JP3360577B2 - 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 printing apparatus that prints out a printing tape from a tape cartridge by an ink jet system while feeding the printing tape from the tape cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A printer that performs printing on a printing tape by an ink jet method is not particularly known, but various printers that perform printing on paper by an ink jet method are known.

[0003]

In such a conventional printer, a sufficient margin is provided between the edge in the width direction of the paper and the print start position (print area), so that the design value is It is not noticeable even if the printing start position of
Although there is no particular problem, due to the form of the printing tape, the margin in the width direction is narrow, and if the actual printing start position deviates from the design value, it may be extremely conspicuous. Similarly, when printing a background color on a printing tape in color, if the printing start position is shifted, it is assumed that the entire width of the printing tape cannot be filled with the background color. For this reason, it is necessary to perform adjustment for each product at the time of product shipment, and it takes time to manufacture. Also,
Even if adjustments are made at the time of shipment, there is a manufacturing error for each tape cartridge, and there is a mounting intersection in the main body of the device that makes it easy to mount the tape cartridge. It is impossible.

If a plurality of printing tapes having different widths are prepared, the size of the margin varies depending on the tape width, and it becomes more difficult to maintain the accuracy of the printing start position. Although it is conceivable to directly detect the tape width of the print tape fed from the tape cartridge, in such a case, it is necessary to increase the number of detecting means (sensors) in accordance with the number of types, and the structure becomes complicated. Become.

On the other hand, when detecting the type of the printing tape based on the tape width or the like as described above, for example, a plurality of identification holes (a plurality of bits) formed in a tape cartridge and a switch for detecting the presence or absence of each identification hole are used. Is required, a plurality of switches corresponding to at least a plurality of bits are required, and it is assumed that the structure becomes complicated.

According to the present invention, the accuracy of the print start position with respect to the print tape can be stably improved by using the reciprocating printing means, and the type of the print tape can be determined with a simple configuration. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape printer.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A tape printing apparatus according to the present invention prints a tape cartridge containing a printing tape, printing means for printing on a printing tape fed from the tape cartridge, and printing means accompanying printing. Reciprocating means for reciprocating in the width direction of the tape, position detecting means mounted on the printing means, an identifier provided on the tape cartridge, constituting an object to be detected by the position detecting means, and printing contained in the tape cartridge. A separation distance data storage unit for storing separation distance data between the tape and the identifier; and a printing start for obtaining a printing start position in the width direction of the printing tape based on the position detection data of the identifier and the separation distance data by the position detection unit. And a position calculating means.

According to this construction, when the reciprocating means reciprocates the printing means, the position detecting means mounted on the printing means detects the position of the identifier provided on the tape cartridge. The position detection data of the detected identifier is output to the print start position calculation unit, and the print start position calculation unit includes the separation distance data stored in the separation distance data storage unit,
The print start position in the width direction of the print tape is calculated from the position detection data. In this case, since the position detecting means is mounted on the printing means and reciprocates, it is possible to accurately detect the printing start position in the width direction of the printing tape with a single unit if only the separation distance data is stored. Can be.
Therefore, the error of the printing start position that occurs here is only the intersection of the mounting of the printing tape to the tape cartridge. The position detecting means can also detect whether or not a tape cartridge is mounted.

In this case, it is preferable that the position detecting means is a light transmission type optical sensor.

According to this configuration, the identifier can be detected stably and accurately with a simple structure. Also, the structure of the identifier can be simplified.

In these cases, a plurality of types of printing tapes having different tape widths are prepared, and the identifier has a different form corresponding to the type of the printing tape and distinguishable by the position detecting means. It is preferable that the separation distance data storage means stores separation distance data corresponding to the type of the printing tape.

According to this configuration, the type of the printing tape for each tape width can be detected by the position detecting means via the identifier, and a plurality of types of printing tape can be detected by using the separation distance data corresponding to the type. For printing tapes,
The printing start position can be automatically and accurately detected.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape printing apparatus for printing a tape cartridge containing a printing tape and a printing tape fed from the tape cartridge while reciprocating in a width direction of the printing tape. Reciprocating means for reciprocating the printing means, position detecting means mounted on the printing means, provided on the tape cartridge,
An identification member in which a plurality of identifiers constituting an object to be detected by the position detecting means are arranged in a reciprocating direction, and a printing tape type pattern data corresponding to each position of the plurality of identifiers in the identification member and its presence / absence is stored. A type pattern storage unit, a type determination unit that compares the type pattern data and the detection pattern data generated from the respective positions of the plurality of identifiers by the position detection unit and the presence or absence thereof, and determines the type of the print tape. It is characterized by having.

According to this construction, when the reciprocating means reciprocates the printing means, the position detecting means mounted on the printing means sequentially detects the positions of a plurality of identifiers provided on the tape cartridge. Detection pattern data generated from the respective positions of the plurality of detected identifiers and their presence / absence is output to a tape determination unit, and the tape determination unit reads the type pattern data of the printing tape stored in the type pattern unit, The type of the printing tape is determined by comparing the detected pattern data. In this case, the position detecting means is mounted on the printing means and reciprocates. Therefore, if only the type pattern data is stored, the type of the printing tape can be determined by a single type.

In this case, the tape cartridge is provided with a laminating tape for laminating the printing tape after printing.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the type pattern storage means stores the type pattern of the printing tape including the presence or absence of the laminating tape, and the tape determining means determines the presence or absence of the laminating tape in addition to the type of the printing tape. .

According to this configuration, it is possible to determine whether or not not only the printing tape housed in the tape cartridge but also the laminating tape is housed therein.

In these cases, the position detecting means is preferably a light transmission type optical sensor.

According to this configuration, the identifier can be detected stably and accurately with a simple structure. Also, the structure of the identifier can be simplified.

Further, in these cases, it is preferable that the identification member is detachably attached to the tape cartridge.

According to this configuration, if an identification member corresponding to the type of the printing tape is prepared, it is only necessary to align this with the printing tape housed in the tape cartridge and mount it. Things. Further, even when the user can replace the print tape with the tape cartridge, the replacement print tape and the corresponding replacement identification member can be provided together to provide the replacement print tape. Is not erroneously determined.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a tape printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This tape printing device performs color printing of desired characters and the like input by a key on a printing tape by an ink jet method, affixes a laminating tape to a printing portion of the printing tape, and cuts the printing tape in this state. This is to create a laminated label.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a tape printing apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main body of the tape printing apparatus.
As shown in both figures, the tape printing apparatus 1 includes an apparatus main body 2, a keyboard 3 attached to a front portion of the apparatus main body 2,
It comprises a tape cartridge 4 containing a printing tape Tp and a laminating tape Tr, and an ink cartridge 5 filled with four colors of ink. The tape cartridge 4 and the ink cartridge 5 are detachably mounted to the apparatus main body 2. Have been.

Various keys 3a are arranged on the upper surface of the keyboard 3 and constitute input means of the tape printer 1. In this case, the keyboard 3 is attached to the apparatus main body 2 so that the keyboard 3 can be turned upside down. When the tape printing apparatus 1 is used, the keyboard 3 is pulled down. 3 is caused.

The apparatus main body 2 has an outer shell formed by an apparatus case 6, and a liquid crystal display section 7 for displaying an input result and an edit result is provided on a right portion of a front upper surface thereof. A slit-shaped tape outlet 8 for discharging the laminated printing tape Tp to the outside is provided on a side surface of the device case 6.
Is provided. Although not shown, the device case 6
On the other surface, an opening with a lid for attaching and detaching the tape cartridge 4 and the ink cartridge 5 is formed.

Inside the device case 6, a printing tape Tp
A printing tape feeding mechanism 9, a printing mechanism 10 for performing color printing on the printing tape Tp by an inkjet method, a tape attaching mechanism 11 for attaching a laminating tape Tr to the printing tape Tp, and a cutter for cutting the laminated printing tape Tp. A mechanism 12 and a circuit board 13 for controlling these and performing information processing are mounted (see FIG. 2).

The printing tape Tp fed out by the printing tape feeding mechanism 9 toward the front in the feeding direction is subjected to desired printing by the printing head 14 of the printing mechanism 10 facing the intermediate position of the tape cartridge 4. The fed laminate tape Tr is attached by the tape attaching mechanism 11 so as to be overlapped therewith. In this way, the printing tape Tp having the printing tape to which the laminating tape Tr is adhered is moved by the cooperation of the printing tape feeding mechanism 9 and the tape attaching mechanism 11 to the tape discharge port 8.
When the trailing edge of the printed portion in consideration of the margin reaches the cutter position, the printing tape feeding mechanism 9 and the tape attaching mechanism 11 stop, and the cutter mechanism 12 operates to print the printing tape Tp. (And the laminate tape Tr).

The printing mechanism 10 includes a carriage guide shaft 31 whose left and right (front and rear in FIG. 1) both ends are supported by a frame (not shown), a carriage 32 slidably mounted on the carriage guide shaft 31, By doing so, a timing belt (not shown) for reciprocating the carriage 32 in the left-right direction and a carriage motor (CR motor 106 in FIG. 7) for running the timing belt in the forward and reverse directions are provided. The print head 14 is attached to the lower part of the carriage 32, and the cartridge holder 33 for mounting the ink cartridge 5 is attached to the upper part thereof.

That is, the carriage 32 and the print head 1
4 and the cartridge holder 33 constitute printing means, and the carriage guide shaft 31, the timing belt and the carriage motor constitute reciprocating means for reciprocating the printing means. In this case, the print head 14 is mounted downward, and the ink cartridge 5 is mounted on the cartridge holder 33 downward. When the ink cartridge 5 is mounted, the ink tank 5a of each color of the ink cartridge 5
And ink can be supplied to the print head 14. Each ink tank 5a is filled with ink of each color of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black (black).

The printing on the printing tape Tp is performed by using the printing tape T.
This is performed by reciprocating the print head 14 in a direction orthogonal to the feed while feeding p. However, in the actual printing operation, when the power of the tape printer 1 is turned on, the print head 14 moves from the home position to the flushing position, performs flushing, enters a standby state for printing, and waits for a print command. An actual printing operation is performed. Before and after the flushing operation based on the power ON, the tape cartridge (tape Tp, Tp)
r) The print head 14 makes one reciprocation to detect the position of 24 and the type of the tapes Tp and Tr (details will be described later).

The print tape feed mechanism 9 is provided with the free roller 4
2 and a feed roller 41 in which the drive roller 43 is vertically arranged, and a feed motor (not shown) (the PF motor 107 in FIG. 7) for driving the drive roller 43 to rotate. The drive roller 43 is provided on the apparatus main body 2 side, and the free roller 42 is provided on the tape cartridge 4 side. When the tape cartridge 4 is mounted on the apparatus main body 2, the free roller 42 presses the print tape Tp so as to sandwich the print tape Tp between the drive roller 43 and the free roller 42. Then, when the feed motor rotates in this state, the free roller 42
Printing tape Tp sandwiched between the driving roller 43
Is sent to the other party. The feeding of the printing tape Tp and the reciprocation of the print head 14 correspond to the relationship between the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction in the printing technology. Therefore, the feed motor and the carriage motor are driven in conjunction with each other.

The tape attaching mechanism 11 includes a free roller 45
And a laminating roller 44 having driving rollers 46 arranged vertically, and a laminating motor (PF motor 107 in FIG. 7) (not shown) for driving the driving roller 46 to rotate. The laminating motor and the above-mentioned feed motor are the same, and their rotational power is branched via a reduction gear train to transmit power to the feed roller 41 and the laminating roller 44, respectively. Drive roller 46
Is provided on the apparatus main body 2 side, and the free roller 45 is provided on the tape cartridge 4 side. When the tape cartridge 4 is mounted on the apparatus main body 2, the free roller 45 presses the print tape Tp and the laminate tape Tr so as to sandwich the print tape Tp and the laminate tape Tr with the drive roller 46.
And. When the laminating motor rotates in this state, the printing tape Tp and the laminating tape Tr sandwiched between the free roller 45 and the driving roller 46 are sent to the other side while being adhered.

The cutter mechanism 12 includes a cutter 51 and a cutter motor (not shown in FIG. 3) for cutting the cutter 51.
Cutter motor 110). When the feed motor (laminate motor) steps the printing tape Tp by a predetermined distance after printing is completed, both motors stop, and at the same time, the cutter motor is driven to cut the printing tape Tp. Will be The cutting operation of the cutter 51 may be performed by a key operation.

The tape cartridge 4 has a printing tape Tp
Has a structure in which a main housing portion 21 that houses the printing medium and a sub-housing portion 22 that houses the laminate tape Tr are connected in the middle, and the print head 14 of the printing mechanism 10 faces the connecting portion 23. I have. The main storage portion 21 stores the printing tape Tp wound in a roll shape, and similarly, the sub storage portion 22.
Contains a laminated tape Tr wound in a roll shape. These tapes Tp, Tr are stored in
After being unrolled from 2, it is pasted together in an aligned manner,
Further, it is sent out of the tape cartridge 4 from the opening on the side of the sub-housing portion 22.

On the other hand, as the printing tape Tp and the laminating tape Tr, various types (about 10 types) having a tape width of about 4.5 mm to 96 mm are prepared. 4 is provided. More specifically, the tape cartridge 4 is of a type capable of mounting the printing tape Tp and the laminating tape Tr shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and a printing tape omitting the sub-accommodating portion 22 shown in FIG. There is a type in which only Tp can be mounted. As the tape cartridges 4 roughly classified into these two types, three types of "large", "medium", and "small" having different widths are easily used. Are mounted on the “small”, several on the medium width and “large” on the middle width, respectively. Further, as the printing tape Tp, a material having a different material, a material having a ground color other than white, and the like are prepared.
p and Tr can be used.

Then, several tens of kinds of such tapes T
5 and 6 for the purpose of discriminating the types of p and Tr and detecting the position of the printing tape Tp attached to the apparatus main body 2.
As shown in FIG.
2, a photo interrupter 61 is provided, and the tape cartridge 4 is provided with a position identification plate (identifier) 71 and a type identification plate (identification member) 81. The photo-interrupter 61 is a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element arranged opposite to each other, and is molded by incorporating a detection circuit.
A position identification plate 71 is provided between the light emitting element and the light receiving element.
And it is arranged so that the type identification plate 81 faces.

The position identification plate 71 and the type identification plate 81 are provided in the main housing 2
1 are arranged in the middle position. Position identification plate 71
Are formed integrally with the tape cartridge 4 made of a non-translucent resin, and the photo interrupter 61 facing this is cut off the optical path, so that the position identification plate 7
1 is detected. And, by this detection signal,
Whether or not the tape cartridge 4 is mounted is detected, and the positional relationship between the end position of the position identification plate 71 and the print head 14 is specified. On the other hand, the type of the printing tape Tp in the tape cartridge 4 is determined by the type identification plate 81 described later, and at the same time, the tape width and the end position in the width direction are recognized. As will be described later in detail, the distance data between the end position of the position identification plate 71 and the end position of the printing tape Tp (d dimension shown in FIG. 6).
From this, the print start position of the print tape Tp by the print head 14 is calculated.

The type identification plate 81 includes a base 82 formed integrally with the tape cartridge 4 and an identification plate 83 detachably mounted on the base 82. A plurality of small protrusions 84 are formed on the upper surface of the base 82, and a plurality of small holes 85 are formed on the identification plate 83 in correspondence with the small protrusions 84. The small protrusions 84 and the small holes 85 are engaged with each other. Then, the identification plate 83 is mounted on the base 82. Of course, the identification plate 83 may be inserted into the base 82 from the front or side and mounted. The tape cartridge 4 itself can be made versatile by making the identification plate 83 detachable. When the upper half of the tape cartridge 4 is in the form of a lid and both tapes Tp and Tr can be exchanged, both tapes Tp and Tr are exchanged so that the identification plate 83 can be exchanged on the user side. It is preferably provided with an identification plate 83 for use.

The identification plate 83 is in the form of a card having a film or the like adhered to the surface thereof, and an identifier is constituted by a plurality of long holes or a transparent portion having a long hole shape as shown in the figure. Of course, only the long hole-shaped portion may be made light-blocking, and the periphery may be made light-transmitting. The identifier is composed of eight pattern identifiers 86a at an intermediate portion provided at equal intervals, and two start identifiers 86b and end identifiers 86c provided on both sides of the pattern identifier 86a. The pattern identifier 86a forms an 8-bit bit pattern according to each position and its presence / absence.
To this, at least several tens of types of tapes Tp and Tr are allocated. The start identifier 86b and the end identifier 86c are an 8-bit pattern identifier 86a.
The detection of the start and the end in the detection of is performed, and the reliability of the detection is ensured by comprising two each.

After detecting the start identifier 86b, the photo interrupter 61 passing through the identification plate 83
The bit pattern identifier 86a is detected, and the end identifier 86c is further detected. If the start identifier 86b and the end identifier 86c cannot be detected, an error is output. As will be described in detail later, the pattern identifier 8
The type of the tapes Ta and Tb is determined based on the bit pattern (detected pattern data) detected through the bit 6a.
That is, the type of the printing tape Tp by tape width and the type by material are determined, and the printing tape Tp
It is determined whether or not is mounted as a pair with the laminate tape Tr. Of course, the type of the tape cartridge 4 can also be determined based on the type of the tapes Tp and Tr.

In the position identification plate 71, the tape width of the printing tape Tp can be detected by changing the length for each tape width. It is also possible to detect the end of the type identification plate 81 and determine the printing start position of the printing tape Tp. That is,
The type identification plate 81 can also be used as the position identification plate 71, and the position identification plate 71 can be omitted. Further, the number of pattern identifiers 86a is based on the number of types of tapes Tp and Tr that can be used, and is not limited to eight.

Next, a basic configuration of the control circuit 100 incorporated in the circuit board 13 will be described with reference to FIG. The control circuit 100 includes a control unit 101, a keyboard 3, a photo interrupter 61, and a printer drive circuit 10.
2, a liquid crystal drive circuit 103, and a liquid crystal display unit 7. The printer drive circuit 102 includes a head drive circuit 104 that drives the print head 14 (ink discharge drive unit) of the print mechanism 10, a CR motor 106, a PF motor 10
7, a motor drive circuit 105 for driving a pump motor 108 and a cutter motor 109,
Based on the control signal output from the control unit, each unit such as the print tape feeding mechanism 9, the printing mechanism 10, and the tape attaching mechanism 11 is controlled. Similarly, the liquid crystal drive circuit 103 controls the liquid crystal display unit 7 according to an instruction from the control unit 101. In addition,
The pump motor 108 constitutes a drive source in the cleaning process of the print head (nozzle) 14 and the like.

The keyboard 3 includes a character key group 3a such as an alphabet key group, a symbol key group, a numeric key group, and a kana key group, as well as a function key group for designating various operation modes. I have. Function keys include:
In addition to a power key, a print key, a color designation key, and the like, a background designation key for designating printing of a background is included. Of course, like a general keyboard, these key inputs may use a shift key in combination.

The control unit 101 includes a CPU 111, a ROM 1
12, an RAM 113, an input interface 114 and an output interface 115, which are connected to each other by an internal bus 116.

The ROM 112 stores a tape position table 12 in addition to the control program 121 and the like processed by the CPU 111.
2, a tape type table 123, a head drive table 124, and the like. Tape position table 12
2 is a distance between the end of the position identification plate 71 and the end in the width direction of the printing tape Tp (d dimension shown in FIG. 6).
Is stored for each tape width. Actually, there are two types of printing modes, normal printing and overprint printing for printing the background. The former starts printing in anticipation of a margin corresponding to the width of the printing tape Tp from the widthwise end of the printing tape Tp, In the latter, printing is started from a position slightly deviated outward from the widthwise end of the printing tape Tp. Therefore, the tape position table 122 stores the separation distance data for each type of the tape Tp and for each of the normal printing and the overflow printing.

The tape type table 123 stores bit pattern data (type pattern data) specifying at least several tens of types of the tapes Tp and Tr.

The RAM 113 stores calculation results 12 such as a print start position calculated based on various data in the ROM 112.
5 and a discrimination result 126 relating to the type of tape which is compared and discriminated based on various data in the ROM 112. The RAM 113 stores the font development buffer memory 12.
7, areas such as a display buffer memory 128 and a color conversion buffer memory 129, which are used as work areas for control processing.

The input interface 114 is connected to the keyboard 3 and the photointerrupter 61, and sends various commands and input data from the keyboard 3 and the above-described position detection data and detection pattern data from the photointerrupter 61 to the internal bus 116. It is a circuit for taking in. The output interface 116 is a CPU 111
And the like, and outputs data and control signals output to the internal bus 116 to the printer drive circuit 102, the liquid crystal drive circuit 103, and the like.

The CPU 111 operates the input interface 11 according to the control program stored in the ROM 112.
4, various commands and various data from the keyboard 3 are input, and position detection data and detection pattern data from the photo interrupter 61 are input.
2. Processes various data in the RAM 113, etc., and outputs the data to the printer drive circuit 10 via the output interface 115.
2 and a control signal to the liquid crystal drive circuit 103. Thus, in addition to performing display control and the like, the print head 14 is controlled to start printing on the print tape Tp from a predetermined position.

That is, in the tape printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, when the power is turned on, the carriage 32 moves forward, and the photo interrupter 61 detects the end of the position recognition plate 71 and the eight pattern identifiers 86a, the detected pattern data And the type pattern data described above to determine the type of the tape Tp, Tr, and calculate the print start position from the position detection data and the separation distance data. Then, the printing mechanism 10 is controlled based on the data of the printing start position.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the photo interrupter 6 is mounted on the carriage 32 which is configured to be reciprocally movable.
1, the photo-interrupter 61 detects the position identification plate 71 and the type identification plate 81 provided on the tape cartridge 4, and uses this detection data to determine the print start position and determine the type of tape. Therefore, these detections can be performed by a single photo-interrupter 61, and the structure can be extremely simplified.
Further, since the position of the position identification plate 71, that is, the print start position is detected via the tape cartridge 4, the accuracy of the print start position can be improved. Therefore, a relatively narrow printing tape Tp
Can be printed with high accuracy.

The number of colors of the color ink is 4 in the embodiment.
It is not limited to colors. Although the tape printer of the embodiment has a structure capable of performing color printing, the present invention is also applicable to a monochrome tape printer.

[0052]

As described above, according to the tape printing apparatus of the present invention, by utilizing the reciprocating printing means and mounting the position detecting means thereon, the printing start position for the printing tape with a simple structure. Accuracy can be stably improved. Therefore, good-looking printing can be performed on the printing tape.

Similarly, according to another tape printing apparatus of the present invention, the type of the printing tape can be determined with a very simple configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a tape printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a mounting main body of the tape printing apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a tape cartridge for a printing tape and a laminate tape according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a tape cartridge for a printing tape according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing a structure around a photo interrupter according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view schematically showing a structure around a photo interrupter according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the tape printing apparatus according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 tape printer 2 mounting main body 3 keyboard 4 tape cartridge 9 print tape feeding mechanism 10 printing mechanism 11 tape sticking mechanism 14 print head 21 main housing part 32 carriage 61 photo interrupter 71 position identification plate 81 type identification plate 86a pattern identifier 100 control Circuit 111 CPU 112 ROM 113 RAM Tp Printing tape Tr Laminating tape

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 3/36-3/37 B41J 15/04 B41J 19/00-19/74 B41J 11/42

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A tape cartridge containing a printing tape, a printing means for printing on the printing tape fed from the tape cartridge, and a reciprocating movement for reciprocating the printing means in the width direction of the printing tape with printing. Means, a position detecting means mounted on the printing means, an identifier provided on the tape cartridge and constituting an object to be detected by the position detecting means, and a print tape and the identifier contained in the tape cartridge. Separation distance data storage means for storing separation distance data between; and a printing start position for obtaining a printing start position in the width direction of the printing tape based on the position detection data of the identifier by the position detection means and the separation distance data. A tape printing device comprising: a calculating unit. 2. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said position detecting means is a light transmission type optical sensor. 3. A plurality of types of printing tapes having different tape widths are prepared, and the identifier has a different form corresponding to the type of the printing tape and distinguishable by the position detecting means. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the separation distance data storage unit stores separation distance data corresponding to a type of the printing tape. 4. A tape cartridge containing a printing tape, printing means for performing printing on the printing tape fed from the tape cartridge while reciprocating in the width direction of the printing tape, and reciprocating the printing means. Reciprocating means, a position detecting means mounted on the printing means, and an identification member provided on the tape cartridge, wherein a plurality of identifiers constituting an object to be detected by the position detecting means are arranged in the reciprocating direction. A type pattern storage means for storing print tape type pattern data corresponding to the respective positions of the plurality of identifiers on the identification member and their presence / absence; the type pattern data; and the plurality of identifiers by the position detecting means. The type of the print tape is determined by comparing each position of the A tape printer, comprising: a separate tape determining unit. 5. The tape cartridge further contains a laminating tape for laminating the printing tape after printing, and the type pattern storage means stores a type pattern of the printing tape including the presence or absence of the laminating tape. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the tape discriminating unit discriminates the presence or absence of a laminate tape in addition to the type of the print tape.
The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1. 6. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the position detecting unit is a light transmission type optical sensor. 7. The tape printer according to claim 4, wherein the identification member is detachably attached to the tape cartridge.