JP3047751B2 - Tape printer capable of printing on multiple print lines - 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 capable of printing a character on each of a plurality of print lines obtained by dividing a print area on a print medium tape into a plurality of print areas.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, various proposals have been made regarding a small-sized tape printing apparatus for printing a desired character string on a printing tape having a width of about 10 mm. The applicant of the present application has
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 152070, a center print mode for aligning the printing position of a character to be printed with the center position in the width direction of a printing tape and printing the full-width character among printable full-width characters and quadruple-width characters, A printing device capable of changing the printing position, which is configured to be able to select a bottom-aligned printing mode in which printing is performed on the lower side, has been proposed.

[0003]

Generally, using this tape printing apparatus, for example, the "title" and "content" of a file are used.
Is often printed on a printing tape, and the printed printing tape is attached to a predetermined attaching position of a file in many cases.

[0004] However, the printing device capable of changing the printing position proposed by the applicant of the present application has only a printing mode in which the printing position of the character to be printed on the printing tape is centered and a bottom-aligned printing mode in which the printing position of the character is aligned downward. Since there is no,
There is a problem that the number of lines that can be printed on the printing tape to be attached to a predetermined attachment position is limited to one line, and the number of characters is limited to the number of characters determined by the length of the attachment position.

[0005] By the way, even if this printing apparatus is provided with an upper alignment printing mode for aligning and printing the upper side in the width direction of the printing tape, characters printed in the upper alignment mode and characters printed in the lower alignment printing mode are different. Cannot print at the same phase position in the width direction of the printing tape, and thus has the same problem as described above.

[0006] Since a tape printing apparatus prints continuously on a tape of almost unlimited length, a printing head is reciprocated along a printing medium like a general word processor and printing is performed at right angles to the printing head. By feeding the medium, it is not possible to print a plurality of lines on the entire surface of the print medium, or to automatically print a new line within the range of the left and right widths of the print medium.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a plurality of print lines obtained by dividing a print area on a print medium tape into a plurality of print lines so that an input character can be printed on a desired print line. An object of the present invention is to provide a tape printing device capable of printing characters.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape printing apparatus comprising: a printing head arranged to correspond to a width of a printing medium tape; Moving means for relatively moving the print head and the tape in a longitudinal direction orthogonal to the width direction of the tape; input means for inputting data of a character to be printed; and at least a tape on the tape corresponding to the print head. A print setting means for setting any one of a plurality of print lines obtained by dividing the print area into a plurality of print lines in association with an input character; receiving an output means, said data forming means and re arranged corresponding to the tape width direction is formed on the print data for multiple lines printed, corresponding to the data of many character
Pattern data storage means for storing pattern data
Wherein the data forming means is input by the input means.
Character data and the
Input data buffer for storing setting data in input order
And the character supplied from the input data buffer.
Data of multiple lines based on the setting data.
For each character in each reordered line.
The pattern data corresponding to the data
Read from the storage means and arranged in the width direction of the tape.
And a synthesizing means for synthesizing into a plurality of rows .

A tape printing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention.
In addition to the configuration of the invention according to claim 1, the data forming means supplies print data of all rows corresponding to a width direction of the tape to the print head in parallel and a longitudinal direction of the tape. May be sequentially supplied to the print head.

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

In the tape printer according to the first aspect of the present invention, data of a character to be printed is input from input means, and any one of a plurality of print lines on the tape is printed by the print setting means. Is set in association with character data. In the data forming means,
Character data and setting data from the print setting
Data are stored in the input data buffer in the order of input,
Set the character data supplied from the data buffer.
Based on the constant data, the synthesizing unit rearranges the data into a plurality of rows,
Corresponding to the data of the characters in each of the rearranged rows
Read pattern data from pattern data storage
Into multiple lines arranged in the width direction of the tape.
Can be. Thus, printing can be performed on a plurality of lines in the width direction of the tape, and printing can be performed only on a desired line among the plurality of lines.

[0013] A tape printing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention.
In addition, in addition to the operation of the invention according to claim 1, in addition to supplying the data of all the rows corresponding to the width direction of the tape to the print head in parallel, the data corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the tape is sequentially transmitted to the print head. By supplying, a plurality of lines can be simultaneously printed while the print head and the tape are relatively moved in the longitudinal direction of the tape.

[0014]

[0015]

[0016]

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

In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a tape printer for printing a large number of characters such as kanji, hiragana, katakana, and alphabetic characters on a printing tape (printing medium tape).

As shown in FIG. 2, an annular character selection dial 3 for selecting characters or symbols (hereinafter referred to as characters) for printing is rotated at the front of the main body frame 2 of the tape printer 1. A keyboard unit 4 is provided freely, and a liquid crystal display 19 capable of displaying six characters is provided behind the character selection dial 3.
In the center of the character selection dial 3, there is a character selection dial 3.
A setting key 5 is provided for confirming the character selected by the rotation operation or for confirming the setting contents relating to printing. Further, a printing mechanism PM is built in the main body frame 2 behind the character selection dial 3.

The character selection dial 3 is provided with 50 stop positions for one rotation, and a character image corresponding to each of the 50 stop positions is provided on the upper surface of the character selection dial 3. It is drawn in two columns. Note that reference numeral 6
Is a character selection position mark.

A keyboard unit 4 has a character type switching key for selectively switching between input of "Hiragana", "Katakana" and "Alphabet", a conversion key and a non-conversion key, and two lines for instructing two-line printing. Print key, one-line print key for instructing one-line printing, print key for executing printing, font selection key for selecting character font, tape feed key for feeding tape 9 for printing, power ON / OFF
A power switch and the like for turning on the power are provided.

Next, the printing mechanism PM will be briefly described with reference to FIG.
A tape spool 8 on which a printing tape 9 made of a transparent film is wound; a ribbon supply spool 13 on which an ink ribbon 12 is wound; a winding spool 14 for winding the ink ribbon 12; A supply spool 16 on which a double-sided tape 15 having the same width as the printing tape 9 is wound with the release paper outside, and a joining roller for joining the printing tape 9 and the double-sided tape 15 are provided rotatably. I have.

At a position where the printing tape 9 and the ink ribbon 12 overlap with each other, a thermal head 7 is erected, and the printing tape 9 and the ink ribbon 12 are attached to the thermal head 7.
The platen roller 17 pressing the tapes 9 and 15 and the feed roller 45 pressing the tapes 9 and 15 against the joining roller 10 include a support 46.
It is rotatably pivoted. In the thermal head 7, as shown in FIG. 5, a heating element group 11 composed of 48 heating elements is arranged in the vertical direction, that is, in the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tape.

Accordingly, when the heating element group 11 is energized while the joining roller 10 and the take-up spool 14 are driven synchronously in a predetermined rotation direction by a tape feed motor (see FIG. 4) 18, the printing tape As shown in FIG. 5, characters are printed on the printhead 9 in a plurality of dot rows, and the printing tape 9 is fed in the tape feed direction A, that is, in the longitudinal direction of the tape, with the double-sided tape 15 joined thereto. 2 sent out. The printing mechanism PM has the same configuration as a known configuration (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-106555).

Next, the control system of the tape printer 1 is configured as shown in the block diagram of FIG.

The display mechanism DM includes a liquid crystal display 19,
A display controller (LCD) having a display RAM for outputting display data to the display 19
Controller 20). The absolute value encoder 21 connected to the character selection dial 3
50 corresponding to the 50 stop positions of the character selection dial 3
For outputting the absolute value encoder signal ENS of each type, and based on the absolute value encoder signal ENS and the signal from the character type switching key, the character selection position mark 6
, The code data of the selected character is obtained, and the absolute value encoder signal E before the selection operation is obtained.
By comparing NS with the current absolute value encoder signal ENS, the rotation direction and the amount of rotation of the character selection dial 3 can be obtained. Reference numeral 22 denotes a drive circuit for driving the thermal head 7, and reference numeral 23 denotes a drive circuit for driving the tape feed motor 18.

The control device C comprises a CPU 27 and a CPU 27
Input / output interface 25, ROMs 28 and 29, and RAM 3 connected to a data bus or the like via a bus 26.
0. The control device C constitutes data forming means for forming print data of a plurality of print lines.

A ROM (program memory) 28 has a display control program for controlling the display mechanism DM corresponding to the code data selected by the character selection dial 3, and the code data of the character when the setting key 5 is operated. A control program for storing various setting data relating to print settings and print contents in the input data buffer 31;
And a drive control program for sequentially controlling the thermal head 7 and the tape feed motor 18 to read out the data, and a control program for tape printing control described later.

The ROM (pattern data memory) 29 stores dot pattern data for each of a number of characters drawn on the upper surface of the character selection dial 3 in an SS character pattern consisting of 16 dots (vertical) × 15 dots (horizontal). L consisting of data and 48 dots (vertical) x 48 dots (horizontal)
Character pattern data and character pattern data are stored in association with each other. The SS character pattern data is used for printing and displaying two lines. The L character pattern data is used for one-line printing. Incidentally, reference numeral 24
Is a connector for connecting an optional ROM card storing dot pattern data of various fonts.

The input data buffer 31 of the RAM 30 stores code data of characters to be printed and various setting data relating to print setting contents (refer to FIG. 12, the head address is A0000). The first rearrangement memory 32 stores the code data for one-line printing and the code data for the upper row of two-line printing (see FIG. 13, the starting address is a0000).
3, the code data of the lower row of the two-line printing is stored (see FIG. 13, the head address is b0000). The first pointer 34 stores one address of the first rearrangement memory 32, and the second pointer 35 stores one address of the second rearrangement memory 33.

The print base line position change amount memory 36 stores the change amount of the print base line position in the tape width direction with respect to the normal print base line positions PS2 and PS3. In the print buffer 37, as shown in FIG.
A memory capacity of 48 bits (6 bytes) corresponding to 8 dots and 48 bits (6 bytes) corresponding to 48 dots in the horizontal direction is provided, and dot pattern data of a character to be printed is stored in the pattern data memory 29. Read and stored. In the flag memory 38, a two-line print flag F1, which is set (data is "1") in the case of two-line printing, an upper-line flag which is set in the case of upper-line printing (first-line printing) in two-line printing F2, a display flag F3 that is set while displaying the selected content relating to the change of the print baseline position, a baseline position change flag F4 that is set when the print baseline position is changed, and a display flag F4 that is set while displaying the selected amount regarding the change amount of the print baseline position. The flag data of other flags such as a display flag F5 and a flag related to the font are stored respectively.

Next, a routine of tape printing control performed by the control device C of the tape printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. In the figure,
Si (i = 1, 2, 3,...) Is each step. In this control, as shown in FIG. 5, the printing tape 9 corresponding to the heating element group 11 of the thermal head 7 based on the L character pattern data, as shown by the character "A" for one-line printing, as shown in FIG. The entire print area PE is printed on the print tape 9 over the entire print area PE.
Based on the S character pattern data, the upper line is printed on the upper print line UL in the print area PE, and the lower line is printed on the lower print line LL in the print area PE. Further, the normal printing base line position PS1 of the L character is the heating element group 11
, And the printing base line position PS2 of the upper row for the SS character is provided at a position "4" dots higher than the center line CL corresponding to the center position in the width direction of the heating element group 11, The normal printing base line position PS3 in the lower row for the SS character is provided at a position "4" dots above the printing base line position PS1.

When the tape printer 1 is powered on, this control is started. First, the display mechanism DM and each memory 3
Clear 1 to 38 and display 1 on the display 19
Initial setting such as displaying a line print mark ">" and storing one-line print command data corresponding to the one-line print mark ">" at the head address of the input data buffer 31 is executed (S1). Next, when the character selection dial 3 is rotated (S2: No, S13: Yes), none of the flags F1, F3, F5,... Are set (S14, S19, S24, S26: No), the character selected based on the encoder signal ENS from the absolute value encoder 21 is displayed on the display 19 (S28), and the process returns to S2.

When the setting key is operated (S
2 · S3: Yes), when none of the flags F1 to F5 is set (S29 / S36 / S41 / S4)
4: No), the character being displayed on the display 19 is determined, and its code data is stored in the input data buffer 31.
(S46). For example, when the setting key is operated each time the characters "A", "B", and "C" are displayed on the display 19, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 12, the characters "A", "B", " The code data “C” is sequentially stored in the input data buffer 31.

Next, when a two-line printing key is operated to execute two-line printing (S2: Yes, S3: No,
S4: Yes) The first selection content regarding the two-line printing, for example, “upper printing line” is displayed on the display 19 (S4: Yes).
5) The flag F1 is set (S6). Next, when the character selection dial 3 is rotated (S2: No, S1
3: Yes), since the flag F1 is set (S
14: Yes) The next selection content regarding two-line printing, for example, “lower printing line” is displayed on the display 19 (S1).
5) When the "upper print line" is displayed (S1
6: Yes), the flag F2 is set (S1
7) When the "lower print line" is displayed (S1
6: No), the flag F2 is reset (S18).

When the setting key is operated (S2
(S3: Yes) When both flags F1 and F2 are set (S29 and S30: Yes), the upper print line mark “△” is displayed on the display 19 and the upper print line mark “△” is displayed. The corresponding upper row print command data is stored in the input data buffer 31. When the flag F2 is reset (S2
9: Yes, S30: No), the lower line print line mark “▽” is displayed on the display 19, and the lower line print command data corresponding to the lower line print line mark “▽” is stored in the input data buffer 31. (S32).
For example, when the setting key is operated while “upper print line” is displayed on the display 19, an upper print line mark “△” is displayed and the address A0004 of the input data buffer 31 is displayed as shown in FIG. Upper row print command data is stored.

Then, the flag F1 is reset (S3
3), the first selected content relating to the change of the print base line position, for example, the "normal base line position" in which the print base line position is not changed from the normal print base line positions PS2 and PS3 is displayed on the display 19 (S34), and the flag F3 is set. (S3
5).

Next, when the character selection dial 3 is rotated (S2: No, S13: Yes), the flag F3 is set (S14: No, S19: Ye).
s), when the next selection regarding the change of the print base line position, for example, “change base line position” for changing the print base line position is displayed on the display 19 (S20), and when “change base line position” is displayed (S21: Yes) Although the flag F4 is set (S22), when the "normal base line position" is displayed (S21: No), the flag F4 is reset (S23).

When the setting key is operated (S2
When the flag F3 is set (S3: Yes), the flag F3 is set (S29: No, S36: Yes).
3 is reset (S37), and when the flag F4 is set (S38: Yes), the first selection of the print base line position, for example, the print base line position is set to the normal print base position PS2 / PS3 with respect to the printing tape. “Baseline position + 4”, which is changed by 4 dots, is displayed on the display 19 at the upper end side of 9 (S39), and the flag F5 is set (S40).

Next, when the character selecting dial 3 is rotated (S2: No, S13: Yes), the flag F5 is set (S14 / S19: No, S24: No).
Yes), the next selection of the print base line position, for example, “base line position + 3” is displayed on the display 19 (S)
25). Thereafter, when the character selection dial 3 is continuously rotated, the selection content “baseline position + 2” → “baseline position +
"1" → "baseline position-1" → "baseline position-2" → "baseline position-3" → "baseline position-4" → "baseline position + 4" are sequentially displayed on the display 19. In addition, "baseline position-1"
-"Baseline position -4" is a change of the print baseline position to the lower end side of the printing tape 9 with respect to the normal print baseline positions PS2 and PS3.

When the setting key is operated (S2
(S3: Yes) Since the flag F5 is set (S29 / S36: No, S41: Yes), the print base line position change amount data corresponding to the selection displayed on the display 19 is the upper row print command data. Alternatively, it is stored in the lower row print command data (S42), and the flag F5 is reset (S43).

For example, when the selection key is operated while the selected content "baseline position +4" is displayed on the display 19, "+4 dot" is included in the upper row print command data at the address A0004 as shown in FIG. The change amount data is stored. Further, in the input data buffer 31,
Thereafter, the code data of the selected characters "D", "E", and "F", the lower row print command data storing the change amount data of "-4 dots", the selected characters "G", "H""
Each code data of "I" and "J" is sequentially stored.

Next, when the one-line printing key is operated for one-line printing (S2: Yes, S3 / S4: No,
S7: Yes) The one-line print mark “>” is displayed on the display 19, the one-line print command data is stored in the input data buffer 31 (S8), and the flag F1 is reset (S9). For example, as shown in FIG. 12, in the input data buffer 31, one-line print command data is stored at an address A000D, and code data of characters "K", "L", and "M" selected thereafter are stored in an address. A000
It is stored from E to address A0010. When the character selection dial 3 is rotated (S2: No, S13:
Yes), when flags other than the flags F1, F3, F5 are set (S14, S19, S24: N
o, S26: Yes), selection contents corresponding to the set flag are sequentially displayed (S27). Also,
When the setting key is operated (S2 · S3: Yes), when other flags are set (S29 · S36 ·
(S41: No, S44: Yes), selection contents corresponding to the flag are set (S45).

Next, when the print key is operated (S
2: Yes, S3, S4, S7: No, S10: Ye
s), print processing control (see FIG. 9) is executed (S1).
1). When this control is started, first, various flags related to printing and a memory are initialized (S
50), rearrangement processing control (see FIG. 10) is executed (S51). This control will be described with reference to FIGS. When this control is started, as shown in FIG. 13, first, all code data stored in the input data buffer 31 is stored in the first rearrangement memory 32 (S70). However, "FF" is additionally stored as end data at the end of the plurality of code data.

Next, the start address a0000 of the first rearrangement memory 32 (hereinafter, this content is referred to as P1 and the first pointer P1) is set in the first pointer 34 (S7).
1) The data of the first rearrangement memory 32 indicated by the first pointer P1 is read (S72), and when the read data is one-line print command data (S73 / S85 /
(S83: No), the next address is set to the first pointer P1 (S84), and the process returns to S72. When the read data is character code data, the same control as described above is repeated.

Next, the first pointer P1 is set to "address a000
4 "is upper row print command data (S73:
Yes), the first reordering memory 3 is determined by the first pointer P1.
Is retrieved (S74), and when the lower row print command data is stored as the next command data of the upper row print command data (S75: Yes), as shown in FIG.
The “address b0004” of the second rearrangement memory 33 corresponding to the pointer P1 is set in the second pointer 35 (hereinafter, also referred to as a second pointer P2), and the lower row print command data and the lower row print line LL subsequent thereto are set. The code data of the character to be printed is stored in each address after the second pointer P2 (S76). Here, the input data buffer 3
In step 1, when the lower row print command data is stored following the upper row print command data, the lower print command data sets the print line to be printed for the code data following this command data, and also sets the print position. Is set.

Next, when the code data number UDN of the character to be printed on the upper print line UL is smaller than the code data number LDN of the lower print line LL (S78 / S80: N
o), as shown in FIG. 15, the space code "SP" is stored in the "address a0008" of the first rearrangement memory 32 (S81). However, when the code data number UDN is larger than the code data number LDN (S78: Yes),
The space code “SP” is stored at a predetermined address in the second rearrangement memory 33 (S79). When the code data numbers UDN and LDN are equal (S78: No, S
80: Yes), and proceeds to S82. Next, as shown in FIG. 16, in the first rearrangement memory 32, the data stored in the second rearrangement memory 33 is deleted, and each data “>, K, L, M, FF” after the deleted data is deleted. Arrangement processing such as moving each is performed (S82), and when data to be searched exists in the first rearrangement memory 32 (S8).
3: No), “address b0009” is set to the first pointer P1 as the next search address (S84).

Then, each subsequent data ">, K, L,
M ”, S70 to S72, S73 and S85: N
o, S83 to S84 are repeatedly executed, and with the end data “FF” (S83: Yes), this control is ended and the routine returns.

If the lower row print command data does not exist (S75: No), the second rearrangement memory 33
, A space code “SP” corresponding to the code data number UDN of the upper printing line UL is stored (S7).
7). When the data read based on the first pointer P1 is the lower row print command data (S73: No,
S85: Yes), the address of the second rearrangement memory 33 corresponding to the first pointer P1 is set to the second pointer P2, and the lower row print command data and the code data of the character to be printed on the lower row print line LL following this are stored. It is stored at each address after the second pointer P2 (S86), and in the first rearrangement memory 32, the lower row print command data and the code data of the characters to be printed on the lower row LL are all converted into space codes ( S87).

Next, the process returns to the print processing control, in which the first address of the first rearrangement memory 32 is set to the first pointer P1 (S52), and the data of the first rearrangement memory 32 is stored based on the first pointer P1. Is read (S53),
When the read data is one-line print command data (S54 / S55: No, S56: Yes), the flag F
1 is reset (S57), and 1 is set based on the flag F1.
The character width value “48 dots” of the L character size used for line printing is stored in the RAM 30 (S59), the first pointer P1 is incremented (S60), and the process returns to S53.
Next, when the read data is the code data of the character "A" (S54: No, S55: Yes), an inter-character space value corresponding to the L character size, for example, "3 dots" is set (S61), and the flag is set. Since F1 has been reset (S62: No), the dot pattern data corresponding to the code data is read from the pattern data memory 29 and stored in the print buffer 37 as shown in FIG. 17 (S63), and the character "A" is read. Is executed (S65), and
Move to S60. However, when printing each character after the second character, a space between characters is first provided, and then character printing is performed.

Next, when the read data is the upper row print command data (S54, S55, S56: No), the flag F1 is set (S58), and based on the flag F1, the SS character size used for 2-line printing is set. Character width value "16
The "dot" is stored in the RAM 30 (S59), and the process returns to S53 via S60. Then, the next read character "D" is the SS character size (S54: No, S55: Ye).
s) Since the inter-character space value corresponding to the SS character size, for example, “1 dot” is set (S61), and the flag F1 is set (S62: Yes), the data synthesis processing control (see FIG. 11) is performed. It is executed (S64).

When this control is started, first, the address “b0” of the second rearrangement memory 33 corresponding to the first pointer P1
005 "is set in the second pointer P2 (S90), the code data of the character" D "designated by the first pointer P1 is read (S91), and the dot pattern data of this code data is printed as shown in FIG. It is stored at a position corresponding to the center line CL in the buffer 37 (S92),
When the print base line position change amount d is stored in the upper row print command data (S93: Yes), the base line position change amount d (+4 dots) is read out and stored in the print base line position change amount memory 36 (S94). 19), as shown in FIG. 19, the dot pattern data is shifted in the dot column direction by the number of dots obtained by adding the base line position change amount d to "4 dots" for shifting the dot pattern data to the normal printing base line position PS2 in the upper row. (S96).

Further, the code data of the character "G" indicated by the second pointer P2 is read out (S97), and the dot pattern data of this code data is synthesized on the lower end position in the print buffer 37 as shown in FIG. Similarly, when the print base line position change amount d is stored in the lower row print command data (S99: Ye)
s), the base line position change amount d (−4 dots) is read out and stored in the print base line position change amount memory 36 (S10).
0), the dot pattern data is shifted in the dot row direction by the number of dots obtained by adding the base line position change amount d to “4 dots” for shifting the dot pattern data to the normal printing base line position PS3 in the lower row (S102). And returns. Note that, even if the data read in S92 is lower row print command data, S93 to S102 are executed. When No is determined in S93 and No is determined in S99, “0” is stored as the change amount d in the print base line position change amount memory 36, respectively.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 20, a character printing process is executed based on the dot pattern data of two characters which are combined and stored in the print buffer 37 (S65).
Hereinafter, similarly, the data stored in the first and second rearrangement memories 32 and 33 as shown in FIG.
The character string "ABC, KLM" is printed on the printing tape 9 in one line corresponding to the print area PE, and the character string "DEF" is printed on the printing tape 9 as shown in FIG. The character string “GHIJ” is printed on the upper print line UL and the character string “GHIJ” is printed on the lower print line LL. Moreover,
These character strings "DEF" and "GHIJ" are printed with their print positions changed based on the designated print base line position change amount d. When the data in the first and second rearrangement memories 32 and 33 shown in FIG. 16 is printed without changing the print base line position, the data is printed as shown in FIG.

The pattern data memory 29 may store dot pattern data of three to four types of character sizes so that a desired character size can be selected in one-line printing and two-line printing.

The print area PE on the print tape 9 is set to 3
It is also possible to divide the print line into four and to set any one of these three or four print lines.

It should be noted that a print buffer may be added to store dot row data for the next print in a print buffer other than the print buffer from which the dot row data has been read.

As described above, the printing area P of the printing tape 9 corresponding to the heating element group 11 of the thermal head 7
E is divided into an upper print line UL and a lower print line LL, and any one of these two print lines UL and LL and its print position are determined by upper line print command data or lower line print command data. The data stored in the input data buffer 31 in association with the code data of the character input in advance, and the code data to be printed on the upper print line UL based on the upper row and lower row print command data are stored in the first rearrangement memory 32. While being rearranged, the code data to be printed on the lower print line LL is rearranged in the second rearrangement memory 33, and the two data rearranged in the rearrangement memories 32
The dot pattern data of the two code data are combined and stored in the print buffer 37, and are printed on the printing tape 9 based on the combined dot string data. Characters input to a desired print line among the lines UL and LL can be printed, and a large number of characters can be printed over the upper print line UL and the lower print line LL.

The present invention is applied to various tape printers, such as a printer configured to print characters on the print tape 9 while manually pulling out the print tape 9 and a tape printer using a wire dot method. Obviously you can get it.

[0059]

As described above, according to the tape printing apparatus of the present invention, any one of a plurality of printing lines on a tape is set in association with input character data, The input character data is re-arranged corresponding to the tape width direction to form print data in response to the output of the print setting means. Can print the characters input in the print line, and can print a large number of characters over a plurality of print lines.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tape printer.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a printing mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system of the tape printer.

FIG. 5 is a partial front view of a printing mechanism showing a printing tape and a thermal head.

FIG. 6 is a part of a schematic flowchart of a routine of tape print control.

FIG. 7 is a part of a schematic flowchart of a routine of tape print control.

FIG. 8 is a part of a schematic flowchart of a tape print control routine.

FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart of a print processing control routine.

FIG. 10 is a schematic flowchart of a rearrangement process control routine.

FIG. 11 is a schematic flowchart of a data synthesis processing control routine.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing data in an input data buffer.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing data in first and second rearrangement memories.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing data in first and second rearrangement memories.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing data in the first and second rearrangement memories.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing data in first and second rearrangement memories.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing dot pattern data in a print buffer.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing dot pattern data in a print buffer.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing dot pattern data in a print buffer.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing dot pattern data in a print buffer.

FIG. 21 is an exemplary diagram showing a print example in which a character string of each print line of two-line printing is printed on a print tape by changing a print base line position.

FIG. 22 is an exemplary view showing a print example in which a character string of each print line of two-line printing is printed on a print tape without changing a print base line position.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tape printing device 3 Character selection dial 4 Keyboard part 5 Selection key 7 Thermal head 9 Printing tape 27 CPU 28 ROM (program memory) 29 ROM (pattern data memory) 30 RAM 31 Input data buffer 32 First rearrangement memory 33 Second rearrangement memory 37 Print buffer C Controller PE Print area UL Upper print line LL Lower print line

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-273260 (JP, A) JP-A-55-82387 (JP, A) JP-A-63-159974 (JP, A) 178948 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 3/36 B41J 2/485 B41J 2/515 G06F 3/12

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A print head arranged corresponding to the width of a print medium tape, moving means for relatively moving the print head and the tape in a longitudinal direction orthogonal to the width direction of the tape, An input unit for inputting data; and setting at least one of a plurality of print lines obtained by dividing a print area on the tape corresponding to the print head into a plurality of print lines in association with the input character. A print setting means for receiving the output of the print setting means, and rearranging the input character data corresponding to the tape width direction to form print data in order to print a plurality of lines. Means and pattern data corresponding to the data of many characters
Pattern data storing means, wherein the data forming means is inputted by the input means.
Character data and setting data from the print setting means
An input data buffer for storing data in the order of input,
Character data supplied from the input data buffer
Data for multi-line printing based on the setting data.
Array, and the data of the characters in each rearranged line
The corresponding pattern data is stored in the pattern data storage means.
From the plurality of tapes arranged in the width direction of the tape.
A tape printing device comprising a combining means for combining into lines . 2. The data forming means according to claim 1, wherein said data forming means supplies print data of all rows corresponding to a width direction of said tape to said print head in parallel and data corresponding to a longitudinal direction of said tape. Characterized by sequentially supplying the print head to the print head.