JPH05254183A - Label printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To print character strings always in optimum way on a large number of labels stuck on a label sheet regardless of type of the labels. CONSTITUTION:Information on shape and arrangement of labels arranged on a label sheet is stored in a label information memory means 3 in relation with identification code. The identification code is inputted by a label sheet designating means 6 so as to select a label sheet. The selected label sheet is fed to a printing means 33 by a feeding means 32. A print control means 1, in accordance with feeding information by the feeding means 32 and label information of the selected label sheet, reads out character strings stored in a character memory means 2 repeatedly at every label so as to print on each label on the label sheet to be fed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a label printing apparatus for printing an input character string on a heading label such as a document through a printing means, and in particular, a large number of labels having standardized arrangements and shapes are attached. The present invention relates to a label printing device that suitably prints on each label on a label sheet regardless of the type of the label sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In many exhibitions and the like, the same heading label is often attached to many samples. In addition, with the diversification of information, there is an increasing demand for suitable filing using a heading label according to the type of information, and the same information may be owned and stored by a plurality of people at a plurality of places. Conventionally, this type of label is created by handwriting, and there are problems such as the complexity of creation and the appearance.

In order to solve such a problem, conventionally, there has been proposed a printing device for efficiently printing the same content on both upper and lower positions of a lined label by appropriately selecting the printing direction (Actual Publication No. 1-178948). Bulletin). Further, a label printing apparatus has been proposed in which the number of input characters and the number of lines are stored in one label, and the number of labels is calculated so as to set an integer number of sheets on one sheet (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-17572).
No. 2). In addition, a label printing apparatus has been proposed in which labels arranged regularly on a strip-shaped sheet are detected using a label sensor, the label length and the arrangement interval are detected, and the labels are accurately printed based on the detection result. (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-
No. 288469). Further, a label printer has been proposed in which automatic calculation is performed to change the characters to full-width or half-width so that printing can be performed within a predetermined label width (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-69242)
3-189276). Further, a label printer has been proposed in which the print format of a cut-sheet-shaped label can be input and printing can be performed on labels of various sizes (JP-A-62-158072).

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention
According to the invention described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 948, the processing for suitably printing on one heading label is described in detail, but the position and dimension detection of each of the plurality of heading labels arranged or each label is detected. There is no description about control of how to print. Also, JP-A-61-175
No. 722, JP-A-63-189276 and JP-A-62-158072 relate to how to suitably print on one label, and a large number of arranged labels are provided. It does not relate to the printing process for the label. Further, in the one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-288469, a label sensor is used to directly detect the label length and the label interval, so that the label position control is complicated. As described above, in each of the above-mentioned devices, it is possible to create a large number of labels for the same label on the roll sheet, but the number of types of label actually reaches hundreds, and in the general office, these various types are available. It does not make it possible to print efficiently on a label.

The present invention has been made in view of the above,
The label type is identified and stored in advance, and the label shape and position information are automatically set for the one selected and instructed from among them, which is suitable for a large number of labels attached to the label sheet. A label printing device capable of printing a character string is provided.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a label printing apparatus for printing an input character string on a label via a printing means, and a character storage means for storing the input character string and a label sheet. Label information storage means for storing the shape and placement information of the placed label in association with the identification code, label sheet designating means for designating a label sheet by the identification code, and feeding the selected label sheet to the printing means. From the feeding means, the feeding information by the feeding means and the label information of the selected label sheet, the character string stored in each label on the label sheet to be fed is repeatedly read for each label. And a print control means for printing.

[0007]

According to the present invention, the character string to be printed is input and temporarily stored. On the other hand, when the label to be printed is designated by the identification code, the shape and arrangement information of the label is read. Then, when the designated label is set on the feeding means and fed to the printing means, the above character string is repeatedly read out for each label position arranged on this label sheet, and the label is printed on each label by the printing section. It is printed.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, the structure of a label printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 is a side sectional view thereof, FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view showing a schematic structure in the apparatus, FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a sheet sensor, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of the apparatus.

In the figure, a label printing apparatus 20 comprises an upper half portion 21 and a lower half portion 22, and an insertion port and a feeding path for a label sheet RS for printing are formed in the middle thereof. Reference numeral 23 is a power switch for driving and stopping the device. The upper half part 21 and the lower half part 22 may be configured by separate members or may be integrally configured. Further, the present device 20 can be driven by a built-in battery in consideration of portability, but it may be a type for both DC and AC by providing a connection terminal from a commercial power source.

A key input section 6 in which a large number of keys capable of inputting characters and the like are arranged is arranged at an appropriate position in the upper half portion 21 of the apparatus 20, and a predetermined number of characters and a number of lines (10 in this embodiment) are provided at appropriate positions adjacent to each other. A liquid crystal display unit 15 including a liquid crystal panel capable of displaying characters and two lines is provided. When more characters and lines are being input, the screen is adapted to scroll left, right, up and down by the cursor keys.

The label sheet RS has an insertion opening 31 on the front side of the apparatus.
To the position where it abuts against the paper feed roller pair 32, the paper feed roller pair 32, the printing unit 33, and the paper discharge roller pair 3
4 and the sheet discharge port 35, and the sheet is discharged rearward in a printed state. The insertion opening 31 has a predetermined width dimension, and is formed so that at least the label sheet RS that can be used and a postcard size can be inserted at least as described later. A paper feed roller pair 32 and a paper discharge roller pair 34 are arranged in the feeding path, and are driven by the sheet feeding motor 13 through a gear system (not shown).
The label sheet RS or the like set in the insertion port 31 is fed to the rear sheet ejection port 35 at a predetermined constant speed.
The size between the paper feed roller pair 32 and the paper discharge roller pair 34 is set smaller than the minimum size of the label sheet in the sheet feeding direction, so that the sheet feeding is ensured.

A side wall 36 for guiding is formed on one side, for example, on the left side of the insertion port 31 and the feeding path portion, and the label sheet RS is fed while the left side thereof is guided by the side wall 36. Is set. 7 is
In the side wall 36 portion on the downstream side of the feed path of the paper feed roller pair 32,
For example, in a sheet sensor such as a photo interrupter in which a light emitting element 71 and a light receiving element 72 are arranged in a pair structure on the upper and lower surfaces, is the left side of the inserted and fed label sheet RS exactly aligned with the side wall 36? It is to detect whether. That is, the sheet sensor 7 has a corner at the front end of the left side of the sheet when the light-receiving element 72 stops receiving the light projected from the light-emitting element 71 due to the feeding sheet interposed between the light-emitting element 71 and the light-receiving element 72. Is detected and the light receiving element 7
While the state in which 2 does not receive light continues, it is considered that the label sheet is interposed between the light emitting element 71 and the light receiving element 72,
We try to determine that the paper is being fed properly. As will be described later, in the present device 20, a sensor for directly detecting the label position on the label sheet RS is not provided from the viewpoint of the configuration simplification, and the printing process is performed based on the front end of the left side (front left corner) of the label sheet. It is supposed to be executed.

Further, the printing portion 33, which is disposed at a proper position in the approximate center of the feeding path or in the rear of the feeding path, is arranged so as to reciprocate in a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction of the label sheet, for example, one character. A thermal head 9 including a dot array capable of printing minutes, a head support 91, a guide rail 92, and a carriage motor 11 for reciprocally driving the thermal head 9 at a constant speed.
(Refer to FIG. 1) It comprises a spiral shaft 19 for moving the thermal head 9 in the reciprocating direction by the rotation of the carriage motor 11, and a ribbon cassette 40 which can be wound in conjunction with the reciprocating drive of the thermal head 9. ing.
In addition, the return speed at the time of returning of the thermal head 9 is
If the speed is set higher than the forward movement for printing, the printing speed can be increased.

The thermal head 9 is a carriage motor 11
When the spiral shaft 19 having a spiral groove formed on its peripheral surface is rotated, the head support 91 formed by engaging or screwing a part of the spiral groove into the guide rail is Since the rotation is restricted by 92, it has a structure that receives an acting force and can move in the axial direction along the guide rail 92. The head supporting base 91 is mounted on the rubber platen 37 arranged oppositely only when the thermal head 9 is moved forward by an unillustrated electromagnetic solenoid or the like by a head driving means 10 described later, for example, during a printing operation. The platen 37 is brought into contact with the platen 37, and in the normal state, the platen 37 is returned to an initial position separated from the platen 37 and is driven to be separated therefrom. This drive is CPU1
It can also be performed based on a control signal from

A horizontal support shaft 38 is provided at an appropriate position below the paper discharge port 35, so that the paper discharge port 35 can be opened and closed as shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. The replacement of 40, the jam processing of sheets, etc. can be performed with good workability.

The ribbon cassette 40 (shown by a dotted line in the drawing) has a known structure in which a pay-out spool and a take-up spool are provided inside, and a ribbon is wound between them, and the take-up spool has a pinion. 41 is attached. This ribbon cassette 40 is the device 20
The pinion 41 is attached to the spiral shaft 1 in a state where the pinion 41 is mounted so as to move integrally with the thermal head 9.
9 is arranged in parallel on the rack 42 which is arranged parallel to and adjacent to the rack 9. The pinion 41 meshes with the rack 42 in conjunction with the movement of the head support 91 to the abutting position during the printing operation as described above. The take-up spool rotates in synchronism with the forward movement, that is, the printing operation, the ribbon is taken up, and unused portions of the ribbon are sequentially fed out. The ribbon between the feeding spool and the take-up spool is mounted in the main body so as to be interposed between the thermal head 9 and the label sheet RS fed. As a result, the thermal head 9 prints on the fed label sheet RS via the ribbon.

The key input section 6 includes character keys such as alphabets as shown in FIG.
Function keys for performing processes such as "FT", "DEL", "search", "decision", and "print", and cursor keys with arrows on all four sides are provided. The content of each key is written on its head.

Next, a control block diagram of the label printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The apparatus has a microcomputer,
Reference numeral 1 is a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU), 2 is a RAM for temporarily storing an input character string, contents during processing, etc., 3
Is a ROM including a program memory unit in which a program for controlling the operation of the entire apparatus such as editing and printing is written, a dictionary memory for Kana / Kanji conversion, a required calculation formula or conversion table, and a table described later. 4 and 5 are for display,
Character generator for printing, for display,
A dot pattern for printing is generated. Also,
The RAM 2 is internally provided with an input buffer, a print buffer, a shift register and the like. 6 is a key input unit, and 7 is the sheet sensor.

The CPU 1 includes a head driving means 8 for driving the dot-type thermal head 9 for contact and separation and outputting a character signal, and a carriage motor driving means 10 for controlling driving of a carriage motor 11 for reciprocally driving the thermal head 9. A sheet feeding motor driving unit 12 that controls driving of the sheet feeding motor 11 that synchronously drives the sheet feeding roller pair 32 and the sheet discharging roller pair 34 and a display driving unit 14 that drives the liquid crystal display unit 15 are connected.

The CPU 1 is internally provided with a counter for counting the number of sheets and a timer for synchronizing with sheet feeding, and receives the input information from the key input unit 6 and the detection signal from the sheet sensor 7, A control signal is output to each of the required circuit parts, and as will be described later, in addition to character input and edit processing, label sheet type selection, display control, and print processing control are comprehensively controlled.

Further, the CPU 1 monitors the detection signal from the sheet sensor 7, and determines whether the label sheet RS is detected or not depending on whether or not the signal for detecting the front end of the left side of the label sheet is input.
The sheet feeding motor 11 from the time when the detection signal is generated, while it is determined whether or not the sheet is inserted and fed correctly.
The position of the label sheet being fed is indirectly measured by the rotation pulse or the time management.

The input buffer in the RAM 2 reads the character string input from the key input unit 6 or the already registered character label from the character label storage means in the RAM 2 and temporarily stores it. The stored contents can be changed according to the editing process. In addition,
Here, the character label refers to a character string created or created for label printing.

The print buffer temporarily fetches a character string to be printed when the print mode is instructed. The print buffer is designed to read sequentially to the shift register in accordance with the print order in conjunction with the print operation. At the time of reading to the shift register, each character is developed so as to correspond to the dot array and guided to the head driving means 8, where high level and low level signals for each dot of the thermal head 9 are generated. The dots to which the low level signal is applied are not energized, while the dots to which the high level signal is applied are energized so that the ink on the ribbon is transferred to the label by the heat generated at this time.

As described above, the ROM 3 stores in advance a character size table and a sheet number table for designating the type of label sheet.

[0026]

[Table 1]

Table 1 shows the character size, and shows the SS size to 3L size. In this type of label printing apparatus, there are various types of label sheets that can be printed, and there are hundreds of label sheets, and a large number of character sizes are desired. Therefore, in addition to the square character size, horizontally long characters and vertically long characters can be specified.
In this way, the character size can be selected using the size classification symbols, thereby facilitating the selection work. Further, in the present invention, as will be described later, by the input character string,
The font size is automatically calculated and set.

The automatic setting of the character size is to automatically set the character size so that the character can be suitably printed in the label according to the character string input on the character input screen. This usually eliminates the need to set the character size each time on the character size setting screen. That is, CP
U1 calculates the character size so that the character string can be properly accommodated in the label to be printed, in consideration of the label lateral dimension of the selected sheet number, the input character string, and the cut dimension described below. The calculation formula is RO as previously described.
A conversion table stored in M3 or storing a calculation result may be used. This calculation is
It is performed every time a character is input. For example, when one character is input, the character size is calculated at this point. After that, the calculation is sequentially repeated as the number of input characters increases, and the character sizes are set to be smaller one after another. On the contrary, when the character is erased, it is recalculated to a larger character size accordingly. If the number of characters is different for each line, the character size will be different for each line, but since it does not look good and is difficult to read, make sure that the same character size is set for all lines in the character label. There is. That is, the smallest character size is set from the calculated character sizes of each line. Although a large number of character sizes can be considered according to the number of characters, in the present embodiment, the character size closest to Table 1 is selected based on the above calculation result. Further, the character size is set in the line direction as well, that is, in consideration of the vertical dimension of the label and the line pitch.

When the character size is changed from the S size shown in Table 1 to an extremely small SS size, the character size is not suddenly changed, but is changed to a horizontally long SS size character. Further, the character size can be manually set in advance or when necessary.

Further, there are various kinds of label sheets such as ordinary square label, lined label, tack index label, box label and cassette label, and there are also various attachment positions on the label sheet.
Each is standardized.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a label sheet and a label. Labels R ₁ , R ₂ , ... Having the same size are regularly attached on the label sheet RS at regular intervals. The positions of the labels on the label sheet RS are designated in the column direction as 1, 2, 3 ... And in the row direction as A, B, C ....

The sheet number can be selected using an identification code of one character or two characters (including numbers), which facilitates the selection work. The table (not shown) storing the sheet numbers in the present embodiment is represented by the label size, which is stored by the size based on the corner position of the front end of the left side of the label sheet detected by the sheet sensor 7. Has been done. The dimension type is the data required to identify the label position on the label sheet from the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the label sheet, the shape of the label, the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the label, the vertical and horizontal intervals of the label, and the number of labels on one sheet. Has been adopted. Note that the memory capacity can be reduced by providing only the position data of the print start point with the front end of the left side of the label sheet as a reference, instead of the above dimensions and the like. The size is usually specified in millimeters (mm), but in the present embodiment, the size is coded to reduce the memory capacity. Then, as will be described later, the CPU 1 calculates the printing position, that is, the label position based on the storage size data of the designated sheet number (identification code).

Further, the table storing the sheet numbers includes a cut dimension. This cut size defines the size of the margin that is not printed on the peripheral portion of the label. This is because, firstly, the present embodiment does not adopt the method of actually measuring and printing the label position, but adopts the simple method of controlling all the positions on the basis of the corner positions of the label sheet. This is to ensure printing on the label even if the sheet is slightly misaligned due to a pair of 32 or the like. Secondly, store the label size slightly smaller than the actual size. Although the same effect can be obtained, this is in consideration of the problem that the size of the image character (on the screen) and the actual print character do not match.

The liquid crystal display unit 15 displays a character string after being input or edited, a character label read from the character label storage means, and other selection screens.

Now, each key will be described. The cursor key is used when changing the cursor position on the liquid crystal display unit 15, and the cursor moves up, down, left and right in response to pressing of the displayed arrow mark portion.

The "SHIFT" key is used to specify various functions written on the upper part of the head of the alphabet key, and by pressing the alphabet key in the pressed state or after the key is pressed, the corresponding key is pressed. You can specify the functions of. In addition, this "S
When the upper or lower one of the cursor keys of the "HIFT" key is subsequently depressed, the displayed character label is switched to the character label before and after that character label. If there is no character label, the character label is moved to the start position of a new uninput character label. The "search" key is used to convert the characters entered in hiragana into kanji, search for that kanji, and select it. That is, when the "search" key is pressed after inputting kana, the search character obtained by converting the kana into kanji is displayed in the lower line of the display screen, and the cursor is automatically moved to the lower line. Then, use the cursor to select the search character and press the "OK" key. Numerical symbols can also be searched as needed. However, for hiragana,
By pressing the “confirm” key, the kana will be confirmed. The "DEL" key erases the character at the cursor position. Also, when the cursor is at the right edge of the display screen, it is possible to erase sequentially from the character on the right.
It also has a so-called backspace function. Further, when the selection screen is displayed, the screen can be returned to the previous screen. Further, the "confirm" key is also used for confirming the setting and selection of the selection item in the menu screen in addition to the above-mentioned character confirmation. The “print” key is used to specify printing on a label sheet, a postcard or the like. By operating the "SHIFT" + "F" keys, registration of the created character label is designated.

Next, each operation for character input and printing in this label printing apparatus will be described. First, FIG.
The basic procedure for the start screen will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the power switch 23 is turned on ((#
2) First, initialization of the RAM 2, initialization of the hardware configuration such as setting the printing unit 33 to the initial position, and battery check of the built-in storage battery are performed (# 4).

An initial screen is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display section 15, and a selection menu of "label making" and "address book" is displayed (# 6). When the cursor key is moved to the desired item position and the "confirm" key is pressed, the next work screen is displayed. The CPU 1 determines which of the above items has been selected and designated (# 8), and if "label making" is selected, the necessary initialization is executed (# 10).
During this time, a message such as "please wait for a while" is displayed on the screen. On the other hand, if the "address book" is selected, the work screen for registering, changing, and searching for the name, telephone number, address, etc. is displayed (# 10).

When "Create label" is selected and the above initialization is completed, a selection menu of "Create new" and "Continue" is displayed on the screen (# 12). The CPU 1 judges which of the above items has been selected and designated (# 16), and if "continue" is selected, the contents of the previous work are displayed on the screen (# 18). If the character label was created just before, display the sheet number, etc.,
If it is a postcard, that fact is displayed. Then, by pressing the "confirm" key (# 20), the screen is switched to the previous work screen and the character input can be accepted (# 2).
2). In this way, by making it possible to save the contents of the previous work, it is possible to easily restart the work that was once interrupted.

On the other hand, when "New" is selected (# 1
(YES in 6), the screen is switched to the label sheet designation screen to create a new character label (# 24). When the desired sheet number is input (YES in # 26), it is determined whether the input sheet number exists in the table in the ROM 3 (# 28). If the seat number exists,
The screen is switched to the character input screen (# 30), and if it does not exist, a message such as "This sheet number is not registered" is displayed to prompt the user to input the correct number.

On the other hand, if the registered sheet number is unknown, the "confirm" key is pressed without inputting (NO in both # 26 and # 32, YES in # 34), and the file reading screen is displayed. Replace (# 36). And
If a character label to be read is selected, the character label is displayed on the screen and the sheet number is also displayed.

When "postcard" is selected on the screen of # 24 (YES at # 32), the screen is switched to the screen of "direction designation of text", and when the designation is made and the "confirm" key is pressed,
The screen switches to the normal character input screen (# 38). Note that #
Since the character input method after 22, # 30, # 36 and # 38 is almost the same as that of a normal word processor, it will not be described in particular.

Next, the creation of character labels will be described. FIG. 7 shows a state in which characters are printed on a tack index label. FIG. 7A shows a tack index label, and FIGS. 7B to 7G show printing modes (formats).
Each is made selectable.

This is because when the tack index label is designated by the sheet number which is the identification code, the selection screen is read out and the selection menus corresponding to the six printing modes of the above figures (b) to (g) are displayed. It Then, when a desired print form is designated and the "confirm" key is pressed, the screen is switched to the character input screen in the designated print form, and the character can be input.

When the designated character label is a cassette label, "create title", "create side A" and "create side B" are displayed on the screen as a menu. When each of them is selected and designated and the "confirm" key is pressed, the corresponding character input screen is displayed. When the designated character label is a box label, it can be input in the same manner as normal character input. However, only one label is input, and the same characters are automatically displayed and printed at three places, and the number of printed labels printed at three places is counted as one label.

By pressing the keys in the order of "SHIFT" + "V", for example, vertical writing and horizontal writing can be selected. Due to its use and portability, label printing is not designed to insert large sheets of paper, such as ordinary A4 size, and it prints on a narrow surface. Freely
That is, it can be inserted in the direction of the insertable dimension,
In response to this, printing can be changed to vertical and horizontal writing. Then, according to this vertical writing, the printed character itself is also 9
Although it is necessary to rotate by 0 °, in a normal device, since it is left-handed, the printing result is reversed as it is, as shown in FIG. 8A. Therefore,
For example, by pressing the keys in the order of "SHIFT" + "Space", a screen for selecting whether or not to rotate a character is displayed, and if "Necessary" for character rotation is specified here, right rotation and left rotation are performed on the next screen. The selection menu for is displayed. Then, the rotation direction of the characters can be selected here, and when right rotation is designated, normal printing can be performed as shown in FIG. 8B.

Since the liquid crystal display unit 15 of this apparatus has a small display screen, it is extremely difficult to read when the characters are displayed in a rotated state like printing. Therefore, the display character generator 5 is displayed in an upright state, and in this case, the insertion direction of the label sheet is also displayed so as to prevent incorrect insertion.

Next, the setting of the number of print copies and the skip processing of the peeled label will be described. A print number setting screen for setting the number of prints is displayed in the middle of the printing operation, and the number of prints can be designated by inputting a number such as 10 here. On the other hand, since the label on the label sheet is also used by handwriting, the label on the label sheet to be printed may already be used in some places. Therefore, in this apparatus, the label position for which printing is prohibited is designated using the label position designation data 1, 2, 3, ... And A, B, C .. I am able to do it. The number of labels is not counted at the label position where printing is prohibited so that the designated number of labels can be accurately obtained. The label position can be specified in the above 1
Other designation methods may be adopted without using 2, 3, ... And A, B, C.

Next, the operation from the "print" key on to the end of printing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the "print" key is pressed (# 50) after the character input is completed or the registered character label is read and the "confirm" key is further pressed, the mode shifts to the print mode. .. First, a screen for designating the number of printed sheets is displayed (# 52), and for example, the input of a numerical value indicating the number of sheets from 1 to 99 is accepted. When a numerical value is entered (# 5
4) Then, the screen is switched to the screen for designating the position of the print start label (# 56). Normally, it is specified from the A row, 1st column, but it can be specified from the desired label position (#
58). When the position is designated, the screen is switched to the skip label selection screen (# 60). If there is a skip label, "Yes" is selected (# 62), then the screen is switched to the skip label position designation screen (# 64), and the corresponding skip label position is input (#).
66). On the other hand, when there is no skip label, the process directly proceeds to # 68. In # 68, a selection screen as to whether the printing object is a postcard is displayed, and if it is a label sheet, the screen is switched to the sheet number designation screen (# 70). This device does not include any sensor other than the above-mentioned sheet sensor 7 from the viewpoint of simplifying the configuration. Therefore, when printing is designated, the designated sheet number is displayed on the screen to prompt the insertion of the correct label sheet.

When a postcard is designated, a screen for indicating a direction such as "please insert horizontally" or "insert vertically" is displayed (# 72). After that, when the "confirm" key is pressed (YES in # 74), the label sheet set in the insertion slot 31 is started to be fed by starting the driving of the paper feed roller pair 32 (# 76). After that, the CPU 1 waits for a sheet detection signal from the sheet sensor 7 (# 78), and a predetermined time elapses, that is, a sufficient time required for the fed sheet to be fed from the set position to the position of the sheet sensor 7 passes. However, if the detection signal is not received, it is determined that the label sheet has not been properly set, or that a feeding deviation has occurred, and the paper feed roller pair 32 is driven in the reverse rotation direction (# 80). , The label sheet is returned to the insertion slot 31 and the reinsertion instruction screen is displayed (# 82),
Prompt reset. The reinsertion instruction may display a message indicating "erroneous insertion" on the screen. In this way, the seat is always encouraged to be set properly.

The sheet sensor 7 is located at the left end of the label sheet.
When it is detected in (YES in # 78), the screen is switched to a display instructing that printing is in progress (# 84). And
When the first label position to be printed is reached, the thermal head 9 moves to the left position of the corresponding label, and the character signal after the expansion led to the head driving means 8 via the print buffer and shift register is transferred to the thermal head 9. Is output from
By transferring the ink of the ribbon onto the label, printing is performed character by character (# 86). When the printing of one character is completed, the thermal head 9 moves to the next character position and prints only the number of characters to be printed on one label. And
When printing on one label is completed, the next specified
That is, the label is moved to the left position of the label that is not print-protected, and the same character string is printed in the same manner as above. When the printing of the designated number of sheets is completed, the thermal head 9 is returned to the initial position and the printing operation is completed. When labels are present in parallel on the label sheet in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction, and at least two lines are printed on each label, one line is printed for each label. Done. In this case, by controlling the sheet feeding motor 11 in the reverse direction, it is possible to perform printing in each label unit.

When the number of printed sheets is not enough for one label sheet (NO in # 88), the next label sheet is inserted so that the same printing process as described above is executed according to the depression of the "confirm" key. It Then, when the printing of the set number of prints is completed (YES in # 88), the screen returns from the printing to the initial setting screen (# 90), and the operation for label production can be performed.

The apparatus has a registration function for storing the created character label in the character label storage means in the apparatus body or in an external storage medium (floppy disk or the like). As a method for this registration, a collective registration method is adopted in addition to the ordinary registration by label. This batch registration is suitable when always using (printing) a plurality of character labels having different character contents as one set, and a plurality of character labels created at the same time can be registered as one file at a time. At this time, the format set for each character label, the number of prints, etc. are also registered at the same time. Then, when printing a different number of sheets from the previous printing when printing this character label, the number of printed sheets can be changed simply by re-entering the numerical value of the number of printed sheets for each character label. In this case, if the numerical value 0 is input to a character label that does not require printing, printing of the character label is skipped. By doing so, it is not necessary to erase the character labels themselves that do not need to be printed, the contents of the batch registration can be saved as they are, and the print designation operation of the character labels in the batch registration is simplified.

Further, in the present embodiment, the description has been given by using the cut sheet label sheet, but the present invention can be applied to the type in which the label is regularly attached to the roll paper.
The print head is not limited to a thermal head, and various types can be used within the scope of the present invention.

[0057]

According to the present invention, the shape and arrangement information of the label arranged on the label sheet are stored in the label information storage means in association with the identification code, and the label sheet is selected by the identification code. When the selected label sheet is fed to the printing means, a character string is given to each label on the label sheet to be fed from the feeding information by the feeding means and the label information of the selected label sheet. Since each label is repeatedly read and printed, it is possible to accurately print on a large number of labels attached to the label sheet even for various types of labels.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of a label printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the label printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view showing a schematic structure inside the label printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a sheet sensor.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the label printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an example of the relationship between label sheets and labels.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which characters are printed on the tack index label, FIG.
Figures (b) to (g) show respective printing modes.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are views showing a printed state of vertically rotated characters. FIG. 8A shows a state in which the arrangement of characters is reversed, and FIG. 8B shows a state in which characters are aligned normally.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a basic procedure for a start screen.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation from turning on a “print” key to ending printing.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 CPU 2 RAM 3 ROM 4 printing character generator 5 display character generator 6 key input section 7 sheet sensor 71 light emitting element 72 light receiving element 8 head driving means 9 thermal head 91 head support 92 guide rail 10 carriage motor driving means 11 carriage Motor 12 Sheet feeding motor driving means 13 Sheet feeding motor 14 Display driving means 15 Liquid crystal display section 19 Spiral shaft 20 Label printing device 21 Upper half 22 Lower half 23 Power switch 31 Insertion port 32 Feeding roller pair 33 Printing section 34 Paper ejection roller pair 35 Paper ejection port 36 Side wall 37 Platen 38 Spindle 40 Ribbon cassette 41 Pinion 42 Rack RS Label sheet R ₁ , R ₂ label

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A label printing apparatus for printing an input character string on a label via a printing means, a character storage means for storing the input character string, and a shape and an arrangement of a label arranged on a label sheet. Label information storage means for storing the label information of the label information in association with the identification code, label sheet designating means for designating a label sheet by the identification code, feeding means for feeding the selected label sheet to the printing means, and Print control means for repeatedly reading and printing the character string stored in each label on the label sheet to be fed for each label from the feeding information by the feeding means and the label information of the selected label sheet; A label printing device characterized by comprising: