JP2006315414A - Tape printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable partial data required to be printed in a tape printing device with a function by which an enlarged printing is performed by dividing into two or more tape domains each partial data obtained by dividing into a multiple number. <P>SOLUTION: If a "package printing" is chosen on a printing-range selection screen (step S4) while an "enlarged printing" for printing the data by enlarging it to the scale of a plurality of columns of the tape width being chosen (step S1), all of the partial printing data obtained by dividing the enlarged printing data into multiple number are collectively printed in two or more domains of the tape (step S11). On the other hand, if a "partial printing" is chosen on the printing-range selection screen (step S4) and then the domain position required in all of the plurality of domains is designated on a partial-printing designation requiring screen (step S16), a partial printing processing for printing the partial data corresponding to the designated domain is performed (step S20). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a tape printing apparatus that performs printing using a long belt-like recording paper such as a tape as a printing medium.

  Conventionally, for example, a tape printing device has been provided as one of the original devices for creating index labels that are pasted on audio cassettes and video cassettes and describing their contents, or name labels that are pasted on various belongings and indicate their owners. Has been. This tape printer has a document creation function with a large number of character input keys. Document data consisting of character strings arbitrarily created by this document creation function can be used as text data by operating the print key. Thermal transfer printing is performed on a tape-like tape via a thermal printing head, and the printed tape is sequentially transported and discharged to the outside from a tape discharge port on the side of the apparatus body. It is cut and separated by a manually or automatically driven cutter disposed between the outlet and the outlet.

In such a tape printer, as in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-52908, print data of enlarged characters exceeding the width of the tape is divided into a plurality of partial data, and the plurality of partial data is divided into tapes. Some have an enlarged printing function for printing in a plurality of areas in the length direction.
JP-A-8-52908

  The tape printing apparatus having an enlarged printing function as in Patent Document 1 is configured to continuously print all the partial print data divided according to the print instruction. The tape set in the printing device is lost and printing of some partial print data is lost, or after enlargement printing, some of the tape pieces in a set of tape pieces are damaged after enlargement printing. In such a case, there is a problem that it is necessary to print all the partial print data again, which is useless.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in a tape printer having a function of enlarging and printing each partial data divided into a plurality of tape areas, An object of the present invention is to provide a tape printer capable of obtaining required partial data printing without re-printing all of the plurality of partial print data when a part of them is required. To do.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape having a function of dividing print data exceeding a tape width size into a plurality of partial data and dividing the plurality of partial data into a plurality of regions in the length direction of the tape. The printing apparatus includes a designation unit that designates at least one of the plurality of partial data, and a printing unit that prints only the partial data designated by the designation unit.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape having a function of dividing print data exceeding a tape width size into a plurality of partial data, and printing the plurality of partial data by dividing the data into a plurality of areas in the length direction of the tape. The printing apparatus includes: designation means for designating at least one of the plurality of areas; and printing means for printing only the partial data corresponding to the area designated by the designation means in the area. Features.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the arrangement order of the plurality of areas in which the partial data is printed by the printing unit is represented, and the plurality of areas are defined between the plurality of areas. A mark printing unit for printing a mark for alignment is provided.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when at least one of the divided partial data is designated, only the designated partial data is printed. Therefore, only a part of the partial data is selectively selected. Will be able to print.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when at least one of a plurality of tape areas to which each of the divided partial data is to be printed is designated, only the partial data corresponding to the designated area is stored in the tape area. Since printing is performed, only partial data corresponding to an arbitrary area can be selectively printed.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the mark representing the arrangement order among the plurality of areas in which the partial data is printed and for alignment between the plurality of areas is printed. Later, the arrangement order and alignment of the area where the partial data is printed can be confirmed.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a tape printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  On the front of the printer main body 11, a key input unit 12 for inputting data and instructing the start of printing, a liquid crystal dot matrix display unit 13 for displaying input data, and a tape cassette for printing There is provided a tape cassette housing portion 14 that is opened and closed by a lid 15 for detachably housing 30 (see FIG. 2).

  The key input unit 12 is provided with a character key 12a for inputting an arbitrary character string as print data, and a control key 12b for performing conversion, selection, confirmation, function setting, etc. of various input data. 12c, and a print key 12d for starting printing of the input print data.

  The right side surface of the printer body 11 is provided with a tape discharge port 16 through which the printed tape T on which print data has been printed in the tape cassette housing portion 14 is discharged, and the tape discharged from the tape discharge port 16. A cutter operation dial 17 for manually cutting and separating the printed portion of T is provided.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a tape cassette housing part 14 provided in the printer main body 11 of the tape printer and a tape cassette 30 housed in the tape cassette housing part 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the main configuration of the printer unit is provided in the tape cassette housing unit 14. That is, the thermal head 21 and the platen roller 22 are provided to face each other, and the ink ribbon take-up shaft 23 for transporting the ink ribbon R and the tape T, the width of the tape T, and the ink color of the ink ribbon R are detected. A cassette type detection switch (tape width detection unit) 24 is provided.

  The thermal head 21 is rotatable about a head support shaft 25 by a driving mechanism (not shown), and is brought into pressure contact with the platen roller 22 during a printing operation and is released as necessary. The ink ribbon take-up shaft 23 is moved in the feeding direction of the ink ribbon R and the tape T by a transmission mechanism (not shown) together with the platen roller 22 based on the drive of the platen / ink ribbon take-up shaft drive motor 49 (see FIG. 3) during the printing operation. Driven by rotation.

  Further, the tape cassette accommodating portion 14 is provided with a tape discharge port 16 leading to the outside of the apparatus, and a cutter 26 is disposed facing the tape discharge port 16. The cutter 26 is driven in accordance with the operation of the cutter operation dial 17.

  In the cassette case 31 of the tape cassette 30, 32, 33, and 34 are a tape supply spool, an ink ribbon supply spool, and an ink ribbon take-up spool that are rotatably provided in the cassette case 31, respectively. The tape T is wound, the ink ribbon R is wound on the ink ribbon supply spool 33, and the ink ribbon winding spool 34 is fitted on the ink ribbon winding shaft 23.

  Reference numeral 35 denotes a head housing portion into which the thermal head 21 is inserted, and is formed by cutting out the main body of the cassette case 31. The tape T and the ink ribbon R drawn out from the tape supply spool 32 and the ink ribbon supply spool 33 are pulled so that the tape T faces the thermal head 21 and passes through the head accommodating portion 35 in a superimposed state. It has been turned.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic circuit of the tape printer. The electronic circuit of this tape printer is provided with a control unit (CPU) 41. The control unit 41 activates a system program stored in advance in the ROM 42 in response to a key operation signal from the key input unit 12 and controls operation of each part of the circuit. A RAM 43, a character generator 44, a mark font memory 45, and a tape width detection unit 24 are connected in addition to the unit 12 and the ROM 42, and the thermal head 21 is connected from the print control unit 46 via the head driver 47. A motor driver 48 is connected from the control unit 46, and the ink ribbon winding shaft 23 and the platen roller 22 are driven by the motor 49.

  The ROM 42 stores in advance system control programs by the control unit 41 such as text data input control programs and print control programs in various data input modes. The character generator 44 stores in advance character pattern data corresponding to all characters, symbols, and instruction codes that can be input by the key input unit 12. The print control unit 46 drives the motor driver 48 to synchronize the print data read from the RAM 43 in response to the start of printing on the tape T one line at a time by the thermal head 21 to drive the ink ribbon. The take-up shaft 23 and the platen roller 22 are driven to rotate, whereby the tape T is fed from the tape cassette 30 by one line along with the printing for each line, and is conveyed and discharged.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a data register provided in the RAM 43 of the tape printer. The RAM 43 includes an input buffer 43a, a print buffer 43b, a tape width size register 43c, a register A, a register B, a register C, and the like.

  In the input buffer 43a, key input data from the key input unit 12 is stored in a character code or control code state. The print buffer 43b stores print data for one line corresponding to the line-type dot heating element of the thermal head 21. The tape width size register 43c stores the width size of the tape T determined according to the type of the tape cassette 30 detected by the tape width detector 24. The register A stores division number data a when the print data designated to be enlarged is divided into a plurality of portions in the width direction and printed in a plurality of areas in the length direction of the tape T. The register B stores print number data b indicating the number of tapes to be printed when the enlarged print data is divided into a plurality of portions and printed. The register C stores partial data rank data c indicating which partial data of partial data divided into a plurality of parts is designated for printing.

  The mark font memory 45 is printed on each tape T when a plurality of areas of the tape T are separated and arranged in the width direction of the tape T in accordance with the division printing of the enlarged print data. Thus, the font order of the marks representing the arrangement order of each of the plurality of areas and for performing alignment between the plurality of areas is stored. In this case, the font pattern of the marks printed in the plurality of areas is stored as a different number of dot patterns depending on the order in which the plurality of areas are arranged.

  Next, the operation of the tape printer having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a printing process in the tape printer. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen display state on the display unit 13 accompanying the printing process of the tape printer.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a print output state by divided enlargement printing accompanying the printing process of the tape printer. That is, when the character key 12a and the control keys 12b and 12c of the key input unit 12 are selectively operated, for example, character data “A” is input and displayed on the liquid crystal dot matrix display unit 13, the input character is displayed. The data “A” is stored in the input buffer 43 a in the RAM 43 as corresponding character code data.

  In this way, when arbitrary character data is input and stored and the "print" key 12d is operated using the input data as print data, the printing process in FIG. 5 is started. First, as shown in FIG. Thus, a print type selection screen for selecting whether to print the print data in full-width or enlarged is displayed on the liquid crystal dot matrix display unit 13 (step S1).

  Here, when the cursor K displayed on the print type selection screen in the display unit 13 is moved and execution of printing is instructed with “normal printing” selected, it is stored in the input buffer 43a in the RAM 43. The font pattern corresponding to the character code data as the print data is called from the character generator 44 and transferred to the print buffer 43b, and the font pattern transferred to the print buffer 43b is read line by line. The data is output to the print controller 46, and is printed out from the head driver 47 to the tape T via the thermal head 21 (steps S2 to S3). In this case, for each print output of one line data by the thermal head 21, the rotation of the ink ribbon take-up shaft 23 and the platen roller 22 is controlled by driving the motor 49 by the motor driver 48, and the tape T and the ink ribbon R are 1 dot. The lines are conveyed line by line, and the print data “A” is normally printed in full-width one line data at a time.

  On the other hand, when the cursor K displayed on the print type selection screen on the display unit 13 is moved and execution of printing is instructed with “enlarged printing” selected, liquid crystal dots are displayed as shown in FIG. The matrix display unit 13 displays an enlargement ratio selection screen for selecting how many steps the print data “A” is to be enlarged corresponding to the width of the tape T (steps S 2 → S 4). In this enlargement magnification selection screen, for example, in order to perform enlargement printing corresponding to three stages of the tape T, when the cursor K is moved to the “three stages” position and execution is instructed, the register A in the RAM 43 is instructed. The division number data a for the enlarged printing is set as “3” (steps S5 → S6b).

  Then, as shown in FIG. 6C, whether the partial data divided for enlarged printing is printed over the entire range or printed by designating a part of the liquid crystal dot matrix display unit 13. A print range selection screen for selecting is displayed (step S7). In this print range selection screen, in order to print the enlarged print data over the entire range, for example, when the cursor K is moved to the “collective print” position and execution is instructed, the register B in the RAM 43 is instructed. The number-of-print-data data b indicating what number of tapes is printed is first set to “1” (steps S8 → S9).

  Then, according to the divided sheet number data a (= 3) set in the register A and the printed sheet number data b (= 1) set in the register B, three minutes from the top of the font pattern of the print data “A”. A mark m1 indicating that one portion is enlarged corresponding to the width of the tape T stored in the tape width size register 43c, and that this portion data is the first array as one dot pattern Are combined at a fixed position in the print length direction (step S10).

  Then, the first partial print data instructed by the print number data b set in the register B is sequentially output to the print control unit 46 line by line, and as shown in FIG. Printing is output as T1 (step S11). In this case, as shown in FIG. 6D, a printing screen indicating that the first stage of the enlarged print data “A” is being printed is displayed on the liquid crystal dot matrix display unit 13.

  Then, the print number data b set in the register B is set to (+1) and set to “2” which is the next print number, and the liquid crystal dot matrix display unit 13 is displayed as shown in FIG. Then, a tape cut request screen indicating that the first partial printing is completed and the tape T needs to be cut is displayed (steps S12 and S13). Here, when the cutter 26 is operated by operating the cutter operation dial 17, the tape T1 on which the first-stage partial print data is printed is separated as shown in FIG. 7A (step S14).

  Then, after the tape cut is completed, it is determined that the print number data b (= 2) set in the register B is equal to or less than the divided number data a (= 3) set in the register A. Subsequently, according to the divided number data a (= 3) set in the register A and the printed number data b (= 2) set in the register B, the font pattern of the print data “A” is displayed from above. The two-third portion is enlarged corresponding to the width of the tape T stored in the tape width size register 43c, and the second array for this partial data is regarded as two dot patterns. The mark m2 shown is combined at a fixed position in the print length direction (steps S14 → S15 → S10).

  Then, the second partial print data instructed by the print number data b set in the register B is sequentially output to the print control unit 46 line by line, and as shown in FIG. Printing is output as T2 (step S11).

  Then, the print number data b set in the register B is incremented by (+1) and set to “3” which is the next print number, and the second partial printing is finished on the liquid crystal dot matrix display unit 13. Then, a tape cut request screen indicating that the tape T needs to be cut is displayed (steps S12 and S13). Here, when the cutter 26 is operated by operating the cutter operation dial 17, the tape T2 on which the second-stage partial print data is printed is separated as shown in FIG. 7B (step S14).

  Then, after the tape cut is completed, it is determined that the print sheet number data b (= 3) set in the register B is equal to or less than the divided sheet number data a (= 3) set in the register A. Then, according to the divided number data a (= 3) set in the register A and the printed number data b (= 3) set in the register B, the font pattern of the print data “A” The three-third portion is enlarged corresponding to the width of the tape T stored in the tape width size register 43c, and the arrangement of the third sheet for this partial data is set as three dot patterns. The mark m3 shown is combined at a fixed position in the print length direction (steps S14 → S15 → S10).

  Then, the third partial print data instructed by the print number data b set in the register B is sequentially output to the print control unit 46 line by line, as shown in FIG. Printing is output as T3 (step S11).

  Then, the print number data b set in the register B is incremented by (+1) and set to “4” which is the next print number, and the third partial printing is finished on the liquid crystal dot matrix display unit 13. Then, a tape cut request screen indicating that the tape T needs to be cut is displayed (steps S12 and S13). Here, when the cutter 26 is operated by operating the cutter operation dial 17, the tape T3 on which the third-stage partial print data is printed is separated as shown in FIG. 7C (step S14).

  Then, after the tape cut is completed, it is determined that the print number data b (= 4) set in the register B is not less than the divided number data a (= 3) set in the register A. Then, a series of batch enlargement printing processes divided into three stages are finished (step S15 → END).

  FIG. 8 is a view showing an arrangement combination state of a plurality of tapes printed out by the enlarged division printing process of the tape printer. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, three tapes T1, T2 and T3 which are divided into three stages and enlarged are printed on the marks m1, The print data “A” that has been enlarged and printed can be easily completed by combining the arrangement order and the arrangement position in accordance with m2 and m3.

  On the other hand, on the print range selection screen as shown in FIG. 6C, the cursor K is moved to the “partial print” position in order to print the enlarged print data by designating a part of the print data, for example. When the execution is instructed, a partial print designation request screen for instructing what level of printing of the print data enlarged and divided into three levels is displayed as shown in FIG. S7, S8 → S16).

  In this partial print designation request screen, for example, when it is desired to print only the first-stage partial print data, if the cursor K is moved to the “print only first-stage” position and execution is instructed, printing in the register C in the RAM 43 is performed. The designated rank data c is set to “1”, and the print data “c” is set according to the divided number data a (= 3) set in the register A and the print designation rank data c (= 1) set in the register C. Only the one-third portion from the top of the “A” font pattern is enlarged in correspondence with the width of the tape T stored in the tape width size register 43c, and the partial data is arranged in the first array. A mark m1 indicating that there is one dot pattern is synthesized at a fixed position in the print length direction (steps S17 → S18a, S19).

  Then, the first partial print data instructed by the designation order data c set in the register C is sequentially output to the print control unit 46 line by line, as shown in FIG. 7A. Only the tape T1 is printed out (step S20).

  That is, only partial print data in an arbitrarily specified order can be selectively printed. For example, when the tape T is lost at some stage during the batch enlargement printing or when there is a printing failure. Thus, only the print data of the corresponding part can be easily printed and obtained.

  In the partial print designation request screen shown in FIG. 6F, it is possible to designate printing of only at least one partial print data. For example, two partial print data are designated and the corresponding portion is printed. May be. Further, in the example of FIG. 6F, the area is specified so that the number of stages of data to be printed is, but it may be specified by partial data such as what number of partial data is printed.

  Therefore, according to the tape printer having the above-described configuration, for example, the print data expanded to the three stages of the width of the tape T is divided into the partial data of the three stages in the width direction and printed on the three tapes T1, T2, and T3. When printing, marks m1, m2, and m3 indicating the arrangement order of each partial print data and the arrangement positions between them are combined and printed at fixed positions in the length direction of the respective tapes T1, T2, and T3. Thus, for example, even when the number of enlarged and divided tapes increases, it is possible to clearly know where each tape T should be arranged in the entire enlarged print data. It is possible to easily align the positions of the two.

  In addition, according to the tape printer having the above-described configuration, it is possible to selectively print only partial print data at an arbitrary stage among print data expanded to an arbitrary number of tape width stages. Even if the tape runs out during the printing of partial print data, or when some partial print data is damaged, it is not necessary to print all the partial print data again. Only tape printing can be performed.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an enlarged print combination state when a different color tape T is used for each partial print data in accordance with the enlarged divided printing process of the tape printer. That is, according to the tape printer having the above configuration, each partial print data of the enlarged print data can be individually printed by designating a part of each, so that, for example, the ground of the tape T is printed every time each partial print data is printed. If the tape cassettes 30 of different colors are sequentially replaced and set, enlarged print data having a very excellent decorativeness can be obtained as shown in FIG.

  In the above-described embodiment, printing of enlarged characters across the tape width has been described. However, it is also possible to perform division printing using characters that fit sufficiently within the tape width. For example, ABC is printed in the first row, DEF is printed in the second row, and GHI is printed in the third row within the tape width, and the alignment of the characters printed on these three tapes and the order of the tapes are set. The above-described marks to be represented are printed together.

1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a tape printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the structure of the tape cassette accommodated in the tape cassette accommodating part provided in the printer main body of the said tape printer, and this tape cassette accommodating part. The block diagram which shows the structure of the electronic circuit of the said tape printer. The figure which shows the structure of the data register with which RAM of the said tape printer is equipped. 3 is a flowchart showing a printing process in the tape printer. The figure which shows the screen display state in the display part accompanying the printing process of the said tape printer. The figure which shows the print output state by the division | segmentation expansion printing accompanying the printing process of the said tape printer. The figure which shows the arrangement | sequence combination state of several tapes printed out by the expansion division | segmentation printing process of the said tape printer. The figure which shows the expansion printing combination state at the time of using the tape T of a different color for every partial printing data accompanying the expansion division | segmentation printing process of the said tape printer.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Tape printer main body 12 ... Key input part 12a ... Character key 12b, 12c ... Control key 12d ... "Print" key 13 ... Liquid crystal dot matrix display part 14 ... Tape cassette accommodating part 15 ... Cover 16 ... Tape discharge port 17 ... Cutter Operation dial 21 ... Thermal head 22 ... Platen roller 23 ... Ink ribbon take-up shaft 24 ... Cassette type detection switch (tape width detector)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 25 ... Head support shaft 26 ... Cutter 30 ... Tape cassette 31 ... Cassette case 32 ... Tape supply spool 33 ... Ink ribbon supply spool 34 ... Ink ribbon take-up spool 35 ... Head accommodating part T ... Tape R ... Ink ribbon 41 ... Control part (CPU)
42 ... ROM
43 ... RAM
43a ... Input buffer 43b ... Print buffer 43c ... Tape width register A ... Divided number data register B ... Print number data register C ... Print designation order data register 44 ... Character generator 45 ... Mark font memory 46 ... Print control unit 47 ... Head driver 48 ... Motor driver 49 ... Motor 50 ... Display control unit K ... Cursor m ... Array order / position display mark

Claims (3)

In a tape printing apparatus having a function of dividing print data exceeding the tape width size into a plurality of partial data and dividing the plurality of partial data into a plurality of areas in the length direction of the tape,
Designation means for designating at least one of the plurality of partial data; and
A tape printing apparatus comprising: a printing unit that prints only partial data designated by the designation unit. In a tape printing apparatus having a function of dividing print data exceeding the tape width size into a plurality of partial data and dividing the plurality of partial data into a plurality of areas in the length direction of the tape,
Designating means for designating at least one of the plurality of areas;
A tape printing apparatus comprising: a printing unit configured to print only the partial data corresponding to the area designated by the designation unit in the area.   Furthermore, a mark printing unit is provided that represents an arrangement order of the regions in which the partial data is printed by the printing unit in the plurality of regions, and prints a mark for alignment between the plurality of regions. The tape printer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that

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