JP2982783B2 - Tape printer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape printer for printing a character or graphic on a tape-shaped printing material, and more particularly to a tape printer having a tape cutting means for cutting a tape.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional tape printer, since a tape printing means and a tape cutting means are separated from each other in position, a space between the tape printing means and the tape cutting means is provided before a printed portion of a printed printing tape. The blank (unnecessary part) for the distance between the head cutters remains. In addition, in order to obtain a piece of tape on which printing has been completed, the printing tape is fed to a predetermined position by a tape feeding unit after printing, and then the tape is cut.

[0003] This type of printer is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-1472.
No. 72 (US Pat. No. 4,836,697), JP-A-58-5
00475 (US Pat. No. 4,462,708).

FIG. 21 is an explanatory view of a label manufacturing process in a conventional tape printer. Here, a case of manufacturing a tape piece (label) printed with "ABC" will be described as an example. In FIG. 21, P1 is the position of the print head,
P2 indicates the position of the cutter blade, and L indicates the distance between the head cutters. In the drawing, (501) shows the state of the print tape before printing. In this state, printing is started while sending the print tape, and the state in which printing is completed is (502). Next, in order to output a tape piece, the printing tape is fed leftward by L and the printing end position is fed to the tape cutting position P2 (503). If a tape cut is performed in this state, the tape piece printed with “ABC” is output in a cut state, and the state returns to (501) the state of the print tape before printing. When paying attention to the tape piece output here, "A
Unnecessary portions of only the length L (hatched portions in the figure) are generated on the front side where “BC” is printed.

FIG. 22 is a flow chart showing the label production process in a conventional tape printer.
It is. First, print on a printing tape (step 49).
1) is performed, and then the printed print tape is fed by the length L (the distance between the print position and the tape cut position) (step 492). Next, the tape is cut (step 493), and the tape piece that has been printed is output. Here, it is determined whether to perform the next printing (step 494).
Is performed, and when the next printing is executed, the printing (step 4
Returning to step 91), if printing is not to be performed, the process ends.

[0006]

In such a conventional method, in the output tape piece, in addition to the printed portion, an unnecessary portion corresponding to the distance between head cutters is included. The user has to work to cut off the unnecessary part of the printing tape, which is troublesome. In addition, if the distance between the head cutters is extremely shortened, such a wasteful unnecessary portion can be shortened as much as possible.
This has mechanical limitations.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tape printer which can reduce the trouble of cutting unnecessary portions of a tape-shaped portion.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A tape printer according to the present invention comprises a tape feeding means for feeding a tape-like member, a tape printing means for printing on a tape-like member fed by the tape feeding means, and a tape printing means. A tape cutting means disposed in front of the tape feeding direction and cutting the tape-shaped member sent out, a front margin setting means for setting a length of a front margin of an actual printing portion by the tape printing means, Determining means for determining whether the front margin length is longer than a separation distance between the printing position of the tape printing means and the cutting position of the tape cutting means, and controlling at least the tape feeding means and the tape printing means; Control means, wherein the control means controls the tape feeding means to control the front margin when the determination means determines that the front margin length is equal to or greater than the separation distance. After the tape-shaped member is fed by the difference between the tape-shaped member and the separation distance, the tape-feeding member and the tape-printing device are controlled to perform printing on the tape-shaped member while feeding the tape-shaped member. If it is determined that is shorter than the separation distance, after controlling the tape feeding means and the tape printing means, after printing on the tape-shaped member while feeding the tape-shaped member by the difference between the front margin length and the separation distance The tape feeding and printing are interrupted, and the tape feeding and printing are resumed after the tape cutting means cuts the tape-shaped member.

According to this configuration, when it is determined that the front margin length is equal to or greater than the separation distance, the front end (the non-printable portion) of the tape-shaped member existing between the printing position and the cutting position is determined. ) Can be transferred to the front margin to start printing, and unnecessary parts can be eliminated. Similarly, when it is determined that the length of the front margin is shorter than the separation distance, the front end (unprintable portion) of the tape-shaped member existing between the printing position and the cutting position is used as the front margin. Incorporation and unnecessary parts can be minimized.

In this case, it is preferable that a detecting means for detecting the cutting operation of the tape cutting means is provided, and the control means restarts the tape feeding and printing after the detecting means detects the tape cutting operation.

According to this configuration, regardless of the manual cutting and the automatic cutting, the tape feeding and the restart of the printing can be performed at an appropriate timing.

Similarly, there is provided a rear margin setting means for setting a length of a rear margin of an actual print portion by the tape printing means. After the printing is completed, the control means controls the tape feed means to control the distance between the rear margin length and the space. It is preferable to stop the tape feeding after the tape feeding is performed by the sum of the distances.

According to this configuration, the tape-shaped member can be stopped at the cutting position with the front and rear margins included in the actual print portion. Therefore, if the tape is cut in this state, a good-looking label can be manufactured.

In these cases, it is preferable that the control means further controls the tape cutting means to cut the tape-shaped member when the feeding operation of the tape-shaped member is stopped.

According to this configuration, the tape can be cut automatically, and the user can save the trouble of cutting unnecessary portions of the tape-shaped member.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external view of a tape printer showing one embodiment of the present invention. The main body 1 is casingd by an upper case 2, a lower case 3, and a cassette cover 4. In the figure, the cassette cover 4 is open and a tape cassette 147 and a ribbon cassette 148 are mounted.

A display device 15 uses a liquid crystal display device. Reference numeral 20 denotes a keyboard on which keys such as a power key 21, a print key 22, a character key 23, and a function key 24 are arranged.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic views showing the structure of the mechanism section of the tape printer of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a top view showing the structure without a tape cassette. FIG. 3 is a left side view of FIG. It is. As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, the cassette cover 4 of the tape cassette mounting portion is open. The structure will now be described with reference to FIGS.

Reference numeral 105 denotes a print head having a plurality of heating elements (not shown) at equal intervals and held by a head support 106. Reference numeral 107 denotes a contact portion 107 with a release lever shaft 116.
-1 is a head arm supported by a head arm shaft 109, and 108 is a head arm
Reference numeral 110 denotes a head holding spring which serves to support the shaft 6 and biases the head arm 107 in the direction of arrow A17. 111 is a tape feed gear 128
A tape feed roller fixed to a shaft portion 128-1 (shown in FIG. 5), 112 is a tape feed roller holder having a contact portion 112-1 and holding a tape feed gear 128, 11
Reference numeral 3 denotes a tape feed roller spring which serves to urge the shaft portion 128-1 in the direction of arrow A19, and 129 denotes a tape feed roller holder shaft which supports the tape feed roller holder 112. Reference numeral 114 denotes a double-headed arrow A15, A16 which is supported by a release lever support shaft 115 fixed to the main frame 101.
A release lever 116 that can rotate in the direction is a release lever shaft fixed to the release lever 114. 117
Is a release lever which is guided by the sub-frame 7 and is movable in the directions of the double arrows A12 and A13, and which is in contact with the release lever 114; A cassette cover 3 having the cam 6 and being rotatable in the direction of arrow A10 with the release cam shaft 121 as a fulcrum is a lower printer case to which the main frame 101 is fixed. Reference numeral 118 denotes a column integrally formed with the lower case 3 and supporting the release cam shaft 121. 103 is a motor having a motor gear 122, 126
Is a ribbon take-up gear that drives the rotation of the motor gear 122 by engaging the transmission gear 123 with the transmission gear 124; 104, a ribbon take-up shaft driven by the ribbon take-up gear 126; 127, a transmission gear 123 and a transmission gear 125; A tape feed transmission gear receiving rotation of the motor gear 122 via
130 is a tape feed transmission gear shaft, and 131 is a platen roller shaft.

Reference numeral 133 denotes a switch of the cassette detector 132 for detecting the type of the tape cassette such as the presence or absence of the tape cassette and the width of the tape.

Reference numerals 134 and 135 denote cutter blades for cutting the tape. The worm gear 145 is rotated by the driving of the fixed blade 134 fixed to the printer frame 101 and the DC motor 146, and the cutter driving gear 139 is rotated via the transmission gear 143, the transmission gear 142, and the transmission gear 141. Arrows A20, A21, A22, and A23 indicate the rotation direction of the tape cutting. A groove 140 having a cam curve is formed in the cutter driving gear 139, and a cutter driving pin 138 attached to the cutter arm 137 is formed in the groove.
Moves up and down. That is, the rotation of the cutter drive gear 139 causes the cutter drive pin 138 to rotate about the cutter rotation shaft 136. This pivotal movement causes the cutter arm 13 to move.
7, the cutter blade 135 rotates, and the tape pressing roller 150 (shown in FIG. 4) and the tape feed roller 1
11 cuts the print tape 154 sent out. 159 is a projection 13 of the cutter driving gear 139.
This is a cutter home detector including a microswitch for detecting the cutter home position according to 9-1.

In FIG. 2, the release lever 117 is pushed in the directions of the double arrows A12 and A16 by the release cam 6. Therefore, in the release cam 6, both arrows A 13 and A 13 are generated by the force of the head pressing spring 110 and the tape feed roller spring 113.
It receives the reaction force in the 15 directions, and the double arrow A16, A15
Rotation in the direction is prevented. The above is the description of the structure of the tape printer of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram in which a tape cassette 147 and a ribbon cassette 148 are mounted on the tape printer mechanism of the present invention. The tape cassette 147 is the ribbon cassette 1
It is mounted so as to cover the 48 side portions. A transparent tape 151 on which printing is performed and a double-sided adhesive tape 152 for protecting a printing surface of the transparent tape 151 are loaded in the tape cassette 147. 4 shows a state in which the cassette cover 4 is closed, the head support body 106 on the main body side is pressed against the platen roller 149 on the tape cassette 148 side, and the tape feed roller 111 on the main body side is a tape pressing roller on the tape cassette side. 150 is pressed against the transparent tape 15
1, the ink ribbon 153 is pressed by the head support 106 and the platen roller 149, and the double-sided adhesive tape 152 and the transparent tape 151 are pressed and held by the tape feed roller 111 and the tape pressing roller 150, respectively.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the tape printer of the present invention.

All devices such as input and output of the tape printer are controlled by the CPU 50. C
PU50 has many I / O ports 71 and 72,
Performs input / output control. The liquid crystal display device 15 is controlled via the LCD driver 73. 20 is a keyboard and a CPU 5
Key scanning is directly performed from 0 to detect which key has been input. Reference numeral 75 denotes a buzzer for notifying a warning or a response, which is controlled by the CPU 50 via a buzzer driver 74. Reference numeral 51 denotes a ROM, which includes a program 52, a display character generator (hereinafter, referred to as CG) 53, and print CGs 54, 55, 56. Multiple printing C
Having G makes it possible to print a plurality of character fonts.

Reference numeral 57 denotes a RAM, and an edit buffer 58,
Display buffer 59, print buffer 60, work area 61, stack area 62, print setting character height setting 6
3, character width setting 64, character decoration setting 65, character space setting 66, tape length setting 67, front margin setting 6
8, font selection 69, repeat setting 70, and the like.

Reference numeral 76 denotes a step motor driver for feeding the tape, which drives the step motor 103. Reference numeral 77 denotes a DC motor driver for driving the cutter.
6 is driven. A print head 105 uses a thermal head in the present invention. The print head 105 is driven via a head driver 79. Print head 105
Are supported by a head support 106, a head arm 107, a head support shaft 108, and a head arm shaft 109.
132 is a tape cassette detector and two switch units 1
33 detects the presence or absence of a tape cassette and a plurality of tape widths. When the step motor 103 is driven to rotate forward, the motor gear 122 rotates in the direction of the arrow A1, and the transmission gear 123 rotates in the direction of A2. The tape feed transmission gear 127 from the transmission gear 123 via the transmission gear 125
The tape rotates in six directions, and further, the tape feed gear 128 rotates, and the tape feed roller 111 feeds the tape. The tape pressing roller 150 is mounted on the tape cassette side, and when the tape cassette 147 is mounted, the printing tape 15 is mounted.
4 is pressed against the tape feed roller 111.
Reference numeral 130 denotes a tape feed transmission gear shaft, which also serves as a support shaft for the tape pressing roller 150. The transmission gear 123 is
The transmission gear 124 is also rotated, and the ribbon take-up gear 126 is also rotated. By the rotation of the ribbon winding gear 126, the ribbon winding shaft 104 rotates in the direction of arrow A4, and the ribbon winding core 1
58 and wind the ribbon 153. Arrow A3, A
5, A7 indicates the rotation direction of the gear for feeding the tape. Reference numeral 78 denotes a power supply for driving all the circuits.

Next, the printing control of the tape printer according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of tape printing.
This is an editing buffer in the AM 57 and stores a character group 200 input from the keyboard. 201 is an end code indicating the end of the edit character. Reference numeral 60 denotes a print buffer secured in the RAM 57. As shown in FIG.
This is a memory that develops into a bitmap using G. 202 and 203 in the print buffer 60 indicate the presence or absence of a dot, respectively. The columns in the vertical direction in the print buffer 60 are sequentially transmitted to the print head 105 from the left side, and when power is turned on, printing is performed as shown in FIG. FIG. 6C shows a print dot when a part of the print character “A” is transmitted to the print head 105 and energized. Reference numeral 204 denotes a non-printed dot, and 205 denotes a printed dot. Each energization is performed for each row, during which the step motor 103 is driven to feed the tape. The distance d1 between the dot rows is controlled by the rotation amount of the tape feed roller 111 driven by the step motor 103. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the print tape 154 and the head position of the tape printer of the present invention. An arrow A30 indicates a tape feeding direction, 217 indicates a blank tape corresponding to a distance between the head position and the cutter position, and 210 indicates the length. Reference numeral 211 denotes a tape length, which is a sum of a front margin 212, a print range 213, and a rear margin 214. 215 is a tape width and 216 is a print width.

In the initial state, the print head 105 is located at H1. When a print command is received, the tape is fed by the front margin 212 minutes. Printing starts when the print head 105 reaches the position H2. When the leading edge of the front margin comes to the cutter position after the start of printing, the print head 105 is at the position of H3, stops printing, and performs cut processing. When printing is restarted after cutting and printing is completed, the print head 105 is positioned at H4. Printing is stopped, and the tape is fed for the rear margin 214. At this time, it is located at H5. Then, in order to obtain a printed piece of tape, the tape is sent after a head cutter distance of 210 minutes, and then cut (the position of the print head 105 is H6). At this time, the tape having the head cutter distance of 210 is useless. A method for eliminating the waste will be described later.

Now, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in order to prevent vertical dots between dots at the time of cutting. One of the methods is a step motor hold control, and the other is a method of reversing the tape before and after the tape is cut.

First, the hold control of the step motor will be described. In the present embodiment, examples are given for two methods. One is current control, and the other is chopping control.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a drive control circuit for a step motor. FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing a driving method of the drive control circuit of FIG. FIG. 10 is a timing chart in which the step motor hold control is realized by the motor drive control.

The drive control circuit of the step motor shown in FIG.
7 and a transistor 236 that bypasses a large current. When the hold signal 235 is input, the transistor 236 is turned off and the current flows through the current limiting resistor 237. When the hold signal 235 is not input, the transistor 236 is turned on, so that a large current can flow. In this way, the rotation of the step motor is stopped, and the holding state is established with low power. In the figure, reference numeral 230 denotes a step motor drive driver, and reference numerals 231, 232, 233, and 234 denote 1, phase, two-phase, three-phase, and four-phase terminals of the step motor, respectively.

In FIG. 9, 240, 241, 242,
Reference numerals 243 denote step motor one-phase, two-phase, three-phase,
These are four-phase timing signals. Reference numeral 244 denotes a hold signal. The sections T1 and T3 are rotation control sections of the step motor, and the section T2 is a hold control section.
As described with reference to FIG. 8, when the hold signal 244 is HIGH (section T2), the transistor 236 is turned off, and the step motor 122 is held with low power.
In this section T2, the printed tape is cut. In the figure, holding is performed in four phases.

FIG. 10 shows that the hold control of the step motor is realized by so-called chopping control for intermittently controlling the drive signal of the excitation phase. The drive control circuit of the step motor is shown in FIG. The transistor 236 and the hold signal 235 are deleted. T1 and T3 are rotation control sections, and T2 is a hold control section. 240, 241, 242, 2 in the figure
43 is a step motor of one phase, two phases, three phases,
These are the timing signals for each phase.

Next, a method of reversing the tape before and after the tape cut will be described.

FIG. 11 is a timing chart for reverse / forward rotation of the tape feed before and after the tape cut. In the figure, reference numerals 240, 241, 242, and 243 indicate one-phase, two-phase, three-phase, and four-phase drive signals of the step motor 103, respectively. Reference numeral 250 denotes a head energization signal, 251 denotes a cutter start signal, 252 denotes a detection signal of a cutter home sensor,
44 is a head hold signal. In the T1 section, normal tape feeding (t1, t2, t3, t4) and energization (t5)
It is carried out. T6 indicates a tape feed time for one dot row. When it reaches the cut position, the tape feed is reversed (T
4) Perform tape cutting (T2). Thereafter, the reversed tape is rotated forward and the tape is returned to the position before cutting (T
5). Then, tape feeding and printing are restarted (T3). At the time of tape cutting, as described above, the tape is held by the hold signal 244 of the step motor or the chopping control. DC motor 1 that drives the cutter during that time
46 is activated by the cutter drive signal 251. A signal indicating that the auto cut has been completed is output to the cutter home detector 1.
Since the home position detection signal 252 is output from the output unit 59, the auto cutter driving signal 251 is stopped when the home detection signal 252 is detected. Next, the hold signal 244 is stopped and the printing operation is restarted. T1, t in the figure
2, t3 and t4 are one phase of the step motor 1 and 2
, Three-phase, and four-phase drive pulse times, t5 is the power supply time of the print head 6, t7 is the drive time of the cutter, and t8 and t
Reference numeral 9 denotes a pulse time of the cutter detector, and t6 denotes a time from when the tape is reversed to when the power source is stabilized and the cutter is driven.

FIG. 12 shows the state of the double-sided adhesive tape and the transparent tape at the time of tape cutting. In the figure, the double-sided adhesive tape 152 and the transparent tape 151 are
Usually pulled by the tension of the tape feed,
152-1 and 151 respectively due to the reversal of the tape feed
It becomes a slack state like -1. At this time, at the position of the print head 105, the transparent tape 151 and the ink ribbon 153 are pressed against the print head 105 and the platen roller 149 and do not move. When the tape is cut here, the double-sided adhesive tape 152-1 and the transparent tape 151-1
Is pulled by the cutter and sent slightly, but again, the transparent tape 151 and the ink ribbon 153 are
5 and the platen roller 149, so that there is no movement.
After the tape is cut, the tape feed is rotated forward, and the double-sided adhesive tape 152-1 and the transparent tape 151-1 return to the original stretched state. When the motor is rotated forward, the pulse is returned by a smaller number of pulses than when the motor is rotated in the reverse direction, so that it is controlled not to be pulled out extra.

FIG. 13 (a) and FIG. 13 (b)
Will be described. 13 (a) and 13 (b) are schematic diagrams of the engagement portion between the step motor gear 122 and the transmission gear 123. FIG. 13A shows a stopped state during normal tape feeding, and FIG. 13B shows a stopped state during reverse rotation. When rotating in the direction of arrow A31 in FIG. 13A, the tape is sent out. When the cutter is operated in this state, the tape is pulled in the direction of arrow A32, and the transmission gear is moved to the position indicated by the broken line 1.
It moves like 23 '. In the state of FIG. 13B, the tape is rotated in the direction of arrow A33, and the transmission gear 123 cannot move even if the cutter operates and is pulled in the direction of arrow A34. The phenomenon of FIG. 13A is caused by the fact that all the gears 125, 1
27 and 128, it is easy to pull out the tape at the time of cutting, and the amount is also accumulated.

FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 are control flowcharts including the reverse rotation at the time of tape cutting.

In FIG. 14, LM is a front margin, P
L indicates a print length, RM indicates a rear margin, and C indicates a dot counter value for tape feed. N is a numerical value obtained by converting the tape feeding distance between the head cutters into dots. These variables are
It is secured in the work area 61 in the RAM 57.

When printing is started (step 300),
First, the front margin setting value (LMGN) in the RAM 57
From 68, the front margin LM is calculated. This calculation calculates millimeters to dots. (Step 301) LM = LMGN (mm) / d1 (d1 is the distance between the dots for feeding the tape. See FIG. 6) Next, the print length PL is calculated. The print length PL is the print character width (WIDE) 64, the number of characters, and the space between characters (CSP).
C) Calculate at 66. (Step 302) PL = WIDE × number of characters + CPSC × (number of characters−1) Next, the rear margin RM is calculated. Rear margin RM
From the tape length setting (TLNG) 67 to the front margin L
What is necessary is to subtract M and the print length PL. (Step 303) RM = TLNG-LM-PL If the calculated rear margin RM is negative, an error occurs because the set value of the tape length is short. (Steps 304 and 3
05) Initialize the dot counter C for tape feed. (Step 306) First, the tape is fed by the front margin (S1). That is, until LM becomes 0 (step 309), one dot advance (step 311) and LM are decremented by 1, and the counter C
Is incremented by 1 (step 310). At this time, it is checked whether the value of C has reached the cutting position by comparing C and N. (Step 307) When the cut position is reached, cut control A is performed. (FIG. 15) Similarly, a printing operation is performed (S2). (Steps 312-
317) The printing operation is different from the tape feed of the front margin in that one dot row is printed for each dot feed (step 317), and cut control B is performed (step 3).
13) That is. The difference between the cut control B and the cut control A is the difference between whether to perform the reverse rotation and the normal rotation of the tape feed.

As in the case of the front margin, the tape feed of the rear margin is performed (S3). (Steps 318 to 322) The cutter position comes in the front margin tape feed, print tape feed, and rear margin tape feed (C = N).
Is always performed once, so that the cut is performed at any one of the steps 308, 313, and 319 of the cut control.

After the rear margin is fed, the tape is cut. After the N dot tape has been fed (step 323), the cut control A is performed (step 324), and the print control ends (step 325).

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the cut control A (when the reverse rotation is not performed). In the figure, T is the CPU 5
0 is a timer inside (not shown), and TN is a cutter timeout time. First, a timeout time TN of the timer T is set. (Step 331) Then, the DC motor 146 for driving the cutter is started (Step 332). Signal of cutter home sensor 159 is ON
(Step 333), the timer T is decremented by one (step 334). When the timer T reaches 0, it is determined that a timeout has occurred (step 335), and a cutter operation error is determined (step 336). If the cutter home sensor 159 is turned on before the timeout, the sensor 159 is turned off (step 337), and the DC
The motor is stopped (step 338) and the process ends (step 339).

FIG. 16 shows a cut control B (in the case of reverse rotation).
It is a flowchart of FIG. In the figure, W1 is the number of reverse rotation steps, W2 is the number of forward rotation steps, and W2 ≦ W1 is always satisfied.

In the cut control B, the reverse transfer of the W1 dot tape is performed before the cut control A is called (step 342) (step 341).
The normal transfer of the tape for the dot is performed (step 34).
3).

The cut control during printing is shown in FIG.
Tape printing that cuts at the front and rear margins becomes possible.

Next, the means for setting the front margin and the tape length will be described.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the main control routine of the tape printer of the present invention. Power ON (Step 35
0) First, system initialization is performed (step 351). Subsequently, the printer mechanism is initialized (step 35).
2). In the initialization of the printer mechanism, the cutter is moved to the home position. At 353, the characters in the edit buffer 58 are displayed, and a key input is waited for (step 354). If the input key is a character key (step 355), it is input to the editing buffer 58 (step 356). If it is not a character key, the control key is determined (step 358), and the operation is performed according to the control key. The SHIFT key and the CAPS key wait for input of the next character (steps 359 and 362).
If the entered key is a character key (steps 360, 3
63) and convert them to symbols and capital letters, respectively (step 36)
1,364) Input to the edit buffer. If it is not a character key, the key is ignored and the next key is waited for (step 354). In the control key determination, if it is a FUNC key, the next key is waited for input (step 365), and if it is a character key (step 366), a function key determination is made (step 367) to activate a function function. In the function key determination, if the input keys are numeric keys 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, character height setting (step 371), character width setting (step 372), and character decoration setting (step 373), respectively. ), Character space setting (step 374), tape length setting (step 375), and front margin setting (step 376). The numeric keys are arranged at predetermined keys on the keyboard 20 in FIG. If it is a print command key, repeat printing is performed (step 377). Control key determination (step 35
In step 8), if the command is a print command key, a printing process is performed (step 368). If the command is a cursor key, the cursor is moved (step 369). If the command is a line feed key, a line feed operation is performed (step 370).

In setting the tape length (step 375) and setting the front margin (step 376), the display device 1
The heading and the current set value are displayed in units of millimeters on 5 and the numerical value is moved up or down with the cursor keys, or the numerical value is directly input with the numerical keys, and the numerical value is determined with the line feed key. Here, the means for setting the rear margin is unnecessary. That is, if there is a tape setting unit, a front margin setting unit, a character width setting unit, and a character space setting unit, the rear margin is automatically determined.

Finally, a description will be given of print control that does not create a blank space on the tape between the head cutters. In the above, repeat printing (step 377) is such.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of a label manufacturing process in a tape printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a case where a tape piece printed with "ABC" is output as in the above-described conventional example is considered. P1 indicates the position of the print head 105, P2 indicates the position of the cutter blade, and L indicates the distance between the head cutters. In the figure, (a) shows the state of the tape before printing. Printing is started while feeding the tape from this state, and when the tape is fed by the length L to the left, temporary printing and tape feeding are stopped ((b) ) State). When the tape is cut in this state and an unnecessary portion (hatched portion in the figure) is cut off, the state shown in FIG. After the tape is cut, the printing and the tape feeding are restarted, and the state in which the printing is completed is shown in FIG. Here, when there is no schedule for the next printing and the user wants to output a piece of tape (to finish the printing operation), the tape is fed leftward by L and the tape is cut in the state shown in FIG. A piece of tape printed with "ABC" without the mark is output. On the other hand, when the printing operation is continued, the second printing is started while the tape is being fed from the state of (d), and the temporary printing and the tape feeding are stopped when the tape is fed by the length L in the left direction (( e) state). In this state, when the tape is cut and the tape piece on which “ABC” is printed is cut off, the state shown in FIG. After the tape is cut, the printing and the tape feeding are restarted, and the state in which the printing is completed is shown in FIG. As described above, in order to continuously output a piece of tape on which “ABC” is printed, first, the operations (a) and (b) are performed, and then the operation shown in FIG.
By repeating the operations (c), (d), and (e) in FIG. 8, only a wasteful tape having a length L (a shaded portion in the drawing) is generated first, and the output tape piece is No useless parts are included.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a label producing process in the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. First, printing is performed on the tape for a length L (the distance between the printing position and the tape cutting position) (step 381), where printing is temporarily interrupted, and the tape is reversed for W1 steps (step 382). After cutting (step 383), the tape is rotated forward by W2 steps (step 384), and the remaining printing (step 385) is restarted. After the printing is completed, it is determined whether or not to perform the next printing (step 386). If the next printing is to be performed, the process returns to printing (step 381). If not, the tape is fed by the length L (step 387). ), Cut the tape (step 388) and finish (step 3)
89).

In the determination at step 386, the number of repeats may be set by the user immediately before repeat printing, and the number of counts may be counted down to zero.

Although the present embodiment has been described with respect to a case where tape pieces printed with "ABC" are continuously output,
There is no problem if the characters or figures to be printed are changed each time and the printing is performed continuously.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the control process in the tape printer according to the present invention. The same processes as those in FIG. 19 are denoted by the same reference numerals. First, printing is performed on the tape for a length L (the distance between the printing position and the tape cutting position) (step 381), where printing is temporarily interrupted, and the tape is reversed for W1 steps (step 382). After cutting (Step 3
83), the tape is rotated forward by W2 steps (step 3)
84) Restart the remaining printing (step 385). After the printing is completed, an inquiry is made to the operator as to whether or not to perform the next printing by using the display means. (Step 390) As an example, "Con
tinue? (Y / N) "is displayed. Here, the key input is waited (step 391), and after the key input, the process proceeds to the step of judging by the input character (step 392). If the input is" Y ", printing is performed (step 381). Returning, if printing is not continued by inputting "N", the tape is fed by the length L (step 387), the tape is cut (step 388), and the process is terminated (step 389), even if "Y" or "N" is awaited. When a numerical value is input, it can be applied to execute repeat printing this number of times.

[0060]

As described above, according to the tape printer of the present invention, it is possible to use the set front margin so as not to generate unnecessary portions or to minimize unnecessary portions. In addition, it is possible to reduce the time and effort required for the user to cut the unnecessary portion, and it is possible to improve the usability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a tape printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view showing the structure of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the structure of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view showing a state where a tape cassette is mounted on the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating print control of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating print control of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of a tape feed motor of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a control timing chart of a tape feed motor of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a control timing chart of a tape feed motor of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a timing chart showing cut control of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a tape during cut control of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of gears during cut control of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating cut control of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating cut control of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating cut control of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating main control of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of a printing tape during cut control of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a schematic view of a printing tape at the time of cutting control of a tape printer according to a conventional embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating cut control of a tape printer according to a conventional embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 15 liquid crystal display device 20 keyboard 50 CPU 52 ROM 57 RAM 103 tape feed motor 105 print head 111 tape feed roller 146 cutter drive motor 134 cutter fixed blade 135 cutter drive blade 149 platen roller 150 tape pressing roller 151 transparent tape 154 print tape

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 11/00-11/70 B41J 3/36 B41J 29/38 B41J 29/50

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A tape feeding means for feeding a tape-shaped member, a tape printing means for printing on the tape-shaped member fed by the tape feeding means, and a tape feeding means disposed in front of the tape printing means in a tape feeding direction. ,
A tape cutting unit that cuts the sent tape-shaped member; a front margin setting unit that sets a length of a front margin of an actual printing portion by the tape printing unit; and the set front margin length is Determining means for determining whether the distance is longer than a separation distance between a printing position of the tape printing means and a cutting position of the tape cutting means; and control means for controlling at least the tape feeding means and the tape printing means. The control unit, when the determination unit determines that the front margin length is equal to or greater than the separation distance, controls the tape feeding unit to control the front margin length and the separation distance. After sending the tape-shaped member only by the difference, the tape-feeding unit and the tape printing unit are controlled to perform printing on the tape-shaped member while feeding the tape-shaped member, If the determination unit determines that the front margin length is shorter than the separation distance, the control unit controls the tape feeding unit and the tape printing unit to determine a difference between the front margin length and the separation distance. A tape printer which prints on the tape-shaped member while feeding the tape-shaped member only, interrupts tape feeding and printing, and resumes tape feeding and printing after cutting the tape-shaped member by the tape cutting means. . 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising detecting means for detecting a cutting operation of the tape cutting means, wherein the control means restarts the tape feeding and printing after the detecting means detects the tape cutting operation. The tape printer according to claim 1, wherein 3. A rear margin setting unit for setting a length of a rear margin of an actual print portion by the tape printing unit, wherein the control unit controls the tape feeding unit after printing to complete the rear margin. 2. The tape printer according to claim 1, wherein the tape feeding is stopped after the tape feeding is performed by the sum of the length and the separation distance. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means further controls the tape cutting means to cut the tape-shaped member when the feeding operation of the tape-shaped member is stopped. A tape printer as described.