JPH07266622A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To keep good printing quality without generating the missing of printing even when shift is generated in the feed direction of a medium to be printed at the time of the interruption of the printing of data to be printed in a printer such as a label printer. CONSTITUTION:Data to be printed is read by indicating an address at every one line (S1) and a current is supplied to a printing head to apply printing output to a label tape (S2) and, at every line printing processing thereof, a motor pulse is outputted to feed the label tape by one line (S4). In such a state that the printing line of the printing head is renewed (S5), after the printing of one line, for example, when the feed distance of the label tape reaches preset unnecessary blank length, printing processing is interrupted and an unnecessary blank part is cut off by a cutter and, at the time of the resumption of printing processing (S3) (S7), the address indication of the feed position of the label tape and the data to be printed is held as it is to perform the reprinting of a printing line just short of printing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer such as a label printer or a facsimile which prints a band-shaped recording paper as a print medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as one of the devices for making an original index label which is attached to an audio cassette or a video cassette and describes the contents thereof, or a name label which is attached to various belongings and describes the owner thereof, for example, Label printers are provided.

This label printer has a document creating function provided with a large number of character input keys, and document data or the like consisting of a character string arbitrarily created by this document creating function is printed by operating the print key. Data is printed on a label-shaped tape by thermal transfer printing via a thermal print head and is output. The printed label tape is sequentially conveyed and ejected to the outside from the tape ejection port on the side of the main body of the apparatus. It is designed to be cut and separated by a cutter arranged between the tape discharge port and the tape discharge port.

Since there is a certain amount of space between the thermal print head and the cutter due to its structure,
Between the tip of the label tape and the print start position of the print target data, a blank space having a length corresponding to the head-to-cutter interval is generated.

Therefore, in the actual printing on the label tape, the required leading edge margin length is set in advance before the printing start position, and the unnecessary margin portion further before this leading edge margin length is cut by the cutter. Separated.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a print state of print data on a label tape of a label printer. In FIG. 7, 1 is a label tape, P is a thermal print head arrangement position (print start position), and C is a cutter arrangement position (tape cutting position). In the initial state, as shown in FIG. The label tape 1 is set with the cutter position C as the tip by cutting the tape during the previous printing.

When printing the print data,
Within the range of the distance L between the head position P and the cutter position C, the leading end margin length l1 required before the print start position P
(L: L) is numerically set in advance by key input. In this case, from the PC interval L to the tip margin length l
1 is subtracted to obtain the unnecessary margin length l2 of the label tape 1 after the start of printing.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7 (B), the label tape 1 is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow k for each line printing of the print data at the head position P. Here, the label tape 1 When the transport distance from the start of printing of the label tape reaches the unnecessary margin length l2, the unnecessary margin portion of the label tape 1 remains with the preset leading edge margin length l1.
When it is detected that the label tape 1 has been conveyed before the cutter position C, the printing process of the print target data and the conveying process of the label tape 1 are temporarily stopped, and the cutter is driven as shown in FIG. 7C. The unnecessary blank portion of the label tape 1 is cut and separated.

As a result, at the tip of the label tape 1,
A predetermined leading edge blank area (l1) is set. After that, as shown in FIG. 7 (D), the printing process and the tape carrying process for each line are restarted, and the print data "ABC" is printed.
Will be printed on the label tape 1.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7 (E), the transport distance of the label tape 1 from the time when the final print character "C" of the print data is printed at the head position P is
A predetermined trailing edge margin portion (l3) was obtained at the trailing edge of the label tape 1 after printing by reaching "l3 + L" obtained by adding the preset trailing edge margin length l3 and the CP interval L. When it is detected, the printing process and the tape transporting process are stopped, the cutter is driven, and the printed label tape 1 is cut and separated.

As a result, the head position P and the cutter position C
Even if there is an interval L between
The unnecessary margin portion (12) is cut and separated according to 1, so that the printed label tape 1 having a predetermined front margin portion (11) and rear end margin portion (13) can be obtained.

[0012]

However, as shown in FIG. 7C, in order to cut the unnecessary margin portion (12) formed at the tip of the label tape 1, the printing process and the tape conveying process are performed. And the cutter is driven to cut and separate the unnecessary margin portion (l2), the label tape 1 is pulled in the direction of the cutter position C by the cutting pressure, so that the print interrupt position on the label tape 1 is also cut. Arrow k
There is a problem that a vertical deviation occurs in the print between the tape and the print restart position due to a slight deviation in the tape transport direction.

FIG. 8 shows a head energization signal STB and a tape transport motor pulse signal φ corresponding to the conventional one-character printing operation when printing is interrupted due to the cutting of the label tape.
3 is a timing chart showing a relationship with 1 to φ4.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a conventional one-character printing state when printing is interrupted due to the cutting of the label tape. In this case, the print head has a resolution of 8 dots per line, and one character is printed at 8 × 8 dots.
Further, the tape transport motor is a two-phase excitation type step motor, and the tape transport for one line in one step will be described.

That is, when the head energization signal A is output while the print head is set on the print line P0 by the output of the motor pulses φ3 and φ4 at the timing T0, the first line a of the print data is printed. And the motor pulses φ4 and φ
When 1 is output, the label tape 1 is conveyed by one line, and the print head is set on the print line P1.

When the head energization signal B is output, the second line b of the print data is printed and at the same time,
At timing T2, the motor pulses .phi.1 and .phi.2 are output so that the tape is further conveyed by one line and the print head is set on the print line P2.

That is, the print data is printed line by line by repeating the one line printing process by energizing the print head and the one line tape feeding process by the motor pulse output. Head energization signal C
Is output, the third line c of the print data is printed, and at the timing T3, the motor pulse φ2,
When .phi.3 is output, the tape is conveyed by one line, and when the print head is set on the print line P3, as shown in FIG. 7B, the conveying distance from the start of printing the label tape 1 is When it is detected that the unnecessary margin length l2 is reached, the energizing process of the print head and the output process of the motor pulse are temporarily stopped at the timing Ts1.

Here, as shown in FIG. 7C,
The cutter is driven, and the unnecessary blank area (l2
) Is cut and separated. At this time, the label tape 1 in which the print head is set on the print line P3 and is in the conveyance interrupted state is also pulled in the direction of the cutter position C by the cutting pressure. .DELTA.l is deviated in the conveying direction, and the print line P3 of the print head is set at P3 'with a deviation of .DELTA.l.

When the printing process is restarted at the timing Ts2, the output of the head energization signal D causes the fourth line d of the data to be printed to be printed corresponding to the printing line P3 'which is deviated by .DELTA.l. At the same time, the motor pulses φ3 and φ4 are output at the timing T4 so that the tape is again conveyed by one line and the print head is set on the print line P4. After that, one line is further supplied by energizing the print head. The printing process and the tape feeding process for one line by the output of the motor pulse are repeated at timings T5 → T6 → T7, and the printing is sequentially performed as the fifth line → the sixth line → ... and printing one character. Will be done.

As described above, in the conventional label printer,
When the printing process of the data to be printed is interrupted, the label tape 1 is cut, and the printing process is restarted, the label tape 1
There is a problem in that a vertical gap X in the print having a width corresponding to the conveyance deviation Δl is generated and the print quality is deteriorated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems,
A printing apparatus capable of maintaining good print quality without causing print defects even when the print medium is displaced in the transport direction when printing is interrupted during printing of print data. The purpose is to provide.

[0022]

That is, a first printing device according to the present invention comprises a printing means for driving a print head in which heating elements for printing are arranged in a line to print on a print medium. Conveying means for conveying the print-receiving medium according to the printing of each line of the printing means, and for stopping the driving of the printing means when the printing is interrupted, and for printing the next line by the conveying means. First control means for stopping the conveyance of the print medium, and immediately before the interruption of the printing by the printing means while the conveyance of the print medium by the conveying means is stopped when the printing is restarted. The second control means restarts the printing of the next line and the subsequent lines after the lines are repeatedly printed.

The second printing apparatus according to the present invention is
Printing means for driving a print head in which heating elements for printing are arranged in a line to print on a print medium, and conveying means for conveying the print medium according to each line of the printing of the print means. A cutter means for separating the print medium from the print head in the conveying direction of the print medium and for cutting the print medium conveyed earlier from the separated position, and in response to printing line by line by the print means. When the leading end of the print medium is conveyed to a predetermined length before the cutter means, the driving of the printing means is stopped, and the conveyance of the print medium by the conveying means is stopped.
And the control means of the first control means, when the driving of the printing means and the conveyance of the print medium is stopped, when the printing is resumed after the print medium is cut by the cutter means, A second method in which the line immediately before the interruption of the printing is overlapped and printed by the printing unit while the transfer of the print medium by the carrying unit is stopped, and then the printing of the next line and subsequent lines is restarted. And the control means of.

[0024]

That is, in the first printing apparatus, when the printing is interrupted, the driving of the printing means is stopped and the feeding of the printing medium to the next line is stopped, and when the printing is restarted. In a state in which the conveyance of the print medium to the next line is stopped, the lines immediately before the interruption of printing are overlapped and printed by the printing unit, and then the printing of the next and subsequent lines is restarted. become.

Further, in the second printing apparatus, when the leading edge of the print medium is conveyed before the cutter means according to the printing of each line by the printing means, for example, according to the unnecessary margin length, When the driving of the printing means is stopped, the feeding of the printing medium to the next line is stopped, the unnecessary margin portion at the tip of the printing medium is cut by the cutter means, and when the printing is restarted, While the conveyance of the print-receiving medium to the line is stopped, the lines immediately before the interruption of printing are overlapped and printed by the printing means, and then the printing of the next line and subsequent lines is restarted.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view showing the configuration of a label printer equipped with the printing apparatus of the present invention.

A key input unit 11 and a liquid crystal dot matrix display unit 12 are provided on the front surface of the printer body 10. The key input unit 11 includes an “ON” key 13a for turning on / off the power supply, an “OFF” key 13b, various character / symbol input keys 14 operated when inputting hiragana, English symbols, and alphanumeric characters. “AA” key 15 operated when setting the symbol input mode, “A” key 16 operated when setting the Hiragana / Katakana input mode, “blank” key 17 operated when blank input , "Cancel" key 18 operated to cancel the processing contents before that in each mode, "Conversion" key 19a selectively operated to perform desired kana / kanji conversion, "single kanji"
Key 19b, "No conversion" key 19c, "Execution" key 20 operated when selecting / executing Kanji conversion, etc., "Function" key operated when selecting a function displayed beside each key 21, a "print" key 22 that is operated when starting the printing process, a cursor key "↑" 23a that is operated when performing a screen scroll operation, a cursor movement operation, or a data selection operation on the liquid crystal display unit 12; "↓"
23b, “→” 23c, “←” 23d, and a “mode” key 24 operated when setting the character data input mode or the print mode.

In addition to the above, the key input section 11 is provided with various function keys that are appropriately operated when creating and displaying the print data. That is, for example, in the character data input mode, when the user wants to input "ABC" to print a label, first operate the character / symbol input key 14 to input "A", "B", and "C". Part 1
"ABC" is sequentially displayed on the display 2.

When the print mode is set and the "print" key 22 is operated, the input character string "ABC" is printed on the label tape 32a and output. On the other hand, inside the printer body 10 adjacent to the liquid crystal dot matrix display section 12, a cassette mounting section 31 is provided as shown by cutting out a part thereof, and the cassette mounting section 31 is provided.
The ink tape cassette 32 is mounted and used in the printer.

The ink tape cassette 32 has an adhesive label tape 32 on which the print target data is printed.
a and an ink ribbon 32b for printing on the label tape 32a are provided, and the label tape 32a is a transfer section 32.
In c, the ink ribbon 32b is in parallel contact with the ink ribbon 32b and simultaneously advances, and is fed from the tape feeding portion 32d.

In the ink tape cassette 32, the opening / closing lid 10a covering the upper front part of the printer body 10 excluding the key input portion 11 is opened from the cassette mounting portion 31 by operating the lock switch 10b. The ribbon take-up spool 33 arranged inside the ink tape cassette 32 is detachable, and is rotationally driven by a tape transport motor (not shown).
The label tape 32a that comes into contact with the tape is also pulled out in parallel at the same time.

In this case, the platen roller 34 is positioned along the label tape 32a in the transfer portion 32c of the ink tape cassette 32, and the thermal head 3
5 is positioned along the ink ribbon 32b in the transfer section 32c.

Further, the tape feeding portion 32d is separated from the print position corresponding to the line type heating element of the thermal head 35 by a constant distance L in the conveying direction of the label tape 32a.
A cutter 36 for cutting and separating the label tape 32a conveyed prior to the tape feeding portion 32d is arranged on the paper.

Here, in the transfer portion 32c, the label tape 32a and the ink ribbon 32b are separated from the platen roller 34 and the thermal head 3 when the opening / closing lid 10a is closed accompanying the replacement of the ink tape cassette 32.
When the opening / closing lid 10a is opened, the platen roller 34 is separated from the thermal head 35, and the ink tape cassette 32 is set in a replaceable state.

That is, the label tape 32 with adhesive
During the printing operation of the print data for a, the label tape 32a and the ink ribbon 32b are conveyed at the same speed in the transfer portion 32c by the rotation of the ribbon take-up spool 33 and the platen roller 34, and the thermal head 35 is moved. By sandwiching the label tape 32a and the ink ribbon 32b between the platen roller 34 and the thermal transfer operation, the print data is sequentially printed on the label tape 32a and fed from the tape feeding portion 32d, and the printed portion Are discharged to the outside of the printer body 10.

When printing of one label is completed,
The printed label tape 32a is cut and separated by the cutter 36. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic circuit of the label printer.

In the electronic circuit of this label printer, the control of the entire circuit is controlled by the control unit (CPU) 40.
The key input unit 11 is connected to the control unit 40, the liquid crystal dot matrix display unit 12 is connected via the display memory 41 and the display driver 42, and the thermal head 35 and the thermal head 35 are connected via the print control unit 43. The tape transport motor 44 is connected, and the cutter 36 is connected via the cutter driving unit 45.

In addition, the control unit 40 includes a ROM 4
6, the character generator 47 and the RAM 48 are connected. The ROM 46 stores in advance a system control program by the control unit 40, such as a print data creation control program and a print control program in various data input modes.

In the character generator 47, all the characters that can be input by the key input unit 11 are input.
Character pattern data corresponding to the symbol / instruction code is stored in advance.

The RAM 48 has a print data memory in which the character data input in the character data input mode is stored as print target data, and the label tape 32a preset by key input at the start of printing the print target data in the print mode. The front end margin length l1 (l: L) and the rear end margin length l3 are stored, and the unnecessary margin length l2 calculated based on the front end margin length l1 and the distance L from the thermal head 35 to the cutter 36 is stored. A margin length register to be stored is provided.

In the print control unit 43, the print data sequentially read from the print data memory in the RAM 48 at the start of printing the print data is the thermal head 35.
The tape feeding motor 44 is driven to rotate the ribbon take-up spool 33 in synchronism with one line of data being printed out on the label tape 32a by the label tape 32a. Along with each printing, the ink tape cassette 32 is fed out line by line and conveyed and discharged.

Although not shown, the cutter 36 is
For example, a fixed blade and a movable blade are provided, the movable blade is connected to a drive motor via a cam, and the movable blade is actuated by driving the drive motor to perform tape cutting between these blades. . The drive motor is controlled by the control unit (C
It is driven by the motor drive voltage supplied from the cutter drive unit 45 under the control of the PU) 40.

Next, the operation of the label printer having the above structure will be described. When creating an arbitrary label using this label printer, first, the mode key 24 is operated to set the input mode, and the character / symbol string to be printed is input.

The control unit 40 saves the data input from the key input unit 11 in the print data memory in the RAM 48, converts the data into a display font using the character generator 47, and sets the display data in the display memory 41. To do. The display driver 42 displays the display data stored in the display memory 41 on the liquid crystal dot matrix display unit 12. The control unit 40 also performs processing such as Kana-Kanji conversion in response to an instruction from the key input unit 11.

On the other hand, at the time of printing, the label tape 32a
To set the margin length of the
To set the margin setting mode. According to the setting of the margin setting mode, the control unit 40 causes the liquid crystal dot matrix display unit 12 to display the margin setting screen via the display memory 41 and the display driver 42.

When the user operates the key input unit 11 to set appropriate values for the leading edge margin length l1 and the trailing edge margin length l3, the margin length data l1 and l3 are R
It is stored in a margin length register in the AM 48, and this tip margin length l1 is further subtracted from this margin length register from a constant distance L between the printing position P of the thermal head 35 and the tape cutting position C of the cutter 36. The unnecessary margin length l2 obtained is stored (see FIG. 7).

If no particular value is set as the margin length, the constant distance L is set as it is as the leading edge margin length l1. When printing the input print target data, the mode key 24 is operated to set the print mode, and then the print key 22 of the key input unit 11 is operated. In response to this key operation, the control unit 40 starts the printing process in accordance with the control program stored in the ROM 46, whereby the print data stored in the print data memory in the RAM 48 is sequentially read line by line. Then, the print control unit 43 performs thermal transfer printing on the label tape 32a via the thermal print head 35, and the tape drive motor 44 conveys the label tape 32a line by line (see FIG. 7).

Here, the one-character printing process that accompanies the printing process of the print target data will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the one-character printing process of the label printer.

FIG. 4 shows the head energization signal S corresponding to the one-character printing operation accompanying the one-character printing process of the label printer.
6 is a timing chart showing the relationship between TB and tape transport motor pulse signals φ1 to φ4.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a 1-character printing state accompanying the 1-character printing process of the label printer. in this case,
The thermal print head 35 has a resolution of 8 dots per line and prints with 8 × 8 dots per character, and the tape transport motor 44 is a two-phase excitation type step motor for one line per step. The description will be given assuming that the tape is conveyed.

That is, when the thermal print head 35 is set to the print line P0 of the label tape 32a by the output of the motor pulses φ3 and φ4 at the timing T0 from the print control unit 43 to the tape transport motor 44, the printing in the RAM 48 is performed. By specifying the address from the control unit 40 to the data memory, the first print data
When the line a is read and the head energization signal A is output, the first line a of the print data is printed on the print line P0 of the label tape 32a (step S).
1, S2).

At this time, it is judged whether or not the transport distance of the label tape 32a from the start of printing the print data has reached the unnecessary margin length l2 previously stored in the margin length register in the RAM 48, and the unnecessary length is eliminated. It is determined whether or not printing is stopped (interrupted) for cutting the margin length l2. Here, the conveyance distance of the label tape 32a is not required.
If it is determined that the printing does not need to be stopped, the label tape 32a is conveyed by one line by outputting the motor pulses φ4 and φ1 at timing T1, and the thermal print head 35 is set on the print line P1. At the same time, the second line b of the print target data stored in the print data memory in the RAM 48 is addressed (steps S3 → S4, S5).

Then, it is judged whether or not the printing of one character is completed according to the address designation for each line data to the print data memory in the RAM 48. In this case, in step S5, the print data is printed. Since the second line b of 1 is addressed, it is determined that the printing is not completed, and the process returns to the process from step S1 (step S6 → S1).

That is, when the thermal print head 35 is set on the print line P1 of the label tape 32a and the second line b of the print data is read and the head energization signal B is output, the label Tape 32
The second line b of the print data is printed on the print line P1 of a (steps S1 and S2).

Here, if the conveyance distance of the label tape 32a does not reach the unnecessary margin length l2 and it is judged that it is not necessary to stop printing, the motor pulse φ is generated at the timing T2.
By outputting 1, φ2, the label tape 32a is conveyed by one line, the thermal print head 35 is set on the print line P2, and the third print data stored in the print data memory in the RAM 48 is printed. Line c is addressed (steps S3 → S4, S5).

That is, it is judged whether or not the printing stop for cutting the label tape 32a is necessary for each one-line printing process by energizing the print head, and when the printing stop is not necessary, 1 is output by the motor pulse. By repeating the tape transport process for the line, the print data stored in the print data memory in the RAM 48 is printed line by line on the label tape 32a via the thermal print head 35.

After that, by the processes of steps S4 and S5, while the thermal print head 35 is set on the print line P2 of the label tape 32a, step S
After the processing of 1 and S2, the third line c of the print data is read, and by the output of the head energization signal C, the third line c of the print data is printed on the print line P2 of the label tape 32a. Then, in step S3, the transport distance of the label tape 32a is determined by the RAM 48.
Unnecessary margin length l previously stored in the margin length register in
When it is determined that the value has reached 2, the head energization process and the motor pulse output process by the print control unit 43 are stopped (interrupted) at the timing Ts1, and the print resumption waiting state is set (steps S3 → S7).

Here, the cutter 36 is driven via the cutter drive unit 45, and the unnecessary margin portion (l2) of the label tape 32a conveyed prior to the cutter 36 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (C), the label tape is cut and separated, and at this time, after printing the third line c in the print line P2, the thermal printing head 35 is set in the print line P2 and the print is suspended. 32a is also pulled in the direction of the cutter 36 by the cutting pressure, so that the label tape 32a is displaced by .DELTA.l and the print line P2 of the thermal print head 35 is displaced by .DELTA.l.
Set to 2 '.

[Execution] in the key input unit 11
When the printing process is restarted at the timing Ts2 by operating the key 20 again, the third line c of the print target data is left without updating the printing line P2 → P3.
Is read again, and by re-outputting the head energization signal C, the third line c of the print data is overlapped and printed corresponding to the print line P2 'which is deviated by .DELTA.l (steps S7 → S1, S2).

That is, when the printing process is interrupted and restarted after printing the third line c of the print data, the transport position of the label tape 32a and the address designation of the print data are left unchanged, and the print data is printed. The third line of data is reprinted, so that the third line c is also printed on the print line P2 'where the conveyance deviation of .DELTA.l has occurred after printing the third line c on the print line P2. As a result, vertical omission of printing is prevented.

When it is determined in step S3 that it is not necessary to stop printing, motor pulses φ2 and φ3 are output at timing T3, whereby the label tape 32a for one line is conveyed again, and the thermal print head 35 is moved. RAM4 as well as set on the print line P3
The fourth line d of the print data stored in the print data memory in 8 is addressed (step S3 →
S4, S5).

Thereafter, the thermal print head 35 is further added.
1-line printing process by energizing and tape-transporting process for 1 line by motor pulse output are timing T4.
By repeating → T5 → T6 →, the fourth line d → fifth line e → sixth line f → ... Of the data to be printed is sequentially printed, and the printing process for one character is completed (step S
1 to S6).

Therefore, according to the label printer having the above structure, the print data stored in the print data memory of the RAM 48 is addressed and read line by line,
The print controller 43 prints out on the label tape 32a via the thermal print head 35, and outputs a motor pulse to the tape transport motor 44 for each one-line printing process to transport the label tape 32a one line at a time. In a state where the print line of the thermal print head 35 is updated, after printing one line, for example, the label tape 3
Since the conveyance distance from the start of printing 2a reaches the unnecessary margin length l2 previously stored in the margin length register in the RAM 48, the printing process is interrupted and the unnecessary margin portion of the label tape 32a is cut by the cutter 36. Cutting separated,
When the printing process is restarted again, the label tape 32a
Since the previous printing line is reprinted without changing the transport position and the address designation of the print data, even if the label tape 32a is displaced by the cutting pressure of the cutter 36, the same line of the print data is printed. By overlapping printing, the vertical omission of printing can be prevented, and the deterioration of printing quality can be prevented.

In the one-character printing process described in the above embodiment, it is determined whether or not printing is stopped after the reading of one line of data by the energization of the head, the motor pulse is output, and the tape is conveyed. Has been described as a procedure for addressing, for example, tape feeding and 1
After the address of the line data is designated, the reading of the designated 1-line data may be performed to perform 1-line printing by energizing the head to determine whether or not the printing is stopped.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing another embodiment of the one-character printing process of the label printer. That is, according to the one-character printing process of the other embodiment, the label printer 32a is conveyed by one line by the output of the motor pulse (step A1), and the print data stored in the print data memory in the RAM 48 is printed. 1 line data is addressed (step A2)
One line of data is printed by reading line data (step A3) and energizing the thermal print head 35 (step A4), and it is determined whether or not printing is stopped, for example, for cutting the label tape 32a (step A5).

When printing is restarted after the printing is stopped (interrupted) in the other embodiment, the immediately preceding one-line data is printed redundantly without executing the print line update processing as in the above-described embodiment. So (Steps A5 → A7 → A
3, A4), even if the label tape 32a is misaligned in conveyance, vertical omission of printing can be prevented.

Although the cutter 36 is operated under the control of the control unit (CPU) 40 in the above-mentioned embodiment, the cutter 36 may be manually operated. . That is, the cutter 36 is composed of a fixed blade and a movable blade, and an operating mechanism for operating the movable blade from outside the apparatus is provided.

In this case, when the above printing is interrupted, a message "Please cut the tape and press the execute key after processing." Is displayed on the display unit 12, and the "execute" key 20 after the tape cutting processing is performed. The printing restart process is started by pressing the button.

[0069]

As described above, according to the first printing apparatus of the present invention, when the printing is interrupted, the driving of the printing means is stopped and the medium to be printed is conveyed to the next line. When the printing is stopped and the printing is restarted, while the conveyance of the medium to be printed to the next line is stopped, the next line after the line immediately before the interruption of printing is overlapped by the printing means is printed. Printing after the line is restarted.

According to the second printing apparatus of the present invention,
When the leading edge of the print medium is conveyed before the cutter means according to the printing of each line by the printing means, for example, according to the unnecessary margin length, the driving of the printing means is stopped and the following The conveyance of the print medium to the line is stopped, the unnecessary margin portion of the tip of the print medium is cut by the cutter means, and when the printing is restarted, the conveyance of the print medium to the next line is stopped. In this state, the printing means repeats the printing of the line immediately before the interruption of printing, and then restarts the printing of the next and subsequent lines.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when the printing is interrupted during the printing of the print data, even if the print medium is misaligned in the transport direction, no print omission occurs and good print quality is obtained. It will be possible to maintain.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing the configuration of a label printer equipped with a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic circuit of the label printer.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a one-character printing process of the label printer.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing the relationship between the head energization signal STB and the tape transport motor pulse signals φ1 to φ4 corresponding to the one-character printing operation accompanying the one-character printing process of the label printer.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a one-character printing state accompanying the one-character printing process of the label printer.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the one-character printing process of the label printer.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a print state of print target data on a label tape of a label printer.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing a relationship between a head energization signal STB and tape transport motor pulse signals φ1 to φ4 corresponding to a conventional one-character printing operation when printing is interrupted due to cutting of a label tape of a label printer. .

FIG. 9 is a view showing a conventional one-character printing state when printing is interrupted due to the cutting of the label tape.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Printer main body, 11 ... Key input section, 12 ... Liquid crystal dot matrix display section, 13a ... "ON" key, 13b
... "OFF" key, 14 ... Character / symbol input key, 15 ...
"AA" key, 16 ... "Aa" key, 17 ... "Blank" key, 18 ... "Cancel" key, 19a ... "Convert" key, 1
9b ... "Single Kanji" key, 19c ... "No conversion" key, 20
... "Execute" key, 21 ... "Function" key, 22 ... "Print"
Key, 23a ... "↑" key, 23b ... "↓" key, 23
c ... "→" key, 23d ... "←" key, 24 ... "Mode" key, 31 ... Cassette loading section, 32 ... Ink tape cassette, 32a ... Label tape, 32b ... Ink ribbon, 32c ... Transfer section, 32d ... Tape feeding section, 33 ...
Ribbon take-up spool, 34 ... Platen roller, 35 ...
Thermal print head, 36 ... Cutter, 40 ... Control unit (C
PU), 41 ... Display memory, 42 ... Display driver, 43
... print control section, 44 ... tape transport motor, 45 ... cutter drive section, 46 ... ROM, 47 ... character generator, 48 ... RAM, STB ... head energization signal, φ1 to φ
4 ... Motor pulse, P0 to P7 ... Print line, a to h ...
Printed 1-line data, Δl ... Transport deviation, L ... Head /
Cutter position interval, l1 ... leading edge margin length, l2 ... unnecessary margin length, l3 ... rear edge margin length.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location B41J 11/66

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A printing means for printing on a print medium by driving a print head in which a heating element for printing is arranged in a line, and the print medium is printed according to each line of the printing means. Transporting means for transporting, first control means for stopping driving of the printing means when printing is interrupted, and stopping transporting of the print medium for printing the next line by the transporting means; At the time of restarting, while the conveyance of the print medium by the conveying means is stopped, the printing means duplicates the line immediately before the interruption of the printing, and then prints the next and subsequent lines. And a second control unit for restarting the printing apparatus. 2. A printing means for printing on a print medium by driving a print head in which a heating element for printing is arranged in a line, and the print medium according to each line of the printing of the print means. Conveying means for conveying, cutter means provided apart from the print head in the conveying direction of the print medium, and cutting the print medium previously conveyed from the separated position, and line-by-line by the printing means When the front end of the print medium is conveyed to a predetermined length before the cutter means according to the printing, the driving of the print means is stopped and the print medium is conveyed by the convey means. First control means for stopping, and a mark after the printing medium is cut by the cutter means in a state where the driving of the printing means and the conveyance of the printing medium are stopped by the first control means. At the time of resumption,
A second method in which the line immediately before the interruption of the printing is overlapped and printed by the printing unit while the transfer of the print medium by the carrying unit is stopped, and then the printing of the next line and subsequent lines is restarted. And a control unit for controlling the printing apparatus.