JP2008137325A - Tape printer and method of setting printing area - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tape printer which can print a character string over a plurality of paragraph areas even when the plurality of paragraph areas are set, and to provide a method of setting a printing area. <P>SOLUTION: The tape printer which carries out printing to the printing area IA of a printing tape T is equipped with a paragraph setting means which divides the printing area LA in a length direction of the printing tape T to form the plurality of paragraph areas DA, a combined paragraph setting means which forms a combined paragraph area KA by making a part of each of the paragraph areas DA cut to be adjacent each other in the length direction from the divided paragraph areas DA a cut area CA and connecting a plurality of the cut areas CA in the length direction, and a printing means which carries out printing to each paragraph area DA except each cut area CA and to the combined paragraph area KA. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a tape printer for printing on a printing tape and a printing area setting method.

Conventionally, as this type of tape printing apparatus, a printing tape printing area is divided into the length direction of the printing tape and set as a plurality of paragraph areas, and printing is performed on the set plurality of paragraph areas. (See Patent Document 1). This tape printer is configured to input a desired character string for each set paragraph area and perform printing based on the input character string.
JP-A-11-157135

  However, according to the above configuration, since a desired character string is input for each set paragraph area, the desired character string cannot be input over a plurality of paragraph areas, and does not extend over a plurality of paragraph areas. There is a problem that the character string cannot be printed.

  The present invention relates to a tape printing apparatus capable of inputting a desired character string over a plurality of paragraph areas and printing a character string over a plurality of paragraph areas even when a plurality of paragraph areas are set. It is another object of the present invention to provide a printing area setting method.

  The tape printer of the present invention is a tape printer that performs printing on a printing area of a printing tape, and a paragraph setting unit that divides the printing area in the length direction of the printing tape to form a plurality of paragraph areas; A part of each paragraph area cut from the paragraph area so as to be adjacent to each other in the length direction is set as a cut area, and a plurality of cut areas are connected in the length direction to form a set paragraph area. It is characterized by comprising paragraph setting means, and printing means for printing in each paragraph area excluding each cut-out area, and in a combined paragraph area.

  Further, the printing area setting method of the present invention is a printing area setting method for a tape printing apparatus that performs printing on a printing area of a printing tape, wherein the printing area is divided into a plurality of paragraph areas by dividing the printing area in the length direction of the printing tape. A part of each paragraph area cut from the setting process and each separated paragraph area so as to be adjacent to each other in the length direction is set as a cut area, and a plurality of cut areas are connected in the length direction. And a combined paragraph setting step as a combined paragraph area.

  According to this configuration, since the combined paragraph area is set over a plurality of paragraph areas, a desired character string over a plurality of paragraph areas can be printed by inputting a desired character string in the combined paragraph area. Can do.

In this case, the paragraph setting means arranges a blank area between each paragraph area,
It is preferable that the combined paragraph setting means sets the combined paragraph area including each margin area.

  According to this configuration, even if a blank area is set between the paragraph areas, the combined paragraph area is arranged and set including the blank area, so that the blank area is not blocked by the blank area. A desired character string can be printed over a plurality of paragraph areas. Thereby, for example, a title, a headline, etc. can be printed by inputting a desired character string in the text area.

  In this case, the set paragraph setting means may include area position selection means for selecting and setting the set paragraph area at any one of the upper position, the middle position, and the lower position in the width direction of the printing tape. ,preferable.

  According to this configuration, the position of the assembly paragraph area can be set stepwise in the width direction.

  In this case, it is preferable that the set paragraph setting means has area number designation means for designating the number of cut areas to be cut out from a plurality of paragraph areas so as to be continuous in the length direction.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to cut out a desired number of cut areas from a plurality of paragraph areas so as to be continuous over the length direction. For this reason, by setting a composition paragraph area based on a plurality of cut areas, the range in the length direction of the composition paragraph area can be set and the position of the composition paragraph area in the length direction can be set to a paragraph. Can be set in units.

  In this case, it is preferable to further include area decoration means for applying a decoration pattern composed of at least one of an outer frame pattern, a background pattern, and a shaded pattern to the assembly paragraph area.

  According to this configuration, since it is possible to decorate the assembled paragraph area, it is possible to improve the appearance of the printed tape after printing.

  Hereinafter, a tape printer according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This tape printing apparatus feeds the printing tape from the mounted tape cartridge and prints on the printing tape that is sent to it, and then cuts the printed portion of the printing tape to obtain a tape piece, that is, a label. To create.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tape printer 1 performs a printing process on the print tape T. The tape printer 1 includes a tape cartridge C that contains the print tape T and the ink ribbon R. Is detachably mounted.

  In the tape printer 1, an outer shell is formed by the device case 3, and a keyboard 5 having various keys 4 is disposed on the upper surface of the front half of the device case 3. An opening / closing lid 6 is widely provided on the upper left surface of the rear half of the device case 3, and a lid opening button 8 for opening the opening / closing lid 6 is provided on the front side of the opening / closing lid 6. A rectangular display 9 for displaying an input result from the keyboard 5 and the like is disposed on the upper right side of the rear half of the device case 3.

  When the lid opening button 8 is pressed to open the open / close lid 6, a cartridge mounting portion 10 into which the tape cartridge C is mounted is formed in the inside thereof, and the cartridge mounting portion 10 is drawn out from the tape cartridge C. A thermal head (printing means) 15 that performs printing by thermal transfer on the printing tape T, and a platen drive shaft 16 that is fitted to a platen roller 38 (to be described later) and rotationally drives the platen drive shaft 16 are provided upright.

  A tape discharge port 17 is formed on the left side of the device case 3 to communicate the cartridge mounting portion 10 with the outside of the device. Inside the device case 3, the cutter motor 61 is driven so as to face the tape discharge port 17. A cutter unit 18 for cutting the printing tape T is incorporated.

  The tape cartridge C has an outer shell formed by the cartridge case 30, and the printing tape T and the ink ribbon R wound in a roll shape are accommodated in the cartridge case 30, and the platen roller 38 that feeds the printing tape T Is arranged. The printing tape T is a so-called adhesive tape with release paper.

  When the tape cartridge C is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 10 and the opening / closing lid 6 is closed, the thermal head 15 moves and the printing tape T and the ink ribbon R are sandwiched between the thermal head 15 and the platen roller 38, The tape printer 1 enters a print standby state. When the print key on the keyboard 5 is pressed, the thermal head 15 starts to be driven, and the platen drive shaft 16 is rotated by a tape feeding mechanism (not shown). Then, the platen roller 38 rotates to cause the sandwiched printing tape T and ink ribbon R to run side by side, and the thermal head 15 thermally transfers the ink on the ink ribbon R to the printing tape T.

  Then, the printing tape T printed and fed by the thermal head 15 and the platen roller 38 subsequently faces the cutter unit 18. Here, the printed unit of the printing tape T is cut by the cutter unit 18 to create a tape piece (label). Although not shown in both figures, a circuit board constituting a control unit 55 that performs overall control of the tape printer 1 is mounted inside the device case 3.

  Next, the configuration of the control system of the tape printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The tape printing apparatus 1 includes an operation unit 51, a printing unit 52, a cutting unit 53, a driving unit 54, and a control unit 55 that is connected to each unit and controls the entire apparatus. The operation unit 51 includes a keyboard 5 and a display 9 and manages a user interface such as input of character information by a user and display of various information. The printing unit 52 includes the thermal head 15 and a print feed motor 60 that rotates the platen drive shaft 16, and prints based on the input character information while feeding the print tape T and the ink ribbon R. The cutting unit 53 includes a cutter motor 61 that drives the cutter unit 18, and performs a full cut on the printed printing tape T. The drive unit 54 includes a display driver 62, a head driver 63, a print feed motor driver 64, and a cutter motor driver 65, and drives each unit.

  The control unit 55 includes a CPU 70, a ROM 71, a RAM 72, and an input control device 73 (IOC: Input Output Controller), and is connected to each other via an internal bus 74. Although details will be described later, a print image creation program 75 for creating a print image to be printed in the print area IA of the print tape T is stored in the ROM 71. The print image creation program 75 divides the print area IA of the print tape T to be printed in the length direction of the print tape T to form a plurality of paragraph areas DA (paragraph setting means), a plurality of paragraphs A composition paragraph setting function (composition paragraph setting means) for setting a composition paragraph area KA over the area DA, and an area decoration function (area decoration) for applying a decorative pattern such as a background pattern, an outer frame pattern, and a shaded pattern to each set area Means) (details will be described later). The CPU 70 inputs various signals and data from each unit of the tape printer 1 via the IOC 73 according to the control program in the ROM 71. Further, various data in the RAM 72 is processed based on the various signals / data input, and various signal data is output to each part in the tape printer 1 via the IOC 73, thereby controlling printing processing and the like.

  Here, in the tape printer 1, the print area IA of the print tape T to be printed can be divided into the length direction of the print tape T and set in a plurality of paragraph areas DA. The combined paragraph area KA can be set over a plurality of paragraph areas DA. Hereinafter, the operation procedure by the user will be mainly described with reference to FIGS.

  First, when the power is turned on by pressing the power key of the keyboard 5, the tape printer 1 is activated in an operation state in which key input is possible. The print image creation program 75 in the ROM 71 sets an input edit mode 80 for inputting / editing an arbitrary character string, a combined paragraph area KA and a paragraph area DA, and a combined paragraph mode for inputting an arbitrary character string. A plurality of modes such as 81 are prepared. Each mode is called by a predetermined key operation, and a print image is created from an input screen dedicated to each mode. At the time of activation, the input editing mode 80 is set as a default (see FIG. 4A).

  The lower half of the input editing mode 80 displayed on the display 9 is an image editing area 82 for inputting and editing a print image, and the upper half of the input edit mode 80 is a preview of the print image of the print image. It is a preview area 83 for display. In the image editing area 82, the character string input from the keyboard 5 is displayed horizontally, and when the character string extends over a plurality of lines, they are displayed side by side vertically. In the image editing area 82, a line head mark 84 indicating which line each character string is positioned on and a cursor 85 indicating the edit input position are displayed. In the preview area 83, the print image of the print image input / edited in the image edit area 82 is displayed in black and white inversion.

  When printing is performed by setting the paragraph paragraph area KA, the form function selection screen 90 is displayed by pressing the form key on the keyboard 5 while the input editing mode 80 is displayed (see FIG. 4B). . The form function selection screen 90 displays choices of “form” and “special form”. By selecting “form”, a standard form that defines the number of characters and the number of lines is displayed. By selecting “Form”, a special form selection screen 91 is displayed.

  When “special form” is selected and a special form selection screen 91 is displayed, a special form selection menu 92 for displaying a plurality of types of special forms is displayed on the screen (see FIG. 4C). ). The special form selection menu 92 has options of “heading (vertical)”, “heading (horizontal)”, “vertical horizontal writing”, “horizontal vertical writing”, “for cable”, and “set paragraph”. By selecting “combination paragraph”, a transition is made to the composition paragraph mode 81. Note that, for the convenience of the display 9, only a maximum of three lines of options can be displayed. Therefore, the options are selected by operating the up and down keys to move the screen up and down.

  In the paragraph mode 81, a paragraph number input screen (area number designation means) 93 is displayed as an initial screen (see FIG. 5D). The number-of-composed-paragraphs input screen 93 displays the number of combined paragraphs so that it can be selected, and a desired number of combined paragraphs can be set. When the desired number of paragraphs is set by operating the up / down keys on the number-of-set paragraphs input screen 93, the paragraph area DA is set for the desired number of paragraphs, and the plurality of set paragraph areas DA are set. , A paragraph paragraph area KA is set. In the present embodiment, the maximum number of paragraphs can be set to “5”.

  When the desired number of paragraphs is set, the next step is to move to a paragraph position selection screen (area position selection means) 94, and the position of the paragraph paragraph KA in the width direction of the print tape T is set stepwise (FIG. 5). (See (e)). In other words, the top / bottom / middle / bottom options are displayed on the top / bottom paragraph position selection screen 94. By selecting “top”, the top / bottom position of the top / bottom area IA is set to the top / bottom position KA. By selecting “Medium”, the paragraph position KA is arranged at the middle position of the print area IA, and by selecting “Low”, the paragraph area KA is arranged at the lower position of the print area IA. To do. When a desired option is selected, this time the screen shifts to a combined paragraph input screen 95.

  As shown in FIG. 5F, the composition paragraph input screen 95 has a character input area 96 for inputting a desired character string to the composition paragraph area KA to be set. In addition to displaying on which line the character string is located, a cursor 85 indicating the input position is displayed. When a desired character string is input to the first line of the character input area 96 and the determination key on the keyboard 5 is pressed, a combined paragraph end / line feed selection screen 97 is displayed. An “End?” Option for ending the input of the character string and an “New line” option for starting a new line of the character string are displayed so as to be selectable.

  When “line feed” is selected on the combined paragraph end / newline selection screen 97, the screen again shifts to the combined paragraph input screen 95, and a character string is input to the second line, which is a new line in the character input area 96. On the other hand, when “END?” Is selected, the screen shifts to the first paragraph input screen 98. Note that the character string can be input up to a maximum of two lines on the combined paragraph input screen 95, and a warning is displayed when a line break exceeds two lines. Further, by performing a predetermined key operation in a state where the combined paragraph input screen 95 is displayed, it is possible to apply a decorative pattern to the input character string. As the decorative pattern, an outer frame pattern, a tint block pattern, a shaded pattern, and the like are prepared. By decorating the assembled paragraph area KA, the printed tape T after printing can be made to look good.

  As shown in FIG. 5 (g), the first paragraph input screen 98 has a character input area 96 for inputting a desired character string to the set paragraph area DA, as with the above-described combined paragraph input screen 95. In the character input area 96, the number of lines in which each character string is positioned and a cursor 85 for indicating the input position are displayed. Also in this case, when the determination key is pressed, the paragraph end / line feed selection screen 99 is displayed, and the paragraph end / line feed selection screen 99 makes a line break in the character string and an option of “End?” To end the input of the character string. “Line feed” options are displayed in a selectable manner. Here, when “End?” Is selected, the screen shifts to the second paragraph input screen. In the first paragraph input screen 98, the character string can be input up to a maximum of 8 lines, and a warning is displayed when a line break is attempted beyond 8 lines.

  Then, after repeating the same procedure for the number of combined paragraphs set on the above-mentioned number of combined paragraphs input screen 93 and selecting “End?”, The screen shifts to the combined paragraph print screen 100 (see FIG. 6H). ). When the “print?” Is displayed on the combined paragraph print screen 100 and the enter key is pressed, printing is performed on the print tape T based on the various input data input, and printing is being performed on the display 9. It is displayed (see FIG. 6 (i)). When printing is completed, a display 9 is displayed on the display 9, and a “print?” Option that repeats the same printing again and an “end” option that ends the paragraph mode 81 can be selected. Is displayed (see FIG. 6J).

  In the above-described various input screens, for example, “2” is input on the number of paragraphs input screen 93, “up” is set on the paragraph position selection screen 94, and “BEST ALBUM TOP10 2006” is set on the paragraph input screen 95. In the first paragraph input screen 98, "1. No. 1 (line feed) 2. Song For You ... 5. Lucky Girl" is entered on the first paragraph input screen 98, and "6. .Look! ... 10.Lucky Boy "is input, the label shown in FIG. 7 can be obtained by printing on the printing tape T based on the input data.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 8, a processing image in the image creation processing for creating a print image based on the various input data described above will be described. When various types of data are input and “Print?” Is selected on the composition paragraph print screen 100, first, the composition paragraph set on the composition paragraph number input screen 93 is set in the print area IA (see FIG. 8A) of the printing tape T. Based on the number “2”, two paragraph areas DA are set by dividing in the length direction of the printing tape T, and a blank area EA is set between the two paragraph areas DA (see FIG. 8B). ). Thereafter, the upper part of each paragraph area DA is cut out along the length direction based on the upper paragraph position “up” set in the paragraph position selection screen 94, and a part of each paragraph area DA cut out is cut. A cut area CA is set (see FIG. 8C). Thereafter, the two cut areas CA are connected to each other including the blank area EA to form a combined paragraph area KA (see FIG. 8D). Then, an outer frame pattern is attached to the character string input on the combined paragraph input screen 95 and accommodated in the combined paragraph area KA (see FIG. 8E). Further, each character string input on the first paragraph input screen 98 and the second paragraph input screen is accommodated in correspondence with each paragraph area DA excluding the cut area CA (see FIG. 8F) to create a print image. To do. A label as shown in FIG. 7 can be created by performing a printing process based on this print image.

  According to the above configuration, since the combined paragraph area KA can be set over a plurality of paragraph areas DA, by inputting a desired character string into the combined paragraph area KA, the combined paragraph area KA can be set over the plurality of paragraph areas DA. Thus, a desired character string can be printed. Even if the margin area EA is set, by setting the combined paragraph area KA including the margin area EA, the character string is printed over the plurality of paragraph areas DA without being blocked by the margin area EA. can do. According to the tape printer of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9A, the assembly paragraph area can be set at the middle position, and as shown in FIG. It is also possible to set the combined paragraph area KA at the lower position over the paragraph area DA. Further, in the case where the detailed setting is performed in the combined paragraph mode 81, the combined paragraph area KA is arranged only in the second paragraph area DA and the third paragraph area DA as shown in FIG. 9C. Is also possible. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a print image is created after inputting all the various input data. However, in the state where a plurality of paragraph areas DA are already set and a character string is input, the combined paragraph area KA is displayed. You may comprise so that it may set. In this embodiment, the number of combined paragraphs is set by operating the up and down keys, but a desired number of combined paragraphs may be arbitrarily input.

It is an external appearance perspective view of the tape printer of a closed state concerning this embodiment. It is an external appearance perspective view of the tape printer of a lid open state concerning this embodiment. It is a control block diagram of a tape printer. It is a transition diagram of a display until it transfers to composition paragraph mode. It is the first half explanatory drawing of the display which changes in a set paragraph mode. It is the latter half explanatory drawing of the display which changes in a set paragraph mode. It is a schematic diagram of the label produced in the combination paragraph mode. It is explanatory drawing of the process image in an image creation process flow. It is a schematic diagram of another label created in the combined paragraph mode.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tape printer 15 ... Thermal head 75 ... Print image creation program 81 ... Assembly paragraph mode 93 ... Assembly paragraph number input screen 94 ... Assembly paragraph position selection screen 95 ... Assembly paragraph input screen 98 ... 1st paragraph input screen T ... Printing Tape IA ... Printing area KA ... Paragraph area DA ... Paragraph area EA ... Margin area CA ... Cut area

Claims (6)

In a tape printer that prints in the printing area of a printing tape,
Paragraph setting means that divides the print area in the length direction of the printing tape to form a plurality of paragraph areas
A part of each paragraph area cut from the divided paragraph areas so as to be adjacent to each other in the length direction is set as a cut area, and the plurality of cut areas cut out are connected in the length direction. Then, a paragraph setting means as a paragraph paragraph area,
A tape printing apparatus comprising: a printing unit that performs printing in each paragraph area excluding each cut-out area and in the combined paragraph area. The paragraph setting means arranges a blank area between the paragraph areas,
2. The tape printer according to claim 1, wherein the grouping paragraph setting unit sets the grouping paragraph area including the margin areas.   The assembly paragraph setting means includes area position selection means for selecting and setting the assembly paragraph area at any one of an upper position, a middle position, and a lower position in the width direction of the printing tape. The tape printer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that   4. The combined paragraph setting means includes area number designation means for designating a number of cut areas to be cut out from the plurality of paragraph areas so as to be continuous in the length direction. The tape printer according to any one of the above.   5. The area decoration means according to claim 1, further comprising area decoration means for applying a decorative pattern comprising at least one of an outer frame pattern, a background pattern, and a shaded pattern to the combined paragraph area. Tape printer. In the printing area setting method of the tape printer that performs printing in the printing area of the printing tape,
Paragraph setting step that divides the print area in the length direction of the printing tape to form a plurality of paragraph areas
A part of each paragraph area cut from the divided paragraph areas so as to be adjacent to each other in the length direction is set as a cut area, and the plurality of cut areas cut out are connected in the length direction. A printing area setting method comprising: a setting paragraph setting step for setting a setting paragraph area.

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