JP3208978B2 - Tape printer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape printer having a so-called big font printing function, which prints text consisting of uppercase letters and numbers in alphabets at a maximum size that fits within a printable width regulated by a printing tape width. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tape printer capable of performing big font printing even for some characters and the like that cannot be conventionally printed in big font.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a predetermined width (for example, 12 mm,
Various types of small-sized tape printers for printing a desired character string on a printing tape having a printing tape having a length of 24 mm or the like have been proposed. In these tape printers, various print sizes can be generally selected according to the width of the print tape, the purpose of use of the printed tape, and the like. Some tape printers have a function of printing big fonts.

[0003] The big font printing function will be described. As described above, there are various types of printing tapes, and the width of a portion excluding a predetermined minimum upper and lower margin is the maximum printing width of the tape. There is a demand from users of the tape printer that it is desirable to effectively utilize this maximum printing width and print in the largest possible character size. When printing text consisting of kana characters, kanji characters, etc., it is sufficient to simply select the largest point size within the range of the maximum printing width, whereby the printable width of the tape can be maximized.

However, the case of alphanumeric characters is not easy.
Some of the lowercase alphanumeric characters, such as "g" and "j", protrude below the baseline,
It is considered that it is a proper method to allocate the data so that it fits into the maximum print width including the protruding portion. That is, as shown in FIG. 13, the character size is set such that the top alignment TA and the bottom alignment BA of the character string are respectively located at the upper and lower ends of the print allowable area D.

[0005] In this method, however, when a numeral or an uppercase letter that does not protrude downward is printed, the print is not performed on the tape width of the protruding portion G. Therefore, FIG.
Considering a text that includes only uppercase letters excluding “g” from, the protruding portion G cannot be effectively used for printing such text. On the other hand, there is a strong demand from users of the tape printing apparatus to print the text including only numbers and uppercase letters in a large size by maximizing the printable width of the tape.

[0006] Therefore, when printing a text that includes only numbers and uppercase letters among alphanumeric characters, and includes only those characters, only the portion above the baseline is maximum without considering the protruding portion. A printing method of printing with a point size that just fits in a printing width is performed. This is big font printing. Or,
In addition to numbers and uppercase letters, tape that can be printed in big font for symbolic characters that do not protrude below the baseline (for example, “.” (Period), “:” (colon), etc.) There is also a printing device.

[0007]

However, the big font printing function of the conventional tape printing apparatus has the following problems. That is, as described above, in the conventional big font printing, only numbers and uppercase letters are particularly targeted among alphanumeric characters, lowercase letters are not targeted, and symbols are not targeted in principle. On the other hand, the user of the tape printing apparatus uses “＄” or “,” such as “$ 5,000” when the tape printing apparatus is used to create a product price tag in a store or the like.
There is a strong demand for big font printing of text including (comma) symbols.

Here, both "@" and "," are not as small as the above-mentioned lowercase letters such as "g" and "j", but slightly lower than the base line BL as shown in FIG. It is protruding. For this reason, the conventional tape printer is excluded from the target of the big font printing function, and the text including these symbols cannot be printed in the big font. Similarly, symbol characters which cannot be printed in the big font conventionally because they slightly protrude below the base line include ";" (semicolon) and the like in addition to the above two.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the above-mentioned conventional tape printing apparatus. Characters which are slightly below the baseline are provided with font data dedicated to big font printing. By moving the image data of these characters upward when printing big fonts, it is possible to print big fonts even for texts containing these characters, thereby further improving the usefulness of the big font printing function. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape printing device.

[0010]

Means for Solving the Problems The tape printer according to claim 1 of the present application to achieve the object, the elongated Te
Printing means for printing on a tape , input means for inputting characters and symbols and various commands, data storage means for storing data of input characters and symbols, and a character based on the data of the data storage means. A print control means for creating print pattern data using the data read from the generator and causing the print means to print the print pattern data .
Big font setting means for setting a big font mode for printing characters and symbols at the maximum size so as to fit within the range, and a file based on data stored in the data storage means when the big font mode is set.
Point data and the baseline of characters and symbols and the printing
Belongs to the first group located between the upper edge of the allowable area
Multiple characters or symbols, or a baseline of characters or symbols
Belongs to the second group that is arranged to protrude downward from
Discriminating means for discriminating whether or not composed only of a plurality of characters and symbols, the characters and the like of the second group, seen below the font data from the baseline
Stores shifted upwardly so as not issued, the character generator and a dedicated character generator provided separately from the said printing control means, the character of the discrimination the stored data is the first group by means and when it is determined that the symbols or are only constituted by the second group of characters and symbols, the for the first group of characters and symbols the tape Printout allowable region
And print pattern data to be printed in the maximum size that can be stored in the second group, and for the characters and symbols of the second group, print pattern data is created using data read from the dedicated character generator.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape printing apparatus, comprising: printing means for printing on a long tape ; input means for inputting characters, symbols and various commands; Tape printing device comprising: data storage means for storing data of characters and symbols; and print control means for generating print pattern data using data read from a character generator based on the data in the data storage means and causing the printing means to print the data. In the width direction of the tape
Big font setting means for setting a big font mode for printing characters and symbols at the maximum size so as to be within the range of the print allowable area in the printer, and when the big font mode is set, the big font mode is stored in the data storage means.
Font data based on the data
Between the line and the upper end of the printable area
A plurality of characters or symbols belonging to the first group, or
The number that is placed below the baseline of the symbol
Determining means for determining whether or not only characters and symbols belonging to two groups are included, and data read from the character generator for the characters and the like of the second group so as not to protrude downward from a baseline.
A data movement unit for moving the print control unit upward by a predetermined amount, wherein the print control unit is configured such that the storage content is constituted by only the first group of characters or symbols or the second group of characters or symbols by the determination unit. If it is determined that there, the tape for the first group of characters and symbols
Create a print pattern data to be printed with a maximum size that fits in the printing acceptable region of flops, the for the second group of characters and symbols printed pattern data to be printed in the largest size by data moved by the data moving means Is created.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape printing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, further comprising a tape width detecting means for detecting a width of the printing medium. The size is determined by the width detected by the tape width detecting means.

[0013]

In the tape printing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration, a text consisting of characters or the like input to the storage means by the input means is printed by the printing means via the printing control means, and the printing medium is elongated. When printing on the tape, the printable area in the width direction of the tape is set by the big font setting means.
If the big font mode that prints characters and symbols at the maximum size so that they fit within the range of
The text content to be printed stored in the data storage means is based on the baseline of characters and symbols and the upper end of the printable area.
Or a plurality of characters or symbols belonging to the first group , or a portion protruding downward from the baseline of the characters or symbols.
The determination means determines whether or not only the plurality of characters and symbols belonging to the second group that are arranged are arranged . If the determination by the determination means is affirmative, the font data corresponding to the characters belonging to the first group among the characters constituting the text is read from the character generator to create print pattern data. For characters and the like belonging to, the corresponding font data (from the baseline,
(Which is shifted upward so as not to protrude) and is read to create print pattern data. Printing is performed based on the print pattern data thus created.

In the tape printing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention, a text consisting of characters and the like input to the storage means by the input means is printed on a long printing medium by the printing means via the printing control means. When printing, the range of the printable area in the width direction of the tape is determined by the big font setting means.
If the Bigfont mode for printing characters and symbols in maximum size to fit within is set, data
If the text content to be printed stored in the storage means is a character
Between the baseline of the symbol or symbol and the top of the printable area.
A plurality of characters or symbols belonging to the first group to be placed , or the characters or symbols protruding downward from the baseline of the characters or symbols are arranged.
The determination means determines whether or not it is composed only of a plurality of characters and symbols belonging to the second group to be placed . If the determination by the determination means is affirmative, the font data corresponding to the characters belonging to the first group among the characters constituting the text is read from the character generator to create print pattern data, and the characters are included in the second group. Characters belonging to it are read from the character generator
The corresponding font data is transferred via the data transfer means.
And do not protrude below the baseline
Moving a predetermined amount to create a print pattern data to. Printing is performed based on the print pattern data thus created.

Further, in the tape printing apparatus according to claim 3 of the present application, the tape width detecting means detects the width of the printing medium,
Determine the maximum size of the print based on the detected width. On the basis of the maximum size, printing is performed by any of the above operations.

[0016]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a tape printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 1 shows the appearance of the tape printer 1 of the present embodiment.
A keyboard 3 is disposed in front of the keyboard 3. In the main body frame 2 behind the keyboard 3, a printing mechanism PM for printing characters and the like on a printing tape and characters and symbols can be displayed. A small liquid crystal display (LCD) 22 is provided.

The keyboard 3 has character keys 5 for inputting various characters such as kana characters, alphanumeric characters, symbols, etc., character size setting keys 6 for setting character sizes for tape printing, and a printing mechanism. A print key 7 for instructing execution of tape printing by PM, a return key for instructing execution of various processes and line feed of text, a cursor key for moving a cursor left and right, and other various function keys necessary for operation of the tape printer 1 Etc. are arranged. Next, the liquid crystal display 22 will be described. Liquid crystal display 22
Is a display controller (LCDC) 2 to be described later.
The display of characters input from various keys arranged on the keyboard 3 while being controlled by the display 3.

Next, the printing mechanism PM will be briefly described. A rectangular tape storage cassette CS is detachably attached to the printing mechanism PM. FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the tape storage cassette CS. The tape storage cassette CS includes a tape spool 11 around which a printing tape 10 made of a transparent film is wound, a ribbon supply spool 13 around which an ink ribbon 12 is wound, and a ribbon around which the used ink ribbon 12 is wound. A take-up spool 14, a double-sided tape supply spool 16 in which a double-sided tape 15 having the same width as the printing tape 10 is wound with the release paper outside, and a contact roller 1 for bringing the printing tape 10 and the double-sided tape 15 into close contact with each other.
And 7 are provided rotatably. Printing tape 10
Are available in various widths from a minimum of 6 mm to a maximum of 24 mm. On the back surface of the tape storage cassette CS, a width display portion 8 for displaying the width of the printing tape 10 to be stored is provided. The width of the printing tape 10 can be detected by a tape width sensor 9 provided at a corresponding position of the printing mechanism PM.

At a position where the printing tape 10 and the ink ribbon 12 overlap, a thermal head 18 having a predetermined number of heating elements arranged in the vertical direction is provided upright. A platen roller 20 and a feed roller 21 are rotatably supported on the support 19 in a rotatable manner. The platen roller 20 transfers the printing tape 10 and the ink ribbon 12 to the thermal head 1.
8, and the feed roller 21 feeds the printing tape 10 and the double-sided tape 15 while pressing them against the contact roller 17. When the heating element of the thermal head 18 is energized in accordance with the text data, a character such as a character is printed on the print tape by a plurality of dot rows in accordance with a character size determined by a character size setting process described later. is there.

Next, the configuration of the control system of the tape printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the tape printing apparatus 1, which basically includes a control unit C, a keyboard 3, a printing mechanism PM, and a display unit DM. The keyboard 3, the printing mechanism PM, and the display unit DM are connected to the control unit C via the input / output interface 27, respectively. The control unit C will be described. The control unit C has a bus 28 connected to the input / output interface 27.
The CPU 29 is connected to the CPU 29 as a core, and the CPU 29 is further provided with a ROM via a bus 28.
30 and the RAM 40 are connected. The CPU 29
In accordance with various programs stored in a ROM 30 described later, various arithmetic processes necessary for controlling the tape printer 1 are performed.

The ROM 30 of the control section C stores various programs, data, and the like.
0 is an outline data memory 31 for storing outline data (outline data) of characters and the like input by the character keys 5 of the keyboard 3, and a big font to be described later for special symbols such as "," and "@". A dedicated outline data memory 32 for printing, a character size setting program for setting the size of characters and the like to be printed on the printing tape 10, a character size setting program 31
A character size determination program 33 for determining the actual print size according to the contents of the text when the automatic selection mode is set, a print control program for driving the thermal head 18 and the tape feed motor 24 based on the text data, In addition, various programs necessary for controlling the tape printer 1 are stored.

The RAM 40 of the control unit C is a CPU 29
Are used to temporarily store the results of various calculations performed according to the above, and have various storage areas. That is, RAM4
0 is a big font flag 41 which indicates whether or not so-called big font printing is possible, which is determined by the setting of the character size setting program 33 and the contents of the text;
, A text memory 42 for storing a text created based on a character input from the MFP, an image buffer 43 for storing an image to be actually read read from the outline data memory 31 of the ROM 30, and other controls of the tape printer 1. Various necessary storage areas are provided. Here, the big font flag 41 is
Normally, the value is set to “0” to indicate that big font printing is not to be performed. However, only when conditions for performing big font printing are satisfied as described later, the value is set to “1” and the fact is displayed. Things.

The printing mechanism PM in the control system shown in FIG. 3 is based on print data sent from the control unit C via the input / output interface 27, and is similar to the thermal head 18 driven via the drive circuit 25. The tape printing is performed in cooperation with the tape feed motor 24 driven through the tape. The tape width sensor 9 in the printing mechanism PM detects the width of the printing tape of the tape storage cassette CS as described above.

The display unit DM in the control system shown in FIG. 3 comprises a display controller 23 connected to an input / output interface 27 and the liquid crystal display 22 described above. The liquid crystal display 22 displays characters and the like stored in the text memory 42 via a display controller 23 driven and controlled by the control unit C. The keyboard 3 in the control system shown in FIG. 3 gives various commands to the control unit C via the input / output interface 27 as described above.

Next, the operation of the tape printer 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of the tape printer 1. When the tape printer 1 is started up, first, in step (hereinafter referred to as “S”) 1, the tape printer 1 is in a state of waiting for a key input. When a key input is made from the keyboard 3 (S1: Yes), it is determined in S2 whether the input key is the character key 5. When it is determined that the key is the character key 5 (S2: Yes), the process proceeds to S5. S5
Then, the text is created and edited according to the input characters, and the process returns to the key input waiting state in S1.

If it is determined in S2 that the input key is not the character key 5 (S2: No), the process proceeds to S3. In S3, the entered key is the character size setting key 6
Is determined. If it is determined that the key is the character size setting key 6 (S3: Yes), the process proceeds to S6. S
At 6, the tape width sensor 9 detects the width of the printing tape of the mounted tape storage cassette CS. This is for the setting processing of the character print size in the subsequent S7.

In S7, the liquid crystal display 22
Then, the screen shown in FIG. 11 is displayed. The screen of FIG. 11 displays a total of seven types of size settings including various print sizes ranging from 6 points to 38 points and an auto size. This is because the tape width detected in S6 is 2 which is the maximum.
If the tape width is smaller than 4 mm, only the printable size is displayed according to the tape width. In this state, a print size can be selected by inputting any of the numbers 1 to 7 of the character keys 5 on the keyboard 3. Alternatively, the print size can be selected with the cursor key and the return key. Here, the "AUTO" size of No. 7 is selected when printing is to be performed by making maximum use of the tape width, as described later. After setting the character size, the process returns to the key input waiting state of S1.

If it is determined in S3 that the input key is not the character size setting key 6 (S3: No), the process proceeds to S4. In S4, the input key is the print key 7
Is determined. If it is determined that the key is the print key 7 (S4: Yes), the process proceeds to S8, where a printing process described later is performed, and the process returns to the key input waiting state of S1. If it is determined in S4 that the input key is not the print key 7 (S4: No), the process proceeds to S9, where processing corresponding to the input key is performed, and the process returns to the key input waiting state in S1. The above is the basic operation of the tape printer 1.

Next, the printing process performed in S8 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the printing process starts, first, in S11, it is determined whether or not the character size setting is "AUTO". What is determined here is the character size set in S7. When it is determined that the character size setting is not “AUTO” (S11: N
In o), the process proceeds to S15, where the baseline is set at a predetermined intermediate position within the printable range. Here, the base line indicates the lower end position of an uppercase letter or a numeral as shown in FIG. If it is not "AUTO", it is printed in the specified character size. This is because some characters, such as “g”, may extend below the baseline. Then, the process proceeds to S16.

If it is determined in S11 that the character size setting is "AUTO" (S11: Yes), the process proceeds to S12. In S12, the used character size determination program 33 performs a used character size determination process. If the character size setting is "AUTO", the maximum printable character size must be automatically selected. Further, when it is determined in the character size determination processing that the big font printing described later is to be performed, the value of the big font flag 41 is changed from “0” to “1”.
Details of the used character size determination processing will be described later. When the used character size determination processing is completed, the process shifts to S13 to determine whether or not to perform the big font printing. Specifically, S1
In the used character size determination process of No. 2, it is determined whether or not the value of the big font flag 41 has been changed to “1”.

If it is determined that the big font printing is not to be performed, that is, if the value of the big font flag 41 remains “0” (S13: No), as in the case of S11: No, the process proceeds to S15. The base line is set at a predetermined intermediate position within the printable range, and the process proceeds to S16. If it is determined that big font printing is to be performed, that is, if the value of the big font flag 41 has been changed to “1” (S13: Yes), the process proceeds to S14. In S14,
Set the baseline at the lower end of the printable range.
This is because, when printing in big font, characters that extend below the baseline are not included. Then, the process proceeds to S16.

At S16, an image generating process is performed. Image generation processing is performed according to the contents of the text memory 42,
The font data read from the outline data memory 31 or the like of the OM 30 is set as a print image in the image buffer 43 of the RAM 40. Details of the image generation processing will be described later. Then, when the contents of the image buffer 43 are printed in S17, the printing process ends, and the flow enters the state of waiting for key input in S1 of the flow of FIG.

Next, the used character size determination processing performed in S12 of FIG. 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When entering the character size determination processing, first, in S21, the tape width sensor 9 detects the width of the printing tape of the mounted tape storage cassette CS. This is for determining the print size according to the tape width in the subsequent S22. There are various tape widths from a minimum of 6 mm to a maximum of 24 mm, and the maximum printable range is determined for each. In S22, the largest size that fits within the maximum printable range is selected from the printable point sizes. At the stage of S22, the size that fits in the maximum printable range including the protruding portion below the baseline is selected without considering the big font printing.

Then, in S23, it is determined whether or not to perform big font printing. This determination is made based on whether or not the contents of the text include characters that cannot be printed in big font. Details will be described later. The value of the big font flag 41 is also changed in S23. And S
At 24, it is determined whether or not to perform big font printing. Specifically, the determination is made based on the value of the big font flag 41. If the value of the big font flag 41 is "0", it is determined that the big font printing is not performed (S24:
No), the used character size determination processing ends as it is.
That is, in this case, the character size to be used is the character size selected in S22.

In S24, if the value of the big font flag 41 is "1", it is determined that the big font is to be printed (S24: Yes), and the processing from S25 is performed. S2
In the case of 5 or less, the setting of the print size is reviewed so as to effectively use the area below the baseline. First, in S25, the character size is changed to a size larger by one rank. Then, in S26, the characters of the changed size are collated with the maximum printable range on the tape. Here, the protruding portion below the baseline is not considered, and only the portion above the baseline needs to be within the maximum printable range. Therefore, this is determined in S27. If it is determined that the portion above the character baseline does not fall within the maximum printable range (S27: No), the character size is too large, and the character size is reduced by one rank in S29 to determine the character size to be used. The process ends.

If it is determined in S27 that the portion above the character base line falls within the maximum printable range (S2)
7: No) proceeds to S28. In S28, it is determined whether or not the character size at that time is the maximum character size that can be printed. If it is the maximum size that can be printed (S2
8: Yes), since there is no longer a larger character size, the used character size determination processing ends. In this case, the character size used is the maximum size.
If it is determined in S28 that the character size is not the maximum printable character size (S28: No), the process returns to S25 to repeat the operation from S25 in order to perform a similar check for a size one rank larger. This is character size determination processing.

Subsequently, it is performed in S23 in FIG.
Regarding the determination of whether or not to perform big font printing, FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This decision is made based on what characters are included in the text content. First, in S31, a pointer is set at the head of the text. This is to determine whether or not each character constituting the text includes a character that cannot be printed in the big font while circulating through the pointer.

In S32, the character at the pointer position is read from the text. Then, in S33, it is determined whether or not the read character corresponds to a character stored in the outline data memory 31 of the ROM 30 as a first-level big font-capable character group in advance.
Characters applicable to the first level big font are characters that do not protrude below the baseline, such as uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols, such as “.”. These characters can be printed in a big font even with a conventional tape printing apparatus, and are hereinafter referred to as “naturally big characters”. Naturally, the characters that do not correspond to the big characters are lower-case letters such as “a” and “b” and symbols such as “,” that protrude below the baseline. The reason that lowercase letters are uniformly referred to as "naturally not big letters" is that there are some characters such as "g" which greatly extend below the baseline.

If it is determined in S33 that the character is not a big character (S33: No), the process proceeds to S34. S34
Then, it is determined whether or not the character corresponds to a character stored in the outline data memory 31 of the ROM 30 as a second-level big font-capable character group in advance. The characters corresponding to the second-level big font-capable characters are symbols, such as “,”, which slightly protrude below the baseline. These cannot print big fonts with the conventional tape printing apparatus, but can print big fonts with the tape printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, and are hereinafter referred to as “exceptional big characters”. Exception big characters include ","
There are "＄" and ";".

If it is determined in S34 that the character is an exceptional big character (S34: Yes), or if it is naturally determined in S33 that the character is a big character (S33: Yes), the process proceeds to S33.
Proceed to 35. In S35, it is determined whether or not the pointer position is at the end of the text. If it is determined that the pointer position is not at the end of the text (S35: No), S
At 36, the pointer is moved to the next character, and the process returns to S32. Then, it is naturally determined whether the next character is a big character or an exceptional big character.

If it is determined in S34 that the character is not an exceptional big character (S34: No), this process ends. If the text contains a character that is neither a single character nor, of course, a big character or an exceptional big character, this determination is made when the pointer reaches that character. When this determination is made, the value of the big font flag 41 remains "0" and has not been changed, so that the processing in S24 and subsequent steps is performed without performing big font printing. Naturally, if a character that is neither a big character nor an exceptional big character contains one character in the text, S34:
No is determined, and when the pointer reaches the last character (S35: Yes), the process proceeds to S37. In S37, the value of the big font flag 41 is changed from "0" to "1", and this processing ends. Therefore, in this case, the processing of S24 and subsequent steps are performed assuming that a big font is printed.

Next, the image generation processing performed in S16 of FIG. 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this process, a print image to be actually printed is set in the image buffer 43 based on the contents of the text memory 42. First, S4
At 1, set the pointer to the beginning of the text.
This is because for each character constituting the text, an image is generated while circulating through the pointer. In S42, the character at the pointer position is read from the text.

Then, in S43, it is determined whether or not to perform big font printing based on the value of the big font flag 41. If the value of the big font flag 41 is "1", it is determined that the big font printing is to be performed (S43: Yes), and the process proceeds to S44. On the other hand, when the value of the big font flag 41 is “0”, it is determined that the big font printing is not performed (S43: No),
Proceed to 45. In S44, it is determined whether or not the read character is an exceptional big character. If the exception is not a big character (S
44: No), the process proceeds to S45. On the other hand, when the character is an exceptional big character (S44: Yes), the process proceeds to S46.

In S45 and S46, a font table search is performed. This is to obtain font data corresponding to characters read from the text. In the search in S45, when the big font printing is not performed (S4
3: No), or the case where the printing is in the big font and the character is not an exceptional big character, that is, the character is a normal big character (S44: No). The font table searched in this case is the outline data memory 31 of the ROM 30. The search in S46 is a case in which a big font is to be printed and the case is an exceptional big character (S44: Yes). The font table searched in this case is the dedicated outline data memory 32 of the ROM 30. That is, for the exceptional big characters, the font data for big font printing is not prepared in the outline data memory 31, and the dedicated font table provided to supplement this is the dedicated outline data memory 32.

Therefore, the dedicated outline data memory 3
2, the exceptional big characters “,”, “＄”, “;”
Is dedicated font data for printing a big font together with uppercase letters and numbers.
The font data stored here differs from the font data in the outline data memory 31 in that the outline of the character is stored in an area above the baseline. Then, in S47, the searched font data is read out and set in the image buffer 43 as a print image. Here, a print image is set based on the baseline set in S15 or S14 in FIG.

Then, in S48, it is determined whether or not the position where the pointer is located is the end of the text. If the pointer is not at the end of the text (S48: No), the pointer is moved to the next character in S49, and the process returns to S42. Then, the font data is searched, read, and set in the same manner for the next character. When the font data is set up to the last character of the text, it is determined as Yes in S48, and the image generation processing ends. Then S1 in FIG.
At 7, printing is performed by the printing mechanism PM.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the printed tape 10 on which the big font printing is performed. In the printed tape shown in FIG. 12, the big letters "1"
“2” and “3” are printed with a print size that maximizes the printable range of the tape. That is, the top alignment TA of the character string and the base line BL are located at the upper and lower ends of the printable range D of the tape 10.
In this case, the reason why the base line BL of the character string is set at the lower end of the printable range D is the result of setting the base line BL in S14 in the flow of FIG.

Furthermore, characters ",", ";", and "@", which have not conventionally been able to be printed in a big font, ie, exceptional big characters, are also printed in a large size in accordance with other characters. Although these characters originally have a portion protruding below the baseline BL, here, the font data is read from the dedicated outline data memory 32 as described above to
Protruding downward is avoided.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The tape printing apparatus according to the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment.
It has the same appearance and purpose as the tape printer of the embodiment, but differs in the method of generating a print image for exceptional big characters. Hereinafter, only the differences will be described. First, although there is no difference in the mechanical configuration, the control unit C
Are slightly different. FIG. 9 shows the contents of the ROM 30. The ROM 30 stores an outline data memory 31, a character size determining program 33, and various other programs necessary for controlling the tape printer. This is the same as in the first embodiment. The second embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that an image movement routine 34 is included. The operation of the image movement routine 34 will be described in the following description of the operation.

The operation is described in S1 in FIG.
6 is almost the same except that there is a difference in the flow of the image generation processing performed in FIG. The image generation processing in the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. This flow is replaced with the flow of FIG. 8 in the case of the first embodiment. First, S51
, A pointer is set at the beginning of the text. This is because for each character constituting the text, an image is generated while circulating through the pointer. In S52, the character at the pointer position is read from the text. Such S51,
The processing in S52 is the same as the processing in S41 and S42 in the first embodiment. Then, in S53, the font table is searched and the corresponding font data is read. The font table searched here is the outline data memory 31 irrespective of whether big font printing is possible or not and the character type is different from the case of the first embodiment.

Then, in S54, it is determined whether or not to perform big font printing based on the value of the big font flag 41. If the value of the big font flag 41 is "1", it is determined that the big font printing is to be performed (S54: Yes), and the process proceeds to S55. On the other hand, when the value of the big font flag 41 is “0”, it is determined that the big font printing is not performed (S54: No),
Proceed to 56. In S55, it is determined whether or not the read character is an exceptional big character. If the exception is not a big character (S
55: No), the process proceeds to S56. On the other hand, when the character is an exceptional big character (S55: Yes), the process proceeds to S57.

In S56 and S57, the font data is set in the image buffer 43. The font data set in S56 is set when the big font printing is not performed (S54: No), or when the big font printing is performed and it is not an exceptional big character, that is, when it is a normal big character (S55: No). Will be In this case, the font data read from the outline data memory 31 is directly set in the image buffer 43 as a print image. Here, S in FIG.
A print image is set based on the baseline set in step 15.

The font data set in S46 is performed when printing a big font and when the exception is a big character (S55: Yes). In this case, the font data read from the outline data memory 31 is not set as it is, but is moved upward by the image moving routine 34 and then set in the image buffer 43 as a print image. Here, a print image is set based on the baseline set in S14 in FIG.

That is, the exceptional big characters “,”,
Because “＄” and “;” protrude slightly below the baseline, the big font cannot be printed unless the protruding portion is within the printable range by moving the image upward. In other words, in the first embodiment, a dedicated outline data memory 32 is provided for these characters to deal with big font printing. However, in the second embodiment, the outline data memory 31 itself is shared and the image buffer 43 is used. At the time of setting, the image is moved to deal with big font printing.

When the print image is set in either S56 or S57, the process proceeds to S58. In S58, it is determined whether or not the position where the pointer is located is at the end of the text. If the pointer is not at the end of the text (S58: N
o) After moving the pointer to the next character in S59, S52
Return to The processing of S58 and S59 is the same as the processing of S48 and S49 in the first embodiment. Then, search for font data for the next character,
Read and set.

When the font data has been set up to the last character of the text, it is determined as Yes in S58, and the image generation processing ends. Thereafter, similarly to the first embodiment, the printing is performed by the printing mechanism PM in S17 in FIG. The printed tape itself as the printing result is shown in FIG.
Since the same structure as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is obtained, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. However, the protruding of the exceptional big character from below the baseline BL is avoided based on the movement of the font image by the image movement routine 34 in S57 in FIG.

As described above in detail, in the tape printing apparatus according to the first embodiment, the exclusive outline data memory 32 for the exceptional big character is provided, and the set of the print image of the exceptional big character when performing the big font printing is set. Since the processing is performed from the dedicated outline data memory 32, big font printing can be performed even for exceptional big characters. For this reason, capital letters,
If the character size setting is set to "AUTO" for text consisting of numbers and exceptional big characters, the large size that can make the best use of the maximum printable width of the tape will be automatically set according to the width of the printing tape 10. The selected text can be printed.

In the tape printer according to the second embodiment, an image movement routine is provided to set a print image of an exceptional big character from the outline data memory 31 when the big font printing is performed. Since the data that protruded downward from the baseline BL was moved and set,
As in the case of the first embodiment, if the character size setting is set to “AUTO” for text consisting of uppercase letters, numbers, and exceptional big characters, the maximum size of the tape is automatically set according to the width of the printing tape 10. A large size that can make the best use of the printable width is selected and text can be printed. With any of these, the types of text that can be printed with big fonts have been widened, and the usefulness of the big font function has been greatly increased.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is needless to say that various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in each of the above embodiments, the characters corresponding to the exceptional big characters are three symbols of “,”, “;”, and “@”. However, other characters may be included unless they contradict the nature and purpose. Good. In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the exceptional big characters were all characters that protruded below the baseline. However, as in the case of accented characters used in German and French texts, top alignment characters were used. The present invention can also be applied to a character having an overflow.

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention, characters which are slightly below the baseline are provided with font data dedicated to big font printing, or these characters are used when printing big fonts. By moving the image data upward, it is possible to print a big font even for a text including these characters, thereby providing a tape printing apparatus further improving the usefulness of the big font printing function. The effect to play is great.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a tape printer.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal structure of a tape cassette used in the tape printing apparatus.

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

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a basic operation of the tape printer.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process performed in S8 of the flow in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a used character size determination process performed in S12 of the flow of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of determining whether or not a big font is permitted in S23 of the flow of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an image generation process performed in S8 of the flow in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 shows RO in a control block in the case of the second embodiment.
It is a figure showing M composition.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an image generation process according to the second embodiment.

11 is a diagram showing a screen display that appears when the character size is set in S7 of the flow of FIG. 4;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a printing example in which big font printing is performed by the tape printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a print example in which text including lowercase letters is printed.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a printing example using a conventional tape printing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tape printer 3 Keyboard 5 Character key 6 Character size determination key 9 Tape width sensor 10 Printing tape 29 CPU 30 ROM 31 Outline data memory 32 Dedicated outline data memory 33 Character size determination program 34 Image transfer routine 40 RAM 41 Big font flag 42 text memory 43 image buffer C control unit PM printing mechanism

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Minako Ishida 15-1 Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya-shi Inside Brother Industries, Ltd. (56) References JP-A-49-131737 (JP, A) JP-A-5 -84975 (JP, A) JP-A-4-127270 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 5/44 B41J 2/485 B41J 3/36

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A printing means for printing on a long tape; an input means for inputting characters and symbols and various commands; a data storage means for storing data of the input characters and symbols; A print control unit for creating print pattern data using data read from the character generator based on data in the data storage unit and causing the print unit to print the print pattern data, wherein a range of a print allowable area in the width direction of the tape is provided. Paid in
Big font setting means for setting a big font mode for printing characters and symbols at the maximum size so as to make the font data based on data stored in the data storage means when the big font mode is set.
Data between the baseline of characters and symbols and the printable area
A plurality of sentences belonging to the first group placed between the top and the top
Characters or symbols, or below the baseline of a character or symbol
A plurality of characters belonging to the second group that are arranged to protrude
Determining means for determining whether or not the characters are composed only of characters and symbols ; and font data for the characters and the like of the second group.
Upward so that it does not protrude below the baseline
And a dedicated character generator provided separately from the character generator, wherein the print control means controls the storage data by the determination means.
If it is determined that the character is composed of only the characters and symbols of the first group or the characters and symbols of the second group, the characters and symbols of the first group are
Create a print pattern data to be printed at the maximum size that fits in the tape Printout permissible area, the characters and symbols of the second group to create a print pattern data using the data read from the dedicated character generator A tape printer characterized by the following. 2. A printing means for printing on a long tape , an input means for inputting characters and symbols and various commands, a data storage means for storing data of the input characters and symbols, A print control unit for creating print pattern data using data read from the character generator based on data in the data storage unit and causing the print unit to print the print pattern data, wherein a range of a print allowable area in the width direction of the tape is provided. Paid in
Big font setting means for setting a big font mode for printing characters and symbols at the maximum size so as to make the font data based on data stored in the data storage means when the big font mode is set.
Data between the baseline of characters and symbols and the printable area
A plurality of sentences belonging to the first group placed between the top and the top
Characters or symbols, or below the baseline of a character or symbol
Determining means for determining whether or not only the characters and symbols belonging to the second group that protrude are arranged, and data read from the character generator for the characters and the like of the second group, as a baseline From below
Data moving means for moving upward by a predetermined amount so as not to protrude. The print control means, wherein the storage content is determined by the discriminating means so that the storage content is the first group of characters or symbols or the second group of characters or symbols. If only is determined as being constituted by symbols, wherein the Te for the first group of characters and symbols
Create a print pattern data to be printed with a maximum size that fits in the printing acceptable region of the-loop, wherein for the second group of characters and symbols printed pattern to be printed in the largest size by data moved by the data moving means A tape printer configured to create data. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a tape width detecting unit configured to detect a width of the print medium, wherein the maximum size is determined by a width detected by the tape width detecting unit. The tape printer described in the above.