JP6759765B2 - Printing equipment, printing methods, and programs - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method for printing on a printing medium, and a program.

Conventionally, a tape piece (printing piece) is obtained by printing a desired drawing pattern consisting of arbitrary characters, pictures, etc. on a long tape (printing medium) and then cutting the long tape. A printing device such as a label printer is used that can easily produce the above (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-197228

By the way, when a plurality of print pieces printed with one character each are attached to an object so as to form an arch shape as a whole, a plurality of tape pieces printed one character at a time are created and created. It is conceivable that a part of the tape is bonded between the plurality of tape pieces.

However, when a plurality of print pieces are bonded to each other so as to form a desired shape such as an arch shape, it is not possible to align the intervals and angles between the plurality of print pieces so as to have a desired shape by the user's visual sense. Have difficulty.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus, a printing method, and a program capable of facilitating the work of laminating a plurality of printed pieces so as to form a desired shape.

In one embodiment, the printing apparatus attaches a printing unit that prints on a printing medium and a plurality of printing pieces created by the printing medium by laminating a part of each printing piece to each other. When the conditions are set, the bonding conditions include a control unit that acquires the shape and position of the bonding area in which the bonding is performed on each print piece based on the bonding conditions. The information includes information on at least one of an arch radius, which is the radius of the arch shape when a plurality of print pieces are bonded together in an arch shape, and an arch angle, which is an angle formed between both ends of the arch shape. The control unit acquires the shape and position of the bonding area based on the information of at least one of the arch radius and the arch angle, and the printing unit obtains the bonding area acquired by the control unit. Printing is performed on the area of each print piece on the print medium.

In another aspect, in the printing method, a bonding condition is set in which each of a plurality of print pieces created by the printing medium on which printing is performed is bonded by superimposing a part of each of the print pieces on each other. In this case, the step of acquiring the shape and position of the bonding area in which the bonding is performed in each of the printing pieces based on the bonding conditions, and the bonding conditions are such that the plurality of printed pieces have an arch shape. It includes information on at least one of the arch radius, which is the radius of the arch shape when they are bonded together, and the arch angle, which is the angle formed between both ends of the arch shape, and is the arch radius and the arch angle. A step of acquiring the shape and position of the bonded area based on at least one of the information of the above, and a step of printing the acquired bonded area on the area to be each print piece in the printing medium. ..

In another aspect, the program is a program executed by a computer that controls a printing device, wherein the printing device includes a printing unit that prints on a printing medium, and the printing device is provided with a printing unit that prints on the printing medium. When a bonding condition is set in which a part of each of the printing pieces is overlapped with each other and bonded to each of a plurality of printing pieces created by the print medium, the bonding on the printing pieces is based on the bonding condition. The shape and position of the bonding area to be bonded are acquired, and the bonding conditions are the arch radius and the arch, which is the radius of the arch shape when the plurality of print pieces are bonded so as to form an arch shape. The shape and position of the bonding region are acquired by including information on at least one of the arch angles, which is the angle formed between both ends of the shape, and based on the information on the arch radius and at least one of the arch angles. The printing unit causes the acquired bonded area to be printed on the area to be each print piece on the printing medium.

According to the present invention, it is possible to facilitate the work of laminating a plurality of printed pieces so as to form a desired shape.

It is a perspective view which shows the printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the tape cassette which is detachably housed in the printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the cassette storage part of the printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a control block diagram of the printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the printing method which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the bonding state of a plurality of print pieces in an embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the calculation process in embodiment. It is a figure which shows the plurality of print pieces in the state which are connected by the release paper in embodiment. It is a partially enlarged view of FIG. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the bonding state of a plurality of print pieces in the modification of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the calculation process in the modified example of embodiment. It is a figure which shows the plurality of print pieces in the state which were connected by the release paper in the modification of embodiment. It is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

Hereinafter, the printing apparatus, printing method, and program according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a tape cassette 30 detachably stored in the printing apparatus 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a cassette storage unit 19 of the printing apparatus 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, the printing device 1 includes a device housing 2, an input unit 3, a display unit 4, an opening / closing lid 18, and a cassette storage unit 19.

The printing apparatus 1 prints a desired drawing pattern D (one character in FIG. 9) composed of arbitrary characters, pictures, etc. on a long print medium M, and print pieces P (P1 to P10:). (See FIGS. 6 and 8), for example, a label printer. In the print medium M shown in FIG. 2, a base material Ma having an adhesive surface and a releaseable release paper Mb covering the adhesive surface are overlapped. The print medium M is housed in the tape cassette 30 in a roll shape with the adhesive surface on the back surface of the base material Ma covered with the release paper Mb. As the printing device, a printing device that does not require an operation in the input unit 3 or a display in the display unit 4, for example, print data of a desired drawing pattern to be printed is received from a computer arranged separately. It may be a printing device. The computer arranged separately from the printing device 1 in this way is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as a control unit for calculating (acquiring) the shape and position of the bonding area A, which will be shown later in FIG. To be equipped.

An input unit 3, a display unit 4, and an opening / closing lid 18 are arranged on the upper surface of the device housing 2. A discharge port 2a for the print medium M is formed on the right side surface of the apparatus housing 2. Although not shown, the device housing 2 is provided with a power cord connection terminal, an external device connection terminal, a storage medium insertion port, and the like.

The input unit 3 is an input key for inputting a desired drawing pattern composed of characters, pictures, etc., a print key for instructing the start of printing, a cursor key for moving a cursor on the display screen of the display unit 4, setting a print mode, and the like. It includes any or all of various control keys that perform various setting processes. The above input key includes a character input key for inputting character data.

The display unit 4 is, for example, a liquid crystal display panel, which includes an image including characters corresponding to input from the input unit 3, selection menus for various settings, a display for notifying the user when an error occurs, and various processes. Display messages related to.

The opening / closing lid 18 is arranged above the cassette storage unit 19 so that the cassette storage unit 19 can be opened and closed. The opening / closing lid 18 is opened by pressing the button 18a. Further, the opening / closing lid 18 is formed with a window 18b so that the presence / absence of the tape cassette 30 shown in FIG. 2 in the cassette storage portion 19 can be visually recognized even when the opening / closing lid 18 is closed. The tape cassette 30 that houses the print medium M is detachably stored in the cassette storage unit 19.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tape cassette 30 has a tape core 32 located at the center of the roll of the printing medium M, an ink ribbon supply core 34 located at the center of the roll of the ink ribbon 33, and an ink ribbon in the cassette case 31. Accommodates the take-up core 35.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cassette case 30 has a print head insertion portion 36 having a concave shape that opens on one side surface of the cassette case 31. The ink ribbon 33 is fed out from the ink ribbon supply core 34 and guided by a guide means (not shown) arranged in the cassette case 30 so as to pass through a position near the side surface of the cassette case 30 in the print head insertion portion 36. It is wound around the ink ribbon winding core 35.

The printing medium M is a paper tape, a resin tape, a magnet tape, or the like on which a release paper Mb is attached to an adhesive surface provided on the back surface of the base material Ma opposite to the printing surface, and is the same as the ink ribbon 33. It has a width. The printable medium M is drawn out from the tape core 32 and guided by a guide means so that the print surface faces the outer surface of the ink ribbon 33 and passes through the print head inserted portion 36, and is provided in the cassette case 30. Does not protrude from the tape outlet.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the cassette accommodating portion 19 of the apparatus housing 2 is provided with a plurality of cassette receiving portions 20 for supporting the tape cassette 30 at a predetermined position. Further, the cassette storage portion 19 engages with the print head 10, the platen roller 21, the tape core engaging shaft 22 that engages with the tape core 32 of the tape cassette 30, and the ink ribbon winding core 35 of the tape cassette 30. An ink ribbon winding drive shaft 23 is provided.

The cassette receiving portion 20 is provided so as to correspond to the engaging portions 37 formed at the plurality of corner portions of the cassette case 31. The print medium M and the portion of the ink ribbon 33 exposed in the print head insertion portion 36 are inserted between the print head 10 and the platen roller 21. Further, in the tape cassette 30, the tape core 32 and the ink ribbon winding core 35 are engaged with the tape core engaging shaft 22 and the ink ribbon winding drive shaft 23, respectively, and each engaging portion 37 receives the cassette. It is set at a predetermined position in the tape cassette storage portion 19 in a state of being engaged with the portion 20.

The print head 10 shown in FIG. 3 is arranged at a position where it enters the print head insertion portion 36 of the tape cassette 30, and is pressed against the ink ribbon 33 at the start of printing. Further, the platen roller 21 is arranged so as to face the printing surface of the printing head 10, and the ink ribbon 33 and the printing medium M sandwiched between the platen roller 21 and the printing head 10 are placed in the longitudinal direction of the printing medium M. The feed is intermittently driven at a constant pitch. The platen roller 21 is intermittently rotationally driven at a constant pitch by, for example, a transport motor 12, which is a stepping motor shown in FIG. 4, which will be described later. The ink ribbon winding drive shaft 23 is rotationally driven by the transport motor 12 in synchronization with the tape feed of the platen roller 21. Here, the print head 10 and the transfer motor 12 respectively pass through the head drive circuit 9 and the transfer motor drive circuit 11 shown in FIG. 4 based on the print data generated by the control unit 5 shown in FIG. Be controlled.

In the present embodiment, the ink ribbon 33 is a thermal transfer type ink ribbon, and the print head 10 has a predetermined number of dot-shaped heat generating elements along the vertical direction, that is, along the width direction of the ink ribbon 33 and the print medium M. These are thermal heads arranged in a row. The print head 10 is a heat generating element corresponding to the print data supplied to the print head 10 in the heat generating element train in accordance with the stop timing of the ink ribbon 33 and the print medium M intermittently fed by the head drive circuit 9. Is driven to transfer the ink of the ink ribbon 33 to the printing medium M. As a result, the print head 10 operates as a head that prints one line at a time on the print medium M by driving the head drive circuit 9 based on the print data generated by the control unit 5. The print head 10 is an example of a printing unit.

Further, in the cassette storage unit 19, a discharge port 2a for discharging the printed printable medium M sent out from the tape cassette 30 to the outside of the apparatus housing 2 as the printing progresses, and the created printing A full-cut mechanism 16 and a half-cut mechanism 17 for separating a piece from the print medium M are provided. The full-cut mechanism 16 and the half-cut mechanism 17 are arranged in the discharge port 2a, one of which is selected and driven by the cutter motor 15 shown in FIG. Here, the cutter motor 15 is controlled via the cutter motor drive circuit 14 based on the print data generated by the control unit 5.

The full-cut mechanism 16 performs a full-cut that cuts the entire print medium M shown in FIG. 2, that is, the base material Ma together with the release paper Mb. When the full-cut mechanism 16 is selected, the produced print piece is ejected as a print piece with a release paper. Further, the half-cut mechanism 17 performs a half-cut on the print medium M by cutting only the base material Ma while leaving the release paper Mb. When the half-cut mechanism 17 is selected, the print pieces P (P1 to P10) shown in FIG. 8 operate the full-cut mechanism 16 to cut the release paper Mb after all the print pieces P have been printed. By doing so, it is cut out as a plurality of print pieces P connected by the release paper Mb.

On the other hand, there are a plurality of types of tape cassettes 30 having different widths of the print medium M and the ink ribbon 33, and the tape cassette 30 having a tape width suitable for the size of the print piece P to be produced is provided. It is set in the cassette storage unit 19.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the print head 10 has a print width (arrangement length of heat generating elements) corresponding to the widest tape width among various tape widths, and is set in the cassette storage unit 19. According to the tape width of the tape cassette 30, each heat generating element in the effective range corresponding to the width of the printing medium M in the heat generating element row of the print head 10 is driven.

Further, in the present embodiment, the surface of the engaging portion 37 provided on the cassette case 31 that engages with the cassette receiving portion 20 has an uneven portion (not shown) for identification that differs depending on the type of the tape cassette 30. The cassette receiving portion 20 of the cassette accommodating portion 19 is provided with a tape width detecting switch 24 for detecting the shape of the uneven portion of the engaging portion 37. As a result, the type of the tape cassette 30, that is, the tape width of the print medium M can be automatically determined, and the effective range of the print head 10 can be set.

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 4, the printing device 1 includes an input unit 3, a display unit 4, a control unit 5, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 6, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 7, a display unit drive circuit 8, and a head drive circuit 9. , A print head 10, a transfer motor drive circuit 11, a transfer motor 12, a transfer roller 13, a cutter motor drive circuit 14, a cutter motor 15, a full cut mechanism 16, a half cut mechanism 17, and a tape width detection switch 24.

The control unit 5 is, for example, a microprocessor, and is read from a system program stored in advance in the ROM 6, a control program stored in the memory card, or an external device in response to a key operation signal from the input unit 3. The control program or the like is automatically started, and the operation of each part of the circuit is controlled by using the RAM 7 as a work memory.

The control unit 5 includes an input unit 3, a ROM 6, a RAM 7, a display unit drive circuit 8 for driving the display unit 4, a head drive circuit 9 for driving the print head 10, and a transfer roller 13. The transport motor drive circuit 11 that drives the transport motor 12 and the cutter motor drive circuit 14 that drives the cutter motor 15 for operating the cut mechanism 16 are connected.

The ROM 6 is a program for causing the print head 10 to print a desired drawing pattern on the printing medium M by the head drive circuit 9, original data such as characters, symbols, pictograms and size information included in the drawing design to be printed. Memorize print fonts, etc. The ROM 6 also functions as a storage medium in which a program readable by the control unit 5 is stored.

The RAM 7 is used as an input data memory for storing characters, symbols, pictograms, information for specifying their size, character spacing, etc., and print information such as the size of the printed matter to be created, which are included in a desired drawing pattern to be printed. Function. Further, the RAM 7 is generated based on the input print information, functions as a print data memory for storing print pattern data (print data) representing a desired drawing pattern, and is displayed on the display unit 4. It also functions as a display data memory or the like for storing display pattern data representing a desired drawing pattern. Further, the RAM 7 includes a register, a counter, and the like that temporarily store data necessary for printing processing and the like.

The head drive circuit 9 controls the print head 10 based on the print pattern data stored in the RAM 7. In response to this control, the print head 10 prints a desired drawing pattern on the printing medium M by thermal transfer. The print head 10 may print on the printing medium M by another printing method such as an inkjet method.

The transfer motor drive circuit 11 controls the transfer roller 13 by controlling the transfer motor 12 based on the print pattern data stored in the RAM 7, and during printing on the print medium M by the print head 10. The print medium M is conveyed at a desired speed. The cutter motor drive circuit 14 controls the operations of the full-cut mechanism 16 and the half-cut mechanism 17 shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the printing method according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a bonded state of a plurality of print pieces P (P1 to P10) in the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the calculation process in the present embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a plurality of print pieces P in a state of being connected by a release paper.
FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

Each process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 is performed by the control unit 5 shown in FIG. 4 described above.
When the user of the printing apparatus 1 desires to attach a plurality of printing pieces P to an object in an arch shape by overlapping and pasting a part of each printing piece P as shown in FIG. In the input unit 3 shown in 1, the print mode is set to a mode in which a plurality of print pieces P are attached in an arch shape. In the present embodiment, an example in which one character is printed on each of the plurality of print pieces P will be described, but a plurality of characters may be printed on each print piece P, or a picture or the like. A drawing pattern other than the characters of may be printed.

The user inputs a character string, for example, "ABCDEF Co., Ltd." shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 in the input unit 3. The control unit 5 acquires the information of the input character string from the input unit 3 (step S1).

Further, as a condition for pasting the plurality of printed pieces P to be created in the input unit 3, for example, the arch radius R, which is the radius of the arch shape, and the angle formed between both ends of the arch shape, as shown in FIG. Set a certain arch angle θ. Regarding the arch radius R and the arch angle θ, the control unit 5 also acquires the set information from the input unit 3 (step S2). In the example of FIG. 6, the arch angle θ is 180 degrees, but this angle can be any angle. The character size, character font, character spacing, and the like may be further set. Further, when one of the arch radius R and the arch angle θ is set to a predetermined value, only the other needs to be set. Further, when the arch shape (arch radius R and arch angle θ) is predetermined in a plurality of predetermined types, the condition may be set by the user selecting one of the types. Further, when a condition is set in which a plurality of print pieces P do not overlap each other, for example, when only one character is input as a character string, the processing described later is omitted and only the drawing design D shown in FIG. 9 is omitted. Is printed, or the user is notified.

Further, in the input unit 3, the user can use the lower half of each print piece P at an arbitrary position between the tape widths T, for example, the center position of the tape width, as in the bonding area A shown in FIG. It is set whether each print piece P is bonded, or whether each print piece P is bonded over the entire tape width T as in the bonding area A shown in FIG. 13 (modification example) described later. When the print pieces P are bonded in the lower half from the center position of the tape width T as in the bonding area A shown in FIG. 9, when the print pieces P are bonded as shown in FIG. In addition, a gap is formed in the upper half between the print pieces P.

When the conditions for bonding the plurality of print pieces P are set as described above, the control unit 5 calculates (acquires) the shape and position of the bonding area A shown in FIG. 9 based on the setting. To do. The positions of the bonding area A are the length Q of the long side of the guide line G printed in an L shape on the periphery of the bonding area A and the guide line G for the purpose of marking when bonding is performed. It can be specified by calculating the angle φ formed by the long side and the boundary portion (half-cut portion H) of the print piece P. In addition, in order to represent the bonded area A, instead of printing the guide line G, printing may be performed to fill the entire bonded area A. Further, when the printing apparatus 1 includes only the full-cut mechanism 16 among the above-mentioned full-cut mechanism 16 and the half-cut mechanism 17, the printing piece P may be fully cut at the boundary portion. Further, when the printing apparatus 1 is not provided with either the full-cut mechanism 16 or the half-cut mechanism 17, the print head 10 prints a line on the boundary portion of the print piece P as a mark when the user himself / herself cuts with scissors or the like. You may try to do it.

Here, in the present embodiment, since the print piece P is created for each character of the input character string, the control unit 5 sets the number N of the print pieces P, which is the number of characters in the character string, and the set arch. A guide line having the same value as the angle formed by two adjacent print pieces P based on the following equations (1) and (2) using the angle θ and the tape width T of the printing medium M. The angle φ of G and the long side length Q are calculated (step S3). The tape width T can be obtained from, for example, the tape width detection switch 24 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 described above.
φ = θ / (N-1) ・ ・ ・ Equation (1)
Q = T / 2 ・ ・ ・ Equation (2)

The control unit 5 determines whether or not the angle φ of the guide line G is equal to or greater than a predetermined angle, for example, whether or not the angle φ of the guide line G is 45 degrees or more (step S4). When the angle φ is 45 degrees or more (step S4: YES), it becomes difficult to attach the plurality of print pieces P to the arch shape, so that the display on the display unit 4 shown in FIG. , Notify the user (step S5). After notifying this user, the process is repeated again from the above-mentioned character string input process (step S1).

When the angle φ is less than 45 degrees (step S4: NO), the control unit 5 is shown in FIG. 8 in a state where it is half-cut and connected by a release paper based on the following equations (3) and (4). The length L of the label by the plurality of print pieces P and the length X of each print piece P are calculated. The length L and the length X are lengths in the longitudinal direction orthogonal to the tape width T.
L = N ・ 2 (R-0.5T) ・ sin (φ / 2) ・ ・ ・ Equation (3)
X = L / N ・ ・ ・ Equation (4)

The radius of the arc that passes through both ends of the print piece P on the center line C representing the center of the tape width shown in FIG. 9 and is drawn from the same center as the center of the arch shape is the radius R as shown in FIG. In the case of ′, as shown in FIG. 6, the radius R ′ is set as shown in FIG. 7 by using an isosceles triangle having the center of the arch shape as the apex and the upper side (upper left side in FIG. 7) as the base. It can be approximated by R-0.5T. Therefore, the equation (3) can be obtained by setting the length X (the length of the bottom surface of the isosceles triangle) of the print piece P to "2 (R-0.5T) · sin (φ / 2)". From the number N of the print pieces P and the length X of the print pieces P, the label length L shown in FIG. 8 can be obtained as in the above formula (4).

Next, the control unit 5 pastes the characters (drawing design D shown in FIG. 9) in the lower right corner of the print data based on the angle φ and the long side length Q of the guide line G calculated in step S3 described above. A guide line G representing the alignment area A is added (step S7). The print data to which the guide line G is added may be displayed on the display unit 4 by the control unit 5. Further, the print density and thickness of the guide line G are arbitrary, such as reducing the density or reducing the thickness in order to make the guide line G inconspicuous when the print pieces P are stuck together. It may be possible to set to. The additional process of the guide line G (step S7) is repeated except for the last print piece P10 (step S8). Since no other print piece is bonded on the last print piece P10, the guide line G is not added to the last print piece P10.

Next, the control unit 5 determines whether or not there is a print piece in the print pieces P1 to P9 in which the bonding area A overlaps with at least a part of the drawing design D shown in FIG. 9 (step S9). If it is determined that the print pieces P1 to P9 overlap each other (step S9: YES), the user is notified by the display on the display unit 4 shown in FIG. 1 or by voice (step S10). ). In the determination of whether or not a part of the drawing design D and the bonding area A overlap, for example, the area where the drawing design D is printed is regarded as a rectangular area of a certain size, and this area and the bonding area A are determined. May be determined whether or not they overlap, or whether or not the area where printing is actually scheduled to be performed (the black area in the drawing pattern D in FIG. 9) and the bonding area A overlap. You may. If the user sets the change of the character size (or font) in the input unit 3 after notifying the user (step S11: YES), the guide line G is added again (step S7). On the other hand, when the user sets not to change the character size or when a predetermined time elapses without changing the character size (step S11: NO), the process is performed again from the above-mentioned character string input process (step S1). repeat. Alternatively, the printing process (step S12) described later may be performed ignoring the state in which a part of the drawing design D and the bonding area A overlap. Regarding the change of the character size, the control unit 5 displays the character size on the display unit 4 so that the pasting area A and the drawing design D do not overlap, and prompts the user to change to the character size. Good. Alternatively, the position of the character on the print piece P may be prompted to be shifted to the left side in FIG. 9, for example. Further, the print data whose character size has been changed may be displayed on the display unit 4 by the control unit 5 together with the bonding area A. Alternatively, the control unit 5 displays at least one value of the arch radius R and the arch angle θ so that the bonding area A and the drawing design D do not overlap on the display unit 4, and sets the arch radius R and the arch angle θ. You may prompt the user to make changes. Further, the control unit 5 may forcibly change the character size. Further, the control unit 5 may shift the position of the character on the print piece P to the left side in FIG. 9, for example.

When the control unit 5 determines that there is no print piece P1 to P9 in which the bonded area A and a part of the drawing design D overlap (step S9: NO), it is shown in FIG. 3 based on the above print data. The print head 10 is controlled via the head drive circuit 9 to print the drawing design D and the guide line G (step S12).
Next, the control unit 5 controls the half-cut mechanism 17 via the cutter motor drive circuit 14 and the cutter motor 15 shown in FIG. 3 in order to half-cut the boundary portion of the print piece P as shown in FIG. (Step S13). This process is repeated except for the last print piece P10 (step S14), and the control unit 5 controls the full cut mechanism 16 for the rear end (right end in FIG. 9) of the last print piece P10 to peel off. The print medium M is fully cut together with the paper (step S15).

By the above processing, as shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of print pieces P (P1 to P10) in which the half-cut portion H is formed at the boundary portion and connected by the release paper can be produced. The user peels off each print piece P from the release paper, and attaches a plurality of print pieces P to the object in an arch shape according to the guide line G as shown in FIG.

In the above description, as shown in FIG. 6, an example in which each print piece P is pasted together in the lower half from the center position of the tape width has been described, but the position where each print piece P is pasted is It is not limited to the center position of the tape width. It may be attached at a position shifted above or below the center position of the tape width. In that case, the user inputs the position to be pasted in the input unit 3. Then, the control unit 5 calculates the long side length Q, the label length L, and the length X of each print piece P according to the input bonding position. Further, as in the modified example shown in FIGS. 10 to 13, the upper ends of the two adjacent print pieces P may be pasted together so that the positions of the upper ends of the opposite sides match. When this is done, Q = T / 2 in equation (2) is replaced with Q = T as in equation (6) below, so equation (3) is replaced as in equation (7). This equation (7) is the same as the above equation (3) by calculating X = 2R / sin (φ / 2) using the isosceles triangle shown in FIG. 11 in the same manner as shown in FIG. Can be calculated. The formulas (5) and (8) are the same as the above formulas (1) and (4).
φ = θ / (N-1) ・ ・ ・ Equation (5)
Q = T ・ ・ ・ Equation (6)
L = N ・ 2R ・ sin (φ / 2) ・ ・ ・ Equation (7)
X = L / N ・ ・ ・ Equation (8)

In this modification, the bonding area A shown in FIG. 13 has a larger area than the bonding area A shown in FIG. 9, so that the length X of the print piece P is as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. And the length L of the label is longer than the length shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

In the present embodiment described above, the printing apparatus 1 has a print head 10 which is an example of a printing unit that prints on the print medium M, and each of a plurality of print pieces P created by the print medium M. When a bonding condition is set in which parts of the print pieces are overlapped and bonded to each other, the shape and position of the bonding area A to be bonded in each print piece P is calculated (acquired) based on this bonding setting. The print head 10 prints the calculated bonding area A on the area to be each print piece P on the printing medium M. For this purpose, the print head 10 prints, for example, the guide line G.

As a result, the user of the printing apparatus 1 can perform bonding so that the other printing pieces P are overlapped on the printed bonding area A, so that the printing pieces P can be easily bonded to a desired shape. be able to. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to facilitate the work of laminating a plurality of print pieces P so as to form a desired shape.

Further, in the present embodiment, the above-mentioned bonding condition includes information on at least one of the arch radius R and the arch angle θ when a plurality of printed pieces P are bonded so as to form an arch shape, and is controlled. The part 5 calculates the shape and position of the bonding region A based on the information of at least one of the arch radius θ and the arch angle R. Further, the print medium M is a long tape extending in one direction, and the control unit 5 further acquires the shape and position of the bonding region A based on the tape width of the tape. As a result, the plurality of print pieces P can be pasted together, and the plurality of print pieces P can be pasted on the object in an arch shape.

Further, in the present embodiment, the printing medium M has a base material Ma having an adhesive surface and a releaseable release paper Mb covering the adhesive surface, and the printing apparatus 1 has the base material Ma and the release paper. A half-cut mechanism 17 that cuts only the base material Ma among Mb is further provided, and the half-cut mechanism 17 performs half-cut of a boundary portion between a plurality of print pieces P. Therefore, since a plurality of print pieces P connected by the release paper Mb can be integrally produced, the work of laminating the plurality of print pieces P so as to form a desired shape can be further facilitated.

Further, in the present embodiment, the drawing design D is a character, and the print head 10 prints one character on each of the plurality of print pieces P. Therefore, by laminating a plurality of print pieces P, an arbitrary character string can be arranged in a desired shape such as an arch shape.

Further, in the present embodiment, the print head 10 further prints a drawing pattern D set by the user on each of the plurality of print pieces P, and the control unit 5 prints the drawing design D set by the user on each of the plurality of print pieces P. It is determined whether the calculated bonding area A overlaps at least a part of the drawing design D (step S7), and if it is determined that the bonded area A overlaps, the user is notified (step S10). Therefore, it is possible to prevent a part of the drawing pattern D from being invisible due to the printed piece P to which the drawing design D is bonded.

Further, in the present embodiment, the control unit 5 determines whether or not the angle θ formed by two adjacent print pieces P among the plurality of print pieces P is equal to or greater than a predetermined angle (step S4), and determines. If it is determined that the angle is equal to or greater than the angle, the user is notified (step S5). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the plurality of print pieces P from being unable to be attached to a desired shape such as an arch shape.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the invention of the present application includes the invention described in the claims and the equivalent range thereof. Hereinafter, the inventions described in the scope of claims at the time of filing the application of the present application will be added.

[Appendix 1]
A printing unit that prints on the print medium and
When a bonding condition is set in which a part of each of the printing pieces is laminated and bonded to each other of the plurality of printing pieces created by the printing medium, the printing piece is based on the bonding condition. A control unit for acquiring the shape and position of the bonding area where the bonding is performed is provided.
The printing unit prints the bonded area acquired by the control unit on the area to be each print piece in the printing medium.
A printing device characterized by that.

[Appendix 2]
The bonding condition is at least one of an arch radius which is the radius of the arch shape when the plurality of printed pieces are bonded so as to form an arch shape and an arch angle which is an angle formed between both ends of the arch shape. Including one of the information
The control unit acquires the shape and position of the bonding region based on the information of at least one of the arch radius and the arch angle.
The printing apparatus according to Appendix 1, wherein the printing apparatus is characterized by the above.

[Appendix 3]
The print medium is a long tape extending in one direction.
The control unit further acquires the shape and position of the bonding region based on the tape width of the tape.
The printing apparatus according to Appendix 2, characterized by the above.

[Appendix 4]
The print medium has a base material having an adhesive surface and a releaseable release paper covering the adhesive surface.
The printing apparatus further includes a half-cut mechanism for performing a half-cut that cuts only the base material of the base material and the release paper.
The half-cut mechanism half-cuts the boundary portion between the print pieces.
The printing apparatus according to any one of Supplementary note 1 to 3, wherein the printing apparatus is characterized by the above.

[Appendix 5]
The printing unit further prints a drawing pattern set by the user on each of the plurality of printing pieces.
The control unit determines whether or not the calculated bonding area overlaps at least a part of the drawing pattern set to be printed on the print piece in any of the plurality of print pieces. If it is determined that they overlap, the user will be notified.
The printing apparatus according to any one of Supplementary note 1 to 4, wherein the printing apparatus is characterized in that.

[Appendix 6]
The control unit determines whether or not the angle formed by two adjacent print pieces of the plurality of print pieces is equal to or greater than a predetermined angle, and if it is determined that the angle is equal to or greater than a predetermined angle, the control unit notifies the user. I do,
The printing apparatus according to any one of Supplementary note 1 to 5, wherein the printing apparatus is characterized by the above.

[Appendix 7]
When a bonding condition is set in which a part of each of the printing pieces is laminated on each other and bonded to each of a plurality of print pieces created by the printing medium to be printed, based on the bonding condition. A step of acquiring the shape and position of the bonding area where the bonding is performed in each of the printed pieces, and
A step of printing the acquired bonded area on the area to be each print piece in the print medium, and
A printing method characterized by including.

[Appendix 8]
A program executed by a computer that controls a printing device.
The printing apparatus includes a printing unit that prints on a printing medium.
For the computer
When a bonding condition is set in which a part of each of the printing pieces is laminated and bonded to each other of the plurality of printing pieces created by the printing medium, the printing piece is based on the bonding condition. The shape and position of the bonding area where the bonding is performed are acquired, and the bonding area is acquired.
The printing unit causes the acquired bonded area to be printed on the area to be each print piece on the printing medium.
A program characterized by that.

1 ... printing device, 5 ... control unit, 10 ... print head, 30 ... tape cassette, A ... bonding area, C ... center line, D ... drawing design, G: guide line, H: half-cut part, L: label length, M: printable medium, P (P1 to P10): print piece, R: arch radius, T: tape width, X: length of print piece P, θ: arch angle, φ: angle of guide line G

Claims (9)

A printing unit that prints on the print medium and
When a bonding condition is set in which a part of each of the printing pieces is laminated and bonded to each other of the plurality of printing pieces created by the printing medium, the printing piece is based on the bonding condition. A control unit for acquiring the shape and position of the bonding area where the bonding is performed is provided.
The bonding condition is at least one of an arch radius which is the radius of the arch shape when the plurality of printed pieces are bonded so as to form an arch shape and an arch angle which is an angle formed between both ends of the arch shape. Including one of the information
The control unit acquires the shape and position of the bonding region based on the information of at least one of the arch radius and the arch angle.
The printing unit prints the bonded area acquired by the control unit on the area to be each print piece in the printing medium.
A printing device characterized by that. The print medium is a long tape extending in one direction.
The control unit further acquires the shape and position of the bonding region based on the tape width of the tape.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1 . The print medium has a base material having an adhesive surface and a releaseable release paper covering the adhesive surface.
The printing apparatus further includes a half-cut mechanism for performing a half-cut that cuts only the base material of the base material and the release paper.
The half-cut mechanism half-cuts the boundary portion between the print pieces.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 . The printing unit further prints a drawing pattern set by the user on each of the plurality of printing pieces.
The control unit determines whether or not the calculated bonding area overlaps at least a part of the drawing pattern set to be printed on the print piece in any of the plurality of print pieces. If it is determined that they overlap, the user will be notified.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the printing apparatus is characterized by the above. The control unit determines whether or not the angle formed by two adjacent print pieces of the plurality of print pieces is equal to or greater than a predetermined angle, and if it is determined that the angle is equal to or greater than a predetermined angle, the control unit notifies the user. I do,
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the printing apparatus is characterized by the above. A printing unit that prints on the print medium and
When a bonding condition is set in which a part of each of the printing pieces is laminated and bonded to each other of the plurality of printing pieces created by the printing medium, the printing piece is based on the bonding condition. A control unit for acquiring the shape and position of the bonding area where the bonding is performed is provided.
The printing unit prints a drawing pattern set by the user on each of the plurality of printing pieces, and the bonded area acquired by the control unit serves as each printing piece in the printing medium. Print on
The control unit determines whether or not the calculated bonding area overlaps at least a part of the drawing pattern set to be printed on the print piece in any of the plurality of print pieces. If it is determined that they overlap, the user will be notified.
A printing device characterized by that. A printing unit that prints on the print medium and
When a bonding condition is set in which a part of each of the printing pieces is laminated and bonded to each other of the plurality of printing pieces created by the printing medium, the printing piece is based on the bonding condition. A control unit for acquiring the shape and position of the bonding area where the bonding is performed is provided.
The printing unit prints the bonded area acquired by the control unit on the area to be each print piece in the printing medium.
The control unit determines whether or not the angle formed by two adjacent print pieces of the plurality of print pieces is equal to or greater than a predetermined angle, and if it is determined that the angle is equal to or greater than a predetermined angle, the control unit notifies the user. I do,
A printing device characterized by that. When a bonding condition is set in which a part of each of the printing pieces is laminated on each other and bonded to each of a plurality of print pieces created by the printing medium to be printed, based on the bonding condition. A step of acquiring the shape and position of the bonding area where the bonding is performed in each of the printed pieces, and
The bonding condition is at least one of an arch radius which is the radius of the arch shape when the plurality of printed pieces are bonded so as to form an arch shape and an arch angle which is an angle formed between both ends of the arch shape. Including one of the information
A step of acquiring the shape and position of the bonding region based on the information of at least one of the arch radius and the arch angle, and
A step of printing the acquired bonded area on the area to be each print piece in the print medium, and
A printing method characterized by including. A program executed by a computer that controls a printing device.
The printing apparatus includes a printing unit that prints on a printing medium.
For the computer
When a bonding condition is set in which a part of each of the printing pieces is laminated and bonded to each other of the plurality of printing pieces created by the printing medium, the printing piece is based on the bonding condition. The shape and position of the bonding area where the bonding is performed are acquired, and the bonding area is acquired.
The bonding condition is at least one of an arch radius which is the radius of the arch shape when the plurality of printed pieces are bonded so as to form an arch shape and an arch angle which is an angle formed between both ends of the arch shape. Including one of the information
Based on the information of at least one of the arch radius and the arch angle, the shape and position of the bonding region are acquired.
The printing unit causes the acquired bonded area to be printed on the area to be each print piece on the printing medium.
A program characterized by that.