JP3098632B2 - Print image display apparatus and method, and tape printing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is, of text printing Ime
Image display apparatus and method for displaying an image
Printer with a print image display device
It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a so-called tape printing apparatus has been developed which prints a text composed of one or more characters (characters, figures, symbols, etc.) on a tape-shaped print medium (hereinafter referred to as "tape"). Have been.

[0003] This tape printing apparatus generally has a display unit for displaying text input by a user, and is configured so that the user can input text while viewing the screen.

However, in this case, the text is generally displayed in a predetermined character size or the like irrespective of the character size or the like designated by the user due to restrictions on the screen size or the like. Therefore,
The user cannot confirm the print image of the text while looking at the screen.

[0005] For this reason, conventionally, when text input has been completed, this text is printed by trial printing.
The print image was to be checked.

However, in such a checking configuration,
Since the tape is expensive, the economic burden on the user increases.

[0007] In order to solve this problem, it is conceivable to mount a print image display device on a tape printer. In this case, the tape on which the text was printed
As a method of displaying a “label”, a method of displaying with a contour line as seen in a language processing device or the like can be considered.

[0008]

However, in the configuration in which the label is displayed by the outline, the software for displaying the print image is separately required, which causes a problem that the memory consumption increases. This problem is fatal for a tape printer that requires a small size and low cost.

Further, in the case of the above configuration, if there is an enclosing rule surrounding the character in the text, the screen size is small, and the line representing the enclosing rule sticks or overlaps with the outline of the label, and the text is identified. The problem that it becomes difficult occurs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a print image display apparatus and method capable of displaying a print image without causing an increase in memory consumption and a decrease in discriminating power of a surrounding rule. . It is another object of the present invention to provide a tape printer equipped with such a suitable print image display device.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, a print image display apparatus and method according to the present invention are provided.
The medium portion is displayed on the surface in a color different from the background. Here, the surface display, instead of displaying the print medium portion in outline, refers to color display across the print medium portions on the entire surface. Further, the tape printing apparatus of the present invention
Device comprises the print image display device of the invention described above.
Things.

[0012]

According to the above arrangement, when a monochrome display is considered, the print image display data has the same structure as the print data except for the polarity. Therefore, if the polarity of the data is reversed, the data for displaying the print image can be generated by the software for printing. This allows
Since it is not necessary to separately provide software for displaying a print image, an increase in memory consumption can be prevented.

Further, since the outline representing the label is not displayed on the display image of the print image, it is possible to prevent the discriminating power of the encircling rule from being lowered due to the sticking or overlapping of the outline and the line expressing the enclosing rule. Can be.

[0014]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing image display apparatus and method according to the present invention;
Examples will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a tape printer having a print image display device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the external configuration.

First, the external configuration of the tape printer will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 denotes a tape loading unit. Reference numeral 12 denotes a tape loaded in the tape loading unit 11. A cut lever 13 cuts the tape 12 on which the text is printed to obtain a label.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a dial key for designating a print character. Reference numeral 15 denotes a key group including a character size designation key, a character interval designation key, a line interval designation key, a margin size designation key, a scroll execution key, a print image display execution key, and the like.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a black-and-white liquid crystal display used for displaying a text and displaying a print image of the text.

Next, the electrical configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 denotes an input unit for inputting various information such as text. Reference numeral 30 denotes a control unit that controls a printing process and the like based on the information input by the input unit 20. Reference numeral 40 denotes an output unit that executes a printing process and the like under the control of the control unit 30.

In the input unit 20, a key input unit 21 generates a signal in accordance with the operation of the dial key 14 or the key group 15. 22 is the tape 1 loaded in the device
2 is a tape width detection sensor that detects the width of the tape 2.

In the control unit 30, reference numeral 31 is a central processing unit (hereinafter, referred to as "CPU") for controlling a printing process and the like. Reference numeral 32 denotes a read-only memory (hereinafter, referred to as “ROM”) for storing a control program of the CPU 31 and the like.
It is.

Reference numeral 33 denotes a random access memory (hereinafter, referred to as "RAM") used as a working memory of the CPU 31. Reference numeral 34 denotes a character generator ROM (hereinafter referred to as “C”) that stores character pattern data and the like.
G-ROM ").

An input interface 35 connects the CPU 31 and the input unit 20. 36 is the CPU 31
And an output interface for connecting the output unit 40 to the output interface. 3
A bus 7 connects the CPU 31 to the ROM 32 and the like.

In the output section 40, reference numeral 41 denotes a thermal head for printing text on the tape 12. 42
Is a head drive circuit that drives the thermal head 41 under the control of the control unit 30.

Reference numeral 43 denotes the tape 12 when the text is printed.
Is a tape feed motor for transporting the tape. 44 is the control unit 3
A motor drive circuit that drives the tape feed motor 43 under the control of 0.

A display driving circuit 45 drives the liquid crystal display 16 under the control of the control unit 30.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data storage structure of the RAM 23.

As shown, the RAM 23 has an input buffer R1, a text display buffer R2, a print image display buffer R3, and a print buffer R4.

The input buffer R1 stores code data output from the key input section 21, character size designation data, and the like. The text display buffer R2 stores pattern data for displaying text.
The print image display buffer R3 stores pattern data for displaying a text print image.
The print buffer R4 stores pattern data for printing text.

The text display buffer R2 and the print image display buffer R3 have a bitmap type memory configuration having addresses corresponding to display dots on the screen. Similarly, the print buffer R4 has a bitmap type memory configuration having addresses corresponding to print dots.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. First, the operation from text input to label generation will be described.

When the user operates the dial key 14, code data indicating the print character specified by the operation is output from the key input unit 21. As a result, the pattern data corresponding to the code data is developed in the text display buffer R2 of the RAM 33.
This development is performed by reading pattern data corresponding to the code data from the CG-ROM 34 by the CPU 31.

The pattern data written in the text display buffer R2 is read out in synchronization with the display operation of the liquid crystal display 16, and is supplied to the display drive circuit 45. As a result, the designated character is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display 16.

If the character displayed on the screen is a desired character, the code data is converted by the CPU 31 by the user by operating the registration key.
The data is written to the input buffer R1 of the AM 33.

Hereinafter, similarly, characters constituting the text desired to be printed are sequentially designated.

In this specification, a character size, a character interval, a line interval, a margin size, and the like are also specified. This designation is made by operating the corresponding key. The character size designation data and the like output from the key input unit 21 by this operation are written into the input buffer R1 of the RAM 33 by the CPU 31.

When the user operates the print image display execution key after the text input is completed, the CPU 31 stores the pattern data for print image display in the RAM by the CPU 31.
It is developed in 33 print image display buffers R3. Details of this expansion processing will be described later.

When this developing process is completed, the pattern data developed in the print image display buffer R3 is read out in synchronization with the image display operation, and the display driving circuit 4
5 is supplied. As a result, a print image of the text is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display 16.

If this print image is the desired image, the user operates the print execution key to
The pattern data for text printing is developed in the print buffer R4 of the RAM 31. This expansion processing is performed by the CPU 31 based on the registered contents of the input buffer R1.
This is performed by reading the pattern data from the OM 34.

When the developing process is completed, the pattern data developed in the print buffer R4 is read out in synchronization with the tape feeding operation and supplied to the head drive circuit 42.
Thereby, the text is printed on the tape 12.

When the printing is completed, the user cuts the tape 12 with the cut lever 13 to obtain a label on which the text is printed.

The above is the operation from text input to label generation. Next, a display operation of a print image which is a feature of the present invention will be described. First, the outline of the print image display operation will be described.

Now, assuming that the character size and line spacing can be specified regardless of the width of the tape 12 loaded in the tape printing apparatus, an image in the case where the text does not protrude from the label can be used as a print image. It is preferable to display an image when it protrudes.

If it is assumed that text can be input regardless of whether or not the tape 12 is loaded in the tape printing apparatus, the print image includes the image when the tape 12 is loaded and the print image. It is preferable to display the image when it is not.

For this reason, in this embodiment, these three types of print images are displayed.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a display image of a print image when the text does not protrude from the label.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display image of a print image when the text runs off the label, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display image of the print image when the tape 12 is not loaded.

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 show print images of text as shown in FIG. In these figures, 51 is a background, 52 is a label, and 53 is characters A, B,.

When the text does not protrude from the label 52, the label 52 is displayed in a different color from the background 51, as shown in FIG. For example, if the background 51 is displayed in white, the label 52 is displayed in black.
In addition, the character 52 is simulated and displayed as a square block corresponding to the designated size. The display color in this case is
It is set to the same white as the background color.

When the text runs off the label, as shown in FIG. 5, the display of the background 51 and the label 52 is the same as that of FIG. 4, but the display of the text is different. That is, of the characters 53 constituting the text, the portion 531 that does not protrude from the label 52 is displayed in white, as in the case of FIG. 4, and the protruding portion 532 is displayed in black.

When the tape 12 is not loaded, the label 52 is not displayed as shown in FIG.
3 is displayed in black. This can be said to correspond to the case where the character 53 entirely protrudes from the label 52.

The above is the outline of the print image display operation of this embodiment. Next, the processing of the CPU 31 for displaying the three types of print images as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

This process is started when the user operates the print image display execution key. In this process, first, the tape printer 12
A process is performed to determine whether or not is loaded (step S1).

This determination is made, for example, based on the detection result of the tape width detection sensor 22. In this case, for example, if the tape width detected by the tape width detection sensor 22 is “0”, it is determined that the tape 12 is not loaded, and if it is not “0”, it is determined that the tape 12 is loaded. .

If it is determined that the tape 12 is loaded, it is determined whether or not the text runs off the label 52 (step S2). This determination is made based on the detection output of the tape width detection sensor 22, the character size designation data and the line spacing designation data stored in the input buffer R1 of the RAM 33.

That is, in FIG.
The designated size of B,... Is S1, and characters a, b,.
Let S2 be the designated size, L be the designated line spacing, and W be the tape width. If S1 + S2 + L is smaller than W,
It is determined not to protrude, and if it is large, it is determined to protrude.

If it is determined that the text does not protrude,
Processing for developing pattern data for displaying a print image as shown in FIG. 4 in the print image display buffer R3 is executed (steps S3, S4, S5).

In this expansion processing, first, FIG.
As shown in (a), a process of writing white data “0” to all display addresses of the print image display buffer R3 is executed (step S3). Next, as shown in FIG. 9B, a process of writing black data “1” to a display address on the label 52 is executed (step S4).
Finally, as shown in FIG. 9C, a process of writing white data “0” to a display address on each character 53 is executed (step S5).

As a result, pattern data for displaying a print image as shown in FIG. 4 is obtained. When the development processing is completed, control for supplying the developed pattern data to the display drive circuit 45 is executed (step S6). Thus, the pattern data is supplied to the display drive circuit 45 in synchronization with the image display operation, and is used for displaying a print image.

Thereafter, when the key for canceling the display of the print image is operated, control for stopping the supply of the pattern data is executed (steps S7, S8). Thus, the supply of the pattern data to the display drive circuit 45 is stopped, and the display of the print image is released.

In step S2, the character 5
If it is determined that the print data 2 protrudes, processing for developing pattern data for displaying a print image as shown in FIG. 5 is executed (steps S9, S10, S11, S1).
2).

In this expansion processing, first, FIG.
As shown in (a) and (b), a process of writing white data “0” to all display addresses (step S9)
Then, the process of writing black data “1” to the display address on the label 52 (step S10) is sequentially performed.

Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 10C and 10D, a process of writing white data "0" at a display address on the non-protruding portion 531 of the character 53 (step S1).
1) and a process of writing black data “1” to the display address on the protruding portion 532 are sequentially executed.

When this writing process is completed, step S
Then, the process proceeds to step S6, where the print image display process as described above is executed.

If it is determined in step S1 that the tape 12 is not loaded, first, FIG.
As shown in (a), a process of writing white data "0" to all display addresses is executed (step S13).
Thereafter, as shown in FIG.
A process of writing black data "1" to the upper display address is executed (step S14).

When this writing process is completed, step S
Then, the process proceeds to step S6, where the print image display process as described above is executed.

The above is the C for displaying the print image.
This is the processing of the PU 31.

The display start position and the display size of the label 52 and each character 53 (the write start position and the write size of the display data) are the character size designation data, the character interval designation data, the line spacing designation data stored in the input buffer R1. It is determined by the interval designation data, the margin size designation data, and the tape width detected by the tape width detection sensor 22.

In this case, the display start position and the display size of the character 53 are determined such that a display dot overlapping both the label 52 and the character 53 is always regarded as a display dot of the label 52. This is so that even if the specified character interval or line interval is small, it can be always displayed.

That is, the character size, the character interval, the line interval, and the margin size are generally specified not by the number of display dots but by the number of print dots.

However, the size of one display dot is usually
Since the size is larger than the size of one print dot, depending on the specification method of the character spacing and the like, the display dots that overlap with the characters or with the lines may all overlap with the character 53.

In such a case, there is a problem as to whether the display dot is regarded as the display dot of the label 52 or the display dot of the character 52.

However, if this is regarded as a display dot of the character 52, no space is displayed between characters or lines on the display screen of the print image.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the character 53
When determining the display start position and display size of the
The display dots overlapping both the character and the character 53 are all regarded as the display dots of the label 52.

Thus, even if the designated character spacing or line spacing is small, the character spacing or line spacing can always be displayed.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the size of the left margin, the size of the characters A and B, and the interval between the characters A and B specified by the user when inputting the text of FIG. It is.

Here, based on the specific example of FIG.
How to determine the display start position and the display size of the characters A and B in the horizontal direction of the screen will be described.

In the illustrated example, the specified size of the left margin is 9
There are 6 print dots. Therefore, assuming that one display dot is represented by 4 (main scanning direction) × 4 (sub-scanning direction) printing dots, all the display dots 61 that overlap the left margin only overlap this left margin.

As a result, the horizontal display size of the left margin becomes 24 display dots as shown in FIG. As a result, the horizontal display start position of the character A is the 25th display dot counting from the left end of the label 52.

In the illustrated example, the designated size of the character A is 48 print dots. Therefore, the display dots 62 that overlap with this character A all overlap only with this character A. As a result, the display size of the character A becomes 12 display dots as shown in FIG.

In the case of the illustrated example, the characters AB
The designated interval between them is two print dots. Therefore, in this case, all of the display dots 63 that overlap between the characters A and B also overlap with the character B. The overlap width in this case is two print dots.

However, in this embodiment, such display dots 63 are all regarded as display dots of the label 52. Thereby, as shown in FIG.
A gap corresponding to one display dot is set between the characters A and B, and the horizontal display start position of the character B is the 37th display dot counting from the left end of the label 52.

In the example shown, the designated size of the character B is 48 print dots. However, of the 48 print dots, two print dots are used for display between the characters A and B as described above. Therefore, the effective designated size of the character B is 46 print dots.

Further, among the display dots overlapping the character B, the display dots 64 located at the right end of the character B are all overlapped by two print dots between the characters BC. As a result, the effective designated size of the character B is further reduced by 2 print dots to 44 print dots.
Therefore, the display size of the character B is 11 display dots as shown in FIG.

When the display dot overlapping both the label 52 and the character 53 is regarded as the display dot of the character 53, the space between the characters A and B is not displayed as shown in FIG. As a result, the characters A and B are displayed in a connected state.

The configuration and operation of one embodiment of the present invention have been described above in detail. According to the above-described embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) First, in this embodiment, the pattern data for displaying the print image (the pattern data of the label 52 and the character 53) is the same as the pattern data for printing the text except for the polarity. Having. Therefore, if the polarity of the data is reversed, pattern data for displaying a print image can be generated by printing software. Thus, it is not necessary to separately provide software for displaying a print image, so that an increase in memory consumption can be prevented.

(2) In this embodiment, since the outline representing the label is not displayed on the display image of the print image, the enclosing rule due to the sticking or overlapping of the outline and the line representing the enclosing rule is not displayed. Can also be solved.

(3) In this embodiment, the effective display area of the print image can be enlarged by the width of the outline, compared to the case where the tape 12 is displayed by the outline.

(4) Also, in this embodiment, when the text runs off the label 52, the protruding portion 532 is displayed in reverse video, so that the user can surely grasp the protruding text.

(5) In this embodiment, when the tape 12 is not loaded, the tape 12 is not displayed and the character is entirely displayed in reverse. 12 can be reliably grasped that it is not loaded.

(6) In this embodiment, the character 5
The display dot overlapping both the label 3 and the label 52 is labeled
2 display dots, so even if the specified character spacing or line spacing is small,
Character spacing and line spacing can be displayed. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the plurality of characters 53 from being displayed in a connected state.

(7) In this embodiment, the character 5
2 is displayed in a simulated manner, so that even if the designated size of the character 52 is small, it can be displayed in an easily viewable state.

(8) In this embodiment, the pattern data for displaying the print image is developed by overwriting data in the order of the background 51, the label 52, and the character 53. Time can be shortened.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

(1) For example, in the above embodiment, based on the detected tape width and the designated character size,
The case where the display size of both the label 52 and the character 53 is changed has been described. However, in the present invention, one of them may be fixed and the other may be relatively changed.

(2) In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a case where a tape 12 having a character size or the like loaded in an apparatus is used.
The case where the present invention is applied to the display of a print image of an apparatus specified independently of the above has been described. However, the present invention may be applied to the display of a print image of an apparatus in which designation of a character size or the like is regulated by a loaded tape. In this case, the overflow processing function can be omitted.

(3) In the above embodiment, the case where the character 52 is displayed in a simulated manner has been described. However, in the present invention, the character 52 may be displayed as it is.

(4) In the above embodiment, the case where the print image is displayed in black and white has been described. However, the present invention may be arranged to display the print image in color.

(5) In addition, it goes without saying that the present invention can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0102]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a print image display device and method and a tape printing device capable of displaying a print image without increasing memory consumption and lowering discriminating power of a surrounding rule.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an external configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data storage structure of a RAM.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print image when text does not protrude.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print image when text runs off.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print image when a tape is not loaded.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a text.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a CPU in a print image display operation.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a process of expanding pattern data when a text does not protrude.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a process of developing pattern data when a text runs off;

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining processing for developing pattern data when a tape is not loaded.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a designated size.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a method of determining a display start position and a display size.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a method for determining a display start position and a display size.

[Explanation of symbols]

11: cassette loading section, 12: tape, 13: cut lever, 14: dial key, 15: key group, 16: liquid crystal display, 20: input section, 21: key input section, 22
... tape width detection unit, 30 ... control unit, 31 ... CPU, 32
... ROM, 33 ... RAM, 34 ... CG-ROM, 35 ...
Input interface, 36 ... output interface, 40
... Output unit, 41 ... Thermal head, 42 ... Head drive circuit, tape feed motor, 44 ... Motor drive circuit, 45 ...
Display drive circuit, 51 ... background, 52 ... label, 5
3 Characters, 61 to 64 Display dots, 531 Non-protruding portions, 532 Protruding portions.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-1-296336 (JP, A) JP-A-4-133756 (JP, A) JP-A-2-299846 (JP, A) JP-A-4-296 146172 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 29/42 B41J 3/36 H04N 1/23

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] At least a text display and a print image
A print image display device for displaying a print image of text printed on a tape-shaped print medium on a display unit capable of separately displaying a display , wherein the print medium is displayed in a different color from a background. Display data generating means for generating such print image display data; and a display data generating means for positioning the print image display data in front of a text based on the print image display data generated by the display data generating means .
Image display means for displaying the print image as an image including a margin area before the print image. 2. The display data generating unit according to claim 1, wherein, when the print medium is not loaded, the print medium is not displayed, and the text is displayed in a color different from the background as a whole. 2. The print image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print image display apparatus is configured to generate print image display data. 3. The print image display device according to claim 1, wherein the display data generation unit displays each character in the text in a block. 4. At least a text display and a print image
In a print image display method of displaying an image of a print image of a text printed on a tape-shaped print medium on a display unit capable of separately displaying a display, the print medium is image-displayed in a color different from a background. Generating print image display data as described above, and displaying the print image as an image including a front margin area located on the front side of text based on the generated print image display data. Image display method. 5. When the print medium is not loaded, print image display data is displayed such that the print medium is not displayed and the text is displayed in a color different from the background as a whole. The print image display method according to claim 4 , wherein the print image is generated. 6. The tape printing apparatus print medium is a tape, the tape printing apparatus comprising: a print image display apparatus according to claim 1.