JP3254653B2 - 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 serving as a printing medium, and more particularly, to preventing a wide character from protruding in vertical writing in a tape length direction. And an improved print data creation technique.

[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, symbols, and the like 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 this tape printer, the width of the tape can be changed by exchanging the tape cassette.

In order to create dot image data for printing, this type of tape printing apparatus or the like has a large number of characters and marks for a plurality of character sizes and a plurality of typefaces. Is stored. Further, the tape printing apparatus is provided with mode setting means for selectively setting a horizontal writing mode for printing characters horizontally in a tape width direction and a vertical writing mode for printing characters in a tape length direction. However, a common font storage unit is applied in the horizontal writing mode and the vertical writing mode. The print character size when printing the character is automatically set according to the tape width, or
Set based on the input format information.

[0004]

In the vertical writing mode, when printing with a character size as large as possible within the tape width, wide characters such as "M", "W", "Pts", "DM", Alternatively, a wide mark such as an arrow or a pointing finger mark may protrude beyond the tape width. In such a case, conventionally, an error message is displayed on a display and a warning buzzer is sounded to notify the operator. Therefore, the operator has taken measures such as resetting the character size to a smaller size for the character or mark in which the error has occurred, and then performing printing again. For example, as shown in FIG. 16, only the character size “W” of the characters “ABCW” is set to a small character size and printed on the print tape 19.

However, in this case, the time and labor required for printing increases, and the character size of some of the characters in the character string is reduced, so that the characters become irregular and the appearance of the printed character string deteriorates. Problems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to prevent a wide-width character from protruding in a vertical writing mode in a tape printing apparatus, and to eliminate irregularities in the character size of a character string printed vertically.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape printing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting characters such as characters and symbols and various commands as shown by solid lines in the functional block diagram of FIG. Data storage means for storing input character data; font storage means for storing a plurality of character dot pattern data for a plurality of print character sizes; a print data buffer for storing print dot image data; and data storage. Print data creating means for reading dot pattern data from the font storage means based on the data of the means and developing the pattern data in the print data buffer; and receiving dot image data for printing from the print data buffer and printing characters on a tape as a print medium In a tape printing apparatus provided with printing means, a character is Mode setting means for selectively setting a horizontal writing mode for printing horizontally in the tape width direction and a vertical writing mode for printing vertically in the tape length direction, and at least one of a large number of characters. and about the major character of some of the character width, the only character width normal key
Vertical writing font storage means for storing a plurality of printing character sizes of vertical writing dot pattern data reduced to the same character width as the character width of the character .

Here, as shown by a chain line in FIG. 1, a tape width detecting means for detecting the width of the tape of the tape cassette, and a font for each character read from the data storage means in the vertical writing mode. When the character width determined by the dot pattern data stored in the storage means is larger than the tape width detected by the tape width detection means, the vertical pattern for reading out the dot pattern data from the vertical writing-only font storage means and developing it in the print data buffer A write-only print data creating means may be provided (claim 2 dependent on claim 1). A font index table that stores address data for searching the font storage unit and that stores character width data of each character may be provided in association with the font storage unit. 3).

In addition, address data for searching the vertical writing font storage means is stored, and a vertical writing font index table storing character width data of each character is associated with the vertical writing font storage means. It may be provided (claim 4 dependent on claim 3).

[0009]

In the tape printing apparatus according to the first aspect, the prerequisites are input means, data storage means for storing input data, font storage means, print data buffer, print data creation means, and tape as a print medium. Printing means for printing characters such as characters and symbols, and a tape cassette which is detachably mounted. Via the mode setting means, a horizontal writing mode for printing characters horizontally on the tape in the width direction of the tape and a vertical writing mode for printing characters vertically in the tape length direction are selectively set. the private font storage means to write, and about the major character of at least some of the character width of a number of characters, sentences only character width normal character
Dot pattern data for vertical writing reduced to a character width similar to the character width is stored for a plurality of print character sizes.

Therefore, in the vertical writing mode, the dot pattern data for vertical writing can be read from the vertical writing font storage means and used for printing with respect to the part of the character having a large character width.

In the tape printing apparatus according to the second aspect, the tape width detecting means detects the width of the tape in the tape cassette, and the vertical writing-dedicated print data creating means reads each data read from the data storage means in the vertical writing mode. When the character width of the character determined by the dot pattern data stored in the font storage unit is larger than the detected tape width, the dot pattern data is read from the vertical writing font storage unit and expanded in the print data buffer.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a font index table storing address data for searching the font storage means and storing character width data of each character is provided in association with the font storage means. Therefore, the character width of each character can be easily obtained from the character width data of the font index table.

In the tape printer according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the vertical-printing font index table storing character width data of each character while storing address data for searching the vertical writing-only font storage means,
Since it is provided in association with the vertical writing font storage means,
The character width of the character stored in the vertical writing font storage means can be easily obtained from the character width data of the vertical writing font index table.

[0014]

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 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 up, down, left and right directions, and characters. Format setting key for changing and setting format information including decoration, number of print lines, print character size, etc., execution key for ending various setting processes, print key for instructing printing, power switch for turning power on / off, etc. 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, and 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. A supply spool 13 wound with the release paper outside and a joining roller 14 for joining the laminated film tape 7 and the double-sided tape 12 are rotatably provided.

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.

Next, regarding the cutting device 30 for automatically cutting the printing tape 19, as shown in FIG. 3, a plate-like auxiliary frame is provided immediately inside the main frame 2 corresponding to the left side of the tape cassette CS. A fixed blade 32 is fixed to the auxiliary frame 31 upward.
Left and right pivot shaft 3 fixed to auxiliary frame 31
3, a portion near the front end of an operation lever 34 extending in the front-rear direction is rotatably supported by a pivot.
The movable blade 35 is attached to the portion corresponding to the front side of the fixed blade 32 so as to face the fixed blade 32. The rear end of the operation lever 34 is configured to be able to swing up and down by a swing drive mechanism (not shown) connected to a cutting motor 46 (see FIG. 4). It is held apart.

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 9 m.
m, 12 mm, 18 mm, and 24 mm are prepared, and the bottom wall of these tape cassettes CS is
In order to detect any one of these five types of tape widths, a protruding piece 20 combining the presence or absence of 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
Reference numeral 2 denotes a combination of projecting claws constituting the projecting piece 20, for example, as shown in a table TB1 in FIG. 5, outputs a 4-digit cassette signal combining 1 and 0, and the tape cassette CS is mounted. If not, 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 and outputting a display drive signal to a liquid crystal display (LCD) 22, and a warning buzzer. A drive circuit 44 for driving the thermal head 15, a drive circuit 48 for driving the tape feed motor 45, and a drive circuit 49 for driving the cutting motor 46 are provided. Each is connected.

The control device C includes a CPU 52 and this CPU 5
2, an input / output interface 50 connected through a bus 51 such as a data bus, a normal CGROM 53 (character generator ROM), and a CGROM dedicated to vertical writing.
54 (vertical writing-only character generator ROM),
It is composed of a ROM 55, a RAM 60 and the like. The common CGROM 53 includes a number of characters such as alphabetic characters, numbers, and symbols and various marks (arrow marks,
For each of the index finger marks, etc.), dot pattern data for display and printing is used as character font data in each font (Gothic font, Mincho font, etc.).
9 types (7, 10, 16, 21, 24, 32, 4
8, 64, and 96 dots) are stored in association with the code data (see FIG. 6).

The dot pattern data stored in the common CGROM 53 is based on the premise that characters are printed horizontally in the width direction of the tape, but the read dot pattern data is converted by 90 degrees in a predetermined direction. Thus, it is configured to be applicable to printing a character vertically in the tape length direction.

The CGROM 54 for vertical writing only has a CG
Of a large number of characters and marks stored in the ROM 53, some characters having particularly large character widths (for example,
M, W, DM, Pts, etc, OE, etc.) and marks (eg, arrow marks, index finger marks shown in FIG. 9, etc.)
For each of the character font data, display and print dot pattern data of a character width reduced so that the character width is substantially the same as the character width of a normal character is included in each typeface (Gothic typeface). , Mincho typeface, etc.) for each of the nine types (7, 10, 16, 21, 24,
32, 48, 64, and 96 dots) are stored in association with the code data. That is, for each character size, for example, “M” stored in the CGROM 54
And the letter “W”, as shown in FIG.
M53 stored in the normal character to the "A" and "B"
Te, but the character width is compressed to the same width, the vertical length
The same is true . Further, the dot pattern data stored in CGROM54 of vertical writing only is the configuration on the assumption that print in vertical character in the tape length direction facing.

In the ROM 55, characters and marks input from the keyboard 3 are displayed on the display 22,
Thereafter, a control program for tape printing control for printing on a tape in accordance with a command from a print key, a print data buffer 6
6, a printing drive control program for sequentially reading the data of No. 6 and driving the thermal head 15 and the tape feed motor 45, and tables TB1 and TB3 shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 are stored in advance.

The ROM 55 classifies code data and character width Δ for each of a group of characters and marks by classifying them into nine types of character sizes shown in a table TB2.
x0 and CGR in which dot pattern data is stored
A regular font index table TB4 (see FIG. 8) in which the head address (index address) of the OM 53 is stored in correspondence with the regular font index table TB4 provided in association with the CGROM 53.
4 are stored in advance.

Further, the ROM 55 has a table TB
Classified for each of the nine types of character sizes shown in FIG. 2, and for each of a group of characters and marks having a large character width,
A vertical writing-only font index table TB5 (see FIG. 9) storing the code data, the character width Δx1, and the start address (index address) of the CGROM 54 in which the dot pattern data is stored. The vertical writing-only font index table TB5 provided in association with is stored in advance.

With respect to the RAM 60, a text memory 61
Stores format setting information and document data (text data) input from the keyboard 3. That is, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the first two bytes of the text memory 61 store automatically set standard format information (number of print lines, print character size, font, etc.). In this case, for example, the print line number is set to 1, the print character size is set to the print line number and the print character size calculated from the table TB3, and the font is set to Mincho.

In the two bytes following the first two bytes of the text memory 61, changed format information (number of print lines, print character size, font, etc.) is stored only when the input is set. When setting the change format information, when the format setting key is operated, a format setting screen on which the format setting items can be set collectively is displayed on the display 22, so that for each setting item, a cursor and an execution key are used. It is configured to be set by the selection setting method. The parameter memory 62 stores data such as a pointer value SP of a start address pointer indicating the start address of the text memory 61, a pointer value EP of an end address pointer indicating the end address thereof, and a data count value.
The arrangement position information memory 63 stores the display position information of each character to be displayed in the display data buffer 64 and the print position information of each character to be printed in the print data buffer 65. In the text memory 61, change format information can be appropriately set following the character data.

The display data buffer 64 is stored display dot image data obtained by combining the display dot pattern data read out for each character in the document data read from the text memory 61 from CGROM53 is, in the print data buffer 65, Text memory 6
C for each character in the document data read from
The printing dot image data obtained by combining the printing dot pattern data read from the GROM 53 or the CGROM 54 is stored. The tape width memory 66 stores a table T based on a cassette signal from the cassette sensor 42.
The tape width data of the tape cassette CS determined from B1 is stored. The flag memory 67 stores data of a mode flag MF indicating a horizontal writing mode or a vertical writing mode. The RAM 60 is also provided with a flag memory 68 for storing an error flag and a plurality of work memories 69.

Next, the tables TB1 to TB3 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. This table TB1 is used for controlling the tape printing. It is embedded in the control program. Table T shown in FIG.
B2 indicates the character size of the character font stored in the CGROMs 53 and 54, the range of the display font, and the range of the print font. 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 character print lines, and the print 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. However, the print character size can be set separately in the format setting.

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. 10 and 11 and the flowcharts of FIGS. In the figure, 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, each of the memories 61 to 69 of the RAM 60 is cleared, and an initialization process for initializing the printing mechanism PM is executed (S1).

Next, the input signal from the keyboard 3 is read, and when there is a key input (S2: Yes), the process proceeds to S3 and thereafter, and when the print key for instructing printing is operated (S2).
3: Yes), print processing is executed (S4), and after S4,
When the error flag is "1" (S5: Yes), error processing such as displaying an error message on the display 22 and activating the warning buzzer 43 is performed (S5).
6) After that, the process returns. If the error flag is “0” after S4, the process returns.

When the vertical / horizontal conversion key for setting the horizontal writing mode or the vertical writing mode is operated instead of the printing key (S7: Yes), the vertical / horizontal conversion for switching between the horizontal writing mode and the vertical writing mode is performed. The process is executed (S8), and the process returns. This vertical / horizontal conversion process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 11. It is determined whether or not the mode flag MF is "1" (S20). If the mode flag MF = 1 and the horizontal writing mode is set (S20: Yes), the mode flag MF is set. MF is set to "0", that is, in the vertical writing mode (S2
1) Then return.

If the mode flag MF is not 1 and the mode is the vertical writing mode (S20: No), the mode flag MF is set to "1", that is, the horizontal writing mode is set (S22), and then the process returns. Thus, every time the vertical / horizontal conversion key is operated, the horizontal writing mode is switched to the vertical writing mode,
In the vertical writing mode, the mode is switched to the horizontal writing mode. The vertical / horizontal conversion key, the mode flag MF, and the flowcharts in FIGS. 10 and 13 correspond to the mode setting means.

In the main routine, when a character key, such as a character, a symbol, or a number, is operated on the keyboard 3 (S9: Yes), the code data of the input character is stored in the text memory 61 (S9: Yes). S10), then return. The process of storing data in the text memory 61 is a general process, and a description thereof will be omitted. When a function key other than the print key, the vertical / horizontal conversion key, and the character key is operated (S9: No), a process corresponding to the operated key is executed (S11), and the process returns. Note that the format setting and the like are executed as part of the processing corresponding to the operated key in S11.

Next, the printing process in S4 will be described with reference to FIG.
A description will be given with reference to the flowchart in FIG. When the printing process is started, first, the cassette sensor 4
2 is read (S30). Next, it is determined whether or not the cassette signal is "0000" (S31). If the cassette signal is "0000" because the tape cassette CS is not mounted (S31). S31: Yes), the error flag is set to 1 (S32), and thereafter, the process returns to the main routine. If the cassette signal is not "0000" (S31: No), the cassette signal and the table TB
1, the tape width Tpw of the tape 19 of the tape cassette CS is calculated, and the tape width data is stored in the tape width memory 66 (S33).

Next, the text pointer TP is set to the head address (SP) of the text memory 61 (S3
4) The data pointed to by the text pointer TP is read from the text memory 61 (S35), and it is determined whether the data read from the text memory 61 is character code data (S36). (S36: No), if it is format information (S37:
Yes) indicates that the read format information is stored in the work memory 6.
9 (S38), and then proceeds to S49 of FIG.

If it is determined in S36 that the character code data is character code data (S36: Yes), the character code data and the print character size of the latest format information stored in the work memory 69 are determined. The data of the character width .DELTA.x0 of the character is read from the regular font index table TB4 based on the data (S39). Next, it is determined whether or not the mode flag MF is 0 (S40).

As a result of the above determination, the mode flag MF = 1
In the horizontal writing mode (S40: No), based on the character code data and the print character size data in the format information of the work memory 69, the font data (dots) of the character is read from the regular font index table TB4. Pattern data), the common CGROM
Address data to be read from the memory 53 is read (S
41) Then, based on the address data, the common CGRO
The font data of the character is read from M53, and the font data is stored in the print data buffer 6.
5 is developed as dot image data for printing (S4
2) Then, proceed to S49. However, at the time of data development, the data is developed in the print data buffer 65 based on the layout position information stored in the layout position information memory 63, and after the data development, the data related to the layout position information is updated. .

On the other hand, when the mode flag MF = 0 and the mode is the vertical writing mode (S40: Yes), it is determined whether or not the character width Δx0 is larger than the tape width Tpw stored in the tape width memory 66 (S43). When the character width Δx0 ≦ the tape width Tpw and the width is within the tape width, the process proceeds to S41,
If the character width Δx0> the tape width Tpw and the width is not within the tape width, the process proceeds to S44. When shifting from S43 to S41 and then to S42, that is, when developing the font data of the character in the print data buffer 65 in the vertical writing mode, the font data is shifted in a predetermined direction so that the font data can be printed in the vertical writing mode. The direction is changed by 90 degrees.

In S44 in the vertical writing mode, data of the character width Δx1 of the character is read from the font writing index table TB5 for vertical writing, and it is determined whether the character width Δx1 of the character is larger than the tape width Tpw. (S45), and if the determination is Yes and the character width of the CGROM 54 for vertical writing is not fit within the tape width even if it is printed with the reduced font width, the error flag is set to 1 in S44. And return.

On the other hand, if the character width Δx1 ≦ the tape width Tpw and it is within the tape width (S45: No), the character code data and the print character size data in the format information of the work memory 69 are used. Based on the vertical writing font index table TB5, the vertical writing CG
Address data for reading character font data (dot pattern data) is read from the ROM 54 (S47). Based on the address data, character font data is read from the vertical writing CGROM 54 and the font data is printed. The data is expanded as dot image data for printing in the data buffer 65 (S48), and the process proceeds to S49. However, at the time of this data development, the arrangement position information memory 63 is also used as described above.
Is developed in the print data buffer 65 on the basis of the arrangement position information stored in the storage area, and after the development, the data related to the arrangement position information is updated.

Next, the text pointer TP is incremented (S49). Next, it is determined whether or not the text pointer TP is the pointer value EP of the end address of the text memory 61 (S50). If the determination is No, the process proceeds to S35. The process proceeds to S35 and the subsequent steps are repeated. As described above, reading of all data in the text memory 61 and expansion of data in the print data buffer 65 are completed, and the text pointer TP is set to the end address (EP). (S50: Yes
), A driving signal corresponding to the printing dot image data developed in the printing data buffer 65 is transmitted to the printing mechanism PM.
Is output to the thermal head 15 and printing on the tape 19 is executed (S51), and thereafter, the process returns.

FIG. 15 shows a character string "ABCW" of the text data shown in FIG.
Shows an example of the character "ABC"
Is a character of normal character width, so CGROM
Since the font data read from the CGROM 53 is applied and the character “W” is a character wider than a normal character width, the font data with the reduced character width read from the CGROM 54 is applied and the character “ABC” is applied.
"W" is printed with good appearance in a state where the character widths are aligned.

Next, the operation of the above-described tape print control will be described. Since the horizontal writing mode and the vertical writing mode can be set alternatively, and the vertical writing mode CGROM 54 is provided, in the vertical writing mode, characters having a character width larger than the normal character width are written only in the vertical writing mode. CG
By reading out the dot pattern data for vertical writing in which the character width is reduced to the normal character width from the ROM 54 and providing it for printing, it is possible to prevent the characters from protruding from the tape width and to make the character string have a constant character width. Printing can be done with good appearance.

The tape width is configured to be detectable based on the cassette sensor 42 and the table TB1. For characters whose character width is larger than the tape width and cannot be accommodated within the tape width, the vertical writing read from the vertical writing only CGROM 54 is performed. Since the dot pattern data for use is developed in the print data buffer, it is possible to reliably prevent the character from protruding from the tape width. Since the regular font index table TB4 storing the address data for searching the CGROM 53 and the data of the character width Δx0 of each character is provided, the character width of each character can be easily determined from the data of the character width Δx0 of the font index table TB4. Can be sought.

The address data for searching the CGROM 54 for vertical writing only and the character width Δx1 of each character
Is provided in the vertical writing font index table TB5, the character width of each character stored in the vertical writing CGROM 54 can be easily obtained from the character width Δx1 data of the vertical writing font index table TB5. You can ask. And
The character width obtained from the vertical writing font index table TB5 can be effectively used to determine whether or not each character read from the vertical writing CGROM 54 fits within the tape width.

Here, the correspondence between the means described in the claims and the configuration in the above embodiment will be described. The data storage means is equivalent to the text memory 61 of the RAM 60 and the font storage means. Is equivalent to the common CGROM 53, and equivalent to the print data creating means is the ROM 55 (particularly, the ordinary font index table TB4, the flowchart of the printing process in FIGS. 12 and 13), and corresponds to the mode setting means. These are the vertical / horizontal conversion key, the mode flag MF, and FIG.
13 corresponds to the vertical writing font storage means is the vertical writing CGROM 54, and the tape width detecting means is the cassette sensor 42, the projecting piece 20, the table TB1, etc. The equivalent of the print data creating means for vertical writing is the ROM 5
5 (in particular, font index table T for vertical writing only)
B5, the flowchart of the printing process in FIGS. 12 and 13), and the equivalent to the font index table is a common font index table TB4.
The equivalent of the vertical writing font index table is the vertical writing font index table TB5.
It is.

Incidentally, 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,
In place of the CGROM 53, a display CGROM and an independent printing CGROM may be provided.A tape of 24 mm or more may be used as the tape, and the thermal head may be enlarged. The movable blade 35 of the cutting device 30 may be configured to be manually driven. A key for inputting a pseudonym may be provided on a keyboard to configure a tape printer for Japanese, or a standard format information of a text memory 61. Omit the print line number data,
The number of print lines may be automatically set based on a line feed code, or the vertical-only CGROM 54 may store not only wide-width characters but also vertical-only font data of all characters in the same manner as the regular CGROM 53. Various changes may be made based on existing technology or technology obvious to those skilled in the art, such as by storing the data, within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

[0052]

According to the tape printer of the first aspect, the tape printer having the prerequisite configuration described in the section of the operation is provided with the mode setting means and the font memory for vertical writing only. In the case of the vertical writing mode, the character having a large character width is read out of the vertical writing dot pattern data from the vertical writing-only font storage means and is provided for printing, thereby preventing the character from exceeding the tape width. Characters that can be printed vertically
All the character size of the data string is set to the character width of ordinary characters
Can be obtained.

According to the tape printing apparatus of the present invention, since the tape width detecting means and the print data creating means exclusively for vertical writing are further provided, a character having a character width larger than the tape width and which cannot fit within the tape width is provided. By expanding the vertical writing dot pattern data read from the vertical writing font storage means into the print data buffer, it is possible to reliably prevent characters from sticking out of the tape width,
In addition, it is possible to prevent a plurality of characters printed vertically on the tape from being uneven in the character width direction in character size, thereby improving the appearance of the plurality of characters printed.

According to the tape printer of the third aspect, the font index table storing the address data for searching the font storage means and the data of the character width of each character is provided. The character width of each character can be easily obtained from the data.

According to the tape printer of the fourth aspect, the vertical writing font index table storing the address data for searching the vertical writing font storage means and the character width data of each character is provided. The character width of each character can be easily obtained as needed from the character width data of the vertical writing font index table. The character width obtained from the vertical writing font index table can be effectively used to determine whether each character read from the vertical writing font storage means fits within the tape width.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration according to claims 1 and 2;

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 the CGROMs 53 and 54;

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 for explaining the contents of a common font index table.

FIG. 9 is a table for explaining the contents of a vertical writing-only font index table.

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

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a vertical writing / horizontal writing conversion process in the main routine.

FIG. 12 is a part of a flowchart of a printing process in a main routine.

FIG. 13 is the remaining part of the flowchart of the printing process in the main routine.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a data structure of a text memory;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which a character string is printed vertically.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which a character string is set to a small size and a character string is printed vertically in the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tape printer 3 Keyboard 13 Thermal head 19 Printing tape 22 Liquid crystal display 42 Cassette sensor 52 CPU 53 Regular CGROM 54 CGROM 55 only for vertical writing 55 ROM 60 RAM 61 Text memory C Controller PM printing mechanism CS Tape cassette

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き 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-3-1033893 (JP, A) JP-A-5 -305731 (JP, A) JP-A-4-173359 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 21/00 B41J 3/36

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] An input means for inputting characters such as characters and symbols and various commands, a data storage means for storing data of the input characters, and a plurality of print pattern data for dot patterns of many characters. Font storage means for storing the size, print data buffer for storing dot image data for printing, and print data creation means for reading dot pattern data from the font storage means based on the data in the data storage means and developing the dot pattern data in the print data buffer And a printing means for receiving a dot image data for printing from a print data buffer and printing a character on a tape as a print medium, wherein the character is printed on the tape in a horizontal writing direction in a tape width direction. Horizontal writing mode and vertical writing in the tape length direction That vertical mode and a mode setting means for setting alternatively a, and about the major character of at least some of the character width of a number of characters, only the character width normal character
A vertical-printing-only font storage means for storing vertically-printed dot pattern data reduced to a character width substantially equal to the character width of a plurality of print character sizes. 2. A tape width detecting means for detecting a width of a tape of the tape cassette; and a dot pattern stored in the font storing means for each character read from the data storing means in the vertical writing mode. Character width determined by data,
Vertical print data creating means for reading dot pattern data from the vertical writing font storage means and expanding it in the print data buffer when the tape width is larger than the tape width detected by the tape width detecting means. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A font index table storing address data for searching the font storage means and storing character width data of each character,
3. The tape printer according to claim 2, wherein the tape printer is provided in association with the font storage unit. 4. A vertical font index table which stores address data for searching the vertical writing font storage means and character width data of each character is associated with the vertical writing font storage means. The tape printer according to claim 3, wherein the tape printer is provided.