JPH01152070A - Printing device with changeable printing position - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a printing tape to be formed according to a character size, purpose of use or the like, by providing a printing position changing means for changing from a center printing mode for printing at the center of the width of a printing tape to a one-side justification mode for printing in the manner of justifying to one side, and vice versa. CONSTITUTION:A character size for either a full size pattern, namely, a basic pattern of 24X24 dots or a quadruple size pattern of 48X48 dots is set by operating a character size key 44. In the case of the full size pattern, a center printing mode for printing at the center of the width of a printing tape 20 and a bottom justification printing mode for printing in the manner of justifying to the lower side of the width can be selected by a center printing mode key 46 and a bottom justification printing mode key 48. In the case of the center printing mode, a 12-dot space data is inserted before or after the transfer of a one-dot-column amount of data on the basic pattern, whereby a character is so printed that the center of the character is located on the center line 0 of the tape 20. In the case of the bottom justification printing mode, printing is conducted with the center line of the tape 20 at an upper limit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a printing device that prints on a printing tape, and particularly to a tape printing device in which the printing position can be changed.

<Prior Art> Tape printing devices usually include a print head and a feeding device. The print head is equipped with a print element row consisting of a large number of print elements, and the feeding device feeds the print tape in a direction intersecting the print element row relative to the print head. In accordance with the feeding, dot matrix printing is performed within the length of the printing element array.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, conventional tape printing devices do not take into account the flexibility of the printing position according to the character size, and the printing of characters whose size is smaller than the length of the printing element row is difficult. The position is uniformly determined in advance, leaving no room for selection by the user, and there is a problem in that it cannot support a variety of printing formats.

Means for Solving the Problems> The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and the printing device according to the present invention is a printing device as described above, in which the length of the printing element row is smaller than the length of the printing element row. The center print mode shifts the range of the printing element array that is driven when printing a character of the same size in the length direction of the printing element array, and prints at the center of the width direction of the printing tape, and the width of the printing tape. The present invention is characterized in that a printing position changing means is provided for changing to a one-sided alignment mode in which printing is performed on one side of the direction.

<Operations and Effects> According to the printing device as described above, either center printing or one-sided alignment printing can be performed depending on the user's selection. Therefore, between center printing and one-sided alignment printing,
By selecting a printing format that is considered more appropriate depending on the character size, purpose of use of the printing tape, etc., it is possible to create an optimal printing tape depending on the case.

<Embodiment> Hereinafter, one embodiment of the tape printing device according to the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the tape printing device. This printing device includes an input section 10. In addition to the printer section 12, it is provided with a liquid crystal display 14 (hereinafter simply referred to as a display) having a predetermined number of digits.

In the printer section 12, a thermal head 16 is provided as a print head in a fixed position, and is pressed against a platen roller 18. This thermal head 16
A printing tape 20 is supplied from a supply spool 22 via a guide roller 24 between the printer and platen roller 18, and an ink ribbon 28 contained in a ribbon cassette 26 is supplied from a supply spool 30. The printing tape 20 is sent to the left in FIG. 1 by a pair of tape feed rollers 33 driven by a cheap ribbon feed motor 32 (see FIG. 3), and at the same time, the ink ribbon 28 is wound by the motor 32. It is wound onto the take-up spool 34. A tape cutter 35 is installed downstream of the roller 33 in the tape feeding direction.
is provided, and the print tape 20 after printing is cut by a cutter drive motor 36 (see FIG. 3).

As shown in FIG. 2, the thermal head 16 has a head body 17 equipped with a heating element array 38, which is a printing element array. The heating element row 38 is made up of a large number of heating elements 39, and in this embodiment, there are 48 heating elements 39. The heating elements 39 are arranged adjacent to each other in the direction orthogonal to the tape feeding direction, and the heating element array 38 is driven at a predetermined timing in accordance with the tape/ribbon feeding, thereby inputting information to the input unit 10. Printing is performed on the printing tape 20 according to the data. In this example,
Tape/ribbon feed motor 32. Tape feed roller 33
etc. constitute the feeding device.

Returning to FIG. 1, the input unit 10 is provided with a keyboard 40, which includes character keys 42 such as kana and alphabet keys, character size keys 44, etc. Center print mode key 46. Bottom alignment print mode key 48. Print key 49. It is equipped with various function keys such as a tape cut key 50. The functions of these keys will be described later.

The input unit 10 also includes a center print mode display light emitting diode (hereinafter, a light emitting diode will be referred to as an LED) 52.corresponding to the center print mode key 46 and the bottom alignment print mode key 48. LEDs 54 for displaying the bottom alignment print mode are provided respectively, and the center print mode key 46. When the bottom alignment print mode key 48 is pressed, it lights up selectively,
The corresponding mode is displayed.

Next, the control system will be explained based on the block diagram shown in FIG.

The input unit 10 is connected to an input interface 58 of a microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as microcomputer) 56 . The input interface 58 is connected by a pass line 60 to the CPU 62 . ROM64°RAM66, character generator for printing and display (hereinafter referred to as CG-ROM
) 68° 69 and an output interface 70 .

The ROM 64 includes a program memory 71. which stores programs for controlling the overall operation of the present tape printing apparatus. It stores a dictionary memory 72 used for kana/kanji conversion, etc.

The RAM 66 is an input buffer 73. It includes a print buffer 74, a shift register 75, and other necessary counters and registers.

The CG-ROM 6B generates a dot pattern for printing based on input character code data, and the CG-ROM 69 generates a dot pattern for display to be displayed on the display 14.

A head drive circuit 76, a motor drive circuit 77, a display drive circuit 78, and a motor drive circuit 79 are connected to the output interface 70, and the thermal head 1 is connected to each of them.
6. Tape/ribbon feed motor 32. display 14
and a cutter drive motor 36 are connected.

The head drive circuit 76 is further embodied and schematically shown in FIG. Each heating element 39 has one electrode connected to the +12V power supply terminal 80, and the other electrode connected to the printing driver 82. The input terminals of each printing driver 82 include an output terminal of an inverter 86 whose input terminal is connected to the printing strobe input terminal 84 and each output terminal of a data latch circuit 90 whose input side is connected to the launch signal input terminal 88. are connected to each other. Further, each input terminal of the data latch circuit 90 is connected to each output terminal of a shift register 75 whose inputs are connected to a data input terminal 92 and a clock input terminal 94.

Therefore, data corresponding to printing is first stored in the shift register 75 in synchronization with a clock signal. Thereafter, when the launch signal is taken into the data latch circuit 90, the data stored in the shift register 75 is output to the corresponding data latch circuit 90 and stored therein. At the same time, the data is applied to each print driver 82.

In this state, when a print pulse signal of logic "0" is applied from the print strobe input terminal 84 to the input terminal of the inverter 86, a signal of logic "1" is output from the output terminal of the inverter 86, and a signal of logic "1" is output from the output terminal of the inverter 86. It is applied to the input terminal of the driver 82. Therefore, when the data of the data latch circuit 90 is logic "1", the output side of the print driver 82 becomes logic "O", and a drive current is supplied from the power supply terminal 80 to the corresponding heating element 39. .

At this time, the pulse width of the printing pulse signal input to the printing strobe input terminal 84 is set so that the surface temperature of the heating element 39 becomes a temperature suitable for printing.

By the way, in this embodiment, by operating the character size key 44, a basic pattern consisting of a full-width pattern, that is, a pattern of 24 x 24 dots, and a quadruple-width pattern of 48 x 4B dots obtained by enlarging the basic pattern vertically and horizontally are selected. The font size can be set to one of the following.

In the case of a quadruple-width pattern, the pattern is transferred to the shift register 75 one dot row at a time, resulting in printing of 48.times.48 dots as shown on the left side of FIG. 5, for example.

On the other hand, in the case of a full-width pattern, an additional center print mode key 46. By operating the bottom alignment printing mode key 48, a center printing mode in which printing is performed at the center of the printing tape 20 in the width direction, and a bottom alignment printing mode in which printing is performed at the lower side in the width direction of the printing tape 20 are selected. Selectable. In the case of center print mode, the basic pattern data is 1
Before and after each dot row is transferred, space data for 12 dots, that is, logical "0" data is inserted, and the center of the character is placed on the center line 0 of the printing tape 20, for example, as shown in the fifth center. 24 x 24 dots are printed. On the other hand, in bottom alignment print mode,
Before the basic pattern data is transferred for each dot row, 24 dots worth of space data (logic "0") is inserted, and for example, as shown on the right side of FIG. 5, the upper limit is the center line of the tape 20. 24x24 dots are printed.

An example of such a printing program will be explained below based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the power is turned on, initial settings such as character size and print position are performed in step SL (hereinafter simply referred to as 81; the same applies to other steps), and the character size is set to full-width pattern, and the print position is set to center print mode. Set. At this time, the font size is displayed on the display 14,
Further, the center print mode display LED 52 lights up. The print data input using the character key 42 is sent to S2.
At 33, the data is stored in the input buffer 73 in step S17, and in step 318, the character corresponding to the print data is displayed on the display 14 via the display CG-ROM 69.

When the bottom alignment print mode key 48 is pressed, the process moves from S2 to S3 to S8, where the bottom alignment print mode is set, and further, in S9, the bottom alignment print mode display LED 54 lights up.

Then, when the print key 49 is pressed, S2. After S3
Step s10 is executed, and the dot pattern generated in the printing CG-ROM 68 in accordance with the input code data is developed in the printing buffer 74. In this case, the initial full-width pattern will be developed. followed by S
The process moves to S11, and it is determined whether the character size is a full-width pattern.If YES, the process moves to S12, and it is determined whether or not the bottom alignment printing mode is selected. In this case, since the determination in S12 is also YES, S13 is executed, and before the 1-dot string of data to be printed is transferred from the print buffer 74 to the shift register 75, it is printed with the insertion of 24 dots of space data. By repeating this printing process for each dot row in accordance with the feeding of the tape/ribbon, bottom-aligned printing of a full-width pattern as shown in FIG. 7 (hereinafter referred to as full-width bottom-aligned printing) is performed, for example.

When the center print mode key 46 is pressed to perform center print in a full-width pattern, S6 is executed through S2 and 33 to set the center print mode, and the center print mode display LED 52 is turned on in S7. Then, when the print key 49 is pressed, the full-width pattern is developed in the print buffer 74 as described above in S10, and
Based on the determination in S and the NO determination in S12, S14 is executed, and each dot row is printed as described above with the insertion of space data of 12 dots before and after the data to be printed. For example, center printing of a full-width pattern as shown in FIG. 8 (hereinafter referred to as full-width center printing) is performed. In other words, in the bottom alignment printing mode and the center printing mode, the range of the heating element row 38 that is driven during printing is 12 in the row direction (length direction).
It is shifted by a dot.

When the character size key 44 is pressed to change the character size from a full-width pattern to a quadruple-width pattern, the quadruple-width pattern mode is set in S4. Further, S5 is executed, and a display showing the setting pattern is displayed on the display 14. Note that each time the font size key 44 is pressed, the mode display on the display 14 switches alternately.
The currently displayed font size is determined by operating other keys.

When the print key 49 is pressed, S2. SIO is executed through S3, and a quadruple-width dot pattern is developed in the print buffer 74 via the printing CG-ROM 68. Vt
If the determination in <311 is No, the data is transferred as is to the shift register 75 in S15, and each dot row is printed, thereby printing 48×48 dots over the entire length of the heating element row 38.

Further, processing such as kana/kanji conversion is performed as necessary, but in that case, S2. It will be executed as other processing of 819 via S3.

In addition, in the case of quadruple-width printing, the entire length of the heating element row is used, so there is no choice between center printing and bottom alignment printing.
When the character size is a full-width pattern, whether to perform center printing or bottom alignment printing is appropriately selected depending on whether the character sizes are the same or mixed, the user's preference, etc. For example, if the font sizes are all full-width patterns as shown in Figures 7 and 8, it can be said that Figure 8 is generally better than Figure 7 in terms of appearance, etc.;
If the font sizes are different as shown in Figure 10,
In general, it can be said that the printing format shown in FIG. 10 is easier to understand than that shown in FIG. 9. In other words, by selecting center printing or bottom alignment printing according to various cases, a printing form more suitable for the case can be obtained. In this implementation, center print mode key 46. The bottom alignment print mode key 48 and a microcomputer 56 mainly including the CPU 62 constitute a print position changing means.

Note that when the tape cut key 50 is pressed, S16 is executed after passing through 32 degrees S3, and the printed tape 20 is cut by the tape cutter 35 by the drive of the cutter drive motor 36, thereby creating the printed tape 20 of the desired length. be done.

In the above embodiment, bottom alignment printing is taken as an example of one-sided alignment printing, but the invention is not limited to this, and upper alignment printing in which printing is performed closer to the upper side in the width direction of the printing tape 20 may also be used.

Further, the number of heating elements can be changed as appropriate, and the present invention is applicable to not only the printing element row but also a dot row formed of wire dots.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a tape printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of a thermal head, which is a printing head thereof. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of the tape printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a head drive circuit shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of character size and print position, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a portion of the program stored in the program memory of FIG. 3 that is closely related to the present invention. It is. Figures 7 and 8. FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are explanatory views showing different printing examples, respectively. 10: Input section 12: Printer section 14: Liquid crystal display 16: Thermal head 20: Print tape 28: Ink ribbon 32: Tape/ribbon feed motor 33: Tape feed roller 35: Tape cassette 38: Heat generating element array 39: Heat generating element 40: Keyboard 42: Character key 44: Character size key 46;
Center print mode key 48: Bottom alignment print mode key 49: Print key 52: Center print mode display LED 54: Bottom alignment print mode display LED 56: Microcomputer

Claims (1)

[Claims] A print head that prints on a print tape using a dot matrix within the length of a print element row consisting of a large number of print elements, and a print tape that is moved in a direction intersecting the print element row relative to the print head. In a printing device equipped with a feeding device, the range of the printing element row that is driven when printing a character of a size smaller than the length of the printing element row is shifted in the length direction of the printing element row, and the printing tape is A printing position characterized in that a printing position changing means is provided for changing between a center printing mode in which printing is performed at the center in the width direction of the printing tape, and a single side alignment mode in which printing is performed in one side in the width direction of the printing tape. changeable printing device.