JP3574415B2 - Tape printer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a tape printer that prints a character or graphic on a tape-shaped printing medium, and more particularly to a tape printer having a tape cutting unit for cutting a tape.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as this type of tape printer, for example, a printer described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-147272 (US Pat. No. 4,866,697) is known. The tape printer includes a feed roller that feeds the printing tape and the ink ribbon in an overlapping state, and a tape printing unit having a thermal head that prints on the printing tape via the ink ribbon. There is provided a tape cutting means for cutting a printed portion of the print tape which has been separated and sent out of the apparatus. A personal computer (personal computer) or the like using the tape printer as an external output device is connected to the tape printer, and characters and the like input and edited from the personal computer are output from the tape printer.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In such a conventional tape printer, for example, a plurality of keys such as a print command key for printing data, a discharge command key for discharging a print tape, and a cut key for cutting a print tape are operated. Then, each operation is performed, and the operator is forced to perform a complicated key operation.
[0004]
An object of the present invention is to provide a tape printer with good operability.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Storage means for storing input print data, tape feeding means for feeding a tape-shaped member, tape printing means for printing the print data stored in the storage means on the tape-shaped member, and tape for cutting the tape-shaped member In a tape printer provided with a cutting unit, the cutting length of the tape-shaped member is set for each print data used for one printing. On the display screen Configurable tape length setting means, and the length of the margin added to the front and rear ends of the print data are set for each print data used for one printing. On the display screen Settable margin setting means, margin length determining means for determining whether or not the length of the margin set by the margin setting means is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and reading for determining the end of reading of print data in the storage means. End determination means, home position determination means for determining whether the activated tape cutting means has returned to the home position within a predetermined time, print command output means for outputting a print command, and when a print command is input, A tape printer, comprising: a drive controller for driving and controlling a tape printer, a tape feeder, and a tape cutter based on a margin length determiner, a read end determiner, and a home position determiner.
[0006]
In this case, the drive control unit determines the margin in a state where the read end determination unit determines that the readout of the print data has been completed and the home position determination unit determines that the tape cutting unit has returned to the home position within a predetermined time. If the front margin is determined to be equal to or greater than the predetermined value by the length determination means, the tape-shaped member is sent by the difference between the front margin length and the predetermined value, and then printing is performed while the tape-shaped member is being sent. When the front margin is determined to be less than the predetermined value by the length determination means, printing is performed while feeding the tape-shaped member by the difference between the front margin length and the predetermined value, and then the tape is cut and printed. It is preferable to restart.
[0007]
In these cases, it is preferable that the print command output means is a predetermined single key switch.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0009]
FIG. 1 is an external view of a tape printer showing one embodiment of the present invention. The main body 1 is casingd by an upper case 2, a lower case 3, and a cassette cover 4. In the figure, the cassette cover 4 is open and the tape cassette 147 and the ribbon cassette 148 are mounted.
[0010]
A display device 15 uses a liquid crystal display device. Reference numeral 20 denotes a keyboard on which keys such as a power key 21, a print key 22, a character key 23, and a function key 24 are arranged.
[0011]
2 and 3 are schematic views showing the structure of the mechanism section of the tape printer of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a top view showing the structure without a tape cassette. FIG. 3 is a left side view of FIG. As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, the cassette cover 4 of the tape cassette mounting portion is open. The structure will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0012]
A print head 105 has a plurality of heating elements (not shown) at equal intervals and is held by a head support 106. A print head 107 has a contact portion 107-1 with a release lever shaft 116 and has an axis on a head arm shaft 109. A supported head arm, 108 is a head support shaft for supporting the head arm 107 on the head support 106, and a head holding spring 110 for biasing the head arm 107 in the direction of arrow A17. 111 is a tape feed roller fixed to a shaft portion 128-1 of a tape feed gear 128 (shown in FIG. 5); 112 is a tape feed roller holder having a contact portion 112-1 and holding the tape feed gear 128; Reference numeral 113 denotes a tape feed roller spring that serves to urge the shaft portion 128-1 in the direction of arrow A19, and 129 denotes a tape feed roller holder shaft that supports the tape feed roller holder 112. Reference numeral 114 denotes a release lever which is supported by a release lever support shaft 115 fixed to the main frame 101 and is rotatable in the directions indicated by double arrows A15 and A16. Reference numeral 116 denotes a release lever shaft fixed to the release lever 114. Reference numeral 117 denotes a release lever which is guided by the sub-frame 7 and is movable in the directions of the double arrows A12 and A13, and is rotatable in the direction of the arrow A11 serving to control the movement of the release lever 117. A cassette cover 3 having the release cam 6 and rotatable in the direction of the arrow A10 with the release cam shaft 121 as a fulcrum is a lower printer case to which the main frame 101 is fixed. Reference numeral 118 denotes a support column integrally formed with the lower case 3 and supporting the release cam shaft 121. 103 is a motor having a motor gear 122, 126 is a ribbon winding gear that drives the rotation of the motor gear 122 by meshing with the transmission gear 124 from the transmission gear 123, and 104 is a ribbon winding gear driven by the ribbon winding gear 126. The shaft 127 is a tape transmission gear receiving rotation of the motor gear 122 via the transmission gear 123 and the transmission gear 125, 130 is a tape transmission gear shaft, and 131 is a platen roller shaft.
[0013]
Reference numeral 133 denotes a switch unit of the cassette detector 132 which detects the presence or absence of the tape cassette and the type of the tape cassette such as the width of the tape.
[0014]
134 and 135 are cutter blades for cutting the tape. The worm gear 145 rotates by the driving of the fixed blade 134 fixed to the printer frame 101 and the DC motor 146, and the cutter driving gear 139 rotates via the transmission gear 143, the transmission gear 142, and the transmission gear 141. Arrows A20, A21, A22, and A23 indicate the rotation direction of the tape cutting. A groove 140 having a cam curve is carved in the cutter driving gear 139, and a cutter driving pin 138 attached to the cutter arm 137 moves up and down in the groove. That is, the rotation of the cutter driving gear 139 causes the cutter driving pin 138 to rotate about the cutter rotating shaft 136. This rotation causes the cutter blade 135 attached to the cutter arm 137 to rotate, and cuts the print tape 154 fed by the tape pressing roller 150 (shown in FIG. 4) and the tape feed roller 111. Reference numeral 159 denotes a cutter home detector including a microswitch that detects a cutter home position by using a protrusion 139-1 of the cutter driving gear 139.
[0015]
In FIG. 2, the release lever 117 is pushed in the directions of the double arrows A12 and A16 by the release cam 6. Therefore, the release cam 6 receives a reaction force in the directions of both arrows A13 and A15 by the force of the head pressing spring 110 and the tape feed roller spring 113, and is prevented from rotating in the directions of both arrows A16 and A15. . The above is the description of the structure of the tape printer of the present invention.
[0016]
FIG. 4 is a diagram in which a tape cassette 147 and a ribbon cassette 148 are mounted on the tape printer mechanism of the present invention. The tape cassette 147 is mounted so as to cover the side surface of the ribbon cassette 148. A transparent tape 151 on which printing is performed and a double-sided adhesive tape 152 for protecting a printing surface of the transparent tape 151 are loaded in the tape cassette 147. 4 shows a state in which the cassette cover 4 is closed, the head support 106 on the main body side is pressed against the platen roller 149 on the tape cassette 148 side, and the tape feed roller 111 on the main body side is a tape pressing roller on the tape cassette side. 150, the transparent tape 151 and the ink ribbon 153 are pressed and held by the head support 106 and the platen roller 149, and the double-sided adhesive tape 152 and the transparent tape 151 are pressed and held by the tape feed roller 111 and the tape pressing roller 150, respectively. ing.
[0017]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the tape printer of the present invention.
[0018]
All devices such as input and output of the tape printer are controlled by the CPU 50. The CPU 50 has a number of I / O ports 71 and 72 for performing input / output control. The liquid crystal display device 15 is controlled via an LCD driver 73. Reference numeral 20 denotes a keyboard which directly performs key scanning from the CPU 50 and detects which key has been input. Reference numeral 75 denotes a buzzer for notifying a warning or a response, which is controlled by the CPU 50 via a buzzer driver 74. Reference numeral 51 denotes a ROM which includes a program 52, a display character generator (hereinafter, referred to as CG) 53, and CGs 54, 55, 56 for printing. Having a plurality of printing CGs enables printing of a plurality of character fonts.
[0019]
Reference numeral 57 denotes a RAM, which is an edit buffer 58, a display buffer 59, a print buffer 60, a work area 61, a stack area 62, a character height setting 63, a character width setting 64, a character decoration setting 65, and a character space setting of print settings. A setting 66, a tape length setting 67, a front margin setting 68, a font selection 69, a repeat setting 70, and the like are stored.
[0020]
Reference numeral 76 denotes a step motor driver for feeding the tape, which drives the step motor 103. Reference numeral 77 denotes a DC motor driver for driving the cutter, which drives the DC motor 146. A print head 105 uses a thermal head in the present invention. The print head 105 is driven via a head driver 79. The print head 105 is supported by a head support 106, a head arm 107, a head support shaft 108, and a head arm shaft 109. Reference numeral 132 denotes a tape cassette detector which detects the presence or absence of a tape cassette and a plurality of tape widths using two switch units 133. When the step motor 103 is driven to rotate forward, the motor gear 122 rotates in the direction of arrow A1, and the transmission gear 123 rotates in the direction of A2. The tape feed transmission gear 127 rotates in the A6 direction from the transmission gear 123 via the transmission gear 125, and further, the tape feed gear 128 rotates, and the tape feed roller 111 feeds out the tape. The tape pressing roller 150 is mounted on the tape cassette side. When the tape cassette 147 is mounted, the tape pressing roller 150 is pressed against the tape feed roller 111 with the print tape 154 interposed therebetween. 130 is a tape feed transmission gear shaft, which also serves as a support shaft of the tape pressing roller 150. The transmission gear 123 also rotates the transmission gear 124, and also rotates the ribbon winding gear 126. The rotation of the ribbon take-up gear 126 causes the ribbon take-up shaft 104 to rotate in the direction of arrow A4 and engage with the ribbon take-up core 158 to take up the ribbon 153. Arrows A3, A5, and A7 indicate the rotation direction of the gear for feeding the tape. Reference numeral 78 denotes a power supply for driving all the circuits.
[0021]
Next, print control of the tape printer of the present invention will be described.
[0022]
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of tape printing. Reference numeral 58 denotes an editing buffer in the RAM 57, which stores a character group 200 input from the keyboard. 201 is an end code indicating the end of the edit character. Reference numeral 60 denotes a print buffer secured in the RAM 57. As shown in the figure, a memory for developing characters in the edit buffer 58 into a bitmap using the print CG in the ROM 51. 202 and 203 in the print buffer 60 indicate the presence or absence of a dot, respectively. The columns in the vertical direction in the print buffer 60 are sequentially transmitted from the left to the print head 105, and when power is turned on, printing is performed as shown in FIG. 6C. FIG. 6C shows a print dot when a part of the print character “A” is transmitted to the print head 105 and energization is performed. Reference numeral 204 denotes a non-printed dot, and 205 denotes a printed dot. Each energization is performed for each row, during which the step motor 103 is driven to feed the tape. The distance d1 between the dot rows is controlled by the amount of rotation of the tape feed roller 111 driven by the step motor 103. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the print tape 154 and the head position of the tape printer of the present invention. An arrow A30 indicates the tape feeding direction, 217 indicates a marginal tape corresponding to the distance between the head position and the cutter position, and 210 indicates its length. Reference numeral 211 denotes a tape length, which is a total sum of a front margin 212, a print range 213, and a rear margin 214. 215 is the tape width and 216 is the print width.
[0023]
In the initial state, the print head 105 is located at H1. When a print command is received, the tape is fed by the front margin 212 minutes. Printing starts when the print head 105 reaches the position H2. When the front end of the front margin comes to the cutter position after the start of printing, the print head 105 is at the position of H3, stops printing, and performs cut processing. When printing is resumed after cutting and printing is completed, the print head 105 is positioned at H4. The printing is stopped, and the tape is fed for the rear margin 214. At this time, it is located at H5. Then, in order to obtain a printed piece of tape, the tape is sent after a head cutter distance of 210 minutes, and then cut (the position of the print head 105 is H6). At this time, the tape with the head cutter distance of 210 is useless. A method for eliminating the waste will be described later.
[0024]
Now, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in order to prevent vertical voids between dots at the time of cutting. One of the methods is a step motor hold control, and the other is a method of reversing the tape before and after the tape is cut.
[0025]
First, the hold control of the step motor will be described. In the present embodiment, examples are given for two methods. One is current control, and the other is chopping control.
[0026]
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a drive control circuit of the step motor. FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing a method of driving the drive control circuit of FIG. FIG. 10 is a timing chart in which the hold control of the step motor is realized by the motor drive control.
[0027]
The drive control circuit of the stepping motor shown in FIG. 8 is a circuit in which the current limiting circuit of the stepping motor 103 is simply constituted by a current limiting resistor 237 and a transistor 236 that bypasses a large current. When the hold signal 235 is input, the transistor 236 is turned off, and the current flows through the current limiting resistor 237. When the hold signal 235 is not input, the transistor 236 is turned on, so that a large current can flow. In this way, the rotation of the step motor is stopped and the holding state is achieved with a small amount of electric power. In the figure, reference numeral 230 denotes a step motor drive driver, and reference numerals 231, 232, 233, and 234 denote terminal terminals of a phase motor of one, two, three, and four phases, respectively.
[0028]
In FIG. 9, reference numerals 240, 241, 242, and 243 are timing signals of one phase, two phases, three phases, and four phases of the step motor, respectively. Reference numeral 244 denotes a hold signal. The sections T1 and T3 are rotation control sections of the step motor, and the section T2 is a hold control section. As described with reference to FIG. 8, when the hold signal 244 is HIGH (section T2), the transistor 236 is turned off, and the step motor 122 is held with low power. In this section T2, the printed tape is cut. In the figure, the hold is performed in four phases.
[0029]
FIG. 10 shows that the hold control of the step motor is realized by so-called chopping control for intermittently controlling the drive signal of the excitation phase. The drive control circuit of the step motor is based on FIG. The hold signal 235 is deleted. T1 and T3 are rotation control sections, and T2 is a hold control section. In the drawing, reference numerals 240, 241, 242, and 243 are timing signals of one phase, two phases, three phases, and four phases of the step motor, respectively.
[0030]
Next, a method of reversing the tape before and after the tape cut will be described.
[0031]
FIG. 11 is a timing chart for reverse / forward rotation of the tape feed before and after the tape cut. In the drawing, reference numerals 240, 241, 242, and 243 indicate one-phase, two-phase, three-phase, and four-phase drive signals of the step motor 103, respectively. Reference numeral 250 denotes a head energizing signal, reference numeral 251 denotes a cutter start signal, reference numeral 252 denotes a detection signal of a cutter home sensor, and reference numeral 244 denotes a head hold signal. In the section T1, normal tape feeding (t1, t2, t3, t4) and energization (t5) are performed. T6 indicates a tape feed time for one dot row. When the tape reaches the cut position, the tape feed is reversed (T4), and the tape is cut (T2). Thereafter, the reversed tape is rotated forward to return the tape to the position before cutting (T5). Then, tape feeding and printing are restarted (T3). At the time of tape cutting, as described above, the tape is held by the hold signal 244 of the step motor or the chopping control. During that time, the DC motor 146 for driving the cutter is started by the cutter drive signal 251. Since a signal indicating the end of the automatic cutting is output from the cutter home detector 159 as the home position detection signal 252, the auto cutter drive signal 251 is stopped when the cutter home detection signal 252 is detected. Next, the hold signal 244 is stopped and the printing operation is restarted. In the drawing, t1, t2, t3, and t4 respectively indicate one-phase, two-phase, three-phase, and four-phase drive pulse times of the step motor 1, t5 is a power supply time of the print head 6, t7 is a cutter drive time, and t8. And t9 indicate the pulse time of the cutter detector, and t6 indicates the time from when the tape is reversed until the power supply stabilizes and the cutter is driven.
[0032]
FIG. 12 shows the state of the double-sided adhesive tape and the transparent tape at the time of tape cutting. In the figure, the double-sided adhesive tape 152 and the transparent tape 151 are usually pulled by the tension of the tape feeding, but are slackened like 152-1 and 151-1 by the reverse of the tape feeding. At this time, at the position of the print head 105, the transparent tape 151 and the ink ribbon 153 are pressed against the print head 105 and the platen roller 149 and do not move. When the tape is cut here, the double-sided adhesive tape 152-1 and the transparent tape 151-1 are pulled by the cutter and slightly fed, but again, the transparent tape 151 and the ink ribbon 153 are pressed against the print head 105 and the platen roller 149. It does not move. After the tape is cut, the tape feed is rotated forward, and the double-sided adhesive tape 152-1 and the transparent tape 151-1 return to the original stretched state. When the motor is rotated forward, the motor is returned by a smaller number of pulses than when the motor is rotated in the reverse direction, so that extra pull-out is performed.
[0033]
The effectiveness of the reversal will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 (a) and 13 (b). 13 (a) and 13 (b) are schematic diagrams of the engagement portion between the step motor gear 122 and the transmission gear 123. FIG. 13A shows a stopped state during normal tape feeding, and FIG. 13B shows a stopped state during reverse rotation. In FIG. 13A, when the tape rotates in the direction of arrow A31, the tape is fed. When the cutter operates in this state, the tape is pulled in the direction of arrow A32, and the transmission gear moves as indicated by a broken line 123 '. In the state shown in FIG. 13B, the tape is rotated in the direction of arrow A33, and the transmission gear 123 cannot move even if the cutter operates and is pulled in the direction of arrow A34. Since the phenomenon of FIG. 13A also occurs for all the gears 125, 127, and 128 related to the other tape feed, it is easy to pull out the tape at the time of cutting, and the amount is also accumulated.
[0034]
FIGS. 14, 15, and 16 are control flowcharts including the reverse rotation at the time of tape cutting.
[0035]
In FIG. 14, LM denotes a front margin, PL denotes a print length, RM denotes a rear margin, and C denotes a dot counter value for tape feed. N is a numerical value obtained by converting the tape feed distance between the head cutters into dots. These variables are secured in the work area 61 in the RAM 57.
[0036]
When printing is started (step 300), first, a front margin LM is calculated from a front margin setting value (LMGN) 68 in the RAM 57. This calculation calculates millimeters to dots. (Step 301)
LM = LMGN (mm) / d1 (d1 is the distance between the dots in the tape feed, see FIG. 6)
Next, the print length PL is calculated. The print length PL is calculated based on the print character width (WIDE) 64, the number of characters, and the space between characters (CSPC) 66. (Step 302)
PL = WIDE x number of characters + CPSC x (number of characters-1)
Next, the rear margin RM is calculated. The rear margin RM may be obtained by subtracting the front margin LM and the print length PL from the tape length setting (TLNG) 67. (Step 303)
RM = TLNG-LM-PL
If the calculated rear margin RM is negative, an error occurs because the set value of the tape length is short. (Steps 304 and 305)
The dot counter C for tape feed is initialized. (Step 306)
First, the tape is fed in the front margin (S1). That is, until the LM becomes 0 (step 309), the dot is advanced by one dot (step 311), the LM is decremented by 1, and the counter C is incremented by 1 (step 310). At this time, it is checked whether the value of C has reached the cutting position by comparing C and N. (Step 307) When the cut position is reached, cut control A is performed. (FIG. 15)
Similarly, a printing operation is performed (S2). (Steps 312 to 317) The printing operation is different from the tape feeding of the front margin in that one dot row is printed for each dot feeding (step 317) and the cut control B is performed (step 313). . The difference between the cut control B and the cut control A is whether tape feed reverse rotation / forward rotation is performed or not.
[0037]
As in the case of the front margin, the tape feed of the rear margin is performed (S3). (Steps 318-322)
Since the cutter position always comes once (C = N) in the tape feed of the front margin, the tape feed of the printing, and the tape feed of the rear margin, which of the cut control steps 308, 313, and 319 Or at one location.
[0038]
After feeding the rear margin, cut the tape. After the N dot tape has been fed (step 323), the cut control A is performed (step 324), and the print control ends (step 325).
[0039]
FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the cut control A (when the reverse rotation is not performed). In the figure, T is a timer inside the CPU 50 (not shown), and TN is a cutter timeout time. First, the timeout time TN of the timer T is set. (Step 331) Then, the DC motor 146 for driving the cutter is started (Step 332). Until the signal of the cutter home sensor 159 is turned on (step 333), the timer T is decremented by -1 (step 334). When the timer T reaches 0, it is determined that a timeout has occurred (step 335), and a cutter operation error is determined. (Step 336). If the cutter home sensor 159 is turned on before the timeout occurs, the sensor 159 is turned off (step 337), the DC motor is stopped (step 338), and the process ends (step 339).
[0040]
FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the cut control B (in the case of reverse rotation). In the figure, W1 is the number of reverse rotation steps, W2 is the number of forward rotation steps,
W2 ≦ W1
It is.
[0041]
In the cut control B, the reverse transfer of the W1 dot tape is performed before the cut control A is called (step 342) (step 341), and the forward transfer of the W2 dot tape is performed after the cut control A (step 343). ).
[0042]
By the cut control during printing, tape printing in which cutting is performed at the front and rear margins shown in FIG. 7 becomes possible.
[0043]
Next, means for setting the front margin and the tape length will be described.
[0044]
FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the main control routine of the tape printer of the present invention. When the power is turned on (step 350), first, the system is initialized (step 351). Subsequently, the printer mechanism is initialized (step 352). In the initialization of the printer mechanism, the cutter is moved to the home position. At 353, the characters in the editing buffer 58 are displayed, and a key input is waited for (step 354). If the input key is a character key (step 355), it is input to the editing buffer 58 (step 356). If it is not a character key, the control key is determined (step 358), and the operation is performed according to the control key. The SHIFT key and the CAPS key wait for the next character to be input (steps 359 and 362). If the input key is a character key (steps 360 and 363), they are converted into symbols and capital letters (steps 361 and 364), respectively. Fill the buffer. If it is not a character key, the key is ignored and the next key is waited for (step 354). In the control key determination, if it is a FUNC key, the next key is waited for to be input (step 365). If it is a character key (step 366), a function key determination is performed (step 367), and a function function is operated. In the function key determination, if the input keys are numeric keys 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, character height setting (step 371), character width setting (step 372), and character decoration setting (step 373), respectively. ), Character space setting (step 374), tape length setting (step 375), and front margin setting (step 376). The numeric keys are arranged at predetermined keys on the keyboard 20 in FIG. If it is a print command key, repeat printing is performed (step 377). In the control key determination (step 358), if the print command key, print processing is performed (step 368), if the cursor key, the cursor is moved (step 369), if the line feed key, a line feed operation is performed (step 370).
[0045]
In the setting of the tape length (step 375) and the setting of the front margin (step 376), the heading and the current set value are displayed on the display device 15 in units of millimeters. Enter the numerical value directly or confirm the numerical value with the line feed key. Here, the means for setting the rear margin is unnecessary. That is, if there is a tape setting unit, a front margin setting unit, a character width setting unit, and a character space setting unit, the rear margin is automatically determined.
[0046]
Lastly, a description will be given of print control that does not create a tape margin between head cutters. In the above, repeat printing (step 377) is such.
[0047]
FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of a label producing process in a tape printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and considers a case where a tape piece printed with "ABC" is output in the same manner as in the above-described conventional example. P1 indicates the position of the print head 105, P2 indicates the position of the cutter blade, and L indicates the distance between the head cutters. In the figure, (a) shows the state of the tape before printing. Printing is started while feeding the tape from this state, and when the tape is fed by the length L to the left, temporary printing and tape feeding are stopped ((b) ) State). When the tape is cut in this state and an unnecessary portion (hatched portion in the figure) is cut off, the state shown in FIG. (D) is a state in which printing and tape feeding are resumed after tape cutting, and printing is completed. Here, when there is no schedule for the next printing and the user wants to output a piece of tape (when finishing the printing operation), the tape is fed leftward by L, and the tape is cut in the state of (f). A piece of tape with “ABC” printed without it is output. On the other hand, when the printing operation is continued, the second printing is started while feeding the tape from the state of (d), and the temporary printing and the tape feeding are stopped when the tape is fed by the length L to the left ((( e) state). In this state, when the tape is cut and the tape piece on which “ABC” is printed is cut off, the state shown in FIG. (D) is a state in which printing and tape feeding are resumed after tape cutting, and printing is completed. As described above, in order to continuously output a piece of tape on which “ABC” is printed, first, the operations of (a) and (b) are performed, and then (c), (d), and ( If the operation of e) is repeated, only a useless tape having a length L (a hatched portion in the drawing) is generated at first, and the output tape piece does not include a useless portion.
[0048]
FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a label manufacturing process in the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. First, printing is performed on the tape for the length L (the distance between the printing position and the tape cutting position) (step 381), where printing is temporarily suspended, and the tape is reversed for W1 steps (step 382). After cutting (step 383), the tape is rotated forward by W2 steps (step 384), and the remaining printing (step 385) is restarted. After the printing is completed, it is determined whether or not to perform the next printing (step 386). If the next printing is to be performed, the process returns to printing (step 381). If not, the tape is fed by the length L (step 387). ), A tape cut (step 388), and the process ends (step 389).
[0049]
The determination in step 386 may be such that the user sets the number of repeats immediately before repeat printing and counts down until the number of repeats becomes zero.
[0050]
In the present embodiment, the case where the tape pieces printed with “ABC” are continuously output has been described. However, the case where the characters and figures to be printed are changed each time and the continuous printing is performed may be used.
[0051]
FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the control process in the tape printer of the present invention, and the same processes as those in FIG. 19 are denoted by the same reference numerals. First, printing is performed on the tape for the length L (the distance between the printing position and the tape cutting position) (step 381), where printing is temporarily suspended, and the tape is reversed for W1 steps (step 382). After cutting (step 383), the tape is rotated forward by W2 steps (step 384), and the remaining printing (step 385) is restarted. After the printing is completed, an inquiry is made to the operator as to whether the next printing is to be performed using the display means. (Step 390) As an example, "Continue? (Y / N)" is displayed. Here, a key input is waited for (step 391), and after the key input, the process proceeds to a step of judging by the input character (step 392). If "Y" is input, the process returns to printing (step 381), and printing is continued by inputting "N". If not, the tape is fed by the length L (step 387), the tape is cut (step 388), and the process ends (step 389). When waiting for the input of "Y" or "N", if a numerical value is input, it can be applied to execute repeat printing this number of times.
[0052]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the tape printer of the present invention, the drive of the tape printing unit, the tape feeding unit, and the tape cutting unit can be appropriately controlled with a single operation, and the operability can be improved. it can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external view of a tape printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a top view showing the structure of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing the structure of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a top view showing a state where a tape cassette is mounted on the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating print control of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating print control of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of a tape feed motor of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a control timing chart of a tape feed motor of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a control timing chart of a tape feed motor of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a timing chart showing cut control of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a tape during cut control of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of gears during cut control of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating cut control of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating cut control of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating cut control of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating main control of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of a printing tape during cut control of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a control method of the tape printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
15 Liquid crystal display device
20 keyboard
22 Print key
50 CPU
52 ROM
57 RAM
103 Tape feed motor
105 print head
111 Tape feed roller
146 cutter drive motor
134 cutter fixed blade
135 cutter drive blade
149 Platen roller
150 Tape holding roller
151 transparent tape
159 Cutter home detector
201 end code
212 Front Margin
214 rear margin

Claims (3)

Storage means for storing the input print data, tape feeding means for feeding the tape-shaped member, tape printing means for printing the print data stored in the storage means on the tape-shaped member, and cutting the tape-shaped member In a tape printer having a tape cutting means,
A tape length setting unit capable of setting a cutting length of the tape-shaped member on a display screen for each print data provided for one printing;
Margin setting means for setting a length of a margin to be added to the front and rear ends of the print data on a display screen for each print data provided for one printing;
Margin length determining means for determining whether the length of the margin set by the margin setting means is equal to or greater than a predetermined value,
Reading end determining means for determining the end of reading of print data in the storage means,
Home position determining means for determining whether the activated tape cutting means has returned to the home position within a predetermined time,
Print command output means for outputting a print command,
A drive for driving and controlling the tape printing means, the tape feeding means, and the tape cutting means based on the margin length determining means, the reading end determining means, and the home position determining means when the print command is input. A tape printer comprising control means. The drive control unit is configured to determine whether the read end of the print data has been determined by the read end determining unit and that the tape cutting unit has returned to the home position within a predetermined time by the home position determining unit. ,
By the margin length determining means, when the front margin is determined to be equal to or more than the predetermined value, after sending the tape member by the difference between the front margin length and the predetermined value, while sending the tape member Print and
By the margin length determination means, when the front margin is determined to be less than the predetermined value, after printing while sending a tape-shaped member by the difference between the front margin length and the predetermined value, the tape 2. The tape printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer is cut and restarted. 3. The tape printer according to claim 1, wherein the print command output unit is a predetermined single key switch.

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