JPH09240066A - Tapelike label preparing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a tapelike label preparing device capable of always printing data at an appropriate position by determining under control the print initiating position of a printing head on a specified format using a reference mark for position the printing head. SOLUTION: A ribbon cassette detecting table for detecting the color and the width of an ink ribbon based on a ribbon detecting signal to be outputted from a group 103 of a first-a sixth detecting switch, is stored in ROM 112. In addition, a specified format detecting table for detecting the type of a specified format printed previously on the table based on a format signal to be output from the group 13 of the first-the sixth detecting switch is also stored in ROM 112. Further, data relative to the length of a tape to be fed from a state in which a sensor mark is detected in order to set a thermal head at a print initiating position is stored in ROM 112 for every specified format.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape-shaped label producing apparatus, and more particularly to a tape-type label forming apparatus which prints a standard format on a tape.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the applicant of the present invention has disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-849.
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 94, a tape-shaped label suitable for printing a character or a mark of a character or a symbol on a print tape as a print medium and preparing a label suitable for attaching to a spine of a file. The device was proposed and put into practical use. This label producing apparatus includes a keyboard, a display, and a printing mechanism of a thermal printing system, and has a printing tape (for example, tape width 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 m) as a printing medium.
In m), characters and marks can be printed in various character sizes and fonts.

By the way, there are cases where it is desired to create a plurality of tapes having a fixed pattern such as a standard format or a company logo. In this case, in order to save the effort of inputting, a standard format is continuously printed on the tape in advance, and in the label producing device, only the part peculiar to the tape to be produced, for example, date or number May be printed.

[0004]

However, if a standard format or the like is printed on the tape, it is difficult to print at the correct position on the printed format, and it takes several trials and errors to carry out printing. The reality is that you can finally create a decent tape.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to always print at an appropriate position on a tape in which a standard format is printed in advance. It is intended to provide a label producing apparatus.

[0006]

In order to achieve this object, a tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a print head, and data of given text is recorded on a tape which is a print medium. In a tape-shaped label producing apparatus equipped with a printing means for printing, a mark which is printed on the tape together with a predetermined format in advance and serves as a reference for positioning the print head at a print start position for the format, and the mark as a reference And a control means for controlling the print start position of the print head with respect to the predetermined format.

According to this structure, the control means controls so as to determine the print start position of the print head with respect to the predetermined format based on the mark. , It is possible to always print at an appropriate position.

A tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is provided with a detecting means which is provided on a running path of the tape and detects the mark printed on the tape, and the control means detects the detecting means. Based on the result, control is performed to position the print head at the print start position for the predetermined format.

According to this structure, the detection means detects the mark printed on the tape, and the control means automatically positions the print head at the print start position for a predetermined format. It is possible to easily obtain a correct printing result without performing difficult alignment.

A tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to a third aspect sets which of a plurality of formats prepared in advance the predetermined format printed on the tape mounted in the apparatus. The control means controls to position the print head at a print start position corresponding to each format based on the setting status of the setting means.

According to this configuration, the control means controls the print head to be positioned at the print start position corresponding to each format according to the setting status of the setting means, so that a plurality of types of formats can be used. Even if the print start position is prepared and different for each format, printing can always be performed at an appropriate position.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape-shaped label producing apparatus, wherein the setting means is provided on a case side for accommodating the tape, and an identifying means for identifying a type of a predetermined format being printed, And a detection unit provided on the main body side for detecting the type of the format printed on the tape based on the identification unit.

According to this structure, since the detecting means automatically detects the type of tape format based on the identifying means, the user does not need to set the format on the apparatus, which is convenient. improves.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the tape label producing apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the front portion of the main body cover 2 of the tape-shaped label producing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, in addition to character keys such as characters, symbols and numbers, various function keys are provided. A keyboard 4 is provided, and a liquid crystal display 5 capable of displaying input characters and symbols is provided immediately behind the keyboard 4 and corresponds to the cassette cover 3 which is opened / closed when the ribbon cassette 30 is replaced. A thermal printing mechanism 10 having a thermal head 12 is disposed inside the main body cover 2. Here, the slide cover 6 can be slid to open the cassette cover 3, and the cutting knob 85 can be pressed downward to manually cut the printed printing tape 22.

Next, regarding the thermal printing mechanism 10 which comprises the thermal head 12 and constitutes the printing means of the present invention,
A description will be given based on FIGS.

First, the tape cassette 20 detachably attached to the thermal printing mechanism 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.
It will be described with reference to FIG.

The tape case 2 of this tape cassette 20
1 has a printing tape 22 made of a thin film.
Is provided rotatably, and the print tape 22 fed from the tape spool 23 is guided in a curved shape by a plurality of guide portions, passes immediately before the thermal head 12, and Tape feed roller 2
4 to the tape cassette 2
0 is discharged outside.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the tape case 2
A pair of guide shafts 21a for vertically guiding and supporting the ribbon cassette 30 at the time of attaching and detaching the ribbon cassette 30, which will be described next, are provided at two separated locations on the outer peripheral wall of the first cassette.
-The lower ends of 21b are integrally formed. Further, the tape case 21 is formed with a pair of lower end wall portions 21c and 21d which abut on and support the lower side of the ribbon cassette 30.

Next, the ribbon cassette 30 which is detachably attached to the tape cassette 20 will be described with reference to FIGS.

The ribbon case 31 of the ribbon cassette 30 is integrally formed with an upper wall portion 31a which abuts against a part of the tape case 21 from above and extends horizontally.
a pair of guide shafts 21 of the tape case 21
A pair of engaging leg portions 31b and 31c having through holes, which are externally fitted to a and 21b, are formed, and a vertical wall portion 31d that contacts the notch portion 21e of the tape case 21 is formed. Further, the ribbon cassette 30 is formed with a head accommodating portion 37 for accommodating the thermal head 12 inserted from below through the tape cassette 20.

Further, inside the ribbon case 31, a ribbon spool 33 around which the ink ribbon 32 is wound, and a ribbon take-up spool 34 around which the ink ribbon 32 is wound are rotatably provided and wound around the ribbon spool 33. The mounted ink ribbon 32 temporarily approaches the printing tape 22 in parallel when facing the thermal head 12, and the separating portion 35 of the separating member 35 integrally formed with the ribbon case 31.
The tape is bent at an acute angle at a, separated from the print tape 22, and wound up by the ribbon take-up spool. That is, the separating member 35 of the ribbon case 31
Is located downstream of the thermal head 12 in the tape feeding direction. The ribbon case 31 is provided with a lid member 31e that supports the ribbon spool 33, the take-up spool 34, the separating member 35, and the like from above.

On the other hand, the tape case 21 has a ribbon cassette housing portion 21f for housing the ribbon cassette 30.
(See FIG. 7), and the lid member 3 of the ribbon case 31 is formed.
On the upper surfaces of the upper wall 1a and the upper wall 31a, knob pieces 31f, 3
When printing, first, the tape case 21 is mounted in a mounting recess (not shown) provided in the main body cover 2 and then the ribbon cassette 30 having the ink ribbon 32 of a desired print color is printed. To tape case 21
Can be mounted in the ribbon cassette accommodating portion 21f. At this time, first, a pair of knob pieces 31 is used with two fingers.
f, 31g and a pair of engaging legs 31b, 3
The ribbon cassette 30 is moved downward and housed in the ribbon cassette housing portion 21f while the 1c is fitted onto the corresponding guide shafts 21a and 21b through the through holes, respectively. At this time, the upper wall 31a of the ribbon case 31 overlaps with the upper surface of the tape cassette 20, and the lower end of the ribbon cassette 30 is connected to a pair of lower end walls 21c of the tape case 21.
The ribbon cassette 30 is held at a predetermined position with respect to the tape case 21 by abutting on the upper side of the tape cassette 21d.

By the way, a plurality of types are prepared in the ribbon cassette 30 depending on the ribbon color (red, green, yellow, black, ...) Of the ink ribbon 32 and the ribbon width (12, 18, 24, 32 mm). At the lower end of the vertical wall portion 31d of the ribbon case 31, in order to detect any one of these plural types of ribbon cassettes 30, a detection hole group 36 (FIG. 6 has one detection hole 36a) formed therein. Further, in the tape case 21, a detection hole group 210 (maximum of two detection holes 210a is combined with the mounted tape in order to detect the contents such as a standard format printed on the tape in advance). In FIG. 5, one detection hole 2
10a is formed). This detection hole group 210 constitutes the identification means of the present invention.

Next, the printing tape 22 and the ink ribbon 32
With reference to FIG. 9, a description will be given of a tape / ribbon transfer mechanism 40 which can transfer the print direction and the rewind direction as the printing direction.

The main body frame 11 has a tape spool 2
3, a tape take-up cam 41 engageable with the center of the ribbon take-up spool 34, and a tape drive cam engageable with the center of the tape feed roller 24. 43 are rotatably supported, the thermal head 12 is erected, and the detection hole group 3 is
In order to detect the presence or absence of the six detection holes 36a and the detection hole 210a of the detection hole group 210, a detection switch group 103 including first to sixth detection switches is provided.
Ribbon detection signal RS and format detection signal FS by combination of switch signals from two detection switches
Are respectively output. The detection switch group 103
Which constitutes the detection means of the present invention.

Further, at the right end of the front end of the main body frame 11, the tape drive motor 4 consisting of a stepping motor is provided.
4 are mounted, and gears 46 to 53 rotatably supported by the main body frame 11 are sequentially meshed with a driving gear 45 of the tape driving motor 44, and the tape fixed to the tape driving cam 43 is engaged with the gear 53. The drive gear 54 and the gear 55 are engaged. Here, the gear 48 and the gear 4
9, the gear 50 and the gear 51 are integrally formed, and the tape winding gear 52 is formed integrally with the lower end of the ribbon winding cam 42. It is fixed to the part. That is, the rotation of the tape drive motor 44 is transmitted to the tape drive cam 43 fixed to the tape drive gear 54 via these gears 45 to 54, and the print tape 22 is transported by the rotation of the tape feed roller 24.

On the other hand, the base end of the rocking lever 56 is located in the gap between the gears 50, 51 formed integrally with each other.
It is supported in a state where a moderate frictional resistance is given between
A planetary gear 57 that always meshes with the gear 51 is rotatably supported by the swing lever 56. Also, the gear 53
The pivot spring shaft 59 has a base end portion of a cutting prohibition lever 84, and a winding spring 59 such that the pivot shaft 58 is sandwiched between one end of the winding spring 59 supported by the cutting prohibition lever 84 and the base end portion. Is pressed and supported by the urging force.

Then, as shown in FIG. 9, when the tape drive motor 44 is driven in the clockwise direction (normal rotation drive) for normal printing, and the gear 50 rotates in the clockwise direction, the gap between them is increased. The rocking lever 56 is also rotated in the clockwise direction by the frictional force so that the planetary gear 57 does not mesh with the tape winding gear 52, and the tape winding cam 41.
Is released, the print tape 22 wound on the tape spool 23 is fed out, and at the same time, the gear 53 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, and the cutting prohibition lever 84 rotates in the counterclockwise direction. The tip of the cutting prohibition lever 84 is located below the cutting lever 82 to be described later, prohibiting the cutting operation, and rotating the ribbon drive gear 45 in the counterclockwise direction to rotate the ribbon winding cam 42. The ink ribbon 32 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction via the clutch spring 60, and the ink ribbon 32 is wound on the ribbon winding spool 34.

By the way, a roller holder 67 for rotatably supporting the rubber platen roller 65 and the tape feed sub-roller 66 is rotatably supported by a pivot shaft 68 erected on the main body frame 11, and a cassette. The release lever 71 moves in the left-right direction in conjunction with the opening and closing of the cover 3, and the position is switched between the print position shown in FIG. 9 and the release position shown in FIG. Here, the roller holder 67
Is always elastically biased to the release position by a winding spring (not shown). That is, the roller 72 pivotally attached to the release lever 71 comes into contact with the standing wall 11a of the main body frame 11, and one end of the release lever 71 is
When the release lever 71 has moved leftward from the retracted position shown in FIG. 11 to the operating position shown in FIG. 9, the left end of the release lever 71 is in contact with the roller holder 67 and the upright wall 11a. The roller holder 67 is switched from the release position to the printing position. At this time, the platen roller 65 is connected to the thermal head 1 via the print tape 22 and the ink ribbon 32.
2 and the tape feed sub-roller 66 presses the tape feed roller 24 via the print tape 22.

Here, when the roller holder 67 is switched to the printing position, a platen gear (not shown) fixed to the lower end of the platen roller 65 meshes with the gear 55, and also fixed to the lower end of the tape feed sub-roller 66. The sub roller gear (not shown) meshes with the tape drive gear 54.

Next, the head release mechanism 70 for driving the release lever 71 to the right in conjunction with the opening of the cassette cover 3 to switch the roller holder 67 to the release position with respect to the thermal head 12 for release.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 11 to 13.

The rear end of the cassette cover 3 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 13 to 13, a pivot pin 7 attached to the main body cover 2 is supported to be openable and closable at a plurality of positions, and a curved groove cam 3b is formed on a right side wall 3a of the cassette cover 3. . An engaging pin 75 that engages with the groove cam 3b is fixed to the rear end of the operation plate 74 disposed below the right end of the main body frame 11. By the way, the right end of the release lever 71 is rotatably supported by one lever of a forked lever 76 pivotally connected to the main body frame 11, and the other of the forked lever 76 has: It is connected via a pin 77 fixed to the front end of the operation plate 74.

Then, as shown in FIG. 12, when the cassette cover 3 is closed, that is, the roller holder 67 is shown in FIG.
When the cassette cover 3 is opened at the printing position shown in FIG. 13, as shown in FIG. 13, the movement of the groove cam 3b causes the engagement pin 75 engaging with the groove cam 3b to move rearward. The plate 74 moves backward, and the forked lever 7
The roller holder 67 is switched to the release position in response to the rotation of the release lever 71 to the right in the counterclockwise rotation direction of the release lever 6. At this time, when the operation plate 74 moves backward, the cover opening / closing detection switch 102 outputs an “H” level cover opening / closing signal VS. When the cassette cover 3 is opened as shown in FIG. 13, that is, when the roller holder 67 is at the release position shown in FIG. 11, and when the cassette cover 3 is closed as shown in FIG. 3b, the engagement pin 75 moves forward, the operating plate 74 moves forward, the forked lever 76 rotates clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 11, and the release lever 71 moves leftward. , The roller holder 67 is switched to the printing position, that is, the non-release state.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, when printing is performed, first, the tape cassette 20 is mounted on the thermal printing mechanism 10, and then the ribbon cassette 30 is mounted on the tape cassette 20. When the cassette cover 3 is closed, the roller holder 67 is switched to the print position. Then, in this state, the tape drive motor 44
Are normally rotated in the normal printing direction, these gears 45 to 55 are respectively driven in a predetermined rotation direction, and the platen roller 65 and the tape feed sub-roller 66 are rotated in the counterclockwise rotation direction, respectively. Since the sub-roller 66 and the tape feed roller 24 rotate in synchronization, the print tape 22 is discharged to the outside through the tape cutting mechanism 80 and the tape detection mechanism 90 while being printed by the thermal head 12.

At this time, since the tape winding cam 41 becomes free, the printing tape 22 wound on the tape spool 23 is sequentially fed out without resistance. At the same time,
The ink ribbon 32 is fed out of the ribbon spool 33 in synchronization with the print tape 22 by rotation of the platen roller 65, and rotation of the ribbon winding gear 48 rotates the ribbon winding cam 42 and engages with the ribbon winding cam 42. The ribbon is wound on the rotating ribbon winding spool 34.

Next, a tape cutting mechanism 80 for cutting the printed printing tape 22 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9, 14 and 15.
It will be described based on.

The lower end portion of the fixed blade 81 is fixed to the left end wall 11b in which the left end portion of the main body frame 11 is partially bent downward, and the base end portion of the cutting lever 82 having a substantially L-shape in side view. It is pivotally supported by a screw 83 and its cutting lever 8
2 has a movable blade 82a. Here, during printing, as shown in FIG. 9, the gear 53 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, and the distal end of the cutting prohibition lever 84 moves below the cutting lever 82, so that the cutting operation is started. prohibited.

However, when the tape drive motor 44 is slightly rotated in the rewinding direction at the end of printing, as shown in FIG. 15, the gear 53 is rotated slightly in the clockwise direction to cause the cut prohibiting lever 84 to move. When the tip end comes off from the lower side of the cutting lever 82 to enable the cutting operation,
As shown in FIG. 14, when the cutting knob 85 at the tip of the cutting lever 82 is pressed downward, the movable blade 8
2a rotates to the cutting position shown by the two-dot chain line, and the printing tape 22 located between the fixed blade 81 and the movable blade 82a is cut by the cooperation of these two blades 81 and 82a. At this time, the cutting detection switch 101 attached to the main body frame 11 is operated by the operating member 86 attached to the cutting lever 82 to output the cutting detection signal CS. Then, when the pressing operation of the cutting lever 82 is stopped, the cutting lever 82 returns to the original predetermined position shown by the solid line by the urging force of a spring (not shown).

Next, a tape detecting mechanism 90 which is provided outside the tape cutting mechanism 80 and detects the presence or absence of the print tape 22 will be described with reference to FIG.

A guide member 94 is integrally formed on the main body cover 2 outside the tape cutting mechanism 80 in order to form the sensor accommodating chamber 96 in a hermetically-sealed manner, and the position facing the guide member 94 is also the same. The guide member 95 is integrally formed. A light emitting element / light receiving element 92 and a light receiving element 93 are attached to the sensor housing chamber 96, and the light emitting / light receiving element 92 and the light receiving element 93 constitute a detection sensor 91. The printing tape 2 is provided between the pair of guide members 94 and 95.
2 is formed, a small diameter light passage hole 94a is formed in the guide member 94, and inclined guides 99 are formed in each of the guide members 94, and the printing tape 22 that has passed through the tape cutting mechanism 80 is formed. By guiding the tip end of the slit with this guide portion 99, it is possible to reliably pass through the slit 98 for detection. The detection sensor 9
1 constitutes the detecting means of the present invention.

The sensor light emitted from the light emitting / receiving element 92 passes through the light passage hole 94a formed in the sensor housing chamber 96, is reflected by the printing tape 22, and is projected onto the light emitting / receiving element 92. . That is, when the printing tape 22 enters the slit 98 and the sensor light is reflected on the white background of the tape and the light emitting / light receiving element 92 receives the light, the detection sensor 91 outputs the “H” level and the vertical line on the tape. When the printing unit (sensor mark described later) enters the slit 98, the sensor light is not reflected and the tape detection signal T of "L" is generated.
Output S.

Next, the control system of the tape-shaped label producing apparatus 1 is constructed as shown in the block diagram of FIG.

Input / output interface 1 of control device CD
Reference numeral 13 includes a keyboard 4, a detection sensor 91, a disconnection detection switch 101, and a cover open / close detection switch 102.
, Detection switch group 103, liquid crystal display (LC
D) A display controller (LCDC) 104 having a video RAM for outputting display data to 5, a drive circuit 106 for a warning buzzer 105, a drive circuit 107 for driving the thermal head 12, and a tape drive. A drive circuit 108 for the motor 44 is connected to each.

The control device CD includes a CPU 110 and this C
An input / output interface 113 connected to the PU 110 via a bus 114 such as a data bus;
M111, ROM112 and RAM120. The CPU 110 and the drive circuit 107
Which constitutes the control means of the present invention.

The font ROM 111 stores display dot pattern data for each of a large number of characters such as characters and symbols, and print dot pattern data for a plurality of print character sizes.

In the ROM 112, the display controller 104 is made to correspond to the code data of characters such as characters, symbols and numbers inputted from the keyboard 4.
Drive control program for controlling the display, text memory 1
A print control program for creating dot pattern data to be printed with respect to characters and symbols stored in
With respect to the created dot pattern data, a print drive control program for sequentially outputting the dot pattern data for each dot row to the thermal head 12 or the tape drive motor 44 and the like are stored.

The ROM 112 detects a ribbon cassette for detecting the ribbon color and the ribbon width of the ink ribbon 32 based on the ribbon detection signal RS output from the detection switch group 103 including the first to sixth detection switches. Based on the table and the format detection signal FS output from the detection switch group 103, a fixed format detection table for detecting the type of fixed format preprinted on the tape is stored. Also, the ROM 112
Stored in each standard format is data regarding how much tape can be fed to position the thermal head 12 at the print start position from the state where the sensor mark is detected.

Text memory 121 of the RAM 120
The text data of characters and symbols input from the keyboard 4 is stored in the table in association with the print positions of the standard formats stored in advance. The print number memory 122 stores data of the set print number. In the print data buffer 125, dot pattern data corresponding to the character code stored in the text memory 121 is expanded and stored. Furthermore, RA
The M120 is provided with a memory for temporarily storing the calculation result calculated by the CPU 110.

The standard format as shown in FIG. 21, for example, is continuously printed on the tape 22 contained in the tape cassette 20, and the above-mentioned sensor mark 302 is provided between adjacent formats. It is printed on the back side. The sensor mark 302 constitutes the mark of the present invention. The sensor mark of the tape 22 may be provided on the front side as shown in FIG. 20, and in this case, the light emitting / receiving element 92 is provided on the guide member 95 side.
It is necessary to provide the light receiving element 93 on the guide member 94 side.

Next, the pre-printing tape print control routine executed by the control device CD of the tape-shaped label producing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. In the figure, reference symbol Si (i = 10, 11, 12)
...) are each step.

The positional relationship between the tape detection position by the detection sensor 91 and the printing position by the thermal head 12 will be described before the pre-printing tape printing control, as shown in FIG. In the direction T, the printing position (P position) and the tape detection position (S position) are arranged in this order from the upstream side of the feeding direction T, and Dsp between the printing position and the tape cutting position is about 25 mm.

When the tape-shaped label producing apparatus 1 is powered on, first, the thermal printing mechanism 10 and the controller CD
An initialization process for initializing is executed (S10). Then, the detection switch group 103 detects the type of ribbon and the type of tape mounted (S11). Here, the type of tape indicates the type of format that is printed on the tape in advance. Since the text input screen is displayed on the display 5, after the print format is set, the input process for inputting the text data and the display process for displaying the input text are executed, and the input text data is It is stored in the text memory 121 (S12).

For example, in the print input for the tape on which the standard format is printed as shown in FIG. 20, "Please enter the management number." Is displayed on the display 5, and the management number. Enter and then press the Enter key. Then, "Please enter the purchase date"
When the purchase date is entered and the confirm key is entered, the management NO. The data is stored in the text memory 121 so that the purchase date and the purchase date are printed. The processing of S11 functions as the setting means of the present invention.

Next, the number of printed sheets setting process is executed to ask how many sheets of the same print tape are to be produced on the display 5, so when the number is inputted, the inputted number data is stored in the number of printed sheets memory 122. Stored in (S1
3).

When the print key is input (S14,
S15: YES), the print processing control shown in FIG. 18 is started (S16). In this print processing control, first, the numerical data stored in the number-of-printed-sheets memory 122 is set in the counter N, and it is determined in S31 whether the counter N is "0". If not "0" (S31: NO),
Proceeding to S33, the tape drive motor 44 is driven to rotate forward by one step. Then, it is determined whether or not the tape detection signal TS is "L" (S34), and if it is not "L" (S34:
NO), and the process returns to S33 again to drive the tape drive motor 44 in the normal rotation for one step.

This operation is repeated until the tape detection signal TS outputs "L", that is, the sensor mark 300 printed on the tape is detected by the detection sensor 91. Then, when the sensor mark 300 is detected (S34: YES), the tape is moved so that the print start position corresponding to the tape comes to the center position of the heating element of the thermal head 12 based on the tape type data detected in S11. It is sent (S35). When the print start position is set, the input print data is printed (S36). Here, since the print data is automatically processed so as to be printed at a predetermined print position of a standard format that is printed on the tape in advance, the user does not need to adjust the print position.

When printing is completed, the counter N is decremented by "1" (S37), and the process returns to S31. Then, the same processing as the above processing is repeated until the counter N becomes "0", and when it becomes "0", the processing returns to S10 in the flowchart shown in FIG.

The above processing is the case where the detection sensor 91 is mounted on the label producing apparatus to automatically detect and set the print start position, but subsequently, the printing is performed in the apparatus which is not equipped with the tape detection sensor. The case will be described. That is, since the print start position is not automatically detected on the device, the user sets the position.

In this case, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, sensor marks 300 and 302 are preprinted on the tape. For machines without the detection sensor 91, the sensor mark 30 is provided on the cover end face 90 of the device.
When 0 and 302 are put together, the print start set position on the tape coincides with the center of the heating element of the thermal head 12. That is, if the user aligns the sensor marks 300 and 302 on the tape with predetermined positions, printing is performed at the correct position with respect to the preprinted standard format. The printing operation in this case will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS.

The operation shown in FIG. 17 is similar to the case where the tape detection sensor is mounted, and only the print processing control is different. That is, in S22, the tape is fed from the print start setting position manually set by the user to the print start position corresponding to each standard format, and then the printing is started (S23). Here, the tape feeding performed in S22 is performed based on the tape type (pre-printing content) detected in S11 and differs depending on the tape used. When printing is completed, the tape is fed until the next sensor mark reaches the cover end surface (S24), the counter N is decremented by "1", and the same processing is repeated until the counter N = "0".

Here, the printing surface of the sensor marks 300 and 302 can be selected from the printing surface side and the back surface side depending on the apparatus main body used, and this point may be adapted to the specifications of the apparatus main body. Also, in the case of a tape that has an adhesive layer and release paper and can be attached by peeling off the release paper, if you print a mark on the release paper, it will be peeled off when used, so mark on the created label It is possible to obtain a print result which is beautiful and does not remain.

According to such control, it is possible to print at a correct position on a tape on which a standard format is printed in advance, even on a machine not equipped with a tape detection sensor.

As described above, according to the tape-shaped label producing apparatus of the present embodiment, when printing is performed on the standard format or the like which is previously printed on the tape,
It is possible to easily perform printing at the correct position without performing difficult alignment.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention,
Various modifications can be made based on existing technology or technology that is obvious to those skilled in the art. For example, in the present embodiment, the content printed on the tape is mounted in the ROM inside the main body, but it may be configured to be mounted in an external external ROM or the like. Further, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to various tape-shaped label producing devices such as a printer-type tape-shaped label device that receives and prints text print data from an external device such as a computer connected online. .

Further, in the present embodiment, the type of the standard format printed on the tape mounted on the tape is automatically identified by the detection hole provided on the tape side and the detection switch provided on the apparatus side. However, the user may confirm the type of the format and input the format without providing these configurations.

[0067]

As is clear from the above description,
According to the tape-shaped label producing apparatus of claim 1 of the present invention, the control means controls so as to determine the print start position of the print head with respect to a predetermined format based on the mark. It is possible to always print at an appropriate position for the printed format.

According to another aspect of the tape-shaped label producing apparatus of the present invention, the detecting means detects the mark printed on the tape, and the control means automatically sets the print start position to the predetermined format. Since the print head is positioned, the user can easily obtain a correct print result without performing particularly difficult alignment or the like.

Further, according to the tape-shaped label producing apparatus of the third aspect, the control means positions the print head at the print start position according to each format according to the setting status of the setting means. Since a plurality of formats are prepared and printing start positions are different for each format, printing can always be performed at an appropriate position.

According to the tape-shaped label producing apparatus of the present invention, according to this configuration, the detecting means automatically detects the type of tape format based on the identifying means, so that the user can select the format. There is no need to make settings on the device, improving usability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tape-shaped label producing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the thermal printing mechanism in a printing state.

FIG. 3 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 2 in a tape rewinding state.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the tape cassette on which the ribbon cassette is mounted.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the tape cassette.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the inside of the ribbon cassette.

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the ribbon cassette and the tape cassette.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a ribbon cassette.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a drive system in a printing state of the thermal printing mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional front view of a main part of FIG. 9 showing a meshing relationship of gears.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a drive system in a tape rewinding state of the thermal printing mechanism.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a main part when the cassette cover is closed.

FIG. 13 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 12 when the cassette cover is opened.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the thermal printing mechanism showing the tape cutting mechanism.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a drive system of the thermal printing mechanism in a tape cutting permission state.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a control system of the tape label producing apparatus.

FIG. 17 is a schematic flowchart of a pre-printing tape print control routine.

FIG. 18 is a schematic flowchart of a print processing control routine when a tape detection sensor is used.

FIG. 19 is a schematic flowchart of a print processing control routine when the tape detection sensor is not used.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating print contents and sensor marks on a pre-print tape.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram of a case where a sensor mark is provided on the back side of the printing surface with respect to FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a positional relationship between a print position (P position) and a tape detection position (S position).

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tape-shaped label producing apparatus 4 Keyboard 10 Thermal printing mechanism 12 Thermal head 20 Tape cassette 22 Printing tape 44 Tape drive motor 52 Tape winding gear 54 Tape drive gear 91 Detection sensor 92 Light emitting / light receiving element 93 Light receiving element 103 Detection switch group 110 CPU 112 ROM 120 RAM 121 Text memory CD controller 210 Detection hole group 210a Detection holes 300, 302 Sensor mark

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A tape-shaped label producing apparatus, comprising a print head, comprising printing means for printing given text data on a tape which is a print medium, wherein the tape is printed in advance with a predetermined format,
A mark serving as a reference for positioning the print head at a print start position for the format, and a control unit for controlling the print start position of the print head for the predetermined format with reference to the mark, A tape-shaped label producing apparatus comprising: 2. A detection means provided on the running path of the tape for detecting the mark printed on the tape, wherein the control means performs printing in the predetermined format based on a detection result of the detection means. The tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print head is controlled to be positioned at a start position. 3. The control means comprises a setting means for setting which of a plurality of formats prepared in advance the predetermined format printed on the tape mounted in the apparatus is, 3. The tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tape-shaped label producing apparatus controls the print head so that the print head is located at a print start position corresponding to each format based on the setting status of the setting unit. 4. The setting means is provided on the case side that accommodates the tape, and is provided on the apparatus main body side to identify the type of a predetermined format being printed. The tape-shaped label producing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: a detection unit for detecting the type of the format printed on the tape based on the above.