JPH07276724A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a printer in which a printing command, a discharge command and a cutting command are realized by only one command transmission by driving and controlling a printing means, a conveyance means and a cutting means in accordance with discrimination result through a first discrimination means to a third discrimination means with a time when a command-receiving means receives a described signal. CONSTITUTION:When push-down of the function key of a key board 4 is detected or a command-receiving means receives a prescribed signal, a CPU 54 discriminates whether printing data exist in a RAM 56 or not and whether a cutter mechanism is driven or not and whether the set front margin quantity is large or not. A printing means, a conveyance means and a cutting means are driven and controlled in accordance with discrimination result thereof. Thereby the actuation commands of printing, discharge and cutting are performed by one command transmission.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having cutting means for cutting a printing medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing device provided with a cutting mechanism, for example, a facsimile or a tape, which prints on a long material such as roll paper and separates only the printed portion to produce one printed material. Printing devices and the like are known.

And, as a processing operation that is often performed,
It is performed to print the desired data and to obtain the previously printed document (label), to remove the paper (tape) that failed to print, and to align the beginning of the paper (tape). There is a feed cut process.

The feed cut process is a paper (tape)
Is conveyed for a predetermined distance from the current state, and then the paper (tape) is cut by the cutting mechanism.
In addition, it is usual that the feed cut process is continuously performed after the printing process described above.

Further, there are printers that improve the appearance and the like, and add a blank space before and after a character such as a character to be printed for output. The printing apparatus has a margin amount setting function that allows the operator to change and set the width of the added margin portion, and the operator can perform printing with a desired margin width.

[0006]

However, in the printing apparatus having the above cutting means, a large number of key switches for operating each mechanism, such as a print command key for printing data and a paper sheet, are used. A plurality of keys such as a discharge command key for discharging the (tape) and a cut key for cutting the paper (tape) are required.
Further, the key switch hinders the downsizing of the printing apparatus, which imposes a cost burden.

Also, when these printers are externally controlled by a host computer or the like, a large number of command signals that regulate the operation of each mechanism, for example,
Print command signal for printing data, eject command signal for ejecting paper (tape), paper (tape)
It required a cut command signal and other signals to make the cut.
Therefore, the printing device side that receives these signals needs a mechanism for performing an analysis process for discriminating many types of received signals.

Further, each of these keys and command signals causes each mechanism to perform only a predetermined fixed operation.
Therefore, in order to cause the printing apparatus to perform a desired operation corresponding to the occasion, it is necessary to combine the above-mentioned key switch pressing and command signals to finely specify the operation, and the operator is complicated to specify the operation. I was burdened with key operations.

When performing a printing process with a margin portion added,
Furthermore, the operation of each mechanism is complicated and complicated. In particular, the timing to start driving the printing mechanism, the timing to start driving the cutting mechanism, and the amount of paper transported by the transport mechanism must be changed according to the set width of the margin, which requires the operator to perform a very troublesome operation. And confused the operator.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and can realize a print command, a discharge command, and a cut command only by sending one command (or pressing a key switch). So that you can do it,
The operating environment of the printing device is read, and the corresponding operation is automatically selected and executed so that the operator can perform an appropriate operation that suits the operator's intention without the need for troublesome operation and selection judgment. The present invention aims to provide a printing device.

[0011]

In order to achieve this object, a printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a storage unit capable of storing input print data, a transport unit for transporting a print medium, and the storage unit. A print unit for printing the stored print data on the print medium, and a cutting unit for cutting the print medium, and further added to the front and rear ends of the print data to be printed on the print medium. The margin amount setting means for setting the width of the margin portion, the first determination means for determining whether or not the width of the margin portion set by the margin amount setting means is equal to or more than a predetermined value, and the storage means. Second determining means for determining whether or not there is print data, and third determining means for determining whether or not the cutting means has been driven after that, based on the completion of driving of the printing means. Command reception to receive a predetermined signal Drive control for driving and controlling the printing means, the conveying means, and the cutting means based on the discrimination result by the first to third discrimination means, triggered by the step and the instruction receiving means receiving a predetermined signal. And means.

The drive control means determines that the width of the margin portion is equal to or larger than a predetermined value by the first determination means,
When it is determined that the print data exists by the second determining unit and that the cutting unit has already been driven by the third determining unit, the conveyance is performed so that the front margin portion has the set margin amount. After being conveyed by the means, the printing means causes the print data to be printed with only the margin portion at the rear end added, and the first determining means determines that the width of the margin portion is less than a predetermined value, When it is determined that the print data is present by the second determining means and the cutting means is already driven by the third determining means, the print data is printed by adding only the trailing margin portion by the printing means. While performing the above, even when the front margin portion is conveyed by the conveying means to reach the set margin amount, the cutting means controls the cutting operation. There.

The drive control means, when the second determining means determines that there is no print data, causes the transporting means to carry a predetermined amount of
Feed cutting processing for performing a cutting operation is performed by the cutting unit, the second determining unit determines that print data exists, and the third determining unit determines that the cutting unit is not driven. In some cases, in addition to the feed cut processing, control may be performed so that the printing data is printed by the printing unit with the margins at the front and rear ends added.

The command receiving means may receive a signal generated by pressing a predetermined one key switch.

The signal received by the command transmitting means may be one predetermined command signal sent from an external computer.

The medium to be printed may be a tape-shaped medium.

[0017]

In the printing apparatus of the present invention having the above construction, the storage means stores the input print data, and the command receiving means receives a predetermined command signal. The margin amount setting means allows the operator to selectively set the length of the margin portion added to the front and rear ends of the print data.

The first discriminating means discriminates whether or not the width of the margin portion set by the margin amount setting means is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, and the second discriminating means stores the print data in the storage means. It is determined whether or not to do it. In addition, by the third discriminating means, with reference to the completion of driving of the printing means,
Then, it is determined whether or not the cutting means has been driven.

Then, when the command receiving means receives a predetermined signal, the printing means, the conveying means and the cutting means are drive-controlled based on the discrimination results by the first to third discriminating means.

As described above, only by transmitting one kind of predetermined signal to the printing apparatus, the printing apparatus receives the signal and automatically determines the operation status, and performs various operations according to the operation status. .

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The present embodiment is a case where the present invention is applied to a tape printer capable of inputting effective data for a large number of characters and figures such as alphabetic characters and symbols and printing on a printing tape.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tape printer 1 is
A CRT display 3 capable of displaying a plurality of lines of characters and symbols, a keyboard 4, and a control body 5 are connected to the data preparation device 2 and the control body 5 of the data preparation device 2 by a connecting line L. It is composed of a printer 6.
Here, the CRT display 3 and the keyboard 4 are connected to the control main body section 5 via connection lines, respectively. still,
The printer 6 corresponds to the printing device of the present invention, and the data creation device 2 corresponds to the external computer.

The keyboard 4 includes character keys for inputting alphabets, numbers and symbols, a space key, a return key, a cursor movement key for moving the cursor vertically and horizontally, and a width of a margin added to the front and rear ends of print data. Margin setting key for setting, size setting key for setting print character size, type setting key for setting print character type, various editing function keys, eject key for ejecting the printing tape 8, and printing A print key or the like for executing is provided.

On the upper surface of the printer 6, a power key 6a of the printer 6 and a function key (hereinafter, referred to as a function key) for performing various operations such as feed cutting of the printing tape 8 and printing. , F key) 6b. In the feed cut of this embodiment, two printing tapes 8 are used.
The tape is cut after feeding 5 mm. Further, a cassette cover 7 is attached to the side surface of the printer 6 so as to be openable and closable, and by opening the cassette cover 7, the tape storage cassette CS can be attached to the printing mechanism PM described later.

Next, the printing mechanism PM built in the printer 6 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 2. The rectangular tape storage cassette CS is detachably attached to the printing mechanism PM.
Has been installed, and this tape storage cassette CS has
A tape spool 9 on which a printing tape 8 having a width of about 24 mm made of a transparent film is wound, a ribbon supply spool 11 on which an ink ribbon 10 is wound, and a take-up spool 12 on which the ink ribbon 10 is wound. A supply spool 14 in which a double-sided tape 13 having the same width as the printing tape 8 is wound with the release paper outside and a joining roller 15 for joining the printing tape 8 and the double-sided tape 13 are rotatably provided. Has been.

A thermal head 16 is erected at a position where the printing tape 8 and the ink ribbon 10 overlap each other, and a platen roller 17 for pressing the printing tape 8 and the ink ribbon 10 against the thermal head 16 and a printing head. Tape 8
A feed roller 18 that presses the double-sided tape 13 against the joining roller 15 is rotatably supported by a support body 19 that is rotatably attached to the frame of the printer 6. In this thermal head 16, a heating element group consisting of 128 heating elements is vertically arranged in a row.

Accordingly, by driving the tape feed motor 50 (see FIG. 3) in the predetermined rotation direction, the joining roller 15 and the take-up spool 12 are driven in synchronism with each other in the predetermined rotation direction, and the heating elements are energized. At this time, characters are printed on the printing tape 8 by a plurality of dot rows, and the printing tape 8 is fed in the tape feeding direction A in a state where the double-sided tape 13 is joined, and as shown in FIG. 6 is sent out. The details of the printing mechanism PM are the same as those of the known printing mechanism disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-106555, and therefore the description thereof is omitted.

The joining roller 15 and the tape feed motor 50 correspond to the conveying means of the present invention, and the thermal head 16
Is the main body of the printing means of the present invention.

Here, as the tape storage cassette CS, five kinds of cassettes CS in which printing tapes 8 having tape widths of 6 mm, 9 mm, 12 mm, 18 mm, and 24 mm are stored are prepared. The bottom wall is provided with any one of the first to third projecting pieces 20 to 22 in combination. Then, on the frame of the printer 6, the first protruding piece to the third protruding piece 2 are provided.
A tape width sensor 53 (see FIG. 3) made of a photo interrupter for detecting the presence or absence of 0 to 22 is attached.

In the vicinity of the label discharge hole 23 on the downstream side of the thermal head 16 along the feeding direction of the printing tape 8, the cutter mechanism 6 corresponding to the cutting means of the present invention.
5 are provided. The cutter mechanism 65 has the same structure as known scissors, and includes a fixed blade 66 and a movable blade 67. The movable blade 67 is fixed to a rotating lever 69 that rotates about a pivot shaft 68, and the rotating lever 69 is a pinion fixed to a drive shaft 71A of a DC motor 71 via a gear mechanism 70. It is connected to 72.

Therefore, the movable blade 67 is opened and closed with the pivot shaft 68 as a fulcrum via the pinion 72, the gear mechanism 70, and the turning lever 69 in accordance with the forward and reverse rotations of the drive shaft 71A of the DC motor 71. , The fixed blade 6 with this opening / closing operation
The label 25 produced in cooperation with 6 is cut. The printing position by the thermal head 11 and the cutting position by the cutter mechanism 65 are separated by a distance n.
This distance n is defined as the head-cutter distance n. In this embodiment, n = 25 mm.

Next, the control system of the tape printer 1 is shown in FIG.
The block diagram of FIG.

First, the control system of the data creating device 2 will be described. A CRT display controller (C) having a keyboard (K / B) 4 and a display RAM for outputting display data to a CRT display (CRTD) 3 is described.
The RTC) 30 and the floppy disk drive controller (FDC) 32 for the floppy disk drive (FDD) 31 provided in the control body 5 are the input / output interfaces () of the control device C1 provided in the control body 5. Input / output I / F) 36 are connected to each.

The controller C1 and the CPU 33 and this CP
A hard disk drive controller (HDC) for an input / output interface 36 connected to the U33 via a bus 38 such as a data bus, a communication interface (I / F) 37, and a hard disk drive device (HDD) 34 equipped with a hard disk. ) 35 and RAM 40
It consists of and.

In the hard disk, a display pattern data memory in which dot pattern data for display is stored in association with code data for each of a large number of characters, and for each of a large number of characters in order to print a character, The outline data that defines the outline of the character (outline data) is classified according to the typeface (Gothic typeface, Mincho typeface, etc.) and stored in association with the code data. A display drive control program for controlling the CRT display controller 30 in association with code data of characters such as numbers and symbols, and outline data corresponding to each code data in the text memory 41 of the RAM 40 is converted into dot pattern data and the printer is processed. Image output to 6 Di deployment control program and the like are stored.

The text memory 41 of the RAM 40 stores document data input from the keyboard 4. The print format memory 42 stores a plurality of print format information such as set character size data, typeface number data, and set margin amount data. The print buffer 43 stores dot pattern data for printing of characters and symbols that have been image-developed. The work memory 44 temporarily stores data necessary for data processing.

Next, the control system of the printer 6 will be described. The drive circuit 5 for driving the thermal head 16
2 and a drive circuit 5 for driving the tape feed motor 50
1 and a drive circuit 73 for driving the DC motor 71
The tape width sensor 53 and the key switch 60 are the input / output interface (input / output I / F) 5 of the controller C2.
7 are connected respectively.

The control device C2 and the CPU 54 and the CP
An input / output interface (input / output I / F) 57 connected to the U54 via a bus 59 such as a data bus, a communication interface (I / F) 58, a ROM 55, and an R
It is composed of AM56. The RAM 56 corresponds to the storage means of the present invention, and the input / output I / F 57 and the I / F 58 are included.
And correspond to the command receiving means of the present invention.

The ROM 55 receives the print drive control program for driving the thermal head 16, the tape feed motor 50 and the like based on the dot pattern data transmitted from the data generating device 2, the data generating means 2 or the key switch 60. Programs and the like for controlling each mechanism based on commands are stored.

In the RAM 56, a receiving buffer 56a for receiving the dot pattern data transmitted from the data creating device 2 via the communication interface 58, an image buffer 56b for storing the received data,
Various memories for temporarily storing the calculation result calculated by the CPU 54, a flag indicating an operation state of each unit, a pointer, and the like are provided. The flag is based on the completion of driving of the thermal head 16, and then the cutter mechanism 6 is used.
5 has a cutter drive flag 56c indicating whether or not it has been driven. When the cut drive flag 56c is 1, it indicates that there is drive, and when the cut drive flag 56c is 0, it indicates that there is no drive.

Next, the tape printing control routine executed by the control device C1 of the data creating device 2 will be described with reference to the schematic flow charts of FIGS. still,
Reference numeral Si (i = 10, 11, 12, ...) In the drawing represents each step.

When the power is turned on, this control is started, and when the printable keys such as the alphabet keys, the symbol keys and the number keys are operated (S10, S11: Yes), the input code data is converted into the document data. As a result, the document data input process for storing in the text memory 41 of the RAM 40 is executed, and the display process for displaying the character corresponding to the code data on the CRT display 3 is executed (S12), and the process returns to S10. For example, as the document data, the document data “Thomas JEF” for label printing is used.
When "FERSON" is input, this document data is stored in the text memory 41 and displayed on the CRT display 3.

Next, when the size setting key, typeface setting key, or various editing keys are operated (S10: Yes, S11: N).
o, S13: No, S15: NO), print format information such as character size data and typeface number data is stored in the print format memory 42 of the RAM 40, and a process corresponding to the operated key is executed (S17). , Return to S10.

In S10, when the eject key of the keyboard 4 is operated (S11: NO, S12: YES), a predetermined function command signal (hereinafter referred to as "F") which causes the printer 6 to perform the function processing described later (see FIG. 7). (Referred to as a command) to the printer 6 and the process returns to S10.

Next, when printing of the above data "Thomas JEFFERSON" is selected and the print key is operated (S1
0: Yes, S11: No, S13: Yes), print processing control (FIG. 5)
(See) is executed (S14).

When this control is started, each character or symbol of the document data ("Thomas ...") of the first label stored in the text memory 41 is stored in the print format memory 42. Outline data is read from the font memory based on the print format information stored. On the other hand, the dot pattern is expanded or reduced to have the set character size and expanded into a dot pattern. Then, the developed dot pattern data is stored in the print buffer 43 (S20).

When the image conversion process is completed, an operation status notification command is sent to the printer 6 via the communication interface 37 and the connection line L, and the printer 6 is made to send the operation status of each internal mechanism (S21). If the received operation status is normal and operation is possible (S22: N
O), the previous dot pattern data is transmitted to the printer 6 via the communication interface 37 and the connection line L (S23). On the other hand, when the printer 6 has an abnormality or the printing process is in progress (S22: YES), the CRT
The reason is displayed on the display 3, and the process waits until the abnormality is resolved or the previous printing process is completed.

When the dot pattern data for one label is transmitted to the printer 6, a function command signal (F command) is then transmitted to the printer 6 (S24). As a result, the document data is printed on the printing tape 8 by the function processing described later in the printer 6. Then, after the printing tape 8 is fed by a predetermined amount, it is cut by the cutter mechanism 65, and the label "Thomas" is cut.
"JEFFERSON" is completed.

When document data of the next label exists in the text memory 41 in addition to the created label (S26: YES), the processing steps of S20 to S26 are repeated. When there is no other document data (S26: NO), this control is ended and the process returns to S10 of tape printing control.

Next, the tape printing control routine executed by the controller C2 of the printer 6 will be described with reference to FIGS.
It will be described based on the schematic flowchart of FIG.

When the power is turned on, the main control shown in FIG. 6 is started, and first, the reception buffer 5 of the RAM 56 is started.
6a, data relating to tape printing control such as clearing the image buffer 56b is initialized (S30). Then, it is detected whether or not any one of the key switches 60 provided in the printer 6 is pressed (S31).

When there is a key input (S32: NO) and it is detected that the key is the F key 6b (S33: YES),
The function processing shown in FIG. 7 is performed (S35). When the process is completed, the process proceeds to S36.

When the key input detected in S32 is not the F key 6b, the process corresponding to the depressed key is performed (S34). When the processing corresponding to these various keys is completed, the process proceeds to S36.

If there is no key input (S32: YES), the state of receiving and receiving the data sent from the data creating device 2 is set (S36).

When the data is received (S36, S37: NO) and the data is the document data consisting of the dot pattern of the label (S38: YES), the received document data is RA.
The images are sequentially stored in the image buffer 56b of M56 (S4
2). After storing, the process returns to S31 to detect again whether the key switch 60 is pressed.

If the data received in S38 is not image data, it is determined whether the data is a function command (F command) (S39). If it is the F command (S39: YES), the function process shown in FIG. 7 is performed (S41), and the document data stored in the image buffer 56b is printed on the printing tape 8 or the printing tape 8 is feed cut. To do When the process is complete,
Return to S31.

If the command is not the F command in S39, the operation according to each command received, such as data operation, print operation setting, driving of each mechanism of the printer 6, etc., is performed (S4).
0). For example, when the operation status notification command is received, the operation status of the printer 6 such as the current print processing status and abnormality of each mechanism is returned. In addition, upon receiving a margin amount setting command, a margin amount setting process is performed. The printer 6 of this embodiment can selectively set the width of the margin to be automatically added to the front and rear ends of the print character string. By pressing the margin amount setting key of the keyboard 4, it is possible to switch to four widths of no margin, small (6 mm), medium (12.5 mm) and large (25 mm). This setting is R
It is stored in the margin amount pointer 56d of the AM 56. At this time, S40 of the processing step corresponds to the margin amount setting means of the present invention. After each operation according to the command is completed, the process returns to S31.

Next, the function processing will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9.

In the function processing in S35 or S41, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, it is first determined whether or not the document data exists in the image buffer 56b of the RAM 56 (S50). If there is no document data (S50: NO), at the time of feed cut processing described later, the feed amount 1 which is the feed amount of the tape that is first sent in the non-printing state and the feed of the tape that reaches the tape cutting position. The cut position m, which is the amount, is set (S51). In this case, the head-cutter distance n (= 25 mm) is set for each of the feed amount 1 and the cutting position m. After the setting, the feed cut processing shown in FIG. 8 is executed (S52).

In the feed cut process, first, the tape feed motor 50 is driven to feed the tape by the feed amount 1 (S70). After that, it is judged whether or not the printing tape 8 has been sent to the cutting position m (S71), and when it has not been sent to the cutting position m (S71: NO), the thermal head 16 is driven to start printing. (S72), the image data stored in the image buffer 56b is sequentially incremented by 1 until the printing tape 8 reaches the cut position m.
The tape feeding operation is performed while printing line by line. When it is determined in S71 that the printing tape 8 has been fed to the cutting position m, printing is stopped and the tape feed motor 50 is stopped. And at this stop position D
The C motor 71 drives the cutter mechanism 65 to cut the printing tape 8 (S73). After the tape is cut, the processing returns to the function processing shown in FIG.

In the case of S52 described above, 25
mm tape is fed, and since l = m = 25 mm, the printing operation is not performed, the feeding is stopped and the tape is cut, and the process returns to S53.

At S53 after completion of the feed cut process, R
The cutter operation flag 56c of the AM 56 is set to 1. Then, the process returns to the main process shown in FIG.

If document data exists in the image buffer 56b of the RAM 56 in S50, it is determined in S54 whether the cutter operation flag 56c is "1". When the cutter drive flag is not 1 (S54: NO), that is, when it is determined that the cutter mechanism 65 has not been driven after the previous printing operation, the feed amount 1 is stored in the margin amount pointer 56d. The front margin amount is set to the cutting position m and the head-cutter distance n is set (S55). Then, the feed cut processing shown in FIG. 9 is performed (S56).
In the feed cut processing, first, the tape is fed without printing by the set front margin amount, then printing is performed until the head-cutter distance n is reached, and when the head-cutter distance n is reached, the tape is fed. Then, the printing is interrupted and the tape cutting is performed. However, the setting of the front margin is large (2
5 mm), l = m, so printing is not performed,
The tape is cut immediately after feeding the tape.

Then, the print process is performed subsequent to the feed cut process (S57). In the printing process shown in FIG. 9, S
Printing is restarted at 80, and the image buffer 5 is sent at S81.
Printing is performed until it is determined that the document data stored in 6b has been printed to the end. When it is determined in S81 that the printing is completed, the tape feed is performed by the preset margin amount. After tape feeding, return to function processing,
Further, the process returns to the main control of FIG.

On the other hand, if the cutter drive flag is 1 in S54, that is, if it is determined that the cutter mechanism 65 has already been driven after the previous printing operation,
At 58, it is determined whether or not the width of the front margin is set to a large value (= 25 mm). When it is determined that the setting of the front margin amount is large (S58: YES), the printing process of FIG. 9 is performed (S59). Printing is performed until it is determined that the document data stored in the image buffer 56b has been printed to the end (S80, S81), and when it is determined that printing has ended, the tape feed is performed by the preset margin amount. (S82).
After feeding the tape, the process returns to S60 of the function process, the cutter operation flag 56c is set to 0, and the process returns to the main control of FIG.

When it is determined in S58 that the setting of the front margin amount is not large (S58: YES), the feed amount 1 is set to 0 mm and the cutting position m is set from the head-cutter distance n. A value (n-front margin amount) obtained by subtracting the above-mentioned front margin amount is set (S61). Then, feed cut processing is performed (S
62). In the feed cut process, first, the printing process is started by the thermal head 16 (S72), the printing is continued until it is sent to (n-front margin amount), and when it reaches (n-front margin amount), the printing is interrupted. (S71: YES), tape cutting is performed (S73). After the tape is cut, printing is performed again (S63). Printing is performed until it is determined that the document data stored in the image buffer 56b has been printed to the end (S80, S81), and when it is determined that printing has ended, the tape feed is performed by the preset margin amount. (S82). After tape feeding, S64 of function processing
6, the cutter operation flag 56c is set to 0, and the process returns to the main control of FIG.

Incidentally, S58 in the above processing step corresponds to the first determining means of the present invention, and S50 in the above processing step is the second determining means of the present invention.
S54 of the processing step corresponds to the third determining means of the present invention, and S51 and S52 of the processing step.
, S55, S56 and S57, S59, S61, S62 and S
63 corresponds to the drive control means of the present invention.

As described above, even if the printer 6 of this embodiment receives the same key operation and the same command signal, the operator's intention is based on operating conditions such as the presence or absence of document data at that time. Senses and takes the required action.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, when the label produced by the previous printing operation is not cut and remains in the label discharge hole 23, the F key 6b of the printer 6 or the data producing device is used. When the F command is transmitted from No. 2, the printer 6 performs the feed cut processing of 25 mm regardless of the margin setting amount, and the operator can obtain the completed label. Further, when the printer 6 has received the print data of the new label, the print data is printed together with the feed cut as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12, when the previously created label is already cut and the print data of the next label is desired to be printed, the F of the printer 6 is also used.
When the key 6b is pressed (or the F command is transmitted), the feed cut is performed according to the set margin amount, and the print data is printed.

Further, as shown in FIG.
If the F key 6b of is pressed (or the F command is transmitted), the
It is also possible to perform a feed cut of 5 mm.

As described above, since printing, tape feeding, and tape cutting can be instructed with one key, the operator can press the key without hesitation. Moreover, without making the structure of the printer 6 complicated,
Manufacturing costs can also be reduced.

Similarly, when commanding printing, tape feeding, and tape cutting from an external device such as the data creation device 2 to the printer 6, it is possible to cover the command with a single command signal. Communication mechanism (interface 3
7, 58, connection line L, etc.) can also be simplified. In addition, since the command signal is simplified, the interfaces 37, 58
It is possible to prevent abnormal operation caused by poor communication or communication.

It should be noted that printing, tape feeding, and tape cutting are 1
Since the operation is performed in one flow, useless operations can be deleted, and the printing tape 8 to be used can be saved and used.

[0076]

As is apparent from the above description, the printing apparatus of the present invention can realize the print command, the discharge command, and the cut command with one command (or key), and the command 1 Accordingly, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus capable of selecting and executing an optimum operation for various purposes and mode settings. Thereby, the command signal of the external computer or the key input mechanism of the apparatus can be simplified, and the operation load on the operator can be reduced. Therefore, the working time can be shortened, the print medium can be saved, and the work can be performed efficiently.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tape printer.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a printing mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the tape printer.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a tape printing control routine in the data creation device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of a print processing control routine in the data creation device.

FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of a tape printing control routine in the printer.

FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of a routine of function processing control in the printer.

FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of a feed cut processing control routine in the printer.

FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart of a print processing control routine in the printer.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a function operation in the case where the previously printed tape remains and there is no data.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a function operation when the previously printed tape remains and data exists.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a function operation after driving the cutting mechanism and when data is present.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a function operation after driving the cutting mechanism and when there is no data.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Tape Printing Device 2 Data Creation Device 4 Keyboard 6 Printer 8 Printing Tape 15 Bonding Roller 16 Thermal Head 50 Tape Feed Motor 54 CPU 55 ROM 56 RAM 60 Key Switch 65 Cutter Mechanism C2 Control Device

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Sachiko Nakagawa 15-1 Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya-shi Brother Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. Storage means capable of storing input print data, conveying means for conveying a print medium, printing means for printing the print data stored in the storage means on the print medium, and In a printing apparatus having a cutting means for cutting a print medium, a margin amount setting means for setting a width of a margin portion added to front and rear edges of print data to be printed on the printing medium, and a margin amount setting means First discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the width of the margin portion formed is a predetermined value or more; second discriminating means for discriminating whether or not print data exists in the storage means; With reference to the completion of driving of the means, thereafter, third determining means for determining whether or not the cutting means is driven, command receiving means for receiving a predetermined signal, and the command receiving means for receiving a predetermined signal. When I received it Then, the printing apparatus is provided with drive control means for driving and controlling the printing means, the conveying means, and the cutting means based on the discrimination results by the first to third discrimination means. 2. The drive control means determines that the width of the margin is equal to or larger than a predetermined value by the first determining means, determines that print data exists by the second determining means, and When it is judged by the third judging means that the cutting means has already been driven, the front margin portion is conveyed by the conveying means so as to have the set margin amount, and then only the rear margin portion is added by the printing means. The print data is printed, the first determining unit determines that the width of the blank space is less than a predetermined value, the second determining unit determines that print data exists, and the third determining unit determines that the print data exists. When it is determined by the determining means that the cutting means has already been driven, the printing means prints the print data to which only the trailing edge margin portion is added, and is conveyed by the conveying means. Becomes the front margin of the margin portion is set, the printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls so as to perform the cutting operation by the cutting means. 3. The drive control means, when the second determining means determines that there is no print data, causes the conveying means to convey a predetermined amount, and then causes the cutting means to perform a cutting operation. When the feed cut processing is performed, it is determined that the print data is present by the second determining means, and the cutting means is not driven by the third determining means, the feed cut processing is performed. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: controlling the printing unit to print the print data with the front and rear margins added. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the command receiving unit receives a signal issued by pressing a predetermined one key switch. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal received by the command transmitting means is one predetermined command signal sent from an external computer. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print medium is a tape-shaped medium.