JPH09109474A - Tape-like label preparation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tape-like label preparation device of small size and at low cost with a capability of printing plural times in the same area without setting up a detection mechanism. SOLUTION: When a print color is set for a test entered and a printing key is operated, a printing start process is executed, and when the color R of a loaded ribbon coincides with the color C of a print at the head (S42: Yes), a mask M consisting of lengthwise lines for position matching when winding back a print tape already printing is printed (S45). Next, dot pattern data for a string of characters stored with incidental data for the color C of a print at the head is developed in a print data buffer (S46). Further, the printing tape is fed by a distance obtained by adding a distance Dcp between a printing position and a tape cutting position to a distance Dsc between the tape cutting position and a tape discharge aperture (S47). Finally the mask M printed on the print tape in the step S45 is sent to a position for tape discharge.

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, when a printed printing tape is rewound to repeatedly print the same printing range over a plurality of times, the rewinding amount is a standard. It relates to printing a mark that becomes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, the present applicant has disclosed Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 94, a tape-shaped label suitable for printing a character or a mark of a character or a symbol on a print tape as a print medium and preparing a label suitable for attaching to a spine of a file. The device was proposed and put into practical use. This label producing apparatus includes a keyboard, a display, and a printing mechanism of a thermal printing system, and has a printing tape (for example, tape width 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 m) as a printing medium.
m), characters and marks can be printed in various character sizes and fonts.

By the way, the print tape is constructed so that it can be transported not only in the feeding direction but also in the rewinding direction, and a detection mechanism for detecting the leading end of the printing tape is provided on the downstream side in the feeding direction of the printing tape. 1 on the print tape
After printing as the second time, the printing tape is rewound until the detection mechanism detects the tip of the printing tape, and the second time printing is performed by overlapping the letters and symbols and printing the synthetic characters and design patterns. It is conceivable to create a labeled label.

Further, the tape-shaped label formed by printing characters is not limited to the spine of a file, and can be attached to, for example, a cassette tape or its cassette tape case, or even a video tape or its video tape case. Is also suitable, and it is conceivable that the print character string is partially changed in color and printed in a colorful manner in accordance with the recorded content and genre.

Therefore, the inventors of the present application have proposed that the ribbon colors of the ink ribbons are not only “black” but also “red”, “green”, “blue” ... Prepared separately from the tape cassette, these ribbon cassettes can be attached to and detached from the tape cassette, and the printing colors used for multicolor printing can be printed while setting the input text. Performs the range setting process for each color that sets the print target range for each print color, and sequentially replaces the ribbon cassettes that have the same ribbon color as the set print color. At the time of each printing, by rewinding the printing tape by the feeding amount of the printing tape in the previous printing, it is possible to create a label with composite characters and design patterns printed, or to print in multiple colors. I was inspired to create a label that was multicolor printed on.

[0006]

However, the tape-shaped label device is desired to be small and inexpensive.
As described above, the above-mentioned detection mechanism is required to perform the synthetic characters, the design pattern, and the multicolor printing, and there is a problem that the device cannot be downsized and the cost cannot be reduced.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a small and inexpensive tape-shaped label producing apparatus capable of printing a plurality of times in the same area without providing a detection mechanism. Is intended.

[0008]

In order to achieve this object, a tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a tape transfer mechanism for transferring a tape, which is a print medium, toward an outlet, and a tape transfer mechanism. A tape-shaped label producing apparatus including a print head for printing characters or symbols on the tape in the middle of the tape transfer path, and a printing means for printing a plurality of times on the same area of the tape. Prior to the above, a mark is printed on the tape, and a control means for causing the print means to start printing from a position separated from the mark by the distance between the print means and the discharge port or more is provided.

In the tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to the present invention thus constructed, the control means prints a mark on the tape before printing. Next, the control means starts printing from a position separated from this mark by a distance more than the distance between the printing means and the discharge port.

A tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention has the same structure as the tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to the first aspect, but the control means causes the mark to be recorded on the tape at the first printing. Print.

A tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention has the same structure as the tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to the first aspect, but the mark printed on the tape is aligned near the discharge port. In order to achieve this, the alignment means is provided, and the control means causes the printing means to start printing from a position separated from the mark by the distance between the printing means and the alignment means or more.

[0012]

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

In this embodiment, a large number of characters such as characters and symbols are printed on a printing tape, which is a printing medium, by replacing a plurality of ribbon cassettes having different ribbon colors with each other. This is a case where the invention is applied.

As shown in FIG. 1, at the front portion of the main body cover 2 of the tape-shaped label producing apparatus 1, in addition to character keys such as characters, symbols and numbers, a keyboard 4 provided with various function keys and the like. Is provided, a liquid crystal display 5 capable of displaying input characters and symbols is provided immediately behind the keyboard 4, and a main body cover 2 corresponding to the cassette cover 3 opened and closed when the ribbon cassette 30 is replaced. A thermal printing mechanism 10 having a thermal head 12 is disposed inside the printer. Here, the slide cover 6 can be slid to open the cassette cover 3, and the cutting knob 85 can be pressed downward to manually cut the printed printing tape 22. A discharge port 7 for discharging the printed printing tape 22 to the outside of the tape-shaped label producing apparatus 1 is formed on the left side surface of the main body cover 2 between the cutting knob 85 and the keyboard 4.

Next, the thermal printing mechanism 10 including the thermal head 12 will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the tape cassette 20 detachably attached to the thermal printing mechanism 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.
It will be described with reference to FIG.

The tape case 2 of this tape cassette 20
1 has a printing tape 22 made of a thin film.
Is provided rotatably, and the print tape 22 fed from the tape spool 23 is guided in a curved shape by a plurality of guide portions, passes immediately before the thermal head 12, and Tape feed roller 2
4 to the tape cassette 2
0 is discharged outside.

Also, as shown in FIG.
A pair of guide shafts 21a for vertically guiding and supporting the ribbon cassette 30 at the time of attaching and detaching the ribbon cassette 30, which will be described next, are provided at two separated locations on the outer peripheral wall of the first cassette.
-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 which abut on and support the lower side of the ribbon cassette 30.

Further, on the upper surface of the tape spool 23,
The user rotates the tape spool 23 to print the print tape 2
A knob 23a for rewinding 2 is formed. The user grips the knob 23a and rotates the tape spool 23 counterclockwise in FIG.
2 can be rewound.

Next, the ribbon cassette 30 which is detachably attached to the tape cassette 20 will be described with reference to FIGS.

The ribbon case 31 of the ribbon cassette 30 is integrally formed with an upper wall portion 31a which abuts against a part of the tape case 21 from above and extends horizontally.
a pair of guide shafts 21 of the tape case 21
A pair of engaging leg portions 31b and 31c having through holes, which are externally fitted to a and 21b, are formed, and a vertical wall portion 31d that contacts the notch portion 21e of the tape case 21 is formed. Further, the ribbon cassette 30 is formed with a head accommodating portion 37 for accommodating the thermal head 12 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.
The tape is bent at an acute angle at a, separated from the print tape 22, and wound up by the ribbon take-up spool. 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), and the lid member 3 of the ribbon case 31 is formed.
On the upper surfaces of the upper wall 1a and the upper wall 31a, knob pieces 31f, 3
When 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 print color is printed. To tape case 21
Can be mounted in the ribbon cassette accommodating portion 21f.

At this time, first, with a pair of the gripping pieces 31f and 31g held by two fingers, a pair of the engaging leg portions 3 is formed.
While the 1b and 31c are fitted onto the corresponding guide shafts 21a and 21b respectively through the through holes, the ribbon cassette 30 is moved downward to be housed in the ribbon cassette housing portion 21f. 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 abuts against the pair of lower end wall portions 21c and 21d of the tape case 21 from above to form the ribbon. Cassette 3
0 is held at a predetermined position with respect to the tape case 21.

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).

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, will be described with reference to FIG.

The main body frame 11 has a tape spool 2
3, a tape take-up cam 41 engageable with the center of the ribbon take-up spool 34, and a tape drive cam engageable with the center of the tape feed roller 24. 43 are rotatably supported, the thermal head 12 is erected, and the detection hole group 3 is
6 to detect the presence or absence of the six detection holes 36a.
Ribbon detection switch group 103 including sixth detection switch
Are provided, and a ribbon detection signal RS based on a combination of switch signals from these six detection switches is output.

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 50 and 53, which are rotatably supported by the main body frame 11, are sequentially meshed with each other, and the gear 53 is fixed to the tape drive cam 43. Tape drive gear 5
4 and the gear 55 mesh with each other. Here, the gear 48 and the gear 49 are integrally formed, and the ribbon winding cam 4
The tape 50 and the gear 51 are integrally formed, and the tape winding gear 52 is fixed to the lower end of the tape winding cam 41. That is, the rotation of the tape drive motor 44 causes the tape drive cam 4 fixed to the tape drive gear 54 to move through the gears 45 to 54.
3, the print tape 22 is transferred by the rotation of the tape feed roller 24.

On the other hand, on the pivot shaft 58 of the gear 53, the base end portion of the cutting prohibition lever 84 supports the pivot shaft 58 by one end and the base end portion of the winding spring 59 supported by the cut prohibition lever 84. It is pressed and supported by the urging force of the winding spring 59 so as to sandwich it. 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 gears 57 move the tape winding gear 5.
2 and the tape take-up 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 counterclockwise, The cutting prohibition lever 84 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, and the tip of the cutting prohibition lever 84 is positioned below the cutting lever 82, which will be described later. The clockwise rotation causes the ribbon take-up cam 42 to rotate counterclockwise via the clutch spring, and the ink ribbon 32 is taken up by the ribbon take-up spool 34.

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 to the left and right in association with the opening and closing of the cover 3 to move to the print position shown in FIG. 9 and the release position where the platen roller 65 and the tape feed sub-roller 66 are separated from the thermal head 12 and the tape feed roller 24. The position is switched over. 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 abuts on the standing wall 11a of the main body frame 11, and one end of the release lever 71 is attached to the roller holder 67.
When the release lever 71 is moved leftward from the release position to the print position shown in FIG. 9, the left end of the release lever 71 is located between the roller holder 67 and the standing wall 11a. Entering in a wedge shape, the roller holder 67 is switched from the release position to the printing position. At this time, the platen roller 65 moves the printing tape 22.
The thermal head 12 is pressed via the ink ribbon 32 and the tape feeding sub-roller 66 pressing the tape feeding roller 24 via the printing tape 22.

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, with respect to the head release mechanism 70 which drives 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 to 11.

The rear end portion of the cassette cover 3 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 11, a pivot 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. . An engaging pin 75 that engages with the groove cam 3b is fixed to the rear end of the operation plate 74 disposed below the right end of the main body frame 11. By the way, the right end of the release lever 71 is rotatably supported by one lever of a forked lever 76 pivotally connected to the main body frame 11, and the other of the forked lever 76 has: It is connected via a pin 77 fixed to the front end of the operation plate 74.

Then, as shown in FIG. 10, 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 print position shown in FIG. 11, the engaging pin 75 engaging with the groove cam 3b moves rearward when the cassette cover 3 is opened, so that the operation is performed. The plate 74 moves backward, and the forked lever 7
The roller holder 67 is switched to the release position in response to the rotation of the release lever 71 to the right in the counterclockwise rotation direction of the release lever 6. At this time, when the operation plate 74 moves backward, the cover opening / closing detection switch 102 outputs an “H” level cover opening / closing signal VS.

Further, when the cassette cover 3 is opened as shown in FIG. 11, that is, when the roller holder 67 is at the release position, and when the cassette cover 3 is closed as shown in FIG. By moving 3b,
Since the engagement pin 75 moves forward, the operating plate 74 moves forward, the forked lever 76 rotates clockwise, and
In response to the release lever 71 moving to the left, the roller holder 67 is switched to the print position, that is, the non-release state.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, when printing is performed, the tape cassette 20 is first mounted on the thermal printing mechanism 10, and then the ribbon cassette 30 is mounted on the tape cassette 20. When the cassette cover 3 is closed, the roller holder 67 is switched to the print position.

Then, in this state, the tape drive motor 4
When 4 is driven to rotate in the normal printing direction, these gears 45 to 55 are driven in their respective predetermined rotation directions, the platen roller 65 and the tape feed sub-roller 66 are rotated in the counterclockwise rotation direction, and the tape is rotated. Since the feeding sub-roller 66 and the tape feeding roller 24 rotate in synchronization with each other, the printing tape 22 is ejected from the tape ejection port 7 through the tape cutting mechanism 80 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 is fed from the ribbon spool 33 in synchronization with the print tape 22 by the rotation of the platen roller 65, and the ribbon take-up gear 4
The ribbon winding cam 42 is rotated by the rotation of 8, and is wound around the ribbon winding spool 34 which is engaged with the ribbon winding cam 42 and rotates.

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, and
When the ribbon cassette 30 is removed, the roller holder 67 is switched to the release position by the head release mechanism 70.

Next, the tape cutting mechanism 80 for cutting the printed printing tape 22 will be described with reference to FIGS.
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 base end portion of the cutting lever 82 having a substantially L-shape in side view. It is pivotally supported by a screw 83 and its cutting lever 8
2 has a movable blade 82a. Here, during printing, as shown in FIG. 9, the gear 53 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, and the distal end of the cutting prohibition lever 84 moves below the cutting lever 82, so that the cutting operation is started. prohibited.

However, when the tape drive motor 44 is slightly rotated in the rewinding direction at the end of printing, the gear 53 is slightly rotated clockwise as shown in FIG. When the tip end comes off from the lower side of the cutting lever 82 to enable the cutting operation,
As shown in FIG. 12, 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 shown by the two-dot chain 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 and 82a. At this time, the cutting detection switch 101 attached to the main body frame 11 is operated by the operating member 86 attached to the cutting lever 82 to output the cutting detection signal CS. Then, when the pressing operation of the cutting lever 82 is stopped, the cutting lever 82 returns to the original predetermined position shown by the solid line by the urging force of a spring (not shown).

Next, the control system of the tape-shaped label producing apparatus 1 is constructed as shown in the block diagram of FIG.

Input / output interface 1 of control device CD
13 includes a keyboard 4 and a disconnection detection switch 101.
A cover opening / closing detection switch 102, a ribbon detection switch group 103, a display controller (LCDC) 104 having a video RAM for outputting display data to a liquid crystal display (LCD) 5, and a warning buzzer 1.
A drive circuit 106 for driving the thermal head 12, a drive circuit 107 for driving the thermal head 12, and a drive circuit 108 for the tape drive motor 44 are connected to each other.

The control device CD includes a CPU 110 and this C
An input / output interface 113 connected to the PU 110 via a bus 114 such as a data bus;
M111, ROM112 and RAM120.

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 the code data of characters such as characters, symbols and numbers input from the keyboard 4.
Drive control program for controlling the display, text memory 1
A print control program for creating dot pattern data to be printed with respect to characters and symbols stored in
With respect to the created dot pattern data, a print drive control program for sequentially outputting dot pattern data for each dot row to the thermal head 12 and the tape drive motor 44 for printing, a control program for multicolor printing 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
Stores text data consisting of characters and symbols input from the keyboard 4 in association with the set print color data. The color number memory 122 stores color number data of the set print color. Printing color order memory 1
23 stores the data of the color order of the set print colors. The margin memory 124 stores margin data relating to the same set front margin and rear margin.
The print data buffer 125 has the text memory 1
The dot pattern data corresponding to the character code stored in 21 is expanded and stored. Further, the RAM 12
In 0, a memory or the like for temporarily storing the calculation result calculated by the CPU 110 is provided.

Next, the 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 symbol Si (i = 10, 11, 12,...)
Is each step.

Here, prior to the multicolor printing control, FIG.
Based on, the tape discharge port 7 formed in the main body cover 2, the tape cutting position by the tape cutting mechanism 80,
The positional relationship with the print position of the thermal head 12 will be described. In the feeding direction T of the print tape 22,
From the upstream side in the feeding direction T, the printing position (P position), the tape cutting position (C position), and the discharge port (S position) are arranged in this order, and the print-cut distance Dcp between the printing position and the tape cutting position is about 25 mm. The distance Dsc between the tape cutting position and the tape discharging port 7 is about 10 mm. Further, the separation position (position B) by the separation portion 35a of the separation member 35 is
It is located about 6 mm downstream from the printing position in the feeding direction T.

When the tape-shaped label producing apparatus 1 is powered on, first, the thermal printing mechanism 10 and the controller CD
Is performed (S10). Then, since a text input screen is displayed on the display 5, after setting a print format, an input process for inputting text data and a display process for displaying the input text are executed, and the input text is displayed. The data is stored in the text memory 121 (S11). For example, as shown in FIG. 24, input text data “Akamidori
Is stored in the text memory 121.

Next, the print color order setting process control (see FIG. 16) is executed (S12).

When this control is started, a message "What is the number of print colors?" Is displayed on the display 5, so the color number setting process for setting the color number N by operating the numeric keys is executed. The calculated color number N is stored in the color number memory 122 (S30). Next, the names of a plurality of colors are displayed on the display 5.
, A color sequence setting process for sequentially setting the sequence of colors to be provided for printing is executed, the data of the set color sequence is stored in the print color sequence memory 123 (S31), and this control is terminated. Then, the process returns to S13 of the multi-color printing control.

Next, in the multicolor printing control, the print target range setting processing control for each color (see FIG. 17) is executed (S).
13).

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

That is, in this 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, the color number count value I is decremented by 1 (S36), and until (I-1) becomes "0", S
34 to S36 are repeatedly executed. And (I-1)
Becomes "0" and the setting of the character string to be printed is completed for each printing color other than the final printing color (S34:
Yes), 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 (S37).

This character string setting process will be specifically described with reference to FIG. 18. 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 aforementioned S372 Is executed again. On the other hand, if no color data is attached to the read character data (S372: No), color data corresponding to the final print color is stored with the character data (S37).
5), the process of S373 is executed. Each of the above processes
When the last character data stored in the text memory 121 is repeatedly executed and it is determined in S373 that the character data is the last character data (S373: Yes), the process returns to S38 in FIG.

For example, when the character data "Akamidorikuro" is stored in the text memory 121, and the number of colors is 3 and the color order is "red", "green", and "black", the print target character string setting process of S35 is performed. 24. 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.
Color data “green” is stored in association with each of the character data “mi”, “do”, and “ri”.

When the setting of the printing color "green" is completed, the color number count value (I-1) becomes "0", so S
In the character string setting process of 37, the character data is sequentially read from the head of the text memory 121, and the final print color “black” is automatically set for the character string “kuro” for which the print color of the text data is not set. The color data “black” is stored along with the character data “ku” and “ro” in the text memory 121.

Next, a message "What is the margin of the printing tape?" Is displayed on the display 5, and when the desired margin is set by operating the number keys, the set margin is the margin. It is stored in the memory 124 (S38), this 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. 19) is executed (S16).

When this control is started, first, the ribbon color R of the attached ribbon cassette 30 is read based on the ribbon detection signal RS from the ribbon detection switch group 103 (S40), and the first print in the print color order is performed. When the color C is read (S41) and the ribbon color R and the leading print color C do not match (S42: No), an error message notifying that the print colors do not match is displayed on the display 5 (S43).

Next, based on the cover opening / closing signal VS of the cover opening / closing detection switch 102, when the cassette cover 3 is opened and the ribbon cassette 30 is replaced, the cassette cover 3 is closed again (S44: Yes), S40. ~ S41
Is executed. When the ribbon color R and the leading print color C match (S42: Yes), the mark M for alignment when rewinding the printed print tape 22 is printed (S45). The mark M is formed on the print tape 22 by printing a vertical line as shown in FIG.

Next, the character string in which the data of the first print color C is stored together is read from the text memory 121,
Further, the dot pattern data of the character string is expanded in the print data buffer 125 (S46).

Next, a distance obtained by adding a print / cut distance Dcp between the print position and the tape cut position and a cut / discharge port distance Dsc between the tape cut position and the tape discharge port 7. In order to feed the print tape 22, the tape drive motor 44 is driven to rotate forward (S47). By this tape feeding, the mark M printed in S45 is fed to the tape discharge port 7, that is, the S position (see FIG. 25 (a)).

Then, the process returns to S17 of the multicolor printing control,
When the number of colors N is not "1", that is, when it is not the last print (S17: No), the set color print processing control (see FIG. 20) for printing with each set print color is executed (S1).
8).

When this control is started, as shown in FIG. 25 (b), first, the tape drive motor 44 moves forward in order to transfer the print tape 22 by the front margin amount L corresponding to the set margin amount L. It is rotationally driven (S60). Next, when the print start position of the character to be printed in the current print color is located on the upstream side in the feeding direction T from the position facing the thermal head 12 at present, that is, for example, in FIG. As shown in the drawing, when there is an idle feed amount, 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 forward direction, and the print 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 thermal head 12
A printing process for driving the tape drive motor 44 and the tape is performed (S63), the control is terminated, and the process returns to S19 of the multicolor printing control.

Next, in the multicolor printing control, the print tape rewinding process control (see FIG. 21) is executed (S1).
9).

When this control is started, first, the tape drive motor 44 is driven to rotate forward, and the printing tape is moved by the separation feed amount Dbp corresponding to the distance Dbp between the printing position (P position) and the separation position (B position). 22 and the ink ribbon 32 are transferred in the feed 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. As a result, the ink ribbon 32 is forcibly separated from the print tape 22 by the separating portion 35a, so that the print tape 22 and the ink ribbon 32 are separated.
And are definitely 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 “H”.
A level cover open / close signal VS is output (S72: Yes
), 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 printing tape 22 is removed. A message prompting the user to rewind and to attach the ribbon cassette 30 having the ink ribbon 32 having the same ribbon color as the next print color is displayed on the display 5 (S74).

While this message is displayed, the user picks the knob 23a of the tape spool 23 and rotates the tape spool 23 to rewind the print tape 22. At that time, the head of the print tape 22 is rewound. The mark M printed on the part is aligned with the tape discharge port 7. That is, the user rewinds the print tape 22 by rotating the tape spool 23 until the mark M is located at the tape discharge port 7. After the rewinding operation is completed, the user mounts the ribbon cassette 30.

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 (S76: Yes), the loaded ribbon is detected based on the ribbon detection signal RS. Cassette 30
When the ribbon color R is read (S77), the next print color C in the print color order is read (S78), and the ribbon color R and the next print color C do not match (S79: No), S74- S79 is repeatedly executed.

Next, when the ribbon color R and the next print color C match (S79: Yes), the character string in which the data of the next print color C is stored together is read from the text memory 121, Further, the dot pattern data of the character string is expanded in the print data buffer 125 (S80). Then, when the cassette cover 3 is not closed (S81:
No), a message to close the cassette cover 3 is displayed on the display 5 (S82). Then, when the cassette cover 3 is closed (S81: Yes), the process returns to S21 of the multicolor printing control.

Next, in multicolor printing control, the number of colors N is 1
When the number of colors N is not "1" and the printing is not the final printing (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. 22) is executed (S).
twenty two).

In this control, the front margin amount L is printed and
The first case where the inter-cut distance Dcp is longer than the distance Dcp, the second case where the front margin amount L is smaller than the inter-print / cut distance Dcp, there is no idle feed amount, The tape cutting is performed while printing, in a third case where the value obtained by adding the front margin amount L to the fourth case is equal to or longer than the printing / cutting distance Dcp and a fourth case where the value is smaller than the printing / cutting distance Dcp. become.

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), the printing tape 22 is transferred in the feed direction T by the forward / cut distance Dcp by the forward rotation of the tape drive motor 44 (S91), the drive of the tape drive motor 44 is stopped, and the tape transfer is stopped. Is performed (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. 14). 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 transported in the feed direction T by the shortage of the front margin L (the front margin L-printing / cutting distance Dcp) (S95).

Next, when the print start position of the print with the final print color this time is on the upstream side in the feed direction T with respect to the position where the thermal head 12 is currently facing, and there is an idle feed amount (S96: Yes). , The tape drive motor 44 is driven to rotate in the forward direction, and the printing tape 22 is moved in the feeding direction T by the idle feed amount.
Be transferred to (S97). Next, characters and symbols are printed in the final print color based on the read dot image in the same manner 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 drive motor 44 is driven in the normal rotation to set the rear margin amount L to the distance between printing and cutting Dcp.
The printing tape 22 is moved in the feeding direction T by a value obtained by adding (S99), and then the tape drive motor 44 is slightly rotated in the rewinding direction so that the tip of the cutting prohibiting lever 84 is below the cutting lever 82. When it is detached from the printer and the cutting operation becomes possible, a message prompting the cutting of the print tape 22 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 tape is detected (S101: Yes), this control is ended and the process 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, from S104 onward, the printing tape 22 is cut while performing the final printing process.

That is, the dot pattern data for one dot row is read out from the print data buffer 125 and printed (S104), and the tape drive motor 44 is rotated forward by the minute feed amount corresponding to the one dot row. The printing tape 22 is moved by driving (S105). Next, the tape transfer amount after the start of the final printing is the distance D between the printing and cutting.
When smaller than the value obtained by subtracting the front margin L from cp, that is, when the cutting position (P position) has not reached the head position of the front margin L (S106: No), S10493 to S106 are repeatedly executed. You.

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 slightly rotated in the rewind direction, and when the distal end of the cutting prohibition 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 printing tape 22 is displayed. (S108
). Next, when the cutting tape 85 is pressed to cut the print tape 22 and the cut detection signal CS becomes “H” level, and the tape cut 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 in S99 to S101, the control is ended, and the process similarly returns to S10.

Next, the front margin amount L is the printing / cutting distance Dc.
If it is smaller than p, and there is a blank feed amount and the value obtained by adding the front margin amount L to the blank feed amount is the third distance Dcp or more between printing and cutting (S90: No, S102, S111: Ye
s), similarly to S91 to S94, the tape is cut after the tape is transferred (S112 to S115), 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 between printing and cutting Dc.
If it is smaller than p and there is a blank feed amount and the value obtained by adding the front margin amount L to the blank feed amount is smaller than the print / cut distance Dcp (S90: No, S102: Yes, S111).
: 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, dot pattern data for one dot row is read out from the print data buffer 125 and subjected to printing processing (S
118), only the minute feed amount corresponding to the 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 S120.
Is repeatedly executed. When the leading position of the front margin amount L reaches the cutting position (S120: Yes), S107
After that, the front margin amount L and the rear margin amount L are respectively provided and the tape is cut, and this control is ended, and similarly, S
Return to 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 26, with respect to the input text "Akamidori black", the front and rear margin amounts L are provided respectively, and the character string "Aka" is red, the character string "Green" is green, and the character string "Black". A tape-shaped label 22A in which each of the black labels is printed is obtained.

Next, the operation of multicolor printing control will be described.

After the text is input, the number of print colors N
A print color order setting process for setting the color order is executed.
Further, a process of setting a print target range for each print color for printing with a plurality of colors is executed, and then a print start process is executed prior to the print process. In this print start process,
Mark M consisting of vertical lines for alignment on the printing tape 22
Is printed, and then the printing tape 22 is moved in the feeding direction T by (distance between printing and cutting Dcp + distance between cutting and discharging port Dsc), and the mark M of the printing tape 22 is positioned at the tape discharging port 7. The first printing is started from this state. Then, every time the printing process with the set color is executed,
The print tape rewinding process of rewinding the print tape 22 is executed.

That is, in this tape rewinding process,
After the user removes the ribbon cassette 30, the knob 23a of the tape spool 23 is gripped to rotate the tape spool 23, and the tape is rewound until the mark M printed on the print tape 22 is located at the tape discharge port 7. . Then, when the tape cassette 30 of the next print color is mounted, the printing of the text set in that color is started.

As described above, in the tape-shaped label producing apparatus 1, the mark M consisting of the vertical line is printed on the printing tape 22 prior to the first printing, and then the mark M is positioned at the discharge port. After the tape is fed, the first printing is executed, and after the printing is completed, the user rewinds the printing tape 22 until the mark M is located in the tape discharge port 7, so that the printing start position of each printing color is changed. Since the positions can be aligned, it is possible to perform printing a plurality of times in the same region without misalignment without providing a detection mechanism such as a sensor.

It should be noted that, within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, various modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment based on existing technology or technology obvious to those skilled in the art.

For example, in the above embodiment, after the mark M is printed, the printing tape 22 is fed for the first printing until the mark M is located in the tape discharge port 7, and the mark M is printed for the second time and thereafter. 7 is rewound, and printing is performed from the position where the thermal head 12 faces at that time, but after the mark M is printed, the mark M is printed up to a position beyond the tape discharge port 7 by a predetermined distance. Tape 2
It is also possible to send 2 to perform the first printing, and after the second printing, rewind the mark M to the position of the tape discharge port 7, feed the printing tape from the position for the predetermined distance, and then perform the printing. That is, it suffices that the distance between the mark M and the print start position is longer than the distance between the print position P of the thermal head 12 and the tape discharge port 7.

However, as in the above embodiment, after printing the mark M, the print tape 22 is fed until the mark M is located at the tape discharge port 7, and at that time, the thermal head 12
If the position where the two are opposed to each other is set as the print start position, the useless portion of the print tape 22 is reduced.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the mark M is aligned with the tape discharge port 7 in the second and subsequent printing, but as shown in FIG. 27, the tape discharge port 7 is formed on the left side surface of the main body cover 2. A positioning member 90 is provided on the rear side of the positioning member 90, and a positioning mark M2 is formed on the positioning member 90. After the mark M is printed, the mark M is used for positioning the positioning member 90. The printing tape 22 is fed until it coincides with the mark M2, then the first printing is started, and the mark M is used for the second time and thereafter.
It is also possible to rewind until it coincides with, and start printing from that state.

The positioning member 90 can be configured to be stored in the main body cover 2 by folding or the like. If the positioning member 90 is stored in the main body cover 2 when it is not needed, it can be projected from the main body cover 2. The mating member 90 does not get in the way.

Further, a printer-type tape-like label producing apparatus for receiving text printing data from an external device such as a computer connected online and sequentially replacing a plurality of ribbon cassettes 30 having different ribbon colors to perform multicolor printing, Of course, the present invention can be applied to various tape-shaped label producing apparatuses.

[0097]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the tape-shaped label producing apparatus of the first aspect, it is possible to print a plurality of times in the same area without providing a detection mechanism.
Moreover, it becomes small and inexpensive.

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 since the mark is printed before the first printing, the number of times of printing can be reduced. it can.

According to the tape-shaped label producing apparatus of the third aspect, the same effect as that of the first aspect can be obtained, but the marks printed on the tape can be easily aligned.

[Brief description of the 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 diagram corresponding to FIG. 2 in a tape rewinding state.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the tape cassette on which the ribbon cassette is mounted.

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 the ribbon cassette and the 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 cross-sectional side view of essential parts when the cassette cover is closed.

FIG. 11 is a view corresponding to FIG. 11 when the cassette cover is opened.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a thermal printing mechanism showing a tape cutting mechanism.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a drive system of the thermal printing mechanism in a tape cutting permission state.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a control system of the tape label producing apparatus.

FIG. 15 is a schematic flowchart of a multicolor printing control routine.

FIG. 16 is a schematic flowchart of a print color sequence setting process control routine.

FIG. 17 is a schematic flowchart of a routine of print target range setting processing control for each color.

FIG. 18 is a schematic flowchart of a remaining character string setting process control routine for the final print color.

FIG. 19 is a schematic flowchart of a print start processing control routine.

FIG. 20 is a schematic flowchart of a set color printing process control routine.

FIG. 21 is a schematic flowchart of a print tape rewinding process control routine.

FIG. 22 is a schematic flowchart of a final color printing process / cutting process control routine.

FIG. 23 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. 24 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a data structure in a text memory.

25A is an explanatory diagram of a print start reference origin position on the tape, FIG. 25B is an explanatory diagram when the tape is fed by the amount of the front margin, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing when the tape feeding is carried out by the amount.

FIG. 26 is a plan view of a tape-shaped label in which three colors are printed in red, green, and black.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Tape-shaped label producing device 10 Thermal printing mechanism 12 Thermal head 20 Tape cassette 22 Printing tape 30 Ribbon cassette 32 Ink ribbon 40 Tape / ribbon transfer mechanism 44 Tape drive motor 80 Tape cutting mechanism 90 Positioning member CD controller

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G06F 3/12 B41J 3/20 117C

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A tape transfer mechanism for transferring a tape, which is a print medium, toward an outlet, and a print head for printing characters or symbols on the tape in the middle of a tape transfer path of the tape transfer mechanism. In a tape-shaped label producing apparatus equipped with a printing means for printing a plurality of times in the same area, while printing a mark on the tape prior to printing,
A tape-shaped label producing apparatus comprising: a control unit that causes the printing unit to start printing from a position separated from the mark by at least a distance between the printing unit and the discharge port. 2. The tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means prints the mark on the tape at the first printing. 3. An alignment means is provided near the discharge port for aligning a mark printed on the tape, and the control means is arranged between the mark and the printing means and the alignment means. 2. The tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein printing is started by the printing means from a position separated by a distance equal to or more than.