JPH082014A - Printer enabling printing of plurality of lines on tape - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable setting of prescribed line modification for print lines by a method wherein the number of lines of a character string inputted from an input means is retrieved, prescribed line modification is set for prescribed print lines when the lines are in a plurality, printing data are prepared on the basis of the line modification and the lines are printed in the direction of the width of a tape. CONSTITUTION:A character string is inputted by an input means and stored as new-line data in an input data buffer. The number of print lines of these character data is retrieved by a retrieving means and inputted to a printing control means. When the number of the print lines is two or more, the print line is discriminated by a discriminating means.) Besides, at least one of line modifications including a left end mode wherein the lines are trued up at the left ends, a center mode of truing them up at the center, a right end mode of truing them up at the right ends, a character spacing mode, etc., is set by a mode setting means. When the number of the print lines is two or more, the printing control means controls printing in conformity with character position data set with the longest print line in a character position memory made a basis, on the basis of the set line modification.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for printing a tape as a printing medium, and more particularly, when printing one or more lines in the width direction of the tape, and when printing a plurality of lines, left edge alignment and center alignment are performed. , Right edge alignment, equal character spacing,
To a printing device capable of setting at least one of the line modifications.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The applicant of the present application has proposed and put into practical use a printing apparatus having a print head for printing in a dot pattern and configured to print on a tape as a print medium. For example, the "title" and "contents" of a file are printed on a tape and the tape is pasted at a predetermined position on the file, or the "name" is printed on the tape and pasted on a name plate. It can be applied to.

The printing head of the printing apparatus is fixedly provided, and when printing, the printing tape is driven in a direction orthogonal to the printing head, and
By energizing a plurality of print elements of the print head arranged in a row in the vertical direction in synchronization with the tape feed at a predetermined timing, one line of a dot pattern character consisting of a plurality of dot rows is printed on the printing tape. Or, it was printed on multiple lines.

[0004]

For example, in a printing device such as a typewriter or a word processor, it is possible to set line modifications such as left edge alignment, right edge alignment, centering, etc. on the basis of the left-right length of the printing paper. it can. However, since this type of tape printing device prints a character string of arbitrary length on a tape of almost unlimited length, line modification such as left-edge alignment or right-edge alignment is applied using conventional technology. Can not be set. Because the printed tape is used for various purposes, such as "title" and "name" as mentioned above, where it is easy to see from the outside, the printing content when printing multiple lines rather than when printing only one line Depending on the situation, you may want to arrange each line in a neat manner by aligning the left edge and the right edge. However, in the conventional device, the length of each line of the plurality of lines must be counted and a blank or the like must be inserted, which is troublesome.

An object of the present invention is to print one line or a plurality of lines on a tape, and in the case of printing a plurality of lines, at least one of the lines is left-aligned, center-aligned, right-aligned, or evenly spaced. It allows at least one of the modifications to be set.

[0006]

As shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 1, a printer according to the present invention comprises a character string to be printed on a tape as a print medium, and a character string formed into a plurality of lines. At least one of input means for inputting line feed data and line modification of left edge mode for left edge alignment, centering mode for center alignment, right edge mode for right edge alignment, equal character spacing mode for equal character spacing A mode setting means for setting one to at least one print line of the plurality of lines, a search means for searching the print line number of the character string input by the input means, a print head and the tape. Printing means for printing a character string along the longitudinal direction of the tape in one or more lines in the tape width direction while relatively moving in the longitudinal direction of the tape; When number of printing rows cord there are multiple,
A print control unit is provided that creates a character string input to the at least one print line into print data based on the line decoration set therein and causes the print head to print the print data.

Preferably, in the above printing apparatus, further, when there are a plurality of print lines retrieved by the retrieval means, there is provided a discriminating means for discriminating the longest print line among the plurality of print lines, and the print control means. A character position memory that stores character position data calculated based on the longest print line for each character of the print line in which the line decoration is set,
It has a print buffer for storing print data of each character based on the character position data.

Further, the printing apparatus of the present invention has input means for inputting code data of characters to be printed on a tape as a printing medium and line feed data for constructing the characters in a plurality of lines, and input by the input means. The input data buffer that stores the code data and line feed data, the left edge mode that prints with left edge alignment, the centering mode that prints with center alignment, the right edge mode that prints with right edge alignment, and the equal character spacing mode that prints with equal character spacing. Mode setting means for setting at least one of the line modifications to at least one print line of a plurality of lines, search means for searching the print line number of the character string input by the input means, and the search means When there are a plurality of print lines retrieved by, the discriminating means for discriminating the longest print line among the plural lines and a pattern of a large number of characters A pattern data storing means for storing data, while relatively moving the print head tape in the longitudinal direction of the tape, a printing means for multiline print a character string in the tape width direction along the longitudinal direction of the tape,
Pattern data corresponding to the code data stored in the input data buffer is read from the pattern data storage means, and print control means for causing the print head to print based on the pattern data is provided. When there are a plurality of print lines retrieved by the means, the character position data calculated based on the longest print line for the characters of the line is stored based on the line decoration set in the at least one print line. It is also possible to have a configuration having a character position memory.

The print control means preferably further has a print buffer for storing pattern data corresponding to the code data stored in the input data buffer based on the character position data.

The print head preferably also has a number of print elements corresponding to each character in a plurality of lines of the print area of the tape.

Further, the printing device preferably further comprises means for designating a character size at the time of printing based on the number of printing lines retrieved by the retrieval means, and printing for setting the line modification among the plurality of lines. Means for selecting rows may also be provided.

[0012]

In the printing apparatus according to the present invention, a character string is input by the input means, and line feed data is formed into a plurality of lines.
The input means is searched for the number of input lines, and when there are a plurality of lines, one of the line modifications of the left edge mode, the centering mode, the right edge mode, and the equal character spacing mode is selected from the plurality of lines by the mode setting means. Set to at least one print line. Further, when there are a plurality of lines, the print control means creates the character string input to the at least one print line into print data based on the line decoration set therein, and prints the print data in the tape width direction by the print head. Printing is performed along the longitudinal direction of the tape with a plurality of lines arranged.

It is preferable that the discriminating means discriminates the longest print line of the plurality of lines, and character position data calculated for each character of the print line for which line modification is set with the longest print line as a reference is stored in the character position memory. By storing the print data of each character in the print buffer based on the character position data, the print head can print based on the print data read from the print buffer.

Further preferably, the input means inputs the character as code data. The code data and line feed data are stored in the input data buffer. As described above, the mode setting means sets the line decoration for at least one print line of the plurality of lines, and stores the character position data calculated for each character of the print line for which the line decoration is set in the character position memory. . Then, the pattern data corresponding to the code data can be read from the pattern data storage means and printed by the print head according to the character position data. In this case, the read pattern data is stored in the print buffer so that it can be printed by the print head as described above.

Since the print head has a large number of printing elements corresponding to the respective characters of a plurality of lines in the print area of the tape, it is possible to print a plurality of lines in parallel simply by moving them relative to the tape in the longitudinal direction. it can.

More preferably, by specifying the character size based on the retrieved number of lines, it is possible to print with a character size that matches the number of lines within a narrow tape width.

Further, the printing apparatus can perform line modification on an arbitrary print line by selecting a print line for which line modification is to be set among a plurality of lines.

As described above, one or more lines can be printed on a tape of an arbitrary length, and in the case of printing a plurality of lines, line modification can be set, so that the appearance of the printed line is improved and the practicability of the printing apparatus is improved. Can be increased.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, alphabetic characters and numbers,
Symbols, etc. (In this specification, they are collectively referred to simply as "characters")
") Is applied to a printing device capable of printing a printing tape.

As shown in FIG. 2, a keyboard 3 is provided in the front portion of the main body frame 2 of the printer 1, a printing mechanism PM is provided in the main body frame 2 behind the keyboard 3, and the keyboard is also provided. Behind 3 is provided a liquid crystal display 4 capable of displaying characters. Display 4
Can display two lines.

The keyboard 3 is provided with a character key for inputting characters, a cursor movement key, a line feed key for instructing a line feed, a document creation key for creating document data, and an instruction to end document creation. A creation end key, a mode setting key for setting a line decoration designation mode, a left end mode key for setting a line decoration in a left end mode for printing with left end alignment as shown in FIG. 5, and a as shown in FIG. Centering mode key for setting line decoration in the centering mode for printing with center alignment, as shown in FIG.
The right edge mode key for setting the line decoration in the right edge mode for printing with right edge alignment, as shown in FIG. 8, the equal character spacing mode key for setting the line decoration for the equal character spacing mode for printing at equal character spacing, A print key for instructing printing, a power key for turning the power on and off, and the like are provided.

Next, the printing mechanism PM will be briefly described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the main body frame 2 includes
A rectangular tape storage cassette CS is detachably mounted, and a tape spool 6 around which a printing tape 5 made of a transparent film and having a width of about 24 mm and an ink ribbon 7 are wound around the tape storage cassette CS. A supply spool 1 in which a ribbon supply spool 8 mounted, a take-up spool 9 for winding the ink ribbon 7, and a double-sided tape 10 having the same width as the printing tape 5 are wound with a release paper outside.
1, and a joining roller 12 for joining the printing tape 5 and the double-sided tape 10 are rotatably provided.

At the position where the printing tape 5 and the ink ribbon 7 overlap, a thermal head 13 is fixedly erected,
The platen roller 14 that presses the printing tape 5 and the ink ribbon 7 against the thermal head 13, and the feed roller 15 that presses the printing tape 5 and the double-sided tape 10 against the joining roller 12 are rotatable on the support 16. It is pivotally supported. The thermal head 13 is provided with a heating element group 13a (see FIG. 9) including 128 heating elements arranged in a row in the vertical direction (that is, the width direction of the tape).

The tape feed motor 24 is rotationally driven to synchronously drive the joining roller 12 and the take-up spool 9 respectively in predetermined directions, and in synchronization with this, the heating element group 13a is energized a plurality of times at predetermined timing. As a result, the characters of the dot pattern composed of a plurality of dot rows are printed on the printing tape 5, and then the double-sided tape 10 is attached to the printing surface of the printing tape 5 in the feeding direction A (that is, the longitudinal direction of the tape). In the direction). The printing mechanism PM has a known configuration (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-106555).
(See Japanese Patent Publication).

As shown in FIG. 9, a printing area PE corresponding to the heating element group 13a is set in the width direction of the printing tape 5, and up to 3 lines can be printed in the printing area PE. In the case of printing one line, the dot pattern data is 120 dots (vertical) x 1 as shown by "A" in FIG.
When printing two lines with L size characters consisting of 20 dots (horizontal), as shown by “D” in FIG. 9, dot pattern data is M size consisting of 48 dots (vertical) × 48 dots (horizontal). When printing three lines of characters, the dot pattern data is 32 dots (vertical) as shown by "F" in FIG.
Printed in S size characters consisting of 32 dots (horizontal). Further, in the case of one-line printing, two-line printing, and three-line printing, the lower printing end and the upper printing end are each printed 4 dots inside the lower printing limit line BL and the upper printing limit line TL. There is.

Next, the control system of the printer 1 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, a display controller (L) having a keyboard 3 and a display RAM for outputting display data to a liquid crystal display (LCD) 4.
CDC) 23, a drive circuit 25 for driving the thermal head 13, a drive circuit 26 for driving the tape feed motor 24, and a drive circuit 21 for the warning buzzer 20. Each is connected to the interface 27.

The control device C includes a CPU 29 and this CPU
An input / output interface 27, a CGROM 30, and a ROM 3 which are connected to 29 via a bus 28 such as a data bus.
1 and RAM 40.

The CGROM 30 stores dot pattern data of L size, M size, and S size for printing, and dot pattern data of a predetermined size to be output to the display RAM of the display controller 23 for each of a large number of characters. Are stored in association with the code data.

The ROM 31 includes a tape print control control program including data input process control, display process control, print process control, and mode setting process control for setting line modifications unique to the present application, the number of print lines, and the number of print lines used. A table is stored in which the size designation data of the character size to be associated is associated.

In the line buffer 41 of the RAM 40, as shown in FIG. 10, for each character input from the keyboard 3, character code data and character modification data such as size designation data for designating the character size are temporarily stored. Are stored in the memory. The data transferred from the line buffer 41 is stored in the text memory 42. In the line number memory 43, the retrieved print line number N is temporarily stored. In the flag memory 44, flag data of a left end mode flag LF, a centering mode flag CF, and a right end mode flag RF, which are set when the line modification is set to the left end mode, the centering mode, and the right end mode, respectively,
It is stored corresponding to the print line for which line modification is set. The longest line memory 45 stores the line number of the longest line when printing is performed on a plurality of lines. In the character position memory 46, for each character of each print line for which line modification is set, character position data for expanding dot pattern data in the print buffer 47 so as to be printed in the set line modification is stored. It is stored together with code data and size specification data.
The print buffer 47 stores print data of a plurality of characters which is expanded into dot pattern data based on the character position data stored in the character position memory 46 and the like.

Next, the tape print control routine executed by the controller C of the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The explanation will be given based on the flowchart of. In the figure, reference numeral Si (i = 10, 11, 12, ...) Indicates each step. Further, in the following description, as shown in FIG. 8, in the case of printing three lines, each print line is modified to the equal character spacing mode.

When the power is turned on by operating the power key, this control is started, and initial settings such as clearing the memories 41 to 47 and the line counter designating the print line are executed (S10), and the document creation key. Is operated (S11
(S12: Yes), data input processing control (see FIG. 12) for input processing of data input by operating the character keys is started (S13).

When the data input processing control is started and the character key is operated (S20: Yes), the character code data of the character is sequentially stored in the line buffer 41 (S2).
1) Further, the character is displayed on the display 4 (S
22). That is, when "ABCDEFGHJKLMN" is sequentially input, these character strings are displayed in the upper row of the display 4. Next, when the line feed key is operated to print the line feed of the character string "ABCDEFG" (S23: Y
es), the line feed data is stored in the line buffer 41 (S24), and the cursor moves to the left end of the lower row of the display 4 (S25). Next, S20 to S22 are repeated by operating the character keys and inputting each character "ABCDEFG" in the same manner as described above, and then the character string "AB
When you operate the line feed key to print "C" with line feed,
Similar to the above, S24 and S25 are executed. In this case, in S25, the character string is scrolled by one line,
The cursor moves to the left end of the lower row of the display 4.

In this way, when the character input is completed and the creation end key is operated (S20 / S23: No, S2).
6: Yes), the line number N is retrieved based on the line feed data stored in the line buffer 41 and stored in the line number memory 43 (S27), and then the character size at the time of printing is determined based on the line number N. It is set (S28). That is, in the present embodiment, since the number of lines is three, the size designation data designating the S size character based on the table of the ROM 31 is stored in the line buffer 41 in association with the character code data of each character. Then, the data in the line buffer 41 is transferred to the text memory 42 (S29).

Next, when the mode setting key is operated (S
11: Yes, S12: No, S14: Yes), mode setting process control for setting line decoration (see FIG. 13)
Is started (S15). When this control is started and it is determined that the number of rows N is two or more based on the data in the row number memory 43 (S40: Yes), the row counter C is set to "1" to designate the first row. Is set (S4
1) Next, the character string on the first line is displayed on the display 4 (S42). Next, when the left end mode key is operated (S43: Yes), the left end mode flag LF is set, the centering mode flag CF and the right end mode flag RF are reset (S44), and the centering mode key is operated. If it is done (S43: N
o, S45: Yes), centering mode flag CF
Is set, the left end mode flag LF and the right end mode flag RF are reset (S46), and when the right end mode key is operated (S43 / S45: N).
o, S47: Yes), the right edge mode flag RF is set, the left edge mode flag LF and the centering mode flag CF are reset (S48), and the equal character spacing mode key is operated (S43 / S45).
-S47: No, S49: Yes), the left end mode flag LF, the centering mode flag CF, and the right end mode flag RF are reset (S50). In this embodiment, since the equal character spacing mode is set, each flag LF, CF, RF is reset, and these flag data are stored in the flag memory 44 corresponding to each print line.

When the line modification of the first line is set in this way, the line counter C is incremented (S5
2) Next, it is determined whether the counter value is 4 or more (S
53). In this case, since the setting of the line modification for the first line has just been completed (S53: No), the process proceeds to S42, and the line modification is similarly set for the second and third lines. When the line modification settings have been completed for all lines (S53: Ye
s), and shifts to S11. Incidentally, in S40, the number of rows N
Is determined to be one line, or a key other than the left end mode key, the centering mode key, the right end mode key, and the equal character interval mode key is operated (S43 / S45).
-S47-S49: No), the buzzer 20 sounds for a warning (S51).

Next, when the print key is operated (S11:
Yes, S12 / S14: No, S16: Yes), and the print processing control (FIG. 14) is started (S17).

When this control is started, the row number memory 43
It is determined whether the number of rows N is 1 based on the data of (S60), and when the number of rows N is 1 (S60: Ye
s), based on the character code data and the size designation data of the text memory 42, the print buffer 47 is developed as dot pattern data (S62). On the other hand, when the number of lines N is 2 or more (S60: No), rearrangement processing control for expanding each character of each line in the print buffer 47 as dot pattern data based on the set line decoration ( 15) is started (S63).

When this control is started, the longest line is searched by comparing the number of characters of each line, and the line number of the longest line is stored in the longest line memory 45 (S70). In this embodiment, the line number "1" is stored because the first line is the longest line. Next, "1" is set to the line counter C to specify the first line (S71), and then the data of the first line is read from the text memory 42 (S72). Next, based on the counter value of the row counter C and the data stored in the longest row memory 45, it is determined whether the first row is the longest row (S73), and if it is the longest row (S73:
Yes), based on the data of the number of lines N of the line number memory 43, the size designation data and the character code data of each character of the first line of the text memory 42, etc., the print buffer 47 for each character of the first line. The position for developing the dot pattern data is calculated, and the calculation result is stored as character position data in the character position memory 46 together with the size designation data and the character code data (S7).
4). That is, in this embodiment, since the first line is the longest line, as shown in FIG. 16, the first line "ABCDEF
For each character of "GHJKLMN", the expansion reference position Pn for expanding the dot pattern data in the print buffer 47 is calculated with the origin O of the print buffer 47 as a reference, and the calculation result is used as character position data for size designation data or It is stored in the character position memory 46 together with the character code data.

Next, the row counter C is incremented (S82), and then it is determined whether the counter value is 4 or more (S83). In this case, since the processing of the first row has just been completed, the process proceeds to S72, the data of the second row is read, and then, in S73, it is determined whether or not the second row is the longest row. It is judged based on the data of. In the present embodiment, it is determined that the second line is not the longest line (S73: No), and then the flag memory 4
4 based on the stored flag data, it Ru is determined that the row modification mode to the second line is equal character spacing mode is set (S75 · S77 · S79: No ). Then, the length of the longest line is calculated so that each character "ABCDEFG" on the second line is printed in the equal character spacing mode with the longest print line as the reference, and the length of the longest line is used as the reference. Development reference position Pn for expanding the dot pattern data in the print buffer 47 for each character on the second line
Is calculated and the calculation result is stored as character position data in the character position memory 46 together with the size designation data and the character code data (S81). After that, the processing shifts to S82, and S83 and S72 to S81 are executed as described above.
In this way, when the processing is completed for all rows (S
83: Yes), and proceeds to S62. The line modification is the leftmost mode (S75: Yes) and the centering mode (S7).
7: Yes) and the right end mode (S79: Yes), S76, S78, and S80 are executed, respectively.

Next, based on the character position data of each character of each line stored in the character position memory 46, the size instruction data and the character code data, as shown in FIG. 16, the dot pattern data of each character is printed in the print buffer. It is expanded to 47 (S62). Thus, when the dot pattern data is expanded in the print buffer 47 for all characters,
The tape feed motor 24 is driven to rotate and the joining roller 12
And the take-up spool 9 are driven to rotate synchronously,
Based on the dot pattern data of the print buffer 47, the heating element group 13a is energized at a predetermined timing, characters are printed on the printing tape 5 by a plurality of dot rows, and the double-sided tape 10 is printed on the printing surface of the printing tape 5. Is pasted (S64). After that, when printing of all the characters is completed, execution of a predetermined amount of tape feeding processing and cutting processing is instructed (S65), and this control is ended and the process returns.

As described above, by operating the left end mode key, the centering mode key, the right end mode, and the equal character spacing mode key, the line decoration can be set to any print line among a plurality of lines, so that the print layout can be freely set. And the appearance of the printed line is improved, and the practicality of the printing device can be improved.

In the above embodiment, printing of three lines is described, but printing of four lines or more is also possible. Further, a CGROM may be separately provided for printing, and the contour line data for each character may be stored in this CGROM instead of the dot pattern data. In addition to the character size, it is also possible to set various character sizes, and by providing a key to specify the character size and operating this key, the desired character size can be set. It is also possible to configure so that can be selected.

[0047]

As described above, according to the printing apparatus of the present invention, when the number of lines is searched and a plurality of lines are present, line modification can be set to at least one of the printing lines, so that even a tape having an arbitrary length can be set. One line or a plurality of lines can be printed clearly. Furthermore, by specifying the character size based on the number of lines, it is possible to print one line and multiple lines in an easy-to-see manner. Especially when there are multiple lines, the appearance of the printed lines is combined with the effect of line modification. Is improved. In addition, the flexibility of the print layout can be increased by selecting an arbitrary line from a plurality of lines and performing line modification.

Therefore, one line or a plurality of lines can be easily printed for the "title", "name", etc., and the practicability of the tape printing apparatus can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the printer.

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

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of printing in a right edge mode.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of printing in a centering mode.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of printing in a right edge mode.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a printing example in an equal character spacing mode.

FIG. 9 is a partial front view of a printing mechanism showing a printing tape and a thermal head.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing data in a line buffer.

FIG. 11 is a schematic flowchart of a tape print control routine.

FIG. 12 is a schematic flowchart of a subroutine of data input processing control.

FIG. 13 is a schematic flowchart of a subroutine of mode setting processing control.

FIG. 14 is a schematic flowchart of a print processing control subroutine.

FIG. 15 is a schematic flowchart of a rearrangement process control subroutine.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing dot pattern data in a print buffer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Printer 3 Keyboard 29 CPU 30 CGROM 31 ROM 40 RAM C Controller PM Printing Mechanism

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A character string to be printed on a tape as a print medium, and an input means for inputting line feed data to compose the character string into a plurality of lines, a left-edge mode for printing in left-edge alignment, and a center-alignment for printing. Mode setting means for setting at least one of the line modifications of the centering mode, the right edge mode for printing with right edge alignment, and the equal character spacing mode for printing at equal character intervals in at least one print line of the plurality of lines. A retrieval unit for retrieving the number of print lines of the character string input by the input unit; a tape for character strings along the longitudinal direction of the tape while moving the print head and the tape in the longitudinal direction of the tape; Printing means for printing one or more lines in the width direction, and when there are a plurality of printing lines searched by the searching means, input to the at least one printing line A character string, based on the set row modified therein, the printing apparatus to create the print data, characterized in that it comprises a printing control means for printing on the print head. 2. The print control means according to claim 1, further comprising: a determining means for determining the longest print line among the plurality of print lines when the number of print lines searched by the search means is plural. A character position memory that stores character position data calculated based on the longest print line for each character of the print line set with the line modification, and a print buffer that stores print data of each character based on the character position data A printing device comprising: 3. Input means for inputting code data of characters to be printed on a tape as a print medium and line feed data for composing the characters into a plurality of lines, and code data and line feed data input by the input means. At least one of the line modifiers of the input data buffer that stores, the left edge mode that prints with left edge alignment, the centering mode that prints with center edge alignment, the right edge mode that prints with right edge alignment, and the equal character spacing mode that prints with equal character spacing. At least one of multiple lines
Mode setting means for setting one print line, search means for searching the print line number of the character string input by the input means, and when there are a plurality of print line searched by the search means, Of the longest print line, the pattern data storage means for storing the pattern data of a large number of characters, the print head and the tape in the longitudinal direction of the tape while moving the tape in the longitudinal direction of the tape. Printing means for printing a plurality of character strings along the tape width direction in the tape width direction, pattern data corresponding to the code data stored in the input data buffer is read from the pattern data storage means, and the printing is performed based on the pattern data. A print control unit for printing on the head is provided, and the print control unit has a plurality of print lines searched by the search unit. At this time, the printing is characterized by having a character position memory that stores character position data calculated based on the longest print line for the characters of the line based on the line decoration set in the at least one print line. apparatus. 4. The print control means according to claim 3, further comprising a print buffer for storing pattern data corresponding to the code data stored in the input data buffer based on the character position data. Printing device. 5. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the print head has a large number of printing elements corresponding to respective characters in a plurality of lines in a print area of the tape. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit for designating a character size at the time of printing based on the number of print lines searched by the searching unit. 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit for selecting a print line for setting the line decoration from among the plurality of lines.