JP4582736B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention repeatedly prints the print information input along the print tape on which the release tape is laminated, and cuts only the print tape while leaving the release tape, whereby a plurality of sheets on which the print information is printed The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for creating a label.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a printing apparatus that creates a label by printing on a tape member, when the number of labels to be created is designated and printing is instructed, the number of labels designated along the tape member is input to the inputted print information. Some have a continuous printing function that repeats printing for as many minutes as possible. In this printing apparatus, as a tape member, a printing tape with an adhesive layered with a peeling tape is used, and when a plurality of labels are created by the continuous printing function, printing information corresponding to each label is printed. The tape member is cut out as a label by a cutting device at the boundary of the region. This cutting device is installed on the downstream side of the tape transport of the printing mechanism of the printing device. The cutting device installed in the printing device has a full cutting function (hereinafter referred to as “cutting tape”) for cutting both the printing tape and the release tape of the tape member. , Or a full cut function), or a partial cut function (hereinafter also referred to as a half cut function) for cutting only the print tape of the tape member. In continuous printing, the printing information is printed on the tape member and the tape member is completely cut (hereinafter also referred to as full cut) or partially cut (hereinafter also referred to as half cut) by the cutting device. Repeatedly.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
  In a conventional printing device,In the middle of continuous printing, the user may notice an error in the specified number of prints, stop printing and restart printing, or resume printing after stopping printing for some reason. The conventional printing apparatus is provided with a print number display function that is incremented each time a label is printed one by one during continuous printing. Therefore, confirm the number of printed pages displayed when printing is stopped, and when printing is resumed later, a new number of printed pages is specified based on the number of printed pages before the cancellation and the desired number of printed pages. However, since the number of printed sheets is temporary and disappears quickly, it is easy to neglect the confirmation. For this reason, the number of printed labels is one sheet. It was necessary to specify the number of prints required for restart after counting. In particular, when stopping after a large number of labels have been printed, there is a problem in that it takes time to count the number of labels.
[0006]
  The present invention solves the problems of the conventional printing device,Easily check the number of printed labels at any time before printing is stopped so that when printing is stopped in the middle of printing multiple labels, the number of prints required when printing resumes can be easily grasped. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of performing printing processing.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  Claim 1The printing apparatus according to the present invention includes an input means for inputting print information to be printed, a transport means for transporting a tape member in which a print tape and a release tape are laminated, and prints the print information in the longitudinal direction of the print tape. Printing means; cutting means for forming a label by cutting only the printing tape of the tape member in the width direction at the boundary of the printing area where the printing information is printed; and printing a plurality of labels by specifying the number of sheets According to the number of times of printing by the printing instruction means, the control means for controlling the conveying means, the printing means and the cutting means to create a plurality of labels designated by the printing instruction means, A counting unit for counting, and a printing stop instruction unit for instructing the control unit to stop the printing operation. The control unit is in the middle of printing a plurality of labels based on an instruction from the printing instruction unit. When the printing stop instruction means instructs to stop the printing operation, the conveying means and the printing means are controlled to print the count value of the counting means, and then the printing operation is terminated, and the cutting means The print tape is cut at the boundary between the print area where the print information is printed and the print area where the count value is printed.
[0016]
According to such a configuration, when there is an instruction to stop the printing operation in the middle of printing a plurality of labels, a numerical value indicating the number of times of printing information printed on the printing tape up to that time, that is, a label The numerical value of the number of prints is printed in an area on the print tape that is separated from the additional print information. Thereby, the number of labels printed by the time when printing is stopped can be confirmed at any time by the numerical value. Therefore, for example, when a desired number of remaining labels are to be created again after printing is stopped, the number of labels to be additionally printed can be easily confirmed without counting the number of already created labels one by one.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0018]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a printing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a printing mechanism provided in the printing apparatus and a tape cassette attached to the printing mechanism.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 1, an input unit 3 and a display unit 4 are provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 2 of the printing apparatus 1. The input unit 3 includes a keyboard, a power key for operating the power supply of the device, a character / symbol input key for inputting characters and symbols, a delete key for deleting entered characters and symbols, and the cursor on the display screen. Various keys necessary for the printing process of the printing apparatus 1 are provided, such as a cursor movement key for moving left and right and a printing key for instructing printing. The display unit 4 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display device, and displays input characters and various menu screens.
[0020]
A lid 5 is attached to the upper surface of the apparatus main body 2 of the printing apparatus 1 so as to be openable and closable, and a cassette housing portion 6 is provided below the lid 5. The cassette housing portion 6 is provided with a printing mechanism for performing thermal transfer printing, and a tape cassette 12 housing a tape member 10 for printing and an ink ribbon 11 for thermal transfer is mounted.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 2, the printing mechanism includes a thermal head 7 that prints on the tape member 10 via the ink ribbon 11, a platen roller 8 that transports the tape member 10 together with the ink ribbon 11, and the used ink ribbon. And a ribbon take-up shaft 9 for taking up 11 in a tape cassette 12.
[0022]
The thermal head 7 includes a plurality of heating elements 7 a arranged in a line in the width direction of the printing member 10, and is provided so as to be able to contact and separate from the platen roller 8.
[0023]
The platen roller 8 is driven to rotate for each printing of one line of the thermal head 7 and conveys the tape member 10 and the ink ribbon 11 by a predetermined distance. Along with the rotation of the platen roller 8, the ribbon take-up shaft 9 is also driven to rotate, and the used ink ribbon 11 is taken up.
[0024]
The tape cassette 12 mounted in the cassette housing 6 includes a cassette case 13, a tape supply reel 14 around which the printing member 10 is wound, a ribbon supply reel 15 around which the ink ribbon 11 is wound, and a ribbon take-up reel. And a ribbon take-up reel 16 that is rotationally driven by a shaft 9. A part of the cassette case 13 is provided with a head insertion portion 17 in which the thermal head 7 is accommodated. The print member 10 and the ink ribbon 11 are drawn out from the cassette case 13 to the head insertion portion 17, and the thermal head 7. And the platen roller 8.
[0025]
FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the tape member 10.
[0026]
The tape member 10 is accommodated in the tape cassette 12 together with the ink ribbon 11. The tape member 10 includes a printing tape 10a having an adhesive 10b applied to the back surface of the printing surface and a peeling tape 10c on the back surface side of the printing tape 10a, and these are laminated.
[0027]
In this printing apparatus 1, the tape member 10 and the ink ribbon 11 are conveyed by the rotational drive of the platen roller 8, and the used ink ribbon 11 is wound up by the rotational drive of the ribbon take-up shaft 9, while the thermal head 7. Thermal transfer printing is performed by the heat generation driving, and printing is sequentially performed in the longitudinal direction of the tape member 10. The tape member 10 on which printing has been completed is discharged from a discharge port 20 provided on the side surface of the apparatus main body 2.
[0028]
A tape cutting device 21 for cutting the printed tape member 10 is disposed in the tape discharge path between the discharge port 20 and the printing mechanism. The tape cutting device 21 includes a full cutting function (full cut function) for cutting the entire tape member 10 including the printing tape 10a and the peeling tape 10c, and a partial cutting for cutting only the printing tape 10a while leaving the peeling tape 10c. It has a configuration with a cutting function (half-cut function).
[0029]
4 is a plan view showing the printing mechanism and the tape cutting device, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the tape cutting device, FIG. 5A is an exploded view of the tape cutting device, and FIG. The assembly state of the apparatus is shown.
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 4, the tape cutting device 21 includes a first cutting mechanism 22 having the full cutting function and a second cutting mechanism 23 having the partial cutting function, and a drive source for these cutting mechanisms. A cutter motor 24 and a drive mechanism 25 that drives the first cutting mechanism 22 and the second cutting mechanism 23 by the driving force of the cutter motor 24 are provided.
[0031]
The first cutting mechanism 22 cuts the printing tape 10 a and the peeling tape 10 c of the tape member 10, and includes a fixed blade 31 and a movable blade 32 that can move relative to the fixed blade 31. As shown in FIG. 5, the fixed blade 31 of the first cutting mechanism 22 is fixed to the chassis 2 a of the apparatus body 2, and a movable blade 32 is pivotally attached to the lower end portion of the fixed blade 31 by a shaft 34. An arm portion 33 is connected to the lower end portion of the movable blade 32, and an operating projection 35 for operating the movable blade 32 by receiving a driving force transmitted from the drive mechanism 25 at the end portion of the arm portion 33. Is provided. The movable blade 32 is always urged in a direction away from the fixed blade 31 by a spring (not shown).
[0032]
On the other hand, the second cutting mechanism 23 includes a cradle 41 and a movable blade 46 that can be moved toward and away from the cradle 41. As shown in FIG. 5, the cradle 41 has an L-shaped horizontal cross-sectional shape and includes a planar receiving portion 41 a that faces the movable blade 42. The receiving base 41 is fixed to the chassis 2a of the apparatus main body 2 and is provided on the tape transport path, and the tape surface on the side of the peeling tape 10c of the printing member 10 that is transported with the receiving portion 41a oriented in the width direction vertically. Receive. The movable blade 46 is attached to the movable blade support portion 42, and the movable blade support portion 42 is pivotally attached to the lower end portion of the cradle 41 by a shaft 44. An arm portion 43 is connected to the lower end portion of the movable blade support portion 42, and an operation for operating the arm portion 43 by receiving a driving force transmitted from the drive mechanism 25 at the end portion of the arm portion 43. Pins 45 are provided. The movable blade support 42 is always urged in a direction away from the cradle 41 by a spring (not shown).
[0033]
Here, the movable blade 46 has a cutting blade structure that cuts only the printing tape 10 a of the tape member 10 when it comes into contact with the cradle 41. That is, the movable blade 46 is supported by a holder 47 that is detachably attached to the movable blade support portion 42, and convex portions 48 a and 48 b are provided on both sides of the holder 47. The tips of the convex portions 48 a and 48 b protrude from the tip of the cutting edge of the movable blade 46 by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the peeling tape 10 c of the tape member 10. Therefore, when the convex portions 48a and 48b abut against the cradle 41, a gap corresponding to the thickness of the peeling tape 10c is formed between the movable blade 46 and the cradle 41. Only the peeling tape 10ca of the member 10 can be cut.
[0034]
The drive mechanism 25 includes a transmission mechanism 26 for transmitting rotational driving in both forward and reverse directions of the cutter motor 24, a torque limiter 27 inserted in the transmission mechanism 26, and a cam used as a rotary blade moving mechanism. 28.
[0035]
The transmission mechanism 26 includes a plurality of reduction gear trains, and transmits the rotational drive of the cutter motor 24 in both forward and reverse directions. A torque limiter 27 is inserted in the transmission mechanism 71. The torque limiter 27 causes idling when a certain torque is applied to the cutter motor 24.
[0036]
The cam 28 is provided at the final end of the gear train of the transmission mechanism 26. On the end face of the cam 28, it engages with an operating projection 35 provided on the arm portion 33 of the first cutting mechanism 22 or the second cutting mechanism 23 according to the forward or reverse rotation of the cutter motor 24. A protrusion 29 that engages with the operating pin 45 provided on the arm 43 is provided.
[0037]
Further, a first sensor 51 and a second sensor 52 are installed on the chassis 2 a of the apparatus main body 2 so as to face the side surface of the cam 28. The first sensor 51 and the second sensor 52 are micro switches, and are turned ON / OFF according to the rotation angle of the cam 28 during full cut and half cut. By the combination of ON / OFF of the two sensors 51 and 52, the initial positions of the first cutting mechanism 22 and the second cutting mechanism 23 and the respective cutting end positions are detected.
[0038]
In the tape cutting device 21 having such a configuration, in the initial state, both the first cutting mechanism 22 and the second cutting mechanism 23 are set to the initial positions. That is, the movable blade 32 of the first cutting mechanism 22 is at a position separated from the fixed blade 31 by the spring, and the movable blade 46 of the second cutting mechanism 23 is also separated from the receiving table 41 by the spring. At this time, the first sensor 51 is on and the second sensor 52 is off.
[0039]
When the cutter motor 24 is driven to rotate forward from the initial state, the cam 28 receives its forward rotational drive via the drive mechanism 25 and rotates counterclockwise toward FIG. 29 also moves on the arc orbit of the cam 28 and comes into contact with the operating projection 35 provided at the end of the arm portion 33 of the first cutting mechanism 22. Thereby, the arm part 33 is pushed by the projection part 29, and moves toward the fixed blade 31 against the force of the spring. When the cutter motor 24 is further driven to rotate forward, the movable blade 32 and the fixed blade 31 intersect, and the printing tape 10a and the peeling tape 10c of the printing member 10 are cut (full cut).
[0040]
At this time, the first sensor 51 is turned OFF and the second sensor 52 is turned ON. Based on the sensor signal, it is determined that the full cut is completed, the cutter motor 24 is driven in reverse, and the first cutting mechanism 22 is movable. The blade 32 is returned to the initial position.
[0041]
On the other hand, when the cutter motor 24 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction from the initial state, the cam 28 rotates clockwise in FIG. 5, and accordingly, the projection 29 of the cam 28 also moves on the arc orbit of the cam 28, and the second It abuts on the operating pin 45 at the end of the arm portion 43 of the cutting mechanism 23. Thereby, the arm part 43 is pushed by the projection part 29, and moves toward the receiving stand 41 against the force of the spring. When the cutter motor 24 is further reversely driven, the convex portions 48 a and 48 b of the holder 47 come into contact with the receiving portion 41 a of the receiving base 41. As described above, the tips of the projections 48a and 48b protrude from the cutting edge of the movable blade 46 by a dimension corresponding to the thickness of the peeling tape 10c, and the dimension is between the receiving part 41a of the receiving base 41 and the movable blade 42. Since a gap is formed, only the printing tape 10a is cut (half cut) leaving the peeling tape 10c.
[0042]
At this time, both the first sensor 51 and the second sensor 52 are turned on, and based on the sensor signal, it is determined that the half cut has been completed, the cutter motor 24 is driven in reverse, and the movable blade of the second cutting mechanism 23 is driven. 46 is returned to the initial position.
[0043]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic circuit of the printing apparatus 1 on which the tape cutting device 21 having the above-described configuration is mounted.
[0044]
The electronic circuit of the printing apparatus 1 is provided with a control unit 61 composed of a CPU. The control unit (CPU) 61 activates a system program stored in advance in the ROM 62 in response to a key operation signal from the input unit 3, and controls the operation of each circuit unit using the RAM 63 as a work memory. The control unit (CPU) 61 is connected to the input unit 3, ROM 62, and RAM 63, a display character generator (display CG) 64 that stores font pattern data for display, and a font for printing. A printing character generator (printing CG) 65 for storing the pattern data is connected.
[0045]
The input unit 3 is provided with various keys necessary for the printing process of the printing apparatus 1. Here, as keys relating to label printing, a printing key 3a operated when performing label printing, and its printing operation A print start key 3b for instructing the start of printing and a print stop key 3c for instructing the stop of the printing operation are provided.
[0046]
The ROM 62 stores in advance a system program that controls the overall operation of the printing apparatus 1 and various subprograms that respectively control character string data input processing, display processing, printing processing, and the like.
[0047]
The RAM 63 stores various types of information necessary for the processing of the control unit (CPU) 61. Here, as shown in FIG. 7, an input buffer 63a for storing the input print information, corresponding to the print information. A print buffer 63b for storing the print pattern, a print number register 63c for holding the number n of prints designated by the user, and a jump number interval register 63d for holding the interval m of the number of jumps designated by the user. Further, the RAM 63 is provided with a print number counter K for counting the number of prints, a printing flag P indicating whether or not printing has been instructed, and a printing stop flag Q indicating whether or not printing has been instructed. .
[0048]
The control unit (CPU) 61 displays a display drive circuit 66 for displaying input character string data, information about printing, and the like on the display unit 4 and a heating element of the thermal head 7 according to the printing information. A head drive circuit 67 for driving the heat generation, a step motor drive circuit 69 for the step motor 68 for rotationally driving the platen roller 8 and the ribbon take-up shaft 9, and a cutter motor drive circuit for driving the cutter motor 24 of the tape cutting device 21. 70 is connected.
[0049]
The cutter motor 24 is a DC motor, is a drive source of the tape cutting device 21, and is driven in both forward and reverse directions by a cutter motor drive circuit 70 under the control of a control unit (CPU) 61. The driving mechanism 25 transmits the rotational drive in both forward and reverse directions of the cutter motor 24 to drive the first cutting mechanism 22 and the second cutting mechanism 23. Here, the cutter motor 24 rotates in the forward direction. When driven, the first cutting mechanism 22 is driven, and when the cutter motor 24 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction, the second cutting mechanism 23 is driven.
[0050]
Further, the first position for detecting the initial positions of the first cutting mechanism 22 and the second cutting mechanism 23 and the respective cutting end positions according to the rotation angle of the cam 28 provided in the drive mechanism 25. A sensor 51 and a second sensor 52 are connected to the control unit 61.
[0051]
Next, the printing operation of the printing apparatus 1 will be described separately for each embodiment.
[0052]
(First embodiment)
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing label printing processing in the first embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a printing example in the first embodiment.
[0053]
In FIG. 9, “ABC” is print information inputted from the input unit 3 and printed on the tape member 10 (print tape 10a), “No. 1”, “No. 2”, “No. 3”. The additional information printed on the tape member 10 (printing tape 10a) is shown. Further, the position of the thermal head 7, the position of the first cutting mechanism 22 (full cut position), and the position of the second cutting mechanism 23 (half cut position) are directed toward the downstream side (right side in FIG. 9) in the tape transport direction. Are in order. As shown in FIG. 9, at the start of printing, the tip of the tape member 10 is in the full cut position, and printing is performed while the tape member 10 is conveyed rightward from this state, and the printing result of FIG. 9 is obtained. .
[0054]
Here, the interval between the thermal head 7 and the second cutting mechanism 23 (half-cut position) is a, the interval between the thermal head 7 and the first cutting mechanism 22 (full-cut position) is b, and a> b It is. The length of the tape (label) on which the input print information is printed is L1, the print length of the character string “ABC” printed thereon is D1, and the length of the margin set before and after the character string. Is M1, the length of the tape on which the additional information is printed is L2, the print width of the additional information is D2, and the length of the margin before and after the additional information is M2. Among these, L1 changes according to the number of characters, and others are fixed values. Further, it is assumed that there is a relationship of M1 + L2 <a, M1 + D1> a> M1,2M1> a.
[0055]
By operating the print key 3 a of the input unit 3, a label printing process as shown in FIG. 8 is executed by the control unit 61. It is assumed that print information input as a label character string from the input unit 3 is held in the input buffer 63a of the RAM 63.
[0056]
First, an input setting screen for the number of prints is displayed on the display unit 4, and a numerical value for the number of prints of a label desired by the user is input and set on the input setting screen. The inputted print number n is set in the print number register 63c of the RAM 63 shown in FIG. 7 (step S1).
[0057]
Here, when the start of printing is instructed by operating the print start key 3b of the input unit 3 (step S2), the print number counter K of the RAM 63 is set to 1 as an initial setting (step S3).
[0058]
Next, it is determined whether or not the value of the print number counter K is 1 (step S4), and based on the value of K, a print pattern of additional information (No. with a numerical value of K) printed in the RAM 63. The data is expanded in the buffer 63b (step S5). In this case, K = 1 at the initial stage. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, additional information such as “No. 1” is printed (step S6). At the start of printing, the thermal head 7 is at a distance b from the tip of the tape member 10, and additional information is printed from this position.
[0059]
After printing the additional information (Yes in step S7), the print information is read from the input buffer 63a of the RAM 63, and a print pattern (ABC) corresponding to the print information is developed in the print buffer 63b of the RAM 63 (step S8). ,
Here, in order to make the thermal head 7 correspond to the print start position of the print information from the print end position of the additional information, the tape member 10 is conveyed by a distance of M2 + M1 (step S9). After this conveyance, printing of the first print information is started based on the print pattern developed in the print buffer 63b (step S10).
[0060]
During the printing, when the tape member 10 advances by a distance a-M1 in the longitudinal direction of the printing tape 10a (step S11), the tape printing and tape feeding are temporarily interrupted (step S12), and the second cutting mechanism 23 is stopped. The half-cut is performed at the boundary between the rear end of the print area of the first additional information and the front end of the print area of the first print information (step S13).
[0061]
The half cut at this time is indicated by HCa1 in FIG. As described above, since the relationship of M1 + D1> a> M1 is established in advance, the half-cut HCa1 is performed by interrupting the printing of the print information of the first sheet.
[0062]
After the half cut, the printing of the first printing information that was interrupted in step S12 is resumed (step S14), and the printing information is printed to the end (step S15).
[0063]
When printing is completed (Yes in step S15), it is determined whether or not the value of the print number counter K has reached the print number n set in the print number register 63c (step S16), and the print number n has been reached. If not, the value of the print sheet counter K is incremented (step S17), the process returns to step S4, and the printing process for the second and subsequent sheets is subsequently performed.
[0064]
That is, if the value of the print sheet counter K has not reached the print sheet number n in step S16 and the value of the print sheet counter K is 2 or more (No in step S16, No in step S4), in step S17. Based on the incremented value of the number of printed sheets counter K, a print pattern of additional information (a value obtained by adding No. to the value of K) is developed in the print buffer 63b (step S18). When the tape member 10 is conveyed by a distance of M1 + M2 (step S19), additional information is printed based on the print pattern developed in the print buffer 63b (step S20).
[0065]
After the additional information is printed (Yes in step S21), the print pattern of the print information is developed in the print buffer 63b (step S22). When the tape member 10 is transported by a distance of M2 + M1 (step S23), printing of the K-th print information is started based on the print pattern developed in the print buffer 63b (step S24).
[0066]
When printing progresses a distance of a− (M1 + L2) from the printing start position of the printing information (Yes in step S25), tape printing and tape feeding are temporarily interrupted (step S26), and the second cutting mechanism 23 is driven. As a result, half-cutting is performed at the boundary between the rear end of the print area of the (K-1) th print information and the front end of the print area of the Kth additional information (step S27).
[0067]
The half cut at this time is indicated by HCa2 in FIG. 9 when K = 2, for example. As described above, since the relationship of M1 + L2 <a is established in advance, the half cut HCa2 is performed by interrupting the printing information for the second sheet.
[0068]
After the half-cut, the printing of the Kth sheet interrupted in step S26 is resumed (step S28), and when the tape member 10 advances to L2 after the printing is resumed (Yes in step S29), the tape printing is performed. The tape feeding is temporarily interrupted (step S30), and the second cutting mechanism 23 is driven to halfway at the boundary between the rear end of the K-th additional information print area and the front end of the K-th print information print area. Cut is performed (step S31).
[0069]
The half cut at this time is indicated by HCa3 in FIG. 9 when K = 2, for example. As described above, since there is a relationship of M1 + D1> a> M1, the half cut HCa3 is performed during the printing of the print information of the Kth sheet.
[0070]
After the half cut, printing of the K-th printing information that was interrupted in step S30 is resumed (step S32), and the printing information is printed to the end (step S33).
[0071]
When the printing of the printing information for the Kth sheet is completed (Yes in step S33), it is determined whether or not the value of the printing sheet counter K has reached the printing sheet number n set in the printing sheet register 63c (step S16). ). As a result, if the value of the print sheet counter K has not reached the print sheet number n, the value of the print sheet counter K is incremented (step S17), the process returns to step S4, and the same processing is repeated to add additional information and Print information is printed, and half-cut is performed at the boundary between these print areas.
[0072]
On the other hand, when the value of the print sheet counter K reaches the print sheet number n (Yes in step S16), when the tape member 10 is transported by a distance of M1 + b (step S34), the first cutting mechanism 22 is driven. A full cut is performed at the trailing edge of the print information on the Kth sheet (step S35), and the process here ends.
[0073]
The full cut at this time is indicated by FCa in FIG. The printed portion of the tape member 10 is cut off by the full cut FCa, and the printed material having a plurality of labels is discharged from the discharge port 20 to the outside of the apparatus.
[0074]
On the printed matter obtained in this way, a numerical value indicating the continuous number corresponding to the print information continuously printed on the print tape is printed as additional information with a half cut between each print area. ing. Therefore, it is possible to know the number of a plurality of labels formed on the printing tape 10a from the numerical value indicating the continuous number, and it is convenient for managing these labels when the required number of labels are created. is there.
[0075]
By forming this half cut, only the label portion on the printing tape 10a can be easily peeled off from the peeling tape 10c and used as a clue.
[0076]
The printing example of FIG. 9 shows a case where continuous printing is performed with the number of printed sheets set to n = 50 in order to create 50 labels. In such a case, for each printing of the printing information, a continuous number such as “No. 1”, “No. 2”, “No. 3”. 10a is added with a half cut between areas of print information printed on 10a. In this case, since the additional information is printed in a separate area separated from the area where the print information is printed by half-cutting, the information on the label portion on the print tape 10a is not impaired.
[0077]
In the first embodiment, the numerical value of the continuous number is printed in ascending order. However, as a modified example, the numerical value of the continuous number can be printed in descending order. In that case, the number n of prints input and set as the initial value of the print number counter K is set in step S3 in FIG. 8, and it is determined whether or not K = n in step S4, and K = 1 in step S16. It may be determined whether or not and a process of decrementing the value of K in step S17 may be performed.
[0078]
By such processing, for example, when the number of printed sheets n is set to 50, after additional information such as “No. 50” is printed first, “No. 49”, “No. 48”... “No. 1” is decremented one by one and printed. Thus, the same effect as described above can be obtained by printing the additional information in the descending order of the numerical value of the continuous number.
[0079]
(Second Embodiment)
In the second embodiment, a numerical value corresponding to the number of prints is printed as additional information in correspondence with the print information at a specified interval. Regardless of the setting of the number of skips, the additional information corresponding to the print information of the first sheet is printed.
[0080]
FIGS. 10 and 11 are flowcharts showing label printing processing in the second embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a printing example in the second embodiment. Here, in addition to the conditions in the first embodiment, it is assumed that 2M1 <a. As shown in FIG. 12, at the start of printing, the tip of the tape member 10 is at the full cut position, and from this state, printing is performed while the tape member 10 is conveyed rightward, and the printing result of FIG. 12 is obtained.
[0081]
By operating the print key 3 a of the input unit 3, the label print process as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 is executed by the control unit 61. It is assumed that print information input as a label character string from the input unit 3 is held in the input buffer 63a of the RAM 63.
[0082]
First, on the input setting screen displayed on the display unit 4, the user prints the desired number of printed labels and the interval of the number of jumps as additional information. The input print number n is set in the print number register 63c of the RAM 63, and the skip interval m is set in the skip number interval register 63d of the RAM 63 (step T1). In the printing example of FIG. 12, the case where n = 50 and m = 5 is set is shown.
[0083]
Here, when the start of printing is instructed by operating the print start key 3b of the input unit 3 (step T2), the print number counter K of the RAM 63 is set to 1 as an initial setting (step T3).
[0084]
Next, it is determined whether or not the value of the printed sheet counter K is 1 (step T4), and based on the value of K, a print pattern of additional information (K number added with No.) is printed on the RAM 63. The data is expanded in the buffer 63b (step T5). In this case, K = 1 at the initial stage. Therefore, additional information such as “No. 1” is printed (step T6). At the start of printing, the thermal head 7 is at a distance b from the tip of the tape member 10, and additional information is printed from this position.
[0085]
After printing the additional information (Yes in step T7), the print information is read from the input buffer 63a of the RAM 63, and a print pattern (ABC) corresponding to the print information is developed in the print buffer 63b of the RAM 63 (step T8). .
[0086]
Here, in order to make the thermal head 7 correspond to the print start position of the print information from the print end position of the additional information, the tape member 10 is conveyed by a distance of M2 + M1 (step T9). After this conveyance, printing of the first print information is started based on the print pattern developed in the print buffer 63b (step T10).
[0087]
During the printing, when the tape member 10 advances by a distance a-M1 in the longitudinal direction of the printing tape 10a (step T11), the tape printing and the tape feeding are temporarily interrupted (step T12), and the second cutting mechanism 23 The half cut is performed at the boundary between the rear end of the print area of the first additional information and the front end of the print area of the first print information (step T13). The half cut at this time is indicated by HCb1 in FIG.
[0088]
After the half cut, the printing of the first printing information that was interrupted in step T12 is resumed (step T14), and the printing information is printed to the end (step T15).
[0089]
When printing is completed (Yes in step T15), it is determined whether or not the value of the print number counter K has reached the print number n set in the print number register 63c (step T16), and has reached the print number n. If not, the value of the print sheet counter K is incremented (step T17), the process returns to step T4, and then the printing process for the second and subsequent sheets is performed.
[0090]
That is, if the value of the print sheet counter K does not reach the set print sheet number n in step T16 and the value of the print sheet counter K is 2 or more (No in step T16, No in step T4), the print sheet counter It is determined whether the value of K is a multiple of the interval m of the skip count set in the skip interval register 63d of the RAM 63 (step T18).
[0091]
If the value of the printed sheet counter K is not a multiple of the jump interval m (No in Step T), the additional information is not printed. In this case, when the printing member 10 is conveyed by a distance of 2M1 ( In step T19), the print information is printed (step T20).
[0092]
When printing proceeds a distance a-M1 from the printing start position of the printing information (step T21), tape printing and tape feeding are temporarily interrupted (step T22), and the second cutting mechanism 23 is driven to drive K- A half cut is performed at the boundary between the rear end of the print area for the first print information and the front end of the print area for the K-th print information (step T23). The half cut at this time is indicated by HCb2 in FIG. 11 when K = 2, for example.
[0093]
After the half cut, printing of the K-th printing information that was interrupted in step T22 is resumed (step T24), and the printing information is printed to the end (step T25).
[0094]
When printing of the print information of the Kth sheet is completed (Yes in step T25), it is determined whether or not the value of the print sheet counter K has reached the print sheet number n set in the print sheet register 63c (step T16). ). As a result, if the value of the print sheet counter K does not reach the print sheet number n, the value of the print sheet counter K is incremented (step T17), and the process returns to step T4 to continue printing.
[0095]
If it is determined in step T18 that the value of the print sheet counter K is a multiple of m, a print pattern of additional information (a value obtained by adding No. to the value of K) is based on the value of the print sheet counter K. The data is developed in the print buffer 63b (step T26). When the tape member 10 is conveyed by a distance of M1 + M2 (step T27), additional information is printed based on the print pattern developed in the print buffer 63b (step T28).
[0096]
After printing the additional information (Yes in step T29), the print pattern of the print information is developed in the print buffer 63b (step T30). When the tape member 10 is transported by a distance of M2 + M1 (step T31), printing of the K-th print information is started based on the print pattern developed in the print buffer 63b (step T32).
[0097]
When printing proceeds a distance a− (M1 + L2) from the printing start position of the printing information (Yes in Step T33), tape printing and tape feeding are temporarily suspended (Step T34), and the second cutting mechanism 23 is driven. Thus, half-cutting is performed at the boundary between the rear end of the print area of the (K-1) th print information and the front end of the print area of the subsequent Kth additional information (step T35). The half cut at this time is represented by HCb3 in FIG. 12, assuming that K = 5, for example.
[0098]
After half-cutting, printing of the Kth sheet interrupted in step T34 is resumed (step T36), and when the tape member 10 has advanced to L2 after the printing is resumed (Yes in step T37), The tape feeding is temporarily interrupted (step T38), and the second cutting mechanism 23 is driven to halfway at the boundary between the rear end of the K-th additional information print area and the front end of the K-th print information print area. Cut is performed (step T39). The half cut at this time is represented by HCb4 in FIG. 12, assuming that K = 5, for example.
[0099]
After the half cut, printing of the K-th printing information that was interrupted in step T30 is resumed (step T40), and the printing information is printed to the end (step T41).
[0100]
When the printing of the printing information of the Kth sheet is completed (Yes in step T41), it is determined whether or not the value of the printing sheet counter K has reached the printing sheet number n set in the printing sheet register 63c (step T16). ). As a result, if the value of the print sheet counter K has not reached the print sheet number n, the value of the print sheet counter K is incremented (step T17), the process returns to step T4, and the same processing is repeated to print the print information. At the same time, additional information is printed at every interval m of the number of jumps, and half-cut is performed at the boundary between these print areas.
[0101]
On the other hand, when the value of the print sheet counter K reaches the print sheet number n (Yes in Step T16), when the tape member 10 is conveyed by a distance of M1 + b (Step T42), the first cutting mechanism 22 is driven. A full cut is performed at the trailing edge of the print information on the Kth sheet (step T43), and the process here ends.
[0102]
A full cut at this time, for example, FCb in FIG. The printed part of the tape member 10 is cut off by the full cut FCb, and the printed material having a plurality of labels is discharged from the discharge port 20 to the outside of the apparatus.
[0103]
In the printed matter obtained in this way, a numerical value indicating the number of skips at a predetermined interval corresponding to the print information continuously printed on the print tape 10a is added as half-cut between the print areas. Printed with Therefore, you can check the number of labels with reference to the numerical value as well as the label without the numerical value between the two jump numbers. Convenient to.
[0104]
In the first embodiment, additional information is printed every time print information is printed. In the second embodiment, additional information is printed at predetermined intervals on the print information constituting the label. Therefore, the number of labels can be managed with less additional information, and consumption of the tape member can be reduced.
[0105]
The printing example in FIG. 12 shows a case where the number of printed sheets n is set to 50 to create 50 labels and the interval m of the number of skips is set to 5 to perform continuous printing.
In such a case, for example, “No. 1”, “No. 5”, “No. 10”... “No. 50”, the number of jumps indicating the number of labels every five prints is added information. Are added with a half cut between areas of print information printed on the print tape 10a. In this case, since the additional information is printed in a different area separated from the area where the print information is printed, the information of the label portion on the print tape 10a is not impaired.
[0106]
In the second embodiment, the numerical value of the number of skips is printed in ascending order. However, as a modified example, the numerical value of the number of skips can also be printed in descending order. In this case, the number n of prints input and set as the initial value of the print number counter K is set in step T3 in FIG. 10, and it is determined whether or not K = n in step T4 and K = 1 in step S16. It may be determined whether or not, and a process of decrementing the value of K in step S17 may be performed.
[0107]
For example, when the number n of printed sheets is set to n = 50 and the interval m of the number of skips is set to 5 by such processing, the jump is performed as “No. 50”, “No. 45”, “No. 40”. A numerical value indicating the number is decremented by 5 from the set number of prints and added. In this way, the same effect as described above can be obtained by printing the additional information in descending order of the number of skips.
[0108]
(Third embodiment)
In the third embodiment, when there is an instruction to stop printing while printing a plurality of labels continuously, the number of labels printed last is printed as additional information.
[0109]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a flag setting process at the time of printing in the third embodiment.
[0110]
When the printing start key 3b of the input unit 3 is operated (Yes in Step U1), the printing flag P is set (= 1) in the RAM 63 (Step U2). When the print cancel key 3c is operated (Yes in step U3), it is determined whether or not the printing flag P is set (step U4). If the printing flag P is set (Yes in step U4), the printing stop flag Q is set (= 1) (step U5). The printing flag P and the printing stop flag Q are reset when printing is finished.
[0111]
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing label printing processing in the third embodiment, and FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a printing example in the third embodiment.
[0112]
By operating the print key 3 a of the input unit 3, a label printing process as shown in FIG. 14 is executed by the control unit 61. It is assumed that print information input as a label character string from the input unit 3 is held in the input buffer 63a of the RAM 63.
[0113]
First, an input setting screen for the number of prints is displayed on the display unit 4, and a numerical value for the number of prints of a label desired by the user is input and set on the input setting screen. The inputted print number n is set in the print number register 63c of the RAM 63 shown in FIG. 7 (step V1).
[0114]
When printing is started by operating the print start key 3b of the input unit 3 (step V2), the print number counter K of the RAM 63 is set to 1 as an initial setting (step V3).
[0115]
Next, it is determined whether or not the value of the printed sheet counter K is 1 (step V4). In this case, K = 1 at the initial stage. Accordingly, print information is read from the input buffer 63a, a print pattern (ABC) corresponding to the print information is developed in the print buffer 63b of the RAM 63 (step V5), and printing is started (step V6).
[0116]
During the printing, when the tape member 10 advances by a distance b-M1 in the longitudinal direction of the printing tape 10a (step V7), the tape printing and the tape feeding are temporarily interrupted (step V8), and the first cutting mechanism 22 is stopped. A full cut is performed by driving (step V9). Note that b−M1 <D1. By this full cut, an unnecessary portion at the end of the tape is removed, and a margin of length M1 is secured in the front portion of the print information of the first sheet. FCc1 in FIG. 15 indicates a full cut by the process of step V9.
[0117]
After this full cut, printing of the first print information that was interrupted in step 8 is resumed (step V10), and the print information is printed to the end (step V11).
[0118]
Next, it is determined whether or not the print stop flag Q is set (step V12). If the print stop flag Q is not set, it is determined whether or not the value of the print number counter K has reached the print number n set in the print number register 63c (step V13), and has reached the print number n. If not, the value of the print sheet counter K is incremented (step V14), the process returns to step V4, and then the print process for the second and subsequent sheets is performed.
[0119]
In the second and subsequent printing, first, the printing member 10 is transported by a distance of 2M1, and the rear of the printing information of the (K-1) th printing information that has been printed and the printing information of the Kth printing that is subsequently printed. In the state in which the margins of M1 are respectively formed at the front portions (step V15), printing of the print information of the Kth sheet is started (step V17).
[0120]
During the printing, tape printing and tape feeding are temporarily interrupted at a distance a-M1 from the start of printing (steps V17 and V18), and the second cutting mechanism 23 is driven to print the (K-1) th sheet. Half-cutting is performed at the rear end of the information and the front end of the Kth print information (step V19). HCc1 in FIG. 15 indicates the half cut.
[0121]
After this half-cut, printing of the K-th printing information that was interrupted in step V18 is performed (steps V20 and V21). After the printing of the print information of the Kth sheet is completed, it is determined whether or not the print stop flag Q is set (step V12). If the print stop flag Q is not set, the value of the print sheet counter K is set. It is determined whether or not the number n of prints set in the print number register 63c has been reached (step V13). If the number n has not been reached, the value of the print number counter K is incremented (step V14). Returning to V4, the printing for the (K + 1) th and subsequent sheets is performed.
[0122]
If it is determined in step V12 that the print cancel key 3c is operated and the print cancel flag Q is set, the additional information print pattern (K numerical value is .) Is developed in the print buffer 63b of the RAM 63 (step V22).
[0123]
Here, when the printing member 10 is conveyed by a distance of M1 + M2 from the printing end position of the printing information printed before the printing is stopped (step V23), the additional information is based on the printing pattern developed in the printing buffer 63b. Printing is performed (steps V24 and V25).
[0124]
When the printing of the additional information is completed, the tape member 10 is transported by a distance of a- (D2-M2) (step V26). This is because the full cut position of the second cutting mechanism 23 is made to correspond to the boundary position between the print area of the last print information based on the print stop instruction and the print area of the additional information corresponding thereto. After this conveyance, half cutting is performed by driving the second cutting mechanism 23 (step V27). HCcp in FIG. 15 indicates a half cut.
[0125]
After the half cut, when the printing member 10 is transported by a distance L2- (ab) or an appropriate distance, a full cut is performed by driving the first cutting mechanism 22 (steps V28 and V30). FCc2 in FIG. 15 indicates this full cut position.
[0126]
If there is no instruction to stop printing by operating the print stop key 3c during printing, the processes in steps V4 to V21 are repeated, and when the value of the print sheet counter K reaches the set number n (step V13), the last After the tape is fed at a distance of M1 + b so as to ensure the margin M1 at the rear of the print information printed on the sheet, full cutting is performed by driving the second cutting mechanism 23 (steps V29 and V30).
[0127]
The printing example of FIG. 15 is a case in which, during printing in which 50 is set as the number of prints n, the user instructs the print stop by operating the print stop key during the 25th print. In such a case, for example, the user initially intended to create 50 labels, set the number of prints, and started printing. However, during the printing, the printing was interrupted for some reason, and continued at a later time. If you want to print, or if you want to set the number of prints to 40, and if you notice that during printing and stop printing, the number of prints up to that time will be printed. By referring to this information, the final required number of sheets can be easily obtained when printing is performed subsequently.
[0129]
【The invention's effect】
  As detailed aboveAccording to the present invention, when there is an instruction to stop the printing operation in the middle of printing a plurality of labels, the numerical value indicating the number of times of printing information printed on the printing tape up to that timeIsSince the character information is printed on the cut and separated area on the printing tape, the number of labels printed before the stop of printing can be confirmed at any time by the numerical value. When a desired number of remaining labels are to be created again after printing is stopped, the number of labels to be additionally printed can be easily confirmed without counting the number of already created labels one by one.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a printing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tape cassette housing portion and a tape cassette provided in the printing apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a tape member.
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a printing mechanism section and a tape cutting device.
5A is a perspective view showing the tape cutting device, FIG. 5A is an exploded view of the tape cutting device, and FIG. 5B is a view showing an assembled state of the tape cutting device.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic circuit of a printing apparatus on which the tape cutting device is mounted.
FIG. 7 is a view showing the contents of a RAM.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a label printing process according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of printing in the first embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating label printing processing according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating label printing processing according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of printing in the second embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing flag setting processing during printing in the third embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a label printing process according to the third embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of printing in the third embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Printing device
2 ... Main unit
3 ... Input section
4 ... Display section
5 ... Lid
6 ... Tape cassette housing
7 ... Thermal head
8 ... Platen roller
9 ... Ribbon take-up shaft
10: Tape member
10a ... Printing tape
10b: Adhesive
10c ... peeling tape
11 ... Ink ribbon
12 ... Tape cassette
13 ... Cassette case
14 ... Tape supply reel
15 ... Ribbon supply reel
16 ... Ribbon take-up reel
17 ... Head insertion part
20 ... outlet
21 ... Tape cutting device
22 ... 1st cutting mechanism (full cut mechanism)
23. Second cutting mechanism (half-cut mechanism)
24 ... Cutter motor
25 ... Drive mechanism
26: Transmission mechanism
27 ... Torque limiter
28 ... Cam
29 ... Protrusions
31 ... Fixed blade
32 ... Movable blade
33 ... Arm part
34 ... axis
35 ... Actuation protrusion
41 ... Reception stand
42 ... movable blade support
43 ... Arm part
44 ... axis
45 ... Actuation pin
46 ... Movable blade
47 ... Holder
48a, 48b ... convex part
51, 52 ... Sensor
K: Number of printed sheets counter
P: Printing flag
Q ... Printing stop flag

Claims (1)

An input means for inputting print information to be printed;
Conveying means for conveying a tape member in which a printing tape and a release tape are laminated;
Printing means for printing the printing information in the longitudinal direction of the printing tape;
Cutting means for forming a label by cutting only the print tape of the tape member in the width direction at the boundary of the print area where the print information is printed;
Print instruction means for designating the number of labels and instructing the printing of a plurality of labels;
Control means for controlling the conveying means, the printing means and the cutting means to create a plurality of labels instructed by the printing instruction means;
Counting means for counting according to the number of printing times of the printing means;
Printing stop instruction means for instructing the control means to stop the printing operation,
The control means includes
When the printing stop instruction means instructs to stop the printing operation during printing of a plurality of labels based on the instructions from the printing instruction means, the transport means and the printing means are controlled to count the counting means. The printing operation is terminated after the numerical value is printed, and the cutting means is controlled to cut the printing tape at the boundary between the printing area where the printing information is printed and the printing area where the count value is printed. Characteristic printing device.

Images