JPH05318886A - Tape printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a tape printing device capable of stopping a printing over a printing area of a set length of a tape relating to printing of inputting character string and numbering character string. CONSTITUTION:In automatic count setting processing, when a print key is operated in a state that an automatic count mode and a set length of a tape are set, a total length of the tape wherein a right side margin quantity and a left side margin quantity are added to a total length of inputting character string and automatic count number is obtained (S82). When the total tape length is shorter than the set tape length (S83: yes), a dot pattern data is made based on a document data in a text memory (S85) and printed by a printing mechanism (S86), and the automatic count number is counted up (S90). On the other hand, when the total tape length is longer than the set tape length (S83: no), a warning message is displayed on a display and printing is not performed (S91).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape printer for printing a character string on a tape as a print medium, and more particularly to a tape printer having both a fixed length printing function and a numbering function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As described in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 1-85050, the applicant of the present invention is a tape capable of printing characters and symbols on a tape (for example, a tape having a width of 10 mm or about 24 mm) as a printing medium. Although a printing device has been put into practical use, this tape printing device is suitable for producing a tape on which a file name is printed, which is attached to the front cover or spine of a file. By the way, the inventor of the present application, for example, in order to create a tape having a "title" and a "serial number" printed thereon, as a tape suitable for being attached to a plurality of files, one or more digit numbers are used. We proposed a tape printer with a numbering function that can print the following numbering character strings sequentially from the initial value.

[0003]

As described above, in the tape printer having the numbering function, when the numbering character string is numbered from the initial value,
A carry occurs in the numbering character string, and the number of characters in the numbering character string increases due to this carry, and the tape length of the printed tape is gradually increased, and that tape is the specified attachment area on the front cover of the file or spine cover. As a result, the tape becomes longer and cannot be attached, and as a result, many printed tapes are wasted.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape printer which is capable of canceling the printing of an input character string and a numbering character string when the print area exceeds the print area of the set tape length.

[0005]

A tape printer according to a first aspect of the present invention, as shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 1, stores input data for inputting characters and symbols and various commands, and input data. A data storage means for storing, a printing means for receiving data from the data storage means and printing on the tape as a print medium while feeding the tape in the length direction, and a display for displaying characters and symbols stored in the data storage means In a tape printer having a display means including a tape length setting means for setting a tape length which is a total length of a predetermined right end margin, a print area and a predetermined left end margin of a divided tape which is divided after printing, , A size setting means for setting the size of characters or symbols to be printed, and a numbering statement which is printed together with the input character string in the printing area and is counted up for each cutting tape. Initial value setting means for setting at least the initial value of the column, data writing means for storing the data of the set initial value in the data storage means in association with the input character string, and for each completion of printing in the print area A data rewriting means for counting up the numbering character string in order from the initial value and rewriting the data of the numbering character string of the data storage means with the data, and data of the set tape length data and character size and the data storage means. Based on the data of the numbered character string, the judgment means for calculating the total length of the input character string and the numbering character string printed in the print area and judging whether or not the print area can be printed, and the judgment means When it is determined that the printing is possible, the printing means is provided with a stop command means for stopping the printing.

[0006]

In the tape printer according to the first aspect, at least the initial value of the numbering character string which is printed together with the input character string in the printing area and is counted up for each divided tape is set by the initial value setting means. The data of the set initial value is stored in the data storage unit in association with the input character string by the data writing unit. On the other hand, every time the data in the data storage means is printed in the print area of the tape by the printing means while feeding the tape as the print medium in the length direction, the numbering character string is sequentially counted up from the initial value by the data rewriting means, Further, the data of the numbering character string in the data storage means is rewritten with the data. At this time, the determining means determines the input character string and the numbering character string to be printed in the print area based on the set tape length data and character size data and the numbering character string data stored in the data storage means. The total length is calculated, and it is further determined whether or not the print area can be printed. As a result, when the determination means determines that printing is impossible, the stop command means causes the printing means to stop printing.

As described above, every time the input character string and the numbering character string stored in the data storage means are printed in the print area of the tape, the numbering character string is sequentially counted up from the initial value and stored in the data storage means. If the total length of the input character string and the numbering character string cannot be printed in the print area, the printing of the input character string and the numbering character string will be stopped. It is possible to prevent the creation of unnecessary tape that exceeds the size of the pasted area.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment has a numbering function (hereinafter, referred to as an auto-counting function) and is intended for an English-only tape printing device capable of printing many characters such as alphabetic characters and symbols on a printing tape (tape as a printing medium). This is a case where the invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 2, a keyboard 3 is arranged in the front part of the main body frame 2 of the tape printer 1, a printing mechanism PM is arranged in the main body frame 2 behind the keyboard 3, and the keyboard 3 A liquid crystal display 22 capable of displaying characters and symbols is provided on the rear side.

The keyboard 3 includes character keys for inputting alphabets, numbers and symbols, a space key, a return key, a cursor movement key for moving the cursor to the right or left, a document creation key for creating document data, Format setting key to set the print format, size setting key to set the size of print characters, type setting key to set the font of print characters, tape length setting key to set the tape length for character string printing , Auto count setting key for setting auto count mode, execution key for ending various print format setting processing, print key for executing printing, tape feed key for feeding the tape 5 for printing, power ON・ A power key to turn it off is provided.

The printing mechanism PM will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 3. A rectangular tape storage cassette CS is detachably attached to the printing mechanism PM, and the tape storage cassette CS is transparent. Width of about 1 film
Tape spool 6 with 2mm printing tape 5 wound
And a ribbon supply spool 8 around which the ink ribbon 7 is wound.
And a take-up spool 9 for taking up the ink ribbon 7,
A supply spool 11 in which a double-sided tape 10 having the same width as the printing tape 5 is wound with a release paper outside and a joining roller 12 for joining the printing tape 5 and the double-sided tape 10 are rotatably provided. Has been. A thermal head 13 is erected at a position where the printing tape 5 and the ink ribbon 7 overlap each other, and a platen roller 14 that presses the printing tape 5 and the ink ribbon 7 against the thermal head 13, and the printing tape 5 are provided. A feed roller 15 for pressing the double-sided tape 10 against the joining roller 12 is rotatably supported by a support body 16. In this thermal head 13,
A heating element group including 128 heating elements is arranged in a row in the vertical direction.

Therefore, when the tape feed motor 24 (see FIG. 4) is driven in the predetermined rotation direction, the joining roller 12 and the take-up spool 9 are driven in synchronization with each other in the predetermined rotation direction, and the heating element group 18 is energized. At this time, characters are printed on the printing tape 5 by a plurality of dot rows, and the printing tape 5 is fed in the tape feeding direction A with the double-sided tape 10 joined. The printing mechanism PM
For details of the above, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-106555.

Next, the control system of the tape printer 1 is shown in FIG.
The block diagram of FIG. A keyboard 3, a display controller (LCDC) 23 having a display RAM for outputting display data to a liquid crystal display (LCD) 22, a drive circuit 25 for driving the thermal head 13, and a tape feed motor 24. The drive circuit 26 for operating the warning buzzer 20 and the drive circuit 21 for the warning buzzer 20 are the input / output interface 27 of the controller C.
Connected to each. The control device C includes a CPU 29,
An input / output interface 27, CGROM 3 connected to the CPU 29 via a bus 28 such as a data bus
0, ROM 31, 32 and RAM 40.

CGROM (pattern data memory) 30
For each of a large number of characters, the dot pattern data for display is stored in the column corresponding to the code data. A ROM (outline data memory) 31 has contour data (outline data) that defines the contour of each character for printing characters, such as a Gothic typeface and a Mincho typeface. It is classified for each and stored corresponding to the code data. Each of the large number of outline data stores the vertical dimension and the horizontal dimension of the print image.

In the ROM 32, a display drive control program for controlling the display controller 23 in accordance with character code data such as characters, numbers and symbols input from the keyboard 3, and an outline corresponding to each code data in the text memory 41. An image development processing control program for converting data into dot pattern data for printing and developing it in the print buffer 45, a print drive control program for sequentially reading the data in the print buffer 45 and driving the thermal head 13 and the tape feed motor 24, A control program for tape print control, which will be described later, peculiar to the present application is stored. The image development processing control program includes various subroutines for controlling character modification processing such as bolding, underlining, and whitening of characters.

Further, in this ROM 32, as shown in FIG. 5, in order to set the tape length, "2.2 inches".
A tape length table T storing a large number of set tape length data LD for each 0.2 inch pitch over "9.8 inches"
B1 and, as shown in FIG. 6, a count value table TB2 that stores a large number of count values that are incremented by 1 over "00" to "99" are stored.

In the text memory 41 of the RAM 40, code data of characters and symbols input from the keyboard 3 is stored as document data. The print format memory 42 stores a plurality of print format information such as set character size data and typeface data. The data LD of the set tape length is stored in the tape length memory 43. In the pointer memory 44, a tape length pointer value TP indicating a set tape length in the tape length table TB1, a pointer value CP of a count pointer indicating a count value in the count value table TB2, and a maximum pointer indicating a maximum count-up value. The MP pointer value is stored.

The print buffer 45 stores dot pattern data of a plurality of characters and symbols which have been image-developed. Therefore, the print buffer 45 has 128 bits (1 bit) corresponding to 128 dots in the vertical direction (dot row direction).
6 bytes), and a memory capacity of a size consisting of predetermined bits for a plurality of characters in the horizontal direction. Flag memory 4
An auto-count flag AF 6 is set (data is "1") when the auto-count mode is set.
Flag data is stored.

Next, an outline of a tape print control routine executed by the controller C of the tape printer 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the figure, reference numeral Si (i = 10, 11, 12, ...) Indicates each step. This control is started when the power is turned on by the power key operation. First, by operating the format setting key, the character size setting process by the size setting key operation, the font type setting process by the type setting key operation and the modification type setting process, the tape Various processes for setting the print format such as the tape length setting process by the length setting key operation are executed (S10). Next, after the operation of the document creation key, a document data inputting / editing process of inputting code data corresponding to the operated character key, space key or return key as document data is executed (S30). For example, by this document data input / edit processing, as shown in FIG. 11, “MARCH 8” is input as document data, this document data is stored in the text memory 41, and
It is displayed on the display 22. The number "8" in this document data is set as the initial value of the numbering number (hereinafter referred to as the auto-count number), and is stored in the text memory 41 in association with the input character string "MARCH". Has been done. Further, reference numeral MK is a format mark indicating that the print format is set.

Next, when the auto count setting key is operated, the auto count setting process is executed. Then, a dot pattern data creation process for expanding the print dot pattern data for printing the document data by operating the print key in the print buffer 45 and a print process for outputting the dot pattern data to the printing mechanism PM for printing. It is executed (S80).

Next, the routine of the tape length setting process control executed in S10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When this control is started, first, the head address of the tape length table TB1 is set in the tape length pointer value TP (S31), and the tape length pointer value T is set.
A tape length setting screen is displayed on the display 22 based on the set tape length LD designated by P (S32). For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the document data display screen shown in FIG. 11 is deleted and the tape length setting screen is displayed on the display 22.
Displayed in. At this time, the minimum set tape length "2.2INCH" is displayed. When the cursor up key is operated (S33 / S34: Yes),
The tape length pointer value TP is incremented by 1 (S
35), the set tape length LD designated by the tape length pointer value TP is displayed on the display 22 (S36),
Return to S33. Note that a frequently used tape length, for example, “6.0INCH” may be stored in the ROM 32 as a default value, and the default value may be displayed on the display 22 in S32. Also, the set tape length set last time may be displayed.

On the other hand, when the cursor down movement key is operated (S33: Yes, S34: No, S37: Yes),
The tape length pointer value TP is decremented by 1 (S3
8) The set tape length LD designated by the tape length pointer value TP is displayed on the display 22 (S36), and S
Return to 33. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, when the cursor up key is operated three times, the tape length pointer value TP is incremented by 3, and "2.8INCH" is displayed on the display 22. Next, when the execution key is operated (S33: Yes, S34 and S37: N
o, S39: Yes), the set tape length LD designated by the tape length pointer value TP is stored in the tape length memory 43 (S40), the tape length setting screen is cleared and the document data display screen is displayed (S41). The control returns to the tape print control with the completion of this control. Incidentally, when a key other than the cursor up / down movement key and the execution key is operated (S33: Yes, S34, S37, S3).
9: No), the buzzer 20 sounds for warning (S4).
2) and returns to S33.

Next, the routine of the automatic count setting process control executed by operating the automatic count setting key will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Before this control is started, the cursor right movement key or the left movement key is operated in advance to move the cursor K to the first digit of the automatic count number (count-up initial value) in the document data. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the cursor K is moved to the automatic count number “8” in advance.
When the auto count setting key is operated in this state, the auto count setting process control routine is executed, and the auto count setting screen for inputting the maximum count-up number is displayed on the display 22 (S62). For example, as shown in FIG. 14, an automatic count setting screen that prompts the user to input a maximum count-up number in the range of “1” to “99” is displayed on the display 22.

Then, based on this setting screen, the maximum count-up numeral input processing is executed by the two-digit numeral (S63). For example, the maximum count-up number "11"
When is input, the number “11” is displayed as shown in FIG. With the completion of the maximum count-up numeral input process, the addresses of the count value table TB2 corresponding to the count-up initial value and the maximum count-up value are the count pointer value CP and the maximum pointer value M.
Each of them is set to P (S64), the auto-count flag AF is set (S65), and the control returns to the tape print control as the control ends. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the count pointer value CP is set to the address corresponding to the count-up initial value “8”, and the maximum pointer MP value is set to the address corresponding to “11”.

Next, a print processing control routine executed by operating the print key will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When this control is started and the auto count flag AF is set and the auto count mode is set (S81: Yes),
Based on the character size data, the outline data, and the document data in the text memory 41, the character width of the entire document, that is, the total character string length of the input character string and the auto-count number is obtained, while the total character string length is The total tape length TL is calculated by adding the right end margin amount RY and the left end margin amount LY of the predetermined amount of the printing tape 5 (S82).

When the total tape length TL is larger than the set tape length LD (S83: No), a warning message is displayed on the display 22 (S91) and the maximum pointer value MP is set to the leading address of the count value table TB2. (S92), auto count flag A
F is reset (S93), and upon completion of this control, the process returns to S10 of tape printing control. For example, as shown in FIG. 16, a warning message "TAPE TOO S
“HORT” is displayed on the display 22. In S82, only the total length of the character string is calculated, and in S83,
The size of the print area D (see FIG. 17) obtained by subtracting both margin amounts RY and LY from the set tape length LD and the total length of the character string may be determined.

However, the total tape length TL is the set tape length L.
When it is D or less (S83: Yes), the document data in the text memory 41 is read (S84). Next, dot pattern data for printing is created for each character of the document data, and an image expansion process for sequentially expanding this dot pattern data in the print buffer 45 is executed (S
85), the dot pattern data stored in the print buffer 45 is output to the printing mechanism PM and the printing process is executed (S86). Here, the dot pattern data of the input character string and the automatic count number is image-developed in the print area in the same manner as in the justify (line head / line end alignment) mode.

Next, in the auto count mode (S
87: Yes) and when the count pointer value CP is smaller than the maximum pointer value MP (S88: No), the count pointer value CP is incremented by 1 (S8).
9) Then, the auto-count number in the text memory 41 is rewritten to the count value designated by the count pointer value CP (S90), and the process returns to S82. And S82-S
90 is repeated, and the document data is printed on the printing tape 5 while sequentially counting up the auto count number. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, the document “MAR
"CH 8" and "MARCH 9" are printed on the printing tape 5. Then, when the total tape length TL becomes larger than the set tape length LD due to the carry of the auto-count number (S83: No), the warning message is displayed in the same manner as described above, and the carry-up auto-count number is displayed. The printing of the included document is stopped and this control is ended, and the process returns to S10 of tape printing control. When the print processing control is started and the automatic count mode is not set (S81: No), S
After 84 to S87, the document data in the text memory 41 is printed on the printing tape 5, the control is terminated, and the process returns to S10 of the tape printing control.

As described above, the text memory 41
Every time the input character string and the auto-counting number (numbering character string) stored in are printed in the printing area of the printing tape 5, the auto-counting number is sequentially incremented from the initial value and stored in the text memory 41. , When the total length of the input character string and the character string of the auto-count digit cannot be printed in the print area, the printing of the input character string and the auto-count digit is stopped. It is possible to prevent the creation of unnecessary tape that exceeds the size of the area.

In the automatic count setting process control, it is possible to set the initial value of the automatic count number. The tape length table TB1 and the count value table TB2 may not be provided, and the count pointer value CP and the tape length pointer value TP may be sequentially set to values that are increased or decreased by a predetermined amount. It is also possible to use various printing tapes 5 having a tape width other than 12 mm. The present invention can be applied to various tape printers such as a tape printer that stores a character or symbol print image as dot pattern data.

[0030]

According to the tape printer of the first aspect, the tape length setting means, the size setting means, the initial value setting means, the data writing means, the data rewriting means,
Each time the input character string and the numbering character string stored in the data storage means are printed in the print area of the tape, the numbering character string is sequentially counted up from the initial value and the data is added. If the total length of the input character string and the numbering character string cannot be printed in the print area, the printing of the input character string and the numbering character string is stopped. It is possible to prevent the creation of unnecessary tape that exceeds the size of the pasted area.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tape printer.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a printing mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system of the tape printer.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a tape length table.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a count value table.

FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of a tape print control routine.

FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of a tape length setting process control routine.

FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart of a routine for automatic count setting processing control.

FIG. 10 is a schematic flowchart of a print processing control routine.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example of document data.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a display example of a tape length setting screen.

FIG. 13 is a view corresponding to FIG. 12 in which a desired tape length is set.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a display example of an automatic count setting screen.

15 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 14 in which a desired maximum count value is set.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a display example of a warning message.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of printing a document in the auto count mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Tape Printing Device 3 Keyboard 13 Thermal Head 22 Liquid Crystal Display 24 Tape Feed Motor 29 CPU 32 ROM 40 RAM 41 Text Memory 44 Print Buffer C Controller PM Printing Mechanism

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A length of a tape as a printing medium which receives input data for inputting characters and symbols and various commands, data storage means for storing the input data, and data of the data storage means. In a tape printer having a printing means for printing on a tape while feeding in a direction, and a display means including a display for displaying characters and symbols stored in a data storage means, a predetermined right end of a divided tape to be divided after printing. A tape length setting means for setting a tape length which is a total length of a margin and a print area and a predetermined left end margin, a size setting means for setting a size of the character or symbol to be printed, and a print area in the print area. Initial value setting means for setting at least an initial value of a numbering character string which is printed together with the input character string and is counted up for each divided tape; Data writing means for storing the data of the initial value in the data storage means in association with the input character string, and the numbering character string is sequentially counted up from the initial value each time the printing in the printing area is completed, and the data is stored in the data storage means. Data rewriting means for rewriting the data of the numbering character string, data of the set tape length data and character size, and the data of the numbering character string stored in the data storage means are printed in the printing area. Determining means for calculating the total length of the input character string and the numbering character string to determine whether or not it is possible to print in the print area, and stopping when the determining means determines that printing is impossible A tape printing device comprising: an instruction unit.