JP5476894B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that sets a format of character information to be printed on a tape member as a printing medium and prints character information on a tape member in accordance with the set format.

  An apparatus for creating a unique label by setting a tape cassette containing a tape member in the main body of the printing apparatus and printing character information input from a key input section provided on the surface of the main body of the apparatus on the tape member. For example, there is a tape printer shown in Patent Document 1. In such a tape printer, the character information to be printed is input by operating the character input key of the key input unit, and the format setting screen is displayed on the display unit provided on the surface of the device body. Select the format items such as “horizontal writing” and “vertical writing” to set the format of the character information to be printed, and then instruct printing, the character information will be printed on the tape member according to the set format. A label is created.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-202010

  In the above conventional tape printer, when setting the format of character information to be printed, a format setting screen is displayed on the display unit, and the format is set on the format setting screen. The small-sized printing device has a small display screen size provided on the main body of the device, and the amount of information displayed on it is limited. This is a troublesome work for the user, and because the setting operation is simply to select a setting item on the format setting screen, the contents of the setting item of the format are difficult to understand and an operation error is likely to occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and provides a printing apparatus that can easily perform an operation for setting the format of character information to be printed and can definitely perform the operation. For the purpose.

The printing apparatus according to the present invention includes an input unit that inputs character information to be printed, an attitude detection unit that detects an attitude of the apparatus main body, and the character information to be printed according to the attitude detected by the attitude detection unit. A format setting means for setting the print format of the print data, a print means for printing along the length direction of the tape member, and character information input from the input means based on the format set by the format setting means. Control means for generating print data and controlling the printing means to print the generated print data on a tape member , wherein the attitude detecting means is a predetermined unit that holds the apparatus main body in a horizontal state. The apparatus is configured by an inclination angle detection unit that detects an inclination angle of the apparatus main body with reference to a reference posture, and the format setting unit is configured to detect the apparatus based on detection information of the inclination angle detection unit. When it is determined that the body is inclined to the right at a predetermined angle with respect to the reference posture, the characters of the character information are moved to the right side in the print area along the length direction of the tape member. When a right-aligned character allocation format for printing is set and the apparatus body is determined to be inclined downward to the left at a predetermined angle with respect to the reference posture, the length of the tape member is adjusted. the characters of the character information Preface to the left in the print area, characterized that you want to format the letter assignment of left-justified printing to be printed has.

Further , the format setting means of the printing apparatus follows the length direction of the tape member when it is determined that the apparatus main body is in the reference posture based on the detection information of the inclination angle detection means. were you and sets the format of the letter assignment of the submitted print in which the characters of the character information printed closer to the central portion in the print area.

  The apparatus main body is configured to be held with one hand.

  Since the present invention is configured to set the printing format of the character information to be printed according to the attitude of the apparatus main body of the printing apparatus, the attitude of the apparatus main body is predetermined by rotating or tilting the apparatus main body. By using this posture, the format setting operation can be easily performed. Further, since the format corresponds to a predetermined posture of the main body of the printing apparatus, it is easy to understand the contents of the format to be set, and the format can be set without mistake.

1 is a plan view of a tape printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the internal enlarged view of the tape printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and the perspective view of a tape cassette. It is a block diagram of the electronic circuit of the tape printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the format setting in the tape printer of embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the format setting of the tape printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the format setting of the tape printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the format setting of the tape printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a tape printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external view of a tape cassette 21 used in the tape printer 1 and an internal structure of the tape printer 1. It is a perspective view which shows a part. The tape printer 1 is a device that prints characters or the like on a tape member 31, and is formed in a small size so that information input operation and necessary operation can be performed with the apparatus body 2 held in one hand.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the tape printer 1 includes a device body 2 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The tape printer 1 includes a key input unit 3 and a liquid crystal display device (display unit) 4 on the upper surface of the apparatus body 2. Further, the tape printer 1 includes a cutter operation unit 5 for operating a cutter for cutting the printed tape member at a corner position on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 2. Further, a tape discharge port 7 through which a tape member 31 printed on the right side surface of the apparatus main body 2 and in the vicinity of the cutter operation unit 5 is discharged out of the apparatus main body 2 is provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the tape printer 1 includes a cassette loading unit 8 for attaching and detaching the tape cassette 21 to the bottom of the apparatus main body 2 and covers the opening of the cassette loading unit 8 (not shown). With a lid.

  The key input unit 3 is a character input key for inputting character information, a format setting key operated when setting the format of the input character information, a print key for instructing start of printing, and a cursor on the display screen of the display unit 4 Cursor keys to move and operate. The display unit 4 displays input character information, a setting screen for performing various settings such as format settings, messages regarding various processes, and the like.

  Next, the internal configuration of the tape printer 1 of this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, a cassette loading unit 8 for loading a tape cassette 21 containing a tape member 31 and an ink ribbon 35 is formed inside the apparatus main body 2 of the tape printer 1. Further, in the cassette loading unit 8, a tape printing mechanism 61 for printing on the tape member 31, a tape transport mechanism 62 for transporting the tape member 31 in the longitudinal direction, and a tape cutting mechanism for cutting the tape member 31 in the width direction. 63. A cassette receiving portion 15 for supporting the tape cassette 21 at a predetermined position is formed in the cassette loading portion 8 of the tape printer 1, and one end of the cassette loading portion 8 is attached to the outside of the apparatus main body 2. A tape discharge port 7 is formed, and a tape cutting mechanism 63 is incorporated in the tape discharge port 7.

  The tape printing mechanism 61 includes a thermal head 11 in which heating elements are arranged in the vertical direction, and a platen roller 12 that sandwiches and transports the tape member 31 and the ink ribbon 35 between the thermal head 11. The tape transport mechanism 62 includes a platen roller 12 that is driven by a transport motor 46 described later and a drive transmission mechanism to the platen roller 12. The tape cutting mechanism 63 includes a fixed blade 71 fixed to the apparatus main body 2, a movable blade 72 pivotally attached to the fixed blade 71, a cutter operation unit 5 connected to the movable blade 72, and the like.

  Further, the tape cassette 21 includes a cassette case 22, in which a tape core 23 around which a tape member 31 is wound, a ribbon supply core 24 around which an unused ink ribbon 35 is wound, a use Ribbon take-up cores 25 for taking up the used ink ribbon 35 are accommodated. The cassette case 22 of the tape cassette 21 is formed with a head placement portion 27 where the thermal head 11 is located when the tape cassette 21 is loaded in the cassette loading portion 8.

  Further, an engaged portion 29 that is engaged with and supported by the cassette receiving portion 15 of the cassette loading portion 8 is formed at the corner of the cassette case 22. The engaged portion 29 of the cassette case 22 is provided with an identification portion (not shown) formed in a predetermined shape according to the tape width of the tape member 31 accommodated in the tape cassette 21. The cassette receiving portion 15 of the loading portion 8 is provided with a plurality of tape width detection switches 44 corresponding to the identification portions formed in the engaged portion 29 of the cassette case 22 when the tape cassette 21 is loaded. Yes. When the cassette case 22 is loaded in the cassette loading unit 8, the identification unit formed in the engaged portion 29 of the cassette case 22 and a plurality of tapes provided in the cassette receiving unit 15 of the cassette loading unit 8. When the width detection switch 44 is engaged and the tape width detection switch 44 is selectively turned on / off, the width of the tape member stored in the tape cassette 21 is detected.

  In this tape printer 1, when printing is instructed, the tape member 31 and the ink ribbon 35 are unwound from the tape cassette 21, sandwiched between the platen roller 12 and the thermal head 11, and conveyed. The Then, the thermal head 11 is driven to generate heat based on the print data, and the ink on the ink ribbon 35 is thermally transferred to the tape member 31 and printing is performed on the tape member 31. When printing on the tape member 31 is completed, the tape member 31 on which printing has been performed is conveyed to the outside from the tape discharge port 7 by the conveyance mechanism 62, and printing is performed by the user operating the cutter operation unit 5. The tape member 31 is cut in the width direction.

  Next, the circuit configuration of the tape printer 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the tape printer 1 includes a control unit 40. A ROM 41 and a RAM 42 are connected to the control unit 40. In addition, the key input unit 3 and the display unit 4 are connected to the control unit 40. The controller 40 is connected to a drive circuit 51 that drives the thermal head 11 and a drive circuit 52 that drives the transport motor 46. In addition, a tape width detection switch 44, an acceleration sensor 53, and an angular velocity sensor 54 are connected to the control unit 40. The tape width detection switch 44 detects the tape width of the tape member 31 accommodated in the tape cassette 21 loaded in the cassette loading unit 8 via an identification unit provided in the tape cassette 21. The acceleration sensor 53 is provided in the apparatus main body 2 and is used to detect an inclination angle and a rotation angle when the apparatus main body 2 is inclined or rotated with respect to the reference posture of the apparatus main body 2. The angular velocity sensor 54 is provided in the apparatus main body 2 and is used for detecting a rotation angle when the apparatus main body 2 is rotated with respect to the reference posture of the apparatus main body 2.

  The control unit 40 activates a system program, a control program, or the like stored in advance in the ROM 41 in response to a key operation signal from the key input unit 3, and controls the operation of each circuit unit using the RAM 42 as a work memory. . The ROM 41 stores a program for printing the character information input from the key input unit 3, a print font, and the like, and also functions as a storage medium in which a program readable by the control unit 40 is stored. The RAM 42 is an input data memory for storing character information input by keys, a print data memory for storing print pattern data in which the input character information is expanded, and a display for storing pattern data to be displayed on the display unit 4. Each area such as a data memory is secured, and a register, a counter, and the like for temporarily storing data necessary for a printing process are provided. Also, information on the format to be set is stored

  The head drive circuit 51 drives the thermal head 11 according to the print data and prints on the tape member 31. The transport motor driving circuit 52 drives the transport motor 46.

  The tape width detection switch 44 is a switch for detecting the width of the tape member 31 housed in the tape cassette 21 loaded in the cassette loading unit 8 described above, and a signal indicating the determination result of the loaded tape cassette 21 is transmitted to the control unit. Output to 40. Further, the acceleration sensor 53 and the angular velocity sensor 54 output information on the tilt angle and the rotation angle of the apparatus main body 2 to the control unit 40 according to the posture of the apparatus main body 2.

  Next, based on FIG. 4 thru | or FIG. 7, the printing operation of the tape printer 1 is demonstrated. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the printing operation of the tape printer of the present invention. FIGS. 5 to 7 are explanatory diagrams showing the format setting in the tape printer 1 and printing examples in each setting format. 5 and 6 show the tape printer 1 in a plan view, and FIG. 7 shows the tape printer 1 in a perspective view.

  Hereinafter, the label printing process performed by the tape printer 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, when the apparatus power of the tape printer 1 is turned on, a predetermined initial process is performed. In particular, here, a process of storing detection information of the acceleration sensor 53 and the angular velocity sensor 54 in the RAM 42 as initial values when the power is turned on is performed (step S1). Next, input of character information to be printed on the tape member is performed by the user's operation of the key input unit 3 (step S2). After the character information is input, guidance for prompting the format setting is performed by a predetermined key operation indicating completion of the input or when the user operates the format setting key of the key input unit 3 (step S3). For this guidance, a message may be displayed on the display unit 4, or the voice guidance function may be provided in the tape printer 1, and voice guidance of the voice guidance function may be used.

  In accordance with the format setting guide, the user performs an operation to set the apparatus main body 2 in a posture corresponding to the format to be set in order to set the character information printing format (step S4).

  Here, the relationship between the posture of the tape printer 1 and the format will be described with reference to FIGS. For example, FIG. 5A shows a plan view of the tape printing apparatus 1, and shows a case where the apparatus main body 2 is not moving from the power-on attitude (reference attitude). . In this operation pattern A, a horizontal printing format is set. Reference numeral 31a indicates a printing example of a horizontal writing label. In this operation pattern A, the allowable range of the reference posture is plus / minus 15 °, and the rotation of the apparatus main body 2 on the xy plane is within the plus / minus 15 ° range compared to the reference time when formatting. Even if it exists, it is allowed as a reference posture. FIG. 5B shows the case of the operation pattern B, in which the apparatus main body 2 at the time of formatting is rotated 90 ° clockwise compared to the apparatus main body 2a at the reference time. In this operation pattern B, a vertical writing format is set. Reference numeral 31b shows a print example of a vertically written label. In this case, the rotation angle of the apparatus main body 2 is 90 ° clockwise or counterclockwise with respect to the reference posture, and the allowable range is plus or minus 15 °. FIG. 6A shows the case of the operation pattern C. In this operation pattern C, an oblique printing format is set in which characters are slanted and printed in horizontal writing. The operation pattern C is determined except when the rotation angle of the apparatus body 2 is the operation patterns A and B. Reference numeral 31c shows an example of printing a diagonally printed label. FIG. 6B shows a case of the operation pattern D. This is a case where the apparatus main body 2 is operated so that the front surface and the bottom surface of the apparatus main body 2 are reversed and turned over. Reference numeral 31d denotes a print example of a mirror image print label. In the case of FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, and FIG. 6A in which the apparatus main body 2 is in the normal posture with the surface on the top and the bottom on the bottom, normal image printing is performed. Also in this case, an allowable range for determining the operation pattern D at an appropriate angle is provided.

  FIG. 7A shows an operation pattern E in which the apparatus main body 2 is lifted at least a predetermined distance parallel to the z-axis direction with respect to the reference posture of FIG. In this operation pattern E, a character allocation format for centering printing is set, in which a character string is printed at the center in the length direction of the label. Reference numeral 31e denotes a printing example of a label for centering printing. FIG. 7B shows an operation pattern F, in which the right side of the apparatus body 2 is inclined to the right side at a predetermined angle with respect to the reference posture. In this operation pattern E, a right-aligned character allocation format for setting a character string to the right side in the label length direction for printing is set. Reference numeral 31f denotes a print example of a right-aligned print label. FIG. 7C shows an operation pattern G, in which the left side of the apparatus body 2 is inclined to the left side at a predetermined angle with respect to the reference posture. In this operation pattern G, a left-aligned character allocation format for setting a character string to the left side in the label length direction is set. Reference numeral 31g shows a print example of a left-aligned print label.

  In FIG. 4, when there is an operation of the apparatus main body 2 corresponding to the format setting by the operator, the control unit 40 takes in the detection information of the acceleration sensor 53 and the angular velocity sensor 54 (step S5), and operates based on the detection information. It is determined which pattern the operation pattern of the apparatus main body 2 performed by the person is (step S6).

  If the operation pattern is “A”, the horizontal printing format is set (step S7). This is the case shown in FIG. If the operation pattern is “B”, the vertical writing format is set (step S8). This is the case shown in FIG. If the operation pattern is “C”, a diagonal printing format is set (step S9). This is the case shown in FIG. If the operation pattern is “D”, a format for endorsement (mirror image) printing is set (step S10). This is the case shown in FIG. If the operation pattern is “E”, the character allocation format for centering printing is set (step S11). This is the case shown in FIG. If the operation pattern is “F”, a right-aligned printing format is set (step S12). This is the case shown in FIG. If the operation pattern is “G”, a left-justified printing format is set (step S13). This is the case shown in FIG. These operation patterns AG can be set not only by a single unit but also by combining a plurality of operation patterns.

  Next, other necessary settings such as setting the print size of the character information to be printed are performed (step S14). The character size is set according to the width of the tape member and the number of lines in the tape width direction in the character information to be printed without setting the largest character size that can be printed.

  Then, an instruction to start printing by operating the print key is determined (step S14), and if there is an instruction to start printing, the operation pattern information in steps S7 to S13 and the character size information in step S14 are set. According to the format, character information print pattern data is generated (step S16), and the thermal head 11 is driven based on the generated print pattern data for printing.

  According to the present embodiment, since the printing format of the character information to be printed is set according to the posture of the apparatus main body 2 of the tape printer 1, the apparatus main body 2 is rotated or tilted. By setting the posture of the apparatus main body 2 to a predetermined posture, the format setting operation can be easily performed. In addition, since the format corresponds to a predetermined posture of the main body 2 of the tape printer 1, the format can be set without any doubt as to the contents of the format to be set.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tape printer 2 ... Apparatus main body 3 ... Key input part 4 ... Display part 11 ... Thermal head 12 ... Platen roller 21 ... Tape cassette 31 ... Tape member 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f, 31g ... Label 40 ... Control unit 41 ... ROM
42 ... RAM
44 ... tape width detection switch 53 ... acceleration sensor 54 ... angular velocity sensor

Claims (3)

An input means for inputting character information to be printed;
Attitude detection means for detecting the attitude of the apparatus body;
Format setting means for setting a printing format of the character information to be printed according to the attitude detected by the attitude detection means;
Printing means for performing printing along the length direction of the tape member;
Control means for generating print data of character information input from the input means based on the format set by the format setting means, and controlling the printing means to print the generated print data on a tape member; ,
With
The posture detecting means is constituted by an inclination angle detecting means for detecting an inclination angle of the apparatus main body with reference to a predetermined reference posture in which the apparatus main body is held in a horizontal state.
If the format setting means determines that the apparatus main body is tilted to the right at a predetermined angle with respect to the reference posture based on the detection information of the tilt angle detection means, A character allocation format for right-aligned printing in which characters in the character information are shifted to the right and printed in a print area along the length direction is set, and the apparatus main body is lowered to the left at a predetermined angle with respect to the reference posture. When it is determined that the tape member is in an inclined state, a character allocation format for left-aligned printing that prints the characters of the character information to the left is printed in a print area along the length direction of the tape member. A printing device .   When the apparatus main body is determined to be in the reference posture state based on the detection information of the tilt angle detection means, the formatting means is within the print area along the length direction of the tape member. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a character allocation format for middle-aligned printing for printing the characters of character information in the center is set.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus main body is configured to be held with one hand.

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