JPH0830595A - Tape printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily find out the proper volume of document data not to be extruded from previously set tape length or block length. CONSTITUTION:When all characters can be are included within tape length or block length, a tape frame 91 is displayed by a slid line on the outermost side of a screen and black rectangles 93a to 93g correspond.ing to the sizes of respective characters are displayed on positions corresponding to printing positions on the inside of the frame 91. If all characters can not be completely stored within the tape length or the block length, the black rectangle 93b corresponding to a character not to be included within the block length is displayed so as to be superposed to a boundary 95 and the black rectangle 93g corresponding to a character not to be included with the tape length is displayed so as to be superposed to the frame 91.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape printer having a printing means for printing document data on a tape and an image displaying means for roughly displaying the printing state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a document data input means for inputting document data, a printing means for printing the input document data on a tape, and a printing state of the document data by the printing means are roughly displayed. A tape printer provided with an image display means has been considered. In this type of device, the printing state can be displayed on the image display means before the actual printing on the tape to grasp the layout of characters and the like.

Further, in this type of apparatus, the tape length from the cutting position of the tape to the next cutting position can be set, or a plurality of blocks can be set between the tape lengths. It is considered that the document data can be continuously arranged only in. If such a configuration is adopted, the length of the tape after printing, the location of characters on the tape, and the like can be defined in advance.

[0004]

However, in such a tape printer in which the tape length and block can be set, the input document data is out of the set tape length and block length (block length). If this happens, the following problems will occur. That is, in such a case, the image display means cannot display the printing state, and only displays the error message. Therefore, it is not known how much document data should be deleted to fit the tape data or the block length.

Although it has been considered that the image display means displays the print state of the document data together with the tape frame corresponding to the tape length, the image display means does not display according to the block length. Therefore, even if the input document data fits within the set block length and the print state is displayed, it is not known how much document data is added to cause the document data to exceed the block length.

Therefore, in order to obtain an appropriate amount of document data that does not extend beyond the tape length or block length, trial and error must be repeated to find a range in which no error message is displayed. Therefore, the present invention has been made for the purpose of providing a tape printer capable of easily obtaining an appropriate amount of document data that does not extend beyond a preset tape length or block length.

[0007]

The invention according to claim 1 made in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is as follows: Block setting means for setting blocks in which document data can be continuously arranged, document data input means for inputting the document data, printing means for printing the input document data on the tape, and printing means An image display means for displaying the printing state of the document data according to the above, and the image displaying means displays the boundary of the block together with the printing state of the document data. There is.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the image display means, together with the document data arranged in the block, the document data to be superimposed on the boundary of the block,
The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1 is characterized in that the document data arranged outside the block is displayed.

Further, according to the third aspect of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a tape length setting means for setting a tape length from a cutting position of a tape to a next cutting position, and document data for inputting document data. Input means, printing means for printing the input document data on the tape, and image display means for schematically displaying the printing state of the document data by the printing means together with the tape frame corresponding to the tape length. ,
In the tape printer, the image display means, together with the document data arranged in the tape frame, the document data overlapping the tape frame, and the document data arranged outside the tape frame. It is characterized by displaying.

[0010]

According to the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, the image display means displays the boundary of the block set by the block setting means together with the printing state of the document data. For this reason, it is possible to know how much document data is added to cause the document data to exceed the block length, and it is possible to easily obtain the appropriate amount of document data.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the image display means displays the boundary of the block and the document data arranged in the block, and the document data superimposed on the boundary of the block and arranged outside the block. The document data to be displayed is also displayed. For this reason, it is possible to know how much document data is added to cause the document data to exceed the block length, and even if the document data exceeds the block, if the document data is deleted, the document data becomes the block length. I know if it fits. Therefore, the appropriate amount of document data can be obtained more easily.

Further, according to the third aspect of the invention, the image display means displays the tape state according to the tape length set in the tape length setting means together with the printing state of the document data. Moreover, the image display means displays the document data arranged inside the tape frame, the document data overlapping the tape frame, and the document data arranged outside the tape frame. Therefore, it is possible to know how much document data is added to cause the document data to extend beyond the tape length, and even if the document data exceeds the tape length, how much document data is deleted to cause the document data to reach the tape length. You can see if it fits in. Therefore, the appropriate amount of document data can be easily obtained.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the tape printer 1 of the embodiment. The tape printer 1 is a device that prints according to a key input on a tape wound and held in a tape cassette (not shown).

As shown in the figure, on the surface of the tape printer 1, a large number of key switches 3 for executing various inputs,
A liquid crystal display 5 for displaying input document data and the like is provided. Further, the key switch 3 includes a print key 31 for instructing printing, an overall format key 32 for setting the length (tape length) from the cutting position of the tape to the cutting position, a type of frame surrounding characters, and the like. Line format setting key 33 for setting the following, an image key 34 for roughly displaying the print state of the document data on the tape on the liquid crystal display 5, a cursor on the liquid crystal display 5, and a pair of up and down keys for moving the display up and down. 35,
A pair of left and right keys 36 for moving the cursor and display left and right, a return key 37 for confirming various data,
Edit key 3 to input Japanese syllabary, alphabet, etc.
8 and a cancel key 39 for canceling the input data. The overall format key 32, the line format key 33, and the image key 34
Is configured so that it can be used as an edit key to input Japanese syllabary.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 4, each key switch 3 and the liquid crystal display 5 are electrically connected to an electronic control circuit 41 built in the tape printer 1. The electronic control circuit 41 includes a CPU 41a and a ROM 41.
b, a well-known microcomputer having a RAM 41c as a main part, and an image buffer 41d for storing image data is also formed in the RAM 41c.
The electronic control circuit 41 drives the liquid crystal display 5 in response to a key input from the key switch 3. Further, the tape printer 1 has a tape printing mechanism 43 for printing on the tape, a tape feeding mechanism 45 for feeding the tape from the tape cassette to the outside of the tape printer 1 via the tape printing mechanism 43, and cutting the fed tape. The electronic control circuit 41 drives these mechanisms 43 to 47 to print the document data on the tape. Since the configurations of these mechanisms 43 to 47 are well known, detailed description of the configurations will be omitted.

Next, the operation of the electronic control circuit 41 will be described with reference to the flowchart. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a main routine of processing of the electronic control circuit 41. The electronic control circuit 41 starts this process at the same time when the power is turned on. When the process is started, R at S01
Initialization processing such as AM41c is performed. In the following S03, the state of key input by the key switch 3 is read, and S05
Then, it is determined whether or not it is a valid key input as described later. When a negative determination is made in S05, the key input is read again in S03. There is a valid key input, S05
If a positive determination is made in step S07, it is determined in step S07 whether or not it is an edit key input by the edit key 38 or the entire format setting key 32, the line format setting key 33, and the image key 34 as the edit key. In the case of editing key input, well-known editing processing such as addition of document data is executed in S09, and the process proceeds to S03.

If the valid key input is not the edit key input, the process proceeds to S11 to determine whether or not the image key input is performed by the image key 34. In the case of image key input, the image display routine described below is executed in S13 and the process proceeds to S03. If the valid key input is not the image key input, the process proceeds to S15, and it is determined whether or not the fixed length key input. Here, the fixed length key input is a series of key inputs including the operation of the entire format setting key 32. If it is a fixed length key input, S17
Then, a fixed length setting routine, which will be described later, is executed and the process proceeds to S03. Further, if the valid key input is any other key input, other processing corresponding to the key input is executed in S19 and the process proceeds to S03. For example, print key 3
If the input is 1, the contents stored in the image buffer 41d are printed on the tape and the process proceeds to S03.

Next, FIGS. 6 and 7 are flowcharts showing the constant length setting routine of S17, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the liquid crystal display 5 at that time. When the process is started, first, in S21, the tape constant length setting screen illustrated in FIG. 8A is displayed on the liquid crystal display 5. In this tape fixed length setting screen, the tape length ("auto", "20
mm ”,“ 21 mm ”, ...:“ Automatic ”is a mode in which the tape length is automatically set according to the document data.
In FIG. 8A, for convenience of explanation, other candidates for the tape length are shown outside the frame representing the liquid crystal display 5.
These candidates are not actually displayed.

Returning to FIG. 6, in the subsequent S23 and S25, the key input is read, and if it is a valid key input, the process proceeds to S27. In S27, it is determined whether or not the key input is the left / right key 36. If the left / right keys 36 are used, the process proceeds to S29, the tape length display is changed to the next candidate, and S is performed.
Move to 23. If the valid key input is not the left / right key 36, the process proceeds to S31, and it is determined whether or not it is the return key 37. If the return key 37 is used, the set tape length value is S3.
In step 7, the data is saved in the RAM 41c, and the process proceeds to S41 and subsequent steps.

In S41, the block fixed length setting screen illustrated in FIG. 8B is displayed on the liquid crystal display 5. In this block fixed length setting screen, the block number is on the left side of the screen, and the block length (“auto”, “20 m
m ”,“ 21 mm ”, ...:“ Automatic ”is a mode in which the block length is automatically set according to the document data.
Also in FIG. 8B, for convenience of explanation, other candidates of the block number and the block length are shown outside the frame representing the liquid crystal display 5, but these are not actually displayed.

Returning to FIG. 7, in subsequent S43 and S45, the key input is read, and if it is a valid key input, the process proceeds to S47. In S47, it is determined whether or not the key input is made by the left / right key 36. If the key input is made by the left / right key 36, the display of the block length is changed to the next candidate and the process proceeds to S43. If the valid key input is not the left / right key 36, it is determined whether the key input is the up / down key 35 (S51). If the key input is the up / down key 35, the block number display is set as the next candidate. Change S4
The process proceeds to 3 (S53).

If the valid key input is not the up / down key 35, it is determined whether or not it is the return key 37 (S55), and if it is the return key 37, the process proceeds to S57. In S57, the set block length is combined with the block number and stored in the RAM 41c, and then the process proceeds to S59.

If the valid key input is not the return key 37, that is, the cancel key 39 remaining as the valid key is determined in S45.
If the input is due to, the process directly goes from S55 to S59. In S59, the edit input screen illustrated in FIG. 8C is displayed on the liquid crystal display 5, and the process returns to the main routine. The edit input screen is displayed on the document data 57 being input.
It is a well-known thing which displays such as. Further, while the tape length setting screen of FIG. 8A is displayed, the cancel key 39 (S2
5 is also operated), a negative determination is made in S31, the process proceeds to S59, the edit input screen is displayed, and the process returns to the main routine.

Next, FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the image display routine of S13. When the process is started, first, in S61, an image screen creation routine described later is executed. As will be described later, in this routine, an image screen corresponding to the printing state of the input data on the tape is created and displayed on the liquid crystal display 5. This image screen corresponds to the entire input data. Only a part of the display 5 may be displayed. Further, when an abnormality of data is detected in this image screen creation routine, the error flag is turned on. Therefore, in this routine, the following processing is executed following the image screen creation routine of S61.

When the image screen creating routine of S61 is completed, the process proceeds to S62, and it is determined whether the above-mentioned error flag is ON. If there is no error, continue S6
3, go to S64, if there is a valid key input here, S
Move to 65. In S65, it is determined whether or not the key input is the left / right key 36. If the left / right key 36 is used, the process proceeds to S66, and the image display of the liquid crystal display 5 is scrolled left / right in response to a key input.
If the valid key input is not the left / right key 36, the process proceeds to S67 to determine whether or not the key input is the up / down key 35. If it is the up / down key 35, the process proceeds to S68, and the image display of the liquid crystal display 5 is enlarged or reduced according to the key input.

The valid key input is the up / down key 35.
If not, that is, if it is due to the cancel key 39 remaining as an effective key of this routine, the edit input screen of FIG. 8C is displayed in S69, and then the process returns to the main routine. Even if it is determined in S62 that the error flag is ON, the process returns to the main routine after displaying the edit input screen in S69.

Next, FIGS. 10 and 11 are flowcharts showing the image image creating routine of S61. When the processing is started, first, in S71, the text information and the block information stored as the document data are read.
Here, the text information is a data group having information such as character codes, attributes, arrangement coordinates, height, and width for the number of characters, and block information is arrangement information such as block arrangement coordinates and width for the number of blocks. It is a group of data that we have. Subsequently, in S73, it is determined whether or not there is an error in the read information, and if there is no error, the process proceeds to S75 that follows.

In S75, the pointer is set to the first character of the text information and the information is read. In a succeeding S77, it is determined whether or not all the text information has been processed. First, a negative determination is made here, and the process proceeds to S78, in which the characters are displayed in black squares based on the text information in the image buffer 41
draw on d. That is, a black square having the same size as the matrix forming the character is drawn in the image buffer 41d instead of the actual character. In the following S79, the pointer is set to the next character, and the flow proceeds to S77. After this, the processes of S77 to S79 are repeated, and when all the characters of the text information are drawn in the image buffer 41d, S7 is executed.
An affirmative decision is made in step 7, and the flow shifts to S81.

In S81, it is determined whether or not a specific tape length is set, and if it is set, the process proceeds to S82. In S82, the value set as the tape length is converted into a dot unit, and the tape frame corresponding to the outer shape of the tape is drawn in the image buffer 41d by a solid line. Further, when the specific tape length is not set, that is, when "automatic" is set as the tape length, a negative determination is made in S81, and the process proceeds to S83. In S83, the layout calculation is performed based on the text information and the like, and the tape frame corresponding to the appropriate tape length obtained thereby is drawn in the image buffer 41d.

When the processing of S82 or S83 is completed, S
Moving to 84, the pointer is set to the head block of the block information and the information is read. In the subsequent S86, the end of the block information is determined, but initially a negative determination is made here and the process proceeds to S87. In S87, it is determined whether or not a specific block length is set, and if it is set, the process proceeds to S88. In S88, the value set as the block length is converted into a dot unit, and a dotted line corresponding to the boundary of the block is drawn in the image buffer 41d. In addition, when a specific block length is not set, that is, when "automatic" is set as the block length,
A negative determination is made in S87, and the process proceeds to S89. In S89, the layout calculation is performed based on the text information and the like, and the dotted line corresponding to the appropriate block boundary obtained thereby is drawn in the image buffer 41d.

When the processing of S88 or S89 is completed, S
Move to 90, set pointer to next block and set S
Move to 86. After this, the processes of S86 to S90 are repeated, and when the boundaries of all blocks of the block information have been drawn, an affirmative decision is made in S86 and the process moves to S91.

In S91, the stored contents of the image buffer 41d are displayed on the liquid crystal display 5, and then the process returns to the image display routine. Here, the image buffer 41d
Since the stored contents of is according to the entire input data,
The liquid crystal display 5 may not be able to display all the data, but in this case, only a part, for example, only the top part is displayed.

If an error is found in the text information, block information, etc. in S73, the process moves to S93 to display an error message on the liquid crystal display 5, and in subsequent S95 and S97, the error is a fixed length error or Determine if there is a block length error. Here, the constant length error means that the document data corresponding to the text information is out of the set tape length, and the block length error is that the document data is out of the block length.

If the error is a fixed length error or block length error, an affirmative decision is made in S95 or S97 and the above-mentioned S
Move to 75. If the error detected in S73 is any other error, the process proceeds to S99, the error flag is turned on, and the process returns to the image display routine. Therefore, even if a fixed length error or a block length error occurs, the processing of S75 and below and the processing of S63 and above are executed, and the text information (black square), tape frame (solid line), block boundary (dotted line) ) Can be displayed on the liquid crystal display 5. If any other error occurs, an affirmative decision is made in S62 described above.
The edit input screen of (C) is displayed (S69).

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of display by the image display routine. When all the characters fit within the above tape length and block length, as illustrated in FIG. 12A, a tape frame 91 is displayed in a solid line at the outermost side of the screen (see S82 or S83), and the tape is inside thereof. Black squares 93a to 93g each having a size corresponding to the size of each character are displayed at a position corresponding to the print position on the (S78).
reference). Here, assuming that the characters corresponding to the black squares 93a and 93b fit in the first block and the characters corresponding to the black squares 93c to 93g fit in the second block, the black squares 93a and 93b and the black squares 93c to 93c to 93g. The border 95 of the block is displayed as a dotted line between the block 93g and 93g (S88 or S
89).

If the characters do not fit within the above tape length or block length, the following display is made. When the characters corresponding to the black squares 93b are partially protruded from the first block (left side of the boundary 95), the black squares 93b are displayed so as to be superimposed on the boundary 95, as illustrated in FIG. . When a part of the characters corresponding to the black square 93g protrudes from the tape length, the black square 93g is displayed so as to be superimposed on the tape frame 91, as illustrated in FIG. Further, when a part of the character corresponding to the black square 93b protrudes from the first block and a part of the character corresponding to the black square 93g protrudes from the tape length, as illustrated in FIG. 93b is displayed on the boundary 95, and a black square 93g is displayed on the tape frame 91 in an overlapping manner. Although not shown, when the character corresponding to the black square 93b or 93g completely protrudes from the first block or tape length, the black square 93b or 93g completely protrudes from the boundary 95 or the tape frame 91. Is displayed. Furthermore,
If there is still room to insert a character in each block, a sufficient space is opened between the boundary 95 or the tape frame 91 and the black squares 93a to 93g.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the tape frame 91 and the block boundary 95 are displayed on the liquid crystal display 5, and not only the tape frame 91 and the document data arranged in the block but also the tape frame 91 and the block 95 are displayed. Similarly, the document data superimposed on the boundary 95 and the document data arranged outside the block and the tape frame 91 are also displayed by black squares 93a to 93g. For this reason, it is possible to know how much document data is added to cause the document data to extend beyond the block length or tape length, and even if the document data exceeds the block, how much document data is deleted You can see if it fits in the block length or tape length. Therefore, the proper amount of document data can be obtained very easily. Therefore, the efficiency of creating the tape printing document can be improved very favorably.

In the above embodiment, the electronic control circuit 41, the tape printing mechanism 43, the tape feeding mechanism 45, and the tape cutting mechanism 47 correspond to the printing means, and the electronic control circuit 41.
In the processing of step S09, the document data input means S09
S37 corresponds to tape length setting means, S41 to S57 correspond to block setting means, and S13 corresponds to image display means.

[0039]

As described above in detail, according to the invention described in claim 1, it is possible to know how much document data is added to cause the document data to be out of the block length. You can ask. Therefore, the need for repeating trial and error until the error message is no longer displayed is reduced, and the efficiency of creating the tape printing document can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the first aspect is
In addition to the effect of the invention described, even if the document data is out of the block, it is possible to know how much the document data should be deleted so that the document data fits within the block length. Therefore, the appropriate amount of document data can be obtained more easily. Therefore, the efficiency of creating the tape printing document can be further improved.

Further, according to the third aspect of the invention, it is possible to know how much document data should be added to cause the document data to extend beyond the tape length. If you delete the, you can see if the document data fits within the tape length. Therefore, the appropriate amount of document data can be easily obtained. Therefore, the efficiency of creating the tape printing document can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration example diagram of an invention according to claim 1;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary configuration diagram of the invention according to claim 3;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a tape printer according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit of the tape printer of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a main routine of processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a constant length setting routine of the processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a fixed length setting routine of the processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of the liquid crystal display in the fixed length setting routine.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an image display routine of processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an image image creating routine of the processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an image image creating routine of the processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the liquid crystal display in the image display routine.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Tape printer 3 ... Key switch 5
Liquid crystal display 41 Electronic control circuit 43 Tape printing mechanism 4
7 ... Tape cutting mechanism

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Sachie Kanda 15-1 Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture Brother Industries, Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A block setting means for setting a block in which document data can be continuously arranged in a tape length from a cutting position of a tape to a next cutting position, and document data input for inputting the document data. A tape printing device comprising means, printing means for printing the input document data on the tape, and image display means for schematically displaying a printing state of the document data by the printing means. A tape printer, wherein display means displays a boundary between the blocks together with a print state of the document data. 2. The image display means displays the document data arranged in the block, the document data overlapping the boundary of the block, and the document data arranged outside the block. The tape printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. A tape length setting means for setting a tape length from a tape cutting position to a next cutting position, a document data inputting means for inputting document data, and the inputted document data is printed on the tape. A tape printing apparatus comprising: a printing unit; and an image display unit that schematically displays a printing state of the document data by the printing unit together with a tape frame corresponding to the tape length. A tape printing device, which displays the document data arranged inside the tape frame, the document data overlapping the tape frame, and the document data arranged outside the tape frame.