JPH06227045A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] In both the vertical writing mode and the horizontal writing mode, while maintaining an appropriate space between each character printed corresponding to the modification mode of the character etc. Provided is a printing device capable of printing modified characters and the like. [Structure] When the text input by a character input key or the like is modified (S55), the dot increments in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction are calculated based on the ROM table in accordance with the modification mode (S57). At the same time, the space formed between each modified character in the text is determined based on the dot increment and the character interval set by the character interval setting key or the like according to each vertical writing mode and horizontal writing mode ( S60). As a result, it is possible to create a tape in which modified characters and the like having a very good balance between the modified characters and the like printed on the tape are printed and which are easy to see.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for printing on a printing medium through a dot printing means while applying desired modification to characters etc. inputted from a character inputting means such as a keyboard. The vertical writing mode and the horizontal writing mode can be set, and an appropriate space is maintained between each character printed according to the modification mode of the character based on the set vertical writing mode or horizontal writing mode. However, the present invention relates to a printing device capable of printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are various printing apparatuses that set a desired modification mode from a plurality of modification modes for a character entered by a keyboard or the like and perform printing while modifying the character etc. according to the set modification mode. It has been proposed that, for printing characters etc. on the printing medium via the printing means, it is possible to select and set the vertical writing mode in addition to the horizontal writing mode, and printing is performed based on the set printing mode. There is also proposed a printing apparatus that prints characters and the like while forming a predetermined space between the characters and the like. When printing a modified character or the like in such a printing device, the space formed between each character or the like is a predetermined space selected from a few types of space candidates, and is selected in this way. Printing is performed on the printing medium while forming a space between each character.

[0003]

However, there are various modes for modifying characters and the like. Generally, when characters and the like are modified, the modified characters and the like are enlarged in the vertical and horizontal directions of each character and the like. Is usually printed. Therefore, the modified character or the like is printed larger than the original character or the like.

Under these circumstances, when the conventional printing device prints a modified character or the like, the space formed between the characters or the like is set to a few as described above.
Although there is room to select from the types of spaces, printing is performed while a predetermined space is formed between characters regardless of whether the characters or the like are modified. As a result, the space formed between the modified characters is uniquely determined even when the characters are modified and expanded more than the original characters. There was a problem that the balance between the two became extremely poor. In this case, the printed modified characters and the like are printed in a state of being too close to each other, which makes it difficult to see each character and the like.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and in any of the vertical writing mode and the horizontal writing mode, printing is performed in accordance with the modification mode of characters and the like. It is possible to print modified characters while maintaining an appropriate space between each character.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printing device capable of printing a modified character or the like that has an extremely good balance between the modified characters and the like and is easy to see.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a character input means for inputting characters and the like, and a dot pattern generation for generating a dot pattern corresponding to the characters and the like input from the character input means. And a dot printing means for printing characters and the like on a print medium according to the dot pattern generated by the dot pattern generating means, in which a plurality of modification modes are applied to the characters and the like input by the character inputting means. To a predetermined modification mode, and a dot increase setting for setting the dot increase in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of a character or the like corresponding to the modification mode specified by the modification designating unit. Means, and a print mode setting hand for setting a vertical print mode for vertically writing characters and the like and a horizontal print mode for horizontally writing characters and the like. When the vertical writing print mode is set by the print mode setting means, a vertical space corresponding to the dot increase in the vertical direction set by the dot increase setting means is formed between characters to be printed. In addition, when the horizontal writing mode is set by the print mode setting means, a space forming means for forming a horizontal space corresponding to the dot increase in the horizontal direction set by the dot increase setting means between characters to be printed. The printing means forms a vertical space or a horizontal space formed by the space forming means between each character according to the vertical writing mode or the horizontal writing mode set via the printing mode setting means. At the same time, each character or the like is printed on the print medium.

[0007]

In the present invention having the above-described structure, first, characters and the like are input via the character input means. When the modification mode of the character or the like input by the modification designating unit is designated, the dot increment setting unit sets the dot increment in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the character or the like in accordance with the designated modification mode. To be done. After that, when the vertical writing mode is set by the print mode setting unit, the vertical space corresponding to the vertical dot increase set by the dot increase setting unit is set between the characters by the space forming unit. It is formed. Further, when the horizontal writing mode is set through the print mode setting means, the horizontal space corresponding to the dot increase in the horizontal direction set through the dot increase setting means is set between the characters by the space forming means. Is formed.

Then, the dot pattern generating means generates a dot pattern corresponding to a character or the like, and
According to the dot pattern, the printing unit forms the vertical space or the horizontal space formed as described above between the characters according to the vertical writing mode or the horizontal writing mode set via the printing mode setting unit. Characters and the like are printed on a print medium.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention embodied in a tape printer will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tape printer showing the storage cover of the tape cassette storage unit opened. In FIG. 1, a tape printer 1 includes a character input key 2 for inputting characters such as characters over a plurality of lines to create a text composed of document data, a print key 3 for instructing printing of each text, A character spacing setting key 4A for setting a character spacing between characters, a print mode setting key 4B for setting one of a vertical writing mode and a horizontal writing mode, and a character modification for designating a character modification mode for each character, etc. Key 5,
A cursor key C for moving the cursor up and down, left and right on the liquid crystal display 7, a numeric key N for inputting a numerical value and making various decisions (described later), and a return key R for instructing execution of line feed and various processing. And the like, a keyboard 6, a liquid crystal display 7 for displaying characters and the like input from the keyboard 6, and a tape cassette 13 described later.
A cassette storage portion 8 for storing the is provided.

Further, the tape cassette 13 is rotatably driven by a pulse motor (not shown) in the cassette housing portion 8
A ribbon winding shaft 9 for rotating the ribbon winding spool 21 for winding the thermal ink ribbon 17 is provided upright.
Further, a tape feed roller shaft 10 for rotating a tape feed roller 27, which will be described later, is rotatably driven by a tape feed motor 40, which will be described later, via an appropriate transmission mechanism at an obliquely forward position (on the side of the keyboard 6). It is set up. Further, in front of the cassette storage portion 8, the thermal ink ribbon 17
A thermal head 11 for printing is fixedly mounted on a film tape 15 described later via the. The cassette storage portion 8 is opened and closed by a storage cover 12 that is pivotally supported rearward of the tape printer 1 and the tape cassette 13 is exchanged in the open state.

Next, the structure of the tape cassette 13 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the state where the tape cassette 13 is stored in the cassette storage portion 8 (the tape cassette 13 is shown excluding the upper case). In FIG. 2, a transparent film tape 15 is provided in the lower case 14.
A tape spool 16 around which the tape is wound, a ribbon spool 18 around which a thermal ink ribbon 17 is wound, and an adhesive tape spool 20 around which a double-sided adhesive tape 19 with release paper is wound with the release paper side facing outward. The spools 16, 18, 20 are rotatably supported by cooperation with a support portion provided on the lower surface of the upper case (not shown). Similarly, a ribbon take-up spool 21 is rotatably supported between the spools 16, 18, and 20, and the ribbon take-up spool 21 is the ribbon take-up shaft 9 described above.
The thermal ink ribbon 17 used for printing is wound by driving the ribbon winding shaft 9 which is meshed with.

Further, the above-mentioned thermal head 11 is arranged in a concave portion 22 provided in the lower case 14, and a platen roller 24 rotatably supported by a roller holder 23 is opposed to the thermal head 11 at a position where it can be pressed. It is arranged. The thermal head 11 includes a large number of heating elements (the thermal head 1 of the tape printer 1 according to the present embodiment).
1 has 128 heating elements), and prints characters and the like on the film tape 15 via the thermal ink ribbon 17. A tape pressure contact roller 26 is rotatably supported in the vicinity of a tape discharge portion 25 (lower left side in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the lower case 14, and the tape pressure contact roller 26 is rotatably supported by a roller holder 23. The tape feed roller 27 is arranged so as to face the position where it can be pressed.

In the cassette housing portion 8, a roller holder 23 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 28 in front of the tape cassette 13 (lower side in FIGS. 1 and 2), and the roller holder 23 is not shown. It is possible to switch between the print position and the release position by a manual switching mechanism (FIGS. 1 and 2 both show a state where the print position is switched to the print position). The roller holder 23 includes the platen roller 24 described above.
The tape feed roller 27 and the tape feed roller 27 are rotatably arranged so as to be in pressure contact with the thermal head 11 and the pressure contact roller 26 when the roller holder 23 is switched to the print position. The tape feed roller 27
Is rotationally driven by the tape feeding roller shaft 10 described above, and at the same time, the pressure contact roller 26 is rotationally driven in conjunction with the tape feeding roller 27 by a gear mechanism (not shown).

Further, the pressure contact roller 26 and the tape feed roller 27 cooperate with each other, and the adhesive agent of the double-sided adhesive tape 19 to the film tape 15 on which characters and the like are printed by the thermal head 11 via the thermal ink ribbon 17. The surfaces are pressure-bonded, the tape T is finally produced, and the tape T is sent in the direction of the arrow J. The produced tape T is cut by a cutter (not shown) arranged on the left side of the tape cassette 13. Since the structure of such a cutter is well known, its explanation is omitted here.

Next, the control system of the tape printer 1 having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows a control block diagram of the tape printer 1, and the controller 3
It is configured with 0 as the nucleus. The control device 30 is the CPU 3
1, ROM 32, CGROM 33, and RAM 34, which are connected to each other via a bus 35 and also to an input / output interface 36. Here, the ROM 32 stores various programs, and includes a basic control program, which will be described later.
Character spacing setting processing program, printing mode setting processing program, printing processing program, and other tape printing device 1
Various programs necessary for control of are stored. Then, the CPU 31 performs various calculations based on various programs stored in the ROM 32.

The ROM 32 also stores the character decoration pattern table shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a table showing, for each character and the like, a character modification pattern determined based on the size of the character and the like (expressed by the number of points) and the modification mode. In the table of FIG. 4, the first column shows a state in which unmodified ordinary characters are represented by a 3 × 3 dot matrix. In this case, there is no change in the basic dot pattern for all character sizes. Hereinafter, based on this dot pattern of ordinary characters, dots are increased in the vertical and horizontal directions for each character size and each modification mode.

The second column shows the case of bold characters (bold characters), where the dot increase in the vertical direction is 0 and the dot increase in the horizontal direction is 1 dot (when the character size is 10 to 22 points). 1 dot on the right side).
When the character size is between 23 and 39 points, the vertical dot increase is 2 dots (upper and lower 1 dot each), and the horizontal dot increase is 2 dots (1 left and right 1 dot each). It is said that. Further, when the character size is 40 points or more, the dot increase in the vertical direction is 2 dots (1 dot each on the upper and lower sides), and the dot increase in the horizontal direction is 4 dots (2 dots on each of the left and right sides). ing.

The third column is a blank character (outline character)
When the character size is 10 points or less, the dot increase in the vertical direction is 2 dots (1 dot each on the top and bottom), and the dot increase in the horizontal direction is 2 dots (1 dot on each of the left and right sides). It is said that. Also, the character size is 1
In the case of 3 points or more, the dot increase in the vertical direction is 4 dots (2 dots each in the upper and lower directions), and the dot increase in the horizontal direction is 4 dots (2 dots on each of the left and right sides).

The fourth column shows the case of three-dimensional characters. The increase in dots in the vertical direction is 3 dots (1 dot above and 2 dots below) until the character size is 19 points, and the increase in dots in the horizontal direction. Minutes are 3 dots (1 dot on the left and 2 dots on the right). When the character size is between 20 and 39 points, the vertical dot increase is 6 dots (upper 2 dots, lower 4 dots), and the horizontal dot increase is 4 dots (left 1 dot, 3 to the right
Dot). Further, when the character size is 40 points or more, the dot increase in the vertical direction is 6 dots (2 dots above and 4 dots below), and the dot increase in the horizontal direction is 6 dots (2 dots to the left. , 4 dots to the right).

Further, the ROM 32 stores the dot increment table shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a dot increment table that tabulates the dot increment based on each character modification mode and each character size, and is calculated from the character modification pattern table of FIG. In FIG. 5, the numbers on the left side in each column corresponding to each character modification mode indicate the values of the dot increase in the vertical direction, and the numbers on the right side similarly indicate the values of the dot increase in the horizontal direction. The data for each of these dot increments becomes basic data for calculating the vertical space and horizontal space formed between the modifier characters in the vertical writing print mode and the horizontal writing print mode during printing processing as described later. It is a thing.

Further, the CGROM 33 stores dot pattern data corresponding to each character input from the keyboard 6, and the dot pattern data is CGR.
After being read out from the OM 33 and expanded, it is transferred to the expansion buffer 42 described later. Furthermore, RAM3
The RAM 4 is for temporarily storing various calculation results calculated by the CPU 31.
4 is provided with various memories as shown in FIG. 6, a text memory 41 stores code data corresponding to a character input from the keyboard 6 as document data (text), and an expansion buffer 42 stores text stored in the text memory 41. Corresponding to the document data of CGROM3
The dot pattern data read from No. 3 is expanded and stored. Processing such as character modification is performed on the expansion buffer 42.

The print buffer 43 transfers and stores the dot pattern data stored in the expansion buffer 42 during printing. The thermal head 11 prints dots according to the dot pattern data stored in the print buffer 43. Is to do. The print mode flag 44 is a vertical writing print mode set based on the press of the print mode setting key 4B on the keyboard 6 (in this case, "1" is set to the print mode flag 44), as described later. And horizontal writing mode (in this case, "0" is set in the printing mode flag 44)
One of the print modes is stored. In the character spacing memory 45, the character spacing data (“1”, “2”, “3”) set in the character spacing setting process described later is set, and “1” means that the character spacing is “narrow”, “2”. Indicates that the character spacing is “normal”, and “3” indicates that the character spacing is “wide”).

Further, the character modification memory 46 has three types of modification modes ("bold" character, "white" character, and "three-dimensional" character).
For storing the modification mode data specified by
The "bold" character is "1", the "white" character is "2",
The "three-dimensional" character is represented by "3". The dot increment memory 47 stores the dot increment data read from the dot increment table (see FIG. 5) stored in the ROM 32 according to the modification mode data stored in the character modification memory 46. Movement amount memory 48
Is a value obtained by adding the character height (represented by the number of dots) of each modified character in the vertical writing print mode and the vertical dot increase (represented by the number of dots), as described later.
In addition, a value obtained by adding the character width (represented by the number of dots) of each modified character and the horizontal dot increase (represented by the number of dots) in the horizontal writing print mode is stored as the movement amount. The quantity is used to determine the placement position of the next character (discussed below). Also,
As will be described later, the character position memory 49 adds the character position data (character front end position data) of the character being printed and the movement amount stored in the movement amount memory 48. The character position data of a character is stored.

Here, returning to FIG. 3 and continuing the description of the control block diagram, the keyboard 6 is controlled via the input / output interface 36, and the liquid crystal display 7 and the display controller 37 are controlled via the input / output interface 36, respectively. When a character or the like is input through the character input keys 2 of the keyboard 6 connected to the device 30, the document data is sequentially stored in the text memory 41, and the dot pattern generation control program and the display control program are also stored. A dot pattern corresponding to a character or the like input via the keyboard 6 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 7 based on the. Also, the thermal head 1
1 is driven through the drive circuit 38 to print the dot data transferred from the image buffer 42 to the print buffer 43, and in synchronization with this, the tape feed motor 40
Is for controlling the feeding of the tape T via the drive circuit 39.

Next, the operation of the tape printer 1 having the above construction will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a basic control program of the tape printer 1. In step (hereinafter abbreviated as S) 1, various settings such as clearing of various memories in the RAM 34 are initialized. In S2, it is determined whether or not there is a key input from any of the keys on the keyboard 6, and if there is no key input (S2: NO), it waits until there is a key input, while if there is a key input (S2: YES)
In S3, it is determined whether the key input is from the print key 3.

In case of key input from the print key 3 (S
3: YES), and after the printing process described later is performed, the process returns to S2. If the key input is not from print key 3 (S3: N
In (O), it is determined whether or not there is a key input from the character spacing setting key 4A (S5). If the key input is from the character spacing setting key 4A (S5: YES), a character spacing setting process described later is performed. (S6), the process returns to S2.
On the other hand, if it is not the key input from the character spacing setting key 4A (S5: NO), it is determined whether the key input is from the print mode setting key 4B (S7).

When there is a key input from the print mode setting key 4B (S7: YES), a print mode setting process described later is performed (S8) and then the process returns to S2. If it is not the key input from the print mode setting key 4B (S7: NO), it is determined whether the key input is from the character modification key 5 (S9), and if there is the key input from the character modification key 5 (S7: NO). In S9: YES), a character decoration setting process described later is performed (S10), and then the process returns to S2. On the other hand, if it is not the key input from the character modification key 5 (S9: NO), S
At 11, it is determined whether the key input is from the character input key 2. In the case of the key input from the character input key 2 (S11: YES), the text composed of the document data such as the input characters is sequentially stored in the text memory 41 (S12), and then the process returns to S2. If it is not a key input from the character input key 2 (S11: NO), a process corresponding to the pressed key is performed (S13) and then S.
Return to 2.

Next, the character spacing setting process performed in S6 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the character spacing setting processing program,
First, when the character spacing setting key 4A is pressed, a character spacing setting screen as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 7 (S20). On the character spacing setting screen, three types of character spacing (narrow, normal, wide) are displayed as the type of character spacing. Subsequently, in S21, it is determined whether or not there is a key input from any of the keys on the keyboard 6, and if there is no key input (S21: NO), it waits until there is a key input, while there is a key input ( In S21: YES, it is determined whether the key input is from the number keys 1 to 3 (S22).

If the key input is not from the number keys 1 to 3 (S22: NO), the process returns to S21 to wait for the key input, and if the key input is from the number keys 1 to 3 (S22: YES). ), The character spacing is set according to the pressed numeric key N of 1 to 3 (S23) and then S
Return to 2. At this time, when there is a key input from the numeral key N of 1, the character interval "narrow" is selected and "1" is set in the character interval memory 45. Also,
When there is a key input from the numeral key N of 2, the character spacing "normal" is selected and the character spacing memory 45 stores "2".
Is set. Similarly, when there is a key input from the numeral key N of 3, the character spacing "wide" is selected and "3" is set in the character spacing memory 45.

Next, the print mode setting process performed in S8 will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 1
Reference numeral 0 indicates a flow chart of the print mode setting processing program. When the print mode setting key 4B is pressed, the print mode setting screen shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 7 (S30). In FIG. 11, two types of printing modes (vertical writing printing mode and horizontal writing printing mode) are displayed as the types of printing modes, and one of the printing modes is selected by the numeric key 1 or 2. When the numeral key N of 1 is pressed here, the vertical writing print mode is selected,
When the numeral key N of 2 is pressed, the horizontal writing mode is selected.

Then, it is judged whether or not the print mode selected in S31 is the vertical writing print mode, and if it is the vertical writing print mode (S31: YES), "1" is set to the print mode flag 44. After the vertical writing print mode is set (S32), the process returns to S2, while in the horizontal writing print mode (S31: NO), "2" is set in the printing mode flag 44 to set the horizontal writing print mode. (S33) After that, the process returns to S2.

Next, the character decoration setting process performed in S10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the character decoration setting processing program.
When the character decoration key 5 is pressed, the character decoration setting screen shown in FIG. 13 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 7 (S4).
0). In FIG. 13, three types of character modification modes (bold, hollow, solid) are displayed.
Then, it is determined whether or not there is a key input from any of the keys on the keyboard 6 (S41), and if there is no key input (S41: NO), it waits until there is a key input, while there is a key input ( 1 for S41: YES)
It is determined whether or not the key input is made from the numeral keys N of 3 to 3 (S42).

When there is no key input from the number keys 1 to 3 (S42: NO), the process returns to S41 to wait for the key input, while when there is a key input from the number keys 1 to 3 ( S42: YES) indicates that the pressed 1 to 3
After the character modification mode is set according to the numeric key N of
Return to. At this time, when there is a key input from the numeral key N of 1, the character modification mode “bold” is selected, and “1” is set in the character modification memory 46. In addition, when there is a key input from the numeric key N of 2,
The character decoration mode “white” is selected, and the character decoration memory 46 is selected.
Is set to "2". Similarly, when there is a key input from the numeral key N of 3, the character modification mode “solid” is selected and “3” is set in the character modification memory 46.

Next, the printing process performed in S4 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 shows a flow chart of the print processing program. First, in S51, it is judged whether or not text is present in the text memory 41. If the text exists (S51: YE
S) Initial setting is performed (S52), and the text memory 4
One character is read from the text in 1 (S53).
Then, the dot pattern data of the character code corresponding to the character read through the CGROM 33 is generated and expanded in the expansion buffer 42 (S54).

Next, in S55, it is determined whether the character decoration is set by referring to the character decoration memory 46.
If the character decoration is set (S55: YES), the decoration data set in the character decoration memory 46 and RO
Character modification processing is performed based on the character modification pattern table (see FIG. 4) stored in M32 (S5).
6). Thereafter, according to the modification data and the character size of the character modification memory 46, the vertical direction dot increase amount and the horizontal direction dot increase amount are read out based on the dot increase data table (see FIG. 5) stored in the ROM 32. The read dot increment data is stored in the dot increment memory 47 (S57), and the process proceeds to S58. on the other hand,
When the character decoration is not set in S55 (S55
55: NO), the process immediately shifts to S58.

In S58, it is determined whether the print mode set with reference to the print mode flag 44 is the vertical writing print mode. In the case of the vertical writing print mode (S58: YES), the dot pattern data on the expansion buffer 42 is rotated by 90 degrees (S59), and the height of the character (if it is modified, the height of the modified character, the modification If not, the normal character height) number of dots, the vertical direction dot increase stored in the dot increase memory 47 as described above (when there is no character modification, the dot increase is 0), and The character spacing memory 45 set as described above
A value obtained by adding the number of character spacing dots stored in is set as the movement amount, and the movement amount is stored in the movement amount memory 48 (S60). Then, the process proceeds to S62. On the other hand, if the vertical writing print mode is not set in S58 (S58: NO), it means that the horizontal writing print mode is set. Character width, normal character width when not modified) number of dots, horizontal dot increase stored in the memory 47 set as described above (dot increase is 0 if character is not modified) And a value obtained by adding the number of character-spacing dots stored in the character-spacing memory 45 as described above are set as the movement amount, and the movement amount is stored in the movement amount memory 48 (S61). Then, the process proceeds to S62.

Further, after the dot pattern data expanded in the expansion buffer 42 at that time is expanded in the print buffer 43 and transferred (S62), the character position data of the current character (character The front end position data of (1) is added to the movement amount stored in the movement amount memory 48 as described above to calculate the character position data, and the character position data is stored in the character position memory 49 (S63). The character position data stored in the character position memory 49 is
It is used when arranging the next character in the text in the text memory 41 on the expansion buffer 42.

Subsequently, in S64, it is judged whether or not the processing for all the texts in the text memory 41 is completed, and if the processing for all the texts is not completed (S64: NO), the next character is processed. When the processing for all the texts is completed (S64: YES), the process returns to S53 to perform the process of step S53, and on the tape via the thermal head 11 based on the dot pattern data developed in the print buffer 43. A modified character or the like is printed on (S65). Then, the printing process is completed and the process returns to S2. In S51, if no text exists in the text memory 41 (S51:
If NO, an alarm is immediately issued by a buzzer or the like (S66), and the printing process ends.

Print samples obtained when the vertical writing mode is selected in accordance with the above-described printing process are shown in FIGS.
7 is shown. FIG. 15 shows a print sample when character modification is not performed. In this case, since the dot increment is 0, the space formed between each character is set as described above and stored in the character interval memory 45. It is determined only by the character spacing data. Also, FIG.
Reference numeral 6 shows a print sample when the "bold" modification is applied. In this case, since the dot increment has the dot increment determined by the table (see FIG. 5) of the ROM 32,
The space formed between each character is determined based on the data obtained by adding the dot increment data stored in the dot increment memory 47 and the character spacing data stored in the character spacing memory 45. Further, FIG. 17 shows a print sample when the “three-dimensional” modification is applied. In this case, since the dot increment has the dot increment determined by the table of the ROM 32 (see FIG. 5), it is formed between the characters. The space provided is determined based on the data obtained by adding the dot increment data stored in the dot increment memory 47 and the character spacing data stored in the character spacing memory 45.

As described above in detail, in the tape printer 1 according to the present embodiment, when the text input by the character input keys 2 or the like is modified, the table is stored in the ROM 32 according to the modification mode. In addition to calculating the dot increments in the vertical and horizontal directions, the space formed between each modified character in the text is determined by the dot increment and the character spacing setting key 4A, etc. according to each vertical writing mode and horizontal writing mode. Since it is decided based on the set character spacing, in both the vertical writing mode and the horizontal writing mode,
It is possible to print the modified characters and the like on the tape while maintaining an appropriate space between the characters and the like that are printed corresponding to the modified mode of the characters and the like. As a result, it is possible to prepare a tape in which modified characters and the like having an extremely good balance between the modified characters and the like printed on the tape are printed and which are easy to see. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, in any of the vertical writing mode and the horizontal writing mode, an appropriate space is provided between each character or the like printed corresponding to the modification mode of the character or the like. It is possible to provide a printing device that enables printing of modified characters and the like while maintaining the above, and thus can print the modified characters and the like that have an extremely good balance between the modified characters and that are easy to see. is there.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tape printer showing a storage cover of a tape cassette storage unit opened.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state where a tape cassette is stored in a cassette storage portion.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the tape printer.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a character decoration pattern table stored in a ROM.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a dot increment table stored in a ROM.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the contents of RAM.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a basic control program of the tape printer.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a character spacing setting processing program.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a character spacing setting screen displayed on the liquid crystal display.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a print mode setting processing program.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a print mode setting screen displayed on the liquid crystal display.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a character decoration setting processing program.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a character decoration setting screen displayed on a liquid crystal display.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a print processing program.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a print sample when text that is not character-modified is printed in a vertical writing print mode.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a print sample when the text modified in bold is printed in the vertical writing print mode.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a print sample when a three-dimensionally modified text is printed in a vertical writing print mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Tape printing device 2 Character input key 3 Printing key 4A Character spacing setting key 4B Printing mode setting key 5 Character modification key 6 Keyboard 7 Liquid crystal display 11 Thermal head 30 Controller 31 CPU 32 ROM 33 CGROM 34 RAM 41 Text memory 42 Expansion buffer 43 print buffer 44 print mode flag 45 character interval memory 46 character modification memory 47 dot increment memory 48 movement amount memory

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location G09G 5/24 8121-5G

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A character input means for inputting a character or the like, a dot pattern generating means for generating a dot pattern corresponding to a character or the like input from the character input means, and a dot pattern generated by the dot pattern generating means. In a printing device having dot printing means for printing characters or the like on a printing medium, a modification designation for designating a character or the like input by the character input means from a plurality of modification modes to a predetermined modification mode Means, a dot increment setting means for setting the dot increment in the vertical and horizontal directions of the character or the like corresponding to the decoration mode designated by the decoration designating means, and a vertical writing print mode for vertically writing the character or the like. Print mode setting means for setting a horizontal print mode for horizontal writing of characters and characters, and vertical print by the print mode setting means. When the mode is set, a vertical space corresponding to the dot increase in the vertical direction set by the dot increase setting means is formed between the characters to be printed and the horizontal writing print mode is set by the print mode setting means. Is set, a space forming means for forming a horizontal space corresponding to the dot increase in the horizontal direction set by the dot increase setting means between the characters to be printed, and the printing means, Each character or the like on the print medium is formed while forming the vertical space or the horizontal space formed by the space forming means between the characters or the like in accordance with the vertical writing print mode or the horizontal writing print mode set via the print mode setting means. A printing device characterized in that it prints.