JP2005053183A - Tape printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tape printer in which useability can be enhanced by preventing print omission at the time of network connection. <P>SOLUTION: The tape printer 1 for printing a character string on a tape based on print data received through network connection comprises a buffer memory for storing print data, and a reprint control means for holding the print data stored in the buffer memory when a print error is detected and print operation is stopped and starting print operation by calling the print data stored in the buffer memory when the print error is removed and print operation is resumed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a tape printer that mounts a cassette containing a tape and prints characters and figures on the tape.

  A conventional tape printer is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The tape printer is equipped with a cassette for storing a tape, and the tape printer and the personal computer are connected locally without going through a network. The tape printer is provided with a buffer memory for temporarily storing print data.

  In order to minimize the capacity of the buffer memory, data transmission / reception between the personal computer and the tape printing apparatus is performed every time one page is printed. Print data for one page of characters and graphics edited by the personal computer is stored in the buffer memory in accordance with a print instruction. The tape printer extracts print data from the buffer memory and prints on the tape in order.

Printing stops when a printing error such as the end of the tape occurs during printing. An error signal notifying that a printing error has occurred is transmitted from the tape printer to the personal computer. When a predetermined key operation is performed from the personal computer after canceling the printing error by replacing the cassette or the like, the print data of the page where the error has occurred is retransmitted by the driver program of the tape printer installed in the personal computer. As a result, the canceled page is printed again. As a result, even if a printing error occurs, it is possible to print a plurality of pages without causing printing omission.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-214828 (pages 2-8, FIG. 8)

  However, according to the above-described conventional tape printing apparatus, if a printing error occurs when connecting to a personal computer via a network, printing omission occurs. That is, the tape printer is connected to the network via the print server. A normal printer such as a laser printer is connected to the network, and a normal print server having only a function corresponding to the normal printer is used.

  In this state, when a tape printer having only a buffer memory for print data for one page is connected to the network, print data for the next page is transmitted and received every time one page is printed. At this time, even if an error signal such as the end of the tape is transmitted from the tape printer during printing of one page, the personal computer cannot determine whether or not there is an error.

  For this reason, after the tape printer returns to normal operation due to the cancellation of the error, the personal computer transmits the print data of the page next to the page where the error has occurred to the tape printer. Therefore, if a printing error occurs during printing of a plurality of pages, printing omission occurs, and it is necessary to instruct printing of the dropped pages again, resulting in poor usability of the tape printer.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a tape printing apparatus that can prevent printing omission at the time of network connection and improve usability.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a tape printing apparatus for printing a character string on a tape based on print data received through a network connection, comprising a buffer memory for storing print data, and printing errors. Reprint control means for holding print data stored in the buffer memory when printing is stopped due to detection and calling the print data stored in the buffer memory when printing is resumed by canceling a print error It is characterized by having.

  According to this configuration, the tape printer connected to the network via the print server stores the print data for one page received from the print server in the buffer memory. When the print command is received, the print data is taken out from the buffer memory and printing is performed. If a printing error occurs during printing, printing is stopped. When the print error is canceled, the reprint control means calls the print data of the canceled page from the buffer memory to perform printing, receives the print data of the next page from the print server, and sequentially prints.

  A printing error occurs when the tape ends (Claim 2), when the opening / closing cover is opened (Claim 3), or when the tape type is different (Claim 5), and is printed by changing the tape or closing the opening / closing cover. The error is released.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the tape printer having the above-described configuration, a cover detection unit that detects an open / close state of the open / close cover, and a tape type detection unit that detects a type of a tape attached to the apparatus main body. ,
The reprint control means detects whether or not the tape type detected by the tape type detection means is compatible with print data, and detects closing of the open / close cover by the cover detection means. And a start means for detecting the release of a print error and starting reprinting by determining that the type of tape loaded by the determination means is suitable for print data.

  According to this configuration, when the opening / closing cover is closed after the printing error is canceled and it is detected that the type of tape matches the print data, printing is started by the start unit.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the tape printer having the above-described configuration, the reprinting control unit includes a size changing unit that enlarges or reduces the character size in accordance with the tape width detected by the tape type detecting unit. It is characterized by. According to this configuration, if the width of the tape is different during reprinting, printing is performed by enlarging or reducing the character size.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the tape printer configured as described above, the network connection and the local connection are discriminated, and the print data of the canceled page in the buffer memory is detected when the print error is detected during the local connection. It is characterized by not shifting to a reprint mode for taking out and printing. According to this configuration, by transmitting an error signal at the time of local connection, the print data of the canceled page is transmitted again from the personal computer, and printing is performed.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since printing is performed by calling print data stored in the buffer memory when printing is resumed by canceling a printing error, printing failure at the time of network connection is prevented and usability is improved. Can do.

  According to the invention of claim 2, a printing error occurs at the end of the tape, and the printing error is canceled by exchanging the tape and the printing is resumed. Therefore, printing omission due to the end of the tape in the middle of printing is prevented. can do.

  According to the invention of claim 3, a printing error occurs when the opening / closing cover is opened, and the printing error is canceled by closing the opening / closing cover and the printing is resumed. Can be prevented.

  According to the invention of claim 4, when the opening / closing cover is closed after the printing error is canceled and it is detected that the type of tape is suitable for the print data, the start means restarts the operation even if there is no instruction from the personal computer. Printing is started and usability can be improved.

  According to the invention of claim 5, a printing error occurs when the type of the loaded tape is different from the type of the tape indicated by the print data, and the printing error is canceled by replacing the tape, and printing is resumed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent print omission when the tape types are different.

  According to the invention of claim 6, since the character size is enlarged or reduced on the basis of the tape width mounted at the time of reprinting, even when there is no tape having the designated width, printing is made convenient. Can be improved.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when a printing error is detected at the time of local connection, the printer does not shift to the reprint mode. Therefore, the print data at the time of the error is received again from the personal computer by bidirectional communication at the time of local connection. You can avoid missing prints.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a tape printer according to an embodiment. An open / close cover 8 that opens and closes when a cassette (not shown) is attached or detached is provided on the upper surface of the tape printer 1. In the cassette, an ink ribbon is stored together with a tape for printing. An open switch 4 that opens the opening / closing cover 8 is disposed on the side of the opening / closing cover 8.

  An opening 9 through which the tape is discharged is provided on the front surface of the tape printer 1. An operation unit 7 including a power switch 5 and a disconnect switch 6 is disposed on the side of the opening 9. The power switch 5 turns on and off the power of the main body of the tape printer 1. The cutting switch 6 manually cuts the tape discharged from the opening 9.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration in which the tape printer 1 is connected to the network. The tape printer 1 is connected to a network 10 via a print server 11. A personal computer 13 is connected to the network 10 via a host computer 14 and a hub 12. A plurality of personal computers 13 can also be connected via the hub 12.

  The personal computer 13 is installed with an editor for inputting print data, and printing by the tape printer 1 is performed in accordance with an instruction from the editor. Thus, a tape printing system is configured. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the tape printer 1 and the personal computer 13 may be directly connected by a communication cable 15 without using a network.

  The tape printer 1 has a control unit 21 that controls each unit. The control unit 21 includes an operation unit 7, a drive unit 23, a print head 24, a communication unit 25, a storage unit 26, a cover detection unit (cover detection unit) 27, a tape type detection unit (tape type detection unit) 29, a tape end. The detection unit 30 is connected.

  The drive unit 23 has one or a plurality of motors, and feeds the tape by rotating a roller (not shown), moves the roller when the cassette is attached / detached, and drives a cutter (not shown) that cuts the tape. The print head 24 has a plurality of heating elements arranged in the tape width direction, and the ink of the ink ribbon is fused to the tape by the heat generated by the heating elements. The communication unit 25 includes a reception unit that receives print data and the like, and a transmission unit that transmits signals such as a print result and a cassette mounting state, and performs communication with the print server 11.

  The storage unit 26 includes a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and has a buffer memory that stores an operation program and setting conditions and temporarily stores print data for one page. The cover detection unit 27 detects the open / close state of the open / close cover 8 (see FIG. 1). The tape type detection unit 29 detects the tape type of the loaded cassette and determines the tape width and the like. The tape end detection unit 30 recognizes the pattern provided at the end of the tape and detects whether or not the tape has ended.

  The operation of the tape printer 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. When a power-on operation is performed by the power switch 5 of the tape printer 1, the main program shown in FIG. When the main program is started, the initialization process shown in FIG. 5 is called at step # 11.

  The tape printer 1 according to the present embodiment can reprint a page that has been canceled when a printing error occurs during network connection. At this time, if the width of the tape is different from the specified width, the condition can be set so that printing is performed by changing the character size. In step # 31 of the initialization process, it is determined whether or not a condition has been set when the tape width at the time of reprinting is different.

  If no condition is set, the process proceeds to step # 35. In step # 35, printing is performed only when the tape width matches the specified width, and when the tape width is different, printing is stopped and an error is set. If the condition is set, it is determined in step # 32 whether or not the character size enlargement / reduction has been instructed. If enlargement / reduction is instructed, the condition of “enlargement / reduction” is set in step # 33. The condition of “enlargement / reduction” is to enlarge and print characters when the tape width is wide, and to reduce and print characters when the tape width is narrow.

  If the image is not enlarged / reduced, the process proceeds to step # 34, where the condition “as is / split” is set. As the condition of “as is / split”, when the tape width is wide, the designated character size is printed, and when the tape width is narrow, split printing is performed in which the print is divided into a plurality of pages in the width direction.

  In step # 36, a reprint command flag F1 indicating that it is possible to shift to a reprint mode in which reprinting of a page that was canceled due to a print error due to network connection is initialized. In step # 37, a reprint mode flag F3 indicating the state of the reprint mode is initialized. In step # 38, a reprint number n indicating the number of times reprinting has been performed is initialized.

  In step # 39, the maximum number of reprints indicating how many times reprinting is attempted due to the occurrence of a printing error is set, and the process returns to the main program. The maximum number of reprints is set to 1 by default, and can be changed by a user operation. In addition, if 0 is designated as the maximum number of reprints, it can be set not to enter the reprint mode. As a result, conditions can be set in accordance with the usage status of the user.

  In step # 12, the cover confirmation process shown in FIG. 6 is called. In step # 41 of the cover confirmation process, it is determined whether or not the open / close cover 8 is open based on detection by the cover detection unit 27. If the open / close cover 8 is open, an LED indicating that the open / close cover 8 is open is turned on in step # 56 to notify the open state. In step # 57, 1 is assigned to a cover opening flag F4 indicating that the opening / closing cover 8 is open, and the process returns to the main program. Thus, the cover open flag F4 is 1 while the open / close cover 8 is open.

  If the opening / closing cover 8 is closed, the process proceeds to step # 42. In step # 42, it is determined whether or not the reprint number n indicating the number of times of reprinting is smaller than the maximum reprint number (here, 1). If the reprint count n is equal to or greater than the maximum reprint count, the process proceeds to step # 51. Steps # 51 to # 54 will be described later.

  If the reprint count n is smaller than the maximum reprint count, the process proceeds to step # 43. In step # 43, it is determined whether or not the reprint mode is set based on the value of the reprint mode flag F3. If it is not the reprint mode (F3 = 0), the process proceeds to step # 48, and 0 indicating the closed state is substituted for the cover open flag F4, and the process returns to the main program. In the case of the reprint mode (F3 = 1), the process proceeds to step # 44. Steps # 44 to # 47 will be described later.

  In step # 13 of the main program, it is determined whether or not the reprint mode is selected based on the value of the reprint mode flag F3. When the reprint mode is not set (F3 = 0), the process proceeds to step # 14, and the data receiving operation is performed. In step # 15, it is determined whether or not the received data is print data. In the case of print data, the print data is stored in the buffer memory in step # 16.

  In step # 17, it is determined whether the tape printer 1 is connected to the network based on the received command. In the case of network connection, 1 is assigned to the reprint command flag F1 in step # 18 so that reprinting at the time of a printing error can be performed. In step # 19, it is determined whether or not the received data is a print command. In the case of a print command, 1 is assigned to the print flag F2 in step # 20. If it is not a print command, 0 is assigned to the print flag F2 in step # 21.

  In step # 22, it is determined whether or not the print flag F2 is 1. If the print flag F2 is 0, the process returns to step # 12, and steps # 12 to # 22 are repeated. As a result, data reception is repeated until a print command is received.

  If the print command is received and the print flag F2 is 1, the print process shown in FIG. 7 is called in step # 23. In step # 62 of the printing process, it is determined whether or not the opening / closing cover 8 is closed based on detection by the cover detection unit 27. If the open / close cover 8 is open, the printing start operation is stopped, error information is stored in step # 69, and the process returns to the main program.

  In step # 63, it is determined by the detection of the tape type detection unit 29 whether or not the type of the mounted tape matches the specified tape type. If the tape type such as the tape width is different, the printing start operation is stopped and the process returns to the main program via step # 69.

  In steps # 64 to # 67, printing is repeated for each line. In step # 64, it is determined whether or not the opening / closing cover 8 is opened during printing based on detection by the cover detection unit 27. If the opening / closing cover 8 is opened, the printing operation is stopped and the process returns to the main program via step # 69. In step # 65, it is determined whether or not the tape is finished during printing by detection by the tape end detector 30. When the tape is finished, the printing operation is stopped, and the process returns to the main program via step # 69.

  In step # 66, the print data is taken out from the buffer memory and one line is printed. In step # 67, it is determined whether printing of one page has been completed. If not completed, the process returns to step # 64, and steps # 64 to # 67 are repeated. When printing of one page is completed, 0 is assigned to the print flag F2 in step # 68, and the process returns to the main program.

  In step # 24 of the main program, it is determined whether or not a printing error has occurred based on the error information stored in step # 69. If no printing error has occurred, 0 is assigned to the reprint mode flag F3 in step # 27, and the process returns to step # 12.

  If a printing error has occurred as determined in step # 24, error information is transmitted in step # 25. Thereby, in the case of local connection, the print data of the canceled page can be retransmitted from the personal computer 13 and reprinting can be performed. In step # 26, it is determined whether or not the reprint command flag F1 is 1. If the reprint command flag F1 is 0, because of local connection, 0 is assigned to the reprint mode flag F3 in step # 27. This prevents the transition to the reprint mode.

  If the reprint command flag F1 is 1 as determined in step # 26, the reprint mode process is performed, so 1 is substituted into the reprint mode flag F3 in step # 28. Then, the process returns to step # 12.

  Hereinafter, processing in the reprint mode (F3 = 1) will be described. As described above, when a print error occurs and the network connection (F1 = 1), the process returns to step # 12 and shifts to the reprint mode by the determination of steps # 24 and # 26. Accordingly, the steps # 24, # 26, # 28, # 12, # 13, # 22, and # 23 constitute a reprint control means.

  In step # 12, the above-described cover confirmation process shown in FIG. 6 is called. In the case of a printing error due to the opening of the opening / closing cover 8, the process returns to the main program via steps # 56 and # 57 based on the determination at step # 41. If the printing error is other than opening of the opening / closing cover 8, the process proceeds to step # 42.

  If the open / close cover 8 is closed, the process proceeds to step # 43 because the number of reprints n is 0 as determined in step # 42. In step # 43, it is determined whether or not the reprint mode flag F3 is 1. Since F3 = 1, the process proceeds to step # 44. In step # 44, it is determined whether the cover open flag F4 is 1 or not. If the cover open flag F4 is 0 in the reprint mode, the open / close cover 8 has never been opened after the occurrence of a printing error. Therefore, the process returns to the main program via step # 48.

  When the cover open flag F4 is 1, the open / close cover 8 is closed after being opened once after a printing error occurs. Even in the case of a printing error due to opening of the opening / closing cover 8, it is in a closed state thereafter. As a result, it is determined that errors such as opening of the opening / closing cover 8, cassette not mounted, tape end, etc. have been released, and the process proceeds to step # 45.

  In step # 45, the tape type detection unit 29 detects the tape type. In step # 46, the number n of reprints is incremented. In step # 47, when the tape width is different from the designated width, the print data is processed based on the settings of steps # 33 and # 34 of the initialization process of FIG. This constitutes a size changing means for enlarging or reducing the character size. In step # 48, 0 is substituted for the cover opening flag F4, and the process returns to the main program.

  In the main program, the process proceeds to step # 22 based on the determination in step # 13. Since the print flag F2 remains 1 in step # 22, the print processing shown in FIG. 7 is performed in step # 23. In the printing process, the print data is extracted from the buffer memory and printed.

  At this time, if the specified tape width matches the width of the loaded tape in step # 63, it is determined to be OK. If the reprint condition is set even if the tape widths are different, it is determined to be OK because printing with the character size as it is or printing with enlargement / reduction of the character size is possible. Accordingly, in step # 63, determination means is configured to determine whether or not the tape type matches the print data in accordance with the reprinting conditions.

  Reprinting is started in step # 66 through steps # 64 and # 65 based on the determination in step # 63. Accordingly, when the opening / closing cover 8 is closed in steps # 62, # 63, and # 66 and the tape type is suitable for the print data, a starting unit is configured to immediately start reprinting without requiring user operation. .

  When printing is completed, the process proceeds to step # 27 of the main program, and 0 is assigned to the reprint mode flag F3. As described above, a page canceled due to a print error can be printed in the reprint mode. Accordingly, printing failure does not occur, and it is not necessary to perform reprinting by operating the personal computer 13, so that the usability of the tape printer 1 can be improved.

  If a printing error occurs again in the reprint mode, the process proceeds to step # 12 via steps # 23 to # 26 and # 28, and the cover confirmation process in FIG. 6 is called. In the cover confirmation process, the reprint count n is 1 in step # 42, and the process proceeds to step # 51 because the maximum reprint count (here, 1) is greater.

  In step # 51, 0 is substituted for the reprint command flag F1. In step # 52, 0 is substituted for the print flag F2. In step # 53, 0 is substituted for the reprint mode flag F3. In step # 54, the number n of reprints is initialized and the process returns to the main program. As a result, the reprint mode is canceled, and the next data is received in steps after step # 14 of the main program. If 0 is specified for the maximum number of reprints, reprinting is not performed once if a printing error occurs during the first printing.

  In the state where the printing error is not canceled in the reprint mode, the process returns from the cover confirmation process of FIG. 6 to the main program, and proceeds to step # 22 based on the determination in step # 13. Since the print flag F2 remains 1, the same print error occurs again in the print process of step # 23. As a result, steps # 12, # 13, # 22, # 23, # 24, # 25, # 26, and # 28 are repeatedly performed to enter a standby state.

  According to the present invention, when a print error occurs in a tape printer connected to a network with a personal computer that creates print data, the print data stored in the buffer memory is recalled when printing is resumed by canceling the print error. Is done. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a tape printing apparatus that prevents printing omission at the time of network connection and has improved usability.

These are the perspective views which show the external appearance of the tape printer of embodiment of this invention. These are block diagrams which show the structure at the time of the network connection of the tape printer of embodiment of this invention. These are block diagrams which show the structure at the time of local connection of the tape printer of embodiment of this invention. These are flowcharts which show operation | movement of the main program of the tape printer of embodiment of this invention. These are the flowcharts which show the operation | movement of the initialization process of the tape printer of embodiment of this invention. These are the flowcharts which show the operation | movement of the cover confirmation process of the tape printer of embodiment of this invention. These are the flowcharts which show the operation | movement of the printing process of the tape printer of embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tape printer 7 Operation part 8 Opening / closing cover 10 Network 11 Print server 12 Hub 13 Personal computer 14 Host computer 21 Control part 23 Drive part 24 Print head 25 Communication part 26 Storage part 27 Cover detection part 29 Tape type detection part 30 Tape end Detection unit

Claims (7)

  A tape printing apparatus that prints a character string on a tape based on print data received via a network connection includes a buffer memory for storing print data, and is stored in the buffer memory when printing is stopped due to detection of a print error. A tape printing apparatus comprising: a reprint control unit that retains print data and retrieves and prints print data stored in the buffer memory when printing is resumed by canceling a print error.   The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing error is generated at the end of the tape.   3. The tape printer according to claim 1, wherein the printing error is generated when an opening / closing cover that opens and closes when the tape is attached / detached is opened. Cover detecting means for detecting the open / closed state of the open / close cover, and tape type detecting means for detecting the type of tape attached to the apparatus main body,
The reprint control means detects whether or not the tape type detected by the tape type detection means is compatible with print data, and detects closing of the open / close cover by the cover detection means. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising start means for detecting the release of a print error and starting reprinting by determining that the type of tape loaded by the determination means is suitable for print data. The tape printer as described.   The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing error is generated when the type of the loaded tape is different from the type of the tape designated by the print data.   6. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the reprinting control means includes a size changing means for enlarging or reducing the character size in accordance with the tape width detected by the tape type detecting means.   The network connection and the local connection are discriminated, and when the print error is detected at the time of the local connection, the print data of the canceled page in the buffer memory is taken out and is not shifted to the reprint mode for printing. The tape printer according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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