot on / off signal to the thermal head 32. May be provided by providing the hardware configuration described above.
[0148]
FIG. 16 shows an example of an electrical configuration for printing square dots provided in the head drive circuit 34.
[0149]
In FIG. 16, the grid dot control unit 50 is supplied with a drive pulse for the tape ribbon feed mode 31 and an enable signal that takes a significant level only during printing of grid dots. In the significant period of the enable signal, the grid dot control unit 50 makes the output pulse significant only once every time M motor drive pulses are given. Each of the OR gates 51-1,..., 51-X,... To which the output pulse from the grid dot control unit 50 is applied corresponds to every N thermal elements of the thermal head 32. From the dot on / off signal given by the controller and the output pulse from the grid dot controller 50.
[0150]
Therefore, the output pulses from each of the OR gates 51-1,..., 51-X,... Are all turned on for every M motor drive pulses regardless of the dot on / off signal given from the control unit 20 side. Since each OR gate 51-1,..., 51-X,... Corresponds to every N thermal elements of the thermal head 32, when these output pulses are considered on a tape, they become square dots. ing.
[0151]
The output pulse from each of the OR gates 51-1,..., 51-X, and the dot on / off signal that does not pass through the OR gates are output by the AND gate (53-) set by the head effective width control unit 52 to the open state. 1 to 53-Y) and is given to a thermal element driver (54-1 to 54-Y with a predetermined width) to turn on and off a specific thermal element.
[0152]
According to the fourth embodiment, the "automatic" mode for printing so that the margin type has a fixed margin corresponding to the tape width is provided, so that when the user sets "automatic", the tape width is set to "automatic". Can be obtained, and a user can easily obtain a label having a margin desired by the user.
[0153]
Further, according to the fourth embodiment, since the margin type is provided with the “cutout” for printing the square dot in the front and rear margins and the text portion, the square dot is printed when the user sets the “cutout”. Then, the user can perform cutting to form a desired margin using the grid dots as a guide, and the user can easily obtain a label having a desired margin.
[0154]
Next, a fifth embodiment as an application of the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings, focusing on differences from the fourth embodiment.
[0155]
In terms of hardware, the fourth embodiment differs from the fourth embodiment in that a cutter operation detection sensor for detecting that the cutter has been operated is provided. When an automatic cutter is applied, the cutter operation detection sensor need not be provided.
[0156]
In the fourth embodiment, taking into account the physical distance (8 mm) between the thermal head 32 and the cutter and the tape feed amount (1 mm) until the tape / ribbon feed motor 31 composed of a stepping motor reaches a steady rotation, the “automatic operation” is performed. In the 6 mm and 9 mm width tapes, a 9 mm margin that does not require the printing of cut marks is provided. Therefore, a slightly longer margin is set for other tape widths.
[0157]
In the fifth embodiment, the "automatic" margin is set as shown in FIG. 17 so that similar labels can be obtained for 6 mm and 9 mm wide tapes. That is, the length is set to 3 mm for a 6 mm tape and 6 mm for a 9 mm tape, which is shorter than a predetermined length of 9 mm determined by the physical distance between the thermal head 32 and the cutter.
[0158]
FIG. 18 shows a part of a printing process for forming such a short front margin without printing a cut mark.
[0159]
Note that the processing of FIG. 18 is also performed in the case of “extremely small” or “slightly small” in which the margin length is set shorter than the predetermined length 9 mm determined by the physical distance between the thermal head 32 and the cutter. The part shown in FIG. 18 corresponds to the processing from step 506 to step 509 in FIG.
[0160]
Further, before the processing of the portion shown in FIG. 18 is executed, a printing interruption position to be described later is determined (see step 601). The print interruption position is a position where printing for 9 mm- (margin length) has been performed.
[0161]
When the CPU 21 enters step 600 because the previous feed is unnecessary, the CPU 21 controls the drive of the tape / ribbon feed motor 31 and also controls the drive of the thermal head 32 in accordance with the development contents of the print buffer to execute the printing of the text. In step 601, printing of the sentence is temporarily stopped when the head position of the sentence is moved from the cutter position to the thermal head 32 by a distance corresponding to a predetermined front margin. Thereafter, in step 602, the CPU 21 controls the display drive circuit 36 to display a message requesting the user to perform a cutter operation on the liquid crystal display 35, and in step 603, waits for an operation detection signal from the cutter operation detection sensor. When the operation detection signal is given, in step 604, the CPU 21 controls the drive of the tape / ribbon feed motor 31 and also controls the drive of the thermal head 32 in accordance with the development contents of the print buffer to restart the printing of text. .
[0162]
In the case of an apparatus having an automatic cutter, steps 602 and 603 are a tape cutting process by driving the automatic cutter.
[0163]
With this processing, a part of the tape portion existing between the thermal head 32 and the cutter at the time of the print command can be used as the front margin (see FIG. 20 described later).
[0164]
In the fifth embodiment, it is assumed that the driving force of the tape / ribbon feed motor 31 cannot be released from the tape. Therefore, if the text is printed after waiting for the steady rotation, a strange blank space is formed in the text by the tape feed amount during acceleration and deceleration before and after printing is interrupted.
[0165]
Therefore, in the fifth embodiment, text is printed even when the tape / ribbon feed motor 31 is accelerated or decelerated in the processing portion of FIG. At the time of acceleration and deceleration, the tape feed speed is naturally lower than the speed at the time of steady rotation. Therefore, during acceleration and deceleration, the on-period (pulse width) of the dot on-off signal is changed from that during steady rotation.
[0166]
FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram thereof. In the case of the fifth embodiment, information as shown in FIG. 19 is stored in the ROM 22. It is assumed that the tape / ribbon feed motor 31 needs five drive pulses at the time of acceleration from the stop state to the steady state, and at the time of deceleration from the steady state to the stop state.
[0167]
Since the tape speed is the slowest during the first drive pulse period during acceleration and the fifth drive pulse period during deceleration, the on-period (pulse width) of the dot on-off signal is minimized, and during the regular rotation. The drive pulse period closer to the speed is closer to the normal ON period (pulse width) of the dot ON / OFF signal.
[0168]
Through such control, sufficient print quality can be obtained even when printing is performed during acceleration and deceleration of the tape / ribbon feed motor 31.
[0169]
FIG. 20 shows how a front margin of 3 mm is formed. At the time of a print command, as shown in FIG. 20A, a tape portion of the physical length (8 mm) exists between the thermal head 32 and the cutter 60. In such a situation, the process proceeds to the process shown in FIG. 18, and when the printing of the text is started and thereafter temporarily stopped, as shown in FIG. 20B, a predetermined distance is set between the position of the cutter 60 and the head position of the text. The length of the front margin (3 mm) is formed. In this situation, if the user performs the cut in accordance with the message requesting the cut, the label has a desired front margin as shown in FIG.
[0170]
Therefore, also according to the fifth embodiment, the margin type is provided with “auto” for printing so as to have a fixed margin corresponding to the tape width. Therefore, when the user sets “auto”, the tape width is set to “auto”. , The user can easily obtain a label having a margin desired by the user, and print a square dot on the front and rear margins and a sentence portion according to the margin type. Since the “cutout” is provided, when the user sets the “cutout”, the grid dots are printed, and the user can perform cutting for forming a desired margin using the grid dots as a guide, which the user desires. The user can easily obtain a label having a margin.
[0171]
Further, according to the fifth embodiment, even if the length of the margin is shorter than the predetermined length, the tape portion on the front side of the thermal head can be used as the front margin, and the tape use efficiency can be improved.
[0172]
Furthermore, according to the fifth embodiment, the text is printed even when the tape is accelerated and decelerated, so that the tape portion sent during the tape acceleration and deceleration does not need to be blank, and from this aspect Also, the use efficiency of the tape can be improved.
[0173]
Further, according to the fifth embodiment, the tape feed amount as a whole is reduced, and power consumption can be reduced.
[0174]
In the above description, other embodiments obtained by modifying the fourth and fifth embodiments have been described. However, the following other embodiments can be further included.
[0175]
A printing method in which a cut mark is added even when the margin is short in “automatic” may be adopted.
[0176]
The "automatic" for determining the margin length according to the width of the loaded tape may be provided with more, usually, less, etc. stages.
[0177]
In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which “cutout” is set as a margin type, but it may be specified by another specifying method. For example, a “cutout print key” may be provided in addition to the print key to specify the printing of the grid dots. In this case, the margin set in the text may be applied as the margin.
[0178]
The printing of the text at the time of acceleration and deceleration of the tape may be performed even when the margin length is longer than a predetermined length without interruption of printing.
[0179]
Next, a sixth embodiment of the tape printer according to the present invention will be described. The sixth embodiment is characterized by printing (enlarged printing) for forming a label larger than the loaded tape width in a pseudo manner.
[0180]
Note that the overall electrical configuration in the sixth embodiment is also represented in the same manner as the functional block diagram of FIG. 2 described above, and thus description thereof will be omitted. However, the difference is that a processing program for enlarged printing is prepared as a processing program executed by the CPU 21.
[0181]
In the tape printing apparatus according to this embodiment, a normal printing operation and an enlarged printing operation are provided as printing operations, and when the normal printing operation is operated, the above-described FIG. And a printing operation as shown in FIG.
[0182]
Therefore, hereinafter, an operation at the time of enlarged printing which is the characteristic processing in the sixth embodiment will be described.
[0183]
The CPU 21 starts the enlargement processing program shown in FIG. 21 when the user operates the enlargement printing operator while the text is displayed on the liquid crystal display 35.
[0184]
First, at step 701, a message requesting the user to specify the magnification is displayed on the liquid crystal display 35, and the magnification N designated by the user is taken in accordance with the message. At this time, all the numbers representing the magnification may be displayed and selected with the cursor and the selection operation element, or the number representing the magnification may be input and selected. For example, the former is applied if the enlargement factor received by the apparatus is small, such as when the magnification is twice or three times.
[0185]
When the magnification N is instructed, the CPU 21 determines in step 702 the magnification N, the width of the loaded tape detected by the tape width detection sensor 12, and the attribute specified for the character string to be printed. The print attributes such as front and rear margins and character positions of each tape portion divided into N portions in the tape longitudinal direction are determined.
[0186]
In the case of this embodiment, various attributes such as a character size type, a method of providing front and rear margins, a printing tape length, and the like are assigned to the character string, and these attributes are for normal printing. We decided to use these attributes for enlarged printing.
[0187]
For example, based on the width of the loaded tape detected by the tape width detection sensor 12 and the attribute specified for the character string to be printed, during normal printing, as shown in FIG. When specific print attributes such as the front and rear margin lengths are determined, and the magnification N is 2, as shown in FIG. 22B, the completed label is doubled both vertically and horizontally. In addition, as shown in FIG. 22C, specific print attributes such as character positions and front and rear margin lengths are determined so as to obtain a tape in consideration of the completed label.
[0188]
After determining the print attributes in this way, the CPU 21 proceeds to a specific print operation after step 703. First, in step 703, a variable n representing the number of printing stages (the order of the tape portion when viewed in the tape width direction) is set to a value of 1, and the tape ribbon feed motor 31 is driven to drive the front margin ( In the example of FIG. 22, the tape is skipped by 2d).
[0189]
Next, the CPU 21 proceeds to step 704, accesses the CG-ROM 24 according to the character code and control code stored in the RAM 23, stores the output data of the CG-ROM 24 in the print memory 23a, and furthermore, the CPU 21 The head drive circuit 34 is driven based on the font information stored in the storage area 23a, thereby printing the portion of the character string input by the user in advance with respect to the n-th tape portion on the tape T. In this access, the CPU 21 accesses the print memory 23a corresponding to the enlargement factor N specified by the user, and prints the n-th tape portion defined by the variable n at the enlargement factor N specified by the user. I do.
[0190]
Here, if the font information stored in the CG-ROM 24 is font information of a bitmap font, it is represented by a set of two-dimensional logical "1" or logical "0" dot data in the horizontal and vertical directions. However, in normal printing, this is developed at a print position on the print memory 23a defined by two-dimensional addresses in the horizontal and vertical directions, and the thermal head 32 is sequentially driven according to the developed dot data. By doing so, characters can be printed with the number of points stored in the CG-ROM 24.
[0191]
On the other hand, in the case of enlarged printing, the same dot data is repeated N times in the horizontal direction, and then the same dot data is repeated N times in the vertical direction to obtain N times the dot data. And perform such processing at the time of development. When developing for the tape portion of the first stage, the developing is performed for all the tape portions of all the stages, and then, when reading for driving the thermal head 32, the address is controlled to The dot data for the tape portion of the step may be read (see FIG. 22B for an image of the development).
[0192]
In addition, in this process, when vertical writing printing is instructed, when reading dot data from the CG-ROM 24, the addresses in the vertical and horizontal directions are exchanged and read, and stored in the print memory 23a.
[0193]
The MU in FIG. 23 is a character string corresponding to the first-stage tape portion (the upper half tape portion) that has been processed as described above and printed on the tape T when 2 is selected as the magnification N. Is shown.
[0194]
Further, when partially printing a character string in this manner, the CPU 21 controls the head drive circuit 34 in accordance with a detection signal from the tape width detection sensor 12 so as to form margins at the upper and lower ends of the tape T. Control the drive width. Further, when partially printing this character string, the CPU 21 causes the tape T to be skipped between characters as necessary, thereby printing a character string partially at the character interval set by the user.
[0195]
When the printing of the character string for the n-th stage is completed in this way, the CPU 21 proceeds to step 705 where the tape T is fed by the specified amount, and the blank at the rear end of the label (see FIG. ) Is created.
[0196]
Next, the CPU 21 proceeds to step 706, where it determines whether or not the value of the variable n matches the magnification N set by the user. This determination is for determining whether or not printing has been completed for all tape portions. Therefore, for example, in the case where the magnification is twice, if only the upper half MU of the character string has been printed, a negative result is obtained, and the CPU 21 proceeds to step 707.
[0197]
After incrementing the variable n by one in step 707, the CPU 21 prints the marker M in the next step 708. Here, the marker M is formed of, for example, two points of a fixed size regardless of the magnification (see FIG. 23). The printing of the marker M may be executed by storing it as font information of the character generator ROM 24 and developing it in the print memory 23a. In addition, a command is issued on a transfer path from the print memory 23a to the head drive circuit 34. An off / on conversion circuit for selectively forcibly converting an off dot into an on dot when given may be executed.
[0198]
The CPU 21 determines, on the tape T, the position of the intersection of the boundary between the upper and lower margin areas formed at the time of printing the character string and the dividing line of each of the tape portions N of the n-th and (n + 1) -th stages (or this intersection and its adjacent position). (Several points) is printed as a marker M. Therefore, a user who uses the printed tape can simply and accurately remove the upper and lower margins simply by removing the upper and lower ends of the tape T with a cutter or the like based on the marker M. When the tape portions (T1 and T2) are stuck, it is possible to effectively avoid a space between the upper and lower character strings, an unnatural overlap, and the like.
[0199]
When the marker M is printed in this way, the CPU 21 proceeds to step 709, feeds the tape T by the specified amount, and feeds the tape T only by the blank portion at the head of the label, and then returns to step 704. As a result, the CPU 21 performs printing on the second tape portion.
[0200]
By repeating such printing for each tape portion, printing on the tape portion of the last stage is eventually completed (for example, see the tape portion MD in FIG. 23A), and a positive result is obtained in step 706.
[0201]
At this time, the CPU 21 proceeds to step 710, and empties the tape T by the distance L (see FIG. 3) from the printing portion of the thermal head 32 (that is, the position where the heating elements are arranged) to the cutting position by the cutters 38 and 39. To complete the processing procedure, and return to the state at the time when enlargement printing was instructed. By this idle feeding, for example, in the tape portions T1 and T2 divided into two parts based on the marker M, the distance from the end of the character string to the end of the tape parts T1 and T2 is kept equal. .
[0202]
FIG. 23A shows a tape T that has been printed twice as large and discharged from the apparatus. The tape T that has been printed on the basis of the position of the marker M on the tape T is divided into two tape portions T1 and T2, and upper and lower margins of each of the tape portions T1 and T2 are removed. When T2 is arranged in the width direction of the tape and attached to the spine of a file or the like, as shown in FIG. 23B, a large label can be formed as if large characters were printed on one wide tape. it can.
[0203]
Therefore, according to the sixth embodiment, when a character string is partially printed sequentially and a label larger than the tape width is formed, a marker indicating the tape dividing position is printed. The user can cut the tape T so that the size of the end can be matched in each tape portion, that is, the character misalignment can be effectively avoided.
[0204]
Further, according to the above-described embodiment, since the marker also defines the area of the upper and lower margins in the tape width direction, unnecessary upper and lower margins can be deleted based on this marker, and the pseudo wide area can be deleted. Labels can be formed accurately.
[0205]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where a marker is formed by printing dots has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a cross-shaped mark extending in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction is used as the marker. Is also good.
[0206]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the marker indicating the dividing position also indicates the upper and lower margin area in the tape width direction. However, the marker indicating the upper and lower margin area in the tape width direction and the marker indicating the dividing position And may be separate.
[0207]
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to a tape printer that automatically provides upper and lower margins in the tape width direction. However, the present invention is also applicable to a tape printer that does not have an automatic upper and lower margin forming function. Can be.
[0208]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the marker is formed at the dividing position is described. However, such a marker may be printed at the forefront end and the tail end of the tape.
[0209]
In the above-described embodiment, the enlargement printing operation (dedicated or general-purpose operation device) different from the normal printing operation device is provided to start the enlargement printing. May be provided, and when the print operator is operated, the attribute may be determined to start enlarged printing. In this case, various attributes related to the character string may be set to values in accordance with the selection when enlarged printing is selected.
[0210]
【The invention's effect】
According to the tape printing apparatus of the present invention, (1) a drive pulse period information holding unit that holds information on a pulse period of a drive pulse signal given to a print head when a motor constituting a tape feed unit is accelerated and decelerated. And (2) when a print mode for printing a character string at the time of acceleration and deceleration of the motor is instructed, the information on the pulse period of the drive pulse signal is extracted from the drive pulse period information holding means, and the pulse period is determined. Since there is provided a print control unit that supplies the drive pulse signal to the print head, it is possible to provide a tape printing apparatus capable of further increasing tape use efficiency and reducing power consumption.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an interruption process of printing suspension according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the tape printing apparatus according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a printing mechanism according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a half-width numeral input process and a printing process according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a tape printing apparatus according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a method for displaying half-width numerals according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flow of a print halftoning process according to the second embodiment;
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of printing half-width numbers in the second embodiment.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a method for displaying 1 / M reduced numbers according to the third embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating font expansion processing during printing according to the third embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a flow of a 1 / M reduced number printing expansion process according to the third embodiment.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a table indicating a margin type and a process of setting a margin in the fourth embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating processing for setting a storage format according to the fourth embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of margin types “continuous” and “cutout” according to the fourth embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process according to a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an output unit for printing square grid dots according to a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a margin and a tape width in “automatic” according to the fifth embodiment.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating main processing of printing according to the fifth embodiment.
FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a drive pulse width for a print head during acceleration / deceleration of a tape / ribbon feed motor according to a fifth embodiment.
FIG. 20 is a diagram showing how a short front margin is formed in the fifth embodiment.
FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating enlarged printing processing according to a sixth embodiment.
FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a process of determining a print attribute during enlarged printing according to the sixth embodiment.
FIG. 23 is a view of the tape surface shown for explaining the enlarged printing operation of the sixth embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 input unit, 11 key input unit, 20 control unit, 21 CPU, 22 ROM, 23 RAM, 30 output unit, 32 thermal head, 35 liquid crystal display.

Claims (2)

While the tape is being run by the tape feeding means, the input character string of one or more lines is printed on the tape by the print head, and the printed tape is cut by the cutter to specify the front and rear sides of the character string. In a tape printing apparatus for forming a label having a margin of length,
At the time of acceleration and deceleration of the motor constituting the tape feed unit, a drive pulse period information holding unit that holds information on a pulse period of a drive pulse signal given to the print head,
When a print mode for printing a character string is also instructed at the time of acceleration and deceleration of the motor, information on the pulse period of the drive pulse signal is extracted from the drive pulse period information holding means, and the drive pulse having the pulse period is extracted. A print control unit for supplying a signal to the print head. The print control unit includes:
When a print mode in which the designated length of the front margin is shorter than a predetermined length determined by the distance between the print head and the cutter, printing of a character string is started immediately, and the start position of the print character string and the The character string printing is interrupted when the length between the cutters reaches the specified front margin length, and the character string is also printed when the motor is accelerated and decelerated during the printing period before this interruption. A first control unit for causing
A second control unit that confirms that the cutter has been operated in the interrupted state, resumes printing of the character string, and prints the character string even when the motor is accelerated immediately after the restart. The tape printer according to claim 1.

Images