JP2006289988A - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tape-like label forming apparatus which prevents a tape from being erroneously cut during printing of a plurality of the number of times by means of rewinding of the tape in multi-color printing. <P>SOLUTION: When multi-color printing control is started, a tape cassette is passed through an input process of a text, a display process (S11), a setting process of a printing color order (S12) and a setting process of a printing object region for every color (S13) after an initialization process (S10). When a printing key is operated (S14: YES and S15: YES), a printing starting process (S16) is carried out. When a color number N is not "1", that is, it is not printing of the final time in the multi-color printing control (S17: No), control on a printing process by set colors for printing by each of the set printing colors is carried out (S18). When the color number N becomes "1" (S17: YES), a printing process of a final color and a cutting process are carried out (S22). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a tape cassette.

  Conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1, the applicant of the present application has provided a tape cassette containing a printing tape that is a printing medium wound around a tape spool and an ink ribbon wound around the ribbon spool, and the ink is ejected by a thermal head. A tape-shaped label producing apparatus suitable for producing a label suitable for printing characters and marks such as characters and symbols on a printing tape via a ribbon and affixing to a back cover of a file has been proposed and put into practical use. This tape-shaped label producing apparatus includes a keyboard, a display, and a thermal printing type printing mechanism. Various characters and marks are printed on a printing tape (for example, tape width 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 mm) as a printing medium. It is configured so that it can be printed with any font size or typeface.

  By the way, the tape-like label created by printing characters is not limited to the back cover of the file, but is suitable for being attached to, for example, a cassette tape, its cassette tape case, and further a video tape or its video tape case. In addition, it is conceivable that the print character string is printed in a colorful manner by partially changing the color according to the recorded contents and genre. Therefore, the inventors of the present application are not only “black” but also a plurality of types of ribbon cassettes, such as “red”, “green”, “blue”,... The ribbon cassette is configured to be detachable from the tape cassette, and the color for multicolor printing is set in the order of printing, while the input text is Input by changing the ribbon cassette that has the same ribbon color as the set print color in order to execute the color range setting process to set the print target range for each print color to be printed with the set multiple colors The idea was to create a tape-like label in which the text was printed in multiple colors in multiple colors. In the tape-shaped label producing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, for example, after the tape is always fed by the length of the inputted text, the tape feeding is stopped, the ribbon cassette is replaced, the tape is rewound, and the next Will be printed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-84994

  However, the tape-shaped label producing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that the tape may be accidentally cut during multicolor printing by repeatedly rewinding the tape.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and is capable of producing a tape-like label that is not accidentally cut in the middle of a plurality of times of printing by rewinding the tape in multicolor printing. An object is to provide an apparatus.

  In order to achieve this object, in the tape cassette according to claim 1, a tape spool around which at least a print-receiving tape is wound is disposed in a cassette case, and the print-receiving tape is transferred from the tape spool to a predetermined transport path. A tape cassette that is pulled out along the surface and prints characters and the like on the tape to be printed by a print head provided on the main body of the tape printer, and then discharges the tape to be printed to the outside of the cassette case. The switch terminal of at least one mechanical detection switch provided on the tape printer main body side is pressed or pressed at a position farthest from the position where characters etc. are printed on the tape to be printed. A cassette detector that can identify the type of the tape cassette mounted on the tape printer main body. And wherein the digit.

  The tape cassette according to claim 2 has a shape corresponding to a head holder on which the print head is mounted in the tape cassette according to claim 1, and the tape cassette is formed on the main body of the tape printer. A head mounting portion into which the head holder is inserted when mounted is provided.

  The tape cassette according to claim 3 is the tape cassette according to claim 2, wherein the cassette detection unit is provided in the vicinity of one corner of the tape cassette formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, The head mounting portion is provided in the vicinity of another corner portion on the diagonal line of the corner portion in the vicinity of the cassette detecting portion.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the tape cassette according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein at least one positioning member provided on the tape printer main body side is in the vicinity of the cassette detector. And a positioning portion for positioning the tape cassette mounted on the main body of the tape printer by being engaged with the tape printer.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a tape-shaped label producing apparatus capable of multicolor printing by replacing a plurality of ribbon cassettes having different ribbon colors with a printing tape as a printing medium for a large number of characters such as characters and symbols. Is the case.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a keyboard 4 provided with various function keys in addition to character keys such as letters, symbols, and numbers is arranged at the front of the main body cover 2 of the tape-shaped label producing apparatus 1. A liquid crystal display 5 capable of displaying input characters and symbols is provided immediately behind the keyboard 4 and is provided inside the main body cover 2 corresponding to the cassette cover 3 that is opened and closed when the ribbon cassette 30 is replaced. Is provided with a thermal printing mechanism 10 having a thermal head 12. Here, the cassette cover 3 can be opened by sliding the slide knob 6, and the printed printing tape 22 can be manually cut by pressing the cutting knob 85 downward.

  Next, the thermal printing mechanism 10 including the thermal head 12 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the tape cassette 20 that is detachably mounted on the thermal printing mechanism 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  Inside the tape case 21 of the tape cassette 20, a tape spool 23 around which a print tape 22 made of a thin film is wound is rotatably provided. A plurality of print tapes 22 fed out from the tape spool 23 are provided. The guide portion is guided in a curved shape, passes immediately before the thermal head 12, is transferred in the tape feed direction by the tape feed roller 24, and is discharged to the outside of the tape cassette 20.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, two spaced apart portions of the outer peripheral wall of the tape case 21 are provided for guiding and supporting the ribbon cassette 30 in the vertical direction when the ribbon cassette 30 described below is attached or detached. The lower ends of the pair of guide shafts 21a and 21b are integrally formed. Further, the tape case 21 is formed with a pair of lower end wall portions 21c and 21d which are in contact with and supported by the lower side of the ribbon cassette 30.

  Next, the ribbon cassette 30 detachably mounted on the tape cassette 20 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the ribbon case 31 of the ribbon cassette 30, an upper wall portion 31a that is in contact with a part of the tape case 21 from the upper side extends horizontally and is integrally formed, and a pair of the tape case 21 is formed at the end of the upper wall portion 31a. A pair of engaging legs 31b and 31c having through holes are formed to be fitted around the guide shafts 21a and 21b, and a vertical wall 31d that is in contact with the notch 21e of the tape case 21 is formed. Yes. The ribbon cassette 30 is formed with a head accommodating portion 37 that accommodates the thermal head 12 that is inserted from below through the tape cassette 20.

  Further, a ribbon spool 33 around which the ink ribbon 32 is wound and a ribbon take-up spool 34 for winding the ink ribbon 32 are rotatably provided inside the ribbon case 31, and are wound around the ribbon spool 33. When the ink ribbon 32 faces the thermal head 12, the ink ribbon 32 temporarily approaches a parallel shape with the printing tape 22, and is bent at a substantially acute angle by a separation portion 35 a of a separation member 35 formed integrally with the ribbon case 31. The ribbon is separated from the print tape 22 and is taken up by a ribbon take-up spool 34. That is, the separation member 35 of the ribbon case 31 is located downstream of the thermal head 12 in the tape feeding direction. The ribbon case 31 is formed with a lid member 31e that supports the ribbon spool 33, the take-up spool 34, the separation member 35, and the like from above.

  On the other hand, a ribbon cassette housing portion 21f (see FIG. 7) for housing the ribbon cassette 30 is formed in the tape case 21, and a tab piece is provided on the upper surface of the lid member 31e and the upper wall portion 31a of the ribbon case 31. Since 31f and 31g are formed, for printing, a tape case 21 is first mounted in a mounting recess (not shown) provided in the main body cover 2, and then a ribbon having an ink ribbon 32 of a desired print color. The cassette 30 can be mounted in the ribbon cassette housing part 21 f of the tape case 21.

  At this time, the pair of engaging leg portions 31b and 31c are first fitted onto the corresponding guide shafts 21a and 21b through the through-holes while the pair of knob pieces 31f and 31g are grasped with two fingers. However, the ribbon cassette 30 is moved downward and stored in the ribbon cassette storage portion 21f. At this time, the upper wall portion 31a of the ribbon case 31 overlaps the upper surface of the tape cassette 20, and the lower end portion of the ribbon cassette 30 abuts against the pair of lower end wall portions 21c and 21d of the tape case 21 from above. The cassette 30 is held at a predetermined position with respect to the tape case 21.

  By the way, in the ribbon cassette 30, a plurality of types are prepared depending on the ribbon color (red, green, yellow, black,...) Of the ink ribbon 32 and the ribbon width (12, 18, 24, 32 mm). In the lower end portion of the vertical wall portion 31d of the case 31, in order to detect any one of these plural types of ribbon cassettes 30, a detection hole group 36 (in FIG. One detection hole 36a is formed).

  Next, a tape / ribbon transfer mechanism 40 capable of transferring the print tape 22 and the ink ribbon 32 in the feeding direction as the printing direction and the rewinding direction as the reverse printing direction will be described with reference to FIG.

  The main body frame 11 includes a tape take-up cam 41 that can be engaged with the center portion of the tape spool 23, a ribbon take-up cam 42 that can be engaged with the center portion of the ribbon take-up spool 34, and the center of the tape feed roller 24. A tape drive cam 43 that engages with each other is pivotally supported, the thermal head 12 is erected, and the first detection hole group 36 has a first detection hole 36a for detecting the presence or absence of the six detection holes 36a. A ribbon detection switch group 103 composed of a sixth detection switch is provided, and a ribbon detection signal RS based on a combination of switch signals from the six detection switches is output.

  Further, a tape drive motor 44 composed of a stepping motor is attached to the right end portion of the front end portion of the main body frame 11, and a gear 46 rotatably supported on the main body frame 11 by a drive gear 45 of the tape drive motor 44. ˜53 are sequentially meshed with each other, and the tape drive gear 54 and the gear 55 fixed to the tape drive cam 43 are meshed with the gear 53. Here, the gear 48 and the gear 49 are integrally formed and fixed to the lower end portion of the ribbon take-up cam 42, the gear 50 and the gear 51 are integrally formed, and the tape take-up gear 52 is It is fixed to the lower end of the tape take-up cam 41. That is, the rotation of the tape drive motor 44 is transmitted to the tape drive cam 43 fixed to the tape drive gear 54 through these gears 45 to 54, and the print tape 22 is transferred by the rotation of the tape feed roller 24.

  On the other hand, the base end portion of the swing lever 56 is supported in a state where an appropriate frictional resistance is applied between the two gears 50 and 51 in the gap between the two gears 50 and 51 formed integrally. A planetary gear 57 that always meshes with the gear 51 is pivotally supported by the lever 56 so as to be rotatable. Further, the base end portion of the cutting prohibition lever 84 is sandwiched between the one end and the base end portion of the winding spring 59 supported by the cutting prohibition lever 84 on the pivot shaft 58 of the gear 53. The urging force of the winding spring 59 is pressed and supported.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the tape drive motor 44 is driven in the clockwise direction for normal printing (forward rotation drive) and the gear 50 rotates in the clockwise direction, the frictional force between the two causes The swing lever 56 is also rotated in the clockwise direction so that the planetary gear 57 does not mesh with the tape take-up gear 52 and the tape take-up cam 41 becomes free. At the same time as the printing tape 22 is fed out, the gear 53 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, the cutting prohibiting lever 84 rotates in the counterclockwise rotating direction, and the leading end of the cutting prohibiting lever 84 is a cutting lever described later. 82, the cutting operation is prohibited and the ribbon take-up cam 42 is rotated counterclockwise via the clutch spring 60 by the rotation of the ribbon drive gear 45 in the counterclockwise direction. Rotated, the ink ribbon 32 is taken ribbon take-up spool 34 wound.

  Incidentally, a roller holder 67 that rotatably supports the rubber platen roller 65 and the tape feed sub-roller 66 is pivotally supported on a pivot shaft 68 provided upright on the main body frame 11. In conjunction with opening and closing, the release lever 71 moves in the left-right direction, and the position is switched over between the print position shown in FIG. 9 and the release position shown in FIG. Here, the roller holder 67 is always elastically biased to the release position by a winding spring (not shown).

  That is, the roller 72 pivotally attached to the release lever 71 contacts the standing wall 11a of the main body frame 11 and one end of the release lever 71 contacts the roller holder 67 from the rear side. When the left end of the release lever 71 moves leftward from the retracted position shown in FIG. 11 to the operating position shown in FIG. 9, the left end of the release lever 71 enters in a wedge shape between the roller holder 67 and the standing wall 11a, and the roller holder 67 is released. Switch from position to print position. At this time, the platen roller 65 presses the thermal head 12 via the print tape 22 and the ink ribbon 32, and the tape feed sub-roller 66 presses the tape feed roller 24 via the print tape 22.

  Here, when the roller holder 67 is switched to the printing position, the platen gear (not shown) fixed to the lower end portion of the platen roller 65 is engaged with the gear 55 and the sub roller gear (fixed to the lower end portion of the tape feed sub roller 66 ( (Not shown) meshes with the tape drive gear 54.

  Next, a head release mechanism 70 for driving the release lever 71 to the right in conjunction with the opening of the cassette cover 3 to release the roller holder 67 to the thermal head 12 by switching to the release position will be described with reference to FIGS. This will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 12 to 13, the rear end of the cassette cover 3 is supported by a pivot pin 7 attached to the main body cover 2 so that it can be opened and closed at a plurality of locations. A curved groove cam 3b is formed. An engagement pin 75 that engages with the groove cam 3b is fixed to the rear end portion of the operation plate 74 disposed below the right end portion of the main body frame 11. By the way, the right end of the release lever 71 is pivotally supported by one lever of a bifurcated lever 76 pivotally attached to the body frame 11, and the other lever of the bifurcated lever 76 has The operation plate 74 is connected via a pin 77 fixed to the front end portion.

  Then, when the cassette cover 3 is closed as shown in FIG. 12, that is, when the roller holder 67 is at the printing position shown in FIG. 9, and the cassette cover 3 is opened as shown in FIG. 13, the groove cam 3b. , The engagement pin 75 engaged with the groove cam 3b moves rearward, so that the operating plate 74 moves rearward, the bifurcated lever 76 rotates counterclockwise, and the release lever 71 moves. In response to the rightward movement, the roller holder 67 is switched to the release position. At this time, when the operation plate 74 moves rearward, the cover open / close detection switch 102 outputs the “H” level cover open / close signal VS.

  Further, when the cassette cover 3 is opened as shown in FIG. 13, that is, when the roller holder 67 is at the release position shown in FIG. 11, and when the cassette cover 3 is closed as shown in FIG. Since the engaging pin 75 moves forward by the movement of 3b, the operating plate 74 moves forward, the bifurcated lever 76 rotates clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 11, and the release lever 71 moves to the left. In response to the movement, the roller holder 67 is switched to the printing position, that is, the non-release state.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, when printing is performed, the tape cassette 20 is first attached to the thermal printing mechanism 10, and then the ribbon cassette 30 is attached to the tape cassette 20, and the cassette cover 3 is attached. When is closed, the roller holder 67 is switched to the printing position.

  In this state, when the tape drive motor 44 is driven to rotate in the normal printing direction, the gears 45 to 55 are driven in predetermined rotation directions, and the platen roller 65 and the tape feed sub-roller 66 are counterclockwise. Since the tape feed sub-roller 66 and the tape feed roller 24 are rotated in synchronization with each other in the rotation direction, the print tape 22 is connected to the tape cutting mechanism 80 and the tape detection mechanism 90 while being printed by the thermal head 12. It passes through and is discharged outside. At this time, since the tape take-up cam 41 becomes free, the print tape 22 wound around the tape spool 23 is sequentially fed out without resistance.

  At the same time, the ink ribbon 32 is fed from the ribbon spool 33 in synchronism with the print tape 22 by the rotation of the platen roller 65, and the ribbon take-up cam 42 is rotated by the rotation of the ribbon take-up gear 48. The ribbon is taken up by a ribbon take-up spool 34 that engages and rotates.

  On the other hand, when the first color printing is completed and the second color printing is executed, the cassette cover 3 is first opened, and when the ribbon cassette 30 is removed, the roller holder 67 is moved to the release position by the head release mechanism 70. It has been switched. When the tape drive motor 44 is reversely rotated in the counterclockwise rotation direction (rewinding direction), as shown in FIGS. 3 and 11, these gears 45 to 55 are respectively driven in a predetermined rotation direction.

  At this time, by the rotation of the gear 50 in the counterclockwise direction, the swing lever 56 is also rotated in the counterclockwise direction so that the planetary gear 57 meshes with the tape take-up gear 52 and the tape take-up cam. 41 rotates counterclockwise, and the printed print tape 22 is wound on the tape spool 23. Here, the ribbon take-up gear 48 is rotated in the clockwise direction. However, since the ribbon cassette 30 is removed, the ink ribbon 32 taken up on the ribbon take-up spool 34 is not fed out.

  Next, a tape cutting mechanism 80 for cutting the printed printing tape 22 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9, 14, and 15. FIG.

  The lower end portion of the fixed blade 81 is fixed to the left end wall 11b in which the left end portion of the main body frame 11 is partially bent downward, and the base end portion of the cutting lever 82 having a substantially L shape in side view is a screw 83. The cutting lever 82 is pivotally supported so that a movable blade 82a is formed. Here, during printing, as shown in FIG. 9, the gear 53 rotates counterclockwise, and the tip of the cutting prohibiting lever 84 moves to the lower side of the cutting lever 82, so that the cutting operation is performed. prohibited.

  However, when the tape drive motor 44 is slightly rotated in the rewind direction at the end of printing, the gear 53 is slightly rotated in the clockwise direction as shown in FIG. When the cutting lever 82 is released from the lower side and the cutting operation becomes possible, as shown in FIG. 14, when the cutting knob 85 at the tip of the cutting lever 82 is pressed downward, the movable blade 82a rotates to a cutting position indicated by a two-dot chain line, and the printing tape 22 positioned between the fixed blade 81 and the movable blade 82a is cut by the cooperation of both the blades 81 and 82a. At this time, the cutting detection switch 101 attached to the main body frame 11 is operated by the operation member 86 attached to the cutting lever 82 and outputs a cutting detection signal CS. When the pressing operation of the cutting lever 82 is stopped, the cutting lever 82 is rotated back to the original predetermined position indicated by the solid line by a biasing force by a spring (not shown).

  Next, a tape detection mechanism 90 provided outside the tape cutting mechanism 80 and detecting the presence or absence of the print tape 22 will be described with reference to FIG.

  Guide members 94 and 95 are integrally formed on the main body cover 2 outside the tape cutting mechanism 80 so as to form a pair of sensor housing chambers 96 and 97 in a sealed state. A light emitting element 92 is attached and a light receiving element 93 is attached to the other sensor housing chamber 97. A slit 98 through which the printing tape 22 can pass is formed between the pair of guide members 94 and 95, and a small-diameter light passage hole is formed in a portion opposite to the pair of guide members 94 and 95. 94a and 95a are formed, and inclined guide portions 99 are formed, respectively, and the leading end portion of the print tape 22 that has passed through the tape cutting mechanism 80 is guided by the guide portions 99, so that the slit 98 can be surely passed. And can be detected.

  Then, the sensor light emitted from the light emitting element 92 passes through the light passage holes 94 a and 95 a formed in the sensor accommodating chambers 96 and 97 and is projected onto the light receiving element 93. That is, only when the printing tape 22 enters the tape detection sensor 91 and exists between the light emitting element 92 and the light receiving element 93, the sensor light is cut off. The L "level tape detection signal TS is output.

  Next, the control system of the tape-shaped label producing apparatus 1 is configured as shown in the block diagram of FIG.

  The input / output interface 113 of the control device CD includes a keyboard 4, a tape detection sensor 91, a cut detection switch 101, a cover open / close detection switch 102, a ribbon detection switch group 103, and display data on a liquid crystal display (LCD) 5. A display controller (LCDC) 104 having a video RAM for outputting a signal, a drive circuit 106 for a warning buzzer 105, a drive circuit 107 for driving the thermal head 12, and a drive for a tape drive motor 44. The circuits 108 are connected to each other.

  The control device CD includes a CPU 110, an input / output interface 113 connected to the CPU 110 via a bus 114 such as a data bus, a font ROM 111, a ROM 112, and a RAM 120.

  The font ROM 111 stores display dot pattern data for each of a large number of characters such as characters and symbols, and stores print dot pattern data for a plurality of print character sizes.

  The ROM 112 has a display drive control program for controlling the display controller 104 in correspondence with character code data such as characters, symbols, and numbers input from the keyboard 4, and characters and symbols stored in the text memory 121. Print control program for creating dot pattern data to be used for printing, and print drive control program for sequentially printing dot pattern data for each dot row to the thermal head 12 or the tape drive motor 44 for the created dot pattern data A control program for multicolor printing control, which will be described later, which is unique to the present application is stored. The ROM 112 has a ribbon cassette detection table that detects the ribbon color and ribbon width of the ink ribbon 32 based on the ribbon detection signal RS output from the ribbon detection switch group 103 including the first to sixth detection switches. Stored.

  In the text memory 121 of the RAM 120, text data composed of characters and symbols input from the keyboard 4 is stored in association with the set print color data. In the color number memory 122, the color number data of the set print color is stored. The print color order memory 123 stores data on the color order of the set print colors. The margin amount memory 124 stores margin amount data relating to the same set front margin amount and rear margin amount. In the print data buffer 125, dot pattern data corresponding to the character code stored in the text memory 121 is expanded and stored. Further, the RAM 120 is provided with a memory for temporarily storing the calculation result calculated by the CPU 110.

  Next, a routine for multicolor printing control performed by the control device CD of the tape-shaped label producing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. In the figure, reference sign Si (i = 10, 11, 12,...) Represents each step.

  Here, prior to the multicolor printing control, the positional relationship among the tape detection position by the tape detection sensor 91, the tape cutting position by the tape cutting mechanism 80, and the printing position by the thermal head 12 will be described with reference to FIG. In the feeding direction T of the printing tape 22, the printing position (P position), the tape cutting position (C position), the tape detection position (S position) are arranged in this order from the upstream side in the feeding direction T. The printing / cutting distance Dcp is about 25 mm, and the cutting / detecting distance Dsc between the tape cutting position and the tape detection position is about 15 mm. Further, the separation position (B position) by the separation portion 35a of the separation member 35 is located on the downstream side in the feed direction T by about 6 mm from the printing position.

  When the tape label producing apparatus 1 is turned on, first, an initialization process for initializing the thermal printing mechanism 10 and the control device CD is executed (S10). Since the text input screen is displayed on the display 5, after setting the print format, an input process for inputting text data and a display process for displaying the input text are executed. The data is stored in the text memory 121 (S11). For example, as shown in FIG. 27, the input text data “Akamidori Kuro” is stored in the text memory 121.

  Next, print color order setting process control (see FIG. 18) is executed (S12).

  When this control is started, the message “What is the number of print colors?” Is displayed on the display 5, so the color number setting process for setting the color number N by operating the numeric keys is executed, and the set color The number N is stored in the color number memory 122 (S30). Next, since the names of a plurality of colors are displayed on the display 5, a color order setting process for sequentially setting the order of colors used for printing is executed, and the data of the set color order is stored in the print color order memory 123. This is the end of the control (S31), and the process returns to S13 of the multicolor printing control.

  Next, in multicolor printing control, printing target range setting processing control (see FIG. 19) for each color is executed (S13).

  When this control is started, first, the color number N is set to the count value I of the color number counter (S33), and when “1” is subtracted from the color number count value I and is not “0”, that is, the final value When the target character string for the print color is not set (S34: No), each character or symbol to be printed is selected with the cursor for the first print color in the print color order among the unset colors based on the color order data. A print target character string setting process instructed and set is executed (S35).

  That is, in this print target character string setting process, text data is displayed on the display 5, so that the four cursor movement keys arranged at the right end of the keyboard 4 are operated to print each print other than the final print color. For color, each character or symbol to be printed is instructed with the cursor by operating the cursor movement key, and the color confirmation key is operated each time, and when the setting of the character string to be printed is completed, the confirmation key is operated. . By the operation of the confirmation key, the set color data is stored in the text memory 121 in association with the character data of the character designated by the operation of the cursor movement key and the color confirmation key.

  Then, the color number count value I is decremented by 1 (S36), and S34 to S36 are repeatedly executed until (I-1) becomes "0". When (I-1) becomes “0” and the setting of the print target character string is completed for each print color other than the final print color (S34: Yes), the text data for the final print color is displayed. Among these, the character string setting process for setting the remaining characters excluding the already set characters and symbols is executed (S37).

  This character string setting process will be specifically described with reference to FIG. 20. First, character data stored in the text memory 121 is read from the head (S371), and it is determined whether or not color data is attached. (S372). If the read character data is accompanied by color data (S372: Yes) and the character data is not the last character data (S373: No), the next data is read (S374), and the above S372 The process is executed again. On the other hand, if color data is not attached to the read character data (S372: No), color data corresponding to the final print color is stored in association with the character data (S375). The process of S373 is executed. Each of the above processes is repeatedly executed up to the last character data stored in the text memory 121. If it is determined in S373 that the character data is the last character data (S373: Yes), the process returns to S38 in FIG. .

  For example, if character data “Akamidori Kuro” is stored in the text memory 121 and the number of colors 3 and the color order “red”, “green”, and “black” are set, in the print target character string setting process of S35, first, As for the printing color “red”, the character string “red” is set by the operation of the cursor key and the color confirmation key, and as shown in FIG. 27, the character data “red” and “ka” in the text memory 121 is attached. When the color data “red” is stored and the character string “green” is set for the print color “green”, the character data “mi”, “do” and “ri” in the text memory 121 are associated with each character data. Color data “green” is stored.

  Here, when the setting of the print color “green” is completed, the color count value (I−1) becomes “0”. Therefore, in the character string setting process of S37, the character data is read sequentially from the top of the text memory 121. The final print color “black” is automatically set for the character string “black” for which the text data print color has not been set, and is attached to the character data “ku” “ro” in the text memory 121. Color data “black” is stored.

  Next, the message “What is the margin amount of the print tape?” Is displayed on the display 5. When the desired margin amount is set by operating the numeric keys, the set margin amount is stored in the margin amount memory 124. Stored (S38), this control is terminated, and the process returns to S14 of the multicolor printing control.

  When the print key is operated in the multicolor print control (S14 / S15: Yes), the print start process control (see FIG. 21) is executed (S16).

  When this control is started, the ribbon color R of the loaded ribbon cassette 30 is first read based on the ribbon detection signal RS from the ribbon detection switch group 103 (S40), and the first print color C in the print color sequence is set. When the ribbon color R and the head print color C do not match (S42: No), an error message notifying the print color mismatch is displayed on the display 5 (S43).

  Next, based on the cover open / close signal VS of the cover open / close detection switch 102, when the cassette cover 3 is opened and the cassette cover 3 is closed again after the ribbon cassette 30 is replaced (S44: Yes), S40 to S41 are Executed. When the ribbon color R and the head print color C match (S42: Yes), the character string stored with the data of the head print color C is read from the text memory 121, and the dot of the character string is further read. The pattern data is developed in the print data buffer 125 (S45). Next, when the tape detection signal TS from the tape detection sensor 91 is read, the tape detection signal TS is at the “L” level, and the print tape 22 is positioned corresponding to the tape detection sensor 91 (S46: Yes). ) A message prompting the cutting of the printing tape is displayed on the display 5 (S47).

  Next, the printing tape 22 is cut by pressing the cutting knob 85, the cutting detection signal CS from the cutting detection switch 101 becomes "H" level (S48), and the tape detection signal TS becomes "H" level. Thus, when tape cutting is detected (S46: No), the tape drive motor 44 is driven to rotate forward (clockwise) by one step in order to allow the tip of the print tape 22 to enter the tape detection sensor 91. When the print tape 22 is transported in the feeding direction T by a minute distance (S49) and the tape detection signal TS is at the “H” level (S50: No), S49 to S50 are repeatedly executed.

  When the tape detection signal TS becomes “L” level and enters the leading tape detection sensor 91 of the printing tape 22 as shown in FIG. 28A (S50: Yes), this control is terminated. The process returns to S17 of the multicolor printing control. At this time, the print position of the thermal head 12 with respect to the print tape 22 when the leading end of the tape is detected is set as the print start reference origin position. Here, when the printing tape 22 is transported in the feeding direction T, even when the leading end of the printing tape 22 is curled, the printing tape 22 is formed by the guide portions 99 formed on the pair of guide members 94 and 95. Can be reliably guided to the slit 98.

  Next, in multicolor printing control, when the number N of colors is not “1”, that is, when printing is not the last time (S17: No), set color printing processing control for printing with each set printing color (see FIG. 22). Is executed (S18).

  When this control is started, as shown in FIG. 28B, first, the tape drive motor 44 is driven to rotate forward in order to transfer the print tape 22 by the front margin amount L corresponding to the set margin amount L. (S60).

  Next, when the print start position of the character to be printed with the current print color is positioned upstream of the print start reference origin position for label printing in the feed direction T, for example, as shown in FIG. In addition, when the character “Midori” is printed in the printing color of “green” and there is an idle feed amount (S61: Yes), the tape drive motor 44 is driven to rotate forward, and the print tape 22 is It is transferred in the feed direction T by the idle feed amount (S62).

  However, when there is no idle feed amount (S6: No), S62 is skipped and the process proceeds to S63. Then, the dot pattern data developed in the print data buffer 125 is read, and a print process for printing by driving the thermal head 12 and the tape drive motor 44 is executed (S63).

  When this printing process is completed, the tape drive motor 44 is driven to rotate forward, and the print tape 22 and the ink are separated by the separation feed amount Dbp corresponding to the distance Dbp between the print position (P position) and the separation position (B position). The ribbon 32 is transferred in the feeding direction T (S64).

  That is, at the final print location printed by the thermal head 12, the ink of the ink ribbon 32 is fused to the print tape 22, but the print tape 22 and the ink ribbon 32 are transferred by the separation feed amount Dbp. As a result, the ink ribbon 32 is forcibly separated from the print tape 22 by the separating portion 35a, so that the print tape 22 and the ink ribbon 32 are reliably separated. This control is terminated, and the process returns to S19 of the multicolor printing control.

  Next, in multicolor printing control, printing tape rewinding processing control (see 23) is executed (S19).

  When this control is started, a message prompting removal of the ribbon cassette 30 is first displayed on the display 5 in order to replace the ribbon cassette 30 having the ribbon ribbon of the same color as the next printing color (S71). ). First, when the cassette cover 3 is opened, the operation plate 74 is moved rearward, and the cover open / close detection switch 102 outputs an “H” level cover open / close signal VS (S72: Yes), and further the ribbon detection switch. As the ribbon detection signal RS from the group 103, when all the six detection switch signals become “H” level signals and the ribbon cassette 30 is removed (S73: Yes), a message prompting the user not to attach the ribbon cassette 30 Is displayed on the display 5 (S74).

  Next, in order to rewind the print tape 22, the tape drive motor 44 is driven to rotate backward by one step (counterclockwise direction), and the print tape 22 is transported in the rewind direction by a minute distance (S75). When the signal TS is at the “H” level (S76: No), S74 to S76 are repeatedly executed. When the leading end of the print tape 22 is rewound slightly inside the tape detection sensor 91 (S76: Yes), the reverse drive of the tape drive motor 44 is stopped (S77), and this control is terminated. The process returns to S20 of the multicolor printing control.

  Next, in the multicolor printing control, printing start alignment processing control (see FIG. 24) is executed (S20).

  When this control is started, first, an error message for prompting the user to mount the ribbon cassette 30 having the ink ribbon 32 having the same ribbon color as the next printing color is displayed on the display 5 (S80). As the ribbon detection signal RS, when all of the six switch signals are not “H” level signals and the ribbon cassette 30 is mounted (S81: Yes), the mounted ribbon cassette is based on the ribbon detection signal RS. 30 ribbon color R is read (S82), the next print color C in the print color sequence is read (S83), and when the ribbon color R and the next print color C do not match (S84: No), S80 To S84 are repeatedly executed.

  Next, when the ribbon color R coincides with the next print color C (S84: Yes), a character string storing the data of the next print color C is read from the text memory 121, and the character is further read. The dot pattern data of the row is developed in the print data buffer 125 (S85).

  Next, when the cassette cover 3 is not closed (S86: No), a message to close the cassette cover 3 is displayed on the display 5 (S89). When the cassette cover 3 is closed (S86: Yes), the tape drive motor 44 is normally rotated by one step until the leading end of the print tape 22 corresponds to the tape detection sensor 91 (S87 / S88: No). When the tape detection signal TS becomes “L” level and the tip of the print tape 22 corresponds to the tape detection sensor 91, the print start reference origin position for the print tape 22 corresponds to the print position of the thermal head 12 ( S88: Yes), this control is terminated, and the process returns to S21 of the multicolor printing control.

  Next, in multicolor printing control, the number of colors N is decremented by 1 (S21), and when the number of colors N is not "1" and printing is not the last time (S17: No), S18 to S21 are repeatedly executed. The When the number of colors N is “1” and printing is performed for the last time (S17: Yes), final color printing process / cutting process control (see FIG. 25) is executed (S22).

  In this control, the first case where the front margin amount L is larger than the printing / cutting distance Dcp and the second case where there is no blank feed amount when the front margin amount L is smaller than the printing / cutting distance Dcp. In the third case where there is a blank feed amount and the value obtained by adding the front margin amount L to the blank feed amount is a third case where the distance between printing and cutting Dcp is greater than or equal to the fourth case where the distance between printing and cutting is smaller than Dcp. In this case, the tape is cut while printing.

  First, the first case will be described. When the front margin amount L is equal to or larger than the printing / cutting distance Dcp (S90: Yes), the printing tape 22 is printed by the printing / cutting distance Dcp by the forward rotation of the tape drive motor 44. Is transferred in the feed direction T (S91), the drive of the tape drive motor 44 is stopped, and the tape transfer is stopped (S92). Next, when the tape drive motor 44 is slightly rotated in the rewinding direction and the leading end of the cutting prohibiting lever 84 is detached from the lower side of the cutting lever 82 to enable cutting operation (see FIG. 15). A message prompting the cutting of the print tape 22 is displayed on the display 5 (S93). When the print tape 22 is cut and the cut detection signal CS becomes “H” level and the tape cut is detected (S94: Yes), a further shortage of the front margin amount L (front margin amount L−printing / The printing tape 22 is transferred in the feed direction T by the distance between cuts Dcp) (S95).

  Next, when the print start position of the print by the final print color this time is upstream of the print start reference origin position of the label print in the feed direction T, and there is an idle feed amount (S96: Yes), the tape drive motor 44 Is driven to rotate in the forward direction, and the printing tape 22 is transported in the feed direction T by the idle feed amount (S97).

  Next, characters and symbols are printed in the final print color based on the read dot image as in S63 (S98). Next, in order to provide a trailing margin amount L on the rear side of the printing character string, the printing tape 22 is fed by a value obtained by adding the trailing margin amount L to the printing / cutting distance Dcp by the forward rotation driving of the tape drive motor 44. Then, the tape drive motor 44 is slightly rotated in the rewinding direction, and the distal end portion of the cutting prohibiting lever 84 is disengaged from the lower side of the cutting lever 82 to enable the cutting operation. Sometimes, a message prompting the cutting of the printing tape 22 is displayed again on the display 5 (S100).

  When the print tape 22 is cut and the cut detection signal CS becomes “H” level and the tape cut is detected (S101: Yes), this control is terminated and the process returns to S10 of the multicolor print control. .

  Next, the second case will be described. When the front margin amount L is smaller than the printing / cutting distance Dcp and there is no idle feed amount (S90 / S102: No), the tape drive motor 44 is driven to rotate forward. The printing tape 22 is transferred in the feed direction T by the front margin amount L (S103). Then, from the next S104 onward, the printing tape 22 is cut while performing the final printing process.

  That is, dot pattern data for one dot row is read from the print data buffer 125 and printed (S104), and printing is performed by forward rotation driving of the tape drive motor 44 by a minute feed amount corresponding to the one dot row. The tape 22 is transferred (S105). Next, when the tape transfer amount after starting the final printing is smaller than the value obtained by subtracting the front margin amount L from the printing / cutting distance Dcp, that is, the cutting position (P position) is the head of the front margin amount L. When the position has not been reached (S106: No), S104 to S106 are repeatedly executed.

  When the leading position of the front margin amount L reaches the cutting position (S106: Yes), printing and tape transfer are stopped (S107), and then the tape drive motor 44 is rotated slightly in the rewinding direction. When the distal end portion of the cutting prohibition lever 84 is disengaged from the lower side of the cutting lever 82 and the cutting operation is possible, a message prompting the cutting of the printing tape 22 is displayed on the display 5 (S108).

  Next, when the cutting knob 85 is pressed and the printing tape 22 is cut, the cutting detection signal CS becomes “H” level and tape cutting is detected (S109: Yes), the remaining dot pattern data is The remaining printing process for printing is executed (S110), the trailing margin amount L is provided by S99 to S101, the tape is cut, this control is terminated, and the process similarly returns to S10.

  Next, when the front margin amount L is smaller than the printing / cutting distance Dcp, a value obtained by adding the front margin amount L to the blank feeding amount and the blanking amount is equal to or larger than the printing / cutting distance Dcp. In the case of (S90: No, S102 / S111: Yes), the tape is cut after the tape is transferred (S112 to S115) in the same manner as in S91 to S94 (S112 to S115). The printing tape 22 is transferred in the feeding direction T by the amount—the distance Dcp between printing and cutting (S116). Then, S98 and subsequent steps are executed, the printing process is executed with the final color, the trailing margin amount L is provided and the tape is cut, this control is terminated, and the process similarly returns to S10.

  On the other hand, when the front margin amount L is smaller than the printing / cutting distance Dcp, there is a fourth value in which there is a blank feed amount and the value obtained by adding the front margin amount L to the blank feeding amount is smaller than the printing / cutting distance Dcp. Sometimes (S90: No, S102: Yes, S111: No), the print tape 22 is moved in the feed direction T by the feed amount obtained by adding the blank feed amount to the front margin amount L (S117). Then, dot pattern data for one dot row is read from the print data buffer 125 and printed (S118), and printing is performed by forward rotation driving of the tape drive motor 44 by a minute feed amount corresponding to the one dot row. The tape 22 is transferred (S119).

  Next, when the tape transfer amount after the start of the final printing is smaller than the value obtained by subtracting the feed amount obtained by adding the idle feed amount to the front margin amount L from the printing / cutting distance Dcp, that is, the cutting position ( When the (P position) does not reach the leading position of the front margin amount L (S120: No), S118 to S120 are repeatedly executed. When the leading position of the front margin amount L reaches the cutting position (S120: Yes), S107 and subsequent steps are executed, the front margin amount L and the rear margin amount L are provided, and the tape is cut. The process ends, and the process returns to S10 in the same manner. For example, as shown in FIG. 29, for the input text “Akamidori Kuro”, the front and rear margins L are provided, the character string “Aka” is red, the character string “Midori” is green, and the character string “Kuro” The tape-like label 22A printed with black is obtained.

  Next, the operation of multicolor printing control will be described.

  After the text is input, a print color order setting process for setting the number N of print colors and the color order is executed, and further, a process for setting a print target range for each print color to be printed with a plurality of colors is executed. The Then, after the ribbon cassette 30 having the same ribbon color R as the first print color C is loaded, the thermal head 12 and the tape drive motor 44 are driven and controlled to execute print processing. Then, every time the printing process is completed, the printing tape rewinding process is executed.

  That is, prior to the rewinding of the printing tape 22, the printing tape 22 is separated by the separation feed amount Dbp corresponding to the distance Dbp between the printing position (P position) and the separation position (B position) by the forward rotation driving of the tape drive motor 44. And the ink ribbon 32 are transported in the feed direction T, and the feed between the print tape 22 and the ink ribbon 32 is stopped. Therefore, after the ink ribbon 32 is fed by an amount necessary for printing, the feed is performed. This stops and wasteful feeding of the ink ribbon 32 is prevented.

  Further, at the most downstream end of the print area printed by the thermal head 12, the ink of the ink ribbon 32 is fused to the print tape 22, but the print tape 22 and the ink ribbon 32 are separated by the separation feed amount Dbp. Since the ink ribbon 32 is forcibly separated from the print tape 22 by the separating portion 35a, the print tape 22 and the ink ribbon 32 are reliably separated. Then, when the ribbon cassette 30 is subsequently removed from the tape cassette 20, the printing tape 22 is not pulled out from the tape cassette 20.

  In this way, the feeding of the ink ribbon and the tape by the ribbon / tape transport mechanism 40 is stopped every time the printing process in the set range is completed, so that the ink ribbon is prevented from being wasted.

  Further, when the feeding of the ink ribbon and the tape is stopped, the feeding of the printing tape 22 is stopped at the position where the most downstream end of the printing area printed on the printing tape 22 has passed through the separating member 35. When stopped, the most downstream end of the print area of the print tape 22 passes through the separation portion 35a of the separation member 35, so that the ink ribbon 32 is reliably separated from the print tape 22 by the separation portion 35a. ing. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the print tape 22 from being pulled out from the tape cassette 20 when the ribbon cassette 30 is removed from the tape cassette 20 with the end of the printing process.

  Further, since the stop position of the print tape 22 is determined based on a predetermined value in consideration of the distance from the thermal head 12 to the separation portion 35a of the separation member 35, the distance from the thermal head 12 to the separation portion 35a. However, for example, even when different for each model, when the tape feeding is stopped at the end of printing, the ink ribbon 32 is reliably separated from the print tape 22 by the separation member 35. Further, since the separating member 35 has a separating portion 35a that bends the ink ribbon 32 at an acute angle in the middle of the ribbon transport path, the ink ribbon 32 can be printed without affecting the transport of the print tape 22. The tape 22 can be efficiently separated.

  The separating member 35 is configured by being provided as a separate member in the thermal printing mechanism 10 on the downstream side in the tape feeding direction of the thermal head 12, or the separation feeding amount Dbp corresponding to the distance Dbp can be arbitrarily set. Within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, various modifications may be made to the embodiment based on existing techniques or techniques obvious to those skilled in the art. Various tapes, such as printer-type tape-like label making devices that receive text print data from external devices such as computers connected online and print multiple colors by sequentially replacing multiple ribbon cassettes 30 with different ribbon colors It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a label producing apparatus.

It is a top view of a tape-shaped label production apparatus. It is a top view of the thermal printing mechanism of a printing state. FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 in a tape rewind state. It is a top view of the tape cassette which mounted | wore the ribbon cassette. It is a top view of a tape cassette. It is a top view inside a ribbon cassette. It is a back perspective view of a ribbon cassette and a tape cassette. It is a perspective view of a ribbon cassette. It is a top view of the drive system in the printing state of a thermal printing mechanism. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional front view of the main part of FIG. 9 showing the meshing relationship of the gears. It is a top view of the drive system in the tape rewind state of a thermal printing mechanism. It is a principal part vertical side view when a cassette cover is closed. FIG. 13 is a view corresponding to FIG. 12 when the cassette cover is opened. It is a side view of the thermal printing mechanism which shows a tape cutting mechanism. It is a top view of the drive system of the thermal printing mechanism in a tape cutting | disconnection permission state. It is a block diagram of the control system of a tape-shaped label production apparatus. It is a general | schematic flowchart of the routine of multicolor printing control. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a routine of print color order setting process control. It is a schematic flowchart of a routine of print target range setting processing control for each color. It is a general | schematic flowchart of the routine of the remaining character string setting process control about the last printing color. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a routine for print start processing control. 5 is a schematic flowchart of a routine for setting color printing processing control. It is a schematic flowchart of the routine of printing tape rewinding process control. 5 is a schematic flowchart of a routine for print start position alignment processing control. It is a schematic flowchart of a routine of final color printing processing / cutting processing control. It is explanatory drawing explaining the positional relationship of a printing position (P position), a tape cutting position (C position), and a tape detection position (S position). It is explanatory drawing explaining the data structure in a text memory. (A) is an explanatory view of the print start reference origin position on the tape, (b) is an explanatory view when the tape is fed by the amount of the front margin, and (c) is further fed by the tape by the idle feed amount. It is explanatory drawing when doing. It is a top view of the tape-like label printed by three colors with red, green, and black.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tape-shaped label production apparatus 4 Keyboard 5 Liquid crystal display 10 Thermal printing mechanism 12 Thermal head 20 Tape cassette 22 Printing tape 30 Ribbon cassette 35 Separation member 35a Separation part 32 Ink ribbon 40 Tape / ribbon transfer mechanism 44 Tape drive motor 48 Ribbon take-up Gear 52 Tape take-up gear 54 Tape drive gear 110 CPU
112 ROM
120 RAM
121 Text memory CD controller

Claims (4)

In the cassette case, at least a tape spool around which a print-receiving tape is wound is disposed, and the print-receiving tape is pulled out from the tape spool along a predetermined transport path, and is printed by a print head provided on the tape printer main body side. In a tape cassette for printing characters and the like on the print-receiving tape and then discharging the print-receiving tape to the outside of the cassette case,
On the surface of the tape cassette, the switch terminal of at least one mechanical detection switch provided on the main body of the tape printer is depressed at a position farthest from the position where characters or the like are printed on the tape to be printed. A tape cassette provided with a cassette detection unit that can identify the type of the tape cassette mounted on the tape printer main body when not pressed.   The tape cassette has a shape corresponding to a head holder on which the print head is mounted, and a head mounting portion into which the head holder is inserted when the tape cassette is mounted on the tape printer main body. The tape cassette according to claim 1, further comprising:   The cassette detection unit is provided in the vicinity of one corner of the tape cassette formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the head mounting unit is on a diagonal line of the corner in the vicinity of the cassette detection unit. The tape cassette according to claim 2, wherein the tape cassette is provided in the vicinity of another corner portion. A positioning unit for positioning the tape cassette mounted on the tape printer main body by engaging with at least one positioning member provided on the tape printer main body side is provided in the vicinity of the cassette detection unit. The tape cassette according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tape cassette is provided.

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