JPH09290536A - Color printing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [PROBLEMS] To provide a small-sized, low-priced and easy-to-use color printing device that enables a large number of colors to be specified easily with a small number of color specifying keys. SOLUTION: A print data inputting means for inputting print data and a color designation, a print color of the print data is determined based on the color designation, and the print data is color printed based on the print color. And a color printing device that includes a plurality of color designation keys for designating the color, and the color printing unit is configured to perform a single color designation. When a key is operated, the color designated by the single color designation key is determined as the printing color, and when a plurality of the color designation keys are operated, designation is performed by each operated color designation key. It is characterized in that the intermediate color of each of the generated colors is determined as the printing color.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing device for printing input print data. More specifically, it relates to a color printing technique for printing input print data in a designated color.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When it is desired to color-print a printing apparatus, it is convenient if keys for designating colors are provided for all printable colors, but various color printing is attempted. However, an enormous number of keys are required, and using a keyboard input unit having such an enormous number of keys impairs downsizing and cost reduction of the device. Therefore,
Generally, when printing the output of a personal computer with a color printer, or when printing color with a dedicated word processor, "blue", "red",
"Yellow", ..., etc. are displayed, and a sample of colors, etc. is displayed.
A desired color can be selected and designated with a mouse or cursor keys.

[0003]

However, for example, a small print called a label printer or a label word processor for printing on the surface of a tape-shaped recording medium having an adhesive layer covered with a release paper on the back surface. In the device, the display screen is not large enough to display a large number of color designation information as described above, and since a monochrome display screen is generally used to keep the price low, the designated color can be visually recognized on the display screen. There is a problem that you cannot do it. That is, since it is a prerequisite that the device is small and inexpensive, it is difficult to print in color. Further, the operation on the display screen as described above is not suitable for a general-purpose printing apparatus because it is not convenient to use.

On the other hand, even in a small printing apparatus, there is a demand to print the print data in color, and further, to increase the number of printable colors.

[0005] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide:
First, a large number of colors can be specified easily with a few color specification keys, and secondly, the result of color specification can be visually confirmed on a monochrome display screen, which makes it compact and inexpensive and easy to use. To provide a good color printing device.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, a color printing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention provides a print data input for inputting print data and designating a color thereof. And a color printing unit that determines a print color of the print data based on the color designation and color-prints the print data based on the print color. The data input unit has a plurality of color designation keys for designating the color, and the color printing unit is designated by the single color designation key when a single color designation key is operated. The color is determined as the print color, and when a plurality of the color designation keys are operated, the intermediate color of each color designated by each operated color designation key is determined as the print color.

In this color printing apparatus, a plurality of color designation keys are operated to determine a print color based on an intermediate color obtained by mixing the colors designated by the color designation keys, and the color printing is performed based on the print color. it can. That is, various color printing can be performed by a simple operation of pressing a plurality of color designation keys corresponding to colors to be mixed as print colors. As a result, a large number of colors can be easily specified even with a small number of color specifying keys, and as a result, a compact and low-priced color printing device can be provided which is easy to use.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color printing apparatus for inputting print data and designating a color of the print data, and determining a print color of the print data based on the color designation. A color printing device comprising: a color printing unit that prints the print data in color based on a printing color, wherein the print data input unit is
The color printing unit has a plurality of color designating keys for designating the color and a color designation confirming key for designating a timing for determining the printing color, and the color printing unit is configured to perform a single operation in any one operation. When one of the color designation keys is operated,
While the color designated by the single color designation key is determined as the designated color by the operation of that time, when a plurality of the color designation keys are operated, each color designated by each operated color designation key The intermediate color of is determined as the designated color by the operation of that time, and when the color designation confirmation key is operated, the designated color by the last operation of the last time is determined as the print color.

This color printing apparatus has a color designation confirmation key for designating the timing for determining the printing color,
The print color is obtained from the color specified by the last operation of the color specification key before operating this color specification confirmation key.Therefore, repeat the print color specification until the color specification confirmation key is operated. You can That is, even if the color designation fails due to an erroneous operation or the like, the color designation can be immediately and easily performed again. Further, in this case, since it is not necessary to operate the color designation key and the color designation determination key at the same time, it is easy to operate even if the both are separated. Further, for example, if there is a display means for displaying the designated color, the designated color can be confirmed after confirming the designated color, and if the user does not like it, the designation can be redesigned. When a plurality of color designation keys are operated at the time of the final operation, the timing of obtaining the intermediate color at that time may be immediately after operating the color designation determination key, or may be obtained in advance at each operation. The intermediate color obtained during the final operation may be confirmed when the color designation confirmation key is operated.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color printing apparatus for inputting print data and designating a color of the print data, and determining a print color of the print data based on the color designation. A color printing device comprising: a color printing unit that prints the print data in color based on a printing color, wherein the print data input unit is
The color printing unit has a plurality of color designating keys for designating the color and a color designation confirming key for designating a timing for determining the printing color, and the color printing unit is configured to perform a single operation in any one operation. When one of the color designation keys is operated,
While the color designated by the single color designation key is determined as the designated color by the operation of that time, when a plurality of the color designation keys are operated, each color designated by each operated color designation key Is determined as the designated color by the operation of that time, and when the color designation confirming key is operated, the intermediate color obtained by accumulating the designated colors by the operation of one or a plurality of times until immediately before is determined is determined. It is characterized in that it is determined as a print color.

This color printing apparatus has a color designation confirmation key for designating the timing for determining the printing color,
The print color is obtained by accumulating and mixing the designated colors by the operation of the color designation key before operating the color designation determination key, so that the necessary color designation keys may be sequentially operated. That is, since it is not necessary to operate a plurality of color designation keys or color confirmation keys at the same time, it is possible to easily operate even if the keys are separated from each other. Further, for example, if there is a display means or the like for displaying an intermediate color as a result of color mixing, by accumulating and mixing the designated colors required while checking the intermediate color, the intermediate color is arbitrarily adjusted, and then the intermediate color is determined. The print color can be determined based on this intermediate color. If it is not necessary to confirm the intermediate color of the intermediate result, the timing of obtaining the intermediate color of each of these designated colors may be immediately after the color designation determination key is operated. That is, it is also possible to accumulate and store the colors designated by the operated color designation keys and obtain all the intermediate colors after the color designation confirmation key is operated.

In the color printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the plurality of color designating keys include a white designating key for designating white and a black designating key for designating black. When the white designating key is operated together with one or more other color designating keys other than the white designating key and the black designating key, the color printing means performs the printing by the other color designating key. It is preferable to increase the lightness of the color and reduce the lightness of the printing color by the other key when the black designation key is operated together with the other color designation key.

In this color printing apparatus, the lightness of the print color can be changed by using the white designation key and the black designation key, so that more various color printing can be performed.

In the color printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the print data input means, as a color designation of the print data, designates a character color designation mode for designating a character color and a background color. It is preferable to further include color designation mode selection means for selecting one of the background color designation modes of.

In this color printing apparatus, by selecting the color designation mode, the character color of the print data and the background color thereof can be designated independently, so that it is possible to perform color printing with a variety of vivid colors.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein print data input means for inputting print data and designating a color thereof and the input print data are displayed on a display screen. Display means for displaying, and determine the print color of the print data based on the color designation,
A color printing device comprising: a color printing unit that prints the print data in color based on the printing color;
The display means may display the type of the print color as characters on the display screen.

In this color printing apparatus, the color of the print data can be designated, and the printing color determined by the color designation is displayed in characters on the display screen. Therefore, the monochrome display screen and the color can be discriminated for cost reduction. Even if only a color display screen that is difficult to read is installed, the specified print color can be clearly viewed. As a result, it is possible to provide a color printing apparatus that is small in size and low in price, but is easy to use.

In the color printing apparatus of claim 6, the display means sets a line-by-line print color display area corresponding to a line for displaying the print data on the display screen, and the line-by-line print color display of each line. It is preferable to display the type of the printing color of the printing data of the line in the area by characters.

In this color printing apparatus, since the print color for each line is displayed in characters in the print color display area for each line, the print color for each line can be clearly visually recognized even when the print data extends over a plurality of lines. Furthermore, the usability is improved.

In the color printing apparatus of claim 7, when the print color of the print data is switched in one line, the display means displays in the line-by-line print color display area of the line.
It is preferable to display the number of printing colors instead of the type of printing colors.

In this color printing apparatus, when the print color is switched in the middle of one line of print data, the number is displayed instead of the print color, so that it is easy to know that the print color is switched in the middle. Can be seen.

In the color printing apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 8, the display means sets a cursor designated line print color display area on the display screen, and the print color of the line designated by the cursor is 1 When switching among lines, it is preferable to display the position and type of switching of the printing color of the cursor designated line in the cursor designated line print color display area.

In this color printing apparatus, when the print color of the line designated by the cursor is switched within one line, the position and type of the print color switched are displayed in the cursor designated line print color display area. Even if the print color of each line is switched in the middle, the print color of each part of each line can be easily visually recognized only by moving the cursor between the lines.

In the color printing apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 9, the display means sets a cursor position print color display area on the display screen, and is designated by the cursor in the cursor position print color display area. It is preferable that the type of printing color of the printed data is displayed in characters.

In this color printing apparatus, since the type of the print color of the print data designated by the cursor is displayed in the cursor position print color display area, the print color of each print data can be easily changed by moving the cursor. Can be seen.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in a color printing apparatus of claim 11, a print data input means for inputting print data and designating a color thereof, and the input print data on a display screen. A color printing apparatus comprising: a display unit for displaying; a color printing unit for determining a print color of the print data based on the color designation; and a color printing unit for color printing the print data based on the print color. The display means changes the display pattern of the print data on the display screen according to the type of the print color.

In this color printing apparatus, the color of the print data can be designated, and the display pattern of the print data is changed in accordance with the print color determined by the color designation, so that a monochrome display or the like can be made for cost reduction. Even when only the screen is mounted, the print color specified by the display pattern can be clearly recognized. As a result, it is possible to provide a color printing apparatus that is small in size and low in price, but is easy to use.

In the color printing apparatus of the eleventh aspect, it is preferable that the change of the display pattern of the print data includes a change of character decoration of the print data.

In this color printing apparatus, since the printing color is displayed according to the type of character modification such as shading and font, the control is easier and the designated color can be distinguished by changing the gradation of the color and displaying. Easy to do. That is, since the character decoration for the print data is changed according to the specified print color type, the display pattern can be easily changed.
The specified print color can be easily and clearly visible.

In the color printing apparatus of the twelfth aspect, it is preferable that the modification of the character modification is a modification of the type of shading.

In this color printing apparatus, since the printing color is displayed by the type of shading, it is possible to easily change the display pattern of the printing data according to the printing color, so that the designated printing color can be visually recognized easily and clearly. .

In the color printing apparatus of the twelfth aspect, the change in the character decoration is a change in the type of font.
preferable.

In this color printing apparatus, since the printing color is displayed according to the type of font, the display pattern of the print data can be easily changed depending on the printing color, and thus the designated printing color can be visually recognized easily.

In the color printing apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 14, the display means can classify the print color types of the print data into a plurality of groups and display them in a display pattern indicating the groups. ,preferable.

In this color printing apparatus, the print color types of the print data are classified into a plurality of groups and displayed in a display pattern indicating the groups, so that a larger number of print colors can be simplified and displayed. can do. Further, for example, by using a reference table including a matrix in which a row direction is a shaded group and a column direction is a font group, etc., various printing colors are classified on the matrix, and the shaded letters and the fonts are classified. It is possible to use various combinations of character modifications such as displaying the printing color in combination.

Next, as a combination of the respective aspects of the present invention, first, the color printing apparatus according to claim 16 is the color printing apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 15, wherein the print data input means specifies the color. A plurality of color designating keys for determining the color designated by the single color designating key as the printing color when a single color designating key is operated. On the other hand, when a plurality of the color designating keys are operated, an intermediate color of each color designated by each operated color designating key is determined as the printing color.

This color printing apparatus can have the advantages of the color printing apparatus according to claim 1 in addition to the advantages of the color printing apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 15 described above.

A color printing apparatus according to a seventeenth aspect is the color printing apparatus according to any one of the sixteenth to sixteenth aspects, wherein the print data input means uses the character of a character portion of the print data as the color designation. It is characterized in that the color and the background color of the background portion can be designated independently of each other.

In this color printing apparatus, not only the character color but also the background color can be designated, so that in addition to the advantages of the color printing apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 16 described above, a color having various vivid color arrangements can be used. Can print.

The color printing apparatus of claim 18 is the same as that of claim 1.
In any one of the color printers 1 to 17, the printing object is a tape-shaped recording medium.

In this color printing apparatus, the object to be printed is a tape-shaped recording medium, so that, for example, a label or the like is produced while maintaining the same advantages as those of the color printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 17. Can be applied as a color printing device for tape printing.

[0042]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Prior to the description of each embodiment, a configuration of a mechanical portion common to a color printing apparatus according to each embodiment will be described. This will be described with reference to FIGS.

(Overall Structure) The ink jet printer of the present embodiment is provided with a tape cartridge mounting portion in which a tape-shaped recording medium is stored in a rolled-up state, and a tape fed from the tape cartridge mounted here. This is a type in which color printing is performed on a flat recording medium using an inkjet head. In particular, the printer of this example
This type is called a label printer, a label word processor, or the like that prints on the surface of a tape-shaped recording medium having an adhesive layer covered with a release paper on the back side.

FIG. 1 shows an ink jet printer 1 of this example.
The external appearance of (color printing apparatus) is shown. As shown in FIG. 1, the inkjet printer 1 has a main body casing 101 having a thin rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, and a front half of the upper surface thereof serves as a keyboard input unit 102. Various keys including a print button 103 and a power button 104 for instructing a printing operation are arranged on the keyboard input unit 102.

In the keyboard input section 102, in addition to keys for inputting print data such as character information to be printed, as shown in FIG. 2, a color for designating a color when print data is printed. A designation key 102C and a color setting key 102A are included. The color designation key 102C includes a red designation key 102R for designating a red color, a yellow designation key 102K for designating a yellow color, and a green designation key 102 similarly.
This includes G, blue designation key 102B, purple designation key 102P, black designation key 102D, and white designation key 102W.

In this example, the background color and the character color can be designated as the colors for printing the print data, and the color setting key 102A is used to switch to the mode for designating the character color. Character color designation key 10
2X, a background color designation key 102Y for switching to a mode for designating a background color, and a color designation confirmation key 102Z for confirming the designated color.

Further, in this example, as can be seen from FIG.
A liquid crystal display unit 17 for displaying character information and the like input through the keys of the keyboard input unit 102 is arranged on the rear side of the upper surface of the casing 101.

On the other hand, the rear end surface 1 of the main body casing 101
01a has a tape outlet 10 at the center position on the upper end side.
1b is formed, and the tape-shaped recording medium (hereinafter abbreviated as “tape”) T after printing is ejected to the outside through this. An opening / closing lid 105 is attached to the lower side of the discharge port 101b. This lid 1
When 05 is opened, the mounting portion 4 of the tape cartridge 3 described later is formed. Therefore, the tape cartridge 3 can be replaced by opening the lid 105.
At the center of the upper surface of the main casing 101, an opening / closing lid 106 for replacing an ink cartridge 8 described later is arranged.

Inside the main body casing 101, a power source unit, a battery such as a nickel cadmium battery, and the like (not shown) are mounted in the front portion where the keyboard input section 102 is located. Further, the printer unit 2 shown in FIG. 3 is configured in the rear portion.

(Drive Mechanism Unit of Printer 2) FIG. 3
As shown in, the printer unit 2 of this example prints on the cartridge mounting unit 4 in which the tape cartridge 3 as the supply source of the tape T is removably mounted, and the tape T fed from the cartridge 3 mounted here. An inkjet head 7 for performing the above, an ink cartridge 8 that is detachably mounted to supply ink to the inkjet head 7, and a carriage 9 that reciprocates the inkjet head 7 in the width direction of the tape T. . An ink cartridge mounting portion 901 for detachably mounting the ink cartridge 8 is formed on the carriage 9. Further, a head cap mechanism 11 is provided which closes the ink nozzles of the inkjet head 7 and performs a cleaning process and the like by a pump motor 111 (see FIG. 6) as necessary.

Explaining each part in detail, the drive mechanism unit 2 is a base 21 for mounting the above-mentioned respective parts.
The base 21 is formed with a right side wall 22 and a left side wall 23 which are vertically raised. Right side wall 22
A motor mounting plate (not shown) extends horizontally in the upper part of the carriage, and a carriage motor (hereinafter abbreviated as "CR motor") 91 is mounted on the motor mounting plate. This CR
The output shaft of the motor 91 extends downward, and a pulley 92 is fixed to the lower end of the output shaft. On the opposite side of the left side wall 23, a tension pulley (not shown) is rotatably supported at the tip of a tension lever 93 supported on the base. A timing belt 95 is stretched between these pulleys in a constant tension.
The timing belt 95 is connected to the upper side of the carriage 9 on which the inkjet head 7 is mounted. The lower side of the carriage 9 is movably supported in the axial direction by a carriage guide shaft 97 spanning between the left and right side walls 22 and 23.

The drive mechanism of the carriage 9 is constructed as described above, and by driving the CR motor 91,
The carriage 9 connected to the timing belt 95 reciprocates linearly in the width direction of the tape T. Therefore,
The inkjet head 7 mounted there moves linearly in the width direction. Therefore, by driving the inkjet head 7 in synchronism with this movement, desired printing can be formed on the surface of the transported tape T.

The ink cartridge 8 detachably mounted on the ink cartridge mounting portion 901 of the carriage 9 includes, for example, three ink tanks 83 (83-1, 8).
3-2, 83-3), and yellow,
Cyan and magenta inks are stored. Therefore, the ink jet head 7 also has ink nozzles (not shown) corresponding to each color.

(Ink Supply Mechanism Between Inkjet Head 7 and Ink Cartridge 8) FIG. 4 shows only the inkjet head 7 mounted on the carriage 9 and the ink cartridge 8 connected to the back side of the inkjet head 7. It is taken out and shown.

The ink jet head 7 is provided with a head case 701 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, and a front wall portion of the head body 702 is formed by a semiconductor manufacturing technique. The head body 702 has a large number of ink nozzles (see FIG. (Not shown) are formed, and ink droplets are ejected from these nozzles. A connection portion 703 connected to the ink cartridge 8 side is formed on the back surface side of the head case 701. The connecting portion 703 has a concave portion 705 surrounded by a peripheral wall 704 that is curved in a semicircular shape on both left and right sides, and an ink introducing portion for introducing each color ink into the ink jet head is provided on the bottom surface of the concave portion 705. The constituting needle-like protrusions 706 (706-1, 706-2, 706-3) are projected. A cylindrical ink filter cartridge 707 is detachably attached to the outer periphery of each needle-like protrusion 706.

On the other hand, on the ink cartridge 8 side, three vertically long ink tanks 83 (83-1,
83-2, 83-3) are laterally connected. Circular ink supply ports 831 are opened below the front wall of the ink cartridge 8. When the ink supply port 831 is inserted into the recess 705 on the side of the inkjet head 7, the ink filter cartridge 707 mounted on the three needle-like protrusions 706 protruding from the recess 705 is inserted into the ink tank from the ink supply port 831. It is inserted inside 83. In this state,
The ink of each color stored in each ink tank 83
The ink is supplied to the inkjet head 7 side via the ink filter cartridge 707 inserted into the ink supply port 831 and the needle-like protrusion 706 inside thereof.

The head case 701 of the ink jet head 7 is formed with mounting portions 708 on the left and right sides for attaching to the carriage 9, and these portions are fixed to the side of the carriage 9 by screwing or the like. . Further, as shown by an imaginary line, a flexible cable 709 for wiring is arranged inside the head case 701 through a slit 701a opened on the back surface thereof.
In the head case 701, the cable 709 is connected to the main body of the inkjet head 7 on the front side, and the other end side is connected to the drive circuit (see FIG. 6) side of the inkjet head 7 (not shown). This cable 70
The inkjet head 7 is electrically driven via 9 to perform an ink ejection operation.

(Tape Cartridge 3 and Its Mounting Part 4) The structures of the tape cartridge 3 and its mounting part 4 of this example will be described. FIG. 5 shows a sectional structure of the tape cartridge 3. The tape cartridge 3 of this example has a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped cartridge case 31, and in this internal space 32, a tape roll 33 around which the tape T is wound is arranged at the center. The middle part of the front wall 34 of the cartridge case 31 in the vertical direction is arranged to face the ink nozzles of the inkjet head 7 in the mounted state.

This front wall portion 34A defines a guide member that defines the printing position of the ink jet head 7 (in the following,
It is simply called "paper guide". ), And the tape T is transported along this surface. The upper guide wall 35 is provided above and below the front wall portion 34A at regular intervals from the surface thereof.
Also, the lower guide wall 36 is formed integrally with the cartridge case 31, and a conveyance path for the recording medium is defined between these and the front wall portion 34A. The opening 35A between the upper and lower guide walls 35 and 36 is a printing opening for allowing ink droplets ejected from the inkjet head 7 side to pass to the tape T side.

Below the front wall 34, a feeding port 37 for feeding the tape T is formed. A pair of left and right tape pressing rollers 38 are arranged inside the feeding port 37. These rollers 38 are pressed toward the delivery port 37 by a leaf spring 41 attached inside the case 31. Further, these rollers 38 are supported on the case 31 side in such a state that they can be pushed inward from the feeding port 37 by a certain distance against the spring force of the leaf spring 41. In the initial state, the tip of the tape T is held by being held by the spring force between the edge of the feeding port 37 and the outer peripheral surface of the roller 38.

On the other hand, the front wall portion 34A of the case, which functions as a paper guide, has ink recovery windows 42 on its left and right sides. Inside the case front wall portion 34A, the case inner wall 43
The waste ink collecting section 44 is partitioned and formed, and the ink absorbing material 45 is filled therein. A part of the ink absorbing material 45 is exposed from the pair of recovery windows 42 to the inkjet head 7 side.

Next, in the tape cartridge 3 of this example, the following structure is adopted so that the feeding and feeding operation of the tape T can be always performed in an appropriate state.
That is, the entrainment prevention guide plates 46 are attached to the outsides of the pressing rollers 38 arranged on the left and right of the tape feeding port 37, respectively. The entrainment prevention guide plate 46 is a plastic thin plate, and the upper end side thereof is fixed to the lower end surface of the front wall portion 34A, and the delivery port 37 is provided.
And the pressing roller 38 is closed, and extends downward. Then, the lower end side thereof is curved toward the inside of the cartridge case so as not to interfere with the tape T fed from the feeding port 37.

In the tape cartridge 3 of this embodiment, the guide auxiliary plate 4 is provided inside the lower guide wall 36 formed in the lower portion of the front wall portion 34A which functions as a paper guide.
7 is attached. The lower end side of the guide auxiliary plate 47 spreads away from the wall wall portion 34A, and gradually approaches the front wall portion 34A side toward the upper end side.
By disposing such a guide assist plate 47, the tape T fed from the tape cartridge 3 is reliably guided toward the printing position.

At least two positioning pins (not shown) are attached to the lower side of the front wall of the mounting portion 4 on the printer main body side where the tape cartridge 3 having the above-described configuration is mounted, in FIG. Therefore, the mounting position of the tape cartridge 3 is regulated. A feed roller 61 is arranged above these pins. The feed roller 61 is rotatably provided between the left and right side walls 22 and 23.

On the other hand, the tape T transport mechanism of the present example including the feed roller 61 has a paper feed motor (hereinafter referred to as "PF motor") 62 mounted on the left side wall 23 of the drive mechanism unit and its output. A reduction gear train 63 that transmits to the feed roller 61 is provided. The reduction gear train 63 is rotatably supported on the outer surface of the left side wall 23. The tape T transported by the feed roller 61 is transported upward along the paper guide defined by the front wall portion 34A of the tape cartridge 3, and is moved by the inkjet head 7 at the middle printing position of the front wall portion 34A. Printing is performed. The portion of the tape T after printing is conveyed along a conveying passage between the front wall portion 34A and the upper guide wall 35, and is conveyed by a pair of guide plates 54 and 55 extending obliquely rearward from the upper end thereof. After passing through the passage, the tape is ejected from the tape ejection opening 101b opened on the rear side of the main body case by the ejection roller 56.

(Structure of Control System) With reference to FIG. 6, the basic structure of the control system in the ink jet printer 1 of this embodiment will be described. The control system basically includes a control unit 200, a keyboard input unit 102, a printer drive circuit 280, and a liquid crystal drive circuit 290.

Keyboard input section (print data input means)
As described above with reference to FIG. 2, reference numeral 102 denotes print data such as characters and symbols, as well as a color designation key 102C and a color setting key 102A.
By key input of, the color designation data of the character color and the background color as the print color when printing the print data is input to the control unit 200. Further, the printer drive circuit 280 is
A head drive circuit 281 that drives the ink head 7 of the printer unit 2 and a motor drive circuit 282 that drives the CR motor 91, the PF motor 62, and the pump motor 111 are provided, and based on a control signal output from the control unit 200,
According to the instruction, each unit in the printer unit 2 is controlled. Similarly, the liquid crystal drive circuit 290 controls the liquid crystal display unit (display unit) 17 according to an instruction from the control unit 200.

The control unit 200 includes a one-chip microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as "CPU") 210, a ROM 22.
0, static RAM 230, dynamic RAM 2
40, an input interface 250, and an output interface 260, which are connected to each other by an internal bus 270.

The ROM 220 includes a color conversion table 221 to be described later, in addition to the control program processed by the CPU 210 and the like.
And a character decoration table 222 and the like are stored. The static RAM 230 stores the data input from the keyboard input unit 102 as text data,
Used as a work area for control processing. The static RAM 230 is supplied with power by a backup circuit (not shown) so as to retain stored data even when the power is turned off by operating the power button 104. Dynamic RAM 240
Is a buffer for temporarily storing the result input from the keyboard input unit 102 as print data or display data. The display buffer 241 and the color conversion buffer 2
42, a dot development buffer 243, various conversion buffers 244, and the like.

The input interface 250 is connected to the keyboard input section 102, and the keyboard input section 1
02 is a circuit for fetching the input data from the internal bus 270, and the output interface 260 is a CPU
Data or control signals output from the 210 or the like to the internal bus 270 are transferred to the printer drive circuit 280 or the liquid crystal drive circuit 290.
Circuit.

With the above-mentioned configuration, the CPU 210 has the keyboard input unit 102 via the input interface 250 according to the control program in the ROM 220.
Print data, color specification data, etc. input from
Static RAM 230 and dynamic RAM 240
Of the inkjet printer 1 by processing the data and the like and outputting a control signal to the printer drive circuit 280 and the liquid crystal drive circuit 290 via the output interface 260 so that color printing is performed on the tape T under predetermined printing conditions.
You are in control.

[Embodiment 1] In the ink jet printer 1 configured as described above, the present embodiment is characterized in that the color for printing the print data is designated.
In order to carry out this designation method, in this example, the color conversion table 221 for converting into the print color data based on the color designation data from the keyboard input unit 102 is stored in the ROM 220. The color conversion table 221 includes color mixing data corresponding to the hue circle shown in FIG. 7 and a brightness conversion table for changing the brightness.

In the ink jet printer 1 of this example, by referring to the color conversion table 221, when a plurality of color designation keys 102C are operated, the colors corresponding to the operated keys are mixed according to the hue circle. Then, the intermediate color between them is obtained and determined as the color when printing the print data. Further, when the white designation key 102W or the black designation key 102D is operated together with the other color designation keys 102C, the brightness of the color when printing the print data is changed.

The print color determination process, which is a feature of this example, will be described below with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure,
When any one of the color setting keys 102A, that is, any of the character color designating key 102X, the background color designating key 102Y, and the color designation confirming key 102Z is keyed, a print color determination process is performed by a color setting interrupt (S1). Is started.

When the print color determination process (S1) is started,
First, it is determined whether or not the character color designation key 102X (S1
1) When the character color designation key 102X is pressed (S11: Yes), the mode for designating the character color is set (S12). If it is not the character color designation key 102X (S11: No), then the background color designation key 1
It is determined whether or not it is 02Y (S13), and the background color designation key 1
When 02Y is keyed in (S13: Yes),
Next, the mode for designating the background color is set (S14).
Hereinafter, a series of processes from the activation by the above-described color designating interrupt or the like will be referred to as “color designation mode setting” (corresponding to ST11 in FIG. 8), and detailed internal processes will be omitted.

When the color designation mode setting (ST11) is completed, it is next determined whether or not the color designation determination key 102Z has been input (S15), and the color designation determination key 102Z has not been input (S15: No). Until it is entered (S
15: Wait until it becomes Yes).

Here, for example, print color determination processing (S1)
Is activated by the input of the color designation confirmation key 102Z (such as an interrupt generated by the key input of the color designation confirmation key 102Z), it is determined that the input has been made (S1).
5: Yes), so that the next processing is immediately started.
In this case, the color specification mode remains the mode that was previously set, so if the character color specification mode was previously set, it remains the character color specification mode, and if the background color was specified previously, the background color specification With the mode kept, the next process is performed.

On the other hand, when the print color determination process (S1) is started by the input of the character color designation key 102X or the background color designation key 102Y, the key designation decision key 102Z is awaited after each color designation mode is set. It will be. Hereinafter, this process will be described as “waiting for a confirmation key” (corresponding to ST12 in FIG. 8), omitting internal determination branches and the like.

When the confirmation key waiting (ST12) is completed,
Next, when the color designation determination key 102Z is pressed, the type of the color designation key 102C that is being pressed simultaneously is detected (S1).
6) Next, the intermediate color or the like is calculated (S17), the designated color is determined (S18), and then the process (S1) is ended (S1).
9). Hereinafter, these processes will be referred to as “color designation key detection” (see FIG. 8).
(ST13 equivalent), and “Specified color confirmation” (ST in FIG. 8)
14) and will be omitted.

The print color determination process (S1) shown in FIG. 8 is summarized as follows. After the print data including the character information to be printed is input from the keyboard input unit 102, when the character color designation key 102X is keyed, the character color designation mode is set, and when the background color designation key 102Y is keyed. Background color designation mode is set (ST
After 11), the process waits until the color designation confirming key 102Z is pressed (ST12). After that, the color designation confirmation key 10
When 2Z is pressed, which color specifying key 102C is pressed is detected (ST13), and the specified color is confirmed (S).
T14).

For example, after pressing the character color designation key 102X, one of the color designation keys 102C and the color designation determination key 1 are pressed.
When 02Z and 02Z are pressed simultaneously, the color designation key 102C (type thereof) is detected (ST13), and the character color for printing the print data input this time is determined (ST14). At this time, if the color designation determination key 102Z is pressed while pressing two color designation keys 102C at the same time (for example, the yellow designation key 102K and the green designation key 102G at the same time), the intermediate color (yellow green) corresponding to these keys is displayed. Confirm as text color.

Similarly, after pressing the background color designation key 102Y, which one of the color designation keys 102C and the enter key 102Z is pressed.
By pressing and at the same time, the color designation is detected (ST1
3) The background color when printing the print data input this time is determined (ST14). Also at this time, the color designation key 10
2C at the same time (for example, the white designation key 102W and the black designation key 102D are simultaneously pressed) and the enter key 102
When Z is pressed, the intermediate color (gray) corresponding to these keys is set as the background color.

Further, when the decision key 102Z is pressed while simultaneously pressing the white designation key 102W and the yellow designation key 102K, the printing color is determined to be bright yellow even if it is the same yellow. In addition, the black designation key 102D and the yellow designation key 102
When the determination key 102Z is pressed while simultaneously pressing K and, the color is determined to be dark yellow.

As described above, the ink jet printer 1 of this embodiment is provided with only the color designation keys 102C for the seven colors that are frequently used, and instead, a plurality of color designation keys 102C can be operated simultaneously. Color specification key 10
Printing is performed with an intermediate color of each color corresponding to 2C. Further, by using the white designation key 102W and the black designation key 102D, it is possible to change the lightness of the color at the time of printing.

Therefore, according to the ink jet printer 1 of this example, although the number of color designation keys 102C is small,
Various colors can be printed by a simple operation of pressing a plurality of color designation keys 102C corresponding to the colors to be mixed, and the usability can be enhanced while the inkjet printer 1 is downsized and the price is reduced. .

Further, since the color designation mode can be selected and set by the character color setting key 102X and the background color setting key 102Y, the character color and the background color can be designated independently. Color printing with vivid and diverse color schemes is now possible.

In the first embodiment, the color designation confirming key 102Z is used for confirming the designated color, but it may also be used as a key having a function of confirming the input print data. . Further, it is also possible to make selection input such as switching between the character color designation and the background color designation by turning on / off one setting key. Further, the color specifying key 102C and the color setting key 102A may be operated as a character key or the like by operating in combination with a function key such as a shift key, as in a normal keyboard. Further, the color designation key 102C may be omitted by providing the color designation key 102C and the color setting key 102A with the function of confirming immediately after the input. In these cases, the keyboard input unit 102 with fewer keys can be used as a whole.

In the first embodiment, the print process determination process is described as an interrupt process such as a color setting interrupt.
Color setting key 102C or color setting key 10 in loop processing
It goes without saying that it is also possible to prepare it as a processing program for waiting for the input of 2A, and periodically start it by multitask management or operate it in a time-sharing manner.

In the first embodiment, until the designated color is determined and thereafter, on the liquid crystal display unit 17,
In addition to the input print data, the designated result as the print color can be displayed together. When such a display is performed, when the liquid crystal display unit 17 has a color display screen, the print data may be displayed in a predetermined character color and background color on this color display screen.

When a monochrome display screen or a display screen whose color is difficult to discriminate is used in order to keep the price low, as described in detail in the second embodiment, the print color (character color) of the print data is changed. (Or a background color) may be displayed on the display screen in characters, and the color is displayed by changing the display pattern of the print data according to the type of print color, as described in detail in the third embodiment. You may.

[Modification 1 of Embodiment 1] As a method of specifying the intermediate color when printing the print data, in Embodiment 1, the decision key 102Z is pressed while simultaneously pressing a plurality of color specifying keys 102C. However, after pressing a plurality of color designation keys 102C at the same time, the enter key 1
The color may be fixed when 02Z is pressed.

The print color determination process in such a case will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 7A, first, after the print data is input from the keyboard input unit 102 and the character color designation key 102X or the background color designation key 102Y is pressed, the color designation mode setting is performed (S).
T21). After that, which color designation key 102C is pressed is scanned (ST22), and the color designation determination key 10 is pressed.
Wait until 2Z is pressed (ST23).

Meanwhile, each time the state of the color designation key 102C changes, the corresponding color is obtained (ST22). In this case, for example, by also registering the color designation key 102C as a factor of the above-mentioned color setting interrupt, the color designation key 10C
Every time either 2C is pressed, the print color determination process is restarted, and the character color designation key 102X and the background color designation key 10 are pressed.
It is determined that it is not 2Y (ST21: ST11 in FIG. 8).
), The color setting key 102C with the mode set previously.
Scan & type detection (ST22).

In the above state, for example, FIG.
As shown in, if the yellow designation key 102K is pressed first, the color at the time of printing the print data is temporarily set to be yellow.
If is not pressed, the color is not fixed. Therefore, the second
Next, when the yellow designation key 102K and the green designation key 102G are pressed at the same time, yellow is temporarily set instead of yellow. After that, if the color designation key 102C is not pressed (third), yellow green is temporarily set until the color designation determination key 102Z is pressed, but the black designation key 102D is pressed fourth. Sometimes, black is temporarily set instead of yellow-green.

Similarly, when the fifth black designation key 102D and the white designation key 102W are simultaneously pressed, gray is temporarily set, and gray is temporarily set until the color designation determination key 102Z is pressed ( (6th) and when the 7th color designation confirming key 102Z is pressed, the last obtained color (gray) is confirmed as the color for printing the print data (ST24).

In the ink jet printer 1 thus constructed, in addition to the effect obtained in the first embodiment, since it is not necessary to press the color designation key 102C and the color designation determination key 102Z at the same time, they can be placed at positions distant from each other. Also has the advantage of being easy to operate. Further, since the print color is obtained from the designated color by the last (final) operation of the color designation key before operating the color designation determination key 102Z, printing can be performed repeatedly until the color designation determination key 102Z is operated. You can redo the color specification. That is, even if the color designation fails due to an erroneous operation or the like, the color designation can be immediately and easily performed again.

In addition, for example, a second embodiment and a third embodiment described later.
Similar to the above, if there is a display means for displaying the designated color, the designated color can be confirmed after confirming the designated color, and if the user does not like it, the designation can be redesigned. In addition,
When a plurality of color designating keys 102C are operated at the time of the final operation (for example, like the above-described fifth black designating key and white designating key are pressed simultaneously), the designated color in the middle is confirmed. If it is not necessary, the timing of obtaining the intermediate color at that time may be immediately after operating the color designation confirming key, or may be obtained in advance at each operation and obtained at the last operation as in the first modification. The intermediate color may be confirmed when the color designation confirming key 102Z is operated.

[Modification 2 of Embodiment 1] Each time the color designation key 102C is pressed, the colors are mixed, and the color designation determination key 1
When 02Z is pressed, an intermediate color obtained by mixing each color corresponding to the color specifying key 102C pressed before the color specifying confirming key 102Z is pressed can be confirmed as the print color of the print data.

The print color determination process in such a case will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 9A, in the second modification, similarly to the first modification, after the color designation mode is set (ST31), which color designation key 102C is pressed is scanned. (ST32),
Wait until the color designation confirmation key 102Z is pressed (ST
33) scans which color designation key 102C is pressed until the color designation determination key 102Z is pressed, and the color corresponding to the color designation key 102C pressed this time is pressed until the last time. The color is mixed with the color by the color designation key 102C (ST32).

For example, as shown in FIG. 9B, if the yellow designation key 102K is pressed first, the color at which the print data is printed is set to be yellow. When the second green designation key 102G is pressed, yellow green is temporarily set instead of yellow. When the third white designation key 102W is pressed, a yellowish green color that is brighter than the standard yellowish green color that has been temporarily set so far is temporarily set (ST32, ST33). Then, subsequently, when the fourth color designation confirming key 102Z is pressed, the color when printing the print data is confirmed to be bright yellow-green (ST34).

In the ink jet printer 1 thus constructed, the print color is obtained by accumulating and mixing the designated colors by the operation of the color designation key 102C before operating the color designation determination key 102Z. The necessary color designation key 102C may be operated. That is, since it is not necessary to simultaneously operate the plurality of color designation keys 102C and the color confirmation key 102Z, in addition to the effect obtained in the first embodiment,
There is an advantage that the keys can be easily operated even if they are separated from each other.

Further, for example, a second embodiment and a third embodiment which will be described later.
Similar to the above, if there is a display means or the like for displaying the intermediate color of the mixed color, by accumulating and mixing the designated colors required while checking it, after adjusting the intermediate color arbitrarily,
The intermediate color can be determined, and the print color can be determined based on the intermediate color. If it is not necessary to confirm the intermediate color of the intermediate result, the timing of obtaining the intermediate color of each of these designated colors may be immediately after the color designation determination key is operated. That is, it is also possible to accumulate and store the colors designated by the operated color designation keys and obtain all the intermediate colors after the color designation confirmation key is operated.

[Embodiment 2] In the ink jet printer 1 constructed as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, in this embodiment, the liquid crystal display section 17 has only a monochrome display screen and cannot perform color display, but print data is printed. It is characterized in that when a color to be used is designated, the designated color type is displayed as characters on the monochrome display screen.

In order to perform such a display method, in this example, as shown in FIG. 11A, the print data display area 170 for three lines is displayed on the monochrome display screen of the liquid crystal display unit 17.
Is set, and in the same line as each of these print data display areas, a line-by-line print color display area 171 for displaying the type of background color when printing the print data displayed in this row is displayed. It is set for three lines.

Here, when the background color of each print data is switched within one line, the line-by-line print color display area 171 corresponding to this print data has a background color instead of the type of the background color at the time of printing. The number of colors can be displayed. However, in such a case, since it is not known how to switch, the line below the print data display area 170 has a background color type when printing the print data of the line designated by the cursor. A cursor designated line print color display area 172 capable of displaying characters is set.

This cursor line print color display area 172 is
By performing the specified key operation, the non-display mode, the cursor-specified line background color display mode for displaying the background color pattern of the entire line specified by the cursor, and the character color pattern of the entire line specified by the cursor are displayed. To switch to the cursor specified line character color display mode, and when the cursor specified line character color display mode is selected,
In the cursor designated line print color display area 172, a character color pattern that is switched when printing the print data of the line designated by the cursor is displayed.

In the line below the line-by-line print color display area 171, a cursor position print color display area 173 for displaying the character color type when printing the character on which the cursor is located is set. There is.

The display processing performed on the above monochrome display screen will be described below with reference to FIG. Note that the process described below is a simple process performed using the CPU, and therefore, of the display process performed in the device having a general display screen, only the part related to the present embodiment is extracted. , And the detailed flow is omitted, and a conceptual operation will be described.

First, as for the display processing for the print color display area 171 for each line, as shown in FIG. 9A, for each line on the display screen (of the liquid crystal display unit 17), the line After confirming whether it is the line (ST41), the number of background colors used in the line is confirmed (ST42).

If it is determined that the background color is one color, the type of the color is displayed in characters in the line-by-line print color display area 171 on the same line. For example, in FIG. 11 (A), the background color of all the lines of the print data “AIUEO AIUEO” displayed on the first line of the print data display region 170 is printed in red, and the third line of the print data display region 170 is printed.
When printing all the background colors for one line of the print data "Sashisuseso Sasashi" displayed on the line in yellow, the characters "red" and "yellow" are displayed in the line-by-line print color display area 171 on the same line. Is displayed.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the background colors are two or more colors, the line-by-line print color display area 17 on the same line is displayed.
The number of that color is displayed in 1 (ST44). For example, FIG.
In 1 (A), the background color of the print data “Kakikukeko” for the first five characters of the print data “Kakikuke Kakikuko” displayed on the second line of the print data display area 170 is printed in blue. If the background color of the print data "Kakikukeko" for the next 5 characters is to be printed in green, it will be switched to 2 colors in the same line, and the line-by-line print color display on the same line will be displayed. In the area 171, the number "2"
Is displayed.

Next, the cursor position print color display area 173
As for the display process for (1), as shown in FIG. 12 (B), the color for printing the character corresponding to the cursor position is obtained (ST51), and the color of this character is displayed in the cursor position print color display area 173 ( ST52). For example, FIG.
In FIG. 1 (A), when printing the print data “SI” where the cursor is located in black out of the print data “Sasushise Sasashi” displayed in the third line of the print data display area 170, the cursor position print color display area At 173, the character “black” is displayed.

In addition, the cursor designated line print color display area 17
As for the display processing for 2, as shown in FIG. 12C, first, it is determined which one of the non-display mode, the cursor designated line background color display mode, and the cursor designated line character color display mode. (ST61). here,
When the non-display mode is set, FIG.
As shown in, nothing is displayed in the cursor line print color display area 172 (ST62).

On the other hand, when the cursor designated line background color display mode is set (ST61) and the cursor is on the second line of the print data display area 170 as shown in FIG. 11B, Will print the background color of "Kakikukeko" for the first five characters in blue, and the background color of "Kakikukeko" for the next five characters in green. In the display area 172, a boundary line 174 consisting of a dotted line is displayed at a position corresponding to the position where the color is switched, and in each of the areas partitioned by this, the characters “blue” and “green” are displayed as the background color. Do (S
T63).

If the cursor designated line character color display mode is set and the cursor is on the second line of the print data display area 170 as shown in FIG. 11B, this print data " A character color pattern of "Kaki Kuke Kaki Kukuko" is displayed (ST64). Where, for example,
If the character color of “Kakikukeko” is printed in white and the character color of “Kakikukeko” following it is printed in yellow, the character color is displayed in the cursor designated line print color display area 172. The boundary line 174 is also displayed at the position corresponding to the switching position, and the characters “white” and “yellow” are displayed as the character colors in the respective areas partitioned by the boundary line 174.

As described above, in the ink jet printer 1 of the present embodiment, the character color and the background color can be visually recognized by displaying the color for printing in a predetermined area while displaying a monochrome display screen. Has become. Moreover, since the color designation result is displayed in characters, there is an advantage that the control is easy and the color designation result is easy to understand.

That is, in the ink jet printer 1 to which the above-mentioned display method is applied, the print color is displayed even if only a monochrome display screen or a color display screen whose color is difficult to discriminate is mounted for the purpose of cost reduction. Since the characters are displayed on the screen, the specified print color can be clearly seen. As a result, it is possible to provide a color printing apparatus that is small in size and low in price, but is easy to use.

Further, in the ink jet printer 1 of this example, the print color (background color) of each line is displayed in the line-by-line print color display area 171. Therefore, even when the print data spans a plurality of lines, The print color of can be clearly seen, and it is also easy to use. Further, when the print color is switched in the middle of one line of print data, the number is displayed instead of the print color, so that it is possible to easily visually recognize that the print color is switched in the middle.

When the print color of the line designated by the cursor is switched within one line, the position and type of the print color switched are displayed in the cursor designated line print color display area 172. Even if the print color is switched in the middle, the print color of each portion of each line can be easily visually recognized only by moving the cursor between the lines.

The cursor position print color display area 173
Print color (character color) of the print data specified by the cursor on
Since the type is displayed as a character, the print color of each print data can be easily visually recognized only by moving the cursor.

In this example, various methods can be used to specify the color for printing by key operation, but by using the specifying method shown in the first embodiment and its modification. , Color specification key 102
It is possible to specify many intermediate colors while keeping the number of Cs to a necessary minimum. Further, the relationship between the character color display as the print color display and the background color display in the above description may be reversed.
It goes without saying that the application such as changing the combination of the display areas is easy.

[Embodiment 3] In the ink jet printer 1 in which the liquid crystal display unit 17 has only a monochrome display screen,
From the viewpoint of displaying the result of color designation when printing the print data by changing the display pattern on the monochrome display screen, the type of color when printing the print data is displayed. It may be displayed depending on the type of character modification.

For example, in the ink jet printer 1 of the third embodiment, the character decoration table 222 for display is stored in the ROM 220 described above with reference to FIG. First, FIG.
As shown in (A), the print data display area 17 for three lines is formed on the monochrome display screen of the liquid crystal display unit 17.
0, if the background color of the print data "AIUEO AIUEO" displayed on the first line is printed in white, the print data "AIUEO AIUEO" is displayed on a white background on the monochrome display screen.

On the other hand, when the background color of the print data "Sashisuse Sasashi" displayed on the third line is printed in yellow, for example, a rough dot shape is used as a character decoration on the monochrome display screen. The print data "Sashisuseso Sasashi" is displayed on the shaded pattern. In addition, when printing the background color of the print data "Kakikukeko" for five characters from the beginning of the second line in blue, and the background color of the print data "Kakikukeko" for the following five characters in green On the monochrome display screen, for example, print data "Kakikuke" is displayed on a diagonally upward-sloping hatched pattern, and print data "Kakikukeko" is displayed on a diagonally downward-sloping pattern.

In the display processing for performing the above display, FIG.
As shown in (B), first, for each line on the display screen, it is sequentially confirmed what color is the background color when printing the print data of that line (ST71), and this color is referred to as X color. Then, the character decoration pattern corresponding to the X color is read (ST72). Next, after the print data to be displayed and the character modification pattern are combined (ST73), the combined result is displayed on the monochrome display screen (ST74).

As described above, in the ink jet printer 1 of this example, even though it is a monochrome display screen, the type of color at the time of printing and the display pattern at the time of displaying print data on the monochrome display screen are set. Display by changing. Moreover, even if the same display pattern is changed, there are advantages that the control is easier and the color designation result is easier to understand than the method of changing the display gradation and displaying.

That is, in the ink jet printer 1 to which the above-mentioned display method is applied, even if only a monochrome display screen is mounted for cost reduction, the display pattern of the print data is changed according to the print color. Since the color is changed, the print color specified by the display pattern can be clearly seen. As a result, it is possible to provide a color printing apparatus that is small in size and low in price, but is easy to use.

In this color printing apparatus, since the printing color is displayed by the type of shading, it is possible to easily change the display pattern of the printing data according to the printing color, so that the designated printing color can be visually recognized easily and clearly. .

Also in this example, various methods can be used to specify the color for printing by key operation, but the specifying method shown in the first embodiment and its modification is used. Color specification key 10
It is possible to specify many intermediate colors while keeping the number of 2C to the minimum.

Further, in this example, the types of shading are changed for all the colors when printing the print data, but if there are many types of colors when printing, all of them are shaded. Some types cannot be displayed. Therefore, the colors are sensuously or hue-cyclically classified into, for example, five groups of red, yellow, blue, black, and white, and the type of color when printing the print data is displayed as the type of the group to which it belongs. You may. Further, in this example, the case where the background color is displayed on the monochrome display screen has been described as an example.
When the character color is displayed on the monochrome display screen, the type of the color may be displayed in a shaded type. Further, when displaying the print data on the monochrome display screen, the print data may be displayed in a white or polka dot pattern depending on the character color when printing, and both the background color and the character color may be displayed. .

[Modification of Embodiment 3] It should be noted that, in the ink jet printer 1, from the viewpoint of displaying the color when printing the print data according to the type of character modification when the print data is displayed on the monochrome display screen. If
For example, when printing the character color in red, the print data is displayed in italics on the monochrome display screen, and when printing the character color in blue, the print data is displayed as highlighted characters on the monochrome display screen. For example, the type of character color used when printing the print data may be displayed by changing the type of font used when displaying the print data.

That is, in this case, since the print color is displayed according to the type of font, the display pattern of the print data can be easily changed depending on the print color, whereby the designated print color can be visually recognized easily and clearly.

Also in this modified example, if there are many types of colors when printing, all of them cannot be displayed depending on the type of font. Therefore, the colors are sensuously or hue-cyclically classified into, for example, five groups of red, yellow, blue, black, and white, and the type of color when printing the print data is displayed as the type of the group to which it belongs. May be. Further, in this example, the case where the character color is displayed on the monochrome display screen has been described as an example, but when the background color is displayed on the monochrome display screen, the type of the color may be displayed by the type of font. . Further, both the character color and the background color may be displayed by using the shading described in the third embodiment.

Further, in the above-described third embodiment and its modification, for example, a reference table including a matrix in which the row direction is a mesh group, the column direction is a font group, etc. is used to form a matrix on the matrix. It is possible to apply various combinations of character modifications such as classifying various printing colors and displaying the printing colors by a combination of halftone dots and fonts.

[Other Embodiments] The above embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to an ink jet printer for printing on a tape-shaped recording medium delivered from a tape cartridge. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to other inkjet printers. For example, the present invention can be applied to an ink jet printer having a mounting portion to which a plurality of recording medium cartridges such as postcards that are stored in a stacked state are provided as a recording medium cartridge.

Further, as an ink jet printer to which the present invention is applicable, as in the above example, cyan,
It can be applied even if it is not a type that carries out color printing by mounting ink tanks of three colors of magenta and yellow. For example, it can be applied to an inkjet printer that can mount ink tanks of four or more colors.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the ink jet system, but can be applied to any system such as a sublimation type thermal transfer system in which ink is sublimated by a heating element of a thermal head, a fusion type thermal transfer system, a laser system.

[0138]

As described above, according to the present invention,
First, a large number of colors can be easily specified with a few color specification keys, and secondly, the result of color specification can be visually confirmed even on a monochrome display screen, which reduces the size and size of the color printer. There is an effect that the usability can be improved while aiming at price reduction.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an inkjet printer to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a color designation key and a color setting key of a keyboard input section provided in the printer of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a drive mechanism unit of a printer unit built in the printer of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing only an inkjet head mounted on the printer of FIG. 1 and a removable ink cartridge connected to the inkjet head.

5A and 5B are views showing a tape cartridge of the printer of FIG. 1 and a mounting portion thereof, FIG. 5A being a schematic sectional view thereof, and FIG. 5B being an explanatory view showing a front wall thereof.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system in the inkjet printer of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a hue circle diagram used when forming an intermediate color in the inkjet printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a basic operation for determining a print color in the inkjet printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9A is a view similar to FIG. 8 of the inkjet printer according to Modification 1 of Embodiment 1 of the present invention;
(B) is an explanatory view showing a key operation and a corresponding color state at that time.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 of an inkjet printer according to a second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the colors used for printing are displayed as characters on the monochrome display screen in the inkjet printer according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a basic operation for displaying characters on a monochrome display screen in a printing color in the inkjet printer according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13A is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a printing color is displayed on a monochrome display screen by character modification in the inkjet printer according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is a flow chart which shows basic operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Inkjet printer (color printing device) 2 ... Printer part (color printing means) 3 ... Tape cartridge (cartridge) 17 ... Liquid crystal display part (display means) 102 ... Keyboard input part ( Print data input means) 102C ... color designation key 102A ... color setting key 102Z ... color designation determination key 200 ... control unit (color printing means) 171 ... line-by-line print color display area 172. ..Cursor designated line print color display area 173 ... Cursor position print color display area T ... Tape recording medium

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Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A print data input means for inputting print data and designating a color thereof, a print color of the print data is determined based on the color designation, and the print data is determined based on the print color. A color printing device for performing color printing, wherein the print data inputting means has a plurality of color designating keys for designating the color, and the color printing means is a single When the color designating key is operated, the color designated by the single color designating key is determined as the printing color, and when a plurality of the color designating keys are operated, each operated color designating key is operated. A color printing apparatus, wherein an intermediate color of each color designated by is determined as the printing color. 2. A print data input means for inputting print data and designating a color thereof, a print color of the print data is determined based on the color designation, and the print data is determined based on the print color. A color printing device comprising: a color printing unit for performing color printing, wherein the print data input unit is for designating a plurality of color designating keys for designating the color and timing for determining the print color. A color designation confirming key; and the color printing means, when a single color designation key is operated in any one operation, the color designated by the single color designation key Is determined as the designated color by the operation of that time, and when a plurality of the color designation keys are operated, the intermediate color of each color designated by each operated color designation key is determined by the operation of that time. Determined as specified color, when operating the color designation confirmation key, a color printing apparatus characterized by determining a specified color by the immediately preceding final single operation as the printing color. 3. A print data input unit for inputting print data and designating a color thereof, determining a print color of the print data based on the color designation, and designating the print data based on the print color. A color printing device comprising: a color printing unit for performing color printing, wherein the print data input unit is for designating a plurality of color designating keys for designating the color and timing for determining the print color. A color designation confirming key; and the color printing means, when a single color designation key is operated in any one operation, the color designated by the single color designation key Is determined as the designated color by the operation of that time, and when a plurality of the color designation keys are operated, the intermediate color of each color designated by each operated color designation key is determined by the operation of that time. When the designated color is decided and the color designation confirming key is operated, an intermediate color obtained by accumulating the designated colors by one or a plurality of operations until immediately before is decided as the confirmed printing color. Color printing device. 4. The plurality of color designating keys include a white designating key for designating a white color and a black designating key for designating a black color, and the color printing means sets the white designating key. When the white designation key is operated together with one or more other color designation keys other than the key and the black designation key, the brightness of the printing color by the other color designation key is increased, and the other color designation key is used. And when the black designation key is operated, the brightness of the print color is reduced by the other keys.
The color printing apparatus according to claim 1. 5. The print data input means selects one of a character color designation mode for designating a character color and a background color designation mode for designating a background color as the color designation of the print data. 5. The color printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a color designation mode selection unit for the purpose. 6. A print data input means for inputting print data and designating a color thereof, a display means for displaying the inputted print data on a display screen, and a print data input means for designating the print data based on the color designation. A color printing apparatus comprising: a color printing unit that determines a printing color and color-prints the print data based on the printing color; and the display unit displays the type of the printing color on the display screen. A color printing device characterized by displaying characters on the screen. 7. The display means sets a line-by-line print color display area corresponding to a line on which the print data is displayed on the display screen, and print data of the line is set in the line-by-line print color display area of each line. 7. The color printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the type of the printing color is displayed as a character. 8. The display means, when the print color of the print data is switched in one line, displays the print color in the line-by-line print color display area of the line instead of the type of the print color. The color printing device according to claim 7, wherein the color printing device displays a number. 9. The display means sets a cursor designated line print color display area on the display screen, and when the print color of the line designated by the cursor is switched within one line, the cursor designation is performed. 9. The color printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the line printing color display area displays the position and type of printing color switching of the cursor designated line. 10. The display means sets a cursor position print color display area on the display screen, and displays the print color type of the print data designated by the cursor in the cursor position print color display area in characters. The color printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the color printing apparatus is a color printing apparatus. 11. A print data input means for inputting print data and designating a color thereof, a display means for displaying the inputted print data on a display screen, and a print data of the print data based on the color designation. A color printing apparatus comprising: a color printing unit that determines a printing color and color-prints the print data based on the printing color; and the display unit, according to the type of the printing color, A color printing apparatus characterized by changing a display pattern of the print data on a display screen. 12. The color printing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein changing the display pattern of the print data includes changing the character decoration of the print data. 13. The color printing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the change of the character decoration is a change of a shaded type. 14. The color printing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the change of the character decoration is a change of the type of font. 15. The display device according to claim 11, wherein the display means classifies the print color types of the print data into a plurality of groups and displays them in a display pattern indicating the groups. The color printing device described in. 16. The print data input unit has a plurality of color designating keys for designating the color, and the color printing unit is configured to operate the single color designating key when a single color designating key is operated. While determining the color designated by the color designation key as the print color, when a plurality of the color designation keys are operated, the intermediate color of each color designated by each operated color designation key is determined as the print color. 16. The color printing device according to claim 6, wherein the color printing device is a color printing device. 17. The print data input means is configured to be able to independently specify, as the color designation, a character color of a character portion of the print data and a background color of a background portion thereof. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein
17. The color printing device according to any one of 1 to 16. 18. The color printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing target is a tape-shaped recording medium.