JP2003145895A - Long medium printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a long medium printer, e.g. a tube printer, in which the time required for printing can be calculated and displayed at the time of printing print data generated in units of block. SOLUTION: A section 504 for calculating the time required for printing determines the print length of print data 300 based on block length information set in each block data, and then determines the time required for printing residual print data based on the print length thus determined and the carrying speed of a long medium M. The calculated printing time is displayed at a display section 12 and informed to a user.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a long medium printing apparatus for printing characters or the like on a long medium such as a tube or a tape.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a tube printer which prints characters on a tube is known as the long medium printing apparatus. In this conventional tube printer, as shown in the print image of FIG. 4 (B), the print data divided into block data and stored is printed so as to be continuous in the longitudinal direction of the tube M in block data units. .

Generally, in the printing apparatus, in order to improve the convenience for the user, the time required for printing until the printing of the remaining print data that has not been printed among the print target data is completed is displayed. For example, JP-A-9-240118
Japanese Patent Publication discloses a technique of displaying a printing time required for printing a remaining document on a serial printer and notifying a user of the printing status. This Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-240
According to the invention described in Japanese Patent No. 118, the required printing time T
The following formula T = (time to send out paper) × (number of pages) +
It is calculated by (number of characters to print) x (time to print one character). That is, the total printing time is calculated from the paper feed time and the print execution time calculated from the number of characters.

[0004]

However, the tube printer is a line printer type printer that prints on a tube that is continuously conveyed, and such a line printer type printer continuously prints the tubes ( That is, there is no page break)
Printing and transportation are performed in parallel. Therefore, even if the conventional calculation method of independently calculating the paper feed time and the printing time for printing characters is applied, it is not possible to accurately calculate the required printing time of the line printer. Further, in the tube printer, the length of the print area of each block data (hereinafter, simply referred to as “block”) in the transport direction is not limited to the number of characters, but also the margin length and the character-to-character length (character-to-character pitch). Since it varies according to the setting, the time required for transportation varies even with the same number of characters, and it is not possible to simply calculate the required printing time from the number of characters.From this point as well, the conventional calculation method is applied to the tube printer. It is not possible to accurately calculate the required printing time in.

Further, since the tube printer performs cutting processing at each block end according to the setting, the required printing time greatly changes depending on the presence or absence of this cutting processing.
If the cutting processing time is not taken into consideration, the calculation error becomes large. Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, in the tube printer, not only the length of the block in the transport direction varies according to the block length information such as the number of characters and the margin length, but also the predetermined value is set in advance. Since it can be set in advance, the required printing time changes depending on the set value of the length of each block. Therefore, when the block length is set to a predetermined value, the time required to print the block cannot be calculated correctly unless the set value is taken into consideration.

Particularly in a tube printer, the number of blocks to be printed may be several tens to several hundreds, and when the number is large, it may exceed 1,000. When the number of blocks increases in this way, the error in each block accumulates and the calculation accuracy of the required printing time further deteriorates.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to calculate and display the required printing time when printing the print data divided into block units, and to change the block length or An object of the present invention is to provide a long medium printing device such as a tube printer capable of calculating and displaying a required printing time corresponding to changes in various conditions such as cutting processing.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention conveys a long medium at a predetermined conveying speed in the longitudinal direction thereof, and print data divided into a plurality of block data is converted into block data. In a long medium printing device that prints continuously in the longitudinal direction of the long medium, based on block length information regarding a block length that is the print length in the longitudinal direction of each block data, the entire print data A print length calculation means for calculating a print length, a print required time calculation means for calculating a print required time required to print the remaining print data which has not been printed yet, based on the print length and the transport speed, And a notification unit for notifying the user of the time required for printing.

In a long medium printing device such as a tube printer, a plurality of block data are printed continuously in the longitudinal direction of the long medium, and for each block data, the block data is printed in the longitudinal direction of the printing medium. It has block length information about the block length, which is the length. Therefore, if the print length of the entire print data is calculated based on the block length information of each block data, the time required to print the remaining print data can be obtained based on this print length and the above-described transport speed. . For example, the total print time required to print the print data is calculated by dividing the print length of the entire print data by the transport speed, and the elapsed time from the start of printing is subtracted from this total print time to obtain the remaining print data. The time required for printing can be calculated. As another method of determining the time required for printing the remaining print data, each time block data is printed or cut, the print length of the remaining print data that has not been printed at the time when these processes are completed The time may be recalculated.

The above-mentioned print length of the entire print data is the block length information such as the number of characters, the character size, the character size, the front margin length, the rear margin length, the inter-character length, the set value of the block length, etc. It is obtained by cumulatively adding the block lengths of each block data calculated based on all block data. That is, the length of the printed portion is obtained by multiplying the number of characters by the character size, and the lengths of the margins provided before and after the printed portion are added to the length of this printed portion. ) The block length of one block obtained by adding the inter-character length or the block length of one block set to a fixed value is cumulatively added to all block data of the print data to obtain the print data. The total print length can be calculated.

In the case of calculating the required printing time in the conventional long medium printing apparatus, if blocks of the same size are printed, [time required for carrying one block] ×
The required printing time can be calculated from the [number of blocks]. Further, it is possible to calculate the time required for printing the print data from the total number of characters of the print data. However, in an actual long medium printing device, in addition to the characters for each block, there are margins before and after and between characters, and since the number of characters, the character size, and each margin can be changed, the printing time required for such changes is We must consider the impact. Based on this point of view, the present invention comprises block length information changing means for changing the block length information for each block,
Even if the block length is changed for each block, the print length can be obtained in consideration of the change. That is, in the present invention, the block length of each block is obtained based on the block length information regarding the block length such as the number of characters, the character size, the margin length, the inter-character length, or the block length setting value. Even if the sheath-to-character length changes from block to block, the print length can be accurately obtained, and thus the required printing time can be accurately obtained.

In the long medium printing apparatus according to the present invention, the block length is determined by a free length mode in which the block length varies according to the number of characters in print data, the inter-character length, and the like. It is also possible to perform printing by switching between the two modes of the fixed length mode in which the block length set by is the block length of the block data as it is according to the user's operation. In the calculation method that calculates the required print time only by the number of blocks and characters, it is not possible to switch the mode for determining the block length like this, so it is not possible to calculate the required print time according to the block length setting mode. Although it is impossible, in the present invention, in the free length mode, the block length is calculated based on the information such as the number of characters and the inter-character length, and in the fixed length mode, the input block length is unchanged. By setting the block length of the block, the print length can be obtained according to the difference in the mode, and the required printing time can be calculated accurately.

Further, when the long medium printing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a cutting means for cutting the long medium at the end of the printing area of each block data, the printing required time calculating means requires the cutting. By calculating the time and adding the cutting time to calculate the printing time,
It is possible to obtain the required printing time with high accuracy in consideration of the cutting time.

When the required print time is notified, the user can efficiently determine the work setup by referring to the required print time. Here, if the notifying unit notifies the scheduled printing end time together with the required printing time or instead of the required printing time, it becomes easier for the user to consider the time when the printing is completed. Further, if the notifying unit notifies the total printing time, the user can determine whether or not to execute the printing in consideration of the time required to print all the print data.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (Embodiment 1) Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 indicates that a desired character is printed by cutting and printing a long medium M such as a vinyl chloride tube or label. It is a long medium printing device for obtaining a printed matter of a desired length printed.

The long medium printing apparatus 1 includes conveying rollers 2a and 2b for conveying a long medium M, a platen roller 3, and
And a pinch roller 4. Of these four rollers,
A stepping motor 5 is connected to the conveying roller 2a and the platen roller 3 via a transmission means such as a gear,
When the stepping motor 5 is driven, the transport roller 2a and the platen roller 3 rotate. Conveyor rollers 2a, 2b
Is for the thermal head 6 that prints on the long medium M,
The long medium M is provided on the upstream side of the conveyance path so as to face each other. A long medium M is provided between the two transport rollers 2a and 2b.
When the conveyance roller 2a is rotated by the driving of the stepping motor 5 in the state that the sheet is sandwiched, the long medium M is conveyed to the thermal head 6 side. The platen roller 3 is provided so as to face the thermal head 6, and the pinch roller 4 is provided.
Is provided on the downstream side of the thermal head 6 in the conveyance path of the long medium M and facing the platen roller 3. When the platen roller 3 is rotated by the driving of the stepping motor 5 while the long medium M is sandwiched between the platen roller 3 and the pinch roller 4, the long medium M
The long medium M is conveyed to the cutter 7 side, which is a cutting unit for cutting the. At the time of printing, the thermal head 6 is pressed against the long medium M while sandwiching the ink ribbon of the ink ribbon cassette 8 and the thermal head 6 is heated to melt the ink of the ink ribbon and print characters or the like on the long medium M. To print.

The thermal head 6 and the cutter 7 are connected to a stepping motor 9. By driving the stepping motor 9, the thermal head 6 is brought into contact with or separated from the platen roller 3, or the cutter 7 is operated to cut the long medium M.

Further, the long medium printing apparatus 1 affects the block length such as the number of characters, the character size, the character size, the front margin length, the rear margin length, the inter-character length, and the block length setting value. An input unit 11 for inputting given block length information, various setting conditions such as the number of continuous prints of each block data, the number of repeated prints of the entire print data, setting of full cut processing, setting of half cut processing, and the like. The display unit 12 displays print data input by the user 11, operation instructions to the user, and the like.

Regarding the block for which the continuous printing number is set, the same block is continuously printed the set number of times. For example, when the number of times of continuous printing is set to the block in which the character "A1" is printed, "A1" is set to "A".
1 "is continuously printed n times. Further, the same print data is printed the number of times of repetition for the block for which the number of times of repeated printing is set. That is, A1, A2,
... When the number of times of repeated printing is set for the print data consisting of A10, this entire print data is repeatedly printed m times, and m identical prints are obtained.

Referring to FIG. 2, reference numeral 13 is a control unit provided inside the long medium printing apparatus 1, and the control unit 13 drives the stepping motors 5 and 9 respectively. 18 and the input interface 2
0, and a display control circuit 2 for controlling the display content of the display unit 12.
1 and a thermal head drive circuit 19 for driving the thermal head 6 for printing, and based on data and a control program input from the input unit 11 via the input interface 20, a stepping motor drive circuit 17, 18 and the display control circuit 21 are controlled. The control unit 13 also includes a ROM 1 that stores a print control program and the like.
4, a RAM 15 that stores the data and the like input by the input unit 11, and a CPU that reads and executes the program stored in the ROM 14 to control the entire apparatus.
16 are provided.

The RAM 15 has a print data storage area 201 for storing print data, as shown in FIG.
A work area 202 for storing various setting conditions such as the number of times the print data is repeatedly printed, settings for full cut processing, settings for half cut processing, a print data expansion area 203 for expanding print data, and other areas. Area 204.

FIG. 4A shows a print data storage area 20.
1 shows an example of a storage state of print data in No. 1. As shown in the figure, in the print data storage area 201, the print data 300 input from the input unit 11 is divided into block data and stored. Here, the print data 300 is divided into four block data. That is, the block data 3 of the first block of the long medium M
01 and the block data 3 of the second block of the long medium M
02 and block data 3 of the third block of the long medium M
03 and block data 3 of the fourth block of the long medium M
04 and are divided and stored. That is, the print data 300 is configured as a set of block data 301 to 304.

The block data 301 of the first block is
An information data area 301a that stores the number of characters of its own data and the number of continuous prints is at the beginning, and an attribute data area that subsequently stores attribute data such as character size, margin length, inter-character length, and block length setting values. 301b, a character data area 301c for storing character data, and an end data area 301d indicating the end of the block are arranged at the end. The block data 302 to 304 of the second block to the fourth block also have the same configuration as the block data 301 of the first block. Data indicating the number of characters arranged in the information data area 301a and the attribute data area 301b, the character size, the front margin length, the rear margin length, the inter-character length, the set value of the block length, and the like are included in each block data. The length of the printing area in the longitudinal direction of the medium (in the present specification, this length is simply referred to as “block length”).
It may be called)). Therefore,
In this specification, the set values of the number of characters, the character size, the front margin length, the rear margin length, the inter-character length, and the block length are collectively referred to as “block length information”.

In FIG. 4 (B), the block lengths of the first to third blocks are set to the free length mode, and each block has three blocks.
Input character data of 3 characters, 5 characters, set the 4th block to fixed length mode, and set the block length to the same length as when inputting 3 characters in free length mode. 2 Print data 3 when inputting character data
00 shows a print image. The long medium printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is a free length mode in which the block length is automatically changed according to the number of input characters, character size, front margin length, rear margin length, and inter-character length. And a fixed length mode in which the length of the block is fixed to the set length can be selected. In the initial state, either the free length mode or the fixed length mode is set. In the free length mode, the block length is calculated according to a predetermined rule according to the block length information such as the number of characters, the character size, the front margin length, the rear margin length, the inter-character length, and the block length setting value. . The calculation of the block length in this free length mode will be described later.

On the other hand, in the fixed length mode, the input (set) block length is stored in the attribute data area 301b as a set value of the block length. When the CPU 16 detects the block length setting value data, the CPU 16 processes the block in which the block length setting value data is detected as a fixed length block. That is, when the block length is set in the fixed length mode, characters are appropriately arranged and expanded in the block having the set length. That is, in the fixed length mode, the block length set by the user becomes the expanded image length as it is. Then, the image data thus developed is sent to the thermal head 6 and printed on the long medium M.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the printing function and the required printing time calculating function according to the present embodiment. These functions are realized by a program operating on the CPU 16.

The print condition setting unit 501 acquires and acquires various print conditions such as the number of times of repeated printing of print data input by the user through the input unit 11, setting of full cut processing, setting of half cut processing, and the like. The setting conditions are stored in the work area 202 of the RAM 15. The print data generation unit 502
The RAM 1 stores various data such as character data input by the user operating the input unit 11, length mode setting, and character size.
Print data 300 in the print data storage area 201
(See FIG. 4A). Also, the print data generation unit 502 partially rewrites the print data 301 based on a change instruction signal input via the input interface 20 by the user's operation of the input unit 11, and obtains block length information such as character size. Can be changed.

The required print time calculation unit 504 is based on various data, such as the number of characters, the character size, and the set value of the block length, which affect the print length of the print data 300 stored in the print data storage area 201. , Print data 3
00, the total print length is obtained, and based on this print length and the above-described transport speed, the remaining print data that has not been printed yet out of all print data to be printed (that is, print data 300). Find the time required for printing to complete printing. Specifically, the total print time required to print the print data 300 is calculated, and the timer 506 is calculated.
The time required for printing is obtained by subtracting the elapsed time from the start of printing, which is measured by, from the total printing time.

Here, a method of calculating the total printing time will be described in detail. For the total printing time, the block length of each block data of the print data stored in the print data storage area 201 is cumulatively added to calculate the print length of the print data 300, and this print length is divided by the transport speed. It can be obtained. At this time, with respect to the block for which the continuous print count is set, the block is continuously printed for the set continuous print count, so the block length is cumulatively added for the continuous print count. Here, the print length of the print data means the length in the longitudinal direction of the long medium M of the print area when the print data is printed on the long medium printing device M. Long medium M
Is transported at a substantially constant transport speed in a transport direction parallel to the longitudinal direction, and therefore the speed and the length are determined based on the transport direction length (that is, the print length) of the print area of the print data and the transport speed. The total printing time can be obtained according to a relationship that generally holds between. It should be noted that this printing area also includes a front margin that is arranged in front of the printed portion in the conveying direction, a rear margin that is arranged in the rear of the conveying direction, and a margin portion that is composed of the inter-character length arranged between characters.

The block length is obtained on the basis of the block length information input by the user. For example, in the case of the free length mode, it is obtained by the following (formula 1).

Block length = (character size x number of characters) + front margin length + rear margin length + (length between characters x (number of characters-1)) (Equation 1) On the other hand, fixed length In the case of the mode, the set value of the block length by the user becomes the block length as it is.

By the way, when performing the printing process by the cutter 7, the calculation accuracy is improved by obtaining the total printing time in consideration of the cutting time. The cutter 7 performs full cutting to completely cut the long medium M and half cutting (half cutting) to leave the uncut portion, depending on the setting. RAM15 is used for setting conditions for full cut and half cut (necessity of cutting, etc.).
Are stored in the work area 202. If the user does not change the setting, the setting is to perform both full cut and half cut. In this case, the full cut is executed at the final end of the print data 300, and the half cut is executed between the front end of the print data 300 and each block (that is, at the end of the block data excluding the final end of the print data). . In the work area 202, the print data 30
When the number of repeated prints for 0 is set,
Since the full cut processing is executed every time the entire print data 300 is printed once, the total cut is performed the number of times of repeated printing. For the block of the print data 300 for which the number of continuous prints is set, the same block is printed for the number of continuous prints.
If the all-cutting process is set to “none” in the work area 202, even if the repeated printing is set, the all-cutting in the middle of the print data is not executed and the print data 300
Only the full cut is executed only at the final edge of the print area. If half-cut processing is not set, half-cutting is not executed for each block, and if both are not set, only full-cutting is executed at the end of the print area. Become.

As described above, the required printing time calculation unit 504
Determines the number of full cuts and half cuts based on the setting status of full cut and half cut processing, the number of blocks of print data, the number of continuous prints of blocks, and the number of times of repeated printing of print data. The time required for full cutting can be calculated by multiplying the time required for one cut, and the time required for half cutting can be calculated by multiplying the number of half cuts by the time required for one half cut.

The required printing time calculation unit 504 takes the sum of the time required for the full cutting and the time required for the half cutting thus obtained to obtain the cutting time. If there is no significant difference between the time required for full cutting and the time required for half cutting, the cutting time may be obtained without distinguishing between the time required for full cutting and the time required for half cutting. Further, the required printing time calculation unit 504 improves the calculation accuracy by calculating the total printing time in consideration of the time taken for the last printed block to be conveyed from the thermal head 6 to the cutter 7.

The total printing time described above is expressed by the following equation. Total printing time N = (printing length / conveyance speed + half-cutting time per operation x number of half-cutting + total cutting time per one time x number of total cutting) x number of times of repeated printing + conveyance time between head and cutter However, printing Length = (block length of first block x number of consecutive prints) + (block length of second block x number of consecutive prints)
+ ... (block length of Nth block x number of continuous prints) The block length of each block is as follows. (1) Fixed length mode: Block length = block length setting value (2) Free length mode: Block length = (character size x number of characters n) + front margin length + rear Margin length + Letter length × (Number of characters n−1) In the above calculation of the total printing time, the block length information (that is, the number of characters, the character size, the margin length, the rear margin length, the character spacing) is used. The set value of the block length) is input by the user operating the input unit 11. Values that are not input by the user are calculated using preset initial values.

The display control unit 505 sends the data concerning the required printing time calculated by the required printing time calculating unit 504 to the display control circuit 21. When the data regarding the required printing time is sent, the display control circuit 21 controls the display unit 12 to display the required printing time. Here, the required printing time is displayed on the display unit 12 to notify the user, but the apparatus may be provided with a speaker to notify by voice. Further, the display control unit 505 reads the setting condition from the RAM 15 and displays the setting condition in response to a user request. FIG. 9 shows a display example of this setting condition. FIG. 9 shows the number of repetitions when repeatedly printing to obtain a plurality of copies of the same printed matter, the presence / absence of half-cut (half-cut), and the presence / absence of full-cut. The user refers to this display and changes the setting conditions as necessary.

The expansion unit 507 reads the character data stored in the RAM 15 and stores the read character data in R
The image is expanded (rasterized) in the print data expansion area 203 of the AM 15. At this time, a blank space is inserted before and after the print image of the character data, and a blank space corresponding to the inter-character length is inserted between the character data. Print control unit 50
8 outputs the image data expanded in the print data expansion area 203 of the RAM 15 to the thermal head drive circuit 19 as a print command. In addition, the transport controller 5
Reference numeral 03 controls the stepping motor drive circuit 17 to drive the stepping motor 5 to convey the long medium M in synchronization with printing by the thermal head 6.

Next, the operation of the long medium printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Here, as shown in FIG. 4A, a case where the print data 300 divided into four block data is printed will be described as an example. Also, the initial value of the block length information is
The initial set character size is set to "medium", the front and rear margin lengths are set to 3 mm, the inter-character length is set to 0.1 mm, and the block length set value is set to 0 mm. This initial value can be updated by the user operating the input unit 11.

First, referring to FIG. 6, in S1, the user operates the input unit 11 to input the first character of "456" to be printed in the first block, that is, "4", to the long medium M. Go to S2. In S2, first,
Print data storage area 2 by print data generation unit 502
01 to the information data storage area 301a of the first block,
Attribute data storage area 301b, character data area 301
c and the end data area 301d are created. Then, in the information data storage area 301a, the number of characters is set to "1" and the number of continuous prints is set to "1". Further, initial values of the character size, the front margin length, the rear margin length, the inter-character length, and the block length are set in the attribute data storage area 301b, respectively. Then, the character code indicating the leading character data “4” is stored. Then, when the user inputs the characters "5" and "6", the character codes indicating "5" and "6" are stored respectively (S1, S2). With the input of this character data, the number of characters in the information data storage area 301a is added to be "3".

Although the information data storage area 301a and the like are created after the beginning of the character data of each block is input and the initial values such as the character size are set here, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, the storage area may be created or the initial value may be set after all the character data of the first block is input.

Next, when the user inputs a block delimiter, the print data for the second block waits for input, and when the user inputs a character, the information data for the second block is based on the initial setting value as in the first block. And attribute data are created and stored, and the character data “B23” is stored following the first block. Similarly, in the third block, information data, attribute data, and character data "CEFGH" are stored. The block length mode up to the third block is an initial setting free length mode.

Next, when the user changes the setting of the block length mode from the free length mode to the fixed length mode after inputting "A1" of the fourth block, the block length mode change key provided in the input unit 11 is used. Operate and enter the desired block length. The length is Lmm, and Lmm is the block length in the attribute data storage area 301b of the fourth block.
Is memorized.

The block length information excluding the number of characters (number of characters, character size, front margin length, rear margin length, inter-character length, and block length) and the number of continuous prints are preset values beforehand. Is set, but it can be changed as described above. That is, when changing, it is sufficient to input a new data by referring to the block displayed on the display unit 12 and operating a predetermined change key provided on the input unit 11. When new data regarding the block length information is input, the print data generation unit 502 in the CPU 16 sets the newly input block length information as R.
The data is stored in a predetermined area of the AM 15 (information data storage area 301a and attribute data storage area 301b). The block length information may be changed before inputting the first character of the first block. In this way, the data of the block length information and the continuous printing number input in the first block is stored, and the stored data is used when the block length information of the next block or the continuous printing number is set. Then, the input for each block becomes unnecessary, and the work of changing the data can be omitted.

Further, when the number of characters, the character size, the margin length, and the inter-character length in the block length information are changed, the block length automatically increases or decreases by the changed amount in the free length mode. In the fixed length mode, it is possible that the length required for printing the block becomes longer than the block length set value due to the change. Therefore, when such a change is made, error processing may be performed.

Next, when the user presses the print key (not shown) of the input unit 11 (S3), the setting screen for each setting condition shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the display unit 12 (S4). The user inputs setting conditions (number of repetitions, presence / absence of half-cutting, presence / absence of full-cutting, etc.) by operating the arrow keys of the input unit 11 or numeric keys (not shown), and then presses a confirmation key (not shown) By doing so, the setting conditions are fixed (S5). The confirmed setting conditions are stored in the work area 202 (S
6).

The setting condition setting screen is displayed after the print key is pressed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the setting screen is displayed at the same time when the input of print data is completed. Alternatively, it may be displayed at an arbitrary timing by the operation of the user. The user can input the setting conditions at any timing by referring to this display.

When the setting conditions are stored, S8 to S
At 15, the total print time of the print data 300 is calculated, and the calculated total print time is displayed. After the total printing time is displayed, the user presses the print execution key to execute the printing process. As a result, the user can confirm the printing execution after confirming the total printing time, so that even if the number of printing blocks is large and the printing requires a long time (for example, 10 minutes or more), Can refer to the displayed time and start the next work.

Subsequently, in S16, the print data 30
0 is the image development in order from the first block, and 1
When the print data for the block is developed as an image, the image data is transferred line by line to the thermal head, and printing is started when the tube is conveyed. At the same time, the timer 506 also starts counting, and by subtracting the elapsed time counted by the timer 506 from the total printing time calculated in S15, the printing required for printing the unprinted data among all the print data. The required time is calculated (S17), and the calculated required printing time and the display unit 12 are displayed.
Is displayed on the screen (S18). Here, although the print required time is displayed before the print is executed and the print is executed according to the instruction from the user, the print may be executed without performing the confirmation process. Further, since the start of printing, the start of counting by the timer 506, and the display of the time required for printing are performed substantially at the same time, the processing order is not limited to this embodiment.

Here, the calculation of the total printing time in S8 to S17 will be described in detail. In calculating the total print time, first, the print length (block length) of each block of the print data 300 is obtained. First, the block number K is set to K = 1, and the calculation of the block length of the first block is started (S8). Here, in the first block, since the data indicating the mode setting of the block length in the attribute data area 301b is the initial value "0" and the free length mode is set (S9), the number of characters and the character size are set. , The front margin length, the rear margin length, the inter-character length, and the like are used to obtain the block length according to (Equation 2) (S10).

The block length of the first block thus obtained is stored in the work area 202 of the RAM 15 (S12). Next, in S13, the block number is incremented by "1", and the block length of the second block that is also set in the free length mode is calculated in the same manner as the first block. And the calculated second
The block length of the block and the block length of the first block stored in the work area 202 are added, and the addition result is overwritten in the work area 202. Third
Since the block is also set to the free length mode, the block length is similarly obtained, and the work area 20
The value stored in 2 (that is, the added value of the block length of the first block and the block length of the second block) is added, and the addition result is overwritten in the work area 202.

In the fourth block, the set value of the block length stored in the attribute data area is set to Lmm,
Since the value is set to a value other than "0", it is determined that the fixed length mode is set, and the set value Lmm of the block length is read out and stored in the work area 202 (that is, the first value). The cumulative addition value of the block length from the block to the third block) is added, and the addition result is overwritten in the work area 202. In this way, the block lengths of the respective blocks are cumulatively added, and the cumulative addition result is sequentially overwritten in the work area 202. Thus, when the block lengths are cumulatively added to all blocks of the print data (S14), the value stored in the work area 202 is the block length of each block from the first block to the fourth block. Cumulative addition value, that is, print data 3
00 is the total print length.

Next, this print length is divided by the transport speed, and the cutting time is added to this division result to obtain the total print time required for printing the entire print data 300 (S1).
5).

The cutting time is calculated by reading the data of the number of repetitions, the presence / absence of full cutting, and the presence / absence of half cutting processing stored in the work area 202. Here, it is assumed that the number of repetitions is set to "absent" and both full-cut processing and half-cut processing are set to "present". Since it is determined from the print data 300 that the number of blocks is “4” and the number of continuous prints of each block is “1”, the number of all cuts of the print data 300 is 1 in consideration of the various setting conditions. It can be seen that the number of cuts and half cuts is four. The cutting time is obtained by multiplying the number of times of full cutting by the time required for one time of full cutting, multiplying the number of times of half cutting by the time required for one time of half cutting, and adding these multiplication results to each other.

In this way, when the total printing time is displayed before printing and the printing process is executed by the user, the remaining printing data obtained by subtracting the elapsed time measured by the timer 506 from this total printing time during printing. Since the required print time is displayed on the display unit 12, the user can recognize the remaining required print time during printing by referring to the display result of the display unit 12. The display of the required printing time is executed until the printing of all data is completed.

Then, it is judged whether or not the printing is completed for all the print data stored in the RAM 15 (S1).
8) If not completed, timer 506 starts from total printing time
The elapsed time measured by is subtracted and the required printing time is obtained again (S16). When calculating the required printing time for the second time and thereafter, since the time has further elapsed since the previous required printing time was calculated, the required required printing time is shorter than that at the previous calculation. In this way, the required print time is repeatedly calculated at every predetermined timing, and when printing of all print data is completed (S19), the required print time calculation process is ended.

The display unit 1 is shown in FIGS.
2 shows a display example of the required printing time displayed in 2. Figure 10
(A) is an example in which both the required printing time and the elapsed time from the start of printing are displayed. Further, FIG. 10B is an example in which the ratio of the required printing time to the total printing time is displayed using a graph that represents the percentage. Furthermore, FIG.
(C) is an example in which when the CPU 16 obtains the scheduled print end time from the print start time and the total print time, the scheduled print end time is displayed together with the current time. Furthermore, FIG. 10D is an example in which the number of prints of the long medium is displayed together with the required printing time. Here, an example of printing on a total of 1000 long media is shown.

In this embodiment, the print data 300 is used.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the print data is divided into a plurality of files to be stored and stored in the print data storage area 201. The respective files may be printed, or the file selected by the user from these plural files may be printed. Here, a file is a unit for storing / transferring print data in the tube printer according to the present embodiment,
It is assumed that print data can be printed for each file. When printing a plurality of files in this way, it is possible to obtain the required printing time of all the plurality of files by adding the required printing times calculated for each file.

(Embodiment 2) In the present embodiment, the required printing time is recalculated every time one block is printed, so that the required printing time can be calculated without measuring the elapsed time from the start of printing. This is the desired embodiment. The hardware configuration of the long-medium printing apparatus according to the present embodiment is substantially the same as that of the long-medium printing apparatus according to the first embodiment, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted. The process of calculating the required print time according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment up to the step of obtaining the print length, and the description of the same parts will be omitted.
The different portion will be described with reference to FIG.

Referring to FIG. 8, when the calculation of the print length of the entire print data is completed in S14, the process proceeds to S15, the print length is divided by the conveyance speed, and the cutting time is added to the division result to print. The total print time required to print the data 300 is calculated, and the calculated total print time is displayed on the display unit 12. When the total printing time is calculated, S16
Then, the print data 300 is image-developed in order from the first block and printing is sequentially performed. Then, in S17, the elapsed time from the start of printing measured by the timer 506 is subtracted from the total print time to obtain the required print time of the remaining print data, and the obtained required print time is displayed on the display unit 12 (S18). Next, it is determined whether or not the printing has been completed for all the print data stored in the RAM 15 (S19), and if not completed, the required printing time calculation unit 504 is instructed to recalculate the remaining time. (S20). Here, the determination in step 18 is performed each time the printing for one block is completed and the cutting process is performed at the rear end of the block. When this recalculation is instructed, the process proceeds to S21, in which the time required for printing the block printed this time from the previously calculated printing time (that is, the time required by the block length / conveyance speed) and the current printing are performed. Cutter 7 at the rear end of the block
The time required for printing is recalculated by reducing the time until the sheet is conveyed to the position and the cutting time. At the current calculation timing, the printing and cutting processing for one block has been further performed since the previous calculation timing. Is subtracted from the time required for printing.

As described above, each time one block is printed and cut, the time required for printing and cutting the printed block is reduced and the required printing time is recalculated. Without measuring
The printing time can be updated every time one block is printed. When the printing is completed for all the print data, the process of calculating the required printing time is completed (S18).

In this embodiment, the recalculation is performed every time one block is printed and cut, but if it is not necessary to frequently update the required printing time, the recalculation is performed for every plural blocks. Is also good. By performing the recalculation in units of a plurality of blocks, the processing load on the CPU 16 can be reduced and the power consumption can be reduced.

[0062]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the print length is obtained from the block length information that defines the block length of each block data, and the print length and the conveyance speed of the print medium are calculated. Since the required print time required for printing the remaining print data is obtained based on the above, it is possible to accurately calculate the required print time even when printing the print data created for each block. In particular, even when the settings such as the number of characters and the length between characters are changed, the block length of each block is calculated based on the block length information set for each block, and this block length is accumulated. Since the printing length is obtained by adding the values, it is possible to accurately calculate the required printing time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall plan view of a tube printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing area allocation of a RAM according to the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an example of a storage state of print data. (B) A diagram showing a print image of print data

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a print required time calculation function of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart 1 showing an operation process according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart 2 showing an operation process according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation process according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9: Display example of setting conditions

FIG. 10: Display example of required printing time

[Explanation of symbols]

6 thermal head 7 cutter 11 Input section 12 Display 13 Control unit 14 ROM 15 RAM 16 CPU 501 Setting condition input section 502 Print data generation unit 503 Transport control unit 504 Required printing time calculator 505 Display control unit 506 timer 508 print control unit

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C055 CC00 CC05                 2C060 AA09                 2C061 AP01 AQ04 AS06 CQ34 HK11                       HK23

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A length in which a long medium is conveyed in a longitudinal direction thereof at a predetermined conveying speed, and print data divided into a plurality of block data is printed so that the block data is continuous in the longitudinal direction of the long medium. In the length medium printing device, a print length calculating unit that calculates the print length of the entire print data based on block length information relating to the block length that is the print length in the longitudinal direction of each block data; A print required time calculating means for calculating a print required time required for printing the remaining print data not yet printed based on the length and the transport speed; and a notifying means for notifying the user of the print required time. A long medium printing device characterized by the above. 2. The long medium printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print length calculation unit obtains a block length of each block data and cumulatively adds the block lengths. 3. The block length information is at least one of information selected from the group consisting of a number of characters, a character size, a front margin length, a rear margin length, an inter-character length, and a block length setting value. The long medium printing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. The long medium printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising block length information changing means for changing the block length information for each block. 5. A free length mode and a fixed length mode are set as setting modes relating to the block length, and the print length calculating means, regarding the block data set in the free length mode, the number of characters, the character size, and the front margin length. 4. The print length of the entire print data is calculated by performing an operation on at least one of the information selected from the group consisting of the length of the rear margin, the length of the rear margin, and the length between characters. 4. The long medium printing device according to item 4. 6. A free length mode and a fixed length mode are set as setting modes relating to the block length, and the print length calculation means sets the set value of the block length for the block data set in the fixed length mode. The long medium printing device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein a block length of the block data is set. 7. A continuous printing number, which is the number of times that the block is continuously printed, is set for each block, and the print length calculating means cumulatively adds the block lengths of the blocks by the continuous printing number. 7. The long medium printing device according to claim 1. 8. The number of repetitions, which is the number of times the entire print data is repeatedly printed, is set, and the print length calculation means is
8. The long medium printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print length of the entire print data is cumulatively added by the number of times of repeated printing. 9. The required print time calculating means calculates the total print time required to print the print data by dividing the print length of the entire print data by the transport speed, and the elapsed time from the start of printing from the total print time. 9. The long medium printing device according to claim 1, wherein the time is reduced. 10. The long medium printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the notifying unit notifies the total printing time together with the required printing time. 11. The required print time calculation means calculates the total print time required for printing the print data by dividing the print length of the entire print data by the transport speed, and the calculated total print time and print start time. Calculate the estimated print end time based on
9. The long medium printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notifying unit notifies the scheduled printing end time together with the printing required time or in place of the printing required time. . 12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising recalculation instruction means for instructing recalculation of a required printing time when printing of predetermined block data is completed.
1. The long medium printing device according to any one of 1.