JPH08267885A - Tape label producing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve the operability or printing efficiency of multi-color printing by a method wherein the letter or the notation of a text, setting the color of a ribbon in a mounted ribbon cassette is set as a printing color, are printed preferentially when a detected ribbon color is included in the set printing color upon pringing with respective printing colors. CONSTITUTION: The data of a text, which are inputted from a key board 14 or the like into a control device CD, are stored in a text memory 121 while the objective range of printing of respective printing colors, printed by a plularity of colors, among the text, are set by a CPU 110 so as to be corresponding to the printing colors. Upon printing by respective printing colors, the ribbon color of a ribbon cassette mounted on a label producing device, which is detected by a ribbon detecting switch group 103 based on the result of setting, is decided whether the color is included in the set printing colors and when the color is included, carry out of printing by the set printing color is commanded and the printing color of an ink ribbon, mounted at present, is printed preferentially.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape-shaped label producing apparatus, and in particular, every time a ribbon cassette is mounted, the ribbon color of the mounted ribbon cassette is set as a printing color, and characters and symbols of text are set. It is related to the one that has been preferentially printed.

[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 character or mark of input text is printed on a print tape as a print medium by a thermal head via an ink ribbon, and a label suitable for being attached to a spine of a file is created. We have proposed and put into practical use a tape-shaped label producing device that is suitable for. This label producing device is equipped with a keyboard, a display, and a thermal printing type printing mechanism, and a printing tape as a printing medium (for example, tape width 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 mm).
In addition, characters and marks can be printed in various character sizes and fonts.

By the way, the tape-shaped label created by printing characters is not limited to the spine of a file, and for example,
It is also suitable for attaching to cassette tapes and their cassette tape cases, and even to videotapes and their videotape cases. Moreover, the printed character strings are partly color-changed according to the recorded content and genre to make them colorful. It may be printed.

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 attached to and detached from the tape cassette. In addition to setting multiple print colors to be used for multi-color printing, execute color range setting processing to set the print target range for each print color to print with the set multiple colors for the input text In this way, the present invention was conceived to create a colorfully multicolored label in the same print area by sequentially replacing the ribbon cassettes of the set print color and performing print processing.

[0005]

As is conceived by the inventors of the present application, in the case of colorfully multicolor printing of input text, it is possible to sequentially print from the printing color set to the first character of the text. When replacing and loading ribbon cassettes with different ribbon colors in order of their printing colors, make a mistake with the ribbon cassette of the next printing color that has been set, and install a ribbon cassette with a ribbon color different from that printing color.
It may be printed in different colors. Further, in order to eliminate the mistake, for example, make a note of the preset print color order or arrange the ribbon cassettes in the preset print color order. Therefore, there is a problem that multicolor printing becomes complicated and the printing efficiency is reduced.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tape-shaped label producing apparatus capable of enhancing the operability and the printing efficiency of multicolor printing for printing text in a plurality of printing colors by replacing a plurality of ribbon cassettes having different ribbon colors. To provide.

[0007]

A tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises an input means for inputting characters and symbols and various commands, and a data storage means for storing input text data. A tape-like label provided with a display means including a display, and a print means having a plurality of detachable ribbon cassettes for sequentially printing with a plurality of printing colors, including a print head for printing on a tape as a print medium A label producing device, which detects a ribbon color of an ink ribbon through a ribbon cassette attached to the label producing device, and a text stored in the data storage device, and prints in a plurality of colors. The color-specific range setting means for setting the print target range for each print color in association with the print color and the setting result of the color-specific range setting means when printing with each print color The print color determination means for determining whether or not the ribbon color detected by the ribbon color detection means is included in the set print color, and the setting data of the text data and the color-based range setting means, each setting print Print control means for controlling the printing means to print the text in the print target range corresponding to the color, and the judgment result from the print color judging means,
When the detected ribbon color is included in the set print color,
A print execution instructing means for instructing the print control means to execute the printing with the set print color is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the tape label producing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the print execution command means has a detected print color that is included in the set print color and has not been printed. Only, the print control means is controlled to execute printing. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the tape label producing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the print execution commanding means, when the detected ribbon color is not included in the set print color or when the set print color has already been printed, The error message is displayed via the display means.

A tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to a fourth aspect is the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects,
The color-based range setting means is configured to set a print color for each character or symbol of text.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a tape-shaped label producing apparatus includes a print head for printing characters and symbols on a tape which is a print medium, and a plurality of detachable ribbons for sequentially printing in a plurality of print colors. A tape-shaped label producing apparatus having a printing means having a cassette, wherein a ribbon color detecting means for detecting a ribbon color of an ink ribbon via a ribbon cassette mounted in the label producing apparatus and a print color command are inputted. When printing characters or symbols that are to be printed, a print color determination unit that determines whether the ribbon color detected by the ribbon color detection unit is included in the print colors designated by the print color command is input. A printing control means for controlling the printing means so as to print the characters or symbols corresponding to the printing color command on the basis of various commands including the printing character command and the printing color command; Upon receipt of the determination result, when the detected ribbon color is included in the print color designated by the print color command, a print execution command unit for instructing the print control unit to execute print with the print color is provided. .

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in a tape-shaped label producing apparatus, in the fifth aspect of the invention, input means for inputting characters and symbols and various commands and text data including the input characters and symbols are provided. Data storage means for storing, display means including a display, and for setting a print target range in association with a print color for each print color for printing with a plurality of colors of data stored in the data storage means The print color determination means is provided with color range setting means, and when printing with each print color, the ribbon color detected by the ribbon color detection means is set in response to the setting result of the color range setting means. The print control means determines whether or not the print color is included.
In response to the text data and the setting result of the color-by-color range setting means, the printing means is controlled so as to print the text in the print target range corresponding to each set print color, and the print execution command means is determined by the print color determination means. Upon receipt of the result, when the detected ribbon color is included in the set print color, the print control means is instructed to execute the print with the set print color.

[0012]

In the tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to the first aspect, the input text data is stored in the data storage means, and the plurality of texts stored in the data storage means are stored by the color range setting means. The print target range for each print color to be printed in color is set in association with the print color.
Also, the ribbon color of the ink ribbon is detected by the ribbon color detection means via the ribbon cassette mounted in the label producing apparatus. Then, the print color determination means receives the setting result of the color range setting means when printing with each print color and determines whether the ribbon color detected by the ribbon color detection means is included in the set print color. Therefore, the print execution instruction means receives the determination result from the print color determination means, and when the detected ribbon color is included in the set print color, instructs the print control means to execute the print with the set print color. . As a result, the print control means receives the text data and the setting result of the color-by-color range setting means, and controls the print means so as to print the text in the print target range corresponding to each set print color. With the print head, the characters and symbols of the text are printed on the tape by the ink ribbon of the attached ribbon cassette.

That is, regardless of the print order of the print color set with the print target range for the input text, the ribbon color of the mounted ribbon cassette is set as the print color, and the text characters and symbols set as print colors are given priority. Since the printing is performed on the sheet, no preparatory work is required to avoid making a mistake in the printing color order, and the operability and printing efficiency of multicolor printing with a plurality of colors can be improved.

In the tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the same operation as that of the first aspect is achieved, but the print execution instructing means includes the detected ribbon color in the set print color and does not print it. Since the print control means is controlled to execute the printing only when the set print color is set, it is possible to further increase the print efficiency without overlapping printing with the set print color that has been printed.

In the tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to the third aspect, the same operation as that of the second aspect is achieved, but the print execution commanding means is used when the detected ribbon color is not included in the set print colors or when the print is performed. When the set print color has been set, an error message is displayed via the display means, so that an error in the attached ribbon cassette can be easily recognized.

In the tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the same operation as that in any one of the first to third aspects is performed, but the color-by-color range setting means includes each character or symbol of the text. Since the print color is set for each, the correspondence between each character or symbol of the text and the print color is clarified, and the text can be printed in the set print color for each character or symbol.

In the tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the ribbon color detecting means detects the ribbon color of the ink ribbon via the ribbon cassette mounted in the label producing apparatus. Then, the print color determination means, when printing the characters or symbols input together with the print color command, whether the ribbon color detected by the ribbon color detection means is included in the print colors designated by the print color command. The print execution command means controls the printing means to print the character or the symbol corresponding to the print color command based on the input character or symbol and the print color command. Characters and symbols are printed on the tape by the ink ribbon of the attached ribbon cassette by the print head of the means.

That is, the input characters and symbols are not limited to the print order of the print color designated by the print color command,
Since the ribbon color of the attached ribbon cassette is printed preferentially from the characters and symbols specified as the printing color, no preparatory work is required to avoid mistakes in the printing color order,
It is possible to improve the operability and the printing efficiency of multicolor printing with a plurality of colors.

In the tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the same operation as that of the fifth aspect is achieved, but the input means for inputting characters and symbols and various commands, and the input text data are stored. Data storage means for storing, display means including a display, and for setting a print target range in association with a print color for each print color for printing with a plurality of colors of data stored in the data storage means The print color determination means is provided with color range setting means, and when printing with each print color, the ribbon color detected by the ribbon color detection means is set in response to the setting result of the color range setting means. The print control means determines whether or not it is included in the print color and receives the text data and the setting result of the color-based range setting means, and prints so as to print the text in the print target range corresponding to each set print color. Means However, the print execution command means receives the judgment result from the print color judgment means, and when the detected ribbon color is included in the set print color, it instructs the print control means to execute the print with the set print color. Text can be entered, the entered text can be stored and displayed, and the printing order of the entered text is not limited to the print order of the print color set together with the print target range. It is possible to improve the operability and printing efficiency of multicolor printing.

[0020]

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 composed 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 the 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 head release mechanism 70 for driving the release lever 71 to the right in conjunction with the opening of the cassette cover 3 to switch the roller holder 67 to the release position with respect to the thermal head 12 for release.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 11 to 13. The rear end portion of the cassette cover 3 is, as shown in FIGS.
A pivotal pin 7 attached to the main body cover 2 is openably and closably supported at a plurality of places, and a curved groove cam 3b is formed on a right side wall 3a of the cassette cover 3. The operating plate 74 disposed below the right end of the body frame 11
An engaging pin 75 that engages with the groove cam 3b is provided at the rear end portion.
Is stuck. By the way, the right end portion of the release lever 71 is rotatably supported by one lever of a forked lever 76 pivotally attached to the body frame 11, and the other lever of the forked lever 76 is Operating plate 7
4 are connected to each other via a pin 77 fixed to the front end thereof.

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.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, when printing is performed, first, the tape cassette 20 is 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 which is provided outside the tape cutting mechanism 80 and detects 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 control system of the tape-shaped label producing apparatus 1 is constructed as shown in the block diagram of FIG.
The input / output interface 113 of the control device CD includes a keyboard 4, a tape detection sensor 91, a disconnection detection switch 101, a cover open / closed detection switch 102, a ribbon detection switch group 103, and a liquid crystal display (LC).
D) A display controller (LCDC) 104 having a video RAM for outputting display data to 5, a drive circuit 106 for a warning buzzer 105, a drive circuit 107 for driving the thermal head 12, and a tape drive. A drive circuit 108 for the motor 44 is connected to each.

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,
Tape cutting position (C position), tape detection position (S position)
The printing / cutting distance Dcp between the print position and the tape cutting position is about 25 mm, and the cutting / detection distance Dsc between the tape cutting position and the tape detection position 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, a print color setting process is executed (S1
2). That is, in this print color setting process, since a plurality of print colors are displayed on the display 5, a desired print color to be used for printing is selected and set from the plurality of print colors, and this setting is performed. The print color data is stored in the print color memory 122. Next, the setting process control (see FIG. 18) for setting the print target range for each set print color is executed (S13).

When this control is started, first, based on the number N of print colors stored in the print color memory 122, the print color number N is set to the count value I of the color number counter (S3).
0), when "1" is subtracted from the print color number count value I and is not "0", that is, when the target character string of the final print color is not set (S31: No), one of the unset colors is set.
With respect to one print color, a character string to be printed is set by instructing each character or symbol to be printed with a cursor (S32).

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 obtain 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, until the color number count value I is decremented by 1 (S33) and (I-1) becomes "0", S
31 to S33 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 (S31:
Yes), and for the final print color, a character string setting process for setting the remaining characters of the text data excluding the already set characters and symbols is executed (S34).

The character string setting process will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 19. 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""black", the print target character string setting process of S32 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 34, 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 (S35), 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. 20) is executed (S16). When this control is started, the loaded ribbon cassette 30 is first
The print color determination processing control (see FIG. 21) for determining the ribbon color R is executed (S40). When this control is started,
First, the ribbon color R of the loaded ribbon cassette 30 is read based on the ribbon detection signal RS from the ribbon detection switch group 103 (S50), and the ribbon color R is included in the print color data of the print color memory 122. It is determined whether or not it is the set print color set to print, and when it is not the set print color (S51: No),
An error message indicating that the attached ribbon cassette 30 is wrong is displayed on the display 5 (S52).

Further, a message prompting the replacement of the ribbon cassette 30 is displayed on the display 5 so that the ribbon cassette 30 of the printing color for printing is replaced (S5).
3). 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, and then the cassette cover 3 is closed again (S54: Yes), the loaded ribbon is attached. The ribbon color R of the cassette 30 is read again (S5
0). Then, when the read ribbon color R is the set print color (S51: Yes), whether or not the ribbon color R is included in the data of the print color memory 124 for printing, that is, whether it is the set print color already printed. Is determined,
If the set print color has already been printed (S55: Yes), S52
The ribbon cassette 30 is replaced by S54.

On the other hand, when the ribbon color R of the loaded ribbon cassette 30 is the set print color and the set print color which is not printed yet (S55: No), this control is terminated,
The process returns to S41 of the print start processing control. Then, in the print start processing control, the data of the character string in which the read ribbon color R is stored as the set print color is the text memory 1
21 and the dot pattern data of the character string is further expanded in the print data buffer 125 (S4
1). 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 (S42: Yes). ), A message prompting the cutting of the print tape is displayed on the display 5 (S43).

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 (S44), and the tape detection signal TS becomes "H". When the tape break is detected (S42: No), the tape drive motor 44 rotates forward by one step (clockwise direction) in order to cause the tip 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 (S45), and the tape detection signal TS is at "H" level (S46: No), S45 to S46 are repeatedly executed.

Then, the tape detection signal TS becomes "L" level, and as shown in FIG.
When the tip of the tape enters the tape detection sensor 91 (S
46: Yes), ending this control, S17 of the multicolor printing control
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 multicolor printing control, the number of printing colors N
When is not "1", that is, when it is not the final print (S17: No), the set color print processing control (see FIG. 22) for printing with each set print color is executed (S18). When this control is started, as shown in FIG. 28B, first, the tape drive motor 44 is driven to rotate in the forward direction in order to transfer the print tape 22 by the front margin amount L corresponding to the set margin amount L. (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 (S61: No), S62 is skipped and the process proceeds to S63.

Then, the dot pattern data developed in the print data buffer 125 is read out, and the print processing for driving the thermal head 12 and the tape drive motor 44 to print is executed (S63). Next, the print color used for printing in this print processing is stored in the print color memory 124 as a set print color that has been printed (S64), and this control is ended and the multicolor printing control is performed at S19. To return. Next, in the multicolor printing control, the print tape rewinding process control (see FIG. 23) is executed (S1).
9).

When this control is started, first, the tape drive motor 44 is driven in the forward direction to move the print tape by the separation feed amount Dbp corresponding to the distance Dbp between the print position (P position) and the separation position (B position). 22 and the ink ribbon 32 are transferred in the feeding direction T (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, but the printing tape 22 and the ink ribbon 32 are transported by the separated feed amount Dbp. Ink ribbon 3
Since 2 is forcibly separated from the print tape 22 by the separating portion 35a, 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, a message prompting the mounting of the ribbon cassette 30 of the next print color is displayed on the display 5 (S80). Then, as the ribbon detection signal RS, when all of the six switch signals are not "H" level signals and the ribbon cassette 30 is loaded (S81:
Yes), the print color judgment processing control is executed again (S8).
2). That is, in the print color determination processing control, as described above, the ribbon cassette 30 is replaced until the ribbon cassette 30 having the set print color and the ribbon color R of the set print color that has not been printed is mounted. .

Next, the data of the character string in which the read ribbon color R is stored as the set print color is stored in the text memory 121.
Read out, and the dot pattern data of the character string is further expanded in the print data buffer 125 (S83).
Next, when the cassette cover 3 is not closed (S8
4: No), a message to close the cassette cover 3 is displayed on the display 5 (S87). Then, when the cassette cover 3 is closed (S84: Yes), the tape drive motor 44 is driven to rotate forward by one step until the leading end of the print tape 22 corresponds to the tape detection sensor 91 (S85 / S86: No). , The tape detection signal TS is "L"
When the level is reached and the leading end of the print tape 22 corresponds to the tape detection sensor 91, the print start reference origin position on the print tape 22 corresponds to the print position of the thermal head 12 (S86: Yes), and this control ends. Then, the process returns to S21 for 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. When the number of colors N becomes "1" and the final printing is performed (S17: Yes), final color printing processing / cutting processing control (see FIG. 25) is executed (S).
twenty two). In this control, in the first case where the front margin amount L is larger than the printing / cutting distance Dcp, and when the front margin amount L is smaller than the printing / cutting distance Dcp, there is the second feeding amount in which there is no blank feed amount. In the third case, in which the blank feed amount is present and the blank margin amount L is added to the front margin amount L is equal to or greater than the print / cut distance Dcp, and the fourth, which is smaller than the print / cut distance Dcp.
In this case, the tape cutting is executed while printing.

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 upstream of the print start reference origin position of the label print in the feed direction T, and there is an idle feed amount (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 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 Dc between printing and cutting.
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 distance Dc between printing and cutting.
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 blank 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, the print color to be used for printing is set, and the process of setting the print target range for each print color for printing with a plurality of colors is executed. Then, when the printing is started and the printing start processing is executed, the printing color determination processing is executed and the ribbon color R of the mounted ribbon cassette 30 is determined.
, Is not the set print color set to print,
Alternatively, if the set print color is the set print color that has already been printed, the ribbon cassette 30 is replaced. On the other hand, only when the ribbon color R of the attached ribbon cassette 30 is the set print color and the set print color which has not been printed, the print processing is performed with the print color of the ribbon color R.

Further, in the print start position adjusting process executed in each print process for the second and subsequent colors, the print color determining process is similarly executed and the loaded ribbon cassette 3 is used.
Only when the ribbon color R of 0 is the set print color which is the set print color and is not printed, the print processing is performed with the print color of the ribbon color R. That is, the input text is not limited to the print order of the print color set together with the print target range, and the ribbon color of the attached ribbon cassette 30 is preferentially printed from the characters and symbols of the text set as the print color. Therefore, it is possible to improve the operability and the printing efficiency of multi-color printing with a plurality of colors without requiring any preparatory work for making the correct printing color order.

As described above, by exchanging the plural ribbon cassettes 30, when the multi-color printing is performed with plural printing colors, the input text can be mounted without being limited to the printing order of the printing colors set together with the print target range. When the ribbon color of the ribbon cassette 30 is included in the set print color,
Since the ribbon color of the attached ribbon cassette 30 is preferentially printed from the characters and symbols of the text set as the printing color, there is no need for any preparatory work to avoid mistakes in the printing color order, The operability and printing efficiency of multicolor printing can be improved.

When the ribbon color of the loaded ribbon cassette 30 is not included in the set print colors or when the set print color is already printed, an error message indicating that the loaded ribbon cassette 30 is wrong is displayed on the display 5. You can easily recognize the mistake of the attached ribbon cassette by the display. Furthermore, by setting the print target range for each color, the print color is set for each character or symbol of the text, so that the correspondence between each character or symbol of the text and the print color is clarified, and the text is displayed in character or symbol units. It is possible to print with the set print color.

Data of the set tape width is also stored in association with the input text data, and the ribbon color is detected based on the detection hole group 36 of the attached ribbon cassette 30 at the start of the printing process. And the ribbon width can be detected, and when the type data of the ribbon cassette 30 is different from the printing color and the ribbon width data accompanying the text data, an error message is displayed on the display 5 or a group of holes for detection. Instead of 36, different projections are provided for each type of ribbon cassette 30, and instead of the ribbon detection switch 103, detection is performed by various detection means such as a proximity switch, etc. within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. With respect to the above-described embodiment, various modifications may be made based on existing technology or technology obvious to those skilled in the art. Various tapes, such as a printer-type tape-shaped label producing device, which receives text print data from an external device such as a computer connected online and sequentially replaces a plurality of ribbon cassettes 30 having different ribbon colors to perform multicolor printing It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a label producing apparatus.

[0078]

According to the tape-shaped label producing apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, it is provided with the input means, the data storage means, the display means, the printing means having a plurality of ribbon cassettes including the print head, and further the ribbon. A color detection unit, a color-based range setting unit, a print color determination unit, a print control unit, and a print execution command unit are provided, and when printing in each print color, the input text is set together with the print target range. When the detected ribbon color is included in the set print color regardless of the print order of the print colors, the ribbon color of the installed ribbon cassette is given priority from the characters and symbols of the text set as the print color. Since the printing is performed on the sheet, no preparatory work is required to avoid making a mistake in the printing color order, and the operability and printing efficiency of multicolor printing with a plurality of colors can be improved.

According to the tape-shaped label producing apparatus of the second aspect, the same effect as that of the first aspect can be obtained, but the print execution commanding means includes the detected ribbon color in the set print color and prints it. Since the print control means is controlled to execute the printing only when the non-set print color is not set, it is possible to further improve the print efficiency without overlapping printing with the set print color that has been printed.

According to the tape-shaped label producing apparatus of the third aspect, the same effect as that of the second aspect can be obtained, but the print execution commanding means is used when the detected ribbon color is not included in the set print color, or When the set print color has been printed, an error message is displayed via the display means, so that an error in the attached ribbon cassette can be easily recognized by the display.

According to the tape-shaped label producing apparatus of the fourth aspect, the same effect as that of any one of the first aspect to the third aspect can be obtained, but the color-by-color range setting means is used for each character of the text or Since the print color is set for each symbol, the correspondence between each character or symbol of the text and the print color is clarified, and the text can be printed in the set print color for each character or symbol.

According to the tape-shaped label producing apparatus of the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing means having a plurality of ribbon cassettes including a print head, further comprising a ribbon color detecting means, a print color judging means and a print execution commanding means. It is not limited to the printing order of the printing color specified by the printing color command for the entered characters and symbols, and the ribbon color of the mounted ribbon cassette is printed preferentially from the specified characters and symbols as the printing color. Therefore, the same effect as that of the first aspect can be obtained.

According to the tape-shaped label producing apparatus of the sixth aspect, the same effect as that of the fifth aspect can be obtained, but it is provided with the input means, the data storage means, the display means, and the color-specific range setting means. The print color determination means receives the setting result of the color range setting means when printing with each print color and determines whether the ribbon color detected by the ribbon color detection means is included in the set print color. The print control means receives the text data and the setting result of the color-by-color range setting means, controls the print means so as to print the text in the print target range corresponding to each set print color, and the print execution command means. Receives the determination result from the print color determination means, and when the detected ribbon color is included in the set print color, it instructs the print control means to execute the print with the set print color, so that the desired text can be input, The entry The stored text can be stored and displayed, and the input text is not limited to the print order of the print colors set together with the print target range. The efficiency can be increased.

[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 routine of print target range setting processing control for each color.

FIG. 19 is a schematic flowchart of a remaining character string setting process control routine for the final print color.

FIG. 20 is a schematic flowchart of a print start processing control routine.

FIG. 21 is a schematic flowchart of a print color determination process 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 symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tape-shaped label producing device 4 Keyboard 5 Liquid crystal display 10 Thermal printing mechanism 12 Thermal head 20 Tape cassette 22 Printing tape 30 Ribbon cassette 32 Ink ribbon 36 Detection hole group 44 Tape drive motor 103 Ribbon detection switch 110 CPU 112 ROM 120 RAM 121 Text memory CD controller

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location B41J 35/36 G06F 3/12 W G06F 3/12 B41J 3/20 117C

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An input unit for inputting characters and symbols and various commands, a data storage unit for storing data of the input text, a display unit including a display, and printing on a tape as a print medium. What is claimed is: 1. A tape-shaped label producing apparatus, comprising: a printing unit including a print head; and a plurality of detachable ribbon cassettes for sequentially printing in a plurality of printing colors, the ribbon being attached to the label producing apparatus. Ribbon color detection means for detecting the ribbon color of the ink ribbon via the cassette, and the printing target range for each printing color for printing with a plurality of colors of the text stored in the data storage means is associated with the printing color. And the ribbon color detected by the ribbon color detection means upon receiving the setting result of the color range setting means when printing with each print color. The print color judgment means for judging whether or not it is included in the specified print color, and the text data and the setting result of the color-by-color range setting means receive the text of the print target range corresponding to each set print color. When the detected ribbon color is included in the set print color when the determination result is received from the print color determination unit and the print color determination unit, the print control unit is instructed to execute printing with the set print color. A tape-shaped label producing apparatus comprising: a print execution instruction means for giving an instruction. 2. The print execution command means controls the print control means to execute printing only when the detected ribbon color is included in the set print colors and is not the set print color. The tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to claim 1, which is characterized in that. 3. The print execution command means is configured to display an error message via the display means when the detected ribbon color is not included in the set print colors or when the set print color has already been printed. The tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein 4. The color range setting unit is configured to set a print color for each character or symbol of text, according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Tape-shaped label making device. 5. A tape shape comprising a print head for printing characters, symbols, etc. on a tape which is a print medium, and a printing means having a plurality of detachable ribbon cassettes for sequentially printing in a plurality of printing colors. A label producing apparatus for detecting a ribbon color of an ink ribbon through a ribbon cassette attached to the label producing apparatus, and for printing characters and symbols input together with a print color command. Includes a print color determination means for determining whether or not the ribbon color detected by the ribbon color detection means is included in the print color designated by the print color command, and the input characters and symbols and the print color command. Print control means for controlling the printing means so as to print the characters and symbols corresponding to the print color instruction on the basis of various commands; and When the colors are included in the print color specified by the print color command, the tape-shaped label producing device being characterized in that and a print execution instruction means for instructing the print execution by the print color in the print control means 6. An input means for inputting characters and symbols and various commands, a data storage means for storing text data of the input characters and symbols, a display means including a display, and the data storage. Of the data stored in the means, a color-based range setting means for setting a print target range for each print color to be printed in a plurality of colors in association with the print color, the print color determination means, When printing in each print color, receiving the setting result of the color range setting means,
It is determined whether or not the ribbon color detected by the ribbon color detection means is included in the set print color, and the print control means,
In response to the text data and the setting result of the color-based range setting means, the printing means is controlled to print the text in the print target range corresponding to each set print color, and the print execution command means is the print color determination means. 6. The tape according to claim 5, wherein when the detected ribbon color is included in the set print color, the print control means is instructed to execute the print with the set print color. Label making device.