JPH08164656A - Tape printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To form a tapelike medium to be printed in which a date and a time are printed by a simple operation by providing timer means for counting date and time, and print control means for printing the date and the time on the medium to be printed in print means based on the timer data. CONSTITUTION: A tape printer 10 temporarily display present data or time on a display 28 merely by operating a date key 22 or a time key 24, and can form a tape 20 printed with the present date or time. By a simple operation of manipulating the key 24 or 22 until a predetermined time is elapsed after the key 22 or 24 is operated, the present date and time in the order of the date and the time or the time and the date are continuously temporarily displayed on the display 28. Further, the present date and time are continuously printed on the tape 20 in the order of the date and the time or the time.

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 characters, symbols and the like on a tape which is a print medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a character selection dial for inputting characters that are the basis of character creation such as Roman characters and hiragana,
Equipped with function keys for instructing conversion, printing, etc. of characters input by the character selection dial, and the characters input / converted by the character selection dial and function keys are taped by the thermal head built into the device. There is known a tape printer which is configured to print on a sheet and to discharge the sheet from a predetermined outlet. In addition, in this type of device, a liquid crystal display for displaying the characters input / converted by the character selection dial or the keyboard and the function key is arranged in the vicinity of the character selection dial to facilitate the character input state. You can check it.

The tape has a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer covered with a release paper. An operator prints desired characters or symbols on the tape with the tape printer, and then the tape has a desired length. The label can be attached to a desired place as a label with letters by separating the label and peeling off the release paper.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention Using the tape printing apparatus described above, when a device is purchased, or when a battery or a fluorescent lamp is replaced, a tape with a date printed is formed to make the device, the battery or the fluorescent lamp. If you put it on a sticker, it will be convenient because the date will be a reference for the next replacement time.

However, the following operation is required to print the date, for example, "March 3, 1994" on the tape by the tape printer.

First, the character selection dial is operated to operate the kana "he".
After selecting, the decision key is operated to select and confirm the pseudonym “to”, and similarly, the character selection dial and the decision key are operated to select and confirm the pseudonym “Isei”.

Next, the conversion key is operated to execute kana-kanji conversion to display kanji candidates for the kana "heisei", and the character selection dial is operated from among the displayed candidates to select "kanji". Select “Heisei” and operate the enter key to confirm the Chinese character “Heisei”.

Next, the character selection dial is operated to select "6", and the enter key or the non-conversion key is operated to enter the numeral "6".
Confirm, and perform the same operation as for inputting “Heisei” above, and input the kanji “year”. Further, when "6 years" is input, the same operation is performed, and "March" and "3 days" are input.

By the above operation, "March 3, 1994" is displayed on the display, and the print key is operated to print "March 3, 1994" on the tape. By peeling off the release paper from the printed tape,
A date-printed tape can be attached to a fluorescent lamp or the like.

As described above, in order to create a date-printed tape, it is necessary to repeatedly operate the character selection dial, the enter key, the conversion key, etc., and the operation is complicated,
It's very troublesome. In addition, a calendar and a clock are required nearby so that the operator can input the date and time.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a tape printer capable of producing a tape-shaped print medium on which the date and time are printed by a simple operation. With the goal.

[0012]

In order to achieve this object, a tape printer according to the present invention stores an input means for inputting characters and symbols and various commands, and document data input from the input means. Input data storage means, display means including a display for displaying the content of the document stored in the input data storage means, and the content of the document stored in the input data storage means is printed on a tape-shaped print medium. A tape printer having a printing means for reading, clock data for reading date and time and clock data from the clock means by a predetermined operation of the input means, and printing on the printing means based on the clock data. A print control means for printing the date and time on the medium is provided.

It is preferable that the input means includes a date key and a time key, and the print control means causes the printing means to print the date and time on the print medium by operating the date key and the time key. In addition, it is desirable that the print-receiving medium has an adhesive layer covered with a release paper on one surface.

[0014]

In the tape printer of the present invention having the above construction, the document data input from the input means is stored in the input data storage means, and the content of the document is displayed on the display of the display means. Moreover, the content of the document is printed by the printing means on the tape-shaped print medium.

When a predetermined operation of the input means is performed, the print control means reads out the clock data from the clock means and causes the printing means to print the date and time on the print medium based on the clock data.

[0016]

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a tape printer 10 of this embodiment. On the upper surface of the tape printer 10, a character selection dial 12 for selecting a character to be input by rotating it, and a function key group 21 for converting a character selected by the character selection dial 12 into a kanji character, a print command, and the like. , That function key group 21
The confirmation key 14 is provided for confirming and storing the character converted by.

In the function key group 21 described above, a conversion key 16 for converting a character selected by the character selection dial 12 into various characters such as Chinese characters, and a character stored by the enter key 14 are printed on the tape 20. Print key 18 and a date key 22 for printing the date on a tape 20 described later.
And a time key 24 for printing the time on the tape 20.
In addition, keys corresponding to various functions of the tape printer 10 such as a cancel key and a mode conversion key are provided.

The character selection dial 12, the enter key 14, and the function key group 21 constitute the input means of the present invention. A known keyboard other than the character selection dial 12 can be used as a means for selecting characters to be input.

The date key 22 and the time key 24 described above are
Since the date and time are printed on the tape 20 by one operation, two recesses 48 are provided on the upper surface of the tape printer 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, so that the tape 20 is not operated by mistake. A date key 22 and a time key 24 are arranged on the bottom of 48. Then, as shown in FIG.
The upper surfaces of the date key 22 and the time key 24 are located in the recess 48 so that the keys 22 and 24 are not operated carelessly.

On the other hand, a discharge port 26 for discharging the tape 20 after printing is provided on the left side surface of the tape printer 10, and characters are written on the upper left side of the tape printer 10 near the discharge port 26. A liquid crystal display 28 for displaying is provided along the tape ejection direction from the ejection port 26.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a tape cassette 30 accommodating the tape 20 is detachably mounted inside the tape printer 10, and the tape 20 ejected from the tape cassette 30 is attached to the tape cassette 30. A thermal head 32 for printing characters is provided.

The tape 20 constituting the printing medium of the present invention is constructed as shown in FIG. That is, the thermosensitive coloring layer 202 which is colored by being heated by the thermal head 32 is formed on one surface of the base material film 203, and the thermosensitive coloring layer 20 is formed on the upper surface of the thermosensitive coloring layer 202.
A protective layer 201 for protecting 2 is formed.

A pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 204 is formed on the other surface of the base film 203, and one surface is formed on the surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 204 opposite to the base film 203 side (the lower surface in FIG. 3). A release paper 205, which has been subjected to a release process, is releasably attached. The release paper 205 may be made of a plastic film having one surface subjected to a release treatment.

The tape 20 having the above structure is formed in a long shape, and is stored in the tape cassette 30 in a state of being wound on a spool (not shown).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of the tape printer 10. The tape printer 10 includes a character selection dial 12, a function key group 21, an enter key 14, a liquid crystal display 28, and a thermal head 3.
2 and pull out the tape 20 from the tape cassette 30,
The discharge port 2 via the print position by the thermal head 32
6, a control for driving and controlling the liquid crystal display 28, the thermal head 32, and the tape feed motor 34 on the basis of input signals from the tape feed motor 34 for transporting up to 6, the character selection dial 12, the function key group 21, and the enter key 14. The circuit 41 and the liquid crystal display 28 and the thermal head 3 based on the drive signal from the control circuit 41.
The display drive circuit 36, the head drive circuit 38, and the motor drive circuit 40, which drive the motor 2 and the tape feed motor 34, respectively.

The control circuit 41 temporarily stores the CPU 41a for performing various arithmetic processes, the data necessary for each arithmetic process, and the document data input by operating the character selection dial 12, the enter key 14, and the function key group 21. A RAM 41b for storing, a ROM 41c in which programs and data necessary for each arithmetic processing are stored, a crystal oscillator, a frequency dividing and oscillating circuit, a clock function IC 41d for engraving the current date and time, and a character printing Input signals from the printing CG / ROM 41e in which dot patterns are stored, the display CG / ROM 41f in which dot patterns for displaying characters are stored, the character selection dial 12, the function key group 21, and the enter key 14. Input interface 41g for the display drive circuit 36, De drive circuit 38 and an output interface 4 for outputting a drive signal to the motor drive circuit 40
1 h and a well-known microcomputer including a bus line 41 j for electrically transmitting and receiving signals by electrically connecting these units.

The liquid crystal display 28 and the display drive circuit 36 constitute the display means of the present invention, the thermal head 32 and the tape feed motor 34, the head drive circuit 38 and the motor drive circuit 40 constitute the printing means, and the RAM 41b. The input data storage means of the present invention is constituted by the clock function IC 41d, the clock means of the present invention is constituted by the clock function IC 41d, and the print control means of the present invention is constituted by the control circuit 41 including the CPU 41a.

The tape printer 1 constructed as described above
The operation of 0 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In the tape printer 10, after the power is turned on and a predetermined initial process is executed, the tape print process shown in FIG. 5 is executed. In this process, first,
It is determined whether or not an input is made by operating the character selection dial 12 or the function key group 21 (S1), and keys other than the date key 22 and the time key 24 or the character selection dial 1 are selected.
2 is operated (S1: YES, S2, S3: N
O), processing is performed according to the character selection dial 12 and other operated keys (S4).

The process in S4 is, for example, a process of displaying the character selected by the operation of the character selection dial 12 on the liquid crystal display 28, a process of converting the kana displayed by the operation of the conversion key 16 into a kanji character, and an enter key. 14
The data corresponding to the displayed characters is stored in the RAM 41 by the operation of
RAM stored by the process of storing in b, the operation of the print key 18
Based on the data stored in 41b, the thermal head 32 and the tape feed motor 34 are driven to print characters on the tape 20.

On the other hand, the date key 22 is operated (S1, S
2: YES), when the predetermined time has passed without operating the time key 24 (S5: NO, S7: YES), the date data regarding the current date is read from the clock function IC 41d, and based on the date data, the current date is read. Is temporarily displayed on the display 28, image data for printing the current date is created in the RAM 41d, and the thermal head 32 and the tape feed motor 34 are used.
Is driven, and the created image data of the current date is printed on the tape 20 (S8).

For example, when the current date is March 3, 1994, and the date key 22 is operated, "March 3, 1994" is displayed on the display 28 and, as shown in FIG. As shown in (a), the tape 20 printed with "March 3, 1994" is created.

The date key 22 is operated (S1, S2: Y
ES), if the time key 24 is operated before the predetermined time elapses (S7: NO, S5: YES), the clock function IC
The date data regarding the current date and the time data regarding the current time are read from 41d, and the current date and time are continuously displayed on the display 28 based on the date data and the time data. Image data for continuously printing the current date and time is created in the RAM 41d, the thermal head 32 and the tape feed motor 34 are driven, and the created image data of the current date and time is written on the tape 20. It is printed (S8).

For example, if the current date is March 3, 1994 P
If the date key 22 is operated when the time is M8: 08 and the time key 24 is operated before the predetermined time elapses, “March 3, 1994 PM 6: 8” is displayed on the display 28. In addition, as shown in FIG.
The tape 20 is printed with "3: 3 PM, 6:08 PM" printed.

Further, the time key 24 is operated (S1: Y
ES, S2: NO, S3: YES), if the predetermined time has passed without operating the date key 22 (S10: NO,
(S11: YES), the time data relating to the current time is read from the clock function IC 41d, and based on the time data, the current time is temporarily displayed on the display 28 and the current time is printed. Image data is created in the RAM 41d, the thermal head 32 and the tape feed motor 34 are driven, and the created image data at the current time is printed on the tape 20 (S
8).

For example, if the time key 24 is operated when the current time is PM 6: 8, the display 28
“PM 6: 8” is displayed on the tape 20 and the tape 20 is printed with “PM 6: 8” as shown in FIG. 6C.
Is created.

The time key 24 is operated (S1: YES,
If the date key 22 is operated before the predetermined time elapses (S2: NO, S3: YES) (S11: NO, S1).
0: YES), the date data regarding the current date and the time data regarding the current time are read from the clock function IC 41d, and based on the date data and the time data,
The current time and date are continuously displayed on the display 28 temporarily, and image data for continuously printing the current time and date are created in the RAM 41d. The thermal head 32 and the tape feed motor 34 is driven, and the created image data of the current date and time is printed on the tape 20 (S8).

For example, if the current date is March 3, 1994, P
When the time key 24 is operated at M8: 08 and the date key 22 is operated before a predetermined time elapses, "PM 6: 8 March 3, 1994" is displayed on the display 28. In addition, as shown in FIG.
The tape 20 is printed with "8: March 3, 1994" printed.

As described above in detail, in the tape printer 10 of the present embodiment, the current date or time is displayed on the display 28 only by operating the date key 22 or the time key 24. Tape 2 that is displayed temporarily and has the current date or time printed
0 can be created.

Further, after the date key 22 or the time key 24 is operated, the current date and time can be set by simply operating the time key 24 or the date key 22 until a predetermined time elapses. , The order of the time, or the order of the time, the order of the date and the time are displayed on the display 28 temporarily, and the current date and time are displayed in the order of the date, the order of the time, or the order of the time, the date 20. Is printed on.

Then, the tape 2 on which the date and time are printed
Since 0 has the adhesive layer 204, it can be attached to a desired place by peeling the release paper 205 after cutting it to a predetermined length. For example, when the battery or the fluorescent lamp is replaced, the tape printing device 10 of the present embodiment is used to create a tape on which the date and time at the time of the replacement are printed and attached to the replaced battery or fluorescent lamp. If so, the replacement time can be known, and it can be used as a guide for the next replacement time.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the above embodiment, the current date is displayed and printed as a Japanese history in accordance with the operation of the date key 22. However, by operating the date key 22 while operating the shift key 44, the current date is changed. It may be displayed and printed in the Christian era. For example, if the current date is March 3, 1994, if only the date key 22 is operated, "Heisei 6
"March 3 of the year" is displayed and printed, and when the date key 22 is operated while operating the shift key 44, "March 3, 1994", which is the date of the Christian era, is displayed and printed. Good.

As for the time key 24, the current time is displayed and printed by the 12-hour display system in accordance with the operation of the time key 24. However, if the time key 24 is operated while the shift key 44 is operated, the time is 24 hours. The time according to the display method may be displayed and printed. For example, if the current time is “PM 6: 8”, only the time key 24 is operated to display and print “PM 6: 8”,
When the time key 24 is operated while operating the shift key 44, the time "18: 8" in the 24-hour display system may be displayed and printed.

Further, if the time key 24 is operated before the predetermined time elapses after the date key 22 is operated while operating the shift key 44, the current "date according to the year +
If the time in the 12-hour display mode is displayed and printed, and the date key 22 is operated while operating the shift key 44, the time key 24 is operated while operating the shift key 44 until a predetermined time elapses. “The date according to the year + the time according to the 24-hour display system” is displayed and printed. Also, while operating the shift key 44, the time key 2
After operating 4, press the date key 2 until the specified time elapses.
If you operate 2, the current "time in 24-hour display mode + date in Japanese history" will be displayed and printed.
If the date key 22 is operated while operating the shift key 44 until the predetermined time elapses after operating the time key 24 while operating 4, the current "time in 24-hour display system + date according to the year" is displayed. And printed.

In addition, the applicant of the present invention filed Japanese Patent Application No. 4-13506
Also in the stamp plate making apparatus described in the specification of No. 4, a thermosensitive recording sheet or a stencil plate is provided by arranging the date key and the time key described above in the keyboard portion and operating only the date key and the time key. You may make it possible to make the date and time on the original printing plate.

[0048]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the tape printer of the present invention, the tape-shaped print medium on which the date and time are printed can be prepared by a simple operation.

Since the print-receiving medium on which the date and time are printed is provided with an adhesive layer, it can be attached to a desired place by peeling off the release paper.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a tape printer.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the tape printer 10.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a configuration of a tape.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the tape printer.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing tape print control.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a print result.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 tape printer 12 character selection dial 20 tape 22 date key 24 time key 28 liquid crystal display 32 thermal head 34 tape feed motor 41 control circuit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. Input means for inputting characters and symbols and various commands, input data storage means for storing data of a document input from the input means, and contents of the document stored in the input data storage means. In a tape printer including a display unit including a display unit for displaying, and a printing unit configured to print the content of the document stored in the input data storage unit on a tape-shaped print medium, a clock unit for engraving a date and time, A print control means for reading clock data from the clock means by a predetermined operation of the input means and causing the printing means to print the date and time on a print medium based on the clock data. Characteristic tape printer. 2. The input means comprises a date key and a time key, and the print control means causes the printing means to print the date and time on a print medium by operating the date key and the time key. The tape printer according to claim 1. 3. The tape printer according to claim 1, wherein the print-receiving medium has an adhesive layer covered on one side with a release paper.