JP2010214787A - Printer and tape printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer which can easily specify a printer which has created a printed matter from that printed matter, and to provide a tape printer. <P>SOLUTION: The printer includes a specific information registration means for registering specific information 71 which specifies the printer itself, an input means 3 for inputting a character string including one or more characters, and a print means 43 for printing the print data based on the character string thus input on a print medium T, wherein the print means 43 prints the specific information 71 together with the print data based on the character string thus input. The print means 43 prints the print data and the specific information 71 in the different print areas of the print medium. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a tape printing apparatus for printing print data based on a character string composed of one or more input characters on a print medium.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a tape printer that can register (save) text data of a label created by a user as a file in the apparatus main body is known. In this tape printer, after a user inputs text, the data of the text is registered as a file by performing a predetermined key operation. The registered file can be called at a timing desired by the user by a predetermined key operation. As a result, for example, when printing a previously created printed material again, it is possible to print by simply calling a file without re-inputting the contents of the printed material, which is convenient (for example, non-patent) Reference 1).

“TEPLA” PRO SR828 Instruction Manual, Second Edition (issued July 1998), p. 122-p. 123

By the way, when creating a label with the same content as the label created in the past or a label with similar content, if the print data of the label remains in the tape printer, it is easily desired by using the print data. Label can be created. For example, when a user uses a tape printer having a file registration / call function as described above, if the target print data is stored as a file, the user can call the file and print it as it is, or It is common to create a desired label with slightly different contents.
However, if there are multiple tape printers in the office, it may not be clear which tape printer has created the label created in the past (which tape printer is stored). . In this case, even if there is an actual label created in the past and the data is registered in the file, the user must create new print data from scratch, which is troublesome and inconvenient. There's a problem.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a printing apparatus and a tape printing apparatus that can easily identify an apparatus that has created a printed material from a printed material.

  The printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a specific information registration unit that registers specific information for specifying the apparatus itself, an input unit that inputs a character string including one or more characters, and print data based on the input character string. Printing means for printing on a print medium, and the printing means prints the specific information together with the print data.

According to this configuration, specific information (device main body name) for identifying itself is registered in the printing apparatus, and the specific information is printed on the print medium. Thereby, the apparatus which produced the said printed matter can be specified from printed matter (label). For example, even if there are multiple printing devices in an office, etc., it is possible to grasp which printing device has been created simply by looking at the printed material created in the past, so printed materials with the same or similar content Can be used, data stored in the corresponding printing apparatus can be used, and a desired printed matter can be easily created.
In addition, since the user can register desired specific information, by registering easy-to-understand language, for example, it is easier to use the printing device than when using the serial number or model name of the printing device as specific information. It can be specified and is convenient.
The specific information may be information that can be distinguished from other printing apparatuses, and may be, for example, a department name (sales-1, sales-2, etc.) using the apparatus, or a symbol. .

  In the printing apparatus of the present invention, the printing unit prints the print data in the first print area of the print medium, and prints the specific information in the second print area different from the first print area of the print medium. It is preferable.

  According to this configuration, the specific information is printed in an area different from the print data. For example, by printing the specific information on the margin of the print medium, the main body name of the apparatus can be printed without impairing the appearance of the print contents of the print data.

  In the printing apparatus of the present invention, the print medium has a hierarchical structure including a print layer and a release layer, and further includes half-cut means for cutting only the print layer of the print medium, and the first print area of the print medium. It is preferable that the second print area is divided into areas by a cut portion by a half-cut means.

  According to this configuration, the print area of the print data and the print area of the specific information can be separated with a cut portion (hereinafter referred to as “half-cut line”) by the half-cut means as a boundary. The appearance of the printed content will not be impaired.

  The printing apparatus of the present invention preferably further comprises specific information print setting means for setting whether or not to print specific information.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to set whether to print the specific information or not according to the user's needs, which is convenient.

  In the printing apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the printing medium further includes specific information printing means for printing only specific information.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to easily print only specific information. For example, it is possible to easily create a printed matter (a label on which the device name is printed) to be attached to the printing apparatus body, which is convenient. .

  The printing apparatus according to the present invention preferably further includes specific information display means for displaying specific information on a display screen when the printing apparatus is powered on.

  According to this configuration, for example, by displaying the name (specific information) registered in the printing apparatus on the opening screen when the power is turned on, the user can easily grasp the name of the apparatus used by the user.

  A tape printer according to the present invention includes each unit in the printing apparatus described above, and the print medium is a tape.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to provide a tape printer capable of registering specific information (name of the main body of the tape printer) for specifying itself in the tape printer and printing the specific information on the tape. it can.

1 is an external perspective view of a tape printer according to an embodiment of the present invention in an open state. It is a control block diagram of a tape printer. It is a figure explaining an environment setting menu and a print setting menu. It is a figure which shows the label which printed only the procedure of the registration process of a main body name, and a main body name. It is a flowchart explaining the procedure of the display process of an opening screen. It is a figure which shows the display content of an opening screen. It is a figure explaining the printing content of a label. It is a flowchart explaining the procedure of a label production process.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The printing apparatus of the present invention registers specific information (body name) for identifying itself and prints it on a print medium. In the present embodiment, a tape printer that creates a label by printing on a tape-like medium will be described as an example of the printer.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the tape printer 1 according to the present embodiment with the opening / closing lid 4 opened. As shown in FIG. 1, the tape printer 1 has an exterior formed by a device case 2, and a keyboard 3 (input means) having various input keys is disposed on the front upper surface of the device case 2, and a rear upper surface. Is provided with an opening / closing lid 4 on its left side and a display screen 5 on its right side. A cartridge mounting portion 6 for mounting a tape cartridge C is recessed inside the opening / closing lid 4, and the tape cartridge C is detachably mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 6 with the opening / closing lid 4 opened. The The open / close lid 4 is formed with a viewing window 7 for visually confirming mounting / non-mounting of the tape cartridge C in the closed state.

  On the keyboard 3, a character key group 3a and a function key group 3b for designating various operation modes are arranged. The character key group 3a has a full key configuration based on the JIS layout, and is similar to a general word processor or the like including a shift key for suppressing an increase in the number of keys to be operated. The function key group 3b includes a [print] key 11, a cursor key 12, a [select] key 13, a [environment setting] key 14, a [print setting] key 15, a [power] key 16, and the like. These key inputs may be individually provided for each key input as in a general keyboard, or may be input using a smaller number of keys in combination with a shift key or the like. .

  [Print] key 11 is a key for instructing execution of printing. The cursor key 12 includes up / down / left / right keys ([↑], [↓], [←], [→]), and is a key for performing cursor movement and scroll operation. [Select] key 13 is a key for selecting and confirming selection candidates (options). [Power] key 16 is a key for turning on / off the power.

  On the other hand, the “environment setting” key 14 is a key for performing various environment settings of the tape printer 1. Although details will be described later, in this embodiment, a name (specific information, hereinafter “main body name 71” for specifying the tape printer 1 printed on the label L as shown in FIGS. ")." And setting for displaying the main body name 71 on the opening screen 5a as shown in FIG. 6A.

  The [print setting] key 15 is a key for performing various print settings of the tape printer 1. In the present embodiment, it is used for making settings related to printing of the main body name 71 registered in the tape printer 1 (details will be described later).

  The display screen 5 is formed of a liquid crystal display. The display screen 5 allows the user to input desired text (characters such as letters, numbers, symbols, and simple figures) and images using the keyboard 3 to create and edit print data such as text data and image data. It is used when visually confirming (confirming) the result or the like.

  A tape discharge port 21 is formed on the left side of the device case 2 to communicate the cartridge mounting portion 6 with the outside. The tape discharge port 21 is a tape for cutting the sent print tape T (print medium). The cutter 22 is facing. Then, the printed printing tape T is fed out from the tape discharge port 21 by a predetermined length, and the printed printing tape T is cut by the tape cutter 22 in a state where the feeding is temporarily stopped. Create a label.

  The tape cutter 22 includes a full cutter 52 disposed on the upstream side facing the feeding path of the printing tape T, and a half cutter 54 (half-cut means) disposed on the downstream side ( (See FIG. 2 for both). The full cutter 52 cuts both a recording tape Ta (non-printing layer) and a peeling tape Tb (peeling layer) of the printing tape T described later (hereinafter referred to as “full cut”). The printed part is separated from the printing tape T. On the other hand, the half cutter 54 cuts only the recording tape Ta of the printing tape T (hereinafter referred to as “half cutting”), and the printing tape T is left in a state of being connected via the peeling tape Tb. Is for. The setting of “Yes” / “No” for half-cutting can be set in the print setting menu (menu displayed when the [Print Setting] key 15 is pressed), and the default setting is “No”. Is set.

  On the other hand, the cartridge mounting unit 6 has a head unit 24 in which a thermal type print head 26 is built in a head cover 25, a platen drive shaft 27 facing the print head 26, and a winding for winding an ink ribbon R described later. A drive shaft 28 and a positioning projection 29 of a tape reel 32 described later are provided. In addition, a tape feed motor 30 (see FIG. 2) for rotating the platen drive shaft 27 and the take-up drive shaft 28 is incorporated below the cartridge mounting portion 6.

  The tape cartridge C has a tape reel 32 around which a printing tape T having a certain width (about 4 mm to 48 mm) is wound at an upper central portion inside the cartridge case 31, and a ribbon reel 33 around which an ink ribbon R is wound at the lower right. The printing tape T and the ink ribbon R are configured with the same width. A through hole 34 for inserting the head unit 24 is formed in the lower left portion of the tape reel 32. Further, in a state where the head unit 24 is inserted into the through-hole 34, the print head 26 built in the head unit 24 is opposed to the print head 26 across the overlapping portion of the print tape T and the ink ribbon R. A platen roller 35 that is fitted to the platen drive shaft 27 and is driven to rotate is disposed. On the other hand, a ribbon take-up reel 36 is arranged in the vicinity of the ribbon reel 33, and the ink ribbon R fed out from the ribbon reel 33 is arranged so as to go around the head cover 25 and is taken up by the ribbon take-up reel 36. It is like that.

  When the tape cartridge C is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 6, the through hole 34 is formed in the head cover 25, the center hole of the tape reel 32 is formed in the positioning protrusion 29, and the center hole of the ribbon take-up reel 36 is formed in the winding drive shaft 28. Then, the print head 26 is brought into contact with the platen roller 35 with the print tape T and the ink ribbon R interposed therebetween, and printing is enabled. Thereafter, when the user inputs desired text (characters such as letters, numbers, symbols, and simple figures) and images while confirming the editing result of the display screen 5 and instructs printing, the tape printer 1 The printing tape T is fed from the tape cartridge C by the tape feed motor 30 and the heating element of the print head 26 is selectively heated to perform desired printing on the printing tape T. The printed portion of the printing tape T is sent to the outside from the tape discharge port 21 as needed, and when printing is completed, the tape feeding motor 30 feeds the printing tape T to the position of the tape length including the margin, The feeding is stopped (then, the process proceeds to the cutting process).

  On the other hand, the printing tape T is composed of a recording tape Ta having an adhesive layer formed on the back surface, and a release tape Tb attached to the recording tape Ta by the adhesive layer. That is, the printing tape T has a hierarchical structure of the recording tape Ta and the peeling tape Tb. The printing tape T is wound in a roll shape with the recording tape Ta on the outside and the release tape Tb on the inside, and is accommodated in the cartridge case 31. In addition, a plurality of types of printing tape T having different tape types (tape width, tape ground color, ground pattern, material (texture), etc.) are prepared, and each of the cartridge cases 31 has one type. The printing tape T and the ink ribbon R are accommodated. A plurality of holes (not shown) for specifying the type of the tape cartridge C are provided on the back surface of the cartridge case 31. A plurality of tape identification sensors (microswitches, etc.) 37 (see FIG. 2) for detecting these are provided in the cartridge mounting portion 6 corresponding to the plurality of holes. By detecting the state of the hole, the tape type can be determined.

  Next, the control configuration of the tape printer 1 will be described with reference to the control block diagram of FIG. The tape printing apparatus 1 includes an operation unit 41, a detection unit 42, a printing unit 43 (printing unit), a cutting unit 44, a driving unit 45, and a control unit 40 that controls the entire tape printing apparatus 1 by connecting to these units. Have.

  The operation unit 41 functions as a user interface such as input / editing and setting from the keyboard 3 and display on the display screen 5. The keyboard 3 functions as input means for the user to input desired text and images. The keyboard 3 also functions as a registration unit for the main body name 71, a print setting unit for printing the main body name 71, and a display setting unit for performing settings related to the display of the main body name 71 on the opening screen 5a. These registrations and settings are performed in an environment setting menu and a print setting menu (both see FIG. 3). The display screen 5 functions as display means for displaying the opening screen 5a when the tape printer 1 is turned on, in addition to displaying various information such as input / edit results and setting results.

  The detection unit 42 includes the tape identification sensor 37 described above, and detects the type of the printing tape T (tape cartridge C). The printing unit 43 includes the print head 26 and the tape feed motor 30, and performs printing based on the generated print data on the print tape T while conveying the print tape T and the ink ribbon R.

  The cutting unit 44 includes a full cutter 52 that fully cuts the printing tape T and a full cutter motor 51 that drives the cutter, a half cutter 54 that half-cuts the printing tape T, and a half cutter motor 53 that drives the half cutter 54. ing. The full cutter 52 and the half cutter 54 cut the printing tape T that has been printed by the printing unit 43 so as to have a predetermined length, thereby creating a label. The drive unit 45 includes a display driver 55, a head driver 56, a tape feed motor driver 57, and a cutter motor driver 58, and drives each unit.

  The control unit 40 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 61, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 62, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 63, a flash ROM 64, and an input / output control device (hereinafter referred to as “IOC: Input Output Controller”). 65, which are connected to each other by an internal bus 66.

  The ROM 62 stores a control program and control data for the CPU 61 to perform various controls. The RAM 63 is used as a work area for the CPU 61 to execute various processes.

  The flash ROM 64 has a specific information storage area 64a. The specific information storage area 64 a is an area for storing a main body name 71 for specifying the tape printer 1. The main body name 71 can be registered in an environment setting menu (see FIG. 3) described later.

  The CPU 61 inputs various signals and data from each unit in the tape printer 1 via the IOC 65 according to various control programs in the ROM 62. Further, various data in the RAM 63 is processed based on the various signals and data that are input, and various signals and data are output to each part of the tape printer 1 via the IOC 65, thereby enabling input editing processing and print cutting processing. Take control.

  By the way, when creating a label with the same content as the label created in the past or a label with similar content, if the print data of the label remains in the tape printer, it is easily desired by using the print data. Label can be created. However, if there are multiple tape printers in the office, it may not be clear which tape printer has created the label created in the past (which tape printer is stored). . In this case, even if there is an actual label created in the past and the data is stored in the tape printer, the user must create new print data from scratch, which is troublesome and inconvenient. There is a problem that. In order to solve this problem, the tape printer 1 of the present invention has a function of creating a label on which the main body name 71 of the tape printer 1 is printed and displaying the main body name 71 on the opening screen 5a. Hereinafter, a specific description will be given with reference to FIGS.

  First, the environment setting menu and the print setting menu will be described with reference to FIG. This environment setting menu is used to make settings related to registration of the main body name 71 and display on the opening screen 5a. The print setting menu is used to make settings related to printing of the main body name 71. As shown in FIG. 3, the environment setting menu (menu displayed by pressing the [environment setting] key 14) has “main body name registration (specific information registration means)” and “main body name display” as selection candidates. ing. “Main body name registration” registers a main body name 71 for identifying the tape printer 1 based on text (characters such as characters, alphanumeric characters, symbols, and simple graphics) input by the user. The main body name 71 is recorded in the specific information storage area 64a. “Display main body name” has “Yes” / “No” as selection candidates, and sets whether or not to display the main body name 71 on the opening screen 5a (default is “No”).

  On the other hand, the print setting menu (menu displayed when the [print setting] key 15 is pressed) has “main body name printing (specific information print setting means)” as a selection candidate. The “main body name printing” has three selection candidates of “No” / “Inside label” / “Outside label”. When “No” is set, the main body name 71 is not printed regardless of whether the main body name 71 is registered. On the other hand, when “inside label” and “outside label” are set, the main body name 71 is printed in a predetermined area (position) of the label L (default is “NO”). Thereby, it is possible to set whether or not to print the main body name 71 according to the user's needs, which is convenient.

  Next, the registration procedure of the main body name 71 for specifying the tape printer 1 and the label L on which only the registered main body name 71 is printed will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, when “main unit name registration” is selected from the environment setting menu by the user (S 01), the tape printer 1 (CPU 61) displays a main unit name input screen for inputting the main unit name 71. (S02). On the main body name input screen, the user inputs a desired main body name 71 (here, “Sales-1”) by operating the character key group 3a and the cursor keys 12 (S03). When the [Select] key 13 is pressed by the user in the state of S03 (S04), the tape printer 1 registers (records) the input main body name 71 in the specific information storage area 64a (S05).

  On the other hand, when the user presses the [PRINT] key 11 in the state of S03 (S06), the tape printer 1 prints only the input main body name 71 on the printing tape T (S07, specific information printing means). ). As a result, a label L (a label L on which only “Sales-1” is printed) in the drawing can be created. Thus, since only the main body name 71 can be printed, for example, the label L to be attached to the main body of the tape printer 1 can be easily created, which is convenient.

  The main body name 71 may be printed with a specific font (font type and size) set in advance, or the user may specify a font according to his / her preference. Further, in the state of S03, when a key not related to input, registration, or printing of the main body name 71 such as the [Environment setting] key 14 or the [Print setting] key 15 is pressed, the main body name input screen is displayed. A message indicating that an invalid key has been pressed is displayed, or the display screen 5 is temporarily deleted to warn the user.

  Next, a procedure for displaying the main body name 71 on the opening screen 5a will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a display procedure of the opening screen 5a. FIG. 6A is a diagram showing an opening screen 5a displaying the main body name 71, and FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a normal opening screen 5a (a screen preset by the manufacturer of the tape printer 1). FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the user presses the [Power] key 16 with the tape printer 1 turned off, the tape printer 1 (CPU 61) turns on the power (S11). Subsequently, the tape printer 1 confirms the setting of “main body name display” in the environment setting menu. When the “main body name display” is set to “Yes” (S12; Yes), the tape printer 1 displays the main body name registered in the tape printer 1 on the opening screen 5a as shown in FIG. 71 is displayed (S13, specific information display means). Then, after a predetermined time elapses, a text screen is automatically displayed (S14).

  On the other hand, when the “main body name display” is set to “do not” (S12; No), for example, even if the main body name 71 is registered, the tape printer 1 is as shown in FIG. The main body name 71 is not displayed on the opening screen 5a (S15). Then, after a predetermined time elapses, a text screen is automatically displayed (S14). As shown in FIG. 6A, by displaying the main body name 71 registered in the tape printer 1 on the opening screen 5a when the power is turned on, the user can easily grasp the name of the apparatus used by the user. it can.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the production of the label L by the tape printer 1 will be described. Here, a case where the label L is created based on text data input by a user or called from a file will be described as an example.

  First, an example of the created label L will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a label L on which only text data is printed. This label L is an area in which text data is printed (hereinafter referred to as “text print area 81 (area inside dotted line, first print area)”) and other areas (hereinafter “excess area 82”). (A region between a solid line and a dotted line, a second print region). The target text data is printed in the text print area 81 and nothing is printed in the surplus area 82. For convenience, the text print area 81 and the surplus area 82 are collectively defined as a “label area 80”.

  FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating a label L in which the text data to be processed is printed in the text print area 81 and the main body name 71 ([Sales-1] in this example) is printed in the surplus area 82. That is, by printing the main body name 71 in the surplus area 82, the main body name 71 can be printed as a part of the label L without impairing the appearance of the printed content of the text data.

  FIG. 7C is a diagram showing a label L in which text data to be processed and a main body name 71 are printed in a text print area 81. That is, the tape printer 1 prints the main body name 71 as a part of text data to be printed.

  In FIG. 7D, a blank area 83 is set as an area (area outside the label area 80) different from the label area 80 at the front end in the longitudinal direction of the label area 80, and the body name 71 is set in the blank area 83. It is a figure which shows the label L on which is printed. Thus, by printing the main body name 71 in an area (margin area 83) different from the label area 80 where the text data is printed, the appearance of the printed content of the text data is not impaired. In this case, the first print area in the claims corresponds to the label area 80, and the second print area corresponds to the blank area 83. In addition, the dotted line in the figure indicates the boundary between the label area 80 and the margin area 83 and is not actually printed. The blank area 83 may be provided at the rear end in the longitudinal direction of the label area 80.

  FIG. 7E shows a label L obtained by half-cutting the boundary between the label area 80 and the margin area 83 in FIG. That is, it is a diagram showing a label L in which text data is printed in the right region (label region 80) and the main body name 71 is printed in the left region (margin region 83) with the half cut line 84 as a boundary. As a result, the area to be actually attached (label area 80) and the area on which the main body name 71 is printed (margin area 83) can be separated, so that the appearance of the printed content of the text data is not impaired.

  Note that the sizes of the label area 80 (text print area 81 and surplus area 82) and blank area 83 shown in FIG. 7 are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to this. Further, the printing position of the main body name 71 shown in FIGS. 7B to 7E is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, printing may be performed on the right side, the left side, or the upper side in the text print area 81, the surplus area 82, or the blank area 83. Further, the main body name 71 is not limited as long as the tape printer 1 can be specified, and may be not only characters and alphanumeric characters but also symbols and figures.

  Next, a processing procedure for printing each label L shown in FIG. 7 will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. First, when the user presses the [Print] key 11 to instruct printing (S21), the tape printer 1 (CPU 61) confirms the setting of “main body name printing” in the print setting menu (S22). Here, when “none” is set in “main body name printing” (S23), the tape printer 1 creates print data from the text data (S24), and a label L (see FIG. 7 (a)) is created (S25). That is, a general label L that does not print the main body name 71 is created.

  On the other hand, if “inside label” is set in “main body name printing” (S26), the tape printer 1 determines whether the main body name 71 is registered (recorded) in the specific information storage area 64a. (S27). If the main body name 71 is not registered as a result of the determination (S28; No), the tape printer 1 creates print data from the text data (S24), and a label L (FIG. 7 (a) based on this print data. )) Is created (S25). That is, even if “within label” is set, since the main body name 71 to be printed is not registered, a label L in which only text data is printed is created.

  On the other hand, if the main body name 71 is registered as a result of the determination (S28; Yes), the tape printer 1 creates print data based on the text data and the main body name 71. Here, when the specification of the tape printer 1 is set to “print text data and the main body name 71 in different areas of the label L” (S29; Yes), the tape printer 1 Print data of the main body name 71 is created (S30), and then print data is created from the text data (S31). Then, the tape printer 1 prints the text in the text print area 81 of the label L based on the print data created in S30 and S31, and the label L (FIG. 7B) in which the main body name 71 is printed in the surplus area 82. )) Is created (S32).

  On the other hand, when the specification of the tape printer 1 is set to “print in the same area of the text data, the main body name 71 and the label L” (S29; No), the tape printer 1 is a target. Data in which the main body name 71 is added to the text data is created, and print data is created based on this data (S33). Then, the tape printer 1 creates a label L (see FIG. 7C) in which the text and the body name 71 are printed in the text print area 81 based on the print data created in S33 (S34). In the present embodiment, the setting as to whether or not to print the text data and the main body name 71 in different areas of the label L is set in advance as the specification of the tape printer 1, but is not limited thereto. For example, when printing the main body name 71, the user may make settings in the print setting menu.

  On the other hand, if “outside label” is set in “main body name printing” (S35), the tape printer 1 determines whether or not the main body name 71 is registered (recorded) in the specific information storage area 64a. (S36). If the main body name 71 is not registered as a result of the determination (S37; No), the tape printer 1 creates print data from the text data (S24), and the label L (see FIG. )) Is created (S25). That is, even if “out of label” is set, the main body name 71 to be printed is not registered, and thus a label L in which only text data is printed is created.

  On the other hand, if the main body name 71 is registered as a result of the determination (S37; Yes), the tape printer 1 creates print data of the main body name 71 (S38). Subsequently, the tape printer 1 creates print data from the text data (S39). Next, the tape printer 1 confirms the half cut setting. When the half-cut setting is set to “No” (S40; No), the tape printer 1 prints text in the label area 80 based on the print data created in S38 and S39, and the label area 80 A label L (see FIG. 7D) in which the main body name 71 is printed is created in the blank area 83 connected to (S41). On the other hand, when the half-cut setting is set to “Yes” (S40; Yes), the tape printer 1 sets the text in the label area 80 and the margin area 83 based on the print data created in S38 and S39. A main body name 71 is printed, and a label L (see FIG. 7E) in which the regions 80 and 83 are formed so as to be separable by half-cutting is created (S42).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the main body name 71 (specific information) for specifying itself is registered in the tape printer 1, and the label L on which the main body name 71 is printed is created. Thereby, the tape printer 1 that created the label L can be specified from the label L. For example, even when there are a plurality of tape printing apparatuses 1 in an office or the like, it is possible to grasp which tape printing apparatus 1 has been created simply by looking at a label L created in the past. When creating a label L having similar contents, the data stored in the corresponding tape printer 1 can be used, and the desired label L can be easily created.

  In addition, since the user can register the desired main body name 71, registering easy-to-understand words makes it easier than for example to print the serial number or model name of the tape printer 1 on the label L. The tape printer 1 can be specified, which is convenient.

  Further, regardless of the above-described embodiments, the device configuration, processing steps, and the like of the tape printer 1 can be changed as appropriate without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tape printer 3 ... Keyboard 5 ... Display screen 43 ... Printing part 54 ... Half cutter 71 ... Body name 80 ... Label area 81 ... Text printing area 82 ... Surplus area 83 ... Blank area 84 ... Half cut line T ... Printing tape Ta ... Recording tape Tb ... Release tape L ... Label

Claims (7)

Specific information registration means for registering specific information for specifying the device itself;
Input means for inputting a character string composed of one or more characters;
Printing means for printing print data based on the inputted character string on a print medium,
The printing means includes
A printing apparatus that prints the specific information together with the print data. The printing means includes
Printing the print data in a first print area of the print medium;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific information is printed in a second print area different from the first print area of the print medium. The print medium has a hierarchical structure including a printing layer and a release layer,
A half-cut means for cutting only the printing layer of the printing medium;
The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first print area and the second print area of the print medium are divided into areas by a cut portion by the half-cut unit.   4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising specific information print setting means for setting whether or not to print the specific information.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising specific information printing means for printing only the specific information on the print medium.   6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising specific information display means for displaying the specific information on a display screen when the printing apparatus is powered on.   A tape printing apparatus comprising: each means in the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the printing medium is a tape.

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