JP5411413B2 - Character input device and tape printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a character input device and a tape printer that display prediction conversion candidates.

Conventionally, as this type of character input device, a kana-kanji prediction conversion device having a prediction conversion function is known (see Patent Document 1). This kana-kanji predictive conversion device has a display device (display unit), and predictive conversion candidates are displayed on the display device in correspondence with the input character string.
JP 2006-65532 A

Incidentally, a display (display unit) provided in a small printing apparatus such as a tape printing apparatus is small in design. At this time, on the display, a layout display area for displaying a print layout and an input / edit area for input / edit are set for easy editing.
For example, when the above character input device is applied to this small printing device, it is difficult to newly provide a region for displaying a prediction conversion candidate, so it is possible to display the prediction conversion candidate in the layout display region. It is done.
However, if the prediction conversion candidate is displayed in the layout display area, the display of the print layout cannot be confirmed. At this time, when confirming the print layout, for example, there is a problem that all the input unconfirmed character strings must be erased once and the operation by the user becomes complicated.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a character input device and a tape printer capable of switching display from a prediction conversion candidate display to a print layout display with a simple operation.

A character input device according to the present invention includes a display unit in which a layout display area for displaying a print layout is set, layout display means for displaying a print layout in the layout display area, and a layout based on an input uncertain character string. a predictive conversion candidate display means for displaying the predictive conversion candidate display region, Keru Contact the undetermined state of the predictive transform candidates, based on the operation of the display switching key by the user, without confirming the prediction conversion candidates, undetermined character And a display switching means for switching the display from the prediction conversion candidate displayed in the layout display area to the print layout by inputting a column.

  According to this configuration, the print layout can be displayed in the layout display area, and the prediction conversion candidate can be displayed in the layout display area by inputting the undetermined character string. Further, since the display switching means can switch from the prediction conversion candidate display to the print layout display, the display of the print layout can be confirmed during the input of the unconfirmed character string. Thereby, since display switching can be performed with a simple operation, the user is not forced to perform a complicated operation. In the layout display area, a blank print layout is displayed when no characters are input, and a print layout of an arbitrary character string is displayed when a confirmed character string is input.

  In this case, it is preferable that the display switching unit switches to display of the print layout by canceling the display of the prediction conversion candidate.

  According to this configuration, by canceling the display of the prediction conversion candidate, it is not necessary to perform display processing by the prediction conversion candidate display unit, so that the burden on the apparatus can be reduced.

  In this case, it is further provided with connection prediction candidate display means for displaying a character string candidate that can be connected to a confirmed character string after confirmation as a connection prediction candidate in the layout display area by using confirmation of an unconfirmed character string as a trigger. Is preferable.

  According to this configuration, a character string candidate that can be connected to the confirmed character string after confirmation can be displayed in the layout display area as a prediction candidate, so that a character input operation in sentence creation or the like can be easily performed.

  In this case, it is preferable that the display switching means is configured to be able to switch and display the print prediction from the connection prediction candidate displayed in the layout display area.

  According to this configuration, since the display switching unit can switch from the display print layout display of the connection prediction candidate to the print layout display, the display of the print layout can be confirmed. Thereby, since display switching can be performed with a simple operation, the user is not forced to perform a complicated operation.

  A tape printer according to the present invention includes the character input device described above and a printing unit that performs printing on a print tape based on input data generated by the character input device.

  According to this configuration, since the display switching unit can switch the display of the predicted conversion candidate to the display of the print layout, the display of the print layout can be confirmed with a simple operation.

  Hereinafter, a tape printer to which a character input device according to this embodiment is applied will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This tape printer displays a plurality of prediction conversion candidates on a display (display unit) based on an input unconfirmed character string, and also selects one prediction conversion candidate and determines it based on a confirmed character string Thus, a print layout is displayed on the display, and a label is created following the print layout.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tape printer 1 contains a device main body 11 that performs a printing process on a processing tape (printing tape) T, a processing tape T, and an ink ribbon R. And a tape cartridge C which is detachably mounted.

  The apparatus main body 11 has an outer shell formed by an apparatus case 12, and a plurality of character input keys 13 for inputting characters and the like on the upper surface of the front half of the apparatus case 12 and various selection and confirmation processes, etc. A keyboard 17 having a plurality of function keys 15 is provided. Here, the function key 15 includes up / down (left / right) keys 15b for selecting options displayed on the display 24, various setting keys for setting the tape width, tape length and margin area of the processing tape T, the format of characters, and the like. 15a, a confirmation key 15c for confirming the input unconfirmed character string 82 as a confirmed character string 83, a deletion key 15d for deleting a character being input and edited, a print key 15e for executing label creation processing, and a display screen are switched. Display switching key (details will be described later) 15f and the like.

  An opening / closing lid 21 is widely provided on the upper surface of the rear half of the device case 12, and a viewing window 22 for visually confirming the mounting / non-mounting of the tape cartridge C is formed on the upper surface of the opening / closing lid 21. A lid opening button 23 for opening the lid 21 is provided on the front side of the lid 21. In addition, a display 24 for displaying input results from the keyboard 17 and the like is formed on the upper right surface of the rear half.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the display 24 has a horizontally long display screen, and an input / edit screen is displayed on the display 24 as a default screen (initial screen). The input / edit screen is provided with an input edit area 24a for setting input at the bottom and for performing input editing, and a layout display area 24b for setting print layouts one by one. Note that the print layout displays a blank layout when no characters are input, and also displays a layout of an arbitrary character string based on the input confirmed character string 83.

  In the input editing area 24a, the character strings input from the keyboard 17 are displayed horizontally, and when the character strings extend over a plurality of lines, they are displayed side by side vertically. When the character string input to the input editing area 24a is the unconfirmed character string 82, the character string is displayed in black and white as a positive dot (see FIG. 5B), while the unconfirmed character string 82 is displayed by the confirm key. When the character string 83 is confirmed, the character string is normally displayed as a shadow dot (see FIG. 5E). In addition, in the input editing area 24a, a line head mark 80 indicating which line each character string is positioned on and a cursor 81 indicating the editing input position are displayed.

  On the left side of the layout display area 24b of the display 24, the detected tape width and the tape length to be created are displayed as numerical values, and on the right side of the numerical display, the print layout is displayed as large. As a result, the size, placement balance, margin area, and the like of the label to be created can be confirmed before printing processing.

  More specifically, in the layout display area 24b of the display 24 shown in FIG. 3, the print layout of the entered fixed character string 83 ("blue") for the tape width (18 mm) and the tape length (6 cm). However, it is displayed in black and white reversed with the tape as the shadow dot and the character as the positive dot. Further, in the layout display area 24b of the display 24, a plurality of prediction conversion candidates predicted from the input unconfirmed character string 82 are displayed instead of the print layout display, and the confirmed character string 83 after confirmation is displayed. Connection prediction candidates 84 predicted to be connected are displayed (details will be described later). In addition to the above display contents, various setting menus and the like are displayed on the display 24 by operating the setting keys 15a and the like. Here, the display switching key 15f described above switches the display between the plurality of prediction conversion candidates 85 displayed in the layout display area 24b and the print layout based on the input unconfirmed character string 82.

  Inside the opening / closing lid 21, a cartridge mounting portion 31 in which the tape cartridge C is mounted is recessed, and the cartridge mounting portion 31 has a print head for performing a printing process on the processing tape T fed out from the tape cartridge C. 41 is disposed (see FIG. 2).

  A tape discharge port 32 is formed on the left side of the device case 12 to communicate the cartridge mounting portion 31 with the outside of the device. The device case 12 faces the tape discharge port 32 to cut the processing tape T. A cutter unit 33 is incorporated. Although omitted in FIGS. 1 and 2, a circuit board constituting a control unit 60 that performs overall control of the apparatus main body 11 is mounted inside the apparatus case 12.

  A print head 41 having a heating element and covered with a head cover 40, a positioning projection 42 for positioning a tape reel 51 described later, a processing tape T and an ink ribbon R of the tape cartridge C are sent to the cartridge mounting portion 31. A platen drive shaft 43 facing the print head 41 and a take-up drive shaft 44 that winds up the ink ribbon R are projected. Further, the cartridge mounting portion 31 is provided with a tape identification sensor 26 (see FIG. 4) corresponding to a plurality of detection holes formed on the back surface of the cartridge case 95. Further, the cartridge mounting portion 31 incorporates a print feed motor 46 (see FIG. 4) and a reduction gear train (not shown) for driving the platen drive shaft 43 and the winding drive shaft 44.

  The tape cartridge C includes a cartridge case 95 in which a tape reel 51 around which a processing tape T is wound, and a ribbon feeding reel 52 and a ribbon take-up reel 53 around which an ink ribbon R is wound at the lower right portion. Has been. A through opening 54 is formed in the lower left portion of the tape reel 51 to be inserted into the head cover 40 that covers the print head 41. Further, a platen roller 55 that is fitted to the platen drive shaft 43 and rotates is disposed corresponding to a portion where the processing tape T and the ink ribbon R overlap.

  When the tape cartridge C is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 31, the through opening 54 is formed in the head cover 40, the tape reel 51 is positioned on the positioning projection 42, the ribbon winding reel 53 is positioned on the winding drive shaft 44, and the platen roller 55 is positioned on the platen driving shaft 43. When the opening / closing lid 21 is closed in this state, the print head 41 is in contact with the platen roller 55 with the processing tape and the ink ribbon R sandwiched therebetween, and enters a print standby state. When the print data is generated by the input editing, the platen drive shaft 43 and the take-up drive shaft 44 are synchronously rotated based on the generated print data, and the print head 41 feeds the processing tape T and the ink ribbon R. Printing processing is performed. At the same time, the ink ribbon R fed from the ribbon feeding reel 52 goes around the opening wall of the through opening 54 and is taken up by the ribbon take-up reel 53. The printed part of the processing tape T after the printing process is cut by the full cutter 34, and the cut processing tape T is discharged to the outside from the tape discharge port 32 as a label.

  A plurality of types of processing tape T having different tape types (tape width, tape color, ink ribbon color, tape material, etc.) are prepared, and a recording tape T1 having an adhesive layer coated on the back surface, It is composed of a release tape T2 attached to the recording tape T1 with an adhesive layer. A plurality of small detection holes (not shown) are formed on the back surface of the cartridge case 95, and the type of the processing tape T can be identified by detecting the plurality of detection holes by the tape identification sensor 26. It is like that.

  Next, the control system of the tape printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The tape printing apparatus 1 includes an operation unit 61, a detection unit 62, a printing unit 63, a cutting unit 64, a driving unit 65, and a control unit 60 that is connected to these units and controls the entire tape printing apparatus 1. ,have.

  The operation unit 61 functions as a user interface such as data input from the character input keys 13 and function keys 15 on the keyboard 17 and display of print data on the display 24. The detection unit 62 includes a tape identification sensor 26 and detects the type of the processing tape T (tape cartridge C). The printing unit 63 includes a tape cartridge C, a print head 41, and a print feed motor 46. The print head 41 is transported on the processing tape T while conveying the processing tape T and the ink ribbon R based on the generated print data. To print. The cutting unit 64 includes a cutter unit 33 including a full cutter 34 for cutting the processing tape T and a full cutter motor 35 for driving the cutting tape T, so that the processing tape T printed by the printing unit 63 has a predetermined length. Cut and create a label. The drive unit 65 includes a display driver 66, a head driver 67, a print feed motor driver 68, and a cutter motor driver 69, and drives each unit.

  The control unit 60 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 71, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 72 having a control program for the CPU 71 to perform various control processes, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) serving as a work area for various control processes. 73 and an input / output control device (hereinafter referred to as “IOC: Input Output Controller”) 74 for inputting / outputting input data and control signals to / from each part of the tape printer 1, and these are mutually connected by an internal bus 75. It is connected.

  In the ROM 72, a layout display program 72b for displaying the inputted fixed character string as a print layout in the layout display area 24b of the display 24, a plurality of prediction conversion candidates such as kana kanji, romaji, numbers, pictograms, and connection prediction candidates A predictive conversion candidate extraction program 72c that extracts one or more predictive conversion candidates from the predictive conversion dictionary 72a based on the predictive conversion dictionary 72a registered with the unconfirmed character string 82 input by the keyboard 17; The prediction conversion candidate display program 72d for displaying the one or more predicted conversion candidates displayed in the layout display area 24b of the display 24 and one or more connection prediction candidates from the prediction conversion dictionary 72a triggered by the confirmation of the unconfirmed character string Connection prediction candidate extraction program 72e for extracting Ties prediction candidate display program 72f for displaying the connection prediction candidates on the layout display region 24b of the display 24, is stored. The ROM 72 also stores a display cancellation program 72g for switching between the predicted conversion candidates displayed in the layout display area 24b and the print layout display for displaying the confirmed character string.

  That is, in the ROM 72, in order to display the print layout in the layout display area 24b of the display 24, the display of the prediction conversion candidates and the connection prediction candidates in the layout display area 24b is temporarily canceled by using the operation of the display switching key 15f as a trigger. That is, a display cancellation program 72g for temporarily stopping execution of the prediction conversion candidate display program 72d and the connection prediction candidate display program 72f is stored.

  And CPU71 inputs various signals and data from each part in the tape printer 1 via IOC74 according to various control programs in ROM72 by the above-mentioned composition. Also, various data and data in the RAM 73 are processed based on the various signals and data that are input, and various signals and data are output to each part of the tape printer 1 via the IOC 74, thereby enabling input / edit processing and print cutting processing. Control.

  Specifically, when an unconfirmed character string is input by the character input key 13 during input / editing, the CPU 71 displays the unconfirmed character string in the input editing area 24a of the display 24 and predicts in the ROM 72. In accordance with the conversion candidate extraction program 72c and the prediction conversion candidate display program 72d, a plurality of prediction conversion candidates predicted from the input unconfirmed character string are displayed in the layout display area 24b (prediction conversion candidate display means). The CPU 71 displays a plurality of connection prediction candidates that can be connected to the confirmed character string in the layout display area 24b in accordance with the connection prediction candidate extraction program 72e and the connection prediction candidate display program 72f in the ROM 72 (connection prediction candidate display means). . Further, when the confirmation key 15c is pressed and the unconfirmed character string is confirmed, the CPU 71 displays the confirmed characters and the like in the input editing area 24a and confirms in the layout display area 24b according to the layout display program 72b. The confirmed character string is displayed as a print layout (layout display means). Further, when the display switching key 15f is pressed, the CPU 71 cancels the display of the prediction conversion candidates and the connection prediction candidates displayed in the layout display area 24b according to the display cancel program 72g, and displays the print layout in the layout display area 24b. (Display switching means).

  Next, a series of operations for confirming the input unconfirmed character string as a confirmed character string will be described with reference to the display transition diagram of the display 24 in FIG. In the following input editing example, the description will be made assuming that the label “love” 89 shown in FIG.

When the power of the tape printer 1 is turned on by the user, an input / edit screen serving as a default screen is displayed on the display 24 (see FIG. 5A).
When the user operates the character input key 13 to input the character “A”, an unconfirmed character “A” (“A” for Roman input) 86 is displayed in the input editing area 24a. In the layout display area 24b, a plurality of prediction conversion candidates 85 predicted from the unconfirmed character “a” 86 are displayed (see FIG. 5B). If the input character “A” 86 is erroneously input and the delete key 15d is pressed to delete the input character “A” 86, the display 24 returns to the initial state shown in FIG. If there is no predictive conversion candidate 85 expected from the input character or the like, the unconfirmed character “A” is displayed in the input editing area 24a, but the layout display area 24b remains in the initial state (see FIG. 5 (h)).

  Next, in the state of FIG. 5B, the user operates the up / down key 15b to select a desired prediction conversion candidate from the plurality of prediction conversion candidates 85, and the prediction conversion candidate 83 selected by the confirmation key 15c. Is confirmed as a confirmed character string (see FIGS. 5C and 5D). At this time, the number of prediction conversion candidates is displayed on the left side of the layout display area 24b, and in this embodiment, it is indicated that there are 30 prediction conversion candidates 85. The selected prediction conversion candidate is shaded (for example, the prediction conversion candidate “partner” 87 shown in FIG. 5C).

  In the present embodiment, when the user selects the prediction conversion candidate “love” 88 displayed second from the 30 prediction conversion candidate options and operates the enter key 15c, the CPU 71 displays the input editing area 24a in the input editing area 24a. The selected prediction conversion candidate “Ai” 88 is displayed as a confirmed character string, and the layout of the “Ai” 88 that is a confirmed character string is displayed in the layout display area 24b (see FIG. 5E). Thereafter, when the input editing process is continued, the same process as described above is repeated. On the other hand, when printing a confirmed character string, by pressing the print key 15e, the printing process is executed, the cutting process is executed, and the label 89 is generated.

  In the unconfirmed state of the predicted conversion candidate “love” 88 (the states of FIGS. 5B, 5C, and 5D), the unconfirmed character string 82 can be deleted by performing a predetermined key operation. It is possible. Specifically, when the shift key and the delete key 15d, which are function keys 15, are simultaneously pressed, an erasure screen 90 is displayed, and by selecting one of the erasure methods of the whole sentence erasure 91 and the paragraph erasure 92, Erasing can be performed (see FIG. 5F). On the other hand, if the delete key 15d is operated while the erase screen 90 is displayed, the state shown in FIG. 5B can be restored. The function key 15 is provided with a restoration key (not shown) for returning to the previous processing screen. For example, when the restoration key is pressed in the state of FIG. 5E, FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the prediction conversion candidates are displayed, and the screen can be returned to a screen in which the prediction conversion candidates are not selected.

  Here, when the display switching key 15f is pressed in the display state of the display 24 shown in FIGS. 5B, 5C, and 5D, the display of the plurality of prediction conversion candidates in the layout display area 24b is canceled, A print layout is displayed in the layout display area 24b (see FIG. 5H). Further, when the display switching key 15f is pressed again from this state, the display of the prediction conversion candidate is canceled, and the state returns to the state of FIG. 5B. In this way, by canceling the display of the prediction conversion candidate by a simple key operation, the display of the prediction conversion candidate and the display of the print layout are switched, and the burden on the user can be reduced.

  By the way, when the display switching key 15f is pressed from the display state of the display 24 shown in FIGS. 5B, 5C, and 5D, since there is no fixed character string, the layout display area 24b is in the initial state. (FIG. 5 (h)). However, as shown in FIG. 8, when the display switching key 15f is pressed from the states of FIGS. 8C and 8D, the unconfirmed character string is temporarily confirmed, and the temporary confirmed character string is displayed in the layout display area 24b. May be displayed (see FIGS. 8H-2 and 8H-3).

  Next, a series of operations for switching from the connection prediction candidate display to the print layout display will be described with reference to FIG. The following input editing example will be described assuming that the label “blue” 93 shown in FIG. 7B is created.

  When the unconfirmed character of the input character “A” is displayed (the states of FIGS. 5B, 5C, and 5D), when the character “O” is input after the input character “A”, the CPU 71 Displays the input character “AO” (“AO” in the case of Romaji input) 94 input to the input editing area 24a and a plurality of predictions predicted from the input character “AO” in the layout display area 24b. Conversion candidates 85 are displayed (see FIG. 6J).

  Next, the user operates the up / down key 15b to select a desired conversion candidate (in this case, “blue”) from the plurality of prediction conversion candidates 85 (see FIGS. 6 (k) and (l)) and confirm. The key 15c is operated to confirm the selected predictive conversion candidate 85 as the confirmed character string 83. Then, a plurality of connection prediction candidates that can be connected to the confirmed character string “blue” are displayed in the layout display area 24b (see FIG. 6M). Thereafter, the user operates the up / down key 15b to select a desired connection prediction candidate (in this case, “no”) from the plurality of connection prediction candidates 84 (see FIG. 6 (n)), and presses the enter key 15c. By operating, the selected connection prediction candidate 84 is confirmed as a confirmed character string 83. At this time, if there is a connection prediction candidate 84 that can be connected to the confirmed character string 83 “no”, the above processing is performed in the same manner. On the other hand, if there is no connection prediction candidate 84, a print layout is displayed in the layout display area 24b. (See FIG. 6 (o)).

  Here, when the display switching key 15f is pressed in the display state of the display 24 shown in FIGS. 6 (m) and 6 (n), the display of the plurality of connection prediction candidates 84 in the layout display area 24b is canceled, and the layout display area A print layout is displayed in 24b (see FIG. 6 (p)).

  As described above, according to the tape printer 1 according to the present embodiment, even when the prediction conversion candidate 85 and the connection prediction candidate 84 are displayed in the layout display area 24b of the display 24, the display switching key 15f is pressed. Thus, the print layout can be displayed with a simple operation. In this embodiment, the display of the prediction conversion candidate 85 (connection prediction candidate 84) is canceled and the print layout is displayed. However, the display of the print layout is simply displayed from the display of the prediction conversion candidate 85 (connection prediction candidate 84). The configuration may be switched to (displayed with a broken line in FIG. 8). At this time, the display may be switched from the display of the print layout to the display of the prediction conversion candidate 85 (connection prediction candidate 84) so as to be switchable between them.

It is an external appearance perspective view in the open lid state of the tape printer concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is an external appearance perspective view in the open lid state of the tape printer concerning this embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of a display. It is a control block diagram of a tape printer. FIG. 10 is a display transition diagram of a display regarding a series of operations for switching display from a predictive conversion candidate to a print layout. It is a display transition diagram of the display regarding a series of operation which switches a display from a connection prediction candidate to a print layout. It is a schematic diagram of the created label. It is a display transition diagram of a display in a modification of display switching.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tape printer 1 15f ... Display switching key 24a ... Input edit area 24b ... Layout display area 71 ... CPU 72 ... ROM 72a ... Predictive conversion dictionary 72b ... Layout display program 72b 72c ... Predictive conversion candidate extraction program 72d ... Predictive conversion candidate Display program 72e ... Connection prediction candidate extraction program 72f ... Connection prediction candidate display program 72g ... Display cancellation program 73 ... RAM 74 ... IOC 75 ... Internal bus 82 ... Unconfirmed character string 83 ... Confirmed character string 84 ... Connection prediction candidate 85 ... Prediction Conversion candidate

Claims (5)

A display section in which a layout display area for displaying a print layout is set;
Layout display means for displaying a print layout in the layout display area;
Prediction conversion candidate display means for displaying a prediction conversion candidate in the layout display area based on the input unconfirmed character string;
The Keru you to undetermined state of the predictive transform candidates, based on the operation of the display switching key by the user, without confirming the prediction conversion candidates, the prediction displayed on the layout display area by an input of the undetermined character array Display switching means for switching display from the conversion candidate to the print layout;
A character input device comprising:   The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the display switching unit switches to display of the print layout by canceling display of the prediction conversion candidate.   A connection prediction candidate display means for displaying a character string candidate that can be connected to a confirmed character string after confirmation as a connection prediction candidate using the confirmation of an unconfirmed character string as a trigger is further provided. The character input device according to claim 1 or 2.   The character input device according to claim 3, wherein the display switching unit is configured to be able to switch and display the connection prediction candidate displayed in the layout display area to the print layout. A character input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Printing means for printing on a printing tape based on the input data generated by the character input device;
A tape printing apparatus comprising:

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