JPH06243135A - Tape printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Even when the left and right margins are set according to the text data length calculated based on the character pitch, and the dot pattern data length of the text created based on the character width exceeds the set left and right margins. Provided is a tape printer capable of printing characters and the like while providing appropriate margins on both sides of the characters and the like. [Structure] Set the left margin on the image buffer to the left of the dot pattern data expansion start position by the minimum value dot width, and set the right margin to the minimum dot width from the end of the text length calculated based on the character pitch data. Just set it to the right position (S10),
When the front end or the end of the dot pattern data developed on the image buffer based on the character width data exceeds the left margin or the right margin (S12: YE
S), the setting positions of both margins are further moved leftward and rightward from the current setting position by the minimum value dot width (S1).
3) Configure as follows.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape printer for producing a tape with characters by printing a text consisting of document data such as characters having a predetermined character pitch and character width on a long tape. , The left and right margins are set according to the text data length calculated based on the character pitch, and even if the dot pattern data length of the text created based on the character width exceeds the set left and right margins, both sides of the printed character etc. The present invention relates to a tape printer capable of printing characters and the like while providing an appropriate margin.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for characters and the like used in this type of tape printer, a predetermined character pitch and a character width are predetermined for each character and the like. Is set larger than the character width. For example, as shown in FIG. 9 (A), the English character "A"
The character pitch P is larger than the character width W.
In such a case, when setting the left and right margins on both sides of the text such as characters input from the keyboard etc., it is necessary to set the left and right margins on both sides of the text data calculated based on the character pitch of each character. For example, the text will not be printed beyond the margins. On the other hand, the relationship between the character pitch and the character width may be reversed depending on the type of character. For example, in FIG.
As shown in (B), the character pitch P is smaller than the character width W in the italicized English character "A".
Further, as shown in FIG. 9C, the character pitch P is smaller than the character width W even in the English small letter "g". As a result, when the italic characters as described above are present in the text consisting of characters entered with the keyboard etc., left and right margins are set on both sides of the text data calculated based on the character pitch of each character. Then, the data of the text actually printed on the tape may be printed in a state of protruding beyond both margins. Therefore, in the conventional tape printer, it is determined whether there is a character whose width is larger than the character pitch, such as the italic character described above, in the case where such italic character exists in the text. Was designed to uniformly displace the left and right margins by a certain amount in both sides of the text.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional tape printer, although it is judged whether or not there are italic characters or the like in the text, it is possible to determine the position where the italic characters or the like are arranged in the text. Is not considered at all. Therefore, even if italic characters are not placed at the front end position or the rear end position of the text, the left and right margins are evenly shifted by a fixed amount as described above. The printed text has a possibility that an unnecessary margin is formed on both sides of the character at both ends of the text as shown in FIG. in this way,
A tape with unnecessary margins formed on both sides of the text has a bad balance and appearance of characters on the tape, and it is directly connected to the waste of the tape due to the extra margin. There was a problem. The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and sets the left and right margins according to the text data length calculated based on the character pitch, and the dot pattern data length of the text created based on the character width. Even if the specified margin exceeds the set left and right margins, it is possible to print characters, etc., while providing proper margins on both sides of the printed characters, etc., so that the tape with letters and good looking characters can be printed without wasting the tape. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape printer capable of producing a tape.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a text creating means for creating a text consisting of document data such as characters having a predetermined character pitch and character width, and a text creating means. A text buffer that stores the created text, an image buffer that expands the text data stored in the text buffer into dot pattern data according to the character width of the characters, etc., and stores the characters according to the dot pattern data in the image buffer. In a tape printer having a printing means for printing on a lengthy tape, a first margin is set at a position apart from the front end of the text data calculated based on the character pitch on the image buffer by a predetermined amount, A predetermined amount from the end of the text data calculated based on the character pitch Margin setting means for setting a second margin at a predetermined position, and it is determined whether the dot pattern data developed and stored in the image buffer according to the character width of the character or the like exceeds the first margin or the second margin. When the determination means and the determination means determine that the dot pattern data exceeds the first margin or the second margin, the margin movement for moving the set positions of the first margin and the second margin to both sides of the dot pattern data by a predetermined amount. And means.

[0005]

According to the present invention having the above-described structure, first, the text including document data such as characters having a predetermined character pitch and character width is created through the text creating means and stored in the text buffer. Then, on the image buffer, by the margin setting means, the first margin is located at a position apart from the front end of the text data of the text calculated based on the character pitch by a predetermined amount, and the position is located at a position apart from the end of the text data by a predetermined amount. 2 margins are set. After that, the text data stored in the text buffer is expanded into dot pattern data according to the character width and is stored in the image buffer. Further, the determination means determines whether or not the dot pattern data exceeds the first margin or the second margin set on the image buffer as described above. As a result of the determination by the determination means, the dot pattern data is the first margin. Alternatively, when it is determined that the second margin is exceeded, the set positions of the first margin and the second margin are moved by a predetermined amount to both sides of the dot pattern data via the margin moving means. Following this, according to the dot pattern data stored in the image buffer, characters and the like are printed by the printing means on the long tape.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention 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 has a character input key 2 for inputting characters such as characters over a plurality of lines to create a text consisting of document data, a print key 3 for instructing printing of each text, and a character. An italic key 4 for modifying the like in italics, a cursor key C for moving the cursor up and down, left and right on the liquid crystal display 7, and
A keyboard 6 provided with a return key R for issuing a line feed command and execution of various processes, a liquid crystal display 7 for displaying characters etc. input from the keyboard 6, and a cassette storage portion 8 for storing a tape cassette 13 described later are arranged. It is set up. Further, a ribbon take-up shaft 9 for rotating the ribbon take-up spool 21 of the tape cassette 13 to wind the thermal ink ribbon 17 is provided upright in the cassette housing portion 8 by being rotated by a pulse motor (not shown). ,or,
A tape feed roller shaft 10 for rotatably driving a tape feed motor 40, which will be described later, via a proper transmission mechanism to rotate a tape feed roller 27, which will be described later, is provided at an obliquely forward position (on the side of the keyboard 6). ing. Further, in front of the cassette housing portion 8, a thermal head 11 for printing on a film tape 15 described later is fixedly mounted via a thermal ink ribbon 17. 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 provided with the recess 2 provided in the lower case 14.
The platen roller 24 rotatably supported by the roller holder 23 is arranged to face the thermal head 11 at a position where it can be pressed against the thermal head 11. The thermal head 11 has a large number of heating elements (the thermal head 11 of the tape printer 1 according to the present embodiment has 128 heating elements), and the thermal ink ribbon 17 is used to form a film tape. Characters 15 and the like are printed on 15. In addition, the tape ejection portion 25 of the lower case 14
The tape pressure roller 26 is provided near (on the lower left side in FIGS. 1 and 2).
Is rotatably supported, and a tape feed roller 27 rotatably supported by the roller holder 23 is arranged opposite to the tape pressure contact roller 26 at a position where it can be pressure contacted.

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). Also,
The pressure contact roller 26 and the tape feed roller 27 cooperate with each other to form the film tape 15 on which characters and the like are printed by the thermal head 11 via the thermal ink ribbon 17.
On the other hand, the pressure-sensitive adhesive surface of the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 19 is pressure-bonded to finally prepare the tape T and to feed the tape T in the direction of the arrow J. The produced tape T is a cutter (not shown) arranged on the left side of the tape cassette 13.
Is cut by. 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 structure 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 print control program, which will be described later.
A print processing program and other various programs necessary for controlling the tape printer 1 are stored. And C
The PU 31 performs various calculations based on various programs stored in the ROM 32. Further, the ROM 32 stores data relating to the height, width, and pitch of characters for each point size of printable characters. As a result, even if a character is specified in italics or enlarged / reduced, the character height, character width, and character pitch data corresponding to the point size of the character is read from the ROM 32. Is. The character width data is character width data from the left end to the right end of the character, left character width data from the center position predetermined for each character to the left end of the character, and the right end of the character from the center position. The character pitch data is the character pitch data from the left end to the right end of the character pitch, the left pitch data from the center position to the left end of the character pitch, and the right end of the character pitch from the center position. Including right pitch data up to. Further, the CGROM 33 stores dot pattern data corresponding to each character input from the keyboard 6, and the dot pattern data is stored in the CGROM 33.
It is read out from the computer, expanded, and then transferred to the image buffer 42 described later. Further, the RAM 34 is for temporarily storing various calculation results calculated by the CPU 31, and the RAM 34 is provided with various memories as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, a text memory 41 stores code data corresponding to a character input from the keyboard 6 as document data (text), and an image buffer 42 is stored in the text memory 41. The dot pattern data read from the CGROM 33 is expanded and stored based on the character width data of each character and the like corresponding to the text document data. Further, the print buffer 43 transfers and stores the dot data stored in the image buffer 42 during printing, and the thermal head 11 performs dot printing according to the dot pattern data stored in the print buffer 43. is there. In addition, the margin memory 44 includes an image buffer 42 as described later.
The setting positions of the first margin (left margin) and the second margin (right margin) set above are stored.
The text length memory 45 stores the length of the text data calculated based on the character pitch data of each character stored in the ROM 32 as described above.

Now, 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 constructed as described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the tape print control program. First, after initialization such as clearing of various memories in the RAM 34 is performed, in step (hereinafter abbreviated as S) 1, any key on the keyboard 6 is pressed. It is determined whether there is a key input. If there is no key input (S
If there is a key input (S1: YES), the character input key 2
It is determined whether the key input is from (S2).

If the input is a key input from the character input key 2 (S2: YES), a text data forming process is performed according to the pressed character input key 2 (S3), and then the process returns to S1. The text data of the text created in this way is stored in the text memory 41. If it is not the key input from the character input key 2 (S2:
If NO, it is determined whether the key input is from the print key 3 (S4). If the key input is from the print key 3 (S4: YES), the print processing described later is performed (S5). After that, the process returns to S1. On the other hand, if the key input is not the print key 3 (S4: NO), the process corresponding to the pressed key is performed (S6), and then the process returns to S1. For example, when there is a key input from the italic key 4, it is input from the character input key 2 and the text memory 41
The characters in the text stored in are modified in italics.

Next, the printing process performed in S5 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of the print processing program. In S10, the left and right margins are set on the image buffer 42. A method for setting the left and right margins will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the image buffer 42. The expansion start position BP when expanding text data into dot pattern data on the image buffer 42 is predetermined (in the case of the present embodiment, the image buffer 42). Front end position F of 42 storage area
(Set to a position of 48 dots from P), the left margin LM is positioned to the left of the development start position BP by a predetermined minimum value dot width (16 dots width is set as a minimum value in this embodiment). Set. Further, the text length H calculated by calculating the data length of the text data stored in the text memory 41 based on the character pitch of each character is stored in the text length memory 45, and the right margin RM is such a text length H. Is set to the right side position by the minimum dot width from the end. The set position data of the left and right margins set in this way is stored in the RAM 3
4 is stored in the margin memory 44.

Subsequently, in S11, the text data stored in the text memory 41 is expanded into dot pattern data via the CGROM 33, and the expanded dot pattern data is stored in the image buffer 42.
At this time, the dot pattern data is developed based on the character width data of each character stored in the ROM 32. From this, it is calculated based on the character pitch as described above,
Text data length H stored in the text length memory 45
And the data length of the dot pattern data developed in the image buffer 42 do not necessarily match, and if the italic character data exists at the front end position or the rear end position of the dot pattern data, the left margin LM or the right margin R
It is also possible that it will extend beyond M. Therefore, in S12, next, it is determined whether the front end or the end of the dot pattern data developed on the image buffer 42 exceeds the left margin LM or the right margin RM. When the front end or the end of the dot pattern data exceeds the left margin LM or the right margin RM (S12: Y
In (ES), the setting positions of both margins are further moved in the left-right direction by the minimum dot width from the current setting position with reference to the data in the margin memory 44 (S13). After that, the set position data of the moved left and right margins are updated and stored in the margin memory 44.

Specifically, in FIG. 7, the left margin L
The setting position of M is moved to the left from the current setting position (shown by a dotted line) by the minimum dot width (shown by a two-dot chain line). Further, the setting position of the right margin RM is moved to the right side from the current setting position (shown by a dotted line) by the minimum value dot width (shown by a two-dot chain line). After that, the process returns to S11 to make another determination. As a result, the left and right margins LM and RM are sequentially moved in the left and right directions by the minimum value dot width with reference to the setting position data in the margin memory 44 until the determination in S12 becomes YES. On the other hand, when the front end and the end of the dot pattern data do not exceed the left margin LM and the right margin RM (S
In 12: NO, the dot pattern data developed in the image buffer 42 is transferred to the print buffer 43, and the dot pattern data is printed on the tape via the thermal head 11 (S14). A print sample printed in this manner is shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, there are two italic characters "A" and "F" on both sides of the text printed on the tape, but a space corresponding to an appropriate margin is formed on both sides of these italic characters. I know that This completes the printing process and returns to S1.

As described above in detail, in the tape printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the left margin LM is set on the image buffer 42 to the left of the dot pattern data development start position BP by the minimum dot width. , The right margin RM is set at a position on the right side by the minimum dot width from the end of the text length H calculated based on the character pitch data, and the front end of the dot pattern data developed on the image buffer 42 based on the character width data. Alternatively, when the end exceeds the left margin LM or the right margin RM, the setting positions of both margins are further changed from the current setting position to the minimum value dot until the front end and the end of the dot pattern data fall within the range of both left and right margins. Since it is moved to the left and right by the width, both sides of the characters printed on the tape While always providing a proper margin Te can perform printing of characters and the like. As a result, it is possible to create a tape with characters that is good in balance and looks good without wasting the tape. 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.

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention, the left and right margins are set according to the text data length calculated based on the character pitch, and the left and right margins are set according to the pattern pattern data length of the text created based on the character width. A tape that allows characters to be printed while providing appropriate margins on both sides of the characters to be printed even when the number of characters exceeds, thus making it possible to create a tape with characters and a good-looking character without wasting the tape. A printing device can be provided, and its effect is great.

[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 the contents of RAM.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a print control program.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a print processing program.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of setting left and right margins on an image buffer.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a print sample created by a tape printer.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a character pitch and a character width of a character or the like.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a print sample created by a conventional tape printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 tape printer 2 character input key 3 print key 4 italic key 6 keyboard 7 liquid crystal display 11 thermal head 30 controller 31 CPU 32 ROM 33 CGROM 34 RAM 41 text memory 42 image buffer 43 print buffer 44 margin memory 45 text length memory

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location G06F 3/12 E

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A text creating means for creating a text composed of document data such as characters having a predetermined character pitch and a character width, a text buffer for storing the text created by the text creating means, and a text buffer. A tape having an image buffer for expanding the stored text data into dot pattern data according to the character width of a character or the like and storing it, and a printing means for printing the character or the like on a long tape according to the dot pattern data of the image buffer In the printing device, a first margin is set on the image buffer at a position distant from the front end of the text data calculated based on the character pitch by a predetermined amount, and at the end of the text data calculated based on the character pitch. Margin setting to set a second margin at a fixed distance A step for determining whether or not the dot pattern data developed and stored in the image buffer according to the character width of the character or the like exceeds the first margin or the second margin; and the dot pattern data is determined by the determining means. Tape printing, comprising margin moving means for moving the set positions of the first margin and the second margin to both sides of the dot pattern data by a predetermined amount when it is determined that the first margin or the second margin is exceeded. apparatus.