JP6354625B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that performs printing on a printing medium.

  2. Description of the Related Art A printing device that forms a print on a print medium is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In this printing apparatus (printed label producing apparatus), in addition to a plurality of text characters desired by the operator, a mark portion composed of an image, a symbol, and the like can be printed and formed.

JP2013-193325A

  In the prior art, the mark portion is only printed on the side of the plurality of text characters along the conveyance direction (that is, the position where they do not overlap). If this mark portion can be printed so as to surround text characters or predetermined character elements constituting the text characters, it should be possible to form a variety of prints with rich expressiveness. In the prior art described above, no particular consideration has been given to such a point.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus that can form a variety of prints with rich expressiveness by forming prints in a form surrounded by appropriate mark portions for each text character or character element.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a conveying means for conveying a print medium relative to said printing medium conveyed by said conveying means, and printing means for forming a printing, before Symbol printed medium An operation means for operating and inputting a plurality of text characters to be printed and the text characters formed on the print medium or predetermined character elements constituting the text characters are individually applied in advance. A storage unit that stores a plurality of types of mark units each having a predetermined outer frame, and one or more types of mark units are set from the plurality of types of mark units stored in the storage unit. a printing apparatus having a setting means, for the mark portion, advance the size of the outer frame of the plurality of stages are ready, the printing apparatus further said setting means Size adjusting means for adjusting the more the outer frame of the set the mark portion, so as to each text character or each character element entered is the locatable size to the outer frame in without protruding by the operation means The dot image of the mark portion is formed from a dot image obtained by superimposing the dot image of the mark portion and the dot image of each text character or each character element of the plurality of sizes of the outer frame. In a mode in which there is no remaining dot when subtracted, a size adjusting unit that adjusts to a minimum stage size, and a corresponding text character or character element is arranged in each outer frame that has been adjusted in size by the size adjusting unit, Print data generating means for generating print data, and the conveying means and the print medium for performing printing corresponding to the print data on the print medium. It characterized by having a a coordination control means for controlling in cooperation with the printing means.

  In the printing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to form on the print medium a print that represents a plurality of desired text characters intended by the operator. At the time of creation, each text character (or a character element constituting it) can be arranged and printed within an outer frame of a mark portion made up of an image, a symbol, or the like.

  That is, a plurality of types of the mark portions are stored in the storage means. Each mark part has a predetermined outer frame. Then, for the plurality of text characters (or character elements) input by the operator via the operation unit, the setting unit selects one or more types of mark units from the plurality of types of mark units stored in the storage unit. And set as a mark portion used for the text character (or character element). The print data generating means generates the print data in such a manner that each text character (or each character element) is arranged in the outer frame of the set mark portion. At that time, the size of the outer frame of each mark surrounding each text character (or each character element) is adjusted in size corresponding to each text character (or each character element). Based on the generated print data, the corresponding print is formed by the control of the cooperation control means.

  As a result, when the operator performs an input operation for a plurality of text characters, an appropriate outer frame of the mark portion is surrounded for each text character (or each character element) (in other words, within the outer frame of each mark portion) In which each text character or each character element is arranged) and the size of the outer frame is adjusted according to the size of the text character (or character element). it can.

  Therefore, a variety of expression modes can be realized in text characters as compared with the conventional method in which the mark portion is arranged beside the text characters. In particular, since the text character (or character element) is surrounded by the outer frame of the mark portion that varies in size for each text character (or character element), it is possible to realize print formation with high design. As a result, various prints can be formed with rich expressiveness according to the use and preference of the operator, so that convenience can be improved.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to form a variety of prints with rich expressiveness by forming prints in a form surrounded by appropriate mark portions for each text character or character element.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from above. It is a perspective view showing the appearance which looked at the printing device of the state where the lower cover was opened from diagonally below. FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view schematically showing the internal structure of the cartridge. It is a functional block diagram showing a control system of the printing apparatus. It is a size table showing the size of several steps of the outer frame of a mark part. It is explanatory drawing showing the flow in which the size of the outer frame of a mark part is adjusted according to the text character etc. which are arrange | positioned in the said outer frame, and a printed label is produced. It is explanatory drawing showing the method of adjusting the size of an outer frame corresponding to a text character etc. FIG. It is a flowchart showing the control procedure performed by CPU.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  A schematic configuration of the label producing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 1, this printed label producing apparatus 1 (corresponding to a printing apparatus) cuts a printed label tape on which a desired printing has been performed to a predetermined length, thereby producing a printed label L (see FIG. 6 and the like described later). ). In this embodiment, the front / rear / left / right / up / down directions of the print label producing apparatus 1 indicate directions shown in FIGS.

<Overall schematic configuration>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the casing 2 of the print label producing apparatus 1 includes a lower cover 15 that forms the lower surface of the apparatus, a lateral cover 16 that forms the side surface of the apparatus, and an upper cover 17 that forms the upper surface of the apparatus. It is comprised by. The upper cover 17 has a keyboard 3 (corresponding to operation means) for performing various operations such as character input from the front direction to the rear direction, and a function key group for executing various functions of the print label producing apparatus 1. 4 and a liquid crystal display 5 for displaying input characters, symbols, and the like. In this example, the function key group 4 includes a power switch 4B, a print key 4C, and the like. Further, a cutter lever 7 for cutting a printed label tape 109 (see FIG. 3 described later) is provided on the right rear side of the horizontal cover 16.

  A cartridge holder 9 to which the cartridge 8 can be attached and detached is provided on the upper rear side of the print label producing apparatus 1. The cartridge holder 9 is covered when the lower cover 15 configured to be openable / closable with the front end portion of the print label producing apparatus 1 as a rotation shaft is closed, and is exposed when the lower cover 15 is opened.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a battery storage unit 70 that can store a plurality of batteries BT (see FIG. 4 described later) is provided adjacent to the cartridge holder 9 on the upper rear side of the print label producing apparatus 1. ing. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 60 denotes a DC jack to which an output plug of an AC adapter 220 (see FIG. 4 described later) as an external power source is connected.

<Cartridge>
As shown in FIG. 3, the cartridge 8 includes a casing 8A and a first roll 102 (in fact, a spiral shape, which is disposed in the casing 8A and wound with a band-shaped base tape 101). And a second roll 104 (actually spiral) on which a transparent cover film 103 (corresponding to a print medium) having a width substantially the same as the base tape 101 is wound. In the drawing, it is simply shown as a concentric circle), a ribbon supply side roll 111 for feeding out an ink ribbon 105 (thermal transfer ribbon, but not required when the print-receiving tape is a thermal tape), and a ribbon for winding up the ink ribbon 105 after printing. A take-up roller 106 and a tape feed roller 27 rotatably supported in the vicinity of the tape discharge portion of the cartridge 8 are provided.

  The tape feeding roller 27 feeds the tape in the direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 3 while pressing and bonding the base tape 101 and the cover film 103 to form a label tape 109 with print.

  The first roll 102 has the base tape 101 wound around a reel member 102a. The base tape 101 has a four-layer structure in this example, and detailed illustration is omitted, but the adhesive layer for bonding made of an appropriate adhesive from the side wound inside to the opposite side, PET A colored base film made of (polyethylene terephthalate) or the like, a sticking adhesive layer made of an appropriate pressure-sensitive adhesive, and release paper are laminated in this order.

  The second roll 104 has the cover film 103 wound around a reel member 104a. The ink ribbon 105 is pressed against and brought into contact with the back surface of the cover film 103 fed out from the second roll 104 by the thermal head 23 (corresponding to printing means).

  At this time, the ribbon take-up roller drive shaft 107 for taking up the used ink ribbon 105 and the printed label tape 109 are conveyed to the cartridge holder 9 corresponding to the configuration of the cartridge 8. A tape feed roller driving shaft 108 (corresponding to a conveying means) for driving the tape feed roller 27 is provided. The cartridge head 9 is provided with the thermal head 23 for performing desired printing on the cover film 103 so as to be positioned at the opening 14 (see FIG. 2) of the cartridge 8 when the cartridge 8 is mounted.

  The ribbon take-up roller 106 and the tape feed roller 27 are driven by the ribbon take-up roller driven by a driving force of a drive motor 211 (see FIG. 4 to be described later) provided outside the cartridge 8 via, for example, a gear mechanism. By being transmitted to the shaft 107 and the tape feed roller drive shaft 108, they are driven to rotate in conjunction with each other.

  In the above configuration, when the cartridge 8 is mounted on the cartridge holder 9 and the roll holder is moved from the release position (not shown) to the print position shown in FIG. 3, the cover film 103 and the ink ribbon 105 are connected to the thermal head 23. The platen roller 26 provided opposite to the thermal head 23 is sandwiched. At the same time, the base tape 101 and the cover film 103 are sandwiched between the tape feed roller 27 and the pressure roller 28 provided to face the tape feed roller 27. The ribbon take-up roller 106 and the tape feed roller 27 are rotationally driven in synchronization with the directions indicated by arrows B and C in FIG. At this time, the tape feed roller drive shaft 108, the pressure roller 28 and the platen roller 26 are connected by a gear mechanism (not shown), and the tape feed roller 27, The pressure roller 28 and the platen roller 26 rotate, the base tape 101 is fed out from the first roll 102, and is supplied to the tape feed roller 27 as described above.

  On the other hand, the cover film 103 is fed out from the second roll 104, and a plurality of heating elements provided in the thermal head 23 are energized by the thermal head control circuit 217 (see FIG. 4 described later) to generate heat. At this time, the ink ribbon 105 driven by the ribbon take-up roller 106 is pressed against and brought into contact with the back side of the cover film 103 (that is, the side to be bonded to the base tape). . As a result, a print (details will be described later) corresponding to the print data of the desired print content is printed on the back surface of the cover film 103.

  Then, the base tape 101 and the cover film 103 on which the printing has been completed are bonded and integrated by the adhesive layer for bonding by the pressing of the tape feeding roller 27 and the pressure roller 28, and the label tape with print is formed. 109 is formed and discharged out of the cartridge 8. The ink ribbon 105 that has finished printing on the cover film 103 is taken up by the ribbon take-up roller 106 by driving the ribbon take-up roller drive shaft 107.

  A cutting mechanism 42 having a fixed blade 40 and a movable blade 41 is provided on the downstream side of the transport path of the printed label tape 109 discharged out of the cartridge 8. When the cutter lever 7 is operated, the movable blade 41 operates, the printed label tape 109 is cut, and a printed label L (see FIG. 6 described later) is generated.

<Control system>
Next, the control system of the print label producing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 4, the print label producing apparatus 1 has a CPU 212 that performs a predetermined calculation.

  The CPU 212 is connected to the liquid crystal display 5, the EEPROM 214, and the RAM 213. The CPU 212 is connected to the AC adapter 220 and performs a power on / off process of the print label producing apparatus 1, and a drive motor that drives the ribbon take-up roller drive shaft 107 and the tape feed roller drive shaft 108. A motor driving circuit 216 that controls the driving of the motor 211 and a thermal head control circuit 217 that controls the energization of the heating elements of the thermal head 23 are connected.

  The EEPROM 214 stores various control programs (including a control program for executing a flow of FIG. 8 described later). The CPU 212 performs signal processing according to a program stored in advance in the EEPROM 214 while using the temporary storage function of the RAM 213, thereby controlling the entire print label producing apparatus 1.

  In addition, in the EEPROM 214, mark portions (described later) having a predetermined outer frame (see outer frames F11, F12, F13, F14, F15, F16... Described later) and the like. A mark storage unit 214a (corresponding to storage means) that stores the mark units M11, M12, M13, M14, M15, M16. As shown in the size table of FIG. 5, each mark portion is prepared in advance in a plurality of sizes for each type (in this example, three levels of large, medium, and small, or two levels of large and small). It is stored in the storage unit 214a.

<Features of the embodiment>
A plurality of character strings T and a plurality of mark portions are printed on the print label L generated as described above (see FIG. 6 described later). The greatest feature of this embodiment is that when the operator selects a desired mark portion for each character string T, each text character is surrounded by the selected mark portion, and the size of the outer frame of the mark portion is It is to be automatically adjusted according to the size of each character string T. Hereinafter, the details will be described in order.

<Enter text characters>
In the present embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 6A, first, the character string T or the like is input to the liquid crystal display 5 by an appropriate operation of the keyboard 3 or the function key group 4 by the operator. A text editing screen 5A is displayed. In this state, as shown in FIG. 6B, the operator inputs a character string composed of at least one text character (or a character element constituting the text character) using the keyboard 3 or the like. In this example, a character string T of “Mark.7” (including five text characters “M”, “a”, “r”, “k”, and “7” and a period “.” As the character element) is included. Have been entered.

<Selection of mark part>
Thereafter, on the text editing screen 5A, for example, using the function key group 4, a plurality of mark portions M11, M12, M13, M14, M15, M16... Prepared in advance and stored in the mark storage portion 214a. Are displayed as a list by scrolling, for example.

  In this example, the mark portion includes a mark portion M11 having a “heart-shaped” outer frame F11, a mark portion M12 having a “star-shaped” outer frame F12, and a “diamond-shaped” outer frame F13. The mark portion M13 provided, the mark portion M14 provided with the “elliptical” outer frame F14, the mark portion M15 provided with the “sun-shaped” outer frame F15, and the “saddle-shaped” outer frame F16. The mark part M16 and the like are stored in the mark storage part 214a of the EEPROM 214. These mark portions M11 to M16 and the like are displayed on the text editing screen 5A (or another screen or another window or the like) so that they can be listed.

  The operator intends to apply one to each text character of the character string T (including the period in the above example) among the mark parts M11 to M16, etc. Selection operation is performed.

  In this example, as shown in FIG. 6C, the text editing screen 5A is provided with the “heart-shaped” outer frame F11 by an appropriate operation of the keyboard 3 or the function key group 4 by the operator. The mark part M11 is selected. At this time, a confirmation message “Do you want to mark this?” Is also displayed.

  When the operator performs an appropriate confirmation operation using the keyboard 3 or the function key group 4 in response to the confirmation message, the CPU 212 causes the outside of the mark portion M11 to correspond to the above input result / selection result. The size of the frame F11 is adjusted according to the text characters “M”, “a”, “r”, “k”, “7” and “.” According to the size table. That is, a mode in which each text character and character element (hereinafter appropriately referred to as “text character etc.”. Character elements are periods in this example) are arranged in the outer frame F11 without protruding from the outer frame F11. In other words, the print label L in a form in which each text character or the like is surrounded by the outer frame F11 of the mark portion M11 is generated. In this example, the uppercase letter “M” in the character string T is surrounded by the outer frame F11 of the large heart-shaped mark portion M11, the lowercase letter “a” is the letter T2, and the lowercase letter “r”. Character T3 and lowercase letter “k” T4 are surrounded by an outer frame F11 of a medium-sized heart-shaped mark portion M11, and a period T5 of “.” Is surrounded by an outer frame of a small-sized heart-shaped mark portion M11. The print label L is generated in a form surrounded by F11 and surrounded by the outer frame F11 of the large-sized heart-shaped mark portion M11 with the number “7” (see FIG. 6D).

  As another example, for example, when the operator inputs the character string T of “stopper” on the text editing screen 5A and selects the mark portion M12 having the “star” outer frame F12, FIG. As shown in (e), the “su” character T1 and the “G” character T2 in the character string T are surrounded by the outer frame F12 of the large star-shaped mark portion M12, respectively. ”(However, the letter T3 is smaller than usual as a prompt sound as shown) is surrounded by the outer frame F12 of the medium-sized star-shaped mark portion M12, and the character“ ha ”of“ pa ”. T4 is surrounded by an outer frame F12 of a large star-shaped mark portion M12, and a semi-turbid point T4 ′ of “°” as a character element is surrounded by an outer frame F12 of a small-sized star-shaped mark portion M12. -"(Long sound character) T5 is a large star-shaped mark M12 Aspect surrounded by the frame F12, the print label L is produced.

  As yet another example, for example, the operator inputs a character string T consisting of “2014-35” (however, as shown, the hyphen is a shorter half-width character than usual) on the text editing screen 5A. When the mark portion 13 having the diamond-shaped outer frame F13 is selected, as shown in FIG. 6 (f), the character T1 of “2”, the character T2 of “0” in the character string T, A character T3 of “1” and a character T4 of “4” are each surrounded by an outer frame F13 of a large diamond-shaped mark portion M13, and a hyphen T5 of “−” which is a character element is a small diamond-shaped mark. The print label L is surrounded by the outer frame F13 of the part M13, and the character T6 of “3” and the character T7 of the number “5” are surrounded by the outer frame F13 of the large-diamond mark part M13. Is generated.

<Adjusting the size of the outer frame of the mark>
Here, an example of a size adjustment method by which the CPU 212 corresponds the size of the outer frame of each mark portion to each text character will be described with reference to FIG. Here, a case will be described as an example where the above-described mark portion M11 having the heart-shaped outer frame F11 is applied to the letter T1 of “M”.

  First, the dot image of the mark portion M11 shown in FIG. 7A (an image based on a dot pattern; the same applies hereinafter) and the dot image of the character T1 are added together as shown in FIG. 7B, and FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, a dot image in which the mark portion M11 and the character T1 are overlapped is formed. In this case, however, a filled dot pattern is applied to the inside of the outer frame F11 of the mark portion M11 as shown in the figure.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7D, the dot image corresponding to the mark portion M11 is subtracted from the dot image obtained by superimposing the mark portion M11 and the character T1.

As a result of the subtraction, as shown in FIG. 7E, if any dot D of the dot image remains, the character T1 protrudes from the outer frame F11 of the mark portion M11. In that case, referring to the size table, the size of the outer frame F11 is increased by one step, and the processes shown in FIGS. 7A to 7D are repeated. If the dot image does not remain as a result of subtracting the dot image in the same manner as described above, the mark portion M11 is adjusted to the minimum size at which the character T1 does not protrude. Thereby, the said size is determined to the size of the outer frame F11 of the mark part M11 applied with respect to the character T1. The above steps are performed in order from the mark portion of the small outer frame for each text character of the character string T (in the example shown in FIG. 5 above, in the order of small size → medium size → large size), and for each character. The size at the time when no dot D remains is the size of the outer frame applied to each character.

<Control procedure>
FIG. 8 shows a flow representing a processing procedure executed by the CPU 212 in order to realize the method described above.

  In FIG. 8, for example, when the operator operates the power switch 4B of the function key group 4, this flow is started.

  First, in step S10, the CPU 212 outputs a control signal to the liquid crystal display 5 to display the above-described text editing screen 5A (see FIG. 6A). When step S10 ends, the process proceeds to step S20.

  In step S20, the CPU 212 accepts the input operation for the character string T performed by the operator via the keyboard 3 (see FIG. 6B). When step S20 ends, the process proceeds to step S30.

  In step S30, the CPU 212 selects an appropriate one of the mark portions M11 to M16 stored in the mark storage unit 214a with respect to the character string T received in step S20. It is determined whether the key group 4 or the keyboard 3 is used. When the selection operation is not performed, the determination in step S30 is not satisfied (S30: NO), and the loop waits until the determination in step S30 is satisfied. When the selection operation is performed, the determination at Step S30 is satisfied (S30: YES), and the routine goes to Step S40.

  In step S40, the CPU 212 sets the mark portion selected in step S30 (“heart-shaped” mark portion M11 in the above example, the same applies hereinafter) as a mark to be used. The CPU 212 that executes step S40 functions as setting means described in each claim. In the selection operation in step S30, a plurality of mark portions may be selected instead of any one. In this case, in step S40, the selected mark portions are set as marks to be used. . When step S40 ends, the process proceeds to step S50.

  In step S50, the CPU 212 refers to the size table (see FIG. 5) stored in the mark storage unit 214a for the size of the outer frame F11 of the mark unit M11 set in step S40, while referring to FIG. By the method described in a) to (e), adjustment is made for each text character or the like of the character string T received in step S20. The CPU 212 that executes step S50 functions as a size adjusting unit described in each claim. When step S50 ends, the process proceeds to step S60.

  In step S60, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the print key 4C has been pressed. If the print key 4C has not been pressed, the determination in step S60 is not satisfied (S60: NO), and the loop waits until the determination in step S60 is satisfied. If the print key 4C has been pressed, the determination at Step S60 is satisfied (S60: YES), and the routine goes to Step S70.

  In step S70, the CPU 212 (not to protrude) each text character or the like of the character string T input and operated in step S20 in the outer frame F11 of the mark portion M11 set in step S40. Print data of the arranged mode is generated. Note that the CPU 212 executing this step S70 functions as the print data generating means described in each claim. When step S70 ends, the process proceeds to step S80.

  In step S80, the CPU 212 outputs a control signal to the motor drive circuit 216, and starts driving the tape feed roller drive shaft 108 and the ribbon take-up roller drive shaft 107 by the drive motor 211. Thereby, conveyance of the cover film 103, the base tape 101, and the printed label tape 109 (hereinafter simply referred to as the cover film 103 or the like as appropriate) is started. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S90.

  In step S90, based on the print data generated in step S70, the CPU 212 determines whether the cover film 103 and the like conveyed as described above have been conveyed to the start position of a predetermined print area (at the front end of the print area). It is determined whether or not the cover film 103 or the like has been conveyed until the thermal head 23 reaches the position in the conveying direction where the thermal head 23 is directly facing. This determination may be made by a known appropriate method such as counting the number of pulses of the drive motor 211 formed of a stepping motor, for example. If the cover film 103 or the like is not conveyed to the start position of the printing area, the determination in step S90 is not satisfied (S90: NO), and the loop waits until the determination in step S90 is satisfied. If cover film 103 etc. are conveyed to the starting position of a printing field, the judgment of Step S90 will be satisfied (S90: YES), and it will move to Step S100.

  In step S100, the CPU 212 performs a printing process for energizing the heating elements of the thermal head 23 based on the printing data generated in step S70. As a result, the ink on the ink ribbon 105 is transferred to the cover film 103 by the energized heating element, and a print corresponding to the print data is formed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S110.

  In step S110, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the transported cover film 103 or the like has been transported to the end position of the print area (the cover film 103 or the like is transported until the thermal head 23 is in a transport direction position facing the rear end of the print area. Whether or not). This determination may be performed by the same known method as described above. If the cover film 103 or the like has not been conveyed to the end position of the printing area, the determination in step S100 is not satisfied (S110: NO), and the same procedure is repeated by returning to step S100. If the cover film 103 or the like has been conveyed to the end position of the printing area, the determination in step S110 is satisfied (S110: YES), and the process proceeds to step S120.

  In step S120, the CPU 212 conveys the transported cover film 103 or the like based on the print data generated in step S70 to a predetermined cutting position set on the label rear end side from the print area based on the print data. It is determined whether or not the label tape 109 with print has been conveyed until the movable blade 41 is in a conveyance direction position facing the cutting position. This determination may be performed by a known method similar to that described above. If the cover film 103 or the like is not conveyed to the cutting position, the determination in step S120 is not satisfied (S120: NO), and the loop waits until the determination in step S120 is satisfied. If cover film 103 grade | etc., Is conveyed to a cutting position, determination of step S120 will be satisfy | filled (S120: YES), and it will move to step S130.

  In step S <b> 130, the CPU 212 outputs a control signal to the motor drive circuit 216, and stops the driving of the tape feed roller drive shaft 108 and the ribbon take-up roller drive shaft 107 by the drive motor 211. Thereby, conveyance of the cover film 103, the base tape 101, and the printed label tape 109 is stopped. In addition, CPU212 which performs said step S80-step S130 functions as a cooperation control means as described in each claim. When step S130 ends, the process proceeds to step S140.

  In step S <b> 140, the CPU 212 outputs a control signal to the liquid crystal display 5. As a result, an appropriate display that prompts the operator to operate the cutter lever 7 to operate the cutting mechanism 42 to cut the printed label tape 109 is performed on the liquid crystal display 5. When the operator operates the cutter lever 7, the printed label tape 109 is cut. As a result, a print label L is generated in which a print in a form in which each text character or character element of the character string T input by operation in step S20 is arranged in the mark portion M11 set in step S40 is generated. (See FIG. 5D). Thereafter, this flow is terminated.

<Effect of embodiment>
As described above, in the present embodiment, the operator performs an input operation of a character string T including a plurality of text characters and character elements, and by selecting a mark portion to be applied to each text character, etc. The size of the outer frame F11 of each mark portion M11 surrounding each text character etc. T1 to T6 is adjusted corresponding to each text character etc. T1 to T6. Thereby, it is possible to create a print label L in a form in which the text characters T1 to T6 are arranged in the outer frame F11 of the mark portion M11 (see FIG. 6D).

  Therefore, a variety of expression modes can be realized in text characters as compared with the conventional method in which the mark portion is arranged beside the text characters. In particular, since the text characters T1 to T6 are surrounded by the outer frame F11 of the mark portion M11 whose size varies for each of the text characters T1 to T6, it is possible to realize print formation with high design. . As a result, various prints can be formed with rich expressiveness according to the use and preference of the operator, so that convenience can be improved.

  In this embodiment, in particular, for each mark portion, a plurality of stages (three stages in the above example) of outer frame sizes are prepared in advance. Then, the set size of the outer frame F11 of the mark portion M11 is adjusted to a size corresponding to the size of the dot images of the text characters T1 to T6 among the plurality of steps. In this way, by selecting the outer frame of the mark portion from a plurality of predetermined sizes and performing size adjustment, the size can be adjusted quickly and smoothly with a simple process.

  In the present embodiment, the outer frame F11 of the set mark portion M11 can be arranged in the outer frame F11 without protruding the text characters T1 to T6, etc., out of the sizes of the outer frames of the plurality of stages. The size is adjusted to the minimum level (see FIG. 7). As a result, large text characters (for example, capital letters of the alphabet or katakana characters; characters T1, T6 in FIG. 6D, characters T1, T2, T4, T5 in FIG. 6E, characters T1, T in FIG. 6F). T2, T3, T4, T6, and T7) are surrounded by a relatively large outer frame (the aforementioned large size) that just fits the character. In addition, small text characters (for example, alphabetic lowercase letters or kana prompts; see characters T2, T3, T4 in FIG. 6 (d), character T3 in FIG. 6 (e)), and character elements (for example, dakuten, semi-dakuten, punctuation) , Punctuation marks, periods, etc. Comparison such that the character or character element just enters the period T5 in FIG. 6 (d), the semi-turbid point T4 ′ in FIG. 6 (e), and the hyphen T5 in FIG. Surrounded by a small outer frame (medium size and small size described above). As a result, a visually harmonious and highly aesthetic design can be realized.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and technical idea of the present invention.

  For example, in the print label producing apparatus 1, the size adjustment mode for adjusting the size of the outer frame according to each text character as described above, and the outer frame of the same size for each text character without performing size adjustment. May be provided so as to be selectable (by operating the appropriate function key group 4 or the keyboard 3). In this case, in the size adjustment mode, print data is generated in a form in which the corresponding text characters are arranged in each outer frame adjusted in size as described above, while in the size non-adjustment mode, each text is generated. Print data is generated in such a manner that corresponding text characters and the like are arranged in each outer frame set to the same size common to characters. In this case, depending on the user's application and preference, a method of performing print formation by adjusting the size of the outer frame and a method of performing print formation with a uniform outer frame without performing such size adjustment are selectively used. Therefore, convenience can be further improved.

  In the above, the case where the present invention is applied to a print label creating apparatus that creates a print label by performing desired printing on a print-receiving tape as a print medium has been described as an example. Not limited. That is, as a printing medium, for example, a printer for forming an image or printing characters on a normal printing paper such as A4, A3, B4, or B5 size, or a portable printer driven by a battery power source. The invention may be applied. In this case, the same effect is obtained.

  In addition, in the above, the arrow shown in each figure of FIG. 4 etc. shows an example of the flow of a signal, and does not limit the flow direction of a signal.

  Further, the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 does not limit the present invention to the procedure shown in the above-described flow, and the procedure may be added / deleted or the order may be changed without departing from the spirit and technical idea of the invention. Good.

  In addition to those already described above, the methods according to the above embodiments may be used in appropriate combination.

  In addition, although not illustrated one by one, the present invention is implemented with various modifications within a range not departing from the gist thereof.

1 Print label production device (printing device)
3 Keyboard (operating means)
23 Thermal head (printing means)
103 Cover film (medium to be printed)
108 Tape feed roller drive shaft (conveyance means)
212 CPU
214 EEPROM
214a Mark storage unit (storage means)
F11-16 Outer frame L Print label M11-16 Mark part T Character string

Claims (3)

A conveying means for conveying the print medium;
Printing means for forming a print on the print medium transported by the transport means ;
And operation means for a plurality of text characters to operation input to be printed formed over the previous SL-be-printed medium,
A plurality of types of mark portions that are prepared in advance to be individually applied to the text characters formed on the medium to be printed or predetermined character elements constituting the text characters, and each has a predetermined outer frame. Memorized storage means;
Setting means for setting one or more types of mark portions from among the plurality of types of mark portions stored in the storage means;
A printing device comprising:
About the mark part, the size of the outer frame of a plurality of stages is prepared in advance,
The printing apparatus further includes:
Size that adjusts the outer frame of the mark portion set by the setting unit to a size that can be placed in the outer frame without protruding each text character or each character element input by the operation unit Adjusting means , wherein the outer frame is changed from the dot image of the mark portion and the dot image of each text character or each character element of the plurality of stages of the size to the mark portion. A size adjusting means for adjusting the size to the minimum level, in which no dot remains when the dot image is subtracted ;
Print data generation means for generating print data in a mode in which corresponding text characters or character elements are arranged in each outer frame whose size is adjusted by the size adjustment means,
Cooperative control means for controlling the conveying means and the printing means in cooperation to perform printing corresponding to the print data on the print medium;
A printing apparatus comprising: The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
The cooperation control means includes
A printing apparatus, wherein the conveyance unit and the printing unit are controlled in cooperation so that a print label is created by the printing medium on which printing corresponding to the printing data is formed. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 ,
A size adjustment mode for performing size adjustment by the size adjustment unit and a size non-adjustment mode in which size adjustment by the size adjustment unit is not performed can be selected.
The print data generating means includes
In the size adjustment mode, the print data is generated in a form in which the corresponding text characters are arranged in each outer frame whose size is adjusted by the size adjustment unit,
In the size non-adjustment mode, the printing data is generated in such a manner that corresponding text characters are arranged in each outer frame set to the same size common to the text characters.

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