JP2010184362A - Tape printing apparatus, method for preparing label, and storing medium in which label preparing program is stored - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tape printing apparatus capable of preparing a label being in conformity with the dimension of a region to be stuck. <P>SOLUTION: The tape printing apparatus includes: a controlling means; an inputting means; a printing means; a printing data preparing means; a printing content editing means for preparing such editing information as characters and patterns printed on the label, a font, sizes of the characters, intervals of the characters, margins in the width direction and the longitudinal direction on the printing tape; a just-before printing image displaying means for displaying an image of the printing label just before the printing is completed after the just-before printing is completed on a displaying means at least one time; a length setting means for setting the size of the label to be printed next on the image displayed by the just-before printing image displaying means; and a writing form resetting means for changing a writing form of a printing content so that all the printing contents can be put in within the size set by the length setting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a tape printing apparatus, a method of creating a label using the tape printing apparatus, and a storage medium storing a program for causing the tape printing apparatus to create a label.

  Characters input from a keyboard or other input device or output from other devices are stored in a tape cassette containing a print tape formed by laminating a print layer and a release layer. There is a tape printer as a device that can create a unique label by arbitrarily printing symbols, logos, characters, marks, and the like.

  Conventionally, as a printing tape used in such a tape printer, a tape having a narrow tape width used for management of documents and stationery has been generally used. However, in recent years, the tape can be used as a display or a sign. Wide widths are also offered, and tape printers have a wide variety of uses.

  As an application of the tape printing apparatus, for example, in the tape printing apparatus (scale printing apparatus) in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-79927 (Patent Document 1), scale printing for printing scale lines of a specified scale (cm, inch, etc.) Proposals for use as a device have been made. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-57985 (Patent Document 2) proposes use as a printing device (printing control device) for printing index labels. Furthermore, nameplates such as “meeting room” and “presidential room” may be created using a very wide printing tape.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-79927 JP-A-5-57985

  In a conventional tape printer, in order to create a label corresponding to the size of the pasting area, measure the size of the pasting area with a ruler or the like, or create a label printed with scale scale lines. Therefore, it is necessary to measure the size of the pasting area.

  In addition, when it is difficult to measure with a ruler, etc., there is a method to create a label with a scale, but it is necessary to repeatedly create a label with a scale until the label matches the size of the pasting area. There is a problem that the consumption of the printing tape is increased and the cost is increased, or unnecessary consumption is not preferable in view of environmental problems in recent years.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and is a tape printing apparatus capable of producing a label suitable for the size of the pasting area, and production of a label using the tape printing apparatus It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a storage medium storing a program for causing a tape printing apparatus to create a label suitable for the size of the pasting area.

  The present invention relates to a label that is used by sticking a print layer to a sticking target by printing characters, patterns, etc. on a print tape formed by laminating a print layer and a release layer, and cutting the print tape at a predetermined length. In the tape printing apparatus for creating a printer, a control unit, a storage unit, an input unit, a display unit, and a printing unit are provided, and after the previous printing is completed, the printing label immediately before the printing is completed is 1 Sheet or a plurality of sheets arranged in the longitudinal direction and displayed immediately on the display means, and a length setting for setting a size of a label to be printed next on the image displayed by the immediately preceding print image display means And a format resetting unit for changing the format of the print content so that the entire print content is within the size set by the length setting unit.

  Further, the tape printer displays an indication mark that moves by operating the input means on the image of the immediately preceding print label displayed by the immediately preceding print image display means, and the indication mark is displayed on the image. By moving it, there is provided an indication sign display means that can set a cutting position relative to the size of the label printed immediately before.

  Further, the tape printer includes ruby display means for displaying ruby indicating the number of rounds of the displayed previous print label on the screen on which the image of the previous print label is displayed. It is characterized by.

  The method for producing a label of the present invention includes printing a character or a pattern on a printing tape formed by laminating a printing layer and a release layer, and cutting the printing tape at a predetermined length, so that the printing layer is attached. A method for creating a label to be attached and used by a tape printer, and when printing of an arbitrary label is completed, a reprint confirmation process is performed by the control means to confirm whether to reprint with the same print contents. And a length change confirmation process for confirming whether the length is to be changed, and the immediately preceding print image display process for displaying the image of the immediately preceding print label on the display means by the immediately preceding print image display means, and the indicator sign display means Displayed in the indicator display process for displaying the indicator that can set the length by moving on the image of the displayed label, and in the immediately preceding print image display process by the length setting means A length setting process for setting an actual length of a label to be created based on a relative relationship between the image of the printed label and the position of the indication mark on the image, and the length setting process is performed by a format resetting unit. The print content is changed so that the print content is contained within the label having the length set in step 1, print data is generated, and label printing processing is performed by the printing unit to perform printing based on the print data. And

  In addition, the present invention applies a print layer to an application target by printing characters, patterns, etc. on a print tape formed by laminating a print layer and a release layer, and cutting the print tape at a predetermined length. A storage medium storing a program for causing a computer as a control means to execute a process for creating a label to be used, printing characters, patterns, etc. on a printing tape formed by laminating a printing layer and a release layer, By cutting the printing tape at a predetermined length, a label to be used by pasting the printing layer on the object to be pasted is created by the tape printing apparatus. When printing of an arbitrary label is completed, reprinting is performed with the same print contents. Reprint confirmation processing for confirming whether to perform length change confirmation processing for confirming whether to change the length, immediately preceding print image display processing for displaying the image of the immediately preceding print label on the display means, and the immediately preceding print image When the length is set on the image displayed in the display process, the indicator is displayed in the indicator print process for displaying the indicator that can set the length by moving on the image, and the previous print image display process. A length setting process for setting the actual length of the label to be created based on the relative relationship between the image of the printed label and the position of the indicator on the image; and within the label of the length set in the length setting process Stores a program for realizing a format change process for resetting the format of the print content so that the print content is stored in the printer and creating print data, and a label print process for printing based on the print data by the printing unit. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, a tape printer capable of producing a label suitable for the size of the pasting area, a method for producing a label suitable for the size of the pasting area using the tape printer, and the size of the pasting area And a storage medium storing a program for causing a tape printer to execute the production of a label compatible with the above.

1 is a perspective view of a tape printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the internal enlarged view of the tape printer which concerns on the Example of this invention, and the perspective view of a tape cassette. 1 is a functional block diagram of a tape printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a reference figure in which the label and sticking area | region in the case of producing a label in the tape printer which concerns on the Example of this invention were described. FIG. 5 is a reference diagram illustrating a display screen, a label, and the like when a label is created in the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a reference figure in which the label and sticking area | region in the case of producing a label in the tape printer which concerns on the Example of this invention were described. It is a reference figure in the case of producing a label in the tape printer which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure in the case of producing a label with the tape printer which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is the example of a screen display displayed on the display part in the case of producing a label with the tape printer which concerns on the Example of this invention.

  Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention will be described. The tape printer 1 of the present invention performs printing such as characters and patterns on a printing tape 31 formed by laminating a printing layer and a release layer, and affixes the printing layer by cutting the printing tape 31 at a predetermined length. This is a device that is used by applying to the target. When creating a label of a size that matches the size of the application area 70, the size of the application area 70 is grasped by using the label printed immediately before as a guideline. By adjusting and printing the label to a size suitable for the size of the label, a label having a size suitable for the size of the pasting area 70 can be created.

  The tape printer 1 includes a CPU 41 as a control unit, an input unit 3 as an input unit, a thermal head 11 as a printing unit that performs printing on the print tape 31 according to print data, and print data generation that generates print data And printing content editing means for creating editing information such as characters and patterns to be printed on the labels, fonts, character sizes, character spacing, and margins in the width direction and longitudinal direction of the printing tape 31.

  Further, the tape printer 1 includes a print label immediately before the completion of the previous print, that is, a print label immediately before the completion of the print, that is, a print image display means for displaying the image of the reference label 65 at least once on the display means, Length setting means for setting the size of the label to be printed next on the image of the reference label 65 displayed by the immediately preceding print image display means, and all the print contents are within the size set by the length setting means. And a format resetting means for changing the format of the print content.

  Further, the tape printer 1 displays an indication mark 67 that moves by operating the input means on the image of the reference label 65 displayed by the immediately preceding print image display means, and the indication label 67 is displayed on the indication label 67. By providing movement on the displayed image, there is provided an indicator display means for enabling the cutting position to be set relative to the size of the reference label 65.

  Further, the tape printer 1 includes ruby display means for displaying ruby indicating the display order for the images of the reference labels 65 when the images of the reference labels 65 are displayed side by side in the longitudinal direction.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a tape printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external view of a tape cassette 21 used in the tape printer 1 and an internal structure of the tape printer 1. It is a perspective view which shows a part. The tape printing apparatus 1 is used to print characters, patterns, etc. on a printing tape 31 formed by laminating a printing layer having a printing surface on the front surface and an adhesive surface on the back surface and a release layer adhered to the adhesion surface. A device for printing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the tape printer 1 has a hollow casing 2 formed of a rectangular upper surface, an inclined surface inclined forward from the upper surface, both side surfaces, a lower surface, and a back surface. In addition, the input unit 3 is formed on the inclined surface of the housing 2, the display unit 4 and the open / close lid 5 are formed on the upper surface, and the tape feeding unit 7 on which the printing tape 31 is fed is formed on a predetermined side surface. Yes. Although not shown, the housing 2 is also formed with an input terminal for connecting to an external device such as a personal computer, a power supply terminal to which a power cord is connected, an insertion port for inserting a storage medium such as a memory card, and the like. Has been. The display unit 4 can also have a function as the input unit 3 by forming a touch panel or the like.

  The input unit 3 is a character input key for inputting character data, a print key for instructing the start of printing, a cursor key for moving the cursor on the display screen of the display unit 4, a variety of settings for print mode and various setting processes. Consists of control keys. The display unit 4 is a liquid crystal display device or the like, and displays an image related to input data, a selection menu for various settings, messages related to various processes, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a cassette loading unit 8 for loading a tape cassette 21 containing a printing tape 31 and an ink ribbon 35 is formed inside the opening / closing lid 5. In the cassette loading unit 8, a tape printing mechanism 45 and a cassette receiving unit 15 for supporting the tape cassette 21 at a predetermined position are formed. The tape printing mechanism 45 includes a printing element arranged in a vertical direction, a thermal head 11 serving as a printing head, and a platen roller that sandwiches the printing tape 31 and the ink ribbon 35 between the thermal head 11 and conveys the same. 12 and a ribbon take-up shaft 13 for taking up the ink ribbon 35 used for printing into the tape cassette 21.

  Further, the above-described tape feeding portion 7 that communicates with the outside of the housing 2 is formed at one end of the cassette loading portion 8, and in this tape feeding portion 7, the printing layer and the release layer of the printing tape 31 are arranged in the width direction. A full-cut device 17 as a full-cut means for cutting and a half-cut device 18 as a half-cut means for cutting only the print layer of the printing tape 31 are incorporated.

  Further, the tape cassette 21 includes a cassette case 22. Inside the cassette case 22, a tape core 23 around which a printing tape 31 is wound, a ribbon supply core 24 around which an unused ink ribbon 35 is wound, used. Ribbon take-up cores 25 for taking up the used ink ribbon 35 are accommodated. Further, the cassette case 22 of the tape cassette 21 is formed with a head arrangement portion 27 where the thermal head 11 is located when the tape cassette 21 is loaded in the cassette loading portion 8.

  Further, an engaged portion 29 that is engaged with and supported by the cassette receiving portion 15 of the cassette loading portion 8 is formed at the corner of the cassette case 22. The engaged portion 29 of the cassette case 22 is formed with predetermined irregularities corresponding to the type of the tape cassette 21 (not shown), and the cassette receiving portion 15 of the cassette loading portion 8 is provided with the tape cassette 21. Is formed with a predetermined movable protrusion 16 for discriminating irregularities formed in the engaged portion 29 of the cassette case 22. When the cassette case 22 is loaded into the cassette loading unit 8, the projections and depressions formed on the engaged portion 29 of the cassette case 22 and the movable protrusion 16 formed on the cassette receiving unit 15 of the cassette loading unit 8 are engaged. Then, the type of the tape cassette 21 is determined.

  When a printing instruction is given, the tape printer 1 feeds the printing tape 31 and the ink ribbon 35 out of the tape cassette 21, and is sandwiched and transported between the platen roller 12 and the thermal head 11. Is done. Then, the thermal head 11 is driven to generate heat based on the print data, and the ink on the ink ribbon 35 is thermally transferred to the print tape 31 to perform printing on the print tape 31. When printing is completed, the full-cut device 17 is activated to perform printing. The tape 31 is cut in the width direction, and one sticking tape is created.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the tape printer 1. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the tape printer 1 includes a control unit 40, a tape printing mechanism 45, a full cut device 17, and a half cut device 18.

  The control unit 40 includes a CPU 41 as a microcomputer serving as a control means, the above-described input unit 3 and display unit 4 connected to the CPU 41, a ROM 42 storing various system programs and fonts, and a work memory. A RAM 43 and an input / output interface 44 connected to an external device are provided.

  Then, the CPU 41 serving as the control means responds to the key operation signal from the input unit 3 or automatically to the system program stored in advance in the ROM 42, the control program stored in the memory card, and the input / output interface 44. A control program or the like read from a connected external device is activated, and the operation of each part of the circuit is controlled using the RAM 43 as a work memory.

  The ROM 42 is used as a storage means, and is a program for printing characters input from the input unit 3, a print font, a mark as a mark, or a slanted line, mesh, or dot pattern used for filling. And functions as a recording medium in which a program readable by the CPU 41 is stored.

  The RAM 43 is used as a storage means, and includes an input data memory for storing print information such as a key input character, a selected pattern, a size and a character interval, and a print pattern in which the input print information is expanded. Areas such as a print data memory for storing data and a display data memory for storing pattern data displayed on the display unit 4 are secured, and registers and counters for temporarily storing data necessary for print processing, etc. Is provided.

  As described above, the tape printing mechanism 45 includes the thermal head 11 serving as a tape printing unit, the platen roller 12 serving as a conveying unit, and the stepping motor 46 that drives the platen roller 12. Then, in the tape printing mechanism 45, the stepping motor 46 is controlled by the control unit 40 to drive the platen roller 12, and the above-described printing tape 31 positioned between the platen roller 12 and the thermal head 11 is conveyed, and the control unit 40 The thermal head 11 prints characters, patterns, and the like on the print tape 31 as needed by thermally transferring the characters, patterns, etc., to the print tape 31 based on the print data output from.

  The full-cut device 17 includes a fixed blade 17a, a movable blade 17b, a stepping motor 48 that drives the movable blade 17b, and a position sensor 49 that detects the position of the printing tape 31 in the longitudinal direction. The full-cut device 17 is controlled by the control unit 40. The position sensor 49 detects the position of the printing tape 31, and outputs position information that is information on the detected position to the control unit 40. The control unit 40 that has received the position information from the position sensor 49 outputs a drive signal to the stepping motor 48 to drive the movable blade 17b, and the printing tape 31 is moved between the fixed blade 17a and the movable blade 17b in the manner of scissors. Full cut in the width direction.

  The half-cut device 18 includes a fixed blade 18a, a movable blade 18b, and a DC motor 50 that drives the movable blade 18b. Then, in the half-cut device 18, the DC motor 50 is controlled by the control unit 40 to drive the movable blade 18b, and only the printed layer of the printing tape 31 is cut by pressing the movable blade 18b against the fixed blade 18a.

  Then, the tape printer 1 of the present embodiment, when creating a label having a size suitable for the size of the pasting area, grasps the size of the pasting area by using the label printed immediately before as a guideline. By adjusting the label to a size suitable for the size and printing, a label having a size suitable for the size of the pasting area can be created.

  In order to create a label having a size suitable for the size of the pasting area in this way, the tape printer 1 includes a CPU 41 as a control means, a ROM 42 and a RAM 43 as storage means, an input unit 3 as input means, Display unit 4 as display means, thermal head 11 as tape printing means, platen roller 12 as transport means, full cut device 17 as full cut means, print data creation means for creating print data, Print content editing means, reprint confirmation means, length change confirmation means, immediately preceding print image display means, length setting means, indicator sign display means, ruby display means, and format resetting means, I have.

  The print content editing means displays on the display means a screen that allows the user to edit characters, symbols, logos, characters, marks, etc. to be printed on the label to be created, and edit information by allowing the user to edit using the input means. Create In addition to the characters and symbols described above, the editing information includes character font, character size, character spacing, margin information before and after the label, and upper and lower margin information. The print content editing means also executes processing such as automatically setting the character size and the like from the width of the print tape 31.

  The reprint confirmation unit displays a screen for confirming whether or not to perform reprinting using the print data printed immediately before, and executes processing for allowing the user to select whether or not to perform reprinting. The length change confirmation means displays a screen for confirming whether or not to change the length of the label, and executes processing for confirming whether or not the length is to be changed by the user.

  The immediately preceding print image display means displays the image of the immediately preceding print label (hereinafter abbreviated as a guide label) in the longitudinal direction on the display means after the previous print is completed. Note that it is not always necessary to display them side by side, and at least one print label may be displayed. Further, the ruby display means displays “1” on the first round image and “2” on the second round image when the immediately preceding print image display means displays the reference label image two or more times. ”To display ruby.

  The length setting means executes a process for setting the length of a label that falls within the pasting area to be pasted on the image displayed by the immediately preceding print image display means. Specifically, after the reference label is superimposed on the pasting area on the pasting target and the length of the target label is compared with the length of the pasting area, the length setting means is displayed on the display means on which the standard label image is displayed. The length of the label to be created is set by setting the length of the pasting area with respect to the reference label on which is displayed.

  When the length setting means sets the length of the label, the indication sign display means displays an indication sign such as a cursor that can be moved by the input means on the reference label image displayed by the immediately preceding print image display means. Then, by moving the indicator on the image of the reference label, the length of the newly created label can be set relatively using the length of the reference label.

  The format resetting unit changes the format of the printing content such as the character size and the character spacing so that the entire printing content fits within the label of the length set by the length setting unit, and creates print data.

  Next, a method for creating a label having a size suitable for the size of the pasting area 70 by the tape printer 1 of the present embodiment will be specifically described. For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, it is assumed that characters “ABCDEFGHIJKL” are printed on the reference label 65 which is the label printed immediately before. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4B, since the reference label 65 is larger than the pasting area 70, it cannot be pasted into the pasting area 70. However, when the comparison is made so that the guide label 65 is overlapped with the sticking area 70, it can be seen that one end of the sticking area 70 is located between “H” and “I” of the guide label 65.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5A, the immediately preceding print image display means displays an image in which the reference labels 65 are arranged in the longitudinal direction on the display means. In this display screen, the ruby display means displays the ruby “1” on the image of the first label 65 and the ruby “2” on the second label 65 image. Is displayed. In addition, the indication sign display means displays it with a cursor whose indication sign 67 is the length of both ends of the first-round guide label 65.

  Based on the result of comparing the reference label 65 and the pasting area 70, the length setting means is positioned at the boundary between the first label 65 and the second label 65 as shown in FIG. The length of the label is set by moving the indicator 67 to be moved between “H” and “I” on the image.

  Then, when the format resetting unit changes the format of the printing content so that all the printing content is contained within the label of the length set by the length setting unit, print data is generated, and printing is executed, FIG. As shown in c), the newly printed new label 69 has a length between “H” and “I” of the reference label 65 and becomes a label having a size suitable for the size of the pasting area 70. In other words, by setting the length of the new label 69 based on the length of the reference label 65 on the display screen, the length suitable for the length of the pasting area 70 without measuring the length of the pasting area 70. You can create a label.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the characters “ABCD” are printed on the reference label 65, the reference label 65 corresponds to the length of the pasting area 70 as shown in FIG. 6B. Since the length of is small, the balance when affixed is poor. Further, since the length of the reference label 65 is smaller than the length of the pasting area 70, the length of the pasting area 70 cannot be known only by applying the reference label 65 to the pasting area 70 once. However, when the start position of the reference label 65 is again overlapped with one end position in the longitudinal direction of the reference label 65, that is, when compared by making two rounds, the end of the pasting area 70 is applied to the letter “B”. It can be seen that the inside of the character “B” in the second round is the length of the pasting area 70.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the immediately preceding print image display means causes the display means to display an image in which the reference labels 65 are arranged in the longitudinal direction. In this display screen, the reference labels 65 are arranged in parallel up to the third round, and as in the case described above, the display indicating the order is made on the image of each guide label 65, and the first sign is displayed by the indication sign display means. An indicator 67 indicating the length of both ends of the guide label 65 is displayed.

  Based on the comparison result between the reference label 65 and the pasting area 70, the length setting means is positioned at the boundary between the first label 65 and the second label 65 as shown in FIG. 7B. The length of the label is set by moving the indicator 67 to be moved onto the character “B” in the second round on the image.

  Then, when the format resetting unit changes the format of the print content so that all the print content is contained within the label of the length set by the length setting unit, print data is generated, and printing is executed, FIG. As shown in c), the newly printed new label 69 is a label having a length that matches the length of the pasting area 70. Therefore, even when the reference label 65 is smaller than the length of the pasting area 70, a label having a size suitable for the size of the pasting area 70 can be created.

  Next, a control flow in the case where a label having a size suitable for the size of the pasting area 70 is created by the tape printer 1 of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is a control flowchart in the tape printer 1 of the present embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the display unit. As shown in FIG. 8, as a print content editing means, the control means displays a print content editing screen on the display means, edits the print contents by operating the input means, and prints from the edit contents. An edit information setting process (step S101) for setting edit information such as contents, character size, and margin information is executed. And a control means produces | generates print data as a print data creation means, controls a printing means, and performs a printing process (step S105).

  When printing is completed (step S107), the control means displays a screen for confirming whether or not to perform reprinting with the same printing contents as shown in FIG. A reprint confirmation process (step S115) for confirming whether or not to perform is performed. If reprinting is not performed in the reprint confirmation process (step S115), printing is terminated.

  When reprinting is selected in the reprint confirmation processing (step S115), the control means displays a screen for confirming whether or not to change the label length as shown in FIG. A length change confirmation process (step S120) for displaying on the display means and confirming whether or not to change the length is executed. In this length change confirmation process (step S120), when “do not change” is selected, the control unit controls the printing unit to print using the same print data as the label printed immediately before. The reprint process (step S150) is executed, and the reprint confirmation process (step S115) is executed again.

  In the length change confirmation process (step S120), when “change” is selected, the control means uses the image of the reference label 65, which is the immediately preceding print label, as the immediately preceding print image display means. The immediately preceding print image display process (step S125) to be displayed is executed. In the immediately preceding print image display process, the control means simultaneously executes an instruction sign display process for displaying a cursor as the instruction sign 67 as the instruction sign display means, as shown in FIGS.

  When the user moves the indicator 67 to a desired position on the basis of the length of the guide label 65 on the image displayed in the immediately preceding print image display process (step S125), the control means is a length setting means. The length setting process (step S130) for setting the actual length of the label to be created based on the relative relationship between the image of the print label displayed in the immediately preceding print image display process and the position of the indicator mark on the image is executed. To do.

  Further, the control means, as the format resetting means, changes the format of the print content so that the print content fits within the label having the length set in the length setting process (step S130) (step S135). ) To generate print data, and a new label printing process (step S140) for causing the printing means to print based on the print data is executed. After the new label printing process (step S140), the control unit executes the reprint confirmation process (step S115) again.

  In addition, when the size of the printed label does not match the size of the pasting area 70, the label that does not match the size can also be used as a guide label 65 that is a guide for creating a new label 69. However, when creating a label that conforms to the size of the pasting area 70, a guide label 65 may be first printed as a temporary label, and a new label 69 may be created using the guide label 65 as a guide.

  Further, these processes shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 can be applied to various apparatuses as a program that can be executed by a computer and written in a storage medium such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, or a communication medium. It is also possible to transmit by using and apply to various devices. In this way, each processing described in the present embodiment is stored in a desired storage medium, and the program is executed by another computer or the like, so that the length is adjusted in the same manner as when the tape printer 1 of the present embodiment is used. Can be easily performed. The computer is not limited to the computer built in the tape printer 1 described in this embodiment, and can read a program stored in a storage medium and performs a control operation according to the read program. It includes any computer equipped with a computing device such as a CPU.

  According to the tape printer 1 of the present embodiment, since the image of the reference label 65 printed immediately before is displayed on the display means and the size of the label to be newly printed can be set, the reference label 65 is used as a guide. Since the length of the new label 69 can be set, it is possible to easily create a label that matches the size of the pasting area 70 without measuring the size of the pasting area 70.

  In addition, an indicator 67 such as a cursor is displayed on the image of the guide label 65, and the indicator label 67 is moved by referring to the guide label 65 displayed on the display screen to set the cutting position. It is possible to easily set the label length and to easily create a label suitable for the size of the pasting area 70 without inputting the length.

  Furthermore, when displaying the images of the guide label 65 in the longitudinal direction, the guide label 65 is displayed for the size of the pasting area 70 by displaying ruby indicating the display order for each guide label 65 image. Even if it is small and it is necessary to display the guide label 65 many times, it is possible to prevent the number of sheets from being unclear. The display is not limited to the case where a plurality of reference labels 65 are displayed side by side in the longitudinal direction, and only one reference label 65 is displayed on the screen while displaying a ruby indicating the display order. Alternatively, the number of rounds of one guide label 65 may be displayed.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the above Example, A change and improvement are freely possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary of invention.

1 Tape printer 2 Housing
3 Input section 4 Display section
5 Opening / closing lid 7 Tape feeding part
8 Cassette loading section 11 Thermal head
12 Platen roller 13 Ribbon take-up shaft
15 Cassette receiver 16 Movable protrusion
17 Full-cut device 18 Half-cut device
17a, 18a Fixed blade 17b, 18b Movable blade
21 Tape cassette 22 Cassette case
23 Tape core 24 Ribbon supply core
25 Ribbon take-up core 27 Head placement
29 Engaged part 31 Printing tape
35 Ink ribbon 40 Control unit
41 CPU 42 ROM
43 RAM 44 I / O interface
45 Tape printing mechanism 46, 48 Stepping motor
49 Position sensor 50 DC motor
65 Guide label 67 Indicator sign
69 New label 70 Application area

Claims (5)

A tape that creates a label to be used by attaching a print layer to an object to be pasted by printing characters, patterns, etc. on a print tape formed by laminating a print layer and a release layer, and cutting the print tape at a predetermined length. In the printing device,
A control means, a storage means, an input means, a display means, and a printing means,
A print image display means for displaying a print label immediately before the completion of the printing is displayed on the display means by arranging one or a plurality of print labels in the longitudinal direction;
A length setting means for setting a size of a label to be printed next on the image displayed by the immediately preceding print image display means;
A tape printing apparatus comprising: a format resetting unit that changes a format of the print content so that all the print content fits within a size set by the length setting unit.   An instruction indicator that moves by operating the input means is displayed on the image of the immediately preceding print label displayed by the immediately preceding print image display means, and the indicator sign is moved on the image to display the immediately preceding 2. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an instruction mark display means that enables a cutting position to be set relative to the size of the label printed on the tape.   2. A ruby display means for displaying a ruby indicating which number of rounds the displayed previous print label is displayed on a screen on which an image of the previous print label is displayed. Or the tape printer of Claim 2. A tape printing apparatus for printing a character, a pattern, or the like on a printing tape formed by laminating a printing layer and a release layer, and cutting the printing tape at a predetermined length to attach the printing layer to an application target. The method of creating
When printing of any label is completed,
After the reprint confirmation process for confirming whether or not to reprint with the same print content is performed by the control means, the length change confirmation process for confirming whether or not the length is changed is performed, and the previous print image display means A previous print image display process for displaying the image of the previous print label on the display means;
An instruction sign display process for displaying an instruction sign whose length can be set by moving the image on the displayed label image by the instruction sign display means;
A length setting process for setting an actual length of a label to be created based on a relative relationship between the image of the print label displayed in the immediately preceding print image display process by the length setting means and the position of the indicator on the image; , And
The format resetting means changes the format of the print content so that the print content fits within the label of the length set in the length setting process, creates print data,
A label producing method, characterized in that a label printing process is performed by a printing means for printing based on the print data. A process of printing a character or pattern on a printing tape formed by laminating a printing layer and a release layer, and cutting the printing tape at a predetermined length to create a label to be used by sticking the printing layer to an object to be pasted Is a storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to be a control means to execute,
A tape printing apparatus for printing a character, a pattern, or the like on a printing tape formed by laminating a printing layer and a release layer, and cutting the printing tape at a predetermined length to attach the printing layer to an application target. When you have finished printing any label,
Reprint confirmation processing to confirm whether to reprint with the same print content;
A length change confirmation process to confirm whether to change the length;
Immediately preceding print image display processing for displaying the image of the immediately preceding print label on the display means;
On the image displayed in the immediately preceding print image display process, an instruction sign display process for displaying an instruction sign that can be set by moving the image when the length is set;
A length setting process for setting the actual length of the label created by the relative relationship between the image of the print label displayed in the immediately preceding print image display process and the position of the indicator on the image;
A format change process for resetting the format of the print content and creating print data so that the print content fits within the label of the length set in the length setting process;
A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for realizing label printing processing to be printed based on the print data by a printing unit.

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