JPH07214828A - Tape printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a desired label easily and avoid the waste of tape by providing a means which, upon receiving an instruction of the restarting of printing, resumes the printing operation by a printing control means starting with the top of a text whose printing has been interrupted. CONSTITUTION:A detection hole is provided along the transfer passage of the printing tape 8 in a tape cassette CS and, from the detection hole, a tape end sensor 60, i.e., tape end detection means, detects the end of the tape. The tape end sensor 60 is of a noncontact reflection type photosensor which is provided on a supporting body 19 and consists of a light emitting diode serving as light emitting element and a phototransistor serving as light receiving element and which is so constructed that the light emitting diode can emit light against the printing tape 8 and the phototransistor can detect the light reflected from the tape. When the tape end sensor 60 detects the light reflected from the metal tape bonded to the end of the printing tape 8, a printer 6 recognizes that the printing tape 8 has reached the end.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape printer, and more particularly to a tape printer capable of detecting the end of a tape which is a print medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a label is created by printing a text or an image on a wound tape-shaped medium (hereinafter referred to as a printing tape) and cutting the printed printing tape. A tape printing device that can do this has been proposed. An adhesive layer is provided on the back surface of the label produced in this way so that it can be freely attached, and it is suitable for use in various applications such as indexes.

In such a tape printer, even if the printing tape runs out during printing, the printing operation is continued regardless of it. Therefore, a large load is applied to the drive mechanism such as the print head and the motors and gears related to tape feeding, which may cause a failure in some cases.

Therefore, there has been proposed a tape printer which monitors the end of the tape by an optical sensor or the like and controls the printing operation to be stopped when the tape breakage is detected.

[0005]

However, if only the printing operation is interrupted by the occurrence of the tape end, a label in the middle of printing is generated, and the operator needs to replenish the printing tape in order to obtain the desired label. After that, the printing operation had to be reissued from the beginning and the printing operation had to be performed again. Also, if you are in the middle of continuous printing to print multiple labels at one time and the operation is stopped due to tape break after printing several sheets, to obtain all labels, After the tape was replenished, the printing operation had to be commanded again from the beginning and the printing operation had to be re-executed from the first sheet.

This requires a considerable amount of time to obtain the desired label and also requires the operator to perform extra operations.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to automatically restart the printing process interrupted by a tape break, from the text at the time of interruption, and It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape printing apparatus that enables a desired label to be easily obtained without requiring a troublesome operation, has high work efficiency, and does not waste tape.

[0008]

In order to achieve this object, a tape printer according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a printing means including a print head for printing a dot pattern on a tape as a printing medium, and a character. Input means for inputting characters, symbols, etc., data storage means for storing text data such as input characters, symbols, etc., and printing for printing on the printing means by receiving data from the data storage means to create dot pattern data And a tape end detecting means for detecting the end of the tape, and when the tape end detecting means detects the end of the tape during the printing operation of the printing means, interrupts the printing process. Print interrupting means, a restart command key for instructing restart of the printing process, and a restart command by the restart command key during the suspension of the printing process. If, and a resuming print resuming means a printing process by the printing control unit to print from the beginning of the interrupted text.

The restart command key may also function as a discharge command key for commanding tape transport.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape printing apparatus including a printing means including a print head for printing a dot pattern on a tape as a printing medium, an input means for inputting characters and symbols, and an input. A tape storage that stores the tape, including data storage means for storing the text data such as the written characters and symbols, and print control means for receiving the data of the data storage means to create dot pattern data and printing it on the printing means. A cassette is mountable, and further, a tape end detecting means for detecting the end of the tape, a tape exchange detecting means for detecting exchange of the tape storage cassette, and the tape during the printing operation by the printing means. When the end detection means detects the end of the tape, the printing interruption means for interrupting the printing processing, and the above-mentioned test during the interruption of the printing processing. When the tape exchange detection means detects the exchange of the tape storage cassette, a print restart means for restarting the print processing by the print control means from the beginning of the text whose printing has been interrupted is triggered by the completion of the exchange of the cassette. I have it.

It is to be noted that a cover opening / closing detecting means for detecting opening / closing of a cover covering an upper surface of a mounting portion for mounting the tape storage cassette is provided, and the printing restarting means is provided when the cover opening / closing detecting means detects closing of the cover. When the replacement of the tape storage cassette is completed, the printing process may be restarted.

[0012]

In the tape printer according to claim 1 of the present invention having the above structure, the tape end detecting means is
Since the end of the tape is detected, when the end of the tape is detected by the tape end detection means during the printing operation of the printing means, the print interruption means works on the print control means to interrupt the printing process.

When the restart command key is pressed, a restart command of the printing process is commanded, and when the restart command is received by the restart command key during the interruption of the printing process,
The print resuming unit restarts the print processing by the print control unit from the beginning of the text whose printing has been interrupted.

In this way, with one push of the restart command key,
Since printing is automatically restarted from the text interrupted by the tape break, the tape is not wasted and the operator is not burdened with troublesome key operations.

On the other hand, in the tape printer according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the tape end detecting means detects the end of the tape, the tape end detecting means detects the end of the tape during the printing operation by the printing means. Is detected, the print interrupting means works on the print controlling means to interrupt the print processing.

Then, the tape exchange detection means detects the exchange of the tape storage cassette, and when the exchange of the tape storage cassette is detected by the tape exchange detection means during the interruption of the printing process, the completion of the exchange of the cassette is taken as an opportunity. Then, the print resuming means restarts the print processing by the print control means from the beginning of the text for which printing is interrupted.

As described above, since the exchange of the tape cassette is sensed and the printing is automatically restarted from the text interrupted by the tape break, the tape is not wasted and
Label production can be resumed immediately without burdening the operator with key operations.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The present embodiment is a case where the present invention is applied to a tape printer capable of inputting valid data for a large number of characters and figures such as alphabetic characters and symbols and printing on a printing tape.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tape printer 1 is
A data creating device 2 including a CRT display 3 capable of displaying characters and symbols for a plurality of lines, a keyboard 4, and a control body 5, and a control line 5 connected to the control body 5 of the data creating device 2. It is composed of a printer 6. Here, the CRT display 3 and the keyboard 4 are connected to the control main body section 5 via connection lines, respectively.

The keyboard 4 includes character keys for inputting alphabets, numbers and symbols, a space key, a return key, a cursor movement key for moving the cursor vertically and horizontally, and a size setting key for setting the size of a print character. A typeface setting key for setting the typeface of print characters, various editing function keys, a print key for executing printing, and the like are provided. The keyboard 4 in this embodiment corresponds to the input means of the present invention.

Further, the printer 6 is provided with two keys on its upper surface, a power key 6a of the printer 6 and a discharge key 6b for performing a feed cut of the printing tape 8. The feed cut of this embodiment is to cut the tape after feeding the printing tape 8 by 25 mm.
Further, a cassette cover 7 is attached to the side surface of the printer 6 so as to be openable and closable.
S can be attached. Further, a small mechanical switch 7a (see FIG. 2) for detecting the opening / closing of the cassette cover 7 is provided.

Next, the printing mechanism PM built in the printer 6 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 2. The rectangular tape storage cassette CS is detachably attached to the printing mechanism PM.
Has been installed, and this tape storage cassette CS has
A tape spool 9 on which a printing tape 8 having a width of about 24 mm made of a transparent film is wound, a ribbon supply spool 11 on which an ink ribbon 10 is wound, and a take-up spool 12 on which the ink ribbon 10 is wound. A supply spool 14 in which a double-sided tape 13 having the same width as the printing tape 8 is wound with the release paper outside and a joining roller 15 for joining the printing tape 8 and the double-sided tape 13 are rotatably provided. Has been.

In the vicinity of the end portion of the printing tape 8, a metal tape as a light reflecting tape having a high light reflectance is attached on one surface.

In the tape cassette CS, a detection hole 61 is provided in the middle of the conveying path of the printing tape 8, and a tape end sensor 60 corresponding to the tape end detection means of the present invention is provided in the detection hole 61. The end of is detected. The tape end sensor 60 is provided on a support 19 described later, and is composed of a light emitting diode which is a light emitting element and a phototransistor which is a light receiving element. It is a non-contact reflection type photo sensor configured so that a photo transistor can detect it. When the tape end sensor 60 detects the reflected light of the metal tape attached to the end portion of the printing tape 8, the printer 6 recognizes that the printing tape 8 reaches the end.

A thermal head 16 is erected at a position where the printing tape 8 and the ink ribbon 10 overlap each other, a platen roller 17 for pressing the printing tape 8 and the ink ribbon 10 against the thermal head 16, and a printing head. Tape 8
A feed roller 18 that presses the double-sided tape 13 against the joining roller 15 is rotatably supported by a support body 19 that is rotatably attached to the frame of the printer 6. In this thermal head 16, a heating element group consisting of 128 heating elements is vertically arranged in a row.

Accordingly, by driving the tape feed motor 50 (see FIG. 3) in the predetermined rotation direction, the joining roller 15 and the take-up spool 12 are driven in synchronism with each other in the predetermined rotation direction, and the heating elements are energized. At this time, characters are printed on the printing tape 8 by a plurality of dot rows, and the printing tape 8 is fed in the tape feeding direction A in a state where the double-sided tape 13 is joined, and as shown in FIG. 6 is sent out. The details of the printing mechanism PM are the same as those of the known printing mechanism disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-106555, and therefore the description thereof is omitted.

As the tape accommodating cassette CS, five kinds of cassettes CS accommodating the printing tapes 8 having tape widths of 6 mm, 9 mm, 12 mm, 18 mm and 24 mm are prepared. The bottom wall is provided with any one of the first to third projecting pieces 20 to 22 in combination. Then, on the frame of the printer 6, the first protruding piece to the third protruding piece 2 are provided.
A tape width sensor 53 (see FIG. 3) made of a photo interrupter for detecting the presence or absence of 0 to 22 is attached. The tape width sensor 53 corresponds to the tape exchange detecting means of the present invention.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, three projecting pieces 20 to 22 are attached to the tape storage cassette CS which stores the printing tape 8 having a tape width of 24 mm. However, although not shown, in the tape storage cassette CS that stores the printing tape 8 having a tape width of 18 mm,
Only the first and second projecting pieces 20 and 22 are attached to the tape storage cassette CS in which only the first and second projecting pieces 20 and 21 are attached and the printing tape 8 having a tape width of 12 mm is accommodated. Only the first projecting piece 20 is attached to the tape storage cassette CS that stores the printing tape 8 having a tape width of 9 mm, and the printing tape 8 having a tape width of 6 mm is attached.
Only the second and third projecting pieces 21 and 22 are attached to the tape storage cassette CS storing therein.

Accordingly, the tape width sensor 53 can detect the presence or absence of each of the first to third protruding pieces 20 to 22 to recognize the width of the tape stored in the tape storage cassette CS. Further, when the tape width sensor 53 does not detect any of the first protruding piece to the third protruding piece 20 to 22, it can be recognized that the tape storage cassette CS has been removed from the printing mechanism PM. .

A cutter mechanism 65 corresponding to the tape cutting means of the present invention is arranged near the label discharge hole 23 on the downstream side of the thermal head 16 along the feeding direction of the printing tape 8. . The cutter mechanism 65 has the same structure as known scissors, and includes a fixed blade 66 and a movable blade 67. The movable blade 67 is fixed to a rotation lever 69 that rotates about a pivot shaft 68, and
The rotating lever 69 is connected to the DC motor 71 via the gear mechanism 70.
Is connected to a pinion 72 fixed to the drive shaft 71A.

Therefore, the movable blade 67 is opened and closed with the pivot shaft 68 as a fulcrum via the pinion 72, the gear mechanism 70, and the turning lever 69 in accordance with the forward and reverse rotations of the drive shaft 71A of the DC motor 71. , The fixed blade 6 with this opening / closing operation
The label 25 produced in cooperation with 6 is cut. The printing position by the thermal head 11 and the cutting position by the cutter mechanism 65 are separated by a distance n.
This distance n is defined as the head-cutter distance n. In this embodiment, n = 25 mm.

Next, the control system of the tape printer 1 is shown in FIG.
The block diagram of FIG.

First, the control system of the data creating device 2 will be described. A CRT display controller (C) having a keyboard (K / B) 4 and a display RAM for outputting display data to a CRT display (CRTD) 3 is described.
The RTC) 30 and the floppy disk drive controller (FDC) 32 for the floppy disk drive (FDD) 31 provided in the control body 5 are the input / output interfaces () of the control device C1 provided in the control body 5. Input / output I / F) 36 are connected to each.

The controller C1 and the CPU 33 and this CP
An input / output interface 36 connected to the U33 via a bus 38 such as a data bus, a communication interface (I / F) 37, and a hard disk drive controller (HDC) for a hard disk drive device (HDD) 34 equipped with a hard disk. ) 35 and RAM4
It is composed of 0 and 0.

In the hard disk, a display pattern data memory in which dot pattern data for display is stored in association with code data for each of a large number of characters, and for each of a large number of characters in order to print a character, The outline data that defines the outline of the character (outline data) is classified by typeface (Gothic typeface, Mincho typeface, etc.) and stored in association with the code data. CRT display controller 30 corresponding to character code data such as numbers, numbers and symbols
A display drive control program for controlling the image data, an image development control program for converting outline data corresponding to each code data in the text memory 41 of the RAM 40 into dot pattern data and outputting the dot pattern data to the printer 6, Stores control programs, etc.

A text memory (corresponding to a data storage means) 41 of the RAM 40 stores document data input from the keyboard 4. The print format memory 42 stores a plurality of print format information such as set character size data and typeface number data. The print buffer 43 stores dot pattern data for printing of characters and symbols that have been image-developed. The work memory 44 temporarily stores data necessary for data processing.

Next, the control system of the printer 6 will be described. The drive circuit 5 for driving the thermal head 16
2 and a drive circuit 5 for driving the tape feed motor 50
1 and a drive circuit 73 for driving the DC motor 71
, The tape width sensor 53, and the tape end sensor 60 are input / output interfaces (input / output I / O) of the control device C2.
F) 57 is connected to each.

The control device C2 and the CPU 54 and the CP
An input / output interface 57 connected to the U54 via a bus 59 such as a data bus, a communication interface (I / F) 58, a ROM 55, and a RAM 56.

The ROM 55 stores a print drive control program for driving the thermal head 16 and the tape feed motor 50 based on the dot pattern data transmitted from the data generating device 2.

In the RAM 56, a receiving buffer 56a for receiving the dot pattern data transmitted from the data creating device 2 via the communication interface 58, an image buffer 56b for storing the received data,
Various memories for temporarily storing the calculation result calculated by the CPU 54, a flag indicating the operation state of each unit, a pointer, and the like are provided.

Next, the tape printing control routine executed by the control device C1 of the data creating device 2 will be described with reference to the schematic flow charts of FIGS. still,
Reference numeral Si (i = 10, 11, 12, ...) In the drawing represents each step.

When the power is turned on, this control is started, and when printable keys such as alphabet keys, symbol keys, and numeric keys are operated (S10 / S11: Yes).
), RA using the input code data as document data
The document data input process for storing the text data in the text memory 41 of M40 is executed, and at the same time, the display process for displaying the character corresponding to the code data on the CRT display 3 is executed (S12), and the process returns to S10. For example, as the document data, the document data “Thomas JEFFERSON” “BROTHER” for printing three labels shown in FIG. 6 is used.
When "ER, LTD.""718-587-0404" is input, this document data is stored in the text memory 41 and displayed on the CRT display 3.

Next, when the size setting key, typeface setting key, or various editing keys are operated (S10: Yes, S1
1, S13: No), print format information such as character size data and typeface number data is stored in the print format memory 42 of the RAM 40, and the process corresponding to the operated key is executed (S15), and the process returns to S10. .

Next, when continuous printing of the above three data is selected and the print key is operated (S10: Yes, S
11: No, S13: Yes), and print processing control (see FIG. 5) is executed (S14).

When this control is started, each character and symbol of the document data ("Thomas ...") of the first label stored in the text memory 41 are stored in the print format memory 42. Outline data is read from the font memory based on the print format information stored. On the other hand, the dot pattern is expanded or reduced to have the set character size and expanded into a dot pattern. Then, the developed dot pattern data is stored in the print buffer 43 (S20).

When the image conversion process is completed, an operation status notification command is sent to the printer 6 via the communication interface 37 and the connection line L, and the printer 6 is made to send the operation status of each internal mechanism (S21). If the received operation status is normal and operation is possible (S22: NO
), The above dot pattern data is transmitted to the printer 6 via the communication interface 37 and the connection line L (S23). On the other hand, when the printer 6 has an abnormality or the printing process is in progress (S22: YES), the CRT
The reason is displayed on the display 3, and the process waits until the abnormality is resolved or the previous printing process is completed.

When the dot pattern data for one label is transmitted, a print command is then transmitted (S24). As a result, the document data is printed on the printing tape 8. Next, when the eject command and the tape cut command are transmitted (S2
5) After the printing tape 8 is fed by a predetermined amount, it is cut by the cutter mechanism 65, and the label "Thomas JEF" is printed.
FERSON "is completed.

When document data of the next label exists in the text memory 41 in addition to the created label (S26: YES), the processing steps of S20 to S26 are repeated. When there is no other document data (S26: NO), this control is terminated and the process returns to S10 of tape printing control.

Next, the tape print control routine executed by the controller C2 of the printer 6 will be described with reference to FIGS.
It will be described based on the schematic flowchart of FIG.

When the power is turned on, this control is started, and first, data relating to tape printing control such as clearing the reception buffer 56a and the image buffer 56b of the RAM 56 is initialized (S30). Then, the state of waiting for reception of the data sent from the data creation device 2 is entered (S31.
S32: YES).

When the data is received (S32: NO) and the data is the document data consisting of the dot pattern of the label (S33), the received document data is sequentially stored in the image buffer 41 of the RAM 56 (S37). . After storing, the process returns to S31 and waits for the data from the data creating device 2 to be sent again.

If the data received in S33 is not image data, it is determined whether the data is a print command (S34). If it is a print command (S34: YE
S), the printing process shown in FIG. 8 is performed (S37), and the document data stored in the image buffer 41 is transferred to the printing tape 8
To print. When printing is completed, the process returns to S31.

In S34, if the print command is not received,
The operation according to each received command such as data operation, print operation setting, and driving of each unit of the printer 6 is performed (S
35). For example, in the case of a discharge command, the printed label is conveyed 25 mm downstream. Also, if you receive an operation status notification command,
It returns the current print processing status and the operating status of the printer 6 such as an abnormality in each mechanism. After each operation according to the command is completed, the process returns to S31.

In the printing process in S37, the image pointer is first initialized as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 (S50). After that, one dot row at the position indicated by the image pointer is printed (S51). Information from the tape end sensor is taken out (S52), and it is determined whether or not the end of the printing tape 8 (hereinafter referred to as tape end) is detected (S53). If it is not the tape end (S53: NO
), The image pointer is incremented (S5
Four). If there is data that has not been printed in the image buffer (S55: NO), the procedure returns to S51.
Continue printing. When all the data stored in the image buffer 41 is printed by repeating S51 to S55 (S55: YES), the process returns to S31 in FIG.

In S53, when the tape end is detected, that is, when the tape end sensor 60 detects the reflected light of the metal tape, the CPU 54 turns on the flag indicating the malfunction, and indicates that the tape end is reached. The creation device 2 is notified (S56). Then, the data processing device 2 performs an interrupt process, the data creation device 2 drives the CRTC 30 to display the tape end on the CRT display 3, and the tape print control is interrupted.

Further, the printer 6 side immediately stops the driving of the thermal head 16 and the tape feed motor 50, and interrupts the printing operation (S57). Then, after the printing operation is stopped, the DC motor 71 is driven to cut the label in the process of being created (S58), and thereafter the printing restart process (S59) is performed. Note that S57 in the above processing step corresponds to the print interrupting means of the present invention.

The operator, who knows that the tape has run out, opens the cassette cover 7, removes the used tape storage cassette CS, replaces it with a new one, and mounts the tape storage cassette CS on the printing mechanism. In the replacement work, since the label in the process of being produced is cut off, the tape does not get caught in the label discharge hole 23, the cutter mechanism 65, or the like, and the tape storage cassette CS becomes difficult to remove.

For the print restart control in S59, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, the control mechanism C2 receives a key input (S70),
It is determined whether or not the key is the discharge key 6b (S7
1) If it is the ejection key 6b (S71: YES), it is recognized that the replacement of the tape storage cassette CS is completed. Then, the image pointer is aligned with the beginning of the document data (S7
2). The discharge key 6b at this time corresponds to the restart command key of the present invention.

Further, the flag indicating the malfunction is turned off to notify the data creating device 2 that the tape breakage has been resolved (S73). Then, the tape printing process of the data creation device 2 which was suspended in S56 described above is restarted.

Then, the print restart routine is skipped and the process returns to S51 in FIG. 8 to restart the operation of printing the document data stored in the image buffer 41 from the beginning. The processing steps S70 to S73 described above correspond to the print restarting means of the present invention.

Specifically, when the tape end is detected while the first label is created and the second label "BROTHER, LTD." Is being printed, the CRT display 3 displays "Tape out." Please replace the cassette. "Is displayed. Then, the printing operation of the printer 6 immediately stops. At the same time, the label "BROT ..." That was being printed is cut off.

The operator takes out the old cassette,
When the discharge key is pressed after the replacement with a new cassette, the printer 6 starts to move again with the pressing of the discharge key.
And the second label "BROTHER, LT" that failed to print
D. "from the beginning. When the creation of the second label is completed, the data "718-587-0404" of the third label is received from the data creation device 2 and printing is continued. When the creation of the third label is completed, the operation of the printer 6 ends normally.

As described above, the above-described print resuming process does not require a troublesome key operation for the print process interrupted by the tape break, and automatically changes the text from the interrupted text by pressing the key once. Since printing can be resumed,
Good work efficiency and no waste of tape.

Since the key for instructing to restart printing is not newly provided and is also used as the discharge key 6b, the operator can press the key without hesitation. Moreover, the structure of the printer 6 does not become complicated, and at the same time, the manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

In addition to the above, the printing restart process in S59 may be the one shown in FIG.

First, a replacement flag, which is a flag for determining whether or not the tape storage cassette CS has been replaced, is reset (set to 0) (S80). Then, the output of the tape width sensor 53 is read (S81), and it is determined whether or not the tape-cut cassette is still mounted (S82).
If it is still attached (S82: YES), the flow proceeds to S84 and it is determined whether or not the replacement flag is 1. in this case,
Since the flag is 0 (S84: NO), the process returns to S81.

When the tape-cut cassette is removed (S82: NO), the exchange flag is set to 1 (S83),
It returns to S81 and waits for a new tape storage cassette CS to be mounted. When a new tape storage cassette CS is loaded (S82: YES, S84: YES), the process moves to S85 to reset the image pointer to the initial position.

Further, the flag indicating the malfunction is turned off to notify the data creating device 2 that the tape breakage has been resolved (S86). Then, the tape printing process of the data creation device 2 which was suspended in S56 described above is restarted.

Then, the print restart routine is skipped and the process returns to S51 in FIG. 8 to restart the printing of the document data stored in the image buffer 41 from the beginning. Incidentally, the above processing step S
80 to S86 correspond to the print resuming means of the present invention.

The other printing restart process described above does not require key operation for the printing process interrupted by the tape shortage, automatically detects the exchange of the tape storage cassette CS, and detects the text at the time of interruption. Printing can be resumed from. Therefore, the work efficiency is further improved, and the tape is not wasted.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For example, although the tape end sensor 60 for detecting the end of the tape in this embodiment is a reflection type photosensor, the light emitting diode and the phototransistor are arranged so as to face each other with the printing tape 8 interposed therebetween, and light is emitted. It may be a transmissive transistor configured such that the phototransistor detects the transmitted light of the diode.

Further, in the second embodiment of the print resuming process, the tape width sensor 53 is used as the tape exchange detecting means, but the small mechanical switch 7a for detecting the opening / closing of the cassette cover 7 of the printer 6 is replaced. May be used for. That is, in the flowchart of FIG. 10, the output of the mechanical switch 7a is read in S81 of the processing step, and S
At 82, it is determined whether or not the cassette cover 7 is closed, and if it is opened, the process proceeds to S83, and if it is blocked, the process proceeds to S84. By doing so, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0075]

As is apparent from the above description, the tape printer according to the first aspect of the present invention stops the printing operation when the end of the tape is detected during label production. Then, after the tape replenishment is completed, the operator simply presses a predetermined key to automatically restart the printing from the text interrupted by the tape break. Therefore, the tape can be simply produced without wasting the tape and without burdening the operator with troublesome key operations.

On the other hand, the tape printer according to the second aspect of the present invention stops the printing operation when the end of the tape is detected during label production. Then, when the completion of the tape replenishment is detected, the printing can be automatically restarted from the text interrupted by the tape shortage. Since the printing is automatically restarted in this manner, the work efficiency is good, the tape is not wasted, and the label production can be immediately restarted without burdening the operator with key operations.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tape printer.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a printing mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the tape printer.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a tape printing control routine in the data creation device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of a print processing control routine in the data creation device.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of input document data.

FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of a tape printing control routine in the printer.

FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of a print processing control routine in the printer.

FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart of a print restart control routine in the printer.

FIG. 10 is a schematic flowchart of another print restart control routine in the printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Tape Printing Device 4 Keyboard 7 Cassette Cover 7a Mechanical Switch 8 Printing Tape 16 Thermal Head 33 CPU 41 Text Memory 53 Tape Width Sensor 54 CPU 55 ROM 56 RAM 60 Tape End Sensor PM Printing Mechanism C1 Control Device C2 Control Device

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Akihiko Niwa 15-1 Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya City Brother Industries, Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printing means including a print head for printing a dot pattern on a tape as a print medium, an input means for inputting characters and symbols, and storing text data of the input characters and symbols. A tape printing apparatus comprising: a data storage means; and a print control means for receiving data from the data storage means to create dot pattern data and causing the printing means to print the tape pattern; a tape end detection means for detecting the end of the tape; When the tape end detection means detects the end of the tape during the printing operation by the printing means, a print interruption means for interrupting the print processing, a restart instruction key for instructing restart of the print processing, and during the print processing interruption When a restart command is received by the restart command key, the printing process is performed by the print control unit from the beginning of the text whose printing has been interrupted. Tape printing apparatus comprising the resuming print resuming means. 2. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the restart command key also functions as a discharge command key for commanding tape transport. 3. A printing means including a print head for printing a dot pattern on a tape as a print medium, an input means for inputting characters and symbols, and storing text data of the input characters and symbols. A tape printing apparatus comprising: a data storage unit; and a print control unit that receives data from the data storage unit to create dot pattern data and print the dot pattern data on the printing unit, wherein a tape storage cassette storing the tape can be mounted. A tape end detecting means for detecting the end of the tape; a tape exchange detecting means for detecting the exchange of the tape storage cassette; and a printing operation when the tape end detecting means detects the end of the tape during the printing operation of the printing means. The print interruption means for interrupting the processing, and the tape exchange detection means for the tape storage cassette during the interruption of the printing processing. And a print resuming means for resuming the print processing by the print control means from the beginning of the text of which printing is interrupted when the exchange of the cassette is detected. Tape printer. 4. A cover opening / closing detecting unit for detecting opening / closing of a cover covering an upper surface of a mounting portion for mounting the tape storage cassette, wherein the printing resuming unit detects when the cover opening / closing detecting unit detects closing of the cover. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the printing process is restarted when the replacement of the tape storage cassette is completed.