JP4621471B2 - Braille stamping device, program, and feed control method for braille stamping device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to feed control method in accordance with the tape feeding braille embossing apparatus for performing braille embossing the braille embossing region on a tape, the program and braille embossing device.

Conventionally, braille that can be recognized by visually impaired people and ink characters that can be seen by sighted people who do not have visual impairments (refer to normal print characters relative to Braille) are placed on the same tape, A Braille label that can be recognized by both sighted persons is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-10-275206

  As a device for creating this kind of braille label, it has an ink character printing mechanism for performing ink character printing and a braille embossing mechanism for imprinting the braille character. It has been proposed to perform both ink-printing and braille printing by inserting into the mechanism.

  By the way, when Braille stamping and ink character printing are performed on the same tape, the number of Braille characters and the number of ink characters are not necessarily the same, and a configuration in which the character size of ink characters can be changed according to the user's preference is also conceivable. For this reason, the length of the braille square area (the area from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the braille square) in the tape feed direction and the length of the ink-character printing area often do not match. For example, as shown in FIG. 20, in the tape feed direction, the length of the braille cell area is set shorter than the length of the ink character print area, and the braille embossed area is set to be centered. In this case, there are non-braille mass areas where braille embossing is not performed before and after the tape feeding direction. While this astigmatic square area passes through the stamping position (the position of the stamping head), the stamping head is naturally not driven, and only tape feeding is performed.

  However, conventionally, the tape is fed at a constant speed regardless of whether it is a braille stamping area or not. The feed speed is set to the maximum speed at which a good stamping result can be obtained. However, if the speed increases too much, the driving source of the stamping head (solenoid, etc.) will be heated abnormally, causing a stamping defect. It was difficult to simply speed up. In addition, when performing braille printing, the tape feed is temporarily stopped at the time of stamping (when the stamping head is driven), so the entire braille stamping process is inevitably compared to ink-printing that allows continuous tape feeding. It took a long time to complete.

The present invention relates to a braille marking device, a program, and a braille stamp that can shorten the time required for braille stamping processing as a whole by performing tape feeding at a high speed while the non-braille stamping region passes the stamping position. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device feed control method.

The braille embossing device of the present invention is arranged in a braille embossing area on a tape by embedding one or more braille characters each represented by a plurality of embossing strings arranged in parallel in the tape feeding direction. In the Braille stamping device, the Braille stamping area includes the start position and the end position of the stamp line to which the first stamp point belongs and the position of the stamp string to which the last stamp point respectively belong in the tape feed direction. This is an area to be positioned, and includes a feeding means that feeds the tape along the feeding path, a marking head that faces the feeding path and imprints Braille on the tape, and a feeding control means that controls the feeding means. The control means has a higher feed rate when the non-braille stamping area, which is an area other than the braille stamping area, passes the stamping head, compared to the feed speed when the braille stamping area passes the stamping head. The feed rate is controlled so that The features.
In the braille embossing device described above, when there are n or more consecutive blank embossed rows that are not engraved in the braille embossed region, the feed control means The blank embossed area corresponding to the area from the line immediately before the start line to the line just after the end line in the tape feed direction of the blank embossed line is within the Braille embossed area with respect to the feed speed when passing through the embossing head. It is preferable to control the feed speed so that the feed speed when the actual stamp area other than the blank stamp area passes through the stamp head is low.
In the braille marking device described above, the feed control means temporarily stops the driving of the feeding means at the time of the braille marking by the marking head, and between the start of driving of the feeding means and the driving stop, It is preferable to perform acceleration / deceleration control with respect to the maximum speed.
In the braille marking device described above, the ink character printing means for printing ink characters on the tape, the length in the tape feeding direction of the braille marking area, and the length in the tape feeding direction of the ink character printing area for printing ink characters And an area arrangement setting means for setting the arrangement of the braille embossing area and the ink character printing area on the tape.
The braille marking device described above further includes area arrangement designation means for designating the arrangement of the braille marking area and / or the ink print area on the tape, and the area arrangement setting means includes the braille marking area and the ink letters. In addition to the length of the print area in the tape feed direction, it is preferable to set the arrangement of the braille embossed area and the ink-character print area based on the arrangement designation by the area arrangement designation unit.
The program according to the present invention causes a computer to function as each unit in the braille marking device described above.
The feed control method of the braille embossing device of the present invention is configured to feed a braille in which one character is represented by a plurality of engraving lines arranged in parallel in the tape feed direction to a braille embossing area on the tape by a tape feed head. A feed control method for a braille stamping device that stamps one or more characters in the direction, wherein the braille stamping area includes the position of the stamping row to which the first stamping point belongs and the last stamping point in the tape feed direction. Is the area where the position of the marking row to which the mark belongs is the start position and the end position, respectively, and the braille marking area is an area other than the Braille marking area with respect to the feed speed when passing through the marking head The feed speed is controlled so that the feed speed when the stamp area passes through the stamp head is high.
The following configuration may be used.
The braille embossing device of the present invention is a braille embossing device that performs braille embossing on a braille embossing area on a tape, a feeding means that feeds the tape along the feeding path, and a braille embossing on the tape facing the feeding path. An engraving head for engraving, and a feed control means for controlling the feeding means. The feed control means is an area other than the Braille embossing area with respect to the feed speed when the Braille embossing area passes through the embossing head. The feed rate is controlled so that the feed rate when the non-braille stamped region passes through the stamping head is high.

  The feed control method of the stamping device of the present invention is a feed control method of a stamping device that performs stamping with a stamping head that faces the feed path as the tape feeds. Control the feed speed so that the feed speed when the non-cutting area, which is an area other than the stamping area, passes through the stamping head is higher than the feed speed when passing the marking head. Features.

  According to these configurations, the braille embossing area (non-imprinting area) passes through the embossing head more than the feed speed when the braille embossing area (embossing area) passes through the embossing head. Since the feed rate is controlled to be high, the time required for the Braille stamping process as a whole can be shortened without affecting the driving of the stamping head.

  In this case, it is preferable that the braille is expressed by a plurality of embossing rows in which a plurality of embossing points are linearly arranged in parallel in the tape feeding direction.

  According to this configuration, 6 Braille and 8 Braille which are general Braille can be expressed by two rows of embossing.

  In this case, the start position and the end position in the tape feeding direction of the braille stamping area require the position of the stamping row to which the first stamping point that requires driving of the stamping head belongs and the driving of the stamping head. It is preferable to correspond to the position of the stamp row to which the last stamp point belongs.

  According to this configuration, the start position in the tape feed direction of the braille stamping area is set as the stamping row to which the first stamping point that requires driving of the stamping head belongs, and the end position of the braille stamping area is set as the stamping position. Since the tape feed is controlled as a marking row to which the last marking point that requires driving of the marking head belongs, the time required for the braille marking process can be further shortened. That is, Braille is generally expressed by two rows of stamps, but some characters have stamp points only in the second row (right column). When such a character is imprinted as the first braille, if the starting position of the braille embossing area is the first embossing string (including an embossing string that does not require driving of the embossing head), The tape is fed at a speed lower than that of the non-braille stamping area even though the drive is not required. Therefore, by setting the embossing row to which the first embossing point that requires driving of the embossing head belongs as the start position of the braille embossing area, it is possible to minimize the range that does not affect the driving of the embossing head. Since the braille stamping area can be set, the braille stamping processing time can be further shortened.

  In the above description, when there are continuously n or more blank embossed rows that do not require driving of the embossing head in the braille embossing area, the feed control means With respect to the feed speed when the blank marking area corresponding to the area from the immediately preceding line to the line immediately following the end line passes through the marking head, the actual marking area other than the blank marking area in the braille marking area is stamped. It is preferable to control the feed rate so that the feed rate when passing through the chopping head is low.

  According to this configuration, in the braille embossing area, a feed speed when a blank embossing area (an area consisting of n blank embossing lines + two lines) that does not require driving of the embossing head passes through the embossing head. Rather, the time required for the braille stamping process can be shortened without affecting the driving of the stamping head by reducing the feed rate when the actual stamping area passes through the stamping head. it can. Note that the number n of blank stamped columns indicates an integer equal to or greater than 1. When n = 1, the start column and the end column of blank stamped columns are the same column.

  Another braille marking device of the present invention is a braille stamping device that performs braille stamping on a braille stamping area on a tape, a feeding means that feeds the tape along a feeding path, and a braille on the tape facing the feeding path. And a feed control means for controlling the feed means. The feed control means temporarily stops the drive of the feed means when braille is imprinted by the stamp head, and the feed means The acceleration / deceleration control is performed between the reference speed and the maximum speed from the start of driving to the stop of driving.

  Another feed control method of the present invention is a feed control method of a stamping device that performs stamping by a stamping head that faces the feed path along with tape feed, The tape feed drive is sometimes temporarily stopped, and acceleration / deceleration control is performed between the reference speed and the maximum speed from the start of tape feed drive to the drive stop.

  According to these configurations, since the drive of the tape feed is temporarily stopped at the time of Braille embossing (at the time of embossing), a favorable engraving result can be obtained. Also, by performing constant acceleration / deceleration control between the reference speed and the maximum speed from the start of tape feed drive to the stop of driving, when the time from the start of tape feed drive to the stop of driving is long, that is, Braille If the area that is not engraved (non-Braille engraving area or blank embossing area) is long, the feed speed will be high, so it will be necessary for the braille embossing process as a whole without affecting the driving of the engraving head. Time can be shortened. Further, by performing acceleration / deceleration control, it is possible to prevent a step-out phenomenon due to insufficient torque of the feeding means (motor or the like), to enable stable open loop control, and it is possible to perform speed control close to an actual measurement value.

  In these cases, based on the ink character printing means for printing ink characters on the tape, the length in the tape feeding direction of the braille embossing area, and the length in the tape feeding direction of the ink character printing area for printing ink characters, It is preferable to further include area arrangement setting means for setting the arrangement of the braille embossing area and the ink character printing area on the tape.

  According to this configuration, since ink characters can be printed on the tape in addition to the Braille stamp, a Braille label that can be recognized by both visually impaired and sighted people can be created. In addition, when Braille stamping and ink-character printing are performed on the same tape, the number of Braille characters and the number of ink-characters do not necessarily match, and a configuration in which the character size of ink-characters can be changed according to user preferences is also conceivable. For this reason, there are many cases where the length of the braille embossing area and the length of the ink-printing area in the tape feed direction do not match (in many cases, a non-braille embossing area occurs), but the present invention is applied in such a case. Thus, a more effective result can be obtained.

  In this case, it further comprises area arrangement designating means for designating the arrangement of the braille embossed area and / or ink print area on the tape, and the area arrangement setting means is provided in the tape feed direction of the braille embossed area and the ink print area. In addition to the length, it is preferable to set the arrangement of the braille embossing area and the ink-character printing area based on the arrangement designation by the area arrangement designation means.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to specify the arrangement of the braille embossing region and the ink character printing region according to the user's preference. The designation of the arrangement is not limited to the tape feeding direction, but can be designated in the tape width direction (the braille embossing area is on the upper side in the tape width direction, the ink-character printing area is on the lower side in the tape width direction, etc.).

  The program of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as each means in the braille marking device described in any one of the above.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to provide a program for realizing a braille stamping apparatus that can shorten the time required for the braille stamping process as a whole without affecting the driving of the stamping head.

Hereinafter, a braille embossing device, a program, and a feed control method of the braille embossing device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is a non-Braille stamping area that is an area other than the Braille stamping area E2 on the tape, rather than the feed rate when the Braille stamping area E2 (see FIG. 7A, etc.) passes through the stamping position. By controlling the feed rate at a high speed when passing through the stamping position, the time required for the braille stamping process as a whole can be shortened while preventing abnormal heating of the stamping drive source (solenoid, etc.). is there.

  Therefore, the Braille embossing device of the present invention is arranged to create Braille labels that can be recognized by both sighted people and visually impaired people by arranging ink marks and Braille characters that can be seen by sighted people on the same tape. A case where the present invention is applied to a label producing apparatus will be described as an example.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the label producing apparatus 1 in a closed state, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the label producing apparatus 1 in an opened state. FIG. 2 also shows a part of the device case 2 cut out in order to show the Braille stamping unit 150 for performing Braille stamping in an easy-to-understand manner. As shown in both figures, the label producing apparatus 1 has an outer case formed by an apparatus case 2. The apparatus case 2 has a keyboard 3 disposed on the upper surface of the front half, and an open / close lid 21 is attached to the upper surface of the rear half. Yes. Inside the opening / closing lid 21, there is an ink character printing unit 120 for performing ink printing (printing of characters such as characters and symbols) on the tape T fed out from the tape cartridge C, and the right side (device) of the opening / closing lid 21. The rear half of the case 2 has a Braille stamping portion 150 that performs Braille stamping by manually inserting the tape T from the front half.

  A display 4 having a rectangular shape is formed on the front side of the opening / closing lid 21, and a cartridge mounting portion 6 (ink-printing portion 120) for mounting a tape cartridge C on the inner left side of the opening / closing lid 21. The tape cartridge C is detachably mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 6 with the opening / closing lid 21 opened by pressing the lid opening button 14. Further, the open / close lid 21 is formed with a viewing window 21a for visually confirming whether the tape cartridge C is mounted or not mounted in the closed state.

  The display 4 can display display image data of 192 dots × 80 dots inside a rectangular shape of about 12 cm in the horizontal direction (X direction) × 5 cm in the vertical direction (Y direction). Is used to create / edit ink character data for ink character printing and Braille data for braille embossing. Various errors and messages (instruction contents) are displayed and notified to the user.

  On the other hand, a keyboard 3 having various input keys is arranged on the upper surface of the device case 2, and a character key group 3a and a function key group 3b for designating various operation modes are arranged on the keyboard 3. ing. The character key group 3a is used to input ink character data for performing ink character printing and Braille data for performing Braille embossing, and has a full key configuration based on the JIS layout. Ink characters and Braille data may not be input separately, but it is also possible to execute ink characters printing and Braille stamping based on the same data. Further, the function key group 3b includes a size change key for changing the character size of ink characters, an execution key for executing ink character printing and / or braille embossing, and feeding of the tape T in the braille embossing unit 150. In addition to a feed start key for instructing start and a stamp start key for manually starting Braille stamping, there are an ink character printing region E1 for performing ink character printing and a Braille stamping region E2 for performing Braille stamping. An arrangement designation key for designating the arrangement (see FIG. 18) is included. In addition to these, the function key group 3b includes a cancel key for canceling processing, a cursor key for moving a cursor, choices on various selection screens, text input, and the like, as in a general word processor. Includes enter key for line feed.

  The layout designation by the layout designation key can be any of left justification, center justification, and right justification. Depending on the length in the tape feeding direction between the ink character print area E1 and the braille embossing area E2, FIG. (A) to (g) shown in 6 are arranged. If there is no designation by the arrangement designation key, the arrangement (centering) of the pattern (a) or (e) is set. Furthermore, when the lengths of the ink character printing area E1 and the braille marking area E2 are equal, the pattern (g) is arranged regardless of the designation by the arrangement designation key. The tape length may be specified so that the arrangement of each area can be set within the tape length. Further, the positions of the ink character printing area E1 and the braille embossing area E2 in the tape width direction (the braille embossing area E2 and the ink character printing area E1 are arranged vertically, the two areas are overlapped, etc.) may be designated. .

  Returning to the description of FIG. 1 and FIG. A power supply port 11 for supplying power is formed in the center of the right side of the device case 2, and a connection port 12 (for connection with an external device (not shown) such as a personal computer) is formed on the right side of the first half. Interface). Then, by connecting an external device to the connection port 12, it is possible to perform ink-character printing or Braille stamping based on character information generated by the external device. In addition, a printing tape discharge port 22 that connects the cartridge mounting unit 6 and the outside is formed on the left side of the device case 2, and the tape T fed from the ink character printing unit 120 is received in the printing tape discharge port 22. A tape cutter 19 for full cutting in the form of scissors is facing. Then, by cutting the tape T by the tape cutter 19, the tape T after the ink-character printing is discharged from the printing tape discharge port 22.

  Here, a configuration around the ink character printing unit 120 (cartridge mounting unit 6) and the braille stamping unit 150 will be described. The cartridge mounting unit 6 winds up a head unit 20 in which a print head 7 composed of a thermal head is built in a head cover 20a, a platen drive shaft (not shown) facing the print head 7, and an ink ribbon R described later. A winding drive shaft (not shown) and a positioning projection 24 of a tape reel 27 described later are provided. A print feed motor 121 (see FIG. 6) for rotating the platen drive shaft and the take-up drive shaft is incorporated below the cartridge mounting portion 6.

  The tape cartridge C is configured to accommodate a tape reel 27 around which a tape T having a certain width is wound, and a ribbon reel 29 around which an ink ribbon R is wound at the lower right portion in an upper center portion inside the cartridge case 51. The tape T and the ink ribbon R have the same width. A through hole 55 for inserting into the head cover 20a covering the head unit 20 is formed in the lower left portion of the tape reel 27, and the platen drive shaft corresponds to a portion where the tape T and the ink ribbon R overlap. A platen roller 53 that is engaged with and rotated is disposed. On the other hand, a ribbon take-up reel 54 is arranged in the vicinity of the ribbon reel 29, and the ink ribbon R fed out from the ribbon reel 29 is taken up by the ribbon take-up reel 54 arranged so as to go around the head cover 20a. It is like that.

  When the tape cartridge C is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 6, the through hole 55 is formed in the head cover 20a, the central hole 27a of the tape reel 27 is formed in the positioning projection 24, and the central hole of the ribbon take-up reel 54 is formed in the winding drive shaft. Then, the print head 7 is brought into contact with the platen drive shaft (platen roller) with the tape T and the ink ribbon R sandwiched therebetween, so that ink-printing can be performed. Then, the tape T after the ink character printing is sent to the printing tape discharge port 22.

  The tape T is not particularly shown, but a recording sheet of a resin (for example, made of polyethylene terephthalate) provided with an adhesive layer on the back surface, and a resin (for example, a polyethylene / polypropylene copolymer) attached to the recording sheet by the adhesive layer ), And the printing surface of the recording sheet is processed to improve the ink transfer by thermal transfer.

  In addition, a plurality of types of tape T having different tape types (tape width, tape color, ink ink color, tape material, etc.) are prepared, and a plurality of holes (not shown) indicating this type are cartridges. It is provided on the back surface of the case 51. Further, a plurality of tape identification sensors (microswitches) 171 (see FIG. 6) for detecting these are provided in the cartridge mounting portion 6 corresponding to the plurality of holes, and the state of the tape identification sensor 171 is detected. Thus, the tape type can be determined.

  On the other hand, a stamping assembly (braille stamping part 150) for performing braille stamping is incorporated in the right half of the rear half of the device case 2, and a stamping part cover 30 is attached to the upper surface so as to cover it. It has been. A stamping tape insertion slot 31 into which the tape T is manually inserted by the user is provided on the front side of the stamped portion cover 30, and a stamped tape discharge port on which the tape T after braille stamping is ejected on the back side. The outlets 32 are respectively recessed so as to be inclined downward along the tape running path (feed path) 70. In addition, a manual feed guide 31 a that can be adjusted in the tape width direction is provided in the vicinity of the stamping tape insertion opening 31.

  The braille stamping unit 150 includes a stamping unit 80 that performs braille stamping with three stamping pins (stamping heads) 41 (see FIG. 4B), and a tape inserted into the stamping tape insertion port 31. The tape feeding unit 60 that feeds T toward the embossing tape discharge port 32 and the tape traveling path 70 through which the tape T is transported. A chopped assembly is configured and is mounted on the device case 2 as a unit. Also, Braille B is formed by selectively driving the three stamping pins 41 by the stamping unit 80 with respect to the tape T fed by the drive of the tape feeding unit 60 along the tape running path 70. The

  The tape feeding unit 60 includes a feeding roller 61, a support member 62 that supports the feeding roller 61 on the apparatus frame 65, and a stamping feeding motor 151 that can rotate forward and reverse to rotate the feeding roller 61. The feed roller 61 is a grip roller comprising a drive roller (not shown) and a driven roller 61a. The driven roller 61a has three vertical marking points 201 (not to crush the formed braille B). An annular groove 63 (see FIG. 5) is formed so as to escape interference at a position corresponding to FIG.

  Here, Braille B (6 Braille B) formed on the tape T (T3: tape width 12 mm) will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6A is a diagram showing a braille (braille data) B representing character information “shi”. As shown in the figure, the 6-point braille B is composed of 6 dots (cutting points) of 3 vertical x 2 horizontal (a stamping point). An attribute is represented. In addition, the Braille B includes 6 Braille B representing such kana characters and numbers, as well as 8 Braille representing kanji (a braille composed of 4 vertical dots x 2 horizontal dots). Although used, the present invention is naturally applicable also to a label producing apparatus that forms 8-point braille.

  The six-point braille B is divided into six marking points 201a to 201f in an arrangement pattern of 3 vertical lines x 2 horizontal lines in one square 200, and in the figure, there are 6 marking points 201a to 201f. Of these, four stamping points 201a, 201b, 201e, and 201f are selectively stamped, and four stamping convex portions 202a, 202b, 202e, and 202f are formed on the tape T. Yes. The six embossing projections 202 have a vertical pitch of about 2.4 mm, a horizontal pitch of about 2.4 mm, and a pitch between adjacent squares (between the squares) of about 3.2 mm. ing.

  FIG. 4B shows a cross-sectional shape of the stamped convex portion 202. As shown in the figure, the shape of the stamped convex portion 202 is a cylindrical shape with rounded corners. Note that the shape of the stamped convex portion 202 is preferably a cylindrical shape with rounded corners (a good tactile feeling is preferable), but other shapes such as a hemispherical shape, a conical shape, a quadrangular pyramid shape, and the like. May be.

  In the label producing apparatus 1 of the embodiment, two types of units that can be exchanged with each other are prepared as the stamping unit 80, one of which forms a small stamping convex portion 203 and the other of which is a large stamping unit. A large stamping projection 204 is formed. The small embossed convex portion 203 has a cylindrical diameter of about 1.4 mm and a height of about 0.4 mm, and the large embossed convex portion 204 has a cylindrical diameter of about 1.8 mm and a height of about 0.1 mm. 5 mm. The two types of large and small embossed protrusions 203 and 204 are used depending on the application. For example, the small embossed protrusion 203 is intended for a person (congenital blind person) accustomed to reading Braille B. The ridges 204 are for beginners (half-blind people).

  Next, a detailed configuration of the embossing unit 80 will be described with reference to FIG. 1A is a plan view of the embossing unit 80 as viewed from above in FIG. 1, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the embossing unit 80. FIG. FIG. 6A shows a tape T (tape width 12 mm) after ink-printing is sent to the tape running path 70 by manual insertion from the stamping tape insertion port 31 and toward the stamping tape discharge port 32. It shows the state where is sent.

  As shown in both the drawings, the stamping unit 80 includes a stamping member 81 having three stamping pins 41 and a stamp receiving member 82 that receives the pushing (scoring) of the stamping pins 41. In addition, an impact-resistant spring (not shown) is incorporated on the back surface of the stamp receiving member 82.

  The stamping member 81 includes three stamping pins 41 arranged at an interval of 2.4 mm along the tape width direction (the left-right direction in the drawing). It corresponds to each marking point 201 and is held perpendicular to the tape T by a stamping pin guide 45 that guides a linear motion using the solenoid 47 as a driving source. The head 41a of the punching pin 41 is formed in a cylindrical shape with rounded corners so that the stamped convex portion 202 has a rounded cylindrical shape. When the shape of the embossing convex portion 202 is changed to another shape such as a hemispherical shape, a conical shape, or a quadrangular pyramid shape, the shape of the head 41a of the embossing pin 41 is also formed in a complementary shape. Is done.

  Further, one end of an arm member 46 is semi-fixedly connected to the tail portion of each embossing pin 41. The arm member 46 is provided with a support member 49 that rotatably supports a distal end portion of a plunger 48 of a solenoid 47, which will be described later, and rotatably supports an intermediate portion thereof. . The plunger 48 of the solenoid 47 is arranged in parallel with the stamping pin 41 so as to linearly move in the direction perpendicular to the tape T. Therefore, when the plunger 48 is linearly moved by the solenoid 47, the arm member 46 is rotated with the support member 49 as a fulcrum, and the embossing pin 41 linearly moves with respect to the tape T from the back surface side.

  The three arm members 46 respectively connected to the three stamping pins 41 extend so that the arm members 46 positioned at the upper and lower ends are separated in the tape width direction (in the tape vertical direction), respectively. The arm member 46 located in the middle extends along the feeding direction of the tape T. The three solenoids 47 respectively connected to the three arm members 46 are arranged so as to form a triangle.

  On the other hand, the stamp receiving member 82 is formed with three stamp receiving recesses 43 corresponding to the three stamp pins 41 on the surface 42 a facing the three stamp pins 41. The receiving recess 43 has a concave cylindrical shape with rounded corners in accordance with the head shape of the embossing pin 41. The surface 42a facing the three stamping pins 41 may be a flat surface made of an elastic material such as synthetic rubber instead of forming the stamp receiving recess 43.

  Then, the embossing unit 80 forms the embossing convex portion 202 on the tape T by the embossing pin 41 and the embossing receiving member 82. That is, when the solenoid 47 is excited and the plunger 48 is sucked in response to the Braille stamping data (see FIG. 12) generated based on the input Braille data, the stamping pin 41 is moved to the stamping pin guide. Guided by 45, proceeds in a direction perpendicular to the tape T, hits the corresponding stamp receiving recess 43 across the tape T, and forms the stamped projection 202 on the tape T.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the feeding operation of the tape T in the braille stamping unit 150 will be described. As described above, the braille embossed portion 150 is formed along the embossing unit 80 that forms the embossed convex portion 202 on the tape T by the embossing pin 41, the tape traveling path 70 on which the tape T is conveyed, and the tape traveling path 70. In addition to a tape feeding unit (feeding means) 60 that transports the tape T, guide members 71 and 72 that guide the transport of the tape T in the tape traveling path 70, and a transmissive tip detection sensor that detects the tip of the tape T. 91.

  From the largest tape width, tape T1 (tape width 24 mm), tape T2 (tape width 18 mm), tape T3 (tape width 12 mm) can be inserted into the stamping tape insertion slot 31. The tape T1 is guided by the upper and lower guides 71 and 72, and the other tape widths T2 and T3 are guided only by the lower guide member 71. For example, when the tape T3 having the minimum tape width is used, the user manually inserts the tape T3 along the lower guide member 71 until the tip of the tape T3 reaches the tape feeding unit 60 (feeding roller 61) (to an insertable position). To do. Then, by pressing a tape feed start key on the keyboard 3, the tape feed unit 60 starts feeding the tape T3. Then, the detection of the leading end of the tape by the leading end detection sensor 91 is used as a trigger to start the Braille stamping process (performing tape feed and Braille stamping based on the input Braille data). At this time, the length of the previous non-cutting area from the tape leading end to the stamping start position (see FIG. 7A) is the length between the stamping unit 80 (the stamping pin 41) and the tip detection sensor 91. If the length is set shorter than the length L1 (however, the length of the front non-cutting region is set longer than the length L2 between the stamping unit 80 and the feed roller 61 due to the positional relationship of the feed roller 61. The tape T is fed back by rotating the feed roller 61 in the reverse direction. When the tape is fed to an appropriate position, stamping and tape feeding in the forward direction are started.

  Note that the braille stamping process by the stamping unit 80 is not started with the detection of the leading edge of the tape by the leading edge detection sensor 91 as a trigger, but is manually started by the user pressing the stamping start key on the keyboard 3. Is also possible.

  Here, a series of operations for embossing the braille character “shi” (see FIG. 2A) will be described. The tape T inserted from the stamping tape insertion opening 31 is positioned along the tape running path 70 so that the first row of stamping points 201a, 201b, 201c faces the three stamping pins 41 (the stamping position). Sent to. When the tape T is fed to this position, the tape feeding is temporarily stopped and braille stamping is performed. In the first row of the braille “SHI”, the stamping points 201a and 201b are the stamping points. Therefore, the first stamping pin 41 is driven to drive the stamping convex portion 202a. Form. Next, the embossing convex part 202b is formed when the middle embossing pin 41 drives. Thus, after the stamping points 201a and 201b in the first row are finished, the tape is fed again, and after approximately 2.4 mm, the middle and lower sides of the three stamping pins 41 are similarly used. The two embossing pins 41 are engraved in the order of the embossing point 201e and the embossing point 201f, thereby forming the two embossing projections 202e and 202f on the surface. When the stamping is completed, the tape is fed to the position where the stamping row where the next stamping point (actual stamping point) that requires driving of the stamping pin 41 exists and faces the stamping pin 41, and the Braille stamping is performed. I do. Further, when there are no more actual marking points (when the marking of the final marking sequence is completed), the rear non-braille marking area (FIG. 7A), which is the area behind the braille marking area. The tape is fed on the basis of the length of ()), and the stamped tape T is discharged from the stamped tape discharge port 32. The feed rate control will be described later in detail.

  Next, the control configuration of the label producing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The label producing apparatus 1 includes a keyboard 3 and a display 4, an operation unit 110 that controls a user interface such as input of character information and display of various information by a user, a tape cartridge C, a print head 7, and a print feed motor (stepping motor). ) 121, the ink character printing unit 120 that prints ink characters based on the ink character data on the tape T while conveying the tape T and the ink ribbon R, the tape cutter 19, and the cutter motor 141 that drives the ink cutter. A cutting portion 140 that cuts the printed tape T to a predetermined length; a solenoid 47; a stamping pin 41; and a stamping feed motor (stepping motor) 151. Braille embossing unit 150 for imprinting Braille based on Braille data and tape T (tape cartridge) C) a tape identification sensor 171 for detecting the type, a leading edge detection sensor 91 for detecting the leading edge of the tape T in the Braille stamping unit 150, a printing unit rotational speed sensor 172 for detecting the rotational speed of the printing feed motor 121, and the stamping feed. It has a stamping portion rotational speed sensor 173 that detects the rotational speed of the motor 151, and performs a detection unit 170 that performs various detections, a display driver 181, a head driver 182, a print feed motor driver 183, a cutter motor driver 184, and a stamping driver. 185 and the engraving feed motor driver 186, and includes a drive unit 180 that drives each unit, and a control unit 200 that is connected to each unit and controls the entire label producing apparatus 1.

  The control unit 200 includes a CPU 210, a ROM 220, a RAM 230, and an input / output control device (hereinafter referred to as “IOC: Input Output Controller”) 250, which are connected to each other via an internal bus 260. The ROM 220 performs a control program block 221 that stores a control program for controlling various processes such as ink-character printing processing and braille embossing processing by the CPU 210, and performs character font data and braille embossing for ink-character printing. And a control data block 222 for storing control data for tape feed control and the like in addition to the Braille font data. Note that the character font data may be separately provided in the CG-ROM instead of in the ROM 220.

  In addition to various work area blocks 231 used as flags and the like, the RAM 230 expands the ink character print data block 232 storing ink character print data obtained by expanding the input ink character data, and the input braille data. Braille embossing data block 233 for storing braille embossing data (see FIG. 12) representing embossing / non-imprinting of each embossing point (201a, 201b, 201c or 201d, 201e, 201f) for each embossing row. And an arrangement data block 234 for storing information relating to the arrangement of the ink character print area E1 and the braille embossing area E2 designated using the arrangement designation key, and used as a work area for control processing. . The RAM 230 is always backed up so that the stored data is retained even when the power is turned off.

  In the IOC 250, a logic circuit that complements the functions of the CPU 210 and handles interface signals with various peripheral circuits is configured and built by a gate array, a custom LSI (pulse control LSI), or the like. As a result, the IOC 250 takes the input data and control data from the keyboard 3 as they are or processes them and imports them into the internal bus 260 and, in conjunction with the CPU 210, directly outputs the data and control signals output from the CPU 210 to the internal bus 260. Or it processes and outputs to the drive part 180. FIG.

  And CPU210 inputs various signals and data from each part in the label production apparatus 1 via IOC250 according to the control program in ROM220 by said structure. In addition, various data in the RAM 230 is processed based on the various signals and data that are input, and various signals and data are output to each part in the label producing apparatus 1 via the IOC 250, so that the ink character printing process and the Braille stamping are performed. Control the processing.

  For example, when character information is input from the keyboard 3, the CPU 210 generates ink character data and Braille data based on the character information, and further develops them into a printable and imprintable state, and the ink character print data block 232 and the braille data block 233 are temporarily stored. Further, the solenoid 47 which is a driving source for driving is driven by the CPU 210 writing a parameter based on the Braille stamping data to the pulse control LSI and operating the stamping driver 185 by the pulse control LSI. Further, the driving of the print feed motor 121 and the engraving feed motor 151 is adjusted according to the tape material determined according to the detection result of the tape identification sensor 171 and the motor drivers 183 and 186 are adjusted. This is done by operating.

  In addition, when the CPU 210 obtains an instruction to execute ink printing and braille printing from the keyboard 3, the CPU 210 starts driving the print feed motor 121, and displays the ink character print data and arrangement data block 234 in the ink character print data block 232. After feeding the tape of a predetermined length according to the detection result of the printing unit rotation speed sensor 172 based on the stored arrangement data (if the length of the front margin length can be set when inputting character information, Ink characters are printed by driving the print head 7. Thereafter, by feeding the tape of a predetermined length based on the ink character print data (including the trailing margin length when the length of the trailing margin can be set when inputting character information), the tape T is removed by the tape cutter 19. The tape T is cut and discharged from the printing tape discharge port 22.

  Further, when the tape T cut into a strip shape is inserted into the stamping tape insertion slot 31 by manual insertion by the user (with no reset operation or power-off operation), the tape feeding unit 60 is driven. Based on the braille data in the braille embossing data block 233 and the arrangement data stored in the arrangement data block 234, a predetermined length (the length of the previous non-braille embossing area is determined according to the detection result of the embossing part rotation speed sensor 173. After the tape feed (see FIG. 7A) (including the front margin data if the length of the front margin can be set when inputting character information), the embossing unit 80 performs braille embossing. I do. Then, after the engraving is finished, the engraving feed motor 151 is driven to feed the tape by a predetermined length based on the braille engraving data (the length of the rear non-braille engraving area, see FIG. 7A). (When the length of the trailing margin can be set when character information is input, the margin data is also included after that), and the tape T is discharged from the stamping tape discharge port 32. In addition to execution instructions for both ink-printing and braille printing processes, it is also possible to issue individual process execution instructions.

  Next, tape feed speed control (control A) will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 7A, here, the length of the ink-printing area E1 in the tape feeding direction (hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, “length” refers to the length in the tape feeding direction) ) Is longer than the length of the braille embossing region E2 and the arrangement is set to “centering” (see FIG. 18B), the tape length is 100 mm, and the first actual value from the tape tip is shown. The length from the first marking row (L1) to which the marking point belongs and the length from the last marking column (L16) to which the last actual marking point belongs to the rear end of the tape is 29.2 mm, and the first marking row It is assumed that the length from to the final stamp row is 41.6 mm. From the leading edge of the tape to the first marking row, the front non-braille marking area, from the last marking line to the trailing edge of the tape, the trailing non-braille marking area, and from the leading marking line to the last marking line, the braille marking area. Called E2. Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 19 (a) and 19 (b), when an embossing sequence (blank embedding sequence) where no actual embossing point exists is present at the head and / or the rear end (for example, Braille starting from a muddy point). In other words, when a space is included at the beginning of the braille data), the braille stamping area E2 is set within a range where the stamping points exist, ignoring the stamped string. That is, the braille embossing region E2 is not set in units of braille cells (in the diagram showing the prior art in FIG. 20, it does not indicate a “braille cell region”).

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7B, in the braille embossed region E2, one or more blank embossed rows (L5, L11, and L12 in the figure) are continuously present due to the use of muddy dots or separated writing. A blank stamp is formed from the immediately preceding column (L4, L10) of the start column (L5, L11) of the blank stamp column group to the immediately following column (L6, L13) of the end column (L5, L12) of the blank stamp column group. The area other than the blank stamp area in the braille stamp area E2 is referred to as an actual stamp area.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), the pitch between the embossed rows in the Braille square 200 is 2.4mm, and the pitch between the squares is 3.2mm. Therefore, as shown in FIG. The embossing rows L1 to L16 included in the embossing region E2 are arranged so that the spacing between the embossing rows is alternately 2.4 mm or 3.2 mm. Therefore, the length of the blank marking area is 5.6 mm (2.4 mm + 3.2 mm) between L4 and L6, and 8.8 mm (2.4 mm + 3.2 mm + 3.2 mm) between L10 and L13.

  FIG. 8A shows the marking / non-stamping of each marking point in the marking rows L1 to L8 among the marking rows L1 to L16 in the braille marking region E2 shown in FIG. The feed speed of each section (section (1) to (7)) from the start of driving of the engraving feed motor 151 to the stop of driving is shown. FIG. 4B is a time chart with the horizontal axis representing time and the vertical axis representing tape feeding speed.

  As shown in both figures, in the feed speed control (control A) in the present embodiment, the front non-braille stamping area (up to the section (1), L1) and the blank stamping area (section (5), L4 to L6). While passing through the stamping position, tape feeding is performed at the maximum speed (25 mm / sec), and in other areas, tape feeding is performed at the reference speed (15 mm / sec). That is, the tape feed is performed at the reference speed in the actual marking area where the marking rows including the actual marking points exist continuously, and the tape feeding is performed at the maximum speed in the areas other than the actual marking area. Further, at the time of embossing with Braille, tape feeding is stopped according to the number of engravings n (1 to 3) (n × 100 msec). Accordingly, when the number of stamps is three as in the stamp row L1, it is stopped for 300 msec, and when the number of stamps is two as in L2, it is stopped for 200 msec. The reference speed (15 mm / sec) is the maximum speed that can prevent abnormal heating of the driving source (solenoid 47) of the stamping pin 41 and that provides a good stamping result. The maximum speed (25 mm / sec) ) Is a speed set as the maximum speed that does not cause feed abnormality such as step-out or slipping of the embossing feed motor 151. Also, in the figure, illustration of L8 and later is omitted, but after L8, the tape is fed at the reference speed in the actual stamping area and at the maximum speed in the area other than the actual stamping area.

  Here, with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 9 to 11, the braille embossing process in the case of performing the feed speed control as described above will be described. Since FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are the subroutine of FIG. 9, description will be made according to the processing procedure while switching the reference diagram.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the braille stamping process is started based on a braille stamping execution instruction by the user, first, the feed amount to the stamp target row (the feed amount from the previous stamp row to the current stamp row) ) Is obtained (S1). FIG. 10 shows the subroutine of the processing of S1. It should be noted that the “stamping target column” means each column in the case where the first stamping row L1 to the last stamping row L16 are targeted one by one regardless of whether or not the column includes an actual stamping point. It refers to the marking line. Therefore, L2 is next to L1, L3 is next to L3,...

  As shown in FIG. 10, in order to obtain the feed amount up to the marking target row, first, whether the process of S1 is the first process after the start of braille stamping process (tape feeding start) shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not (S11). In the case of the first process (S11: Yes), the feed amount is set to (the length of the previous non-braille marking area (29.2 mm) −the length between L1 and L2 (3.2 mm)) (S12, (See FIG. 7). If it is not the first processing (S11: No), the feed amount is initialized to 0 (S13).

  Subsequently, a braille cell (braille target cell) in which a row to be engraved exists is acquired (S14), and it is determined whether or not a braille target cell exists (S15). For example, the first time after the start of the braille stamping process, the braille target square is the first square, and “there is a braille target square”. In addition, after the last marking row (the last marking row where the actual marking points exist) has been engraved, there is no marking target column, and thus “no braille target square” is obtained. Here, when there is a braille cell, that is, when the final marking row has not been stamped (S15: Yes), the marking target column in the braille target square is acquired (S16), and the marking target column is obtained. It is determined whether or not is the first row of braille cells (S17). When the marking target row is the first row (S17: Yes), the feed amount is a feed amount obtained by adding 3.2 mm to the feed amount set in S12 or S13 (S18). That is, when the stamp target column is the first column (L1), the feed amount is the front astigmatism stamped region length (29.2 mm), and otherwise it is 3.2 mm. Then, the next marking target column is set to the second column (S19). Further, when the stamping target row is the second row (S17: No), the feed amount is a feed amount obtained by adding 2.4 mm to the feed amount set in S12 or S13 (S20), and the next stamp target. A column is set to the first column (S21).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the row to be engraved needs to be engraved (S22). That is, when there is no actual marking point in the marking target column (L5, L11, L12, etc., S22: Yes), the process returns to S14 to acquire the braille target square (does not return to the main routine shown in FIG. 9). . If there is an actual marking point in the marking target column (S22: No), the process returns to the main routine to perform the stamping (the process shown in FIG. 11 is executed). Whether or not the column to be stamped needs to be stamped is determined by referring to the Braille stamping data stored in the Braille stamping data block 233 (see FIG. 6).

  FIG. 12 shows the structure of the braille stamping data per stamping row (201a, 201b, 201c or 201d, 201e, 201f, see FIG. 3A). In addition, the first 3 bits of the braille marking data expressed by 1 byte indicate that there is no marking (0) / with marking (1) at each marking point. Therefore, it is determined whether or not the marking target column needs to be stamped depending on whether or not the data 1 is included in the braille stamping data of the stamping target column.

  On the other hand, when there is no braille target cell, that is, when there is no stamp target column (S15: No in FIG. 10), the feed amount is set to the feed amount set in S12 or S13, and the length of the rear non-braille stamp region. It sets to the quantity which added (29.2mm) (S23). In this case, the time stamping is not performed even after returning to the main routine (S6: No in FIG. 9).

  Returning to the main routine of FIG. When the feed amount to the marking target row is obtained (S1), it is determined whether or not the feed amount is equal to or less than one square (3.2 mm) (S2). That is, here, it is determined whether or not the actual stamping area is stamped. When the stamping is in the actual stamping area (S2: Yes when the feed amount is 2.4 mm or 3.2 mm). The tape feed speed is set to the reference speed of 15 mm / sec (S3). On the other hand, when the feed amount exceeds 3.2 mm (S2: No), the tape feed speed is set to the maximum speed of 25 mm / sec (S4).

  Then, the tape is fed by the feed amount obtained in S18 or S20 (see FIG. 10) at the feed speed set in S3 or S4 (S5). Note that the number of times of phase switching of the stamping feed motor (stepping motor) 151 (see FIG. 6) is obtained based on this feed amount. Further, a phase cut time (time interval for switching phases) is obtained according to the speed.

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not there is a marking target row, that is, whether or not it is determined that “there is a braille target square” in S15 (see FIG. 10) (S6). If there is a marking target column (S6: Yes), marking for one column to be stamped is performed (S7), and the main routine is looped again. On the other hand, if there is no stamp target column (S6: No), the braille stamp processing is terminated as it is.

  Here, the processing of S7 will be described with reference to the subroutine of FIG. As shown in the figure, in the case of performing the stamping for one row to be stamped, based on the first bit data of the Braille stamping data (see FIG. 12), the upper stamping point (the stamping point 201a). Alternatively, it is determined whether or not to perform the step 201d) (S31). If the data is 1, the step is performed (S32). Further, based on the second bit data of the braille marking data, it is determined whether or not the middle marking point (the marking point 201b or 201e) is to be stamped (S33). Imprinting is performed (S34). Similarly, based on the third bit data of the braille marking data, it is determined whether or not the lower marking point (the marking point 201c or 201f) is to be stamped (S35). Performs the engraving (S36).

  Next, calculation of the time required for creating the braille label when the feed speed control A described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 9 to 11 is performed will be described. The time until the completion of the Braille label is obtained by the calculation formula shown in FIG. That is, the length of the blank feeding area (5.6 mm + 8.8 mm) added to the front and back astigmatic marking area length (29.2 mm + 29.2 mm) is set to the maximum speed (25 mm / sec), and the total length {(2.4 mm × 6) + (3.2 mm × 4)} between successive markings divided by the reference speed (15 mm / sec) Calculate the time to complete the Braille label (approximately 6.7 seconds) by adding the time obtained by multiplying the total number of stamping points (20) by the stamping time per stamping (100 msec). Can do.

  The time until completion of the braille label in this control A is a calculation that can be shortened by approximately 2.0 seconds as compared with the case where the tape feeding is performed at a constant (15 mm / sec) (control B). FIG. 14A shows a time chart in the case of feed speed control B in which the tape feed is fixed (15 mm / sec) and the braille shown in FIG. 7 is imprinted. When such control is performed, the time until completion of the braille label can be calculated by the calculation formula shown in FIG. According to this calculation, control B takes approximately 8.7 seconds, and compared to control A, it takes approximately 2.0 seconds to complete the braille label.

  In the control A, the tape feeding is performed at the maximum speed (25 mm / sec) except for the actual marking area. However, as shown in the time chart of FIG. Tape feeding is performed at the maximum speed (25 mm / sec) only for the non-braille stamping area and the post-braille stamping area), and the other area (braille stamping area E2) is tape-feeded at the standard speed (15 mm / sec). (Control C). When such control is performed, the time until the Braille label is completed can be calculated by the calculation formula shown in FIG. 5B, which takes approximately 7.1 seconds. That is, the control B takes approximately 0.4 seconds than the control A, and can be shortened by approximately 1.6 seconds than the control C.

  As described above, according to the tape feed speed control (control A) in the present embodiment, the non-braille stamping area and the actual stamping area are more than the feed speed when passing through the position facing the stamping pin 41. Since the feed speed when the blank stamping area passes through the stamping pin 41 is controlled to be high, the driving of the stamping pin 41 and the solenoid 47 (see FIG. 6) as a driving source is not affected. As a whole, the time required to complete the braille label can be shortened. Moreover, since the drive of the tape feed is temporarily stopped at the time of Braille stamping (at the time of stamping), a favorable stamping result can be obtained. Further, in the actual stamping area, in order to suppress the feed rate to 15 mm / sec, the stamping is continuously performed, so that the solenoid 47 that is a driving source of the stamping pin 41 is abnormally heated, and the stamping failure is caused. Problems such as waking up can be avoided.

  In addition, since the speed control of the present embodiment is a constant speed control with a set speed of 15 mm / sec or 25 mm / sec, the phase cut-off time for switching the phase may be a constant interval according to the speed. Therefore, control can be easily performed. Note that the tape feed speed control in this embodiment (including control B and control C) can be stopped by phase switching for the total number of phase cuts necessary for feeding the entire tape length (100 mm). That is, it can be automatically stopped at a preset number of phase cuts (number of pulses).

  In the present embodiment, whether the feed rate is set to 25 mm / sec or 15 mm / sec is determined depending on whether the feed amount exceeds 1 square (3.2 mm) (S2 in FIG. 9). -See S4), and may be determined by whether or not a predetermined number of squares is exceeded. For example, when the number of squares is set to 2, the determination is made based on whether or not the feed amount exceeds 6.4 mm. Further, instead of the number of squares, the number of blank stamped columns may be determined based on whether or not it exceeds n columns.

  Further, in this embodiment, the speed at which the astigmatism stamping area and the blank stamping area pass through the stamping position is set to the same speed (25 mm / sec), but the astigmatism stamping area is 25 mm / sec. It is not always necessary to set the same speed, for example, to set sec, and to set the blank stamping area to 20 mm / sec. Further, depending on the setting of the number n or the number of squares of the blank embossing row, the blank embossing area is set to 25 mm / sec and the blank embossing area is set to 30 mm / sec. It is also possible to set at a higher speed than the braille stamping area.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the above embodiment, constant speed control at a set speed of 15 mm / sec or 25 mm / sec is performed (see FIG. 8B). In this embodiment, from the start of driving of the stamp feed motor 151 to the stop of driving. Is different in that acceleration / deceleration control is performed between the reference speed (15 mm / sec) and the maximum speed (25 mm / sec). Only the differences from the first embodiment will be described below.

  As shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, in this embodiment, acceleration / deceleration control is performed at an initial speed of 15 mm / sec and a maximum speed of 25 mm / sec between all the marking rows. For example, when acceleration / deceleration of 0.05 mm / sec is performed every 0.05 mm, the maximum speed reaches 25 mm / sec at about 513 msec (section (1)). Thereafter, the feed is continued at a constant speed, and the speed is reduced by 0.05 mm / sec every 0.05 mm so that the reference speed is 15 mm / sec when the first marking row (L1) is reached. In addition, from the section (2) to the final marking row, since the interval between the marking rows is short, acceleration / deceleration control is performed with the speed that does not reach the maximum speed as the apex. For example, in the section (2), the length between the marking rows L1 and L2 is 2.4 mm, but the acceleration control is performed while feeding approximately 1.2 mm from the marking row L1, and the same ratio is obtained from there to the marking row L2. Deceleration control will be performed.

  In the feed speed control in the present embodiment, the phase cut-off time is set for each phase change according to acceleration, deceleration, and constant speed. Further, stop start control is performed according to the total number of phase cuts necessary for feeding the entire tape length (100 mm) and the acceleration, deceleration, and constant speed states.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, by performing constant acceleration / deceleration control between the reference speed and the maximum speed from the start to the stop of driving of the engraving feed motor 151, the speed control close to the actual measurement value is performed. It can be carried out. In other words, the predicted feed rate can be realized. Further, the step-out phenomenon due to the torque shortage of the embossing feed motor 151 can be prevented, and stable open-loop control is possible. Further, since constant acceleration / deceleration control is performed from the start of driving of the engraving feed motor 151 to the stop of driving, especially when a region where no braille embossing is performed (a non-braille embossing region or a blank embossing region) is long. The feeding speed is increased, and the time required for the braille embossing process as a whole can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5B, linear acceleration / deceleration control is performed in which acceleration / deceleration is linearly performed (acceleration / deceleration is performed at a constant rate). ), The S-order acceleration / deceleration control for accelerating / decelerating may be performed. According to this configuration, more natural (smooth) acceleration / deceleration control can be performed.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment, acceleration / deceleration control is performed (see FIG. 16B), but the present embodiment is different in that deceleration control is not performed. Only differences from the second embodiment will be described below.

  As shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, in this embodiment, acceleration control is performed at an initial speed of 15 mm / sec and a maximum speed of 25 mm / sec between all the marking rows. Thereafter, the feed is continued at a constant speed, and the feed is stopped when the first stamp row (L1) is reached. From section (2) to the final marking row, the interval between the marking rows is short, so it does not reach the set maximum speed (25 mm / sec), but continues to accelerate from the initial velocity of 15 mm / sec. When reaching the marking row, the maximum speed is reached between the marking rows, and the speed is zero as it is without decelerating.

  As described above, in this embodiment, by performing a constant acceleration control between the reference speed and the maximum speed and not performing the deceleration control, the tape feed between the marking rows can be performed as fast as possible by a simple control. Can do. That is, in the feed speed control of the present embodiment, it is not necessary to store a speed waveform corresponding to the length between the marking rows as control data as in the second embodiment, and all the marking rows can be accelerated at the same acceleration. Since it is sufficient to control the speed, feed control becomes easy.

  As described above, as described in the first to third embodiments, according to the present invention, the non-braille stamping area has a stamping position higher than the feed speed when the braille stamping area E2 passes the stamping position. Therefore, the time required for the braille stamping process as a whole can be shortened without affecting the driving of the stamping pin 41.

  Further, the tape feed is controlled by setting the start position of the braille embossing area E2 as the stamp line to which the first actual stamping point belongs, and the end position of the braille stamping area E2 as the stamping string to which the last actual stamping point belongs. Therefore, the time required for the braille stamping process can be further shortened. In other words, braille is expressed by two rows of one square, but some characters do not have an actual stamp point at the first (left column). When such a character is first stamped, if the starting position of the braille stamping region E2 is the first stamp row (including a stamp row that does not require driving of the stamp pin 41), the stamp pin 41 However, the tape is fed at a lower speed than the astigmatic stamping area. Therefore, by setting the marking row to which the first actual marking point that requires driving of the marking pin 41 belongs as the start position of the braille marking region E2, the minimum that does not affect the driving of the marking pin 41 is achieved. Since the Braille stamping area E2 can be set within a limited range, the Braille stamping processing time can be further shortened.

  Further, when there is a blank marking row in the braille stamping area E2, the blank stamping area passes through the stamping pin 41 than the feed speed when the actual stamping area passes through the stamping pin 41. By increasing the feeding speed at that time, the time required for the braille stamping process can be further shortened without affecting the driving of the stamping pin 41.

  Moreover, since the label producing apparatus 1 can print ink characters on the tape T in addition to the Braille stamp, it can create a Braille label that can be recognized by both visually impaired and sighted people. In addition, when Braille stamping and ink-character printing are performed on the same tape, the number of Braille characters and the number of ink-characters do not necessarily match, and a configuration in which the character size of ink-characters can be changed according to user preferences is also conceivable. For this reason, there are many cases where the length of the braille embossing area E2 and the length of the ink-character printing area E1 in the tape feeding direction do not coincide with each other. In such a case, more effective results can be obtained by applying the present invention. be able to. Further, since the arrangement of the ink character printing area E1 and the braille embossing area E2 can be designated, the arrangement of each area can be changed according to the user's preference.

  In the above description, the stamping feed motor 151 is a stepping motor (pulse motor). However, various motors that can be used as actuators such as a DC motor, a linear motor, a brushless motor, and an induction motor may be used.

  In the above description, the reference speed is set to 15 mm / sec and the maximum speed is set to 25 mm / sec. However, depending on the type and performance of the motor, the tape material determined according to the detection result of the tape identification sensor 171, and the like, It is also possible to change each setting speed.

  Moreover, it is also possible to provide each part (each function) of said label production apparatus 1 as a program. It is also possible to provide the program stored in a storage medium (not shown). As the recording medium, a CD-ROM, a flash ROM, a memory card (compact flash (registered trademark), smart media, memory stick, etc.), a compact disk, a magneto-optical disk, a digital versatile disk, a flexible disk, and the like can be used.

  In addition, the apparatus configuration and processing steps of the label producing apparatus 1 can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention, regardless of the above-described embodiment. In addition to the label producing apparatus 1, the present invention can be applied to any apparatus capable of performing stamping, such as a stamping apparatus for performing embossing.

It is an external appearance perspective view of the closed state of the label production apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is an external appearance perspective view of the label production apparatus in the open cover state. It is explanatory drawing of 6 dotted braille and sectional drawing of a stamping convex part. It is the top view and sectional drawing of a stamping unit. It is explanatory drawing explaining conveyance of the tape in a braille stamping part. It is a control block diagram of a label production apparatus. It is a figure which shows each area | region on a tape. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating feed speed control A. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the main routine of a braille stamping process. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of a braille stamping process. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of a braille stamping process. It is a figure which shows the structure (value of a marking row | line | column) of Braille marking data. It is a figure which shows the calculation formula of the braille label completion time by feed speed control A. FIG. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating feed speed control B. FIG. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating feed speed control C. FIG. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the feed speed control which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the feed speed control which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | positioning form of an ink character printing area | region and a braille embossing area | region. It is a figure which shows the range of a braille stamping area | region. It is explanatory drawing explaining a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Label production apparatus 41 Stamping pin 60 Tape feed unit 70 Tape travel path 80 Stamping unit 91 Tip detection sensor 92 Up-and-down identification sensor 120 Black character printing part 150 Braille stamping part 151 Stamping feed motor 200 Control part 210 CPU
B Braille C Tape cartridge E1 Printing area E2 Braille marking area P Printing T Tape

Claims (7)

In the braille embossing device for embossing one or more brailles that are expressed in a braille embossing area on the tape by arranging one or more characters in the tape feeding direction .
In the Braille stamping area, the position of the stamp row to which the first stamp point belongs and the position of the stamp row to which the last stamp point belongs are set as a start position and an end position in the tape feeding direction, respectively. Area,
Feeding means for feeding the tape along a feeding path;
A stamping head that faces the feed path and stamps Braille on the tape;
A feed control means for controlling the feed means,
The feed control means is configured such that a non-braille stamping area other than the braille stamping area passes through the stamping head with respect to a feed speed when the braille stamping area passes through the stamping head. Braille engraving device, characterized in that the feed rate is controlled so that the feed rate is high. When there are n or more consecutive blank embossing rows that are the embossing rows that do not require driving of the embossing head in the braille embossing region,
The feed control means adjusts the feed speed when a blank stamping area corresponding to the area from the immediately preceding start line to the immediately following end line in the tape feeding direction of the blank stamping line passes through the marking head. On the other hand, the feed speed is controlled so that the feed speed when the actual stamp area other than the blank stamp area in the Braille stamp area passes through the stamp head is low. Item 4. The braille marking device according to item 1 . The feed control means temporarily stops the drive of the feed means at the time of braille marking by the marking head, and between the reference speed and the maximum speed from the start of driving of the feed means to the stop of driving. The braille stamping device according to claim 1, wherein acceleration / deceleration control is performed. Ink printing means for printing ink on the tape;
Based on the length in the tape feeding direction of the braille marking area and the length in the tape feeding direction of the ink printing area for printing the ink characters, the braille marking area and the ink printing area on the tape The braille embossing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising: an area arrangement setting means for setting the arrangement. An area arrangement designating unit for designating an arrangement of the Braille stamping area and / or the ink character printing area on the tape;
The area arrangement setting unit is configured to add the braille printing area and the ink character printing based on the arrangement designation by the area arrangement designation unit in addition to the lengths of the braille printing area and the ink character printing area in the tape feeding direction. The braille marking device according to claim 4 , wherein the arrangement of the areas is set. The program for functioning a computer as each means in the braille stamping apparatus of any one of Claim 1 thru | or 5 . Braille embossing in which one or more braille characters, each represented by a plurality of embossed strings arranged in parallel in the tape feeding direction, are arranged and engraved in the braille embossing area on the tape by arranging one or more characters in the tape feeding direction. A device feed control method comprising:
In the Braille stamping area, the position of the stamp row to which the first stamp point belongs and the position of the stamp row to which the last stamp point belongs are set as a start position and an end position in the tape feeding direction, respectively. Area,
The feed rate when the braille embossing area passes through the embossing head is higher than the feed speed when the braille embossing area passes through the embossing head. A feed control method for a Braille engraving device, wherein the feed speed is controlled so that

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