JPH08267839A - Tapelike label manufacturing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To entirely eliminate key operation to start printing by a method in which when a ribbon cassette is set and the non-release condition of a head release mechanism is detected, printing operation is permitted to start printing process. CONSTITUTION: In a tape cassette 20, when a cassette cover is opened a roller holder 67 is at a release position, by closing the cover, a release lever 71 is moved left interlockingly by the collaboration between a groove cam and an engagement pin through a branch lever, etc., and the roller holder 67 is shifted to a printing position, i.e., a non release condition. In this condition, when a tape driving motor 44 is turned normally in the ordinary printing direction, a tape feed subroller and a tape feed roller 24 is rotated synchronously through a gear line including a gear 46. A printing tape 22 is printed by a thermal head 12 and discharged after being cut by a cutting mechanism 80.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape label producing apparatus, and more particularly to a tape label producing apparatus in which a non-release operation of a head release mechanism and a permission control of a printing operation are linked by a manual operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the applicant of the present application has disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 94, a tape-like label suitable for producing a label suitable for printing characters or symbols of characters or symbols on a printing tape which is a printing medium and attaching it to a spine of a file. A device was proposed and put into practical use. This label producing apparatus is equipped with a keyboard, a display, and a thermal printing type printing mechanism, and prints a printing tape (for example, tape widths 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 mm) accommodated in a tape cassette onto an ink ribbon. Characters and marks can be printed with various character sizes and typefaces via the thermal head.

In this tape-shaped label producing apparatus,
Enter the text to be printed in advance, attach a tape cassette with the desired tape width to the printing mechanism, switch the head release mechanism in the released state to the non-released state for printing, and finally print the key. By operating, the entered text is printed on the tape. By the way, the tape-shaped label created by printing text is not limited to the spine of a file, and is suitable for being attached to, for example, a cassette tape or its cassette tape case, or even a video tape or its video tape case. By repeating the printing process and the rewinding of the printing tape, it is conceivable to create a tape-shaped label in which a printing character string is printed in multicolor in a colorful manner according to the recorded content and genre.

Therefore, the inventors of the present application configured the printing tape so that it can be transported not only in the feeding direction but also in the rewinding direction, and the ribbon color of the ink ribbon is not only "black" but also
Multiple types of ribbon cassettes with multiple colors such as "red", "green", and "blue" ... are prepared separately from the tape cassette, and these ribbon cassettes can be selectively attached to and detached from the tape cassette. In addition to the above, the print colors used for multicolor printing are sequentially set in the printing order, while the input text is printed in the set multiple colors. The print target range for each print color is set. By performing the range setting process, sequentially replacing the ribbon cassette having the same ribbon color as the set print color and performing the print process, and controlling the rewinding of the print tape to the print start position for each print process, I came up with the idea of making colorful, multicolored labels.

By the way, as described above, when a plurality of ribbon cassettes of a plurality of colors are used for printing a plurality of times in the same printing area, the head release mechanism is released for each printing process so that the printing tape and the ink ribbon are released. The platen roller pressed against the print head via the release head is released from the print head, the ribbon cassette is removed, and only the print tape is rewound. Furthermore, after the print head is moved in the feed direction until the print head corresponds to the print start position of the print tape, a ribbon cassette of a different ribbon color is installed and the head release mechanism is switched to a printable non-release state. By manually operating the print key, the next print is continuously executed.

[0006]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-84994
In the tape-shaped label producing apparatus described in the publication, a desired tape cassette is attached to a printing mechanism, the head release mechanism is switched to a non-release state in which printing is possible, and finally the print key is operated. Since the input text is printed on the tape, there is a problem that the print key operation at the start of printing is troublesome.

On the other hand, as the inventors of the present application have conceived,
In order to create a label that is printed in multiple colors and colorfully by repeating printing multiple times, when replacing the ribbon cassettes with different ribbon colors in sequence and repeating the printing process and the rewinding of the printing tape alternately, the printing tape Since it is necessary to rewind the head and switch the head release mechanism to the non-release state, and finally operate the print key, multiple print key operations are required to start each print of multiple prints. However, there is a problem in that the printing efficiency of a plurality of times of printing is reduced.

Further, when starting each printing process of multi-color printing, the print tape is fed until the print head corresponds to the print start position of the print tape after the head release mechanism is switched to the printable non-release state. However, there is a problem in that the print start position for each print process varies due to the manual transfer in the direction, which requires a positioning operation for starting the print.

It is an object of the present invention to improve the printing efficiency by eliminating the need for any key operation for starting printing, and the position of the printing start position for each printing process when printing a plurality of colors. An object is to provide a tape-shaped label producing apparatus that can improve accuracy.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape-shaped label producing apparatus, a tape transfer mechanism for feeding a tape as a print medium, a ribbon cassette for accommodating an ink ribbon and being detachably attached, a character and a character. In a tape-shaped label producing apparatus provided with a printing unit including a print head for printing symbols and the like on a tape and a platen facing the print head, and a control unit for controlling the printing, one of the print head and the platen is provided. From the detection signal of the head release mechanism for releasing to the other, the operating member for releasing the head release mechanism by manual operation, the operation state detection means for detecting the operation state of the head release mechanism, and the detection signal of the operation state detection means Only when the non-released state of the head release mechanism is detected, the operation permission that permits the printing operation of the printing means to the control means It is obtained by a control means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape-shaped label producing apparatus which accommodates a tape transport mechanism for selectively transporting a print medium tape in a feeding direction and a rewinding direction, and ink ribbons of a plurality of colors. A plurality of ribbon cassettes that are detachably mounted in order to print in multiple colors one after another,
In a tape-shaped label producing apparatus provided with a printing means including a print head for printing characters and symbols on a tape and a platen facing the print head, and a control means for controlling printing, A head release mechanism for releasing one from the other, and an operating member for manually releasing the head release mechanism,
Only when the operating state detecting means for detecting the operating state of the head release mechanism and the non-release state of the head releasing mechanism are detected from the detection signal of the operating state detecting means, the control means is allowed to perform the printing operation of the printing means. And an operation permission control means for operating.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to the second aspect of the invention, a tape detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a tape is provided near the end of the tape transfer path of the tape transfer mechanism, and the control means is provided. When the printing operation is permitted by the operation permission control means, the tape feeding control means for feeding the tape to the tape transport mechanism is provided until the leading end of the tape is detected from the detection signal of the tape detection means. The tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The operation member is a cassette cover of the label producing apparatus. A tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to claim 5 is the tape label producing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control means is
When the operation permission control means permits the printing operation of the printing means, the printing operation is automatically executed. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in a tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, input means for inputting characters and symbols and various commands, and data storage for storing data of input text. And a display unit including a display.

[0013]

In the tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to the first aspect, the printing head and the platen included in the printing means are:
The head release mechanism is released by the manual operation of the operating member, which is provided so as to face each other with the print medium tape and the ink ribbon accommodated in the ribbon cassette, and one of the print head and the platen is moved with respect to the other. The released state is detected by the operating state detecting means. The operation permission control means permits the printing operation of the printing means to the control means only when the non-released state of the head release mechanism is detected from the detection signal of the operation state detection means. The transfer mechanism and the printing means are controlled so that the print head prints on the tape via the ink ribbon.

That is, when the ribbon cassette is mounted and the non-released state of the head release mechanism is detected, the printing operation is permitted, and the printing process of printing on the tape by the print head while transporting the tape is started. Therefore, it is possible to improve the printing efficiency by eliminating any key operation for starting the printing.

In the tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the tape label producing apparatus operates in substantially the same manner as the first aspect. That is, in order to print in a plurality of colors one after another, when a non-released state of the head release mechanism is detected every time a plurality of ribbon cassettes are selectively mounted, the printing operation is permitted and the tape is loaded. Since the printing process of printing on the tape is started by the print head while transferring, it is possible to improve the printing efficiency by eliminating the need for any key operation for starting each printing for multi-color printing.

In the tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, the same action as that of the second aspect is achieved, but the tape detecting means provided near the end of the tape transfer path of the tape transfer mechanism has the presence or absence of the tape. On the other hand, the tape feed control means provided in the control means, when the printing operation is permitted by the operation permission control means, moves the tape to the tape transfer mechanism until the tape leading end is detected from the detection signal of the tape detection means. When the tape tip is detected, the print head starts printing from the print start position of the corresponding tape, so that the print start position of each print process when printing multiple times with multiple colors Positional accuracy can be improved.

In the tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the same operation as in any one of the first to third aspects is achieved, but the operation member is the cassette cover of the label producing apparatus. The head release mechanism can be simultaneously released by opening the cassette cover for taking out the ribbon cassette without separately providing the operation member. In the tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the same operation as that of the first or second aspect is achieved, but the control means automatically operates when the printing operation of the printing means is permitted by the operation permission control means. Since the printing operation is executed on, the key operation for starting printing can be omitted. The tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to claim 6 has the same operation as that of claim 1 or 2, but since it is provided with the input means, the data storage means, and the display means,
A desired text can be input, and the input text can be stored or displayed.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a tape-shaped label producing apparatus capable of multicolor printing by replacing a plurality of ribbon cassettes having different ribbon colors with a printing tape which is a printing medium for a large number of characters such as characters and symbols. If you do. As shown in FIG. 1, at the front part of the main body cover 2 of the tape-shaped label producing apparatus 1, a keyboard 4 provided with various function keys and the like in addition to character keys such as letters, symbols and numbers is provided. Immediately behind the keyboard 4, there is provided a liquid crystal display 5 capable of displaying input characters and symbols, and inside the main body cover 2 corresponding to the cassette cover 3 opened and closed when the ribbon cassette 30 is replaced. Is provided with a thermal printing mechanism 10 having a thermal head 12. Here, you can slide the slide knob 6 to open the cassette cover 3,
Further, by pressing the cutting knob 85 downward, the printed printing tape 22 can be manually cut.

Next, the thermal printing mechanism 10 including the thermal head 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the tape cassette 20 which is detachably mounted on the thermal printing mechanism 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5. A tape spool 23, around which a print tape 22 made of a thin film is wound, is rotatably provided inside a tape case 21 of the tape cassette 20, and a plurality of print tapes 22 fed from the tape spool 23 are provided. It is configured such that it is guided in a curved shape by the guide portion, passes immediately before the thermal head 12, is transported in the tape feeding direction by the tape feeding roller 24, and is discharged to the outside of the tape cassette 20.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the tape case 2
A pair of guide shafts 21a for guiding and supporting the ribbon cassette 30 in the vertical direction at the time of attaching and detaching the ribbon cassette 30, which will be described below, at two positions separated from each other on the outer peripheral wall of 1.
The lower ends of 21b are integrally formed. Further, the tape case 21 is formed with a pair of lower end wall portions 21c and 21d that abut and support the lower side of the ribbon cassette 30, respectively.

Next, the ribbon cassette 30 which is detachably attached to the tape cassette 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. Ribbon cassette 3 ribbon case 3
1, an upper wall portion 31a that abuts against a part of the tape case 21 from above is horizontally extended and integrally formed. At an end portion of the upper wall portion 31a, a pair of guide shafts 21a and 21b of the tape case 21 are provided. A pair of engaging legs 31b and 31c having through holes, which are externally fitted to the tape case 21, are formed, and a vertical wall 31d that abuts the notch 21e of the tape case 21 is formed. Further, the ribbon cassette 30 is formed with a head housing portion 37 for housing the thermal head 12 which is inserted from below through the tape cassette 20.

Further, inside the ribbon case 31, a ribbon spool 33 around which the ink ribbon 32 is wound, and a ribbon take-up spool 34 around which the ink ribbon 32 is wound are rotatably provided and wound around the ribbon spool 33. The mounted ink ribbon 32 temporarily approaches the printing tape 22 in parallel when facing the thermal head 12, and the separating portion 35 of the separating member 35 integrally formed with the ribbon case 31.
It is configured to be bent at a substantially acute angle at a, separated from the printing tape 22, and wound up by the ribbon winding spool 34. That is, the separating member 35 of the ribbon case 31
Is located downstream of the thermal head 12 in the tape feeding direction. The ribbon case 31 is provided with a lid member 31e that supports the ribbon spool 33, the take-up spool 34, the separating member 35, and the like from above.

On the other hand, the tape case 21 has a ribbon cassette housing portion 21f for housing the ribbon cassette 30.
(See FIG. 7) is formed, and the lid member 3 of the ribbon case 31 is formed.
On the upper surfaces of 1e and the upper wall portion 31a, knob pieces 31f, 3
Since each 1 g is formed, at the time of printing, first, the tape case 21 is mounted in a mounting recess (not shown) provided in the main body cover 2, and then the ribbon cassette 30 having the ink ribbon 32 of a desired printing color is formed. The tape case 21
It can be attached to the ribbon cassette housing portion 21f. At this time, first, with two fingers, a pair of knob pieces 31
With the f and 31g gripped, the pair of engagement legs 31b.3
The ribbon cassette 30 is moved downward and housed in the ribbon cassette housing portion 21f while the 1c is fitted onto the corresponding guide shafts 21a and 21b through the through holes, respectively. At this time, the upper wall portion 31a of the ribbon case 31 overlaps with the upper surface of the tape cassette 20, and the lower end portion of the ribbon cassette 30 has a pair of lower end wall portions 21c.
The ribbon cassette 30 is held in a predetermined position with respect to the tape case 21 by coming into contact with 21d from above.

By the way, a plurality of types are prepared in the ribbon cassette 30 depending on the ribbon color (red, green, yellow, black, ...) Of the ink ribbon 32 and the ribbon width (12, 18, 24, 32 mm). At the lower end of the vertical wall portion 31d of the ribbon case 31, a detection hole group 36 (FIG. 6) in which a maximum of six detection holes 36a are combined in order to detect any of the plurality of types of ribbon cassettes 30 is provided. , One detection hole 36
a is formed) is formed.

Next, the printing tape 22 and the ink ribbon 32
A tape / ribbon transfer mechanism 40 capable of transferring and in the feeding direction, which is the printing direction, and the rewinding direction, which is the anti-printing direction, will be described with reference to FIG. On the main body frame 11, a tape take-up cam 41 that can be engaged with the center of the tape spool 23, a ribbon take-up cam 42 that can be engaged with the center of the ribbon take-up spool 34, and the center of the tape feed roller 24. The tape drive cam 43 engaging with the section is rotatably supported, the thermal head 12 is erected, and in order to detect the presence or absence of the six detection holes 36a of the detection hole group 36, the first A ribbon detection switch group 103 including a sixth detection switch is provided, and a ribbon detection signal RS is output by a combination of switch signals from these six detection switches.

Further, at the right end of the front end of the main body frame 11, the tape drive motor 4 consisting of a stepping motor is provided.
4 is attached to the drive gear 45 of the tape drive motor 44, and gears 46 to 53 rotatably supported by the body frame 11 are sequentially meshed with the tape fixed to the tape drive cam 43. The drive gear 54 and the gear 55 mesh with each other. Here, the gear 48 and the gear 4
9 is integrally formed and fixed to the lower end of the ribbon winding cam 42, the gear 50 and the gear 51 are integrally formed, and the tape winding gear 52 is the lower end of the tape winding cam 41. It is fixed to the part. That is, the rotation of the tape drive motor 44 is transmitted to the tape drive cam 43 fixed to the tape drive gear 54 via the gears 45 to 54, and the print tape 22 is transferred by the rotation of the tape feed roller 24.

On the other hand, in the gap between the gears 50, 51 formed integrally, the base end portion of the swing lever 56 is provided with the gears 50, 51.
It is supported with a proper frictional resistance between
A planetary gear 57 that constantly meshes with the gear 51 is rotatably supported by the swing lever 56. Also, the gear 53
On the pivot shaft 58, the winding spring 59 is arranged such that the base end portion of the cutting prohibition lever 84 sandwiches the pivot shaft 58 between one end and the base end portion of the winding spring 59 supported by the cutting prohibition lever 84. It is pressed and supported by the urging force of. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, when the tape drive motor 44 is driven in the clockwise direction (normal rotation drive) for normal printing and the gear 50 rotates in the clockwise direction, the frictional force between them causes The swing lever 56 also rotates in the clockwise direction so that the planet gear 57 does not mesh with the tape winding gear 52.
Since the tape winding cam 41 becomes free, the print tape 22 wound around the tape spool 23 is fed out, and at the same time, the gear 53 rotates in the counterclockwise direction and the cut prohibiting lever 84 rotates in the counterclockwise direction. When the ribbon drive gear 45 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the ribbon drive gear 45 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction while the cutting operation is prohibited and the tip of the cutting prohibition lever 84 is located below the cutting lever 82 described later. The take-up cam 42 rotates counterclockwise through the clutch spring 60, and the ink ribbon 32 moves to the ribbon take-up spool 3.
It is wound up in 4.

By the way, a roller holder 67 for rotatably supporting the rubber platen roller 65 and the tape feed sub-roller 66 is rotatably supported by a pivot shaft 68 erected on the main body frame 11, and a cassette. The release lever 71 moves in the left-right direction in conjunction with opening and closing of the cover 3, and the position is switched between the print position shown in FIG. 9 and the release position shown in FIG. Here, the roller holder 67
Is always elastically biased to the release position by a winding spring (not shown). That is, the roller 72 pivotally attached to the release lever 71 comes into contact with the standing wall 11a of the main body frame 11, and one end of the release lever 71 is attached to the roller holder 6.
7, the release lever 71 is moved from the retracted position shown in FIG. 11 to the actuated position shown in FIG. 9 to the left, so that the left end of the release lever 71 has the roller holder 67 and the standing wall 11a. The roller holder 67 is switched from the release position to the printing position by penetrating in a wedge shape between and. At this time, the platen roller 65 causes the thermal head 1 to pass through the print tape 22 and the ink ribbon 32.
The tape feed sub-roller 66 presses the tape feed roller 24 via the printing tape 22 while pressing the tape feed roller 2.

Here, when the roller holder 67 is switched to the printing position, a platen gear (not shown) fixed to the lower end of the platen roller 65 meshes with the gear 55, and also fixed to the lower end of the tape feed sub-roller 66. The sub roller gear (not shown) meshes with the tape drive gear 54. Next, the release lever 71 is driven to the right in conjunction with the opening of the cassette cover 3 to move the roller holder 6
A head release mechanism 70 for switching the thermal head 12 to the release position and releasing the thermal head 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 11 to 13. As shown in FIGS. 12 to 13, the rear end portion of the cassette cover 3 is supported by a pivot pin 7 attached to the main body cover 2 so as to be openable and closable at a plurality of positions, and the right side wall 3 a of the cassette cover 3 has a rear end portion. ,
A curved groove cam 3b is formed. An engaging pin 75 that engages with the groove cam 3b is fixed to the rear end of the actuating plate 74 disposed below the right end of the main body frame 11. By the way, the right end portion of the release lever 71 is rotatably supported by one lever of a bifurcated lever 76 pivotally mounted on the body frame 11.
The other lever of the bifurcated lever 76 is connected via a pin 77 fixed to the front end portion of the operating plate 74.

Then, as shown in FIG. 12, when the cassette cover 3 is closed, that is, the roller holder 67 is shown in FIG.
When the cassette cover 3 is opened at the printing position shown in FIG. 13, the movement of the groove cam 3b causes the engagement pin 75 that engages with the groove cam 3b to move rearward. The plate 74 moves backward, and the forked lever 7
6 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, and in response to the release lever 71 moving to the right, the roller holder 67 is switched to the release position. At this time, when the operating plate 74 moves rearward, the cover opening / closing detection switch 102 outputs the “H” level cover opening / closing signal VS. Further, when the cassette cover 3 is opened as shown in FIG. 13, that is, when the roller holder 67 is at the release position shown in FIG. 11, when the cassette cover 3 is closed as shown in FIG. By the movement of 3b, the engagement pin 75 moves forward, so that the operating plate 74 moves forward, the bifurcated lever 76 rotates clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 11, and the release lever 71 moves leftward. In response to the movement, the roller holder 67 is switched to the print position, that is, the non-release state.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, when printing is performed, the tape cassette 20 is first mounted on the thermal printing mechanism 10, and then the ribbon cassette 30 is mounted on the tape cassette 20. When the cassette cover 3 is closed, the roller holder 67 is switched to the print position. Then, in this state, the tape drive motor 44
Is driven in the normal printing direction, the gears 45 to 55 are driven in respective predetermined rotation directions, the platen roller 65 and the tape feed sub-roller 66 are rotated counterclockwise, and the tape feed is performed. Since the sub roller 66 and the tape feeding roller 24 rotate in synchronization with each other, the printing tape 22 is discharged by passing through the tape cutting mechanism 80 and the tape detection mechanism 90 while being printed by the thermal head 12. At this time, the tape winding cam 41 is freed, so that the print tape 22 wound around the tape spool 23 is sequentially fed out without resistance.
At the same time, the ink ribbon 32 moves to the platen roller 6
5 is fed from the ribbon spool 33 in synchronism with the print tape 22, and the ribbon take-up cam 42 is rotated by the rotation of the ribbon take-up gear 48, and the ribbon take-up cam 42 is engaged and rotated. It is wound around the spool 34.

On the other hand, when the printing of the first color is completed and the printing of the second color is executed, first the cassette cover 3 is opened,
When the ribbon cassette 30 is removed, the roller holder 67 is switched to the release position by the head release mechanism 70. Then, when the tape drive motor 44 is reversely rotated in the counterclockwise direction (rewinding direction), as shown in FIGS.
55 are each driven in a predetermined rotation direction. At this time, the rotation of the gear 50 in the counterclockwise direction causes the swing lever 5 to rotate.
6 also rotates in the counterclockwise direction, the planetary gear 57 comes into mesh with the tape winding gear 52, the tape winding cam 41 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, and the printed printing tape 22 is printed. It is wound up on the tape spool 23. here,
Although the ribbon take-up gear 48 is driven to rotate in the clockwise direction, the ribbon cassette 30 is removed, so that the ink ribbon 32 wound around the ribbon take-up spool 34 is not fed out.

Next, a tape cutting mechanism 80 for cutting the printed printing tape 22 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9, 14 and 15.
It will be described based on. The lower end portion of the fixed blade 81 is fixed to the left end wall 11b in which the left end portion of the main body frame 11 is partially bent downward, and the cutting lever 82 has a substantially L-shape in side view.
A base end portion of is rotatably supported by a screw 83, and a cutting blade 82 thereof has a movable blade 82a. Here, during printing, as shown in FIG. 9, the gear 53 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, the tip of the cutting prohibiting lever 84 moves to the lower side of the cutting lever 82, and the cutting operation is performed. prohibited.

However, when the tape drive motor 44 is slightly rotated in the rewinding direction at the end of printing, as shown in FIG. 15, the gear 53 is rotated slightly in the clockwise direction to cause the cut prohibiting lever 84 to move. When the tip end comes off from the lower side of the cutting lever 82 to enable the cutting operation,
As shown in FIG. 14, when the cutting knob 85 at the tip of the cutting lever 82 is pressed downward, the movable blade 8
2a rotates to the cutting position indicated by the chain double-dashed line, and the printing tape 22 located between the fixed blade 81 and the movable blade 82a is cut by the cooperation of these two blades 81, 82a. At this time, the disconnection detection switch 101 attached to the main body frame 11 is operated by the operation member 86 attached to the disconnection lever 82 to output the disconnection detection signal CS. When the pressing operation of the cutting lever 82 is stopped, the cutting lever 82 is returned to the original predetermined position shown by the solid line and rotated by the biasing force of the spring (not shown).

Next, a tape detecting mechanism 90 provided outside the tape cutting mechanism 80 and for detecting the presence or absence of the print tape 22 will be described with reference to FIG. Guide members 94 and 95 are integrally formed on the main body cover 2 outside the tape cutting mechanism 80 in order to form a pair of sensor accommodating chambers 96 and 97 in an airtight manner.
A light emitting element 92 is attached to 6 and a light receiving element 93 is attached to the other sensor accommodating chamber 97.
A slit 98 through which the print tape 22 can pass is formed between the pair of guide members 94 and 95, and
Small-diameter light passage holes 94a and 95a are formed in the opposing portions of the pair of guide members 94 and 95, and inclined guide portions 99 are formed in the respective portions, so that the tape cutting mechanism 8 can be formed.
The leading end of the printing tape 22 that has passed 0
By guiding with 9, it is possible to reliably pass through the slit 98 for detection.

Then, the sensor light emitted from the light emitting element 92 passes through the light passage holes 94a and 95a formed in the sensor accommodating chambers 96 and 97 and is projected on the light receiving element 93. That is, the sensor light is blocked only when the print tape 22 enters the tape detection sensor 91 and is present between the light emitting element 92 and the light receiving element 93. The L-level tape detection signal TS is output. Next, the tape-shaped label producing apparatus 1
The control system is configured as shown in the block diagram of FIG. Input / output interface 113 of control device CD
Includes a keyboard 4, a tape detection sensor 91, a disconnection detection switch 101, and a cover opening / closing detection switch 102.
A ribbon detection switch group 103 and a video RAM for outputting display data to the liquid crystal display (LCD) 5.
Display Controller (LCDC) 104 with
A drive circuit 106 for the warning buzzer 105, a drive circuit 107 for driving the thermal head 12, and a drive circuit 108 for the tape drive motor 44 are connected to each other.

The control device CD includes a CPU 110 and a C
An input / output interface 113 connected to the PU 110 via a bus 114 such as a data bus, and a font RO
It is composed of an M111, a ROM 112 and a RAM 120. The font ROM 111 stores display dot pattern data for each of a large number of characters such as characters and symbols, and print dot pattern data for a plurality of print character sizes.

In the ROM 112, the display controller 104 is made to correspond to code data of characters such as characters, symbols and numbers inputted from the keyboard 4.
Display drive control program for controlling the text memory 1
A printing control program for creating dot pattern data to be used for printing the characters and symbols stored in 21;
With respect to the created dot pattern data, a print drive control program that sequentially outputs dot pattern data for each dot row to the thermal head 12 or the tape drive motor 44, a control program for the multicolor print control described later, which is unique to the present application, etc. Is stored. In addition, in the ROM 112,
Based on the ribbon detection signal RS output from the ribbon detection switch group 103 including the first to sixth detection switches,
A ribbon cassette detection table for detecting the ribbon color and ribbon width of the ink ribbon 32 is stored.

Text memory 121 of the RAM 120
The text data consisting of characters and symbols input from the keyboard 4 is stored in the table in association with the set print color data. The color number memory 122 stores color number data of the set print color. Print color sequence memory 1
The data of the color order of the set print color is stored in 23. The margin amount memory 124 stores the margin amount data relating to the same set front margin amount and rear margin amount.
In the print data buffer 125, the text memory 1
The dot pattern data corresponding to the character code stored in 21 is expanded and stored. Furthermore, RAM12
0 is provided with a memory for temporarily storing the calculation result calculated by the CPU 110.

Next, a multicolor printing control routine executed by the control device CD of the tape label producing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. In the figure, reference numeral Si (i = 10, 11, 12, ...)
Is each step. Prior to multicolor printing control, the positional relationship between the tape detection position by the tape detection sensor 91, the tape cutting position by the tape cutting mechanism 80, and the printing position by the thermal head 12 will be described with reference to FIG. In the feeding direction T of the print tape 22, the printing position (P position) from the upstream side of the feeding direction T,
The tape cutting position (C position) and the tape detection position (S position) are arranged in this order, and the print / cut distance Dcp between the printing position and the tape cutting position is about 25 mm. The distance Dsc is about 15 mm. In addition, the separation position (position B) of the separation member 35 by the separation portion 35a is about 6 in the feeding direction T as compared with the printing position.
It is located mm downstream.

When the tape-shaped label producing apparatus 1 is powered on, first, the thermal printing mechanism 10 and the controller CD
An initialization process for initializing is executed (S10). Then, since the text input screen is displayed on the display 5, after the print format is set, the input processing for inputting the text data and the display processing for displaying the input text are executed to input the input text. The data is stored in the text memory 121 (S11). For example, as shown in FIG. 27, input text data “Akamidori
“Black” is stored in the text memory 121.

Next, the print color order setting process control (see FIG. 18) is executed (S12). When this control is started,
Since the message “What is the number of print colors?” Is displayed on the display 5, the color number setting process of setting the color number N by operating the number keys is executed, and the set color number N is stored in the color number memory 122. It is stored (S30). Next, since the names of a plurality of colors are displayed on the display 5, a color order setting process for sequentially setting the order of colors used for printing is executed, and the data of the set color order is stored in the print color order memory 123. Then, the control is terminated (S31), and the process returns to S13 of the multicolor printing control.

Next, in the multicolor printing control, the print target range setting processing control for each color (see FIG. 19) is executed (S).
13). When this control is started, first, the color number N is set to the count value I of the color number counter (S33), and when "1" is subtracted from this color number count value I and it is not "0", that is, the final value. If the target character string for the print color is not set (S34: No), the cursor is used to select the character or symbol to be printed for the first print color in the print color order among the unset colors based on the color order data. A print target character string setting process which is designated and set is executed (S35).

That is, in the print target character string setting process, since the text data is displayed on the display 5, the four cursor movement keys arranged at the right end of the keyboard 4 are operated to select a color other than the final print color. For each print color, specify the character or symbol to be printed with the cursor by operating the cursor movement keys, operate the color confirmation key each time, and press the confirmation key at the end of setting the character string to be printed. Operated. By this operation of the confirm key, the set color data is stored in the text memory 121 along with the character data of the character designated by the operation of the cursor movement key and the color confirm key.

Then, the color number count value I is decremented by 1 (S36), and until (I-1) becomes "0", S
34 to S36 are repeatedly executed. And (I-1)
Becomes "0" and the setting of the print target character string is completed for each print color other than the final print color (S34:
Yes), and for the final print color, a character string setting process for setting the remaining characters of the text data except the already set characters and symbols is executed (S37).

The character string setting process will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 20. First, the character data stored in the text memory 121 is read from the beginning (S371).
), It is determined whether or not the color data is attached (S3).
72). If the read character data is accompanied by color data (S372: Yes) and the character data is not the last character data (S373: No), the next data is read (S374), and the S372 is executed. The process of is executed again. On the other hand, if the read character data is not accompanied by color data (S372: No), the color data corresponding to the final print color is additionally stored with respect to the character data (S37).
5), the process of S373 is executed. Each of the above processes
When the last character data stored in the text memory 121 is repeatedly executed and it is determined in S373 that the character data is the last character data (S373: Yes), the process returns to S38 in FIG.

For example, when the character data "Akamidorikuro" is stored in the text memory 121, and the number of colors is 3 and the color order is "red", "green", and "black", the print target character string setting process of S35 is performed. 27. First, for the printing color "red", the character string "red" is set by operating the cursor key and the color confirmation key, and as shown in FIG. When the color data “red” is stored in association with each of them and the character string “green” is set next for the printing color “green”, the text memory 12 is displayed.
The color data "green" is stored in association with each of the character data "1", "do", and "ri".

When the setting of the printing color "green" is completed, the color number count value (I-1) becomes "0".
In the character string setting process of 37, the character data is sequentially read from the beginning of the text memory 121, and the final print color "black" is automatically set for the character string "black" for which the print color of the text data is not set. The color data “black” is set in association with the character data “ku” and “ro” in the text memory 121. Next, a message “What is the margin amount of the printing tape?” Is displayed on the display 5. Therefore, when the desired margin amount is set by operating the number keys, the set margin amount is stored in the margin amount memory 124. It is stored (S38), the control is terminated, and the process returns to S14 of the multicolor printing control.

In the multicolor printing control, when the print key is operated (S14 / S15: Yes), the print start processing control (see FIG. 21) is executed (S16). When this control is started, first, the ribbon color R of the mounted ribbon cassette 30 is read based on the ribbon detection signal RS from the ribbon detection switch group 103 (S40), and the first printing color C in the printing color order is read. It is read (S41), and if the ribbon color R and the leading print color C do not match (S42: No),
An error message notifying that the print colors do not match is displayed on the display 5 (S43).

Next, based on the cover open / close signal VS of the cover open / close detection switch 102, when the cassette cover 3 is opened and the ribbon cassette 30 is replaced, the cassette cover 3 is closed again (S44: Yes), S40. ~ S41
Is executed. When the ribbon color R and the leading print color C match (S42: Yes), the character string in which the data of the leading print color C is stored together is read from the text memory 121, and the dots of the character string are further read. The pattern data is expanded in the print data buffer 125 (S45). Next, when the tape detection signal TS from the tape detection sensor 91 is read, the tape detection signal TS is at the “L” level, and the print tape 22 is positioned corresponding to the tape detection sensor 91 (S46: Yes). ), A message prompting the cutting of the print tape is displayed on the display 5 (S
47).

Next, the cutting knob 85 is pressed to cut the printing tape 22, the cutting detection signal CS from the cutting detection switch 101 becomes "H" level (S48), and the tape detection signal TS becomes "H". When the tape break is detected (S46: No), the tape drive motor 44 rotates forward by one step (clockwise direction) in order to cause the front end of the print tape 22 to enter the tape detection sensor 91.
When the printing tape 22 is driven and moved by a minute distance in the feeding direction T (S49), and the tape detection signal TS is at "H" level (S50: No), S49 to S50 are repeatedly executed.

Then, the tape detection signal TS becomes "L" level, and as shown in FIG.
When it enters the front end tape detection sensor 91 (S5
0: Yes), this control is terminated, and multicolor printing control in S17
Return to At this time, the print position of the thermal head 12 on the print tape 22 when the leading end of the tape is detected is set to the print start reference origin position. Here, when the printing tape 22 is transported in the feeding direction T, the printing tape 2
Even when the front end of the second tape is curled, the front end of the print tape 22 can be reliably guided to the slit 98 by the guide portion 99 formed on the pair of guide members 94 and 95.

Next, in the multi-color printing control, when the number of colors N is not "1", that is, when the printing is not the final printing (S17: No), the set color printing processing control for printing with each set printing color (Fig. 22) is executed (S18). When this control is started, as shown in FIG. 28B, first, the print tape 2 is printed by the front margin amount L corresponding to the set margin amount L.
In order to transfer 2, the tape drive motor 44 is driven to rotate normally (S60). Next, when the print start position of the character to be printed with the current print color is located upstream of the print start reference origin position of label printing in the feeding direction T, that is, as shown in FIG. 28C, for example. When there is an idle feed amount (S61: Yes), as in the case of printing the character "green" in the print color of "green" (S61: Yes), the tape drive motor 44
Is driven to rotate in the normal direction, and the printing tape 22 is transported in the feeding direction T by the idling amount (S62). However, when the idle feed amount does not exist (S6: No), S62 is skipped and the process proceeds to S63. Then, the print data buffer 125
The dot pattern data developed in is read out, the thermal head 12 or the tape drive motor 44 is driven to execute the printing process for printing (S63), this control is ended, and S19 of the multicolor printing control is executed. Return to.

Next, in the multicolor printing control, the print tape rewinding process control (see 23) is executed (S19).
When this control is started, first, the tape drive motor 44 is driven to rotate forward, and the print position (P position) and the separation position (B
The print tape 22 and the ink ribbon 32 are moved in the feed direction T by the separation feed amount Dbp corresponding to the distance Dbp from the position) (S70). That is, at the final printing position printed by the thermal head 12, the ink of the ink ribbon 32 is fused to the printing tape 22. However, the printing tape 22 and the ink ribbon 3 are separated by the separated feed amount Dbp.
When the ink ribbon 32 is transferred to the separating section 3
Since the print tape 22 is forcibly separated from the print tape 22 by 5a, the print tape 22 and the ink ribbon 32 are reliably separated.

Next, in order to replace the ribbon cassette 30 with the ink ribbon 32 of the same ribbon color as the next print color, a message prompting the removal of the ribbon cassette 30 is displayed on the display 5 (S71). Then, first, the cassette cover 3 is opened to move the operating plate 74 rearward, and the cover open / close detection switch 102 outputs the “H” level cover open / close signal VS (S72: Yes).
Further, as the ribbon detection signal RS from the ribbon detection switch group 103, when all of the six detection switch signals become "H" level signals and the ribbon cassette 30 is removed (S73: Yes), the ribbon cassette 30 is not mounted. A message prompting the user to display is displayed on the display 5 (S74).

Next, in order to rewind the print tape 22, the tape drive motor 44 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction (counterclockwise direction) by one step, and the print tape 22 is transported in the rewind direction by a minute distance (S75). When the tape detection signal TS is at "H" level (S76: No), S74 to S76 are repeatedly executed. When the front end of the print tape 22 is rewound slightly inside the tape detection sensor 91 (S76: Yes), the reverse rotation drive of the tape drive motor 44 is stopped (S77), and this control is ended, The process returns to S20 for multicolor printing control.

Next, in the multicolor printing control, the printing start position alignment processing control (see FIG. 24) is executed (S20).
When this control is started, first, an error message prompting the mounting of the ribbon cassette 30 having the ink ribbon 32 of the same ribbon color as the next print color is displayed on the display 5 (S80). Then, as the ribbon detection signal RS, 6
When all the two switch signals are not "H" level signals and the ribbon cassette 30 is loaded (S81: Yes
), The ribbon color R of the attached ribbon cassette 30 is read based on the ribbon detection signal RS (S82), the next print color C in the print color order is read (S83), and the ribbon color R and the next print are read. If color C does not match (S84: N
o), S80 to S84 are repeatedly executed.

Next, when the ribbon color R and the next print color C match (S84: Yes), the character string additionally storing the data of the next print color C is read from the text memory 121, Further, the dot pattern data of the character string is expanded in the print data buffer 125 (S85). next,
When the cover open / close signal VS of the cover open / close detection switch 102 is at "H" level and the cassette cover 3 is not closed (S86: No), a message to close the cassette cover 3 is displayed on the display 5 (S89). . Then, the cassette cover 3 is closed and the cover opening / closing signal V
When S becomes the "L" level (S86: Yes), the tape drive motor 44 is driven to rotate in forward steps by one step until the tip of the print tape 22 corresponds to the tape detection sensor 91 (S87 / S88: No). , When the tape detection signal TS becomes “L” level and the leading end of the print tape 22 corresponds to the tape detection sensor 91, the print start reference origin position for the print tape 22 corresponds to the print position of the thermal head 12 ( S88: Yes), the control is terminated, and the process returns to S21 of the multicolor printing control.

Next, in multicolor printing control, the number of colors N is 1
Is decremented (S21), and when the number of colors N is not "1" and it is not the last print (S17: No), S18 to S21 are repeatedly executed. That is, the printing operation is automatically started only by closing the cassette cover 3. On the other hand, the number of colors N
Becomes "1", and when the final printing is performed (S17: Yes
), The final color printing process / cutting process control (see FIG. 25) is executed (S22). In this control, the front margin amount L
Is larger than the distance between printing and cutting Dcp, and
When the front margin amount L is smaller than the printing / cutting distance Dcp, the second case where there is no blank feed amount and the value where there is a blank feed amount and the front margin amount L is added The tape cutting is performed while printing, distinguishing between the third case where the distance between cutting Dcp is longer than the fourth case and the fourth case where the distance between printing and cutting Dcp is smaller.

First, the first case will be described. When the front margin amount L is equal to or greater than the print / cut distance Dcp (S
90: Yes), by the normal rotation drive of the tape drive motor 44, the print tape 22 is moved in the feeding direction T by the distance Dcp between printing and cutting (S91), the drive of the tape drive motor 44 is stopped, and the tape transfer is stopped. (S92). Next, when the tape drive motor 44 is slightly rotated in the rewinding direction and the tip end of the cutting prohibiting lever 84 is disengaged from the lower side of the cutting lever 82 to enable the cutting operation (see FIG. 15). A message prompting the cutting of the print tape 22 is displayed on the display 5 (S93). Then, when the print tape 22 is cut, the cut detection signal CS becomes "H" level, and the tape cut is detected (S94: Ye
s) Further, the printing tape 22 is moved in the feeding direction T by the shortage of the front margin amount L (front margin amount L-distance between printing and cutting Dcp) (S95).

Next, when the print start position of the print with the final print color this time is on the upstream side in the feed direction T from the print start reference origin position of the label print, and the idle feed amount exists (S
96: Yes), drive the tape drive motor 44 forward,
The printing tape 22 is transported in the feeding direction T by the idle feed amount (S97). Next, the characters and symbols are printed in the final print color based on the read dot image as in S63 (S98). Next, in order to provide the rear margin amount L on the rear side of the print character string, the tape tape drive motor 44 is driven in the forward rotation to feed the printing tape 22 by the value obtained by adding the rear margin amount L to the distance between printing and cutting Dcp. Transferred in direction T (S9
9) After that, when the tape drive motor 44 is slightly rotated in the rewinding direction and the tip of the cutting prohibiting lever 84 is disengaged from the lower side of the cutting lever 82 to enable the cutting operation, the printing tape 22 The message for prompting disconnection is displayed again on the display 5 (S100). Then, when the print tape 22 is cut, the cut detection signal CS becomes "H" level, and the cut of the tape is detected (S101:
Yes), terminates this control and returns to S10 of the multicolor printing control.

The second case will be described. When the front margin amount L is smaller than the print / cut distance Dcp and there is no idle feed amount (S90 / S102: No), the tape drive motor 44 is rotated forward. By driving, the printing tape 22 is moved by the front margin amount L in the feeding direction T (S103). Then, in the next step S104 and subsequent steps, the print tape 22 is cut during the final print processing. That is, the dot pattern data for one dot row is read from the print data buffer 125 and the printing process is performed (S104), and the tape drive motor 4 is driven by the minute feed amount corresponding to the one dot row.
The printing tape 22 is transported by the forward rotation drive of the No. 4 (S
105). Next, when the tape transfer amount after the start of the final printing is smaller than the value obtained by subtracting the front margin amount L from the print-cut distance Dcp, that is, the cutting position (P position) is the head of the front margin amount L. When the position has not been reached (S106: N
o), S104 93 to S106 are repeatedly executed.

When the leading position of the front margin amount L reaches the cutting position (S106: Yes), printing and tape transfer are stopped (S107), and then the tape drive motor 44 is used.
Is rotated in the rewinding direction a little, and the tip of the cut prohibiting lever 84 is disengaged from the lower side of the cutting lever 82 to enable the cutting operation, a message prompting the cutting of the print tape 22 is displayed. Is displayed on the screen (S108
). Next, when the printing tape 22 is cut by pressing the cutting knob 85, the cutting detection signal CS becomes "H" level, and the tape cutting is detected (S109: Yes).
), The remaining printing process for printing the remaining dot pattern data is executed (S110), the rear margin amount L is provided and the tape is cut by S99 to S101, the control is ended, and the process similarly returns to S10. .

Next, the front margin amount L is the distance between printing and cutting Dc.
If it is smaller than p, and there is a blank feed amount, and the value of the blank feed amount plus the front margin amount L is the third distance Dcp or more between the printing and cutting (S90: No, S102, S111:
Yes), the tape is cut after the tape is transferred (S112 to S115) in the same manner as S91 to S94, and the shortage of the front margin amount L (front margin amount L + idle feed amount-printing / cutting distance Dcp) is applied to the printing tape 22 Are transferred in the feed direction T (S116
). Then, S98 and the subsequent steps are executed, the printing process is executed with the final color, the rear margin amount L is provided and the tape is cut, the control is ended, and the process similarly returns to S10.

On the other hand, the front margin amount L is the printing / cutting distance Dc.
If it is smaller than p and there is an idle feed amount and the value obtained by adding the front margin amount L to the idle feed amount is smaller than the print / cut distance Dcp (S90: No, S102: Yes, S11).
1: No), the print tape 22 is moved in the feed direction T by the feed amount obtained by adding the blank feed amount to the front margin amount L (S117).
Then, the dot pattern data for one dot row is read from the print data buffer 125 and the print processing is performed (S
118), only the minute feed corresponding to that one dot row,
The printing tape 2 is driven by the forward rotation of the tape drive motor 44.
2 is transferred (S119).

Next, when the tape transfer amount after the start of the final printing is smaller than the value obtained by subtracting the feed amount obtained by adding the idle feed amount to the front margin amount L from the print-cut distance Dcp, that is, When the cutting position (P position) has not reached the leading position of the front margin amount L (S120: No), S118 to S12.
0 is executed repeatedly. When the leading position of the front margin amount L reaches the cutting position (S120: Yes), S
After step 107, the front margin amount L and the rear margin amount L are respectively provided and the tape is cut, the control is ended, and the process similarly returns to S10. For example, as shown in FIG.
For the entered text "Akamidorikuro", the front and back margins L are provided, and the character string "Aka" is red, the character string "Green" is green, and the character string "Black" is black. Label 22A is obtained.

Next, the operation of multicolor printing control will be described. After the text is input, a print color order setting process for setting the number N of print colors and a color order, and a process for setting a print target range for each print color to be printed with a plurality of colors are executed. Then, after the ribbon cassette 30 having the same ribbon color R as the first print color C is mounted, the thermal head 12 and the tape drive motor 44 are drive-controlled to perform the print processing.
Then, the print tape rewinding process and the print start position adjusting process are executed each time the print processes are completed by selectively mounting the ribbon cassettes 30 of a plurality of colors in accordance with the color order.

That is, in the print start position adjusting process, when the ribbon cassette 30 of the next print color C is attached to the tape cassette 20, a message to close the cassette cover 3 is displayed, and the cover opening / closing detection switch 102. Based on a cover opening / closing signal VS from the head release mechanism 7 in conjunction with closing the cassette cover 3.
When the non-release operation of 0 is detected, the tape feed of the print tape 22 is executed, and when the front end of the print tape 22 corresponds to the tape detection sensor 91, the thermal head 12 corresponds to the print start reference origin position. Then, the printing of the next printing color C is automatically started from this position.

As described above, in order to perform printing in plural colors one after another, the non-released state of the head release mechanism 70 is detected every time a plurality of ribbon cassettes 30 are selectively mounted in the tape cassette 20. And the printing operation is permitted,
Since the printing process of printing on the printing tape 12 by the thermal head 12 is started while the printing tape 22 is being moved in the feeding direction, no key operation such as printing keys for starting each printing for multi-color printing is required. Thus, the printing efficiency can be increased.

Further, the tape detection sensor 9 provided near the end of the tape transfer path of the tape / ribbon transfer mechanism 40.
No. 1 detects the presence or absence of the print tape 22, while detecting the non-released state of the head release mechanism 70 and permitting the printing operation, the tape detection signal TS of the tape detection sensor 91 detects the tape front end. Tape until
Since the printing tape 22 is sent to the ribbon transfer mechanism 40,
When this tape tip is detected, the thermal head 1
By starting printing from the printing start reference origin position of the printing tape 22 corresponding to No. 2, it is possible to improve the positional accuracy of the printing start position for each printing process when printing is performed a plurality of times with a plurality of colors.

An operation member for releasing the head release mechanism 70 is separately provided, the cover opening / closing detection switch 102 is composed of various sensors such as a photo interrupter, and the thermal head 12 is released from the platen roller 65. Head release mechanism 70
Within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, such as
Various modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments based on existing technology or technology obvious to those skilled in the art. Various tape-shaped labels, such as printer-type tape-shaped label producing devices, that receive text print data from an external device such as a computer connected online and sequentially replace a plurality of ribbon cassettes with different ribbon colors to perform multicolor printing Of course, the present invention can be applied to a label producing device.

[0072]

According to the tape label producing apparatus of the first aspect, the tape transfer mechanism, the ribbon cassette, the printing means including the print head and the platen, and the control means are provided, and the head release mechanism is further provided. When the ribbon cassette is mounted and the non-released state of the head release mechanism is detected, the printing operation is permitted and the tape is transferred, provided with the operation member, the operation state detection means, and the operation permission control means. However, since the printing process of printing on the tape is started by the print head, the key operation for starting the printing is not necessary at all and the printing efficiency can be improved.

According to the tape label producing apparatus of the second aspect, the tape transfer mechanism, the plurality of ribbon cassettes,
A printing unit including a print head and a platen, and a control unit are provided, and further, a head release mechanism, an operating member, an operation state detection unit, and an operation permission control unit are provided to sequentially print in a plurality of colors. When the non-released state of the head release mechanism is detected each time a plurality of ribbon cassettes are selectively loaded, the printing operation is permitted, and the print head prints on the tape while transporting the tape. Since the process is started, the key operation for starting each printing for multi-color printing is not necessary at all, and the printing efficiency can be improved.

According to the tape-shaped label producing apparatus of the third aspect, the same effect as that of the second aspect is obtained, but the tape detecting means provided near the end of the tape transfer path of the tape transfer mechanism has On the other hand, the tape feed control means provided in the control means detects the presence / absence of the tape, and when the printing operation is permitted by the operation permission control means, the tape feeding mechanism is provided to the tape transfer mechanism until the leading end of the tape is detected from the detection signal of the tape detection means. When the leading edge of the tape is detected, the print head starts printing from the print start position of the corresponding tape, and the print start position for each print process when printing multiple times with multiple colors. The position accuracy of can be improved.

According to the tape-shaped label producing apparatus of the fourth aspect, the same operation as that of any one of the first to third aspects is achieved, but the operation member is the cassette cover of the label producing apparatus. Therefore, the head release mechanism can be simultaneously released by opening the cassette cover to take out the ribbon cassette without separately providing the operation member. According to the tape-shaped label producing apparatus of the fifth aspect, the same effect as that of the first aspect or the second aspect can be obtained, but the control means automatically operates when the operation permission control means permits the printing operation of the printing means. Since the printing operation is executed, the key operation for starting printing can be omitted. According to the tape-shaped label producing apparatus of claim 6,
Although the same effect as that of claim 1 or claim 2 is achieved, since the input means, the data storage means, and the display means are provided, desired text can be input, and the input text can be stored or displayed. be able to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tape-shaped label producing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the thermal printing mechanism in a printing state.

FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 in a tape rewinding state.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a tape cassette equipped with a ribbon cassette.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the tape cassette.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the inside of the ribbon cassette.

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of a ribbon cassette and a tape cassette.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a ribbon cassette.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a drive system in a printing state of the thermal printing mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional front view of a main part of FIG. 9, showing a meshing relationship of gears.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a drive system in a tape rewinding state of the thermal printing mechanism.

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of essential parts when the cassette cover is closed.

FIG. 13 is a view corresponding to FIG. 12 when the cassette cover is opened.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the thermal printing mechanism showing the tape cutting mechanism.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a drive system of the thermal printing mechanism in a tape cutting permission state.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a control system of the tape label producing apparatus.

FIG. 17 is a schematic flowchart of a multicolor printing control routine.

FIG. 18 is a schematic flowchart of a print color sequence setting process control routine.

FIG. 19 is a schematic flowchart of a routine of print target range setting processing control for each color.

FIG. 20 is a schematic flowchart of a remaining character string setting process control routine for the final print color.

FIG. 21 is a schematic flowchart of a print start processing control routine.

FIG. 22 is a schematic flowchart of a routine for setting color printing processing control.

FIG. 23 is a schematic flowchart of a print tape rewinding process control routine.

FIG. 24 is a schematic flowchart of a print start position adjustment process control routine.

FIG. 25 is a schematic flowchart of a final color printing process / cutting process control routine.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a positional relationship among a print position (P position), a tape cutting position (C position), and a tape detection position (S position).

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a data structure in a text memory.

28A is an explanatory diagram of a print start reference origin position on a tape, FIG. 28B is an explanatory diagram when a tape is fed by a front margin amount, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing when the tape feeding is carried out by the amount.

FIG. 29 is a plan view of a tape-shaped label in which three colors are printed in red, green, and black.

[Explanation of reference symbols] 1 tape-shaped label producing device 4 keyboard 3 cassette cover 5 liquid crystal display 10 thermal printing mechanism 12 thermal head 20 tape cassette 22 printing tape 30 ribbon cassette 32 ink ribbon 40 tape / ribbon transfer mechanism 44 tape drive motor 65 platen Roller 70 Head release mechanism 71 Release lever 91 Tape detection sensor 102 Cover open / closed detection switch 110 CPU 112 ROM 120 RAM 121 Text memory CD controller

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G09F 3/00 B41J 25/30 U

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A tape transfer mechanism for feeding a tape which is a print medium, a ribbon cassette for accommodating an ink ribbon and being detachably mounted, a print head for printing characters and symbols on the tape, and a platen facing the print head. In a tape-shaped label producing apparatus provided with a printing unit including a printing unit and a control unit that controls printing, a head release mechanism that releases one of the print head and the platen to the other, and the head release mechanism. An operation member for manually releasing the head release mechanism, an operation state detecting means for detecting an operation state of the head release mechanism, and a non-release state of the head release mechanism from a detection signal of the operation state detecting means. And an operation permission control means for permitting the printing operation of the printing means to the control means only when Tape-shaped label producing device that. 2. A tape transfer mechanism for selectively transferring a tape, which is a print medium, in a feeding direction and a rewinding direction, and for accommodating ink ribbons of a plurality of colors and sequentially printing in a plurality of colors. A plurality of ribbon cassettes that are detachably and selectively mounted, a printing unit that includes a print head that prints characters and symbols on a tape, and a platen that faces the print head.
In a tape-shaped label producing apparatus having control means for controlling printing, a head release mechanism for releasing one of the print head and the platen to the other, and a release operation of the head release mechanism by manual operation. An operating member for operating, an operating state detecting means for detecting an operating state of the head release mechanism, and the control means only when detecting a non-release state of the head release mechanism from a detection signal of the operating state detecting means. A tape-shaped label producing apparatus comprising: an operation permission control unit that permits the printing operation of the printing unit. 3. A tape detecting means for detecting the presence / absence of a tape is provided in the vicinity of the end of the tape transfer path of the tape transfer path, and when the print operation is permitted by the operation permission control means, the control means detects the tape. 3. The tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising tape feed control means for feeding the tape to the tape transfer mechanism until the tape front end is detected from the detection signal of the means. 4. The tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation member is a cassette cover of the label producing apparatus. 5. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit automatically executes the printing operation when the operation permission control unit permits the printing operation of the printing unit. Tape-shaped label making device. 6. An input means for inputting characters and symbols and various commands, a data storage means for storing the data of the input text, and a display means including a display. The tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.