JP3438435B2 - Tape printer - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape printer, and more particularly to a print control function of a tape printer for producing lettering tape.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional tape printer of this type, there is known a tape printer which prints on an adhesive tape or an electric wire tube using a tape cassette containing an adhesive tape with release paper or an electric wire tube.

Characteristic features of this type of tape printer are that character blocks can be printed at a set block pitch and that continuous printing and serial number printing are possible. That is, the terminal numbers of electrical equipment can be printed continuously or serially on adhesive tape with release paper or tubes for electric wires at a fixed pitch to create a display label to be attached to the terminal block or to the end of the electric wire. The tube to be coated is configured to be able to print the terminal number continuously or serially.

For example, when creating a display label in which the same character string is printed at equal intervals, the character size, typeface, the number of lines to be printed, etc. are input in the format setting mode, and the block pitch and the number of times of printing are set by the function keys. By setting, the same character data is printed at the set block pitch and the set number of times.

Further, when a serial number display label in which numbers are sequentially increased / decreased for each character block is created, when the character data is input and the serial number function and the number of sheets are set, the serial number character string is set according to the serial number data. It is printed at the specified block pitch.

As another type of this type, there is known one described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 7-7943.

[0007]

However, in such a conventional tape printer, when the same character string is repeatedly printed, the character size, the typeface, the number of printing lines, etc. are input in the format setting mode. You must set the block pitch and the number of prints using the function keys.

Therefore, it is difficult to say that the operation is complicated and the usability is good.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a tape printer which is easy to operate and has good usability when repeatedly printing the same character string.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 provides a character string to be printed for each printing block set on a label tape or a label tube, and an output of this character string. Input means for inputting a control command for controlling the form, display means for displaying the input character string or control command at the cursor position, and storage means for storing the input character string or control command When, in the tape printer and a printing means to continue to print the character string stored in the storage means for each print block to the label tape or label tubes based on the stored control commands, said display means To control
When a command character string and the cursor is displayed, by operating a predetermined key, the position of the cursor
And string up to the first control command toward the beginning of a sentence, followed by a registration means for registering the control commands of their <br/>, a control command and a character string registered in the registration means to the position of the cursor together when displayed on the display means by copying
A repetitive display means for moving the cursor after the copied character string , and registering each time the predetermined key is pressed after the control command and the character string are registered in the registering means. When the control command and the string is registered in the unit will be displayed is copied to the position of the cursor bets
The cursor is moved after the copied character string .

According to the invention of claim 1, when a predetermined key is operated, a character string from the position of the cursor displayed on the display means to the first control command is displayed from the position of the cursor to the beginning of the sentence.
We are together with the control commands registered in the registration unit, by repeatedly displaying means, registered control command and the string is copied is displayed on the display means Rutotomoni the cursor following the position of the cursor is copied to the registration means Sentence
Moved to the back of the string. Therefore, when continuously inputting the same character string, it is possible to copy the same character string to the display means following the character string simply by operating the predetermined key after inputting the character string. That is, the operation of designating the range of the character string to be copied is not necessary, and therefore the input operation is very simple.

[0012]

[0013]

According to a second aspect of the invention, input means for inputting a character string to be printed and a control command for controlling the output form of this character string for each printing block set on the label tape or label tube. And a display means for displaying the input character string or control command at the cursor position, a storage means for storing the input character string or control command, and a storage means for storing the character string stored in this storage means. A tape printer provided with a printing unit that prints on the label tape or the label tube for each printing block based on the control command that is generated.
When multiple control commands and character strings are displayed in
When the cursor is between control commands
Control command and control command with the cursor
The character string between the two can be changed by operating the specified key.
Registration means for registering with the control command on the side of the beginning of the character string, and the control command and character string registered in the registration means are successively copied after the end character displayed on the display means and displayed on the display means. A repeated display means for displaying, and after the control command and the character string are registered in the registration means, every time the predetermined key is pressed, the registration command is registered in the registration means continuously after the last character of the display means. It is characterized in that control commands and character strings are copied and displayed.

According to the invention of claim 2, and operates the predetermined key, a cursor displayed on the display unit control
The character string between the control command and the control command is at the beginning of the sentence.
Control command registered with the registration means together with the control command
And the character string are displayed after being copied after the end character.
Displayed on the means. Therefore, when copying a character string between control commands, it is possible to move the cursor between the control commands and then operate a predetermined key The character string between the command and the command can be copied after the last character. That is, the operation of designating the range of the character string to be copied is unnecessary, and therefore the input operation becomes very simple.

[0016]

[0017]

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
This tape printer 1
Is for printing on the adhesive tape or the electric wire tube 2 by using the tape cassette 3 containing the adhesive tape with release paper or the electric wire tube 2.

Character data input and print operations are performed by the main body 1a.
It is performed via a keyboard 4 as an input means provided on the upper surface. That is, by pressing a predetermined character key on the keyboard 4, characters are input, and by pressing a predetermined command key, an output control command for controlling the output form of these characters is input. It is configured.

The signal from the keyboard 4 is input to the CPU 7 of the print control unit 6 via the interface 5 and written in the memory unit 8 composed of a RAM (readable and writable memory), and the CPU 7 also operates. , Driving the display driver circuit 9 as a part of the display,
LCD of the input contents such as text or output control command as part of a display unit for displaying on the screen (LCD display)
10 is configured to be displayed.

Further, in the tape cassette 3 accommodating the adhesive tape with release paper and the tube 2 for electric wires, identification information such as the type and width of the adhesive tape with release paper and the electric wire tube 2 incorporated therein is provided in the cassette body. It is recorded by means such as an identification hole and an identification code display label.
A known printing medium identification mechanism for reading the identification information recorded in the identification hole, the identification code display label, or the like is configured by the cassette identification sensor 1b such as a limit switch or a photo sensor provided in the cassette holder portion of the main body 1a.

Then, in the tape printer 1, the characters displayed on the LCD 10 are arranged on the adhesive tape with release paper or the electric wire tube 2 which is the object to be printed, based on the input output control command. Driver circuit 11, tape feed motor 12, samar head 13, head driver circuit 1 as output means for printing
4 are provided.

At the time of printing, the CPU 7 controls the motor driver circuit 11 to drive the tape feed motor 12 so that the adhesive tape with release paper or the tube 2 for electric wire is driven.
The print data is transferred to the samar head 13 while sending.

Then, a control signal is output to the head driver circuit 14 to synchronously drive the samar head 13 and the tape feed motor 12 to thermally transfer the characters from the ink ribbon to the adhesive tape with release paper or the electric wire tube 2. Is configured to.

At the end of printing, the tape cutter 15 is manually operated to operate the adhesive tape with release paper or the electric wire tube 2
Is configured to be cut at a predetermined cutting position.

In this tape printer 1, the tape cutter 15 is operated at a specified position to cut only the adhesive tape of the adhesive tape with release paper, or the wire tube 2 is cut in half. A function and a border line printing function of printing a vertical line on the border of each print block are provided. These functions can be turned on / off by operating the keys on the keyboard 4.

For example, when the automatic half-cutting function is selected, the CPU 4 controls the cutter driver circuit 16 to half-cut the adhesive tape with release paper or the electric wire tube 2 at the boundary of each printing block. . By performing such a semi-cutting process, it is easy to separate and attach each printing block printed on the adhesive tape with release paper or to attach the electric wire tube 2 to the end of the electric wire. You can do it.

Then, the CP of the tape printer 1
The U7, by pressing the PC key 21 provided on the keyboard 4 as a predetermined key, the LCD10 within a character or output control commands displayed are displayed before the cursor position given output characters or to print line control symbol 30 is a command position and the registration unit 17 for registering to specify the output control command, a character or output control command which is registered in the registration unit 17, from the cursor position Repeat display means 18 displayed behind, format control means 19 for converting dot data into dot data so that character data can be printed according to the output control command and format setting, and continuous / serial number print control for continuous / serial number printing. Means 20 and are provided.

The format control means 19 is configured to perform dot conversion of the character data stored in the memory section 8 into dot data when printing is executed.

In the continuous serial number printing control means 20, the same character is repeatedly output in accordance with the number of continuous printings set by the keyboard 4, and continuous printing is performed. The continuous serial number printing control means 20 is configured to perform serial number printing in accordance with the start character and the end character of the numbers or alphabets set by the keyboard 4. Next, the first embodiment
The operation will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in Step 1, when the main switch of the tape printer 1 is turned on to start each circuit, St
In ep2, a normal screen is displayed on the LCD 10.

[0033] In the normal screen, character or by the character key
Output control command is inputted by the co Mandoki. For example, as shown in the screen on the left side of FIG.
When there is an input of "COM" in the alphabet, LCD1
The character "COM" is displayed on the normal screen of "0".
Here, the reference numeral 30 displayed on the normal screen of the LCD 10 in FIG. 4 is a print line control symbol which is one of the output control commands, and in this case, indicates the arrangement for printing "COM" on the first line. To do.

In Step 3, when a character or an output control command is input by a character key or a command key, the process returns to Step 2 and it is judged that the normal screen display is maintained.

At the next Step 4, it is judged whether or not the PC key 21 is pressed and input. PC key 21
If is pressed, the process proceeds to the next Step 5, and if it is not pressed, the process returns to Step 2, and control for maintaining the normal screen display is performed.

[0036] In Step5, LCD 10 in the normal screen display, said by the registration unit 17, among the <br/> force control command output is also displayed characters, predetermined output command position displayed before the cursor position Print line control symbol 3 which is
Characters up to 0 or is registered is specified output control command.

At Step 6, the repetitive display means 1 is displayed.
By 8, those registered character or output control command is displayed from the cursor position behind. In this case, the same "COM" is copied and displayed after the "COM", as shown in the screen on the right side in FIG.

At Step 7, it is determined whether the print execution key 22 has been pressed. When the print execution key 22 is pressed, the process proceeds to the next Step 8, and when it is not pressed, the process returns to Step 2 and the normal screen display is maintained.

In Step 8, the character data stored in the memory unit 8 is dot-converted into dot data at the time of printing by the format control means 19, and these print data are transferred to the samar head 13.

Then, a control signal is output to the head driver circuit 14 to synchronously drive the samar head 13 and the tape feed motor 12 so that characters are transferred from the ink ribbon to the adhesive tape with release paper or the electric wire tube 2. Thermally transferred.

Furthermore, the adhesive tape with release paper or the tube 2 for electric wire is appropriately removed by the tape cutter 15.
After cutting or half cutting, the printing operation is completed at Step 9.

In the tape printer 1 according to the first embodiment, the P
Since the character string can be repeatedly displayed and printed by simply pressing the C key 21 once, the convenience of use is good.

Further, if the PC key 21 is continuously pressed a plurality of times, a plurality of character strings "COM" etc. are continuously displayed in succession.
COMCOM ... "can be printed.

Also in this case, since it is not necessary to perform a complicated copy setting input operation, it is possible to save labor and reduce input errors.

Moreover, not only the characters but also the output control commands can be repeatedly displayed, so that it is not necessary to set the output control commands for each character string, which is also convenient in this respect.

For example, if only the print line control command indicated by reference numeral 30 in FIG. 4 is set as the predetermined output control command, other print line control commands “2” and the like can be registered by the registration means 17. . Here, the print line control command “2” is an output control command having a plurality of lines.

Therefore, since the other print line control command "2" and the like can be registered together with the character string, the print line control command having a plurality of these lines can be repeatedly copied only by pressing a predetermined key. Again, it is not necessary to give an output control command having multiple lines to the copied character string.

Therefore, a complicated print character string such as a print line control command, a block pitch control command, a serial number / continuous print control command, and a vertical / horizontal display change command can be registered and copied at a time. It is not necessary to input each output control command into the character string to set the character string, which is convenient for use.

Further, in the tape printer 1 of the first embodiment, since the memory section 8 is composed of RAM, it is registered as compared with the case of using another storage medium such as a disk storage device. Also, the reading time is short and the response is excellent, so-called pitch copying can be performed in a short time. Therefore, the user needs almost no waiting time when performing the so-called pitch copying,
Good usability.

Second Embodiment Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 shows a tape printer according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The same or equivalent parts as those of the tape printer 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals.

In the second embodiment, in the normal screen display of the LCD 10, as shown in the left side screen in FIG. 5, there is a print line control symbol, reference numeral 30, and a character string surrounded by reference numerals 30, 30. In this case, the character string "COM" between them is regarded as one block within the range surrounded by the dotted line in the figure, and when the cursor is present in this frame, the registration means 17
Is configured to register the code 30 and these character strings "COM".

In the repetitive display means 18 of the second embodiment, the characters registered in the registration means 17 or the output control command are displayed after the character string displayed on the normal screen display of the LCD 10. It is configured to be displayed.

In the thus configured tape printer 1 according to the second embodiment, by pressing the PC key 21 once, as shown on the right side screen in FIG. Followed by the registered character string "COM"
Is displayed.

For this reason, the character strings and output control commands that have been previously input and displayed using the normal screen display are
Since it is possible to make a copy immediately using the PC key, the convenience of use is further improved.

The other structure and operation are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

The first and second embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings. However, the specific structure is not limited to the first and second embodiments, and there are design changes and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention. However, it is included in this invention.

For example, various modifications are possible without being limited to the configuration of the print controller 6 of the first and second embodiments, and it goes without saying that the present invention extends to those modifications.

Further, for example, in the first and second embodiments, the reference numeral 30 which is the print line control command is the predetermined output control command "1", but the present invention is not limited to this, and the print line control command 30 is " Even if "2" or the like is used as the predetermined output control command, or if both "1" and "2" are used as the predetermined output control commands 30, 30, if the output control command can specify the range of the character string to be registered, Any output control command may be used.

Then, the tape printer 1 of the second embodiment
Then, by pressing the PC key 21 once, the registered character string "COM" is displayed after the displayed character string "X01", as shown in the screen on the right side of FIG. However, it may be so arranged that it is displayed immediately after the displayed block, or that other output control commands displayed before and after "COM" are simultaneously displayed.

[0060]

As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, when a predetermined key is operated, the first control is started from the position of the cursor displayed on the display means toward the beginning of the sentence.
The character string up to the control command is registered in the registration means together with the control command, and the control command and the character string registered in the registration means are continuously copied and displayed at the cursor position by the repeated display means. is displayed on the means Rutotomoni
The cursor is moved to the end of the copied character string.
Therefore, when continuously inputting the same character string, it is possible to copy the same character string to the display means following the character string simply by operating the predetermined key after inputting the character string. That is, the operation of designating the range of the character string to be copied is not necessary, and therefore the input operation is very simple.

[0061]

[0062]

According to the second aspect of the invention, when a predetermined key is operated, the character string between the control command with the cursor displayed on the display means and the control command is the beginning of the sentence.
Registered in the registration means together with the control commands on the side, by repeatedly displaying means, the control graphics that are registered in the registration means
The command and the string are copied after the end character
Is displayed on the display means. Therefore, when copying a character string between control commands, it is possible to move the cursor between the control commands and then operate a predetermined key The character string between the command and the command can be copied after the last character. That is, the operation of designating the range of the character string to be copied is not necessary, and therefore the input operation is very simple.

[0064]

[0065]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a tape printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention and illustrating a configuration of a main part.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the tape printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention and explaining the main operation.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of the main body, showing the tape printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the LCD showing the tape printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention and showing an example of a normal screen display.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the LCD showing the tape printer according to the second embodiment of the present invention and showing an example of a normal screen display.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Adhesive tape with release paper or electric wire tube (printed material) 4 Keyboard (input means) 9 Display unit driver circuit 10 LCD output means 13 Samall head 14 Head driver circuit 17 registration means 18 Repeated display means 19 Format control means

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 5/30 B41J 3/36 G06F 3/12

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A character string to be printed and input means for inputting a control command for controlling the output form of this character string for each printing block set on the label tape or label tube. Display means for displaying the character string or control command at the cursor position, storage means for storing the input character string or control command, and the character string stored in this storage means for the stored control command. In a tape printer provided with a printing means for printing on the label tape or label tube for each printing block based on the above , a control command, a character string and a cursor are displayed on the display means.
When indicated, by operating a predetermined key, its
Continue the string up to the first control command toward from the position of the cursor on the beginning of a sentence, and registration means for registering the control commands of their, the control command and the string is registered in the registration means to the position of the cursor Displayed on the display means, and the cursor is copied
A control unit and a character string registered in the registering means every time the predetermined key is pressed after the control command and the character string are registered in the registering means. The character that is copied and displayed at the position of
A tape printer characterized in that it is moved after the line . 2. A character string to be printed and input means for inputting a control command for controlling the output form of this character string, for each print block set on the label tape or label tube. Display means for displaying the character string or control command at the cursor position, storage means for storing the input character string or control command, and the character string stored in this storage means for the stored control command. In a tape printer provided with a printing means for printing on the label tape or label tube for each printing block based on the above , a plurality of control commands and character strings are displayed on the display means.
Control command between control commands
When the sol is positioned, the control frame where the cursor is
The character string between the command and the control command, and press the specified key.
By creating a registration means for registering with the control command at the beginning of the character string, the control command and the character string registered in the registration means are continuously copied after the end-of-sentence character displayed on the display means. And a repeated display means for displaying on the display means. After the control command and the character string are registered in the registration means, each time the predetermined key is pressed, the characters are continuously registered after the end character of the display means. A tape printer characterized in that a control command and a character string registered in the means are copied and displayed.