JP3601307B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that performs printing using a long band-shaped recording paper (tape) as a print target medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an index label attached to an audio cassette or a video cassette to describe its contents, or a name label attached to various belongings to indicate its owner, etc., is one of the original devices for producing, for example, a long strip. 2. Description of the Related Art A printing apparatus that performs printing using a recording paper (tape) as a medium to be printed is provided.
[0003]
This printing device has a document creation function provided with a large number of character input keys, and converts a document data or the like arbitrarily created by the document creation function into a long tape as a character string by operating the print key. Can be output by thermal transfer printing via a thermal print head. The tape printed by the printing device is sequentially conveyed and discharged to the outside from the tape discharge port on the side of the device body, and is manually or automatically driven by a cutter disposed between the print head and the tape discharge port. It is designed to be cut and separated.
[0004]
In the printing apparatus, the printable character size is basically limited by the tape width so that the vertical and horizontal sizes of the characters do not exceed the tape width. Therefore, if characters having a size not exceeding the width of the tape are to be printed on the document data of the character string created by the document creation function, the normal print mode (normal printing) is applied along the length of the tape. Characters can be printed as a continuous character string.
[0005]
On the other hand, when printing a character having a size exceeding the tape width, printing can be performed by specifying an enlarged print mode different from the normal print mode. In a conventional printing apparatus, when printing character string document data in the enlarged print mode, the entire character string to be printed is divided into a plurality of parts (each character is divided in the horizontal direction), and each divided character string is divided. The part is printed along the length of the tape.
[0006]
The printed tape corresponding to each of the plurality of character string portions is aligned and stuck so that the division positions of the character string portions match each other, so that the entire character string can be represented.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the conventional printing apparatus, when printing a character string of characters exceeding the tape width, the entire character string to be printed is divided into a plurality of pieces, and each of the divided character string portions is set to the length of the tape. It was printed along the direction.
[0008]
For this reason, a plurality of tapes on which a plurality of character string portions have been printed must be accurately aligned and stuck. Particularly when printing a character string, if the alignment becomes incorrect, a plurality of characters may be printed. Each of them is displaced, and the quality of the printed characters becomes very poor.
[0009]
Also, since the entire character string to be printed is divided into multiple parts and each is printed along the length of the tape, unless the tape is fed accurately when printing each character string part, When pasting the tape after printing, the divided characters are not connected correctly. In particular, when printing a long character string, the tape required to print the character string portion becomes long, so that high-precision tape feed control is required.
[0010]
In addition, since the entire character string to be printed is divided into a plurality of parts and each is printed, a tape is also required in a portion between characters in the character string, so as the character string becomes longer, The consumption of the tape for the space between characters increases.
[0011]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and provides a printing apparatus capable of printing a character string of characters having a size exceeding a tape width with high quality while reducing the amount of tape consumption. The purpose is to do.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides an input unit for inputting a character string to be printed, Means for transporting the tape; Character string input from the input means Said conveyed Printing means for printing on the tape; Cutting means for cutting the tape And a mode setting means for setting a print mode for printing characters having a height exceeding the width of the tape, Margin setting means for setting a margin of a predetermined length above and below the height direction of each character to be printed, When a print mode for printing characters having a height exceeding the width of the tape is set by the mode setting unit, the printing unit is controlled, While securing the margin set by the margin setting means, Each character of the character string input from the input means is printed laterally along the tape at a character size where the character height exceeds the width of the tape and the character width does not exceed the width of the tape. Along with the margin set by the margin setting means, the cutting position of the tape provided above and below in the height direction of each character printed horizontally on the tape was conveyed to the position of the cutting means. And outputting a signal instructing the cutting means to cut the tape. And control means.
[0013]
That is, in the printing apparatus according to the present invention, when printing a character string of a character size in which the character height exceeds the width of the tape and the character width does not exceed the width of the tape, the entire character string to be printed is printed. Rather than dividing horizontally, each character is divided horizontally, and each character is printed horizontally along the tape so that the width of the character falls within the width of the tape. Can be printed.
[0014]
Further, the present invention provides a printing apparatus including an input unit for inputting a character string to be printed and a printing unit for printing the character string input from the input unit on a tape, wherein the height of the tape exceeds the width of the tape. Mode setting means for setting a print mode for printing characters, and when a print mode for printing characters having a height exceeding the width of the tape is set by the mode setting means, controls the printing means, For each character of the character string input from the input means, the height of the character and the width of the character exceed the width of the tape, and the width of each of a plurality of vertically divided character portions does not exceed the width of the tape. And control means for printing horizontally in the character size along the tape.
[0015]
In other words, in the printing apparatus according to the present invention, when printing a character string of characters whose character height and character width exceed the width of the tape, the entire character string to be printed is divided horizontally. Instead, each character is divided vertically into multiple character parts that do not exceed the width of the tape, and each character part is printed horizontally along the tape, dividing it into character units, which is the minimum unit. Printing, character positions printed on a plurality of tapes can be easily aligned, and misalignment during tape feeding is less likely to occur. Further, since the printing is performed in units of characters, the tape is not consumed in a portion between the characters in the character string, so that the consumption amount of the tape is reduced.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a tape printer according to an embodiment of the tape printer of the present invention.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 1, a keyboard (key input unit) 12 and a display unit 13 are provided on an upper surface of the apparatus main body 11, and a cassette accommodating unit 15 covered by a lid 14 that can be opened and closed is provided.
[0018]
The keyboard 12 includes character input keys 12a such as alphabetic character keys, numeric keys, and symbol keys for inputting document data using character strings. The keyboard 12 further includes a power key 12b and a cursor displayed on the display unit 13. Cursor keys 12c for moving, shift keys 12d for switching between uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet, return (execute) key 12e operated to confirm various input data and selection data, to start a predetermined function, and the like, and input text. A print key 12f operated when executing data printing processing, an end key 12g operated when giving an instruction to end a predetermined function, etc., and an enlarged printing processing for printing characters having a height exceeding the tape width is executed. A first enlarged print key 12h, a second enlarged print key 12i, and the like, which are operated when performing the operation, are provided.
[0019]
On the side surface of the apparatus main body 11, there is provided a tape discharge port 16 from which the printed tape 30 is discharged to the outside of the apparatus main body 11, and a cutter for cutting and separating the leading end of the tape discharged from the tape discharge port 16. A cutter operation lever 16a to be operated is provided.
[0020]
FIG. 2 is a view showing the internal configuration of the cassette accommodating portion 15 when the lid 14 on the upper surface of the main body 11 of the tape printer is opened.
A printing unit 17 composed of a thermal printer is provided inside the cassette housing unit 15.
[0021]
A tape cassette 24 containing a printing tape 30 and an ink ribbon 31 for thermal transfer is mounted in the cassette housing section 15.
The printing unit 17 includes a thermal print head 18 that is driven to generate heat based on text data to be printed, a platen roller 22 that is driven to rotate when the thermal print head 18 is driven to transport the tape 30 and the ink ribbon 31, A ribbon winding shaft 23 and the like are provided.
[0022]
The thermal print head 18 includes a plurality of heating elements 19 arranged in a line along the width direction of the tape 30, and is attached to a support 21 that can rotate about a support shaft 20. The thermal print head 18 is rotated about a support shaft 20 in conjunction with opening and closing of the lid 14 by a mechanism (not shown) to come into contact with and separate from the platen roller 22.
[0023]
That is, at the time of printing with the lid 14 closed, the thermal print head 18 is pressed by the platen roller 22 with the tape 30 and the ink ribbon 31 interposed therebetween, as shown in FIG. Further, when the lid 14 is opened, for example, when the tape cassette 24 is replaced, the thermal print head 18 separates from the platen roller 22 to allow the tape cassette 24 to be replaced.
[0024]
The platen roller 22 is rotated in one counterclockwise direction. The platen roller 22 is rotated by a driving unit (not shown) in accordance with a printing operation to convey the tape 30 and the ink ribbon 31 at a constant speed. Along with the rotation of the platen roller 22, the ink ribbon take-up shaft 23 is also driven to rotate in one direction clockwise by the drive unit, and the used ink ribbon 31 thermally transferred by the thermal print head 18 is taken up.
[0025]
The drive unit (see FIG. 3) of the platen roller 22 and the ink ribbon take-up shaft 23 has the same configuration as that of a known tape printer, and includes a step motor 48 as a drive source, a drive circuit thereof, and rotation of the step motor 48. Is transmitted to the platen roller 22 and the ink ribbon take-up shaft 23.
[0026]
The tape cassette 24 mounted in the cassette accommodating portion 15 includes a cassette case 25, a tape supply reel 26 around which a printing tape 30 is wound, and an ink ribbon supply reel 27 around which an ink ribbon 31 for thermal transfer is wound. And an ink ribbon take-up reel 28 that is driven to rotate by a take-up drive shaft 23. Further, a concave portion 29 for accommodating the thermal print head 18 is provided in a part of the cassette case 25, and the tape 30 and the ink ribbon 31 are pulled out from the cassette case 25 into the concave portion 29 so that the thermal print head 18 and the platen roller 22 is set.
[0027]
The printing tape 30 is composed of a synthetic resin sheet having a back surface coated with an adhesive and having a front surface serving as a printing surface, and a release paper adhered to the back surface of the synthetic resin sheet.
Further, a cutter mechanism 32 is provided in the cassette housing section 15 adjacent to the tape discharge port 16.
[0028]
The cutter mechanism 32 includes a fixed blade 33 fixed to the apparatus main body 11 and a movable blade 35 that is rotated by operating a cutter operation lever 16 a that is rotatably mounted on the fixed blade 33 by an axis. It has a scissor shape. The cutter mechanism 32 is provided at a distance L from the thermal print head 18.
[0029]
In the printing unit 17, during the printing operation of the text data, the tape 30 and the ink ribbon 31 are respectively conveyed at the same speed by the rotation of the platen roller 22, and the tape 30 is moved between the thermal print head 18 and the platen roller 22. The text data is sequentially printed on the tape 30 by performing a thermal transfer operation by sandwiching the ink ribbon 31 with the ink ribbon 31. The printed tape 30 is discharged to the outside of the apparatus main body 11 from the tape discharge port 16. Then, the user operates the cutter operation lever 16a to operate the cutter mechanism 32 to cut and separate the tape 30 on the printed portion.
[0030]
An identification portion having an uneven shape corresponding to the width of the tape 30 stored therein is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the cassette case 25, and the cassette storage portion 15 is turned on / off by contacting the identification portion. A tape width sensor 51 including a plurality of operating switches is provided (see FIG. 3). The tape width of the tape stored in the cassette case 25 can be detected by the combination of the ON / OFF of the plurality of switches.
[0031]
If a margin is set at the leading end of the tape 30 when printing the text data, the printed head position of the tape 30 conveyed in the direction of the tape discharge port 16 after the start of the printing operation and the tape mechanism 32 When the interval from the cutting position reaches the set margin length, the printing operation is temporarily interrupted. Then, when the execution key 12e is operated after cutting and separating the unnecessary marginal portion of the tape, the interrupted printing operation is resumed.
[0032]
The printing unit includes a heating element 19 of the thermal print head 18, a shift register or a latch circuit for storing one-line print data sent from the control unit 40, and a heating element 19 according to a strobe signal from the control unit 40. A driving driver and the like are provided. In the printing unit 17, the tape 30 and the ink ribbon 31 are transported one dot line at a time by the rotation of the platen roller 22, and the heating element 19 of the thermal print head 18 is driven to generate heat, thereby printing one line.
[0033]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic circuit of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
The electronic circuit of the tape printer according to the present embodiment includes a control unit (CPU) 40.
[0034]
The control unit 40 starts a system program stored in the ROM 41 in advance in response to a key operation signal from the keyboard (key input unit) 12, and controls the operation of each circuit unit.
[0035]
The control section 40 includes a key input section 12, a ROM 41, a RAM 42, a display drive circuit 43, a display section 13, a display font memory 44, a print font memory 45, a step motor drive circuit 47 via a step motor drive circuit 47, and a head. The thermal head 18 and the tape width sensor 51 are connected via the drive circuit 50.
[0036]
In the ROM 41, a system control program by the control unit 40, such as a text data input control program and a print control program in various data input modes, is stored in advance.
[0037]
The RAM 42 has an input buffer 42a in which key input data from the key input unit 12 is stored in the form of character codes or control codes. In order to display the key input text data on the display unit 13, the input buffer 42a A display buffer 42b in which a character pattern to be read is read from a display font memory 44 and stored, and a character pattern corresponding to the text data is read from a font memory 45 for printing in accordance with text data to be printed, and bit map data is read out. A print buffer 42c developed and stored in a print mode indicating a print mode (normal print mode, first enlarged print mode, second enlarged print mode) specified by an operation on a predetermined key of the key input unit 12. The flag register 42d in which the flag (F) is stored, the print mode Work area 42e etc. to deploy print fonts for performing printing in accordance with are provided.
[0038]
The display font memory 44 stores in advance character pattern data (character fonts) for display on the display unit 13 corresponding to all character / symbol codes that can be input by the key input unit 12.
[0039]
The printing font memory 45 stores character pattern data (character font) for printing in the printing unit 17 corresponding to all the character / symbol codes that can be input by the key input unit 12 in advance. The character font may be an outline font that can specify an arbitrary character size, or a bit pattern for each different character size, or may be a basic size font only if a function for scaling the character font is provided. .
[0040]
Next, the operation of the printing apparatus having the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation in the key input processing of the printing apparatus.
[0041]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first enlarged printing process in the first enlarged printing mode of the printing apparatus.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second enlarged print processing in the second enlarged print mode of the printing apparatus.
[0042]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the tape cutting process of the printing apparatus.
In the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, text data to be printed is created by operating the character input keys 12 a of the key input unit 12, and character pattern data corresponding to individual character data is read out to a print data memory in the RAM 42. When the print key 12f is operated to print the text data in a state where the data is stored as bitmap data, the print processing in FIGS. 5 and 6 is started.
[0043]
In the present embodiment, in addition to the normal print mode for printing characters having a height not exceeding the tape width, an enlarged print mode for printing characters having a height exceeding the width of the tape (first enlarged print mode, second enlarged print mode). (Enlarged printing mode) can be arbitrarily set to execute printing.
[0044]
First, the key input process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
When detecting that there is a key input from the key input unit 12 (step A1), the control unit 40 identifies the type of the key input.
[0045]
If the key input is by the character input key 12a (step A8), the control unit 40 stores the character code corresponding to the key input in the input buffer 42a of the RAM 42 as text data (step A9).
[0046]
When the input is from the first enlarged print key 12h for instructing the first enlarged print processing mode (step A10), the control unit 40 sets the value of the flag register 42d (F) of the RAM 42 to " 1 "(step A11). It is assumed that the initial state of the flag register 42d (F) is "0" and that the setting indicating normal printing has been set.
[0047]
When the input is from the second enlarged print key 12i for instructing the second enlarged print mode (step A12), the control unit 40 sets the value of the flag register 42d (F) to "2". It is set (step A13).
[0048]
On the other hand, when the input is from the print key 12f, the control unit 40 identifies what the set print mode is by referring to the value of the flag register 42d (F), and performs printing in the print mode. Execute
[0049]
That is, when the value of the flag register 42d (F) is "0" (step A3), the control unit 40 executes normal printing (step A4). When the value of the flag register 42d (F) is "1", the control unit 40 executes a first enlarged printing process (detailed operation will be described later) (step A5). When the value of the flag register 42d (F) is "2" (step A3), the control unit 40 executes a second enlarged printing process (detailed operation will be described later) (step A6). .
[0050]
After the execution of printing is completed, when the end key 12g is pressed, the printing process ends. If there is another key input, other processing corresponding to the input key is executed (step A14).
[0051]
Next, the first enlarged printing process will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 5 and a printing example shown in FIG.
The first enlarged printing process is a print mode for printing a character in a character size in which the height of the character exceeds the width of the tape 30 and the width of the character does not exceed the width of the tape 30. Here, the size is twice as large in the vertical direction (height exceeding the width of the tape 30) as in the character size in normal printing (the vertical and horizontal sizes are slightly smaller than the width of the tape 30), and is one time in the horizontal direction. A case where characters are printed will be described as an example. In the example of FIG. 9, three characters "ABC" are printed.
[0052]
First, the control unit 40 reads a character code of one character from the text data to be printed stored in the input buffer 42a of the RAM 42, and reads a printing font corresponding to the character code from the printing font memory 45. Then, the control unit 40 expands the printing font read out from the printing font memory 45 into the work area 42e by doubling the font size in the vertical direction and by 1 times in the horizontal direction with respect to the character size at the time of normal printing (see FIG. Step B1).
[0053]
Further, the control unit 40 rotates the print font developed in the work area 42e by 90 degrees in the print buffer 42c and develops the font (step B2). That is, the orientation of the printing font is converted so that the horizontal direction of the character matches the tape width direction of the tape 30. For example, the character is rotated 90 degrees so that printing is performed line by line in the direction from the upper part to the lower part of the character.
[0054]
Next, the control unit 40 sends print data for one dot line from the print font for one character stored in the print buffer 42c to the head drive circuit 50 to drive the heat generating element 19, and to control the step motor drive circuit. One line printing is executed by rotating the platen roller 22 with respect to 47 so that the tape 30 is conveyed by one dot line (step B3).
[0055]
The control unit 40 determines whether the tape 30 conveyed in the direction of the tape discharge port 16 has been conveyed to the tape cutting position by the cutter mechanism 32 by printing one line (step B4).
If the tape 30 has not been conveyed to the cutting position and printing of one character has not been completed, printing is performed on the next line (steps B4, B5, and B3).
[0056]
When the tape 30 has reached the cutting position following the printing of one line (step B3), the control unit 40 interrupts the printing operation (step B8), and executes the tape cutting process according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Execute (Step B9).
[0057]
In the example of FIG. 9, a margin having a length of L2 / 2 is set at the top and bottom of each of the characters "A", "B", and "C". As shown in FIG. Since the distance from the tape 32 to the thermal print head 18 is L, printing of the character "A" starts from a position at a distance of L from the leading end of the tape 30, and during the printing of the character "A", When the cutting position E1 located at a distance L1 from the tip of 30 moves to the position of the cutter mechanism 32, printing is interrupted and the first tape cutting process is performed. As a result, a margin having a length of L2 / 2 is first secured above the character "A".
[0058]
FIG. 7 shows the tape cutting process in step B9. That is, the control unit 40 reads the message display data stored in the ROM 41, and causes the display unit 13 to display a message urging the user to cut the tape 30 via the display drive circuit 43 (step D1). You. That is, the control unit 40 outputs a signal instructing that the tape 30 is cut, and causes the display unit 13 to display a predetermined message. In response to the notification by this message, after the user operates the cutter operation lever 16a to cut the tape 30, it is assumed that the cutting is completed when the user operates a specific key indicating the end of the cutting process. Judgment is made and the tape cutting process ends (step D2).
[0059]
In the example of FIG. 9, when the tape cutting process at the cutting position E1 is completed during the printing of the character “A”, the process returns from step B9 to step B3, and the printing of the character “A” is restarted. In this way, the control unit 40 repeatedly executes the printing for each line until the tape 30 reaches the cutting position by the conveyance or the printing of one character is completed (steps B3 to B5).
[0060]
When the printing of one character is completed (step B5), if the printing of all the characters to be printed stored in the input buffer 42a is not completed (step B6), the control unit 40 drives the step motor. The step motor 48 is driven with respect to the circuit 47 to rotate the platen roller 22 so that the print tape 30 is fed by the blank space (step B7).
[0061]
According to the example of FIG. 9, when printing of the character “A” is completed, L2 / 2 that is a margin below the character of “A” and L2 / 2 that is a margin above the character of “B” are added. The printing tape 30 is fed by the length of L2.
[0062]
Then, returning to step B1, the control unit 40 sets the printing font corresponding to the character to be printed next to the text data stored in the input buffer 42a of the RAM 42 in the vertical direction with respect to the character size in normal printing. The control unit 40 expands the print font developed in the work area 42e in step B2 by rotating it 90 degrees in the print buffer 42c, and develops it in the work area 42e. While printing one line (step B3), it is determined whether the cutting position on the tape 30 has been conveyed to the cutter mechanism 32 (step B4).
[0063]
According to the example of FIG. 9, after the printing of the character "A" is completed, the printing font of the character "B" to be printed next is rotated by 90 degrees and developed, and one line of the printing data is printed. Is executed, it is determined whether the next cutting position E2 on the tape 30 has been conveyed to the cutter mechanism 32.
[0064]
Next, the print tape 30 is fed by the length of L2, which is the sum of L2 / 2, which is the margin below the character "A", and L2 / 2, which is the margin above the character "B".
In this way, the control unit 40 repeatedly executes printing for each line until the tape 30 reaches the cutting position by transporting the tape 30 or printing of one character is completed (steps B3 to B5). If it has reached, the control unit 40 interrupts the printing operation (step B8) and executes the tape cutting process (step B9).
[0065]
According to the example of FIG. 9, when the cutting position E2 on the tape 30 is transported to the cutter mechanism 32 during the printing of the character "B", the printing is interrupted and the tape cutting process is executed. become. By this processing, the printed portion of the character “A” is cut off from the tape 30, and margins having a length L2 / 2 are secured at the lower part of the character “A” and the upper part of the character “B”.
[0066]
The above processing of steps B1 to B9 is executed for the character string to be printed of the text data stored in the input buffer 42a.
Therefore, the tape is also cut at the cutting position E3, and a margin L2 / 2 is secured above the character “B” and below the character “C”.
[0067]
After the printing of all the characters is completed (step B6), the control unit 40 ejects the tape 30 (step B10), and conveys the tape 30 when the last cutting position of the tape 30 reaches the cutter mechanism 32. The tape is stopped (steps B11 and B12), and the tape cutting process (FIG. 7) is executed (step B13).
[0068]
According to FIG. 9, when the cutting position E4 moves to the position of the cutter mechanism 32, the last cutting process is performed.
FIG. 8 shows a print example in the normal print mode (an example in which characters having a height and width not exceeding the tape width are printed).
[0069]
As shown in FIG. 8, in the case of printing in the normal printing mode, the height of the character is accommodated in the width of the tape 30. Therefore, the character string "ABC" is continuously output while a predetermined margin is provided between the characters. Is printed on In the drawing, a dashed line indicates a cutting position.
[0070]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, in the case of printing in the first enlarged print mode (when characters having a height exceeding the tape width are printed), each character is directed sideways along the length direction of the tape 30. Because the print font has been converted and printed, both the height and width of the characters fit on the tape. Then, the tape 30 is cut and separated for each character.
[0071]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, by arranging and attaching tapes (FIGS. 10 (a), (b), and (c)) cut and separated for each character at an arbitrary interval, a character size exceeding the tape width can be obtained. Can be represented by a character string "ABC".
[0072]
In this manner, in the first enlarged printing process, even if the character height exceeds the width of the tape 30, if the character width does not exceed the width of the tape 30, the print font Is printed horizontally (rotated 90 degrees) along the length direction of the tape 30, so that each tape can be separated into one tape.
[0073]
Therefore, it is not necessary to represent one character by attaching a plurality of tapes, and the quality of the character can be improved since the position alignment is unnecessary even when a character string is printed.
[0074]
In addition, the space between characters can be arbitrarily adjusted depending on the position where each tape on which one character is printed is attached, as shown in FIG. 10, and the degree of freedom is increased. In addition, since no tape is required between characters, the amount of tape consumption can be greatly reduced.
[0075]
Next, the second enlarged printing process will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 6 and a printing example shown in FIG.
The second enlarged printing process is a print mode for printing characters with a character size in which the height and width of the characters exceed the width of the tape 30. Here, the size is twice as large in the vertical direction (height exceeding the width of the tape 30) and twice as large in the horizontal direction as the character size in normal printing (the vertical and horizontal sizes are slightly smaller than the width of the tape 30). A case where characters are printed will be described as an example.
[0076]
First, the control unit 40 reads a character code of one character from the text data to be printed stored in the input buffer 42a of the RAM 42, and reads a printing font corresponding to the character code from the printing font memory 45. . Then, the control unit 40 expands the printing font read out from the printing font memory 45 into the work area 42e by doubling the font size in the vertical direction and twice in the horizontal direction with respect to the character size at the time of normal printing (see FIG. Step C1).
[0077]
Further, the control unit 40 divides the printing font developed in the work area 42e into a plurality of (two in this case) character portions in the vertical direction of the characters, and firstly prints a print buffer for the left half of the characters. It is rotated 90 degrees to 42c and deployed (step C2). That is, the orientation of the printing font is converted such that the horizontal direction of the left half of the character part character matches the tape width direction of the tape 30. For example, the character is rotated 90 degrees so that printing is performed line by line in the direction from the upper part to the lower part of the character.
[0078]
Next, the control unit 40 sends print data for one dot line to the head drive circuit 50 from the print font of the character portion (left half of the character) stored in the print buffer 42c to drive the heating element 19 and The one-line printing is executed by rotating the platen roller 22 so that the tape 30 is conveyed by one dot line to the step motor drive circuit 47 (step C3).
[0079]
The control unit 40 determines whether the cutting position of the tape 30 conveyed in the direction of the tape discharge port 16 has moved to the cutter mechanism 32 by printing one line (step C4).
[0080]
If the cutting position of the tape has not moved to the cutter mechanism 32, the printing operation is continued, and if the printing of the left half of the character portion has not been completed, printing is performed for the next line.
[0081]
When the cutting position of the tape 30 reaches the cutter mechanism 32 with the printing of one line (step C4), the control unit 40 interrupts the printing operation (step C5), and follows the flowchart shown in FIG. A tape cutting process is executed (Step C6). Note that the tape cutting process is performed in the same manner as the case set in the first enlarged printing process, and thus detailed description is omitted.
[0082]
In the example of FIG. 11, the tape cutting process at step C6 based on the determination at step C4 is a cutting process at a cutting position G1 performed during the printing of the left half of the character "A", and the left half of the character "B". Corresponds to the cutting process at the cutting position G3 performed during printing, and the cutting process at the cutting position G5 performed during printing of the left half of the character “C”. The cutting process at the first cutting position G1 is to secure a margin of length L2 / 2 above the character "A", as described in the first enlarged printing process. In the cutting process at the cutting position G3, in order, the right half of the printed “A” character is cut off, and a length L2 / 2 is added to the lower part of the “A” character and the upper part of the “B” character, respectively. The cutting process at the cutting position G5 separates the right half of the printed “B” character, and cuts the lower half of the “B” character and the upper portion of the “C” character. This is to secure a margin of length L2 / 2.
[0083]
In this way, the control unit 40 repeatedly executes the printing for each line until the cutting position of the tape 30 reaches the cutter mechanism 32 or the printing of the left half character portion is completed (steps C3, C4, C7). .
[0084]
When the printing of all the lines is completed for the left half of the character portion (step C7), the control unit 40 drives the step motor 48 to the step motor drive circuit 47 and rotates the platen roller 22 to print the tape. 30 is fed by the blank space (step C8).
[0085]
In the example of FIG. 11, the same length of L2 as in FIG. 9 is skipped.
Next, the control unit 40 sends print data for one dot line to the head drive circuit 50 from the print font of the character portion (right half of the character) stored in the print buffer 42c to drive the heating element 19 and The one-line printing is executed by rotating the platen roller 22 and the ribbon take-up shaft 23 with respect to the step motor drive circuit 47 so that the tape 30 is conveyed by one dot line (step C3).
[0086]
The control unit 40 determines whether the cutting position of the tape 30 conveyed in the direction of the tape discharge port 16 has moved to the position of the cutter mechanism 32 by printing one line (step C11).
[0087]
If the cutting position of the tape has not moved to the cutter mechanism 32, the printing operation is continued, and if the printing of the right half character portion has not been completed, printing is performed for the next line.
[0088]
When the cutting position of the tape 30 reaches the cutter mechanism 32 with the printing of one line (step C11), the control unit 40 interrupts the printing operation (step C5) and follows the flowchart shown in FIG. A tape cutting process is executed (Step C6).
[0089]
In the example of FIG. 11, the tape cutting process at step C6 based on the determination at step C11 is a cutting process at the cutting position G2 performed during the printing of the right half of the character “A”, and the right half of the character “B”. Corresponds to the cutting process at the cutting position G4 performed in the middle of printing, and the cutting process at the cutting position G6 performed in the middle of printing the right half of the character “C”. The cutting process at the cutting position G2 is to cut off the left half of the printed “A” character and to secure a margin of length L2 / 2 at the top and bottom of the “A” character. The cutting process at the cutting position G4 is for cutting off the left half of the printed “B” character and securing a margin of length L2 / 2 at the top and bottom of the “B” character. The cutting process at the cutting position G6 is for cutting off the left half of the printed “C” character and securing a margin of length L2 / 2 above and below the “C” character.
[0090]
In this way, the control unit 40 repeatedly executes the printing for each line until the cutting position of the tape 30 reaches the position of the cutter mechanism 32 or the printing of the right half character portion is completed (steps C10, C11, C11). C12).
[0091]
When the printing of all lines is completed for the right half character portion (step C12), if the printing of all the characters to be printed stored in the input buffer 42a has not been completed (step C13), the control unit 40 Drives the step motor 48 to the step motor drive circuit 47 and rotates the platen roller 22 to feed the print tape 30 by the margin (step C14). In the example of FIG. 11, the idle feed length is L2 from the relationship of the margin length L2 / 2 set above and below each character.
[0092]
The above process is executed for the character string to be printed of the text data stored in the input buffer 42a.
After the printing of all characters is completed (step C13), the control unit 40 ejects the tape 30 by a predetermined distance (step C15), and conveys the tape 30 when the last cutting position reaches the cutter mechanism 32. Is stopped (steps C16 and C17), and the tape 30 is cut by executing the tape cutting process (FIG. 7) (step C18). In the example of FIG. 11, G7 is the last cutting position.
[0093]
FIG. 11 shows a case where three characters “ABC” are printed in the second enlarged print mode (an example of printing characters having a height and width exceeding the tape width).
As shown in FIG. 11, in the case of printing in the second enlarged printing mode, each of the left and right character portions obtained by dividing each character in the vertical direction is converted into a print font in the horizontal direction along the length direction of the tape 30. Both the height and width of each character portion are accommodated on the tape because they are printed. Then, the tape 30 is cut and separated for each character portion.
[0094]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12, tapes (FIGS. 11 (a) to 11 (f)) cut and separated into right and left character portions are attached to each character to make one character, and each character is spaced at an arbitrary interval. By arranging and pasting, it is possible to express a character string “ABC” with a character size in which the length and width exceed the width of the tape.
[0095]
In the above description, the case of printing characters twice as large as the character size of normal printing is described as an example. However, if printing characters of a horizontal size exceeding the tape width, any size is used. However, printing can be performed using the second enlarged printing mode. In this case, a plurality of character portions may be generated by dividing vertically according to the size of the character to be printed, and each character portion may be printed horizontally along the tape.
[0096]
In this manner, in the second enlarged printing process, even if the height and width of the character are larger than the width of the tape 30, the character is divided vertically so that the width does not exceed the width of the tape 30. Since a portion is generated and the font of the character portion is printed horizontally (rotated 90 degrees) along the length direction of the tape 30, the character portion can be separated into one tape.
[0097]
Therefore, since it is only necessary to attach a tape on which a plurality of character portions are printed for each character, even when a character string is printed, printing deviations on a plurality of tapes are less likely to occur, and character quality is reduced. Can be improved.
[0098]
Also, as shown in FIG. 12, the space between the characters can be arbitrarily adjusted depending on the position where each tape of one character in which a plurality of character portions are attached is pasted, and the degree of freedom is increased. In addition, since no tape is required between characters, the amount of tape consumption can be greatly reduced.
[0099]
In the description of the first enlarged print mode and the second enlarged print mode, the width of the character is one or two times as large as the character size in normal printing, in which the vertical and horizontal sizes are slightly smaller than the width of the tape 30. However, the size of the characters printed on the tape can be dynamically changed according to the width of the tape used for printing.
[0100]
In this case, the control unit 40 detects the type of the tape cassette 24 accommodated in the cassette accommodating unit 15, that is, the tape width of the tape accommodated in the cassette case 25 by the tape width sensor 51, and detects the detected tape width. , A printable size is obtained with some margin from the end of the tape, and the character pattern read from the print font memory 45 is developed according to this size. Therefore, even if any of a plurality of types of tapes is used, characters having a size effectively utilizing the tape width can be printed in the enlarged print mode.
[0101]
Further, in the above description, when the tape 30 is transported and reaches the cutting position, the cutter mechanism 32 is driven by the tape cutting process to cut and separate the tape into characters. The tape 30 is cut only after printing of all text data (character strings) to be printed is completed. For the cutting position between characters, printing indicating the cutting position, for example, printing a broken line to separate the cutting is performed. It may not be performed.
[0102]
In addition, it can be set so that a margin of an arbitrary width is secured above and below (between characters) in the height direction of the characters to be printed. For example, before printing on text data is started, the control unit 40 allows the key input unit 12 to arbitrarily input the length of a margin to be secured between characters, and outputs data indicating the length of the input margin. It is stored in the RAM 42. When printing is performed on the text data (character string), the control unit 40 controls the cutting position of the tape by transporting the tape 30 in accordance with the printing operation in accordance with the data indicating the length of the margin stored in the RAM 42. Is determined to have reached the cutter mechanism, and a cutting instruction signal for causing the cutter mechanism 32 to cut the tape 30 is output.
[0103]
Further, in the tape cutting process described in the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 7, when the tape 30 reaches the cutting position due to the transport of the tape 30, a message urging the user to cut the tape 30 is displayed. It is also possible to automatically disconnect without receiving a disconnection instruction from the user. In this case, when detecting that the cutting position of the tape 30 has been transported to the cutter mechanism, the control unit 40 outputs a signal instructing the cutter mechanism 32 to cut the tape 30. The cutter mechanism 32 cuts the tape 30 according to a signal from the control unit 40. This makes it possible to automatically obtain a tape in which each character of the character string to be printed is printed along the length direction of the tape 30 without any operation by the user.
[0104]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the printing apparatus according to the present invention, when printing a character string of a character having a character size in which the height of the character exceeds the width of the tape and the width of the character does not exceed the width of the tape, each character is printed. And by printing each character horizontally along the tape so that the width of the character fits within the width of the tape, characters can be printed without being divided.
[0105]
Also, when printing a character string with characters whose character height and character width exceed the width of the tape, dividing each character vertically will allow multiple character parts that do not exceed the width of the tape to be divided. By separating and printing each character part horizontally along the tape, it will be divided and printed in character units, which is the minimum unit, and it will be easy to align the character parts printed on multiple tapes, In addition, misalignment during tape feeding is less likely to occur. Further, since the printing is performed in units of characters, the tape is not consumed in a portion between the characters in the character string, so that the consumption amount of the tape is reduced.
For this reason, it is possible to print a character string composed of characters having a size exceeding the tape width with high quality while reducing the tape consumption.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a tape printer according to an embodiment of a tape printer of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a cassette accommodating portion 15 when a lid 14 on an upper surface of an apparatus main body 11 of the tape printer is opened.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic circuit of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an operation in a key input process of the printing apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a first enlarged printing process in a first enlarged printing mode of the printing apparatus.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of a second enlarged printing process in a second enlarged printing mode of the printing apparatus.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of a tape cutting process of the printing apparatus.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a print example in a normal print mode (an example in which characters having a height and width not exceeding the tape width are printed).
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a print example (an example in which characters having a height exceeding the tape width are printed) in a first enlarged print mode.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of pasting in which a character string is expressed by a tape printed in a first enlarged print mode.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a print example (an example in which characters having a height and width exceeding the tape width are printed) in a second enlarged print mode.
FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of pasting in which a character string is expressed by a tape printed in a second enlarged printing mode.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 ... Main unit
12 Key input section
12a: Character input key
12b ... Power key
12e ... return (execution) key
12f ... print key
13 Display unit
15 ... Cassette storage section
16 ... Tape outlet
16a ... Cutter operation lever
17 ... Printing section
18. Thermal print head
19 ... Head heating element
22 ... Platen roller
23 ... Ink ribbon take-up shaft
24 ... Tape cassette
25 ... cassette case
26 ... Tape supply reel
27 ... Ink ribbon supply reel
28 Ink ribbon take-up reel
30 ... Tape
31 ... Ink ribbon
32 ... Cutter mechanism
33 ... cutter fixed blade
35 ... Cutter movable blade
40 ... Control unit (CPU)
41 ... ROM
42 ... RAM,
42a ... input buffer
42b ... display buffer
42c ... print buffer
42d: Flag register
43 ... Display drive circuit
44 ... Display font memory
45: Font memory for printing
47 ... Step motor drive circuit
48 Step motor
50 ... Head drive circuit
51: Tape width sensor

Claims (5)

Input means for inputting a character string to be printed, means for conveying a tape, printing means for printing the character string input from the input means on the conveyed tape, and cutting means for cutting the tape Equipped printing device,
Mode setting means for setting a print mode for printing characters having a height exceeding the width of the tape,
Margin setting means for setting a margin of a predetermined length above and below the height direction of each character to be printed,
When a print mode for printing a character having a height exceeding the width of the tape is set by the mode setting unit, the input unit is controlled while controlling the printing unit to secure a margin set by the margin setting unit. Each character of the character string input from the means is printed horizontally along the tape at a character size where the character height exceeds the width of the tape and the character width does not exceed the width of the tape, and the margins are printed. Based on the margin set by the setting unit, it is determined that the cutting position of the tape provided above and below in the height direction of each character printed horizontally on the tape is conveyed to the position of the cutting unit. Control means for outputting a signal instructing to cut the tape by the cutting means,
A printing device comprising: In a printing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting a character string to be printed, and printing means for printing the character string input from the input means on a tape,
Mode setting means for setting a print mode for printing characters having a height exceeding the width of the tape,
When a print mode for printing characters having a height exceeding the width of the tape is set by the mode setting unit, the printing unit is controlled to change each character of the character string input from the input unit to a character. Control means for causing the height and the width of the character to exceed the width of the tape, and to print horizontally along the tape at a character size such that the width of each of the plurality of vertically divided character portions does not exceed the width of the tape;
A printing device comprising: The printing device includes cutting means for cutting the tape,
3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit outputs a signal indicating that the tape is cut between the character portions printed horizontally by the cutting unit. Further, a margin setting means for setting a margin above and below the height direction of the character to be printed,
4. The printing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit outputs a cutting instruction signal for cutting the tape to provide a margin set by the margin setting unit. 5. Furthermore, the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises driving means for driving the cutting means based on a signal for instructing to cut the tape to be output from said control means .

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