JP3189924B2 - Tape printer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape printing apparatus for printing characters such as characters and symbols on a tape as a printing medium, and more particularly to a tape printing apparatus having an improved display form on a display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, the applicant of the present application has disclosed a Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No.
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 50, a tape printing apparatus equipped with a keyboard, a display, and a printing mechanism and capable of printing characters and symbols on a tape (for example, tape widths of 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 mm) as a print medium. Then, a tape printing apparatus suitable for producing a tape-shaped label suitable for attaching to a spine of a file was put into practical use, and a tape printing apparatus provided with various editing functions was proposed.
In the tape printer, the width of the tape can be changed by exchanging the tape cassette, and the character is printed in a character size corresponding to the tape width. More recently, in certain display modes, the display
A tape printer configured to display a print image similar to a character printed on a tape has been put into practical use.

[0003]

In the conventional tape printing apparatus, the display size of the character displayed on the display is set irrespective of the tape width. Because the printing state of the character cannot be grasped in relation to the tape width, and the display character size is not configured to be enlarged, the display character size is small when the tape width is small or when printing on multiple lines, etc. There is a problem that the operability sometimes deteriorates. Further, since the display font storage means and the print font storage means are separately provided as the character font storage means, there is a problem that the production cost of these font storage means becomes expensive. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to make it possible to grasp the printing state of a character in relation to a tape width in a tape printing apparatus, to make it possible to display a character in an enlarged manner as necessary, and to reduce the production cost of font storage means. And so on.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape printing apparatus comprising: an input unit for inputting characters such as characters and symbols and various commands; Storage means for storing character data, display means including a display capable of displaying characters, font storage for storing dot patterns of a large number of characters for a plurality of sizes, and display image data to be displayed on the display Display data buffer for storing characters, display control means for receiving display image data from the display data buffer and controlling the display means, printing means for printing characters on a tape as a print medium, and a tape cassette detachably mounted In a tape printing apparatus having:

The tape width detecting means for detecting the width of the tape in the tape cassette, the width of the tape, the character display size of the character, and the width of the effective display area for displaying the character on the display are previously associated with each other. Display condition data storage means set and stored for a plurality of display magnifications, display magnification setting means for selecting and setting the display magnification, data of the tape width detected by the tape width detection means,
The display character size of the character and the width of the effective display area are determined based on the data of the display magnification set by the display magnification setting means and the data of the display condition data storage means, and are stored in the data storage means. For the character, read out the dot pattern data of the determined display character size from the font storage means, and create display image data for displaying the same image as the print state within the width of the effective display area of the display. And display data generating means for developing the display data in the display data buffer.

Here, the plurality of display magnifications include a basic magnification for a display character size substantially proportional to the tape width, a double display magnification for a display character size approximately twice as large as the basic magnification, and a basic display magnification. It may be configured to include a triple display magnification which is a display character size that is about three times as large as the magnification (dependent claim 2 of claim 1). Further, the font storage means may be configured to be able to serve both as a character display font storage means and a character print font storage means (claim 3 dependent on claim 1).

[0007]

In the tape printing apparatus according to the first aspect, input means, data storage means, display means including a display, font storage means, display data buffer, display control means, and characters on a tape as a print medium are prerequisites. And a tape cassette removably mounted. The tape width detecting means detects the width of the tape of the tape cassette, and the display condition data storing means stores the tape width, the character display character size, and the width of the effective display area for displaying the character on the display. A plurality of display magnifications are set and stored in advance in association with each other, and the display magnification is selected and set via the display magnification setting means. The display data creation unit is configured to display the character display character size based on the tape width data detected by the tape width detection unit, the display magnification data set by the display magnification setting unit, and the display condition data storage unit data. And the width of the effective display area, and for the character stored in the data storage means, reads out the dot pattern data of the determined display character size from the font storage means, and within the width of the effective display area of the display. Display image data to be displayed with the same image as the print state is created and expanded in the display data buffer.

In the tape printing apparatus according to the present invention, when the basic magnification is set, a display character size substantially proportional to the tape width can be displayed. It can be displayed in the display character size of
Further, when the display magnification is set to 3 times, it is possible to display a display character size about three times as large as the basic magnification. In the tape printer according to the third aspect, the font storage means is configured to be able to be used both as a character display font storage means and as a character print font storage means. Dot image data for printing can be created from the dot pattern data.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a tape printer capable of printing a large number of characters such as alphabetic characters, numbers, and symbols on a print tape. As shown in FIG. 2, a keyboard 3 is provided at a front portion of the main body frame 2 of the tape printer 1, a printing mechanism PM is provided inside the main body frame 2 behind the keyboard 3, and a keyboard 3 is provided. Immediately behind, a liquid crystal display 22 capable of displaying input characters and symbols in a print image is provided. The display 22 has a display screen composed of 32 dots in the vertical direction and 121 dots in the horizontal direction. Here, reference numeral 4 denotes a release button for opening the cover frame 6 when attaching or detaching the tape cassette CS mounted on the printing mechanism PM.

A keyboard (corresponding to an input means) 3 includes character keys for inputting alphabets, numbers and symbols, a space key, a return key, a cursor movement key for moving the cursor K in the up, down, left and right directions, and a tape. Width setting key, display size setting key, format setting key to change and set format information including character modification, display character size, print character size, etc., execution key to finish various setting processes, print key to instruct printing, power supply A power key for turning ON / OFF the power supply is provided.

Next, the printing mechanism PM will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 3. A rectangular tape cassette CS is detachably mounted on the printing mechanism PM. The tape cassette CS has a laminated film tape. 7, a ribbon supply spool 10 around which a print ribbon 9 is wound, a take-up spool 11 around which the print ribbon 9 is wound, and a double-sided tape 12 having the same width as the laminated film tape 7. Is a supply spool 13 wound with the release paper outside, and a joining roller 1 for joining the laminated film tape 7 and the double-sided tape 12 to each other.
4 are provided rotatably.

A thermal head 15 is erected at a position where the laminating film tape 7 and the printing ribbon 9 overlap, and a platen roller 1 for pressing the laminating film tape 7 and the printing ribbon 9 against the thermal head 15.
6 and a feed roller 17 that presses the laminated film tape 7 and the double-sided tape 12 against the joining roller 14 to form a print tape 19 are rotatable on a support 18 that is pivotally attached to the main body frame 2. Is pivoted to. In the thermal head 15, a heating element group including 128 heating elements is vertically arranged in rows.

Accordingly, when the tape feed motor 45 (see FIG. 4) is driven in a predetermined rotation direction, the heat of the thermal head 15 is generated while the joining roller 14 and the take-up spool 11 are driven in synchronization with each other in the predetermined rotation direction. When power is supplied to the element group, characters and bar codes are printed on the laminated film tape 7 by a plurality of dot rows, and the laminated film tape 7 is attached to the double-sided tape 12 as a printing tape 19 in the tape feeding direction A. The tape is fed out of the main body frame 2 as shown in FIGS. For details of the printing mechanism PM, see JP-A-2-106555.

Next, a cutting device 30 for automatically cutting the printing tape 19 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 3. A plate is provided immediately inside the main frame 2 corresponding to the left side of the tape cassette CS. An auxiliary frame 31 is provided upright, and a fixed blade 32 is fixed to the auxiliary frame 31 upward. A portion near the front end of an operation lever 34 extending in the front-rear direction is rotatably supported on a pivot shaft 33 that is fixed to the auxiliary frame 31 and extends in the left-right direction. At the corresponding site,
A movable blade 35 is attached to face the fixed blade 32. The rear end of the operation lever 34 is connected to the cutting motor 4.
6 (see FIG. 4) is configured to be vertically swingable by a swing drive mechanism (not shown) connected thereto, and the movable blade 35 is always held in a state of being separated from the fixed blade 32.

The printing tape 19 printed by the thermal head 15 extends from the tape cassette CS to the outside of the main body frame 2 through between the fixed blade 32 and the movable blade 35, and is driven by a cutting signal. The cutting motor 46 causes the rear end of the operating lever 34 to swing up and down via a swing drive mechanism, so that the movable blade 35 approaches the fixed blade 32, and the printing tape 19 is cut by these two blades 32 and 35. You.

The printing tape 19 fed from the tape cassette CS has a tape width of 6 mm and a width of 9 mm.
mm, 12 mm, 18 mm, and 24 mm are prepared, and on the bottom wall of these tape cassettes CS, in order to detect any of these five types of tape width,
A protruding piece 20 combining the presence or absence of the four protruding claws is provided. A cassette sensor 42 (see FIG. 4) for detecting the tape width from the combination of the projecting claws of the projecting piece 20 is attached to the main body frame 2 supporting the lower side of the tape cassette CS. That is, the cassette sensor 4
5 outputs a 4-digit cassette signal obtained by combining 1 and 0, for example, as shown in the table of FIG. 5, and the tape cassette CS is not mounted. Sometimes, a cassette signal of “0000” is output.

Next, a control system of the tape printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The input / output interface 50 of the control device C includes a keyboard 3, a cassette sensor 42, a display controller (LCDC) 23 having a video RAM 24 for outputting display data to a liquid crystal display (LCD) 22, and a warning buzzer 43. , A driving circuit 47 for driving the thermal head 15, a driving circuit 48 for driving the tape feed motor 45, and a driving circuit 49 for driving the cutting motor 46, respectively. It is connected.

The control device C includes a CPU 52 and this CPU 5
2 includes an input / output interface 50, a CGROM 53 (character generator ROM), a ROM 55, a RAM 60, and the like, which are connected to the device 2 via a bus 51 such as a data bus. The CGROM 53 stores dot pattern data for display and printing as character font data for each of a large number of characters such as alphabetic characters, numbers, and symbols in each typeface (Gothic typeface,
9 types (7, 10, 16, 21, 21)
24, 32, 48, 64, and 96 dots) are stored in association with the code data (see FIG. 6).

The ROM 55 displays characters input from the keyboard 3 on the display 22, and then sequentially reads a tape print control program for printing on the tape and data in the print data buffer 66 to read the thermal head 15 and the tape feed motor. The print drive control program for driving the drive 45 and the tables TB1, TB3 to TB5 shown in FIGS. 5, 7 to 9 are stored in advance. The ROM 55 includes a search table in which nine types of character sizes shown in the table TB2 are associated with a start address (index address) of the CGROM 53 in which dot pattern data of a group of characters and symbols related to each character size is stored. An index table is stored in which the index address is associated with the storage start address of each character or symbol in the CGROM 53.

With respect to the RAM 60, a text memory 61
Stores document data input from the keyboard 3. The parameter memory 62 includes a text memory 61
, The pointer value SP of the start address pointer indicating the start address of the data, the pointer value EP of the end address pointer indicating the end address of the data, and the data count value DC
Is stored. In the arrangement position information memory 63, display position information of each character or symbol to be displayed in the display data buffer 64 is stored.

The display data buffer 64 stores display dot image data obtained by combining display dot pattern data of a plurality of input characters and symbols, and the print data buffer 65 stores a plurality of characters and symbols to be used for printing. The printing dot image data obtained by combining the printing dot pattern data is stored. The tape width memory 66 stores the tape width data of the tape cassette CS determined from the table TB1 based on the cassette signal from the cassette sensor 42. The display magnification memory 67 stores R = 1 as data of the display magnification R at the time of initialization.
Thereafter, every time the display magnification is changed via the display size setting key, the data of the changed display magnification R is stored. R
The AM 60 is also provided with a work memory 68.

Next, the tables TB1 to TB5 will be described. The table TB1 shown in FIG. 5 sets the relationship between the detection signal of the cassette sensor 42 and the tape width of the tape cassette CS mounted on the tape printer 1. The table TB2 shown in FIG.
And the character size of the character font stored in
It shows the range of display fonts and the range of print fonts. The table TB3 shown in FIG. 7 is a table in which the correspondence between the tape width, the number of dots of the printable width of the tape, the number of printing lines of characters and symbols, and the printing character size (point value: number of dots) is set in advance. When the tape width and the number of print lines are determined, the print character size is determined from this table.

The table TB4 shown in FIG. 8 has a print character size (point value) and three types of display magnifications (basic magnification,
The correspondence between the display character size and the display character size is set in advance. For example, the print character size is determined from the tape width and the number of print lines by the table TB3, and the table TB4 and the display magnification R are used to determine the print character size. The display character size is determined from the print character size. In a table TB5 shown in FIG. 9, the relationship between the tape width, the display magnification R, and the width of the upper cut area, the image display area (effective display area), and the lower cut area of the display 22 is set in advance. .

As shown in the remarks column of the table TB5, in the display 22, the image display area is an effective display area for displaying characters and symbols, and the width of the image display area is changed according to the tape width. You. The upper end cut area and the lower end cut area are areas that are not used as image display areas by performing shadow display with oblique lines. The width of the image display area,
Since the display character size is increased as the tape width is increased and the displayed character size is increased as the tape width is increased, characters and symbols can be displayed within the width of the image display area in a manner substantially similar to the printing state.

Next, the main routine of the tape printing control performed by the control device C of the tape printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
In the drawing, reference symbol Si (i = 1, 2, 3,...) Indicates each step. When the power is turned on by the power key on the keyboard 3, this control is started. First, the memories 61 to 68 of the RAM 60 are cleared, and an initial setting process for initializing the printing mechanism PM is executed (S1). Next, the cassette signal from the cassette sensor 42 is read (S
2) Next, it is determined whether or not the cassette signal is "0000" (S3). If the tape cassette CS is mounted and the cassette signal is not "0000" (S3: No)
), The tape width is calculated based on the cassette signal and the table TB1 (S4).

On the other hand, if the cassette signal is "0000" because the tape cassette CS is not mounted (S
3: No), a tape width setting process is executed in S5. Here, the tape width setting process will be described.
In the tape width setting process, the tape width may be automatically set to the maximum tape width (24 mm in this embodiment), and data of the maximum tape width may be stored in the work memory. Setting the maximum tape width in this manner is advantageous because the probability of an error occurring due to the restriction on the tape width is minimized.

In this tape width setting process, a desired tape width may be input and set. In this case, as shown in FIG.
A predetermined message (for example, "Please input the tape width") is displayed on the CD) (S100), the key input signal is read (S101), and whether or not the tape width data has been input is next determined. Is determined (S102). When the operator inputs and sets the tape width via the tape width setting key and the numeric keys, the flow shifts to S103, where the data of the tape width is stored in the work memory (S103), and then returns.

Next, in S6 of the main routine, S
4 or the tape width data set in S5 and stored in the work memory is stored in the tape width memory 66.
Is calculated based on the tape width stored in the table and the table TB5 (S7). Next, in the first two bytes of the text memory 61, data of standard format information (data such as the number of print lines, print character size, font, etc.) is stored (S8). For example, 1 is set to the number of print lines, and the tape width and the number of print lines “1” are set in the print character size SZ.
Is set based on the table TB3, and the font is set to Mincho.

Next, the display 22 displays a document input screen as an image display area corresponding to the tape width as the document input screen, the print character size and the table TB4.
, A cursor K (see FIG. 20) having the display character size determined as the basic magnification is displayed (S9). In this document input screen, data of the upper cut area width, the image display area width, and the lower cut area width at the basic magnification corresponding to the tape width are read from the table TB5, and based on the data, the upper cut area and the lower cut area are read. The area and the area are shaded. In this case, the display dot image data is developed in the display data buffer 64, and the data is displayed.

Next, a print image display process for displaying the characters and symbols stored in the text memory 61 on the display 22 as a print image is executed (S10). It will be described later. Next, it is determined whether there is a key input (S1).
1) If there is no key input, S11 is repeated, and if there is a key input (S11: Yes), the flow shifts to S12. When the display size setting key is operated to change the display magnification displayed on the display 22 (S12: Yes), a display size setting process is executed (S13). This display size setting process will be described with reference to FIG. Since the tape width data is stored in the tape width memory 66 and the current display magnification R data is stored in the display magnification memory 67, the determination of S60, S62, S64, and S66 is performed based on these data. Is done.

First, when the tape width is 6 mm (S
60: Yes), the display magnification R is incremented by 1 (S61). Next, when the display magnification R is 4 (S62: Yes).
), The display magnification R is set to 1 (S63). That is,
When the tape width is 6 mm, the display character size at the basic magnification is small, so there is a large room for enlarged display.
Display magnification R indicates basic magnification "1" → "2" → "3" →
The display is switched to "1", and the data of the display magnification R is stored in the display magnification memory 67 (S69). On the other hand, when the tape width is 9 mm (S60: No, S64: Yes),
The display magnification R is incremented by 1 (S65), and when the display magnification R is 3 (S66: Yes), the display magnification R is increased.
Is set to 1 (S67).

That is, when the tape width is 9 mm, since there is not much room for the enlarged display, the display magnification R is switched from "1" to "2" to "1" indicating the basic magnification. The data of the display magnification R is stored in the display magnification memory 67 (S69). When the tape width is 12 mm or more (S60: No, S64: No), since there is no room for enlarged display, the display magnification R is fixed at 1 (basic magnification), and the data of the display magnification R is stored in the display magnification memory 67. Stored (S6
9) Next, in accordance with the change of the display magnification, the display dot image data of the upper cut area and the lower cut area is changed and is developed in the display data buffer 64 (S70).
After the display size setting process, the process returns to S5.

In the main routine, when the format setting key is operated (S14: Yes), a format information setting process is executed (S15), and thereafter, the process proceeds to S10. In this format information setting process, the number of print lines, print character size,
A format setting screen on which format settings such as a font name can be collectively set is displayed on the display 22, and the cursor movement keys are operated to move the cursor to the setting items "print character size name" and "font name". When the user moves and inputs the numeric key corresponding to the desired setting content and then operates the execution key, the format information is stored in the text memory 61 as changed format information. The changed format information including the changed setting information is stored in the text memory 61 in two bytes following the standard format information, and the process proceeds to S10 (see FIG. 15).

Next, when a printable key, which is a key for alphabetic characters, numbers, symbols, etc., is operated (S1
6: Yes), a document data storing process of storing the code data of the operated printable key as text data in the text memory 61 is executed (S17), and thereafter, the process proceeds to S10 to execute a print image display process (S17). S10). Next, the print image display process will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. At this time, the text memory 6
1, as shown in FIG. 15, standard format information, first changed format information, characters "ABCD", second changed format information,.
Are stored sequentially.

When this control is started, the data in the text memory 61 is first searched sequentially from the head address.
Based on the format information, the character code, and the line feed code, for each of the characters and symbols to be displayed, arrangement position information for expanding the display dot pattern data in the display data buffer 64 is obtained. The information is stored in the information memory 63 (S30). The arrangement position information is obtained, for example, by calculating the character arrangement position at the time of printing from the format information, the character code, the line feed code, and the printing dot pattern data, multiplying the coordinate value by １ ／, and determining the arrangement position for display. Is required.

Next, an initialization process for initializing parameter information relating to the printing process in the parameter memory 62 is executed (S31). That is, in the parameter memory 62, the start address of the text memory 61 is set as the start address pointer value SP (see FIG. 15), and the next address (end) of the current end address of the text memory 61 is set as the end address pointer value EP. Address + 2) is set (see FIG. 15), and an initial value “0” is set as the data count value DC.

Next, since the data of the format information and the character code are each composed of 2 bytes, the data of the search address obtained by adding the address obtained by doubling the data count value DC to the start address is read (S32). Is the data of the format information (S33: Yes), the data of the format information is stored in the work memory 68 (S34), and then S37
Move to If the data read from the search address is printable character, symbol, or space data (S33: No, S35: Yes), display image generation processing is executed (S36), and then the process proceeds to S37. .

Next, the data count value DC is incremented by one (S37). Next, the search address and the end address obtained by adding the address obtained by doubling the data count value DC to the start address pointer value (start address) SP. When the address indicated by the address pointer value EP does not match and there is a character to be displayed in the text memory 61 (S38: No), S32 to S38 are repeatedly executed.

Next, the display image data generation processing executed in S36 will be described with reference to FIG.
When this control is started, the print character size SZ of the format information stored in the work memory 68 in S34 is described.
And the display magnification R of the display magnification memory 66 are stored in a table TB.
The display character size is calculated by applying to step S4 (S50). Based on the display character size and the search table, the index address of the CGROM 53 storing the dot pattern data of a group of characters and symbols of the character size is calculated. The character code is read (S51), and based on the index address, the index table, and the character code, the storage start address of the character code in the CGROM 53, that is, the font storage address is read (S52), and stored in the font storage address. The dot pattern data is read from the CGROM 53 and temporarily stored in the work memory 68 (S53).

Next, the dot pattern data stored in the work memory 68 is stored in the storage position of the display data buffer 64 indicated by the character position data stored in the position information memory 63. And (S5
4) After ending this control, the process returns to S37 of the print image display process control.

Next, in the print image display processing, S
After the execution of step 37, when the search address obtained by adding the doubled data count value DC to the start address matches the address indicated by the end address pointer value EP (S38: Yes), the display data buffer 64 The display dot image data expanded and stored is video R
It is output to the AM 24 and displayed on the display 22 (S
39), this control ends, and the process returns to S11 of the main routine.

Next, in the main routine, when the print key is operated (S18: Yes), the printing process on the tape is executed (S19), and the process returns to S10. Since this printing process is the same as the normal printing process, the format information and the character code are sequentially read from the text memory 61, and the dot pattern data of the character code in the CGROM 53 is read based on the search table and the index table. The read dot image data is read out, expanded and stored in the print data buffer 65, and the print dot image data in the print data buffer 65 is output to the printing mechanism PM.
It is printed on the print tape 19. On the other hand, when a key other than the display size setting key, the format setting key, the printable key and the print key is operated (S18: No), a process corresponding to the operated key is executed (S20), and the process returns to S10. .

Here, the text memory 61 shown in FIG.
The display example on the display 22 in the state where the data of “ABCD” is input among the document data shown in FIG.
16 to 20 show that the tape width is 24 mm,
18 mm, 12 mm, 9 mm, and 6 mm. However, in a state where all data of “ABCD”, “EFG”, and “HIJK” are input, as shown in FIG.
“EFG” and “HIJK” are displayed in two lines. still,
The cursor K is also shown.

Next, display switching control at the time of tape exchange when the tape cassette CS is exchanged during the input of document data of one document will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The display switching control at the time of tape replacement is a control executed in an interval interruption process for the main routine at predetermined minute intervals. At the start of the interruption, first, the cassette signal and the key input signal from the cassette sensor 42 are read (S80), and it is determined whether or not the cassette signal is "0000" (S81). The signal is "000
If it is not "0" (S81: No), the tape width is calculated based on the cassette signal and the table TB1, and the tape width data is stored in the work memory (S82).

On the other hand, when the cassette signal is "0000" because the tape cassette CS is not mounted (S81: Yes), a tape width setting process is executed in S83. This tape width setting process may be configured so that the tape width is automatically set to the maximum tape width and the data of the maximum tape width is stored in the work memory, similarly to the tape width setting process of S5. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 23, the tape width data input and set by the operator may be stored in the work memory.

Next, it is determined whether the flag TF is 0 (S8).
4) Since the flag TF is 0 before the tape cassette CS is replaced, the flow shifts to S85, and in S85, is the tape width changed based on the tape width data of the tape width memory 66 and the tape width data of the work memory? If it is determined that the tape width has not been changed (S85: No), the process returns. However, if the tape width has been changed (S85: Yes).
), The flag TF is set to 1 and the routine returns.

At the time of the next interruption after setting the flag TF to 1, the judgment at S84 is No.
The process proceeds to 87, where it is determined whether a key input has been made. If no key input has been made (S87: No), the process returns. In the subsequent interrupt processing, the flag TF is set to 1 (S84:
No), if there is a key input (S87: Yes), S
Move from S87 to S88. The data of the changed tape width is stored in the tape width memory 66, and the width of the image display area is calculated based on the tape width and the table TB5 (S88). The data of the print character size SZ in the format information is changed to the print character size corresponding to the tape width as in S8 (S89).

Next, when there is change format information (S9
0: Yes), it is determined whether or not the number of print lines and the print character size in the changed format information matches the tape width based on the tape width data in the tape width memory 66 (S91).
When the determination is Yes, the display dot image data of the upper cut area and the lower cut area is changed in S92 so that the image display area corresponds to the tape width, and the flag TF is reset to 0 (S93). ), Then return. If there is no change format information (S90: No), S92 and subsequent steps are executed. On the other hand, if the determination in S91 is No, the warning buzzer 43 is driven (S94), and then a predetermined message (for example, "Please change and set the change format information") is displayed on the display 22 ( (S95), and return to thereafter.

As described above, when the tape width is changed by replacing the tape cassette CS or removing the tape cassette CS during the creation of the document data of one document, the contents displayed on the display 22 are not changed immediately, and the tape cassette C is not changed.
After the replacement or removal of S is completed and one of the keys is operated, the data of the print character size SZ and the width of the image display area in the standard format information are changed to a value corresponding to the tape width. The display character size is changed according to the print character size, and the display content of the display 22 is changed so as to have the display character size.

The operation of the display control included in the tape print control described above will be described. In this control,
The table TB3, TB4, and TB5 are associated with the tape width, the number of print lines, the print character size, the width of the image display area (effective display area), and the display character size, and correspond to three display magnifications (basic values). Magnification, 2x display magnification, 3x display magnification)
The display character size and the width of the image display area at the basic magnification are set so as to be approximately proportional to the tape width, and the tape width detected by the cassette sensor 42 and the display size setting key are set. The display character size and the width of the image display area are determined based on the set display magnification, and the character is displayed as a print image within the width of the image display area of the display 22 at the display character size. Therefore, the printing state of the character can be accurately grasped on the display 22 in relation to the tape width at the basic magnification.

If necessary, the display magnification can be switched between the 2 × display magnification and the 3 × display magnification for display. Therefore, when the tape width is small or when printing a plurality of lines, the display character size is reduced. In this case, the operability at the time of inputting the document data can be remarkably improved via the enlarged display while the display character size and the width of the image display area are substantially in proportion to the tape width. Moreover, the display 22
The upper and lower edges of the display 22 are displayed with shadows of the upper and lower cut areas, respectively, and an image display area (effective display area) having a width substantially proportional to the tape width is displayed at the center of the display 22 in the width direction. Therefore, it is easy to grasp the tape width on the display 22.

Further, even when the tape cassette CS is not initially mounted as in S3 and S5 of the main routine, the tape width can be automatically set to the maximum tape width or the tape width input and set by the operator. Even when the tape cassette CS is not mounted, the input of document data can be performed in the same manner as when the tape cassette CS is mounted. In this case, especially when automatically setting the maximum tape width, the probability of occurrence of an error due to the restriction of the tape width is minimized. Further, when inputting and setting the tape width, the tape width of the printing tape to be provided for printing can be advantageously set.

Further, as described with reference to FIG. 22, if the tape width is changed by replacing the tape cassette CS or removing the tape cassette CS while the document data of one document is being input, Tape cassette CS
After completion of the replacement or removal of the tape cassette CS, the display content of the display 22 is changed after any key is operated. Display 2
2, the operability is improved, and the reliability of the tape printer 1 is not questioned.

Here, the correspondence between the means described in the claims and the configuration in the above embodiment will be described. The data storage means corresponds to the text memory 61 of the RAM 60 and the font storage means. Is equivalent to the CGROM 53, the equivalent to the display data buffer is the display data buffer 64 of the RAM 60, and the equivalent to the tape width detecting means is the cassette sensor 42 and the projecting piece 20 attached to the tape cassette CS. The table TB1 corresponding to the display condition data storage means is stored in the ROM 55 of the control device C (in particular, the table TB1).
B3, TB4, and TB5), and those corresponding to the display magnification setting means are the display size setting key and the control device C (especially, the display magnification memory 67 and the flowcharts of FIGS. 10, 11, and 14). The control device C (particularly, FIGS. 10 to 13 and FIG.
2, the flowchart of FIG. 23, etc.).

It is to be noted that, within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, the following various modifications may be made based on existing techniques or techniques obvious to those skilled in the art. 1) Instead of the cassette sensor 42, a detecting means for directly detecting the tape width by an optical sensor or the like in the middle of the tape transport path can be applied. 2) Instead of shadow display of the upper cut area and the lower cut area of the display 22, these areas and the image display area may be divided by an appropriate boundary line.

3) A tape having a width of 24 mm or more may be used as the tape, and the thermal head may be increased in size. In addition, the display 22 may be configured to have a width greater than the maximum tape width to print characters. In some cases, an image corresponding to an image is displayed one-to-one. 4) The print line number data of the format information may be omitted, and the print line number may be determined based on the line feed code at the end of the character string.

[0057]

According to the tape printer of the first aspect, the tape printer having the prerequisite described in the section of the operation is provided with a tape width detecting means, a display condition data storing means,
Since the display magnification setting means and the display data creating means are provided, as the display condition data, the tape width, the display character size of the character, and the width of the effective display area are associated with each other,
A plurality of display magnifications are stored. Based on the display magnification selected by the display magnification setting unit and the tape width detected by the tape width detection unit, the display character size and effective display of the character are displayed from the display condition data. By determining the width of the area, the character can be displayed within the width of the effective display area of the display. In this way, characters can be displayed in the display character size corresponding to the tape width within the width of the effective display area corresponding to the tape width of the display,
In addition, by changing the display magnification, the display magnification can be changed in a plurality of ways. Therefore, the printing state of the character can be grasped on the display 22 in relation to the tape width, and can be enlarged and displayed as necessary, so that the operability at the time of inputting the data of the character to be printed can be significantly improved. it can.

According to the tape printer of the second aspect, the display magnification setting means can select a desired display magnification from among the basic magnification, the 2 × display magnification, and the 3 × display magnification. According to the tape printing apparatus of the third aspect, the font storage means is configured to be able to be used both as a character display font storage means and as a character print font storage means. It can be significantly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of claim 1;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tape printer.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a printing mechanism equipped with a tape cassette.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system of the tape printing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a chart of a table showing a correspondence relationship between a cassette signal and a tape width;

FIG. 6 is a table showing a character size of a character font stored in a CGROM.

FIG. 7 is a chart of a table in which a relationship among a tape width, the number of print lines, and a print character size is set.

FIG. 8 is a table of a table in which a relationship between a print character size and a display character size is set.

FIG. 9 is a table of a table in which a relationship between a tape width and an area width is set.

FIG. 10 is a part of a flowchart of a main routine of tape print control.

FIG. 11 is the remaining part of the flowchart of the main routine of the tape print control.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a print image display process of a main routine.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a display image generation process of the print image display process.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a display size setting process of a main routine.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a text memory in which a plurality of format information and character string codes are stored.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example on a display when the tape width is 24 mm.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example on a display when the tape width is 18 mm.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example on a display when the tape width is 12 mm.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example on a display when the tape width is 9 mm.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example on a display when the tape width is 6 mm.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example on a display when the tape width is 9 mm.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart of display switching control at the time of tape replacement.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of a tape width setting process in the main routine and the flowchart of FIG. 22;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tape printer 3 Keyboard 13 Thermal head 19 Printing tape 22 Liquid crystal display 52 CPU 53 CGROM 55 ROM 60 RAM 61 Text memory 64 Display data buffer C Controller PM printing mechanism

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yashiro Oshio 15-1 Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya-shi Inside Brother Industries, Ltd. (56) References JP-A-4-326474 (JP, A) JP-A-5-185654 ( JP, A) JP-A-5-57964 (JP, A) JP-A-7-156498 (JP, A) JP-A-7-125374 (JP, A) JP-A-5-84975 (JP, A) JP JP-A-6261387 (JP, A) JP-A-4-294172 (JP, A) JP-A-64-74664 (JP, A) JP-A-5-58007 (JP, A) JP-A-60-234856 (JP) JP-A-3-156668 (JP, A) JP-A-2-2039 (JP, A) JP-A-5-301424 (JP, A) JP-A-3-72461 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 3/46 B41J 3/36 G06F 3/12

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] An input unit for inputting a character such as a character or a symbol and various instructions; a data storage unit for storing data of the input character; a display unit including a display capable of displaying the character; A font storage storing dot pattern data of a large number of characters for a plurality of sizes, a display data buffer for storing display image data to be displayed on the display, and display means receiving the display image data from the display data buffer to control display means. In a tape printing apparatus including a display control unit, a printing unit that prints a character on a tape as a print medium, and a tape cassette that is detachably mounted, a tape width detection unit that detects a width of the tape of the tape cassette; The width of the tape, the displayed character size of the character, and the display. A display condition data storage unit that sets and stores a plurality of display magnifications in advance in association with a width of an effective display area for displaying a character; a display magnification setting unit for selectively setting the display magnification; Based on the data of the tape width detected by the tape width detection means, the data of the display magnification set by the display magnification setting means, and the data of the display condition data storage means, the display character size of the character and the effective display area are displayed. The width is determined, and for the character stored in the data storage unit, dot pattern data of the determined display character size is read from the font storage unit, and the same as the print state is set within the width of the effective display area of the display. Display data creating means for creating display image data to be displayed as an image and developing the image data in the display data buffer. Tape printing apparatus characterized by the. 2. The multiple display magnifications include: a basic magnification that is a display character size substantially proportional to a tape width; a double display magnification that is a display character size approximately twice as large as the basic magnification;
2. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a three-fold display magnification, which is a display character size approximately three times as large as the basic magnification. 3. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the font storage unit is configured to be able to serve both as a character display font storage unit and a character print font storage unit.