JP3123376B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having a display capable of displaying a single line by scrolling a plurality of input characters in a line direction and, more particularly, to a starting point and an ending point of a rectangular ruled line frame. And printing a ruled line frame surrounding a plurality of lines of characters simply by designating the characters corresponding to.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a low-cost electronic typewriter having a small display for displaying only a small number of characters and a tape printer proposed by the present applicant in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-85050 have been used for inputting characters. Are stored in the input data memory, while these input characters are sequentially displayed on the display. In addition, characters input beyond the number of display digits on the display are displayed while being scrolled sequentially in the column direction, and characters on multiple lines input according to the line feed command are displayed in the line direction following the line feed mark. It is displayed while scrolling to. That is, these printing apparatuses are not controlled so that a plurality of lines of input document data are sequentially displayed as a line feed in response to a line feed command, as in a word processor having a large display. Therefore, these printing apparatuses are provided with editing functions such as deletion and insertion, character modification functions such as underlining and bold processing, and the like, but these functions are restricted by display control of the display, and input functions are limited. It is configured to work on the characters in each line.

[0003] By the way, particularly in a tape printer, for example, when a "name plate" is created, there is a demand to print a ruled line frame surrounding a name with a rectangular ruled line in addition to the name.

[0004]

As described above, in a tape printer in which a plurality of input characters are sequentially scrolled and displayed on a display capable of displaying a small number of characters, a display control method is employed. Due to restrictions, for example, when creating a “name plate”, there is a problem that it is not possible to give an instruction on the display to apply a ruled line frame surrounding a name with a rectangular ruled line. Even if an instruction can be given, if the length of a plurality of lines is longer or shorter, the end of the longest line and the end of the character string cannot be checked at the same time on a small display, and the size of the ruled line frame is easily set incorrectly.

An object of the present invention, without being restricted by the display control for sequentially displaying multiple lines of text to the row direction, can be printed a rectangular border frame surrounding a plurality of rows of printing characters and ruled lines
In that the character surrounded by the frame to provide a readily recognizable can so that a printing device.

[0006]

A printing apparatus according to the present invention comprises input means for inputting characters and various commands,
An input data memory for storing data input from the input means; a display means having a display having at least one display line; receiving data from the input data memory; And a display control means for displaying on the display while sequentially scrolling in the line direction, a starting point of a rectangular ruled line frame for enclosing one or more lines of printing characters and an ending point in a diagonal relationship with the starting point When setting, the diagonal point indicating means for indicating the character corresponding to the start point and the character corresponding to the end point displayed on the display, and the diagonal point indicating means.
From the character corresponding to the starting point and the character corresponding to the ending point,
A diagonal point setting means for setting a starting point of the ruled line frame and an ending point in a diagonal relation to the ruled line frame; receiving data of the input data memory and data of the starting point and the ending point set by the diagonal point setting means; Print data generating means for developing into dot pattern data; and printing means having a print head for receiving dot pattern data from the print data generating means and printing in a dot pattern , wherein the display control means includes a diagonal point designating means. By
Line before the character corresponding to the start point of the specified ruled line frame
Displays the start symbol and immediately after the character corresponding to the end point of the ruled line frame
At the end of the ruled line .

A printing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention has a configuration similar to that of the first aspect, except that, in the input data memory, the ruled line frame set by the diagonal point setting means is provided. Code insertion means for inserting a ruled line start code immediately before a character corresponding to a start point and inserting a ruled line end code immediately after a character corresponding to an end point of the ruled line frame is provided.

Further, a printing apparatus according to claim 3 of the present invention.
Has a configuration similar to that of claim 1, but with a diagonal line.
The setting means determines the character corresponding to the start point of the designated ruled line frame and the end point.
The coordinates of the starting point of the ruled line frame
And the coordinates of the diagonal end point.
You.

[0009]

In the printing apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention,
The display control means receives the input data of the input data memory, and scrolls the characters of the next line sequentially in the line direction following each input line feed command, and displays the characters on the display of the display means. The start point of the rectangular ruled line frame surrounding the print character and the end point in a diagonal relationship with the start point are indicated by a diagonal by indicating the character corresponding to the start point and the character corresponding to the end point displayed on the display. Set by point setting means. The print data creation means receives the data of the input data memory and the data of the start point and the end point set by the diagonal point setting means, and is defined by the input character and two diagonal points designated by the start point and the end point. The rectangular ruled line frame is developed into dot pattern data for printing, and the printing means receives the dot pattern data from the print data creating means and prints in a dot pattern using a print head.

Then, the display control means displays a ruled line start symbol immediately before the character corresponding to the start point of the ruled line frame designated by the diagonal point designating means, and finishes forming immediately after the character corresponding to the end point of the ruled line frame. A symbol is displayed.

As a result, the input character is printed and a rectangular ruled line frame indicated by two diagonal points is printed so as to surround the character. In addition, characters surrounded by a ruled line frame are displayed on the display so as to be confirmed.

[0012]

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 printing apparatus for printing a large number of characters such as kanji, hiragana, katakana, and alphabetic characters on a printing tape.

As shown in FIG. 1, an annular character selection for selecting a character or a symbol to be printed (hereinafter simply referred to as "character") is provided at a front portion of a main body frame 2 of the tape printer 1. The dial 3 is rotatably disposed, the keyboard 4 is disposed, and a liquid crystal display 19 capable of displaying six characters is provided behind the dial 3 for character selection. At the center of the character selection dial 3, a setting key 5 for confirming a character selected by rotating the character selection dial 3 is provided. 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 formed on the upper surface of the character selection dial 3. It is drawn in two columns. Reference numeral 6 is a character selection position mark.

The keyboard unit 4 includes a character type switching key for alternately switching between input of "Hiragana", "Katakana" and "Alphabet", a conversion key and a non-conversion key, a printing key for executing printing, A font selection key for selecting a character font, a ruled line frame KW for surrounding a print character string with a ruled line
, A tape feed key for feeding the printing tape 9 by a tape, a power switch for turning on / off the power, and the like.

Next, the printing mechanism PM will be briefly described with reference to FIG.
In S, a tape spool 8 around which a printing tape 9 of about 24 mm made of a transparent film is wound, a ribbon supply spool 13 around which an ink ribbon 12 is wound, and this ink ribbon 12 is wound up. A take-up spool 14, a supply spool 16 wound with a double-sided tape 15 having the same width as the printing tape 9 with the release paper facing outside, and joining the printing tape 9 and the double-sided tape 15 to each other Joining roller 10
Are rotatably provided.

A thermal head 7 is erected at a position where the printing tape 9 and the ink ribbon 12 overlap with each other.
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, a heating element group including 128 heating elements is vertically arranged in rows.

Therefore, when the joining roller 10 and the take-up spool 14 are energized to the heating element group while being driven synchronously in the predetermined rotation direction by the tape feed motor 18 (see FIG. 3), the printing tape 9 is rotated. Characters are printed on the upper side by a plurality of dot rows, and the printing tape 9 is fed out of the main body frame 2 in the tape feeding direction A with the double-sided tape 15 joined. Printing mechanism PM
Is similar to a known configuration (for example, see Japanese Patent Application 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
This is for outputting the absolute value encoder signal ENS of each type, and the code data of the character selected corresponding to the character selection position mark 6 based on the absolute value encoder signal ENS and the signal from the character type switching key. Is obtained, and the absolute value encoder signal ENS before the selection operation is performed.
And 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
, An input / output interface (I / O interface) 25, R
It comprises OMs 28 and 29 and RAM 30.

In a ROM (program memory) 28, the character corresponding to the code data of the character selected by the character selection dial 3 is displayed on the display 19, and the character of the next line input in response to the line feed command is displayed. A display control program for controlling the display mechanism DM so as to scroll and display sequentially in the row direction, a control program for storing character code data and various control codes when the setting key 5 is operated in the input data buffer 31, A drive control program for sequentially reading data from the print buffer 34 to drive and control the thermal head 7 and the tape feed motor 18, a control program for ruled line frame setting control, and a control program for print processing control, which will be described later, are stored. Have been.

In a ROM (pattern data memory) 29, dot pattern data relating to each of a large number of characters drawn on the upper surface of the character selection dial 3 is 16 dots (vertical) .times.
SS character pattern data consisting of 15 dots (horizontal) and 4
L character pattern data composed of 8 dots (vertical) × 48 dots (horizontal) are stored in association with character code data. In addition, SS character pattern data is 2 lines ~
Used for 5-line printing and display. The L character pattern data is used for one-line printing. Reference numeral 24 denotes 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 various code data relating to print control such as code data of a plurality of selected characters and an input return code (see FIG. 6). One address of the input data buffer 31 is stored in the buffer pointer 32 (this pointer value is P). The ruled line frame position memory 33 has a print buffer 34 for the set ruled line frame KW.
Are stored as the start position coordinates and the end position coordinates thereof. As shown in FIG. 7, the print buffer 34 includes 128 bits (16 bytes) corresponding to 128 dots in the vertical direction (dot row direction) and the number of bits capable of storing dot pattern data of a plurality of characters in the horizontal direction. A large memory capacity is provided, and dot pattern data of a character to be printed is read from the pattern data memory 29 and stored at the designated array position. In the flag memory 35, the ruled line frame KW
Is the diagonal ruled line start position and the ruled line end position, that is, 2
When two diagonal points are set, flag data of a ruled line start position setting flag KWF set when the ruled line start position is set is stored.

Next, the routine of the ruled line frame setting control performed by the control device C of the tape printer 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the figure, reference symbols Si (i = 10, 11, 12,...) Represent each step. Until this control is executed, a plurality of code data of the character selected by the rotation operation of the character selection dial 3 and the operation of the setting key 5 are stored in the input data buffer 31, and the input data The last six characters of the plurality of code data stored in the buffer 31 are displayed on the display 19. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the character string "AB"
C ", the character string" DEF "on the second line, and the character string" D "on the third line.
It is assumed that the code data “H” is stored. Here, the symbol “▽” is a line feed code, and these input character strings are displayed on the display 19 while being sequentially scrolled in the line direction following the line feed mark.

When the ruled line frame setting key is operated, this control is started. First, the ruled line start position setting flag KWF is reset (S10), and the character selection dial 3 is rotated to change to the absolute value encoder signal ENS. Occurs (S11: No, S17: Yes), the dial 3 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 1 by comparing the absolute encoder signal ENS before the selection operation with the current absolute encoder signal ENS. (S1
8: Yes), in the display RAM of the display controller 20, the dot data of each character is shifted to the right by one digit, and each of the display characters is displayed on the display 19 by one.
It is scrolled to the right by the digit and displayed (S19), and S11 is displayed.
Return to On the other hand, when the character selection dial 3 is rotated leftward, that is, counterclockwise (S11: No, S1
7: Yes, S18: No), in the display RAM,
The dot data of each character is shifted to the left by one digit, and each display character is scrolled to the left by one digit on the display 19 (S20).

Next, when the setting key 5 is operated (S
11 · S12: Yes), when the flag KWF is reset, that is, when the start position (upper left position) of the ruled line frame KW is set (S13: No), the rightmost display position of the display 19 in the input data buffer 31 The ruled line start code is inserted and stored immediately before the character code corresponding to the character displayed in (S14).
WF is set (S15), and the process returns to S11. For example,
As shown in FIG. 1, when the setting key 5 is operated in a state where the first character “A” in the first line is displayed at the rightmost display position of the display 19 as a start character, the input data buffer 31 is displayed in FIG. As shown, a ruled line start code (shown by a symbol "") is added to the address immediately before the character code "A".
Is inserted and stored, and a ruled line start symbol "" is displayed on the display 19 immediately before the start character "A" as a ruled line start position.

Next, the end position (lower right position) of the ruled line frame KW
Character selection dial 3 is operated such that the end character of the character is displayed at the rightmost display position of the display 19 (S11: N).
o, S17 to S20), when the setting key 5 is operated (S11 / S12: Yes), since the flag KWF is set (S13: Yes), the rightmost display of the display 19 in the input data buffer 31 is displayed. The ruled line end code is inserted and stored immediately after the character code corresponding to the character displayed at the position (S16), and this control ends. For example, when the setting key 5 is operated in a state where the last character “H” of the third line of the input character string is displayed at the rightmost display position of the display 19, the input data buffer 31 stores, as shown in FIG. Is inserted and stored at the address immediately after the character "H" with the ruled line end code (symbol """), and the ruled line end symbol""") is displayed on the display 19 immediately after the character "H" as the ruled line end position. Will be displayed.

Next, a routine of a printing process control for printing the selected character string will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, in this print processing control, when the input data is a plurality of lines, the print position of each print line on the print tape 9 is set in advance according to the number of lines of the input data.

When the print key is operated, this control is started. First, the head address of the input data buffer 31 is stored in the pointer value P of the buffer pointer 32 (S3).
1) The data of the input data buffer 31 indicated by the pointer value P is read (S31). Next, when this data is a ruled line start code (S32: Yes),
In the print buffer 34, the ruled line start position coordinates Ks (x1, y1), which is the upper left position of the area where the dot pattern of the ruled line start character is stored, are stored in the ruled line frame position memory 33 (S33). (S37: No), the pointer value P is incremented by one (S38), and the process returns to S31.

Next, when the read data is a character code (S31, S32, S34: No), the bat pattern data corresponding to the character code is stored in the print buffer 34.
(S36). When the read data is the ruled line end code (S31, S32:
No, S34: Yes), in the print buffer 34,
The ruled line end position coordinates Ke (x2, y2), which is the lower right position of the area where the dot pattern of the ruled line end character is stored, are stored in the ruled line frame position memory 33 (S35). For example,
As shown in FIG. 8, in the print buffer 34, the dot patterns of all the character codes of the input data buffer 31 are respectively developed in predetermined areas, and furthermore, a dot-dash line in which the dot pattern of the ruled line starting character "A" is stored. Ruled line start position coordinates Ks (x1, y1) at the upper left position of the indicated pattern area
And the ruled line end position coordinates Ke (x2, y2), which is the lower right position of the pattern area indicated by the one-dot chain line storing the dot pattern of the ruled line end character "H", is stored in the ruled line frame position memory 3.
3 is stored.

Next, when the pointer value P indicates the last data (S37: Yes), the coordinates of the ruled line starting base point and the ruled line ending base point coordinates for creating the data of the ruled line frame KW are calculated. That is, for example, as shown in FIG.
First, regarding the ruled line start position coordinates Ks (x1, y1),
A new X coordinate value (XS) obtained by subtracting a predetermined number of dots (for example, 3 dots) from the x coordinate value (x1) and adding a predetermined number of dots to the y coordinate value (y1) to obtain a new Y value
The coordinate value (YS) is obtained, and the ruled line start base point coordinate KS (X
S, YS) is required. Furthermore, the ruled line end character "H"
Is added one space (illustrated by “SP”) to make it the same number of characters as the previous line, and this space (SP)
Of the ruled line end position Ke (x3, y3) is changed. Then, the ruled line end position coordinates Ke (x3
, Y3), a new X coordinate value (XE) obtained by adding a predetermined number of dots to the x coordinate value (x3) and a new Y coordinate value (YE) obtained by subtracting the predetermined number of dots from the y coordinate value (y3). , And the ruled line end base point coordinates KE (XE
, YE) are required.

Next, the dot pattern of the ruled line frame KW is developed in the print buffer 34 based on the coordinates of the two base points having a diagonal relationship (S40). For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the ruled line start base point coordinates KS (XS
, YS) and the ruled line end base point coordinates KE (XE, YE), the dot pattern kw of the rectangular ruled line frame KW defined by these two points is developed on the print buffer 34. Next, a printing process is executed based on the dot data stored in the print buffer 34 (S41), and this control ends. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, the input three-character string "ABC...
H "is printed and the ruled line frame KW is printed at the set position.

As described above, the rectangular ruled line frame KW
The start position (upper left position) and the end position (lower right position) in a diagonal relationship can be indicated by a character corresponding to the start position and a character corresponding to the end position displayed on the display 19. The ruled line start base point coordinates KS (XS, YS) and the ruled line end base point coordinates KE (XE,
YE) That is, since the dot pattern of the ruled line frame KW defined by the two diagonal points is developed in the print buffer 34, there is no restriction on display control for sequentially displaying a plurality of lines of characters in the line direction. A rectangular ruled line frame KW surrounding a plurality of lines of print characters can be printed.

[0036]

Second Embodiment As shown in FIG. 11, the print processing control may be partially changed so as to obtain the ruled line end position Ke based on the maximum characters of each print line. In addition,
Steps similar to the steps in the print processing control of the above embodiment will be briefly described. Except for this control change, the configuration is the same as that of the above embodiment.

That is, when the data in the input data buffer 31 indicated by the pointer P is a ruled line start code (S
50, S51, S52: Yes), the flag KWF is set (S53), and the ruled line start position coordinates Ks (xs, ys) of the ruled line starting character are stored in the ruled line frame position memory 33 (S54). Next, when the data pointed and read by the pointer P is a line feed code (S52 / S55: N
o, S58: Yes), when the flag KWF is set (S59: Yes), the lower right position coordinates (xi, yi) of the dot pattern area of the character immediately before the line feed code.
Is stored in the ruled line frame position memory 33 (S60), and a line feed process is executed (S61).

On the other hand, when the data pointed and read by the pointer P is a ruled line end code (S52: No, S
55: Yes), and the flag KWF is reset (S5).
6) The lower right position coordinates (xn, yn) of the dot pattern area of the character immediately before the ruled line end code are stored in the ruled line frame position memory 3.
3 (S57). For example, as shown in FIG. 12, in the print buffer 34, the dot patterns of all the character codes of the input data buffer 31 are developed in a predetermined area, and the ruled line start position coordinates Ks (xs , Ys) and the lower right position coordinates (x1, y1), (x2, y2), (x3, y3) of the last character of each line.
) Are stored in the ruled line frame position memory 33.

Next, when the pointer P indicates the last data (S63: Yes), the maximum x coordinate is calculated based on the plurality of lower right position coordinates (xi, yi) stored in the ruled line frame position memory 33. The ruled line end position coordinates Ke (xe, ye) consisting of the coordinates and the minimum coordinate of the y coordinate are determined (S65). For example, as shown in FIG. 12, three lower right position coordinates (x1, y1), (x2, y2), (x
3, y3) to the ruled line end position coordinates Ke (x2, y3).
) Is determined.

Next, the ruled line start base point coordinates and the ruled line end base point coordinates for creating the dot pattern data kw of the ruled line frame KW are obtained (S66). For example, as shown in FIG. 12, ruled line start base point coordinates KS (XS, YS) are obtained, and further, ruled line end base point coordinates KE (XE, YE) are obtained.

Next, the dot pattern data kw of the ruled line frame KW is developed in the print buffer 34 based on the coordinates of the two base points having the diagonal relationship (S67), and the printing process is executed based on the data in the print buffer 34. (S68). In this control, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

When a cursor movement key is provided, a start character and an end character can be designated with the movement key. Note that the present invention can also be applied to an electronic typewriter having an input data memory, a print buffer, and the like.In this case, while expanding the input character and the dot pattern data of the ruled line frame in the print buffer,
The control may be performed so that the ruled line frame is printed after the character printing is completed, or the ruled line may be simultaneously printed while the character is printed.

[0043]

According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, the display system
Control means, a diagonal line instruction means, a diagonal point setting means, a print data creating means, and a printing means, and the starting point and the ending point of the diagonal relationship for setting a rectangular ruled line frame correspond to the starting point displayed on the display. And the character corresponding to the end point can be designated, and the printing dot pattern of the ruled line frame defined by these two diagonal points is expanded, so that a plurality of lines of characters are sequentially displayed in the line direction. A rectangular ruled line frame surrounding a plurality of lines of print characters can be printed without being restricted by control.

Further, the character corresponding to the designated starting point is
A ruled line start symbol is displayed in front of the
The ruled line end symbol will be displayed later, so
Characters can be easily checked
You.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tape printer.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a printing mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the tape printer.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a ruled line frame setting control routine;

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of a print processing control routine.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing data in an input data buffer.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing data in an input data buffer.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing dot pattern data in a print buffer.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing dot pattern data in a print buffer.

FIG. 10 is an exemplary view showing a printing example in which a character string and a ruled line frame are printed on a printing tape.

FIG. 11 is a schematic flowchart of a print processing control routine according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 12 illustrates a print processing control according to a second embodiment.
FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tape printing device 3 Character selection dial 4 Keyboard part 5 Setting key 7 Thermal head 19 Liquid crystal display 21 Absolute value encoder 27 CPU 28 ROM 29 ROM 30 RAM 31 Input data buffer 34 Print buffer C control unit DM display mechanism PM printing mechanism

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] An input unit for inputting characters and various instructions; an input data memory for storing data input from the input unit; a display unit having a display having at least one display line; A display control means for receiving data from the input data memory and displaying the next line of characters on the display while sequentially scrolling in the line direction following each line feed command; Point designation means for designating a character corresponding to the start point and a character corresponding to the end point displayed on the display when setting the start point of the rectangular ruled line frame and the end point in a diagonal relationship with the start point And the sentence corresponding to the starting point specified by the diagonal point specifying means.
From the character and the character corresponding to the end point,
Diagonal point setting means for setting an end point having a diagonal relationship therewith, and receiving the data of the input data memory and the data of the start point and the end point set by the diagonal point setting means, and forming dot pattern data for printing. Print data generating means for developing, and printing means having a print head for receiving dot pattern data from the print data generating means and printing in a dot pattern , wherein the display control means is instructed by the diagonal point instructing means. Sa
The ruled line starts just before the character corresponding to the starting point of the ruled line frame
Displays a symbol and immediately after the character corresponding to the end point of the ruled line frame
Wherein a ruled line end symbol is displayed . 2. In the input data memory, a ruled line start code is inserted immediately before a character corresponding to a start point of the ruled line frame set by the diagonal point setting means, and a character corresponding to an end point of the ruled line frame is inserted. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a code insertion unit for inserting a ruled line end code immediately after the printer. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the diagonal line setting means includes a designated ruled line.
Based on the character corresponding to the start point and the character corresponding to the end point of the frame
Of the start point of the ruled line frame and the end point
Claim 1 Symbol placement of the printing device and sets the coordinates