JP3045026B2 - Tape printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute the printing of various impressions by providing a printing means applying character printing and two kinds of whole and partial framing printings to a printing medium on the basis of character data, the indication of a whole framing indication means and that of a partial framing indication means. CONSTITUTION:A character data input means 4, a whole framing indication means 4 for indicating the whole framing surrounding the whole of a character and a partial framing indication means 4 for indicating the partial framing surrounding a part of characters are provided. A printing means 12 applies character printing and two kinds of whole and partial framing printings to a printing medium on the basis of character data, the indication of a whole framing indication means and that of a partial framing indication means. As a result, various impressions corresponding to the demand of a user can be printed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape printing apparatus which prints relatively simple sentences such as words and names on a tape-shaped print medium to create, for example, a label.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a tape printer capable of printing desired characters and symbols on a tape-shaped print medium made of paper or a plastic film, for example, has been provided. This is an input operation unit equipped with a keyboard consisting of a large number of character keys and function keys and a display unit consisting of a liquid crystal panel, and a print head that performs printing by a print head while sending a tape-shaped print medium, for example, in the horizontal direction. And a part. When the user operates the keyboard to input desired characters and the like while looking at the display unit, and instructs execution of a printing operation by the keyboard, the desired characters are printed on the print medium, and the print medium is appropriately It is cut to length to obtain a label.

[0003]

By the way, in such a label, it is often the case that a mere printing of a character is an ordinary impression for a viewer. In contrast, by providing a frame that surrounds the entire character in the label, the appearance can be improved and a good impression can be given to the viewer, and only a predetermined character in the label can be surrounded by the frame. , The character can be emphasized.

[0004] Conventional tape printing apparatuses have been provided with a framing function of forming a frame on the entire label. However, in this case, the user has to determine whether to form a frame on the entire label or not. There were only two choices, and it was not possible to create labels with various impressions. Further, it was impossible to emphasize only some characters by the frame as described above.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tape printing apparatus capable of performing various impressions by enabling partial emphasis by framing.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a tape printing apparatus comprising: character data input means for inputting data of one or more characters such as characters and symbols to be printed on a tape-shaped print medium; A whole framing designating means for designating the whole framing surrounding the character, a partial framing designating means for designating a partial framing surrounding a part of the character, the character data and the whole framing designating means and the partial framing designating means. The present invention is characterized in that it has a configuration including a printing unit that performs character printing and two types of framing printing, that is, whole and partial printing on a print medium.

[0007]

According to the above means, the data of the character to be printed on the print medium is inputted by the character data input means. In addition to this, the user surrounds the entire character by the whole framing designation means. The whole framing can be designated, and the partial framing surrounding a part of the character can be designated by the partial framing designation means.

[0008] Based on the character data and the designation of the whole framing designating means and the partial framing designating means, the printing means executes character printing on the tape-shaped print medium and two kinds of framing printing, whole and partial. Become like

Therefore, in addition to printing only the character on the print medium, the entire framing surrounding the entire character, the partial framing surrounding only a specific part of the character, the double framing of the whole and the part, or the like is provided. Can be added, so that printing of various impressions can be performed.

[0010]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, a schematic configuration of the tape printing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
Indicates a main body 1 of the tape printing apparatus.
Is roughly composed of an input operation unit 2 located on the front side and a printing unit 3 located on the rear side.

The input operation unit 2 is provided with a keyboard 4 and a liquid crystal display 5. Among them, the keyboard 4 is provided with a number of character keys 6 for inputting characters such as alphabets and numbers and various symbols and the like, as well as cursor keys, print execution keys, partial framing setting keys, Various function keys 7 such as an execution key are provided.

The liquid crystal display 5 displays characters input by operating the keyboard 4 and various messages. With this,
The input operation unit 2 is used to print 1 on a print medium to be described later.
It functions as character data input means for inputting the character data described above.

On the other hand, the printing section 3 is provided with a tape cassette mounting section 9 in which a tape cassette 8 described later is set exchangeably. This tape cassette mounting section 9
Is provided with a ribbon take-up shaft 10 and a tape feed shaft 11, and as shown in FIG.
And a roller holder 13 and a cutter mechanism 14 (both shown only in FIG. 6), which will be described later.

The ribbon winding shaft 10 and the tape feed shaft 1
1 is driven by a pulse motor 15 (shown only in FIG. 4). The thermal head 1
Numeral 2 is for printing on a printing medium described later, and is constituted by, for example, 20 heating elements arranged in the vertical direction.

Here, the tape cassette 8 will be described in detail. FIG. 6 shows a state where the tape cassette 8 is set in the tape cassette mounting section 9 with the upper case of the tape cassette 8 removed. The tape cassette 8 is configured by incorporating the following mechanism into a case 16 including the upper case and the lower case 16a.

That is, the case 16 has a rectangular box shape as a whole, and has an opening 17 at the left end portion of the front surface (the lower surface in FIG. 6). A tape spool 19 around which a long tape-shaped transparent film 18 as a print medium is wound is provided rotatably at the upper right side in the drawing of the case 16, and is located below it in the drawing. And a ribbon spool 21 around which a long thermal ink ribbon 20 is wound.
Are provided rotatably. Further, on the left side of the inside of the case 16 in the drawing, an adhesive tape spool 23 around which a long double-sided adhesive tape 22 with a release paper attached only to the outer surface side is wound.
Is also provided rotatably.

A hole 16b through which the thermal head 12 is inserted is formed below the adhesive tape spool 23 in the drawing. A pressure roller 25 is provided at the lower left corner of the case 16 in the drawing. Further, a ribbon take-up spool 24 is provided substantially at the center of the case 16.

The ribbon take-up spool 24 is connected to the ribbon take-up shaft 10 to be rotated. As a result, the thermal ink ribbon 20 pulled out from the ribbon spool 21 is guided by the thermal head 12 by guide rollers 26, 27, 28 and the like provided in the case 16, and is subjected to printing. The ribbon is taken up on a ribbon take-up spool 24.

On the other hand, the roller holder 13 is located at the front of the tape cassette 8 and has a set position shown in FIG. 6 around a shaft 29 at the right end and a release position at which the left end is separated from the tape cassette 8. The platen roller 30 and the tape feed roller 31 facing the opening 17 of the case 16 are provided on the left end side thereof.

At the set position, the platen roller 30 comes into contact with the thermal head 12 to receive the film 18 and the thermal ink ribbon 20, and the tape feed roller 31 is pressed against the pressure roller 25. At the same time, it is connected to the tape feed shaft 11 and feeds the film 18 and the double-sided adhesive tape 22.

The film 18 pulled out from the tape spool 19 is wound around a guide roller 32 and is then superposed on the thermal ink ribbon 20 so that the thermal head 12 and the platen roller 30 It is sent in between to print a predetermined character.

After that, the printed film 18 is separated from the thermal ink ribbon 20 and is superposed on the double-sided adhesive tape 22 pulled out from the adhesive tape spool 23. It is passed through the feed roller 31 and discharged from the left end of the opening 17 of the case 16. At this time, a double-sided adhesive tape 22 with a release paper attached to the back side is attached to the back side of the printed film 18.

Further, the film 18 with the double-sided adhesive tape 22 discharged from the opening 17 is cut into a predetermined length by the cutter mechanism 14 provided on the left side of the tape cassette 8, and the predetermined length is cut. Is formed on the label. Although a detailed description is omitted, the cutter mechanism 14 is configured to have a movable blade that moves toward and away from and slides on the fixed blade.
With the film 18 (label) sandwiched between both blades,
The cutting operation is performed by moving the movable blade by driving the DC motor 33.

As shown in FIG. 5, the printing unit 3 is provided with a cover 34 that opens and closes the tape cassette 8 set in the tape cassette mounting unit 9.
The replacement of the tape cassette 8 and the like are performed with the cover 34 opened.

Now, as shown in FIG.
A control device 35 for controlling each of the above-described mechanisms is provided. The control device 35 is mainly composed of a microcomputer, and includes a CPU 36, a ROM 37, an RA
M38 and the like. The keyboard 36 is connected to the CPU 36, a liquid crystal display driving circuit 39 for driving the liquid crystal display 5, a pulse motor driving circuit 40 for driving the pulse motor 15, and a DC motor driving circuit for driving the DC motor 33. Circuit 41,
Thermal head drive circuits 42 for driving the thermal heads 12 are connected to each other.

The ROM 37 stores character generators for display and printing, and various control programs. The RAM 38 has a character data storage area for storing input character data and the like, and upon receiving a print command, reads out print pattern data from a character generator based on the character data to develop a print image. And an image buffer 38a (see FIG. 8).

When the user operates the character key 6 or the like of the keyboard 4 to input data of a desired character C, for example, "ABCDEF", the character C is displayed on the liquid crystal as shown in FIG. The data is displayed on the display 5 and the data is stored in the RAM 38. At this time, by operating the keyboard 4 while the user looks at the liquid crystal display 5, editing of character data and the like can be performed.

Thereafter, when the user operates the function key 7 to issue a print execution command, the RAM 38
Is stored in the image buffer 38a, the thermal head 12 is driven based on the data, and the pulse motor 15 and the DC motor 33 are driven. Is printed to form a label.

As will be clear from the description of the flowchart described later, the control device 35 has a software configuration so that when the user operates the keyboard 4 and designates the entire framing, the character is displayed on the film 18. When the entire framing F1 (see FIGS. 8 and 9) surrounding the entire C is printed and the user operates the keyboard 4 to specify the partial framing, the film 1
8 prints a partial framing F2 (see FIGS. 8 and 9) surrounding a part of the character C.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. When the power of the tape printing apparatus is turned on, processing is performed according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. The flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 3 correspond to the partial framing designation process (step S6) and the printing process (step S6) in FIG.
9) shows details of (9).

Here, as shown in FIG. 9A, a character C called "ABCDEF" is printed on the film 18, and the entire framing F1 surrounding the entire character C and "A" BC
The case where double framing printing, that is, partial framing F2 surrounding the "D" portion is performed will be described as a specific example.

That is, when the power is turned on, an initial setting process is first performed (step S1), and a key input by the user is enabled (step S2). Here, when the user operates the character key 6 or the like of the keyboard 4 to input data of the character C, or inputs a key for editing character data (Yes in steps S2 and S3). Then, a process of inputting or editing character data is executed (step S4). here,
In the case of the above example, the user operates the character key 6 to sequentially input “ABCDEF”. At this time, as shown in FIG.
The character C of "CDEF" is displayed.

After the input and editing of the character data, the setting of the partial framing is designated by the function key 7 (Yes in step S2, N in step S3).
o, Yes in step S5), and in the next step S6, a process of designating partial framing is performed. When the user sets the partial framing, the cursor on the liquid crystal display 5 must be moved beforehand on the character for which the partial framing is to be set or when the partial framing is to be applied to a plurality of characters. The key operation for setting is performed in a state where the key is set on the character located at the end of the plurality of characters.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the partial framing designation process, first, the character at the current cursor position is highlighted on the liquid crystal display 5 (step S21), and key input is enabled (step S22). ). The inverted display portion is a range surrounded by the partial framing F2. At this time, if only one character is desired to be surrounded by the partial framing F2, the execution key may be directly operated (Yes in step S22). , No in step S23, Yes in step S27), when the partial framing F2 is to be applied to a plurality of characters, the cursor key is operated left and right (Yes in step S22 and step S23). ).

By operating the cursor key, the cursor moves right and left from the currently highlighted character. At this time, when the cursor key is operated in a direction in which no character exists (step S24). No), an error alert is issued by an alarm (step S25), and when the cursor is moved in the direction in which the character exists (Yes in step S23), the character at the new cursor position is also switched to reverse display. (Step S26).

In the above example, for example, when the cursor is positioned on the character "B", the partial framing setting operation is performed, and then the rightward cursor key is operated twice, so that FIG. As shown, the “BCD” portion of the character C is displayed in reverse on the liquid crystal display 5. In FIG. 7B, for convenience, the inverted display portion is indicated by hatching. Also,
If the left cursor key is operated while the “BCD” portion is highlighted, the reverse display of the “D” portion is stopped.

When the entire part to be subjected to the partial framing F2 is highlighted, the execution key is operated to determine the range (Yes in step S22, No in step S23, step S27). Yes). Then, as shown in FIG. 7 (c), partial framing marks (marks combining angle brackets and the letter "F") are inserted and displayed on the left and right of the highlighted portion. (Step S28),
The reverse display is returned to the original display. At this time, the RAM 38
In the character data storage area, partial framing data is added between the data "A" and the data "B" and between the data "D" and the data "E". Of course.

Upon completion of such partial framing designation processing, the flow returns to the flowchart of FIG. 1, and when the execution of printing is designated by the function key 7 (Yes in step S2)
s, No in step S3 and step S5, Yes in step S7) First, in the next step S8, various settings relating to printing are performed. In this setting, it is set whether or not to attach the entire framing F1 to the entire character C. In the above example, the entire framing F1 is designated.

When the execution key is operated after this setting, a printing process is executed (step S9). Details of this printing process are as shown in FIG. In the flowchart of FIG. 1, when execution of printing is not specified (Yes in step S2, No in step S3, step S5, and step S7), other processing is performed (step S10).

Now, as shown in FIG. 3, in the printing process,
As described above, a print image is developed in the image buffer 38a, and printing is performed based on the print image. FIG. 8 is a conceptual illustration of the image buffer 38a, and FIG. It will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the image buffer 38a is cleared in step S41. In the next step S42, it is determined whether or not the entire framing is designated.
In the case where the image buffer 38a is designated as in the above example, the image buffer 38a is moved by moving the pointer, for example.
An area a enough to provide the entire framing F1 is secured at the front of (step S43).

Then, in step S44, the RAM
The data stored in the 38 character data storage areas are read one by one. At this time, if the data is character data (No in step S45), the print pattern data is read from the character generator and arranged in the image buffer 38a (step S46). In the above example, after the area a, a print pattern of the character “A” is first arranged.

On the other hand, if the read data is partial framing data (Yes in step S45)
s), the data of the vertical line portion L1 of the partial framing F2 is arranged in the image buffer 38a (step S).
47). By repeating this process until there is no more data (step S48), the print pattern of the character C and the print pattern of the vertical line portion L1 of the partial framing F2 are arranged in the image buffer 38a.

In the above example, as shown in FIG. 8, after the pattern of the character "A", the vertical lines L1, "B",
The print patterns "C", "D", vertical lines L1, "E", and "F" are arranged in order.

When such an arrangement is made, it is next determined in step S49 whether or not there is data on the partial framing F2. If yes (Yes), two horizontal lines above and below the partial framing F2 are determined. L2 are arranged so as to connect the two vertical lines L1 (step S5).
0).

Then, in the next step S51, it is determined whether or not the entire framing is designated, and if it is designated (Yes), in step S52,
The print pattern of the entire framing F1 is arranged in the image buffer 38a. At this time, the whole framing F
It goes without saying that the vertical line on the left of 1 is arranged in the area a.

With the above processing, the image buffer 38a
As shown in FIG. 8, a character C of "ABCDEF", an entire framing F1 surrounding the entire character C, and a partial framing F surrounding only the "BCD" are provided.
2 print patterns are arranged. Then, in step S53, a printing operation is executed based on the image buffer 38a.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 9A, the character C of "ABCDEF" is printed on the film 18, and the entire framing F1 surrounding the entire character C and the "BCD" portion are surrounded. The so-called double framing printed label of the partial framing F2 is formed.

In addition to the above example, depending on the designation of the user, a partial framing F2 is applied to only one character as shown in FIG. 9B, or as shown in FIG. 9C. ,
Various patterns can be printed, for example, by attaching partial framing F2 to two places. Also, it is of course possible to add only the entire framing F1, only the partial framing F2, or print only the character C without framing.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the film 1
In addition to printing only the character C on the character 8, the entire framing F1 surrounding the entire character C is added,
It is possible to add a partial framing F2 surrounding only a specific portion of the character C, or to add double framing F1 and F2 of the whole and the portion. Therefore, unlike conventional ones in which only two choices can be made, that is, whether to put a frame on the entire label or no frame, it is possible to print various impressions as desired by the user. It is.

In the above embodiment, printing on the transparent film 18 has been described as an example. However, the printing medium may be tape-like paper, and the double-sided adhesive tape 22 is always stuck on the back surface. The present invention can be embodied with appropriate modifications without departing from the gist, for example, the configuration does not have to be adopted.

[0052]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the tape printing apparatus of the present invention, not only the characters are printed on the print medium, but also the entire framing surrounding the entire characters is added, Since it is possible to apply partial framing surrounding only a specific portion or double framing of the whole and the portion, it is possible to perform printing of various impressions as desired by the user. It has excellent effects.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an overall processing procedure showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a partial framing designation process;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a printing process.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing an electric configuration.

FIG. 5 is an overall plan view showing the tape cassette removed.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view showing a tape cassette part.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an example of a display on a liquid crystal display.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the contents of an image buffer in a concrete form;

FIG. 9 is a view showing some printing examples of a film.

[Explanation of symbols]

In the drawings, 1 is a main body of the tape printer, 2 is an input operation unit, 3
Is a printing unit, 4 is a keyboard, 5 is a liquid crystal display, 8
Is a tape cassette, 9 is a tape cassette mounting portion, 12 is a thermal head, 14 is a cutter mechanism, 16 is a case,
18 is a transparent film (print medium), 20 is a thermal ink ribbon, 22 is a double-sided adhesive tape, 25 is a pressing roller,
30 is a platen roller, 31 is a tape feed roller, 35
Is a control device, 36 is a CPU, 37 is a ROM, 38 is an RA
M and 38a are image buffers, C is a character, F1
Indicates full framing and F2 indicates partial framing.

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-1-152070 (JP, A) JP-A-1-247180 (JP, A) JP-A-5-61623 (JP, A) JP-A-61-143163 (JP) , A) Ichitaro Ver. 3 “Commentary” Just System, Inc. (published on September 3, 1987) Japanese word processor “Matsu” Reference Manual, published on July 1, 1991 by Management Research Institute, Inc. (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl) . ^7, DB name) B41J 3/36 B41J 2/485 B41J 21/00 G06F 3/12

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A tape-shaped print medium having one or more characters,
A character data input unit for inputting data of the character, an entire framing designating unit for designating an overall framing surrounding the entire character, and Partial framing designating means for designating partial framing surrounding a part; character printing on the print medium and two kinds of framing of whole and partial based on the character data and designation of whole framing designating means and partial framing designating means A tape printer comprising: a printing unit that executes printing.