JPH0852906A - Printing data forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To omit the wastefulness of a tape in a tape printing press. CONSTITUTION:The data line of an RAM is scanned successively until the position of a scanning line exceeds the lower end of a printable region 100. At each time when there is data in the scanned data line, the recorded x- direction min. and max. values are stored. When novel y-direction recording data is recorded, a printing position is set on a newest scanning line. When the number of scanning lines amounts to a multiple of the width of a tape and there is y-direction recording data, printing is performed by the width of the tape to initialize x-direction recording and y-direction recording. The data line before y-direction data appears is not printed. Dot data shifted from x-direction min. and max. values is not also printed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print data creating apparatus for supplying print data to a tape printer for printing graphics on a tape. The figure is not limited to a figure having a geometrical meaning, and is a concept including characters and symbols.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a main body provided with a thermal head, a tape feed motor, etc., and a tape cassette which is detachably attached to the main body and accommodates a tape as a printing medium,
2. Description of the Related Art There is known a tape printer that prints a figure such as a character on a tape based on print data output from a print data creation device including an arithmetic circuit including PU, ROM, RAM, etc., a keyboard, a display, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 9A, when the print data created by such a print data creating apparatus on the basis of a sheet 200 such as A4, B4, or letter is printed on a tape by a tape printer, The print data creation apparatus sequentially outputs the print data corresponding to the divided areas 204 to 213 divided from the upper end of the printable area 202 of the paper sheet 200 by the tape width.

[0004]

However, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), in the tape pieces 214 to 223 printed by the tape printer according to this output, the divided areas 207, 208, 21 in which the data to be printed do not exist.
It was uneconomical to include strips of tape 217, 218, 222, 223 that were not printed to accommodate 2, 213.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a print data creating apparatus for supplying print data to a tape printer in which the blank area on the printed tape is minimized and the tape can be saved.

[0006]

As a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the print data creating apparatus according to claim 1 is
As illustrated in FIG. 8, a print data creation device that outputs the printing dot data to a tape printer that prints a dot pattern corresponding to the received printing dot data on a tape, and includes a character, a symbol, and various characters. Input means for inputting a command, data construction means for constructing graphic data relating to the shape and arrangement of a graphic according to an input from the input means, and a paper for which the graphic data is instructed via the input means. Storage means for storing the expanded data in a storage area corresponding to the printable area, and a printing unit corresponding to a rectangle defined by the printable width of the tape and the length of one side of the printable area Conversion means for converting into the printing dot data divided into data, and the tape printing for each printing unit data of the printing dot data In the print data creating device, the storage area corresponds to the uppermost end of the printable area in a scanning direction along one side of the printable area with a scanning width corresponding to one dot of the graphic data. Scanning means for sequentially scanning from the uppermost data row to the lowermost data row corresponding to the lowermost end of the printable area to detect a stored data row having the graphic data, and a scanning means closest to the uppermost data row. After performing the first step of dividing the storage area into one print line by dividing the storage area into a width corresponding to the printable width on the basis of the stored data line, the lowest print among the already divided print lines is performed. A row is defined as an upper print row, and the storage area is divided into one print row having a width corresponding to the printable width with reference to the stored data row closest to the upper print row below the upper print row. Provided with a print line segment means repeating the second step, and configured to output only the print unit data corresponding to said output means to the segmented print line.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the print data generating apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the print data generating apparatus includes the head data located on the most upstream side in the scanning direction in the graphic data for each print line. Extraction means for extracting the end data located on the most downstream side in the scanning direction in the graphic data is provided, and the output means includes the start data or the end data in the print unit data corresponding to the print line. The partial print data corresponding to the end data is output.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the print data producing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the graphic data corresponding to one of the figures is stored over a plurality of adjacent print lines. , The most leading data located on the most upstream side in the scanning direction in the leading data of the plurality of print lines and the most trailing data located on the most downstream side in the scanning direction in the trailing data In addition to providing the extracting means, the output means, in each of the print unit data corresponding to the plurality of print lines, downstream from the position corresponding to the most leading data in the scanning direction and at the last data. Adjacent print data corresponding to the upstream side of the corresponding position along the scanning direction is output.

[0009]

In the print data creating apparatus having the above-mentioned structure, the scanning means can print the storage area in the scanning direction along one side of the printable area with the scanning width corresponding to one dot of the graphic data. The stored data line having the graphic data is detected by sequentially scanning from the uppermost data line corresponding to the uppermost end of the region to the lowermost data line corresponding to the lowermost end of the printable region. The print line dividing means divides the storage area into a width corresponding to the printable width based on the stored data line closest to the uppermost data line and executes the first step of setting one print line, and then the print line dividing unit has already One print line having a width corresponding to the printable width of the storage area based on the stored data line closest to the upper print line below the upper print line as the upper print line Repeat the second step of partitioning into. The output means outputs only the print unit data corresponding to the divided print lines.

In the first step, the data lines having no graphic data from the uppermost data line to the data line immediately above the stored data line closest to the uppermost data line are not included in the print line. Further, in the second step, if there is a data line having no graphic data between the upper print line and the stored data line closest thereto, such a data line is not included in the print line. The output means outputs only the print unit data corresponding to the divided print lines, and therefore corresponds to the data line having no graphic data located between the uppermost end of the printable area and the first print line. The dot data for printing and the dot data for printing corresponding to the data line which does not have the graphic data located between the printing lines are not output. Therefore, a blank area on the printed tape is reduced as much as possible, and for example, a blank tape piece is avoided, so that the tape can be saved.

In the print data creating apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the same operation as that according to the first aspect of the invention, the extracting means includes the extracting means in the graphic data along the scanning direction in the graphic data for each print line. The end data located on the most downstream side in the scanning direction is extracted from the start data located in the area and the figure data. The output means outputs only the partial print data corresponding to the head data or the end data in the print unit data corresponding to the print line. That is, if there is a region in the one print line where the data to be printed does not exist at the upstream end or the downstream end, the output means outputs the partial print data excluding the data corresponding to such region. To do. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the generation of extra blank portions at both ends of the printed tape piece.

In the print data creating apparatus according to the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the same operation as that of the first aspect of the invention, the extracting means stores the graphic data corresponding to one figure over a plurality of print lines. In this case, among the head data of the plurality of print lines, the most head data located on the most upstream side in the scanning direction and the last data located on the most downstream side in the scanning direction among the end data are set. Extract. The output means is downstream in the scanning direction from the position corresponding to the most leading data in each printing unit data corresponding to a plurality of print lines and upstream in the scanning direction from the position corresponding to the last data. The adjacent print data corresponding to is output. Therefore, the lengths of the tape pieces printed on the basis of the adjacent print data are the same, and the lengths of the blank portions formed on both end sides of the tape pieces are short.

[0013]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to a tape printer capable of printing letters and symbols such as alphabets and numbers on a tape.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tape printer 10 is
It comprises a tape printer 12 and a print data creation device 14 which supplies print data to the tape printer 12. The print data creation device 14 includes a CRT display (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a CRT) 1 for displaying characters, symbols and the like.
6. Character input keys for inputting characters such as alphabets, numbers and symbols, cursor movement keys for moving the cursor displayed on the CRT 16 up, down, left and right, a return key for line feed or decision, and execution of printing. Keyboard 18 having a print key for deleting, a delete key for deleting input data, and the like, a CRT
16. A coordinate input device (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a mouse) 20 for operating a mouse cursor on 16 to perform various inputs, a program stored in advance, and various arithmetic processes according to inputs from a keyboard 18 or a mouse 20. A control body 22 is provided.

Next, referring to FIG. 2, the tape printer 12
The outline of the printing mechanism PM will be described. Printing mechanism PM
Rectangular tape storage cassette C that can be detachably installed in the
S has a tape spool 26 around which a printing tape 25 made of a transparent laminated film is wound, a ribbon supply spool 28 around which an ink ribbon 27 is wound around, and a take-up spool 29 around which the ink ribbon 27 is wound up. A supply spool 31 in which a double-sided tape 30 having the same width as the printing tape 25 is wound with a release paper as an outer side, and a joining roller 32 for joining the printing tape 25 and the double-sided tape 30 are rotatable. It is provided.

A thermal head 33 is erected at a position where the printing tape 25 and the ink ribbon 27 overlap each other, a platen roller 34 for pressing the printing tape 25 and the ink ribbon 27 against the thermal head 33, and a printing head. A feed roller 35 that presses the tape 25 and the double-sided tape 30 against the joining roller 32 is rotatably supported by a support body 36. The printing tape 25 is attached to the thermal head 33.
A heating element group including 128 heating elements arranged in a vertical direction corresponding to the width of the heating element is provided.

Therefore, by driving the tape feed motor 90 (see FIG. 3) in the predetermined rotation direction, the joining roller 32 and the take-up spool 29 are driven in synchronization with each other in the predetermined rotation direction to form 128 heating element groups. When energized, a graphic image such as a character is printed on the printing tape 25 by a plurality of dot rows (up to 128 dots) almost completely in the tape width, and the printing tape 25 is the double-sided tape 3
The tape tape 1 is fed in the tape feeding direction A as the laminated tape 37 in which 0 is joined, and as shown in FIG.
2 is discharged to the outside. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the printing mechanism PM is provided with a movable blade that is swung by a cutter driving motor 94 (see FIG. 3) and a fixed blade that cooperates with the movable blade. The laminated tape 37 can be cut by rocking.

Here, the printing tape 25 is the above-mentioned laminated film, a single-sided tape having a structure in which one side is an adhesive side covered with a release paper and the other side is the surface to be printed and the double-sided tape 30 is not required, and a heat-sensitive tape. There are four types, tape and instant lettering tape. The tape width is
"6mm", "9mm", "12mm", "18m"
There are 13 types of tape colors such as “m” and “24 mm”, and 13 types of tape colors such as “red”, “blue”, “yellow”, and “green” for each tape width. The color of a transparent tape such as a laminated film is the background color of the double-sided tape 30. Therefore, various types of tape storage cassettes CS are prepared according to the type, width and color of the printing tape 25, and the tape storage cassettes CS are mounted on the printing mechanism PM according to the user's selection.

Then, on the bottom wall of these tape storage cassettes CS, a first protruding piece 3 having a shape corresponding to the tape width is formed.
8, a second projecting piece 39 having a shape corresponding to the tape color and a third projecting piece 40 having a shape corresponding to the tape type are provided, and the tape printer 12 can change the tape width from the shape of the first projecting piece 38. A tape width sensor 76 (see FIG. 3) for detecting, a tape color sensor 78 (see FIG. 3) for detecting a tape color from the shape of the second protruding piece 39, and a tape type for detecting a tape type from the shape of the third protruding piece 40. Sensor 80
(See FIG. 3) are provided.

Next, the control system of the tape printer 10 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. First, the control system of the print data creation device 14 will be described. The control device C1 built in the control body 22 includes a CPU 42, a CP
A RAM 46 connected to the U 42 via a bus 44, a communication interface (I / F) 48, an input / output interface 50, and a hard disk controller (HDC) 54 for a hard disk drive (HDD) 52 equipped with a hard disk (not shown). It consists of Further, the input / output interface 50 includes a keyboard 18, a mouse 20, a CRT controller 56 for the CRT 16, and an FDD controller (FDC) 60 for a floppy disk drive (FDD) 58 built in the control body 22, respectively. It is connected.

The hard disk mounted on the HDD 52 has a paper data memory for paper sizes such as A4, B4, and letter, and display pattern data in which dot pattern data for displaying each character is stored in association with code data. Input from a memory, a font memory in which outline data (outline data) that defines the printing outline of each character is classified for each typeface such as Gothic font and Mincho font and stored in association with code data, and the keyboard 18. RAM 4 as dot image data by converting graphic data consisting of character code data and line diagram data such as straight lines, circles, ellipses, and various curves input via the mouse 20 into dot patterns.
6, a dot image expansion program stored in the dot image memory 461, a display drive control program for controlling the CRT controller 56 in correspondence with the dot image data, a print data creation control program which is specific to the present invention and described in detail later, and the like are stored. ing.

As described above, the dot image memory 461 of the RAM 46 stores character code data input from the keyboard 18 and line drawing data such as straight lines, circles, ellipses, and various curves input via the mouse 20. The dot image data corresponding to the graphic data is stored. In the document information memory 462, data of the print document name, data relating to the tape storage cassette CS such as tape width, tape color, tape type, etc., the keyboard 18
Alternatively, data relating to the size of the sheet designated via the mouse 20 is stored. Further, the status information memory 463 stores various information output from the tape printer 12.

Next, the control system of the tape printer 12 will be described. The control device C2 includes a CPU 64 and a ROM 6
6, RAM 68, communication interface (I / F) 70
The input / output interface 72 is connected to each other via a bus 74, and is connected to the control device C1 of the print data creation device 14 via a communication interface (I / F) 70. The ROM 66 includes a communication interface 4
A transfer control program for transmitting / receiving data to / from the print data creation device 14 via the Nos. 8 and 70, and a thermal head 33 or a tape feed motor based on the printing dot image data sent from the print data creation device 14. A print drive control program for driving 90 is stored. The RAM 68 stores a reception buffer that stores the dot image data for printing received from the print data creation device 14 via the communication interface 70, a status memory that stores status information, and information about the attached tape storage cassette CS. There is provided a cassette information memory, a print buffer for expanding the printing dot image data into a printout form, various memories for temporarily storing the calculation result in the CPU 64, and the like.

The input / output interface 72 has a tape width sensor 76, a tape color sensor 78, and a tape type sensor 8
0, cassette switch 82 and tape end sensor 8
4 is connected, and the control device C2 can read signals from them. In addition, the input / output interface 72
Includes a drive circuit 8 for driving the thermal head 33.
8. Drive circuit 9 for driving the tape feed motor 90
2 and a drive circuit 96 for driving the cutter drive motor 94 are connected, and the operation of the thermal head 86, the tape feed motor 90, and the cutter drive motor 94 can be controlled by the control device C2.

Next, a print data creation control routine executed by the control device C1 of the print data creation device 14 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the figure, Si
(I = 10, 11, 12, ...) Is each step.
When the power of the tape printer 10 is turned on, the print data creation control routine shown in FIG. 4 is started. First, the control device C1 waits for an input via the keyboard 18 or the mouse 20 (S10), and if there is an operation of a printable key such as a character or a symbol or a line drawing data is input by the mouse 20 (S11: YES). Data to be stored in the dot image memory 461 of the RAM 46 as dot image data in which graphic data in which characters and diagrams are arranged according to the input data is expanded in the printable area of the specified paper (A4, B5, letter, etc.) Input processing and display processing for displaying characters, diagrams, etc. on the CRT 16 based on the dot image data are executed (S12), and the process returns to S10.
In S12, the size of the specified paper, the margin defining the printable area, the specified character size, data such as cassette information about the printing tape 25, and the like are stored in the document information memory 462.

Next, when a print instruction is input (S
10: YES, S11: NO, S13: YES), the print data transfer process is executed (S14). The print instruction is input by operating a print key or operating an icon with the mouse 20. If the input is other than the printable input or the print instruction (S10: YES, S1
1: NO, S13: NO), the control device C1 executes a process corresponding to the input instruction (S15).

Prior to the description of the print data transfer process, the RAM 461 is used in the data input process (S12).
The dot image data stored in (1) will be described with reference to FIG. 7 showing the screen of the CRT 16 corresponding to this dot image data. A data area corresponding to the printable area 100 of the designated paper (A4, B5, letter, etc.) is set in the RAM 461. In this data area, the data storage unit corresponding to one dot is 1 along the upper side 100a and the lower side 100b of the printable area 100.
The data rows are formed, and the data rows are arranged along the left side 100c and the right side 100d, and are arranged in a matrix as a whole. The dot image data is composed of the presence or absence of data in each data storage unit. Specifically, in the data storage unit corresponding to the contour line of the character 102 portion of the “text” shown in FIG. 7, the rectangle 104, the ellipse 106, the circle 108, etc., dot data corresponding to one dot is stored, No dot data is stored in the data storage unit corresponding to the blank portion. In the following description, a coordinate system is defined in which the direction along the upper side 100a is the x direction and the direction along the left side 100c is the y direction, with the upper left end 100e of the printable area 100 being the origin, and this coordinate system is defined. The same applies to the RAM 461.

Here, the description returns to the print data transfer process. As shown in FIG. 5, when the control device C1 starts the print data transfer process, first in S16, the tape printer 12 is requested to output status information, and a hardware error of the tape printer 12 is generated based on this status information. Presence / absence, presence / absence of communication error, tape printer 1
2 is a tape storage cassette CS attached to the second tape and the above-mentioned S
Whether or not there is a contradiction with the cassette information stored in 12 is confirmed, and if normal, the process proceeds to the next S17, and if there is any error, that information is displayed on the CRT 16 and the operator's instruction is awaited. In S17, it is confirmed whether or not there is data to be printed in the RAM 461, and if there is data (S17: Y
(ES) Proceed to S18, and if there is no data (S17: N
O) Return.

When the control device C1 proceeds to S18, it executes the print data transmission routine shown in FIG. 6, and first sets the print position at the upper left corner 100e of the printable area 100 (S).
22). The print position set here becomes the start position in the following data scan.

Next, the control device C1 determines whether the position of the scan line exceeds the lower end of the printable area 100 (S23). Immediately after starting this routine, S23: NO
Therefore, the process proceeds to S24, and one data row of the RAM 461 is scanned along the x direction.

If no data is stored in any of the data storage units included in one scanned data row (S25: NO), the process proceeds to S26. In S26, the total number of lines from the scan line corresponding to the print position to the latest scan line is a multiple of the number of dots corresponding to the width of the printing tape 25 (strictly, the printable width; the same applies below). To judge. If S26: NO, the position of the scan line is advanced by one data line in the y direction (S27), and the process returns to S23. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 7, S23 is executed until the data row including the dot data corresponding to the vertex 102a of the "t" character located at the head in the "text" character 102 is scanned.
→ S24 → S25 → S26 → S27 are repeated.

When the scan line reaches the data line containing the dot data corresponding to the above-mentioned "t" -shaped vertex 102a, the dot data is stored in one of the data storage units included in one scanned data line. Is stored (S25: YES), the x coordinate (minimum value in the x direction) of the smallest x coordinate in the data storage unit storing the dot data described above and the minimum value in the x direction recorded. The smaller one is stored as the recorded minimum value in the x direction (S28). In the case shown in FIG. 7, the x-direction minimum value is the x-coordinate of the data storage unit that stores the dot data corresponding to the “t” -shaped vertex 102a, and the initial value of the recorded x-direction minimum value is the initial value. Since the setting is a value corresponding to the x coordinate of the right side 100d, the vertex 102 of the "t" character is set.
x is the minimum value in the x direction in which the x coordinate corresponding to a is recorded.
It is stored in the direction minimum value memory.

Then, the x coordinate (x coordinate (x
(Direction maximum value) and the recorded maximum value in the x direction, the larger one is stored as the recorded maximum value in the x direction (S2).
9). In the case shown in FIG. 7, the maximum value in the x direction is the vertex 1 of the last “t” character in the “text” character 102.
This is the x coordinate of the data storage unit that stores the dot data corresponding to 02b, and the initial value of the recorded maximum value in the x direction is set to 0. The corresponding x coordinate is stored in the x direction maximum value memory as the recorded x direction maximum value.

Next, if there is no y-direction recording data (S3
0: NO), the y-direction position corresponding to the data row of the scanned data row is stored as y-direction recording data (S31). In the case shown in FIG. 7, the scan line has the above-mentioned “t” -shaped vertex 102.
Since there is no y-direction recording data up to the data row including the dot data corresponding to a, the y-direction recording data corresponding to this data row is stored in the y-direction recording memory in S31. Next, the print position is set on the most recently scanned data row (S32). Also, in S30, y
If it is determined that there is direction recording data, or S32
After executing the processing of step S27, the processing returns to step S23 via step S27.

As described above, if the scanned data row has dot data (S25: YES), the recorded x is recorded.
The direction minimum value and the X direction maximum value are updated and stored (S28,
S29) If the y-direction recording data is already stored (S30: YES), the process directly returns to S23 via S27, and if the y-direction recording data is not stored (S3).
0: NO) The y-direction recording data corresponding to this data row is stored (S31), the printing position is set on the most recently scanned data row (S32), and the processing returns to S23 via S27.

By repeating such processing, there is no dot data in the data line which becomes the latest scan line (S
25: NO), if the integrated number of scan lines from the printing position becomes a multiple of the number of dots corresponding to the width of the printing tape 25 (S26: YES), the y-direction recording data is recorded in the y-direction in S33. It is determined whether or not the data is stored in the memory, that is, there is at least one dot data in the previous scans. If YES here, it means that there is data to be printed in the scanned data rows so far. In this case, in the example shown in FIG. 7, the latest scan line is at the position corresponding to the tape boundary 113. That is, when the scan line is on the tape boundaries 110 and 112, S26: YES, but S25: YES, which does not meet the above condition. The conditions of S25: NO and S26: YES are
This corresponds to the fact that there is no dot data on the tape boundary, and even if this tape boundary is used as the printing boundary, it means that the vertically continuous figures are not divided.

As described above, the latest scan line corresponds to the tape boundary (S26: YES), and there is no dot data in the data line which is the scan line (S2).
5: NO), and if there is data to be printed in the data rows scanned up to that point (S33: YES), the control device C1 determines x by the tape width including the data row corresponding to the y-direction recording data. The dot image data corresponding to a rectangle corresponding to a value between the minimum value in the direction and the maximum value in the x direction (including both values) is output as dot image data for printing. Figure 7
In the example shown in, the tape boundary 109 and the tape boundary 11
0, the dot image corresponding to the rectangle defined by the extension line of the recorded minimum value in the x direction corresponding to the leftmost end 106a of the ellipse 106 and the extension line of the recorded maximum value in the x direction corresponding to the right side 104a of the rectangle 104. The data is output as dot image data for printing.

Subsequently, the printing position is advanced in the y direction by the tape width (S35). In the example of FIG. 7, the tape boundary 110
The print position has moved to the top. If this new print position has not reached the latest scan line (S3
6: NO), and outputs the dot image data corresponding to the rectangle corresponding to the area between the minimum value in the x direction and the maximum value in the x direction (including both values) in the tape width from the print position as print dot image data. (S34). Thus, S3
4 to S36 are executed once or a plurality of times, and all the printing dot image data corresponding to the dot data stored in the scanned data rows are output. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the first print line P1 from the tape boundary 109 to the tape boundary 110, the tape boundary 11
Second print line P2 and tape boundary 11 by 0, 112
The dot image data for printing corresponding to the dot data up to the third print line P3 by 2 and 113 is output.

Further, resetting the minimum value and the maximum value in the x direction recorded in S37, clearing the recording memory in the y direction,
The cumulative number of scan lines is reset to 0, and the process returns to S23 via S27. The tape printer 12 prints on the printing tape 25 according to the printing dot image data output as described above, stacks it with the double-sided tape 30 to form a laminated tape 37, cuts and discharges it. The discharged laminated tapes 37a, 37b, 37c are as shown in FIG. 7 (b).

As described above, since the data line having the dot data first (the data line containing the dot data corresponding to the vertex 102a of the "t" in FIG. 7) is set as the print start position (S32), The dot image data for printing relating to the data line before which the dot data does not exist is not output. That is, for example, the portion corresponding to the data line from the upper side 100a of FIG. 7 to the tape boundary 109 is not output. That is, if there is a portion where there is no data to be printed continuously from the start position, this portion will not be printed (appears as blank on the printing tape 25). 30 etc. are saved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, the lengths of the laminated tapes 37a to 37c on which the vertically continuous figures (rectangle 104, ellipse 106) are printed are equal to each other, and the upper and lower layers are laminated. Since the relative positions of the figures are held between the tapes 37a to 37c, these laminated tapes 37a
The original figure (ellipse, rectangle) can be accurately restored by sticking the ends of ~ 37c in the longitudinal direction. Further, the data corresponding to the left and right end portions that are commonly blank in the laminated tapes 37a to 37c are not output as the dot image data for printing. Therefore, the laminated tape 37a
Since the length of ~ 37c is the minimum necessary, the printing tape 25, the double-sided tape 30 and the like are saved.

The controller C1 resets the minimum and maximum values in the x direction recorded in S37, clears the y direction recording memory, resets the cumulative number of scan lines to 0, and then returns to S23 via S27. And S23 as described above
The following processing is executed. At this time, if there is a region (blank region) where dot data does not exist, such as between the tape boundary 113 and the tape boundary 115 shown in FIG.
The printing position set by is on the data line corresponding to the tape boundary 115, and the dot image data for printing corresponding to such a blank area is not output. Therefore, since such a blank area is not printed (= the printing tape 25 in which nothing is printed is generated), the printing tape 25, the double-sided tape 30 and the like are saved.

When the scan line exceeds the lower end of the printable area of the paper by repeating S23 to S37 (S2
3: YES), the control device C1 determines whether or not there is y-direction recording data (S38). Here, if there is y-direction recording data, there is dot data that has been scanned but has not been output as printing dot image data, so the printing dots corresponding to such dot data are processed in steps S34 to S37. Output image data and S2
Return to 3. In S38 again, y is cleared in S37.
Since there is no direction recording data, S38: YES, the routine ends and the process returns to the print data creation control routine.

The tape printer 10 of this embodiment operates as described above, but in this tape printer 10,
The keyboard 18 and the mouse 20 correspond to the input means,
The control device C1 includes data construction means, storage means, conversion means,
It has functions as an output unit, a scanning unit, a print line sorting unit, and an extracting unit.

Although the present invention has been described above according to the embodiments, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to such embodiments and can be variously implemented without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0046]

As described above, according to the print data generating apparatus of the first aspect, the blank area on the printed tape is minimized in the tape printer. Since the occurrence and the like are avoided, the tape can be saved.

According to the print data creating apparatus of the second aspect, in addition to the effect obtained by the configuration of the first aspect, 1
If there is an area where data to be printed does not exist at the upstream end or the downstream end in one print line, partial print data excluding the data corresponding to such area is output. Extra blanks at both ends of the strip are avoided, which also saves tape.

According to the print data creating apparatus of the third aspect, in addition to the same effect as the configuration of the first aspect, the lengths of the tape pieces on which the common graphic is printed are the same as each other. Since, for example, the relative position of the graphic in the vertical direction is maintained, the graphic can be accurately restored. Moreover, the length of the blank portions formed on both end sides of the tape piece is shortened, so that the tape can be saved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an outline of a tape printer according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a printing mechanism built in the tape printer of the tape printer of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the tape printer of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a print data creation control routine executed by the tape printer of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a print data transfer processing routine executed by the tape printer of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a print data transmission routine executed by the tape printer of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the form of a tape printed by the tape printing machine of the embodiment, and FIG. 7A is an example of an edit screen displayed on the CRT display of the print data creation apparatus. 7B shows a tape on which the data shown in FIG. 7A is printed.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print data creation device of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the form of a tape printed by a tape printer of the related art, FIG. 9A is an example of an edit screen displayed on the display, and FIG.
Represents a tape on which the data shown in FIG. 9A is printed.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... tape printer, 12 ... tape printer,
14 ... Print data creating device, 18 ... Keyboard, 20 ... Mouse, 22 ... Control main unit, 25 ...
..Printing tape, 37 ... Laminated tape, 100 ...
-Printable area, C1 ... Control device, C2 ... Control device, CS ... Tape storage cassette.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A print data creation device for outputting the dot data for printing to a tape printer for printing a dot pattern corresponding to the received dot data for printing on a tape, wherein characters and symbols and various commands are input. Input means for creating the shape, data constructing means for constructing graphic data relating to the shape and arrangement of the graphic in response to the input from the input means, and a printable area of the paper for which the graphic data is instructed via the input means. And a storage unit for storing the graphic data in a storage area corresponding to the print area, and dividing the graphic data into print unit data corresponding to a rectangle defined by the printable width of the tape and the length of one side of the printable area. Converting means for converting the printed dot data to the printed dot data, and outputting the printing dot data to the tape printer for each printing unit data In the print data creating apparatus, the storage area having the scanning width corresponding to one dot of the graphic data is arranged at the uppermost end of the printable area in the scanning direction along one side of the printable area. Scanning means for sequentially scanning from the uppermost data row to the lowermost data row corresponding to the lowermost end of the printable area to detect a stored data row having the graphic data; and the scanning means closest to the uppermost data row. After performing the first step of dividing the storage area into a width corresponding to the printable width to form one print line with the stored data line as a reference, the lowest print line among the already divided print lines is set. A second print line that divides the storage area into one print line having a width corresponding to the printable width on the basis of the stored data line closest to the upper print line below the upper print line. Provided with a print line segment means repeating the step, the print data creation device characterized by being configured to output only the print unit data corresponding to said output means to the segmented print line. 2. The head data located on the most upstream side in the scanning direction in the graphic data and the end data located on the most downstream side in the scanning direction in the graphic data for each print line. In addition to providing extraction means for extracting, the output means is configured to output partial print data corresponding to the start data or the end data in the print unit data corresponding to the print line. The print data creation device according to claim 1. 3. When the graphic data corresponding to one of the graphics is stored over a plurality of adjacent print lines, the most upstream along the scanning direction in the head data of the plurality of print lines. The extraction means is provided for extracting the last data located on the most downstream side in the scanning direction among the most front data located on the side and the last data, and the output means corresponds to the plurality of print lines. In each print unit data, the adjacent print data corresponding to the downstream side along the scanning direction from the position corresponding to the most leading data and the upstream side along the scanning direction from the position corresponding to the last data are displayed. The print data creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print data creating apparatus is configured to output.