WO2012073720A1 - Print device - Google Patents

Abstract

A print device (1) is provided with: a conveyance means (24) for drawing a tape from a tape cassette mounted in a cassette mount unit and conveying; a print means (401) for printing on the tape conveyed by the conveyance means (24); an individual information acquisition means (401) for acquiring individual information which is identification information of each individual tape cassette; a use history acquisition means (401) for acquiring use histories which are information relating to printing of tapes; and a storage control means (401) for controlling a storage device (4041) to store the use histories in association with the individual information.

Description

Printing device

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that performs printing on a tape stored in a tape cassette.

Conventionally, it is known that information relating to a tape cassette is managed by a tape cassette or a printing device. For example, a technique for storing a model name, a drive power supply, a print control parameter, a tape conveyance amount, and the like in a storage element provided in the tape cassette is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Further, in a recording apparatus in which a plurality of cartridges can be mounted, it is known that storage means for storing the usage amount for each cartridge is provided for the number of cartridges in which the recording apparatus can be mounted (for example, see Patent Document 2). ).

International Publication No. 2006/033431 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-67968

However, when a storage element is provided in the tape cassette, the unit price of the tape cassette may increase. Further, when the storage means for the number of cartridges that can be mounted in the recording apparatus is provided, there is a possibility that information cannot be managed for a larger number of cartridges than the number of storage means.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of managing information related to a larger number of tape cassettes while suppressing the unit price of the tape cassette.

A printing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a cassette mounting unit having a cassette case in which a tape is accommodated and a cassette mounting unit that can be attached and detached, and a transport that draws and transports the tape from the tape cassette that is mounted in the cassette mounting unit. Information relating to printing of the tape, printing means for printing on the tape conveyed by the conveying means, individual information acquisition means for acquiring individual information that is identification information for each individual tape cassette, Usage history acquisition means for acquiring usage history, and storage control means for storing the usage history acquired by the usage history acquisition means in a storage device in association with the individual information acquired by the individual information acquisition means With.

According to this, the usage history is stored in the storage device for each piece of information of the tape cassette mounted in the cassette mounting section. Since it is not necessary to provide a storage element in the tape cassette, the unit price of the tape cassette can be suppressed. Since the printing apparatus does not need to have a different storage device for each tape cassette, the number of tape cassettes that can manage the use history is not limited to the storage device. For this reason, it is possible to manage the usage history for each of a large number of tape cassettes.

In the printing apparatus, the individual information acquisition unit is configured to display the individual information indicated by the identification unit in a state where the tape cassette having the identification unit indicating the individual information is mounted on the cassette mounting unit. You may detect and acquire. In this case, when the tape cassette is mounted on the cassette mounting portion, the individual information is detected from the identification portion of the cassette case. Therefore, the usage history can be managed for each tape cassette mounted in the cassette mounting section.

In the printing apparatus, the index portion indicated by the index portion in a state where the tape cassette having the index portion indicating the type information which is identification information for each type of the tape cassette is mounted on the cassette mounting portion. Type information detecting means for detecting type information, tape length specifying means for specifying a tape length that is the length of the tape in an unused state based on the type information detected by the type information detecting means, and the transport Transport amount acquiring means for acquiring the transport amount of the tape by the means, wherein the usage history acquiring means is the tape specified by the tape length specifying means and the transport amount detected by the transport amount acquiring means. Based on the length, the remaining tape amount that is the remaining amount of the tape may be acquired as the usage history.

In this case, the tape length which is the length of the unused tape is specified based on the tape cassette type information detected from the index part of the cassette case. Based on the specified tape length and the transport amount of the tape, the remaining tape amount is acquired as a usage history. For this reason, it is possible to acquire the remaining tape amount of the tape cassette while omitting the user's trouble of setting the tape length.

In the printing apparatus, comprising: a remaining amount storage determining unit that determines whether or not the remaining tape amount associated with the individual information acquired by the individual information acquiring unit is stored in the storage device; The use history acquisition unit is acquired by the transport amount acquisition unit from the remaining tape amount stored in the storage device when it is determined that the storage amount storage determination unit stores the storage history in the storage device. A value obtained by subtracting the transport amount may be acquired as the remaining tape amount.

In this case, when the remaining tape amount corresponding to the detected individual information is stored, a value obtained by subtracting the transport amount from the remaining tape amount is acquired as the remaining tape amount. Therefore, the remaining tape amount can be more accurately acquired depending on whether or not the remaining tape amount corresponding to the detected individual information is stored.

In the printing device, when the tape remaining amount stored in the storage device is smaller than the transport amount acquired by the transport amount acquisition unit, the tape is associated with the individual information acquired by the individual information acquisition unit. You may provide the 1st deletion means which can delete the said used history recorded from the said memory | storage device. The case where the remaining tape amount is smaller than the transport amount is a state where the remaining tape amount necessary for printing is insufficient. In many cases, a tape cassette with insufficient tape remaining is not used thereafter. Therefore, it is possible to secure the free capacity of the storage device by deleting the usage history of the tape cassette whose remaining tape amount is insufficient.

In the printing apparatus, when the remaining tape amount stored in the storage device is smaller than the transport amount acquired by the transport amount acquisition unit, an instruction is input by the user as to whether or not to delete the usage history. Deletion instruction determining means for determining whether or not the use history is deleted, and the first deletion means determines that the use instruction is deleted from the storage device when the delete instruction input means determines that an instruction to delete the use history is input. The history may be deleted. Even when the remaining tape amount is insufficient, the user may not want to delete the usage history. For this reason, the convenience of the printing apparatus can be enhanced by allowing the user to select whether or not to delete the usage history.

In the printing apparatus, a start mark that is provided at a downstream end in the transport direction of the tape in the unused state and that indicates the unused state is detected for the tape cassette mounted in the cassette mounting unit. Detection means and start determination means for determining whether or not the start mark has been detected by the start detection means, wherein the use history acquisition means has been determined that the start mark has been detected by the start determination means In this case, the tape length specified by the tape length specifying means may be acquired as the remaining tape amount.

When the start mark is detected, the tape cassette mounted in the cassette mounting section is unused. This tape has a preset tape length with the tape cassette shipped. Therefore, when the start mark is detected, the current tape remaining amount can be accurately specified by acquiring the tape length corresponding to the detected type information as the remaining tape amount.

In the printing apparatus, when the start determination unit determines that the start mark is not detected, the remaining amount storage determination unit determines whether the remaining tape amount is stored in the storage device. And a remaining amount input determining means for determining whether or not the remaining tape amount is input by a user when the remaining amount storage determining means determines that the remaining tape amount is not stored in the storage device. The use history acquisition unit may acquire the input tape remaining amount as the use history when the remaining tape input determination unit determines that the remaining tape amount is input.

If the start mark is not detected, a part of the tape in the tape cassette installed in the cassette mounting part has already been used. In this case, if the remaining tape amount corresponding to the detected individual information is not stored, the remaining tape amount input by the user is acquired as the use history. Therefore, when the start mark is not detected and the remaining tape amount corresponding to the detected individual information is not stored, the current remaining tape amount is identified by acquiring the remaining tape amount input by the user. can do.

In the printing apparatus, an end detection unit that is provided at an upstream end in the transport direction of the tape and that indicates an end mark indicating that the tape is used, detects the tape cassette mounted on the cassette mounting unit, and End determination means for determining whether or not the end mark has been detected by the end detection means, and the individual information acquisition means when the end determination means determines that the end mark has been detected. You may provide the 2nd deletion means which deletes the said usage log matched with individual | organism | solid information from the said memory | storage device.

When the end mark is detected, the tape cassette is in a state where there is no remaining tape (that is, a used state), so printing cannot be performed. Since the tape cassette having no remaining tape is not used after that, it is possible to secure the free capacity of the storage device by deleting the use history.

The printing apparatus has a plurality of switch terminals that can be advanced and retracted, and includes a mechanical sensor that determines the identification unit of the tape cassette mounted on the cassette mounting unit. The switch detects the individual information based on a discrimination result of the mechanical sensor, and the identification unit is provided at a position facing each of the plurality of switch terminals, and has a pattern corresponding to the individual information. It may be a combination of a hole portion into which a terminal can be inserted and a surface portion capable of contacting the switch terminal. In this case, the individual information can be detected by bringing the mechanical sensor closer to the identification unit that is the hole or the surface.

In the printing apparatus, a selection unit that allows a user to select one piece of the individual information among the piece of individual information stored in the storage device, and whether or not the piece of individual information is selected by the user by the selection unit. A selection determination unit for determining, and the individual information acquisition unit may acquire the selected individual information when the selection determination unit determines that one individual information is selected by a user. . In this case, the individual information selected by the user is acquired from the individual information stored in the storage device. Therefore, the usage history can be managed for each tape cassette mounted in the cassette mounting section.

In the printing apparatus, the individual information acquisition unit may acquire the individual information input by the user when the selection determination unit determines that the one individual information is not selected by the user. The case where the individual information is not selected by the user is a case where a new tape cassette in which the individual information is not stored in the storage device is used. In this case, individual information of a new tape cassette input by the user can be acquired.

In the printing apparatus, the individual information acquisition unit is different from the individual information already stored in the storage device when the selection determination unit determines that one individual information is not selected by the user. The individual information may be generated and acquired. In this case, individual information can be automatically acquired when a new tape cassette is used.

In the printing apparatus, comprising: a tape length acquisition unit that acquires a tape length that is the length of the tape, which is input by a user; and a conveyance amount acquisition unit that acquires a conveyance amount of the tape by the conveyance unit, The usage history acquisition means is a tape remaining amount that is a remaining amount of the tape as the usage history based on the conveyance amount detected by the conveyance amount acquisition means and the tape length acquired by the tape length acquisition means. An amount may be obtained. In this case, the tape length input by the user and the transport amount of the tape at the time of printing can be acquired, and the remaining tape amount can be acquired.

In the printing apparatus, the index portion indicated by the index portion in a state where the tape cassette having the index portion indicating the type information which is identification information for each type of the tape cassette is mounted on the cassette mounting portion. Type information detection means for detecting type information, and the tape cassette provided at the downstream end in the transport direction of the tape in the unused state and having a start mark indicating that it is in an unused state mounted on the cassette mounting portion And a start determination means for determining whether or not the start mark has been detected by the start detection means, and the tape length acquisition means has the start mark determined by the start determination means. The type detected by the type information detecting means when it is determined that it has been detected Based on the distribution, it may acquire the tape length of the unused state.

When the start mark is detected, the tape cassette mounted in the cassette mounting section is unused. This tape has a predetermined tape length in a state where the tape cassette is shipped. Therefore, when the start mark is detected, the current tape remaining amount can be accurately specified by acquiring the tape length corresponding to the detected type information as the remaining tape amount.

In the printing apparatus, the usage history acquisition unit acquires the tape length when the remaining tape amount associated with the individual information acquired by the individual information acquisition unit is not stored in the storage device. When the tape length acquired by the means is acquired as the tape remaining amount, and the tape remaining amount associated with the individual information acquired by the individual information acquiring unit is stored in the storage device In addition, the tape remaining amount subtracted from the remaining amount of tape stored in the storage device may be acquired as the remaining tape amount. In this case, the tape remaining amount subtracted from the remaining tape amount stored in the storage device is acquired as a new remaining tape amount. That is, each time printing is performed, the latest tape remaining amount can be stored in the storage device.

In the printing apparatus, when the remaining tape amount stored in the storage device is smaller than the transport amount acquired by the transport amount acquisition unit, it corresponds to the individual information acquired by the individual information acquisition unit. You may provide the 1st deletion means which can delete the attached said use history from the said memory | storage device. The case where the remaining tape amount is smaller than the transport amount is a state where the remaining tape amount necessary for printing is insufficient. In many cases, a tape cassette with insufficient tape remaining is not used thereafter. Therefore, it is possible to secure the free capacity of the storage device by deleting the usage history of the tape cassette whose remaining tape amount is insufficient.

In the printing apparatus, when the tape remaining amount stored in the storage device is smaller than the transport amount acquired by the transport amount acquisition unit, the user instructs whether to delete the usage history. Deletion instruction determination means for determining whether or not it has been input, wherein the first deletion means, when it is determined by the deletion instruction input means that an instruction to delete the use history has been input, the individual information acquisition means The usage history associated with the individual information acquired by (1) may be deleted from the storage device. Even when the remaining tape amount is insufficient, the user may not want to delete the usage history. For this reason, the convenience of the printing apparatus can be enhanced by allowing the user to select whether or not to delete the usage history.

In the printing apparatus, an end mark indicating that the tape is used is provided at an upstream end in the transport direction of the tape, and the end mark is used for the tape cassette mounted on the cassette mounting portion. End detection means for detecting, end determination means for determining whether the end mark is detected by the end detection means, and the individual information when the end determination means determines that the end mark has been detected You may provide the 2nd deletion means which deletes the said usage log matched with the said individual | organism | solid information acquired by the acquisition means from the said memory | storage device. When the end mark is detected, the tape cassette is in a state where there is no remaining tape amount (that is, a used state), so printing cannot be performed. Since the tape cassette having no remaining tape is not used after that, it is possible to secure the free capacity of the storage device by deleting the use history.

2 is a perspective view of the printing apparatus 1 in a state where a cover 6 is closed. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the printing apparatus 1 and the tape cassette 30 in a state where a cover 6 is opened. FIG. It is a perspective view of tape cassette 30 concerning a first embodiment. It is a top view of tape cassette 30 in the state where upper case 31A was removed. It is the front view which expanded the arm front surface 35 of the tape cassette 30 which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows the start mark 591 and the end mark 592 of the film tape 59. FIG. It is the perspective view which looked at the movable mechanism 100 from diagonally forward. It is a rear view of the roller holder 18 and the sensor holder 19 which concern on 1st embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a cross section of a movable transport mechanism in a state where a cover is opened, and a tape cassette, a tape drive shaft, and a thermal head. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a cross section of the movable transport mechanism in a state where a cover is closed, and a tape cassette, a tape drive shaft, and a thermal head. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a sensor holder 19. FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II in FIG. 5, showing a state in which the sensor holder 19 is pressed against the tape cassette 30. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 5, showing a state in which the sensor holder 19 is pressed against the tape cassette 30. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 5, showing a state in which the sensor holder 19 is pressed against the tape cassette 30. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a printing apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment. It is a schematic diagram showing a type information data table 81. It is a schematic diagram of the individual information data table 82 according to the first embodiment. It is a flowchart of the main process which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is a flowchart of the main process following FIG. It is a schematic diagram of the individual information data table 82 according to the first embodiment. It is a schematic diagram of the individual information data table 82 according to the first embodiment. It is a flowchart of the printing process which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is the front view which expanded the arm front surface 35 of the tape cassette 30 which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is a rear view of the roller holder 18 and the sensor holder 19 which concern on 2nd embodiment. FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 23, showing a state where the sensor holder 19 is pressed against the tape cassette 30. It is a schematic diagram of the individual information data table 82 which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is a flowchart of the main process which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is a flowchart of the main process following FIG. It is a flowchart of the printing process which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is a schematic diagram of the individual information data table 82 which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is a schematic diagram of the individual information data table 82 which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is a schematic diagram of the individual information data table 82 which concerns on 2nd embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the drawings to be referred to are used for explaining the technical features that can be adopted by the present invention, and the configuration of the described apparatus is not intended to be limited thereto, but is merely an illustrative example. is there.

The printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. First, a schematic configuration of the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In the following description, the upper right side, lower left side, lower right side, upper left side, upper side, and lower side of FIGS. 1 and 2 are respectively the rear side, the front side, the right side, the left side, the upper side, and the lower side of the printing apparatus 1. To do.

As shown in FIG. 1, a keyboard 3 for inputting characters (letters, symbols, numbers, etc.) is provided on the upper surface of the printing apparatus 1. On the rear side of the keyboard 3 (upper right side of the drawing), a function key group 4 such as a power switch and a print key is provided. In the following description, the keyboard 3 and the function key group 4 are collectively referred to as the input unit 2. On the rear side of the function key group 4, a display 5 for displaying characters and the like input using the keyboard 3 is provided. A cover 6 that can be opened and closed is provided at the rear of the upper surface of the printing apparatus 1. A tape tray 7 for receiving the cut printed tape 50 (see FIG. 3) is provided at the left rear corner of the printing apparatus 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, a cassette mounting portion 8 is formed on the rear side of the display 5. A tape cassette 30 is attached to and detached from the cassette mounting portion 8 in the vertical direction. A ribbon take-up shaft 9 is erected on the cassette mounting portion 8. The ribbon take-up shaft 9 takes up the ink ribbon 60 (see FIG. 4) after being pulled out from the ribbon spool 42 (see FIG. 4) and used for character printing. A substantially rectangular head holder 74 (see FIG. 9) is erected on the left front side of the ribbon winding shaft 9 in a front view. A thermal head 10 (see FIG. 9) for printing a character on a film tape 59 (see FIG. 4) is attached to the front surface of the head holder 74. On the left side of the head holder 74, a tape drive shaft 11 (see FIG. 9) for feeding and driving the printed tape 50 is erected.

A roller holder 18, a sensor holder 19, a release rod 17, and the like, which will be described later, are disposed on the front side of the cassette mounting portion 8 (see FIG. 7). The roller holder 18, the sensor holder 19, the release rod 17, etc. are covered with the plate portion 13. A lever 16 connected to the release rod 17 is provided on the right side of the plate portion 13.

The cover 6 can be opened and closed with the left and right direction of the rear end of the cover 6 as a fulcrum. The cassette mounting portion 8 is closed so that the tape cassette 30 cannot be detached when the cover 6 is in the closed position (see FIG. 1), and the tape cassette 30 is opened detachably when the cover 6 is in the open position (see FIG. 1). (See FIG. 2).

Next, the structure of the tape cassette 30 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The tape cassette 30 of the present embodiment is mounted on a laminate type general-purpose cassette that can be mounted on various tape types such as a heat sensitive type, a receptor type, and a laminate type. In the following description, the upper left side, lower right side, upper right side, lower left side, upper side, and lower side in FIG. 3 are the rear side, front side, right side, left side, upper side, and lower side of the tape cassette 30, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 3, the tape cassette 30 has a cassette case 31 which is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped (box-shaped) housing having rounded corners in plan view as a whole. The cassette case 31 includes a lower case 31B including a bottom surface 30B of the cassette case 31 and an upper case 31A including an upper surface 30A of the cassette case 31. The upper case 31A is fixed to the upper part of the lower case 31B.

The cassette case 31 has a corner 32A formed with the same width (the same length in the vertical direction) regardless of the type of tape cassette 30 (for example, tape width, printing mode, etc.). The corner 32A protrudes outward so as to form a right angle in plan view. However, in the lower left corner 32A in plan view, the tape discharge port 49 is provided at the corner, so that the right angle is not formed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upper case 31A and the lower case 31B are provided with support holes 65, 66, and 67 for rotatably supporting spools described later. Although not shown, support holes 65, 66, and 67 are similarly formed in the lower case 31B. Between the support hole 66 and the support hole 67 on the upper surface 30A, an opening 69 having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view that is long in the left-right direction is provided. The user can check the remaining amount of the film tape 59 and the double-sided adhesive tape 58 disposed inside the cassette case 31 through the opening 69.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the cassette case 31, a double-sided adhesive tape 58 wound around the first tape spool 40, a transparent film tape 59 wound around the second tape spool 41, and a ribbon spool 42. Three types of tape rolls of the ink ribbon 60 wound around are accommodated. The double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 58 is a double-sided tape having a release paper attached on one side, and is attached to the printing surface side of the printed film tape 59.

The first tape spool 40 in which the release paper of the double-sided adhesive tape 58 is wound outward is disposed at the left rear portion in the cassette case 31 and can be rotated through the support hole 65 described above. The second tape spool 41 around which the film tape 59 is wound is disposed at the right rear portion in the cassette case 31 and can be rotated through the support hole 66 described above. The ink ribbon 60 wound around the ribbon spool 42 is rotatably arranged at the front right side in the cassette case 31.

Between the first tape spool 40 and the ribbon spool 42 in the cassette case 31, the ribbon take-up spool 44 is rotatably arranged via the support hole 67 described above. The ribbon take-up spool 44 pulls out the ink ribbon 60 from the ribbon spool 42 and takes up the ink ribbon 60 that was used when the character was printed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the front surface of the cassette case 31 has a semicircular groove 34K, which is a groove portion having a semicircular cross section in plan view, across the height direction (from the upper surface 30A to the bottom surface 30B) of the cassette case 31. Is provided. A portion of the front surface of the cassette case 31 that extends to the left from the semicircular groove 34 </ b> K is referred to as an arm front surface 35. A portion extending leftward from the right side of the tape cassette 30 is defined by an arm front surface 35 and an arm back surface 37 (see FIG. 4) provided in a height direction at a position spaced rearward from the arm front surface 35. It is called part 34.

As shown in FIG. 4, both the film tape 59 pulled out from the second tape spool 41 and the ink ribbon 60 pulled out from the ribbon spool 42 are guided in the arm portion 34. The front end portion of the arm front surface 35 is bent rearward. An opening 34 </ b> A is formed by the tips of the arm front surface 35 and the arm back surface 37. The film tape 59 and the ink ribbon 60 are overlapped at the opening 34 </ b> A and discharged toward the exposed portion 77 described later.

A space having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view and penetrating the cassette case 31 in the vertical direction and surrounded by the arm back surface 37 and the peripheral wall surface provided continuously from the arm back surface 37 is a head insertion portion 39. The head insertion portion 39 is connected to the outside on the front side of the tape cassette 30 via an exposed portion 77 provided on the front side of the tape cassette 30. A head holder 74 that supports the thermal head 10 (see FIG. 9) of the printing apparatus 1 is inserted into the head insertion portion 39. In the exposed portion 77, one surface of the film tape 59 discharged from the opening 34A is exposed to the front, and the other surface is opposed to the rear thermal head 10. In the present embodiment, the other surface of the film tape 59 faces the thermal head 10 with the ink ribbon 60 interposed therebetween. In the exposed portion 77, the thermal head 10 prints on the film tape 59 using the ink ribbon 60.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tape drive roller 46 is rotatably supported on the downstream side of the head insertion portion 39 in the transport direction of the film tape 59 and the ink ribbon 60 from the opening 34A to the tape discharge port 49. Has been. The tape drive roller 46 is rotationally driven by a tape drive shaft 11 (see FIG. 9) inserted into the tape drive roller 46. The tape drive roller 46 pulls out the film tape 59 from the second tape spool 41 and pulls out the double-sided adhesive tape 58 from the first tape spool 40 in cooperation with the opposing movable conveyance roller 14 (see FIG. 10). The double-sided adhesive tape 58 is guided and adhered to the print surface 59. The adhered film tape 59 and double-sided adhesive tape 58 are discharged from the tape discharge port 49 to become a printed tape 50.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, on the arm front surface 35, an indicator portion 801 indicating type information having a different pattern for each type of tape cassette 30, and individual information having a different pattern for each individual tape cassette 30 are provided. An identification unit 802 is provided. The index part 801 of the present embodiment includes two index parts 801A and 801B each formed of either a surface part or a hole part. The combination of the surface portion and the hole portion in the indicator portions 801A and 801B shows a prescribed pattern according to the type information. The indicator portions 801A and 801B are provided at positions corresponding to respective switch terminals 231 (see FIG. 8) of indicator portion detection sensors 21A and 21B described later.

The surface part (in the example of FIG. 5, the index part 801B) included in the index part 801 is a part of the arm front surface 35 that can come into contact with the switch terminal 231 (see FIGS. 12 to 14). A hole portion (an index portion 801A in the example of FIG. 5) included in the index portion 801 is a rectangular hole in a front view in which the switch terminal 231 (see FIG. 8) can be inserted and removed. (See FIG. 12). The detection mode of the index unit 801 will be separately described later.

The identification unit 802 of the present embodiment includes three identification units 802A, 802B, and 802C each formed of either a surface portion or a hole portion. The combination of the surface portion and the hole portion in the identification portions 802A, 802B, and 802C indicates a prescribed pattern according to the individual information. The identification units 802A, 802B, and 802C are provided at positions corresponding to respective switch terminals 231 (see FIG. 8) of the identification unit detection sensors 22A, 22B, and 22C, which will be described later.

In each identification portion 802A, 802B, 802C, a hole 95 having a rectangular shape in front view penetrating the arm front surface 35 is formed in the same manner as the hole included in the indicator portion 801. As shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, behind the holes 95, the main body 92 of the push switch 90 is disposed. Each push switch 90 has a movable portion 91 that is a prismatic body whose cross-sectional shape is the same as that of the hole 95.

In the initial state of the push switch 90, each movable part 91 advances from the main body part 92 toward the front (right direction in FIGS. 12 to 14). At this time, the advanced movable portion 91 closes the hole 95, and the distal end surface of the movable portion 91 is flush with the arm front surface 35 (see FIG. 13). At this time, the distal end surface of the movable portion 91 functions as a surface portion ( identification portions 802A and 802B in the example of FIG. 5) that can come into contact with the switch terminal 231 and is included in the identification portion 802.

On the other hand, when each movable portion 91 is pushed backward (leftward in FIGS. 12 to 14) with a predetermined pressure or more, each movable portion 91 retreats into the main body 92 and is fixed. At this time, a rectangular recess as viewed from the front is formed through the hole 95 (see FIG. 14) into which the switch terminal 231 (see FIG. 8) can be inserted and removed. This concave portion functions as a hole (identification portion 802C in the example of FIG. 5) included in the identification portion 802. At the time of manufacturing the tape cassette 30, all the push switches 90 are set to the initial state. The detection mode of the identification unit 802 will be described later separately.

Since the surface portion and the hole portion of the indicator portion 801 are formed in advance according to the type of the tape cassette 30, the user cannot freely set the pattern of the indicator portion 801. On the other hand, the user can freely set the pattern of the identification unit 802 by selectively pressing the movable unit 91 of each push switch 90 with a pen tip, for example. Specifically, the user can set the pattern of the identification unit 802 with a unique pattern for each individual tape cassette 30. Since the tape cassette 30 of this embodiment is provided with the three identification units 802A, 802B, and 802C, different patterns can be set for a maximum of eight individuals.

The arm front surface 35 is provided with a locking hole 820 on the upper right side of the index portion 801 and the identification portion 802. The locking hole 820 is a hole into which a locking piece 192 (see FIG. 8 and FIG. 11) described later is inserted when the sensor holder 19 (described later) moves to the identification position (position shown in FIG. 10) (see FIG. 8 and FIG. 11). (See FIG. 12).

As shown in FIG. 3, in the arm front surface 35, on the left side of the indicator portion 801 and the identification portion 802 of the lower case 31B, a vertically long rectangular through hole 850 is provided in front view. As shown in FIG. 4, a conveyance path for the film tape 59 is located behind the through hole 850.

The start mark 591 and end mark 592 provided on the film tape 59 will be described with reference to FIG. The start mark 591 is a mark indicating that the film tape 59 is unused. The end mark 592 is a mark indicating that the film tape 59 is in a used state. In the unused film tape 59 shown in FIG. 6, the left side on the paper surface is the downstream side in the transport direction, and the right side on the paper surface is the upstream side in the transport direction. As shown in FIG. 6, a start mark 591 is provided at the downstream end in the transport direction of the unused film tape 59. The start mark 591 is a black portion formed with a predetermined width from the downstream end of the transparent film tape 59. An end mark 592 is provided at the upstream end in the transport direction of the film tape 59. The end marks 592 are a plurality of rows of black portions arranged continuously at a predetermined interval from the upstream end of the transparent film tape 59.

A schematic configuration of the movable mechanism 100 provided in the printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. The movable mechanism 100 of the present embodiment is a series of mechanisms that include a lever 16, a release rod 17, a roller holder 18, and a sensor holder 19 and that can move according to external pressure.

7, the lower right side, upper left side, upper right side, lower left side, upper side, and lower side in FIG. 7 correspond to the front side, rear side, right side, left side, upper side, and lower side of the movable mechanism 100, respectively. FIG. 7 is illustrated with the wall portion that guides the release rod 17 in the left-right direction removed in order to facilitate understanding of the operation mode of the movable mechanism 100. The movable mechanism 100 shown in FIG. 7 is in a state where the cover 6 is being opened and closed.

The lower end of the lever 16 is engaged with a plate-like release rod 17 whose longitudinal direction is the left-right direction when viewed from the front. A roller holder 18 is provided on the rear side (the upper left side in FIG. 7) of the release rod 17. The roller holder 18 includes a platen roller 15 (see FIG. 8) and a movable conveyance roller 14. The roller holder 18 is rotatably supported around a holder shaft 181. A movable conveying roller 14 is rotatably supported at the left end edge of the roller holder 18 so that the roller surface is exposed rearward. On the right side of the movable conveying roller 14, a platen roller 15 is rotatably supported with its roller surface exposed rearward. The movable conveyance roller 14 and the platen roller 15 are disposed at positions facing the tape driving roller 46 and the thermal head 10 respectively (see FIG. 9). A winding spring 185 (see FIG. 8) is provided around the lower portion of the holder shaft 181. The roller holder 18 is always elastically biased forward by a winding spring 185 (see FIG. 8).

Between the holder shaft 181 and the platen roller 15 in the roller holder 18, there is provided a holder opening 182 that forms a substantially rectangular opening when viewed from the front. A sensor holder 19 is provided behind the release rod 17 and inside the holder opening 182. Since the sensor holder 19 is not fixed to the roller holder 18, the sensor holder 19 can move independently of the roller holder 18. The sensor holder 19 is provided with an optical sensor 28 and a plurality of mechanical sensors 23. The optical sensor 28 includes a light emitting unit 281 and a light receiving unit 282. The optical sensor 28 is provided at a position facing the through hole 850. Each of the plurality of mechanical sensors 23 includes a switch terminal 231 protruding rearward (upper left direction in FIG. 7) (see FIG. 8).

Among the plurality of mechanical sensors 23, the mechanical sensor 23 that detects the index part 801 is the index part detection sensor 21, and the mechanical sensor 23 that detects the identification part 802 is the identification part detection sensor 22. The index part detection sensor 21 of this embodiment includes index part detection sensors 21A and 21B having switch terminals 231 arranged at positions corresponding to the index parts 801A and 801B, respectively. The identification unit detection sensor 22 includes identification unit detection sensors 22A, 22B, and 22C having switch terminals 231 arranged at positions corresponding to the identification units 802A, 802B, and 802C, respectively.

When the tape cassette 30 is attached to or detached from the cassette mounting portion 8, the user opens the cover 6 upward. When printing is performed by the printing apparatus 1, the user closes the cover 6 downward. When the cover 6 is closed downward, the lever 16 rotates downward. As the lever 16 rotates downward, the release rod 17 moves to the left. The release rod 17 that has moved leftward presses the roller holder 18 backward. The pressed roller holder 18 rotates backward against the urging force of the winding spring 185. The roller holder 18 rotated rearward moves to the printing position shown in FIG. At the printing position, the platen roller 15 is pressed against the thermal head 10 and the movable conveyance roller 14 is pressed against the tape drive roller 46.

As the release rod 17 moves in the left direction, the sensor holder 19 moves backward. The sensor holder 19 that has moved rearward moves to the identification position shown in FIG. At the identification position, the switch terminal 231 of the index unit detection sensor 21 is in pressure contact with the index unit 801, and the switch terminal 231 of the identification unit detection sensor 22 is in pressure contact with the identification unit 802. When the roller holder 18 is in the printing position and the sensor holder 19 is in the identification position, the printing apparatus 1 can perform a printing operation using the tape cassette 30 mounted on the cassette mounting portion 8, and The type and individual can be specified.

When the cover 6 is opened upward, the lever 16 rotates upward. As the lever 16 moves upward, the release rod 17 moves to the right. As the release rod 17 moves in the right direction, the roller holder 18 rotates forward by the urging force of the winding spring 185. The roller holder 18 rotated forward moves to the standby position shown in FIG. At the standby position, the platen roller 15 is separated from the thermal head 10, and the movable conveyance roller 14 is separated from the tape drive roller 46.

As the release rod 17 moves in the right direction, the sensor holder 19 moves forward. The sensor holder 19 moved forward moves to the separation position shown in FIG. In the separated position, the switch terminal 231 of the index unit detection sensor 21 is separated from the index unit 801, and the switch terminal 231 of the identification unit detection sensor 22 is separated from the identification unit 802. When the roller holder 18 is in the standby position and the sensor holder 19 is in the separated position, the tape cassette 30 can be attached to and detached from the cassette mounting portion 8 in the printing apparatus 1.

The physical structure of the sensor holder 19 will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 11, the movable mode of the mechanical sensor 23 (specifically, the identification unit detection sensor 22 </ b> A) located at the upper left (upper right in FIG. 8) among the five mechanical sensors 23 is schematically shown. Yes. The sensor holder 19 includes a box-shaped unit main body 191, a mechanical sensor 23, an optical sensor 28, a locking piece 192, an electric board 193, and the like. The unit main body 191 and the locking piece 192 are integrally formed.

In the unit main body 191, the surface facing the tape cassette 30 mounted on the cassette mounting portion 8 is referred to as a cassette facing surface 191A. The switch terminals 231 included in each of the five mechanical sensors 23 protrude from the cassette facing surface 191A so as to face the arm front surface 35 (see FIG. 3) of the tape cassette 30 mounted on the cassette mounting portion 8. Each switch terminal 231 is provided at a position corresponding to any of the index unit 801 and the identification unit 802 described above. The switch terminal 231 is always moved to the advanced position rotated backward (leftward in FIG. 11) by a spring (not shown). At this time, the mechanical sensor 23 is turned off. When an external pressure is applied to the distal end side of the switch terminal 231, the switch terminal 231 moves to the retracted position rotated forward. At this time, the mechanical sensor 23 is turned on.

A locking piece 192 that is a plate-like protrusion having a longitudinal direction in the left-right direction is provided on the upper right portion (upper left portion in FIG. 8) of the cassette facing surface 191A. An opening 199 is provided on the left side of the switch terminal 231 on the leftmost side (right side in FIG. 8) on the cassette facing surface 191A. In the opening 199, the light emitting unit 281 and the light receiving unit 282 of the optical sensor 28 are exposed rearward. The optical sensor 28 is provided at a position facing the through hole 850 (see FIG. 4) of the tape cassette 30 mounted on the cassette mounting portion 8. Each mechanical sensor 23 and optical sensor 28 are connected to an electric board 193 disposed in the unit main body 191.

The electric board 193 is provided on the front side of the unit main body 191. Although not shown, electrical wiring is connected to the front surface of the electrical substrate 193. The electric board 193 is electrically connected to the control circuit unit 400 (see FIG. 15) provided inside the printing apparatus 1 through this electric wiring. The detection signals of the mechanical sensor 23 and the optical sensor 28 are transmitted to the CPU 401 (see FIG. 15) via electric wiring connected to the electric board 193.

The CPU 401 detects the start mark 591 and the end mark 592 using the optical sensor 28. More specifically, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 281 of the optical sensor 28 passes through the through hole 850 and is applied to the film tape 59 (see FIG. 4). The light receiving unit 282 receives the light reflected by the film tape 59. Since the start mark 591 and the end mark 592 are black, the amount of reflected light is smaller than the transparent portion of the film tape 59. The CPU 401 detects the start mark 591 and the end mark 592 by detecting the amount of reflected light via the light receiving unit 282.

Referring to FIG. 5 and FIGS. 12 to 14, the type and individual detection mode of the tape cassette 30 mounted on the cassette mounting unit 8 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, when the tape cassette 30 is mounted at an appropriate position of the cassette mounting portion 8, the cover 6 (see FIG. 2) is closed and the sensor holder 19 is moved to the identification position. The locking piece 192 provided on the cassette facing surface 191A is inserted into the locking hole 820 of the tape cassette 30. The switch terminal 231 of the mechanical sensor 23 (the index part detection sensor 21 and the identification part detection sensor 22) provided on the cassette facing surface 191A faces the index part 801 and the identification part 802 of the tape cassette 30.

At this time, the switch terminal 231 facing each surface portion of the index portion 801 or the identification portion 802 is pressed, and the mechanical sensor 23 is turned on. Since the switch terminal 231 facing each hole of the index part 801 or the identification part 802 is not pressed, the mechanical sensor 23 is turned off. The CPU 401 can specify the type of the tape cassette 30 mounted in the cassette mounting unit 8 based on the combination of on / off of the index unit detection sensor 21 with reference to the type information data table 81 (FIG. 16) described later. . The CPU 401 can identify the individual tape cassette 30 mounted on the cassette mounting unit 8 based on the combination of ON / OFF of the identification unit detection sensor 22 with reference to the individual information data table 82 (FIG. 17) described later. .

The electrical configuration of the printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 15, the printing apparatus 1 includes a control circuit unit 400 formed on a control board. The control circuit unit 400 includes a CPU 401 that controls each device, a ROM 402, a CGROM 403, a RAM 404, an input / output interface 411, and the like connected to the CPU 401 via a data bus 410.

The ROM 402 includes at least a program storage area 4021 and a type information data table storage area 4022. The program storage area 4021 stores various programs that the CPU 401 executes to control the printing apparatus 1. The type information data table storage area 4022 stores a type information data table 81 to be described later. The RAM 404 includes at least an individual information data table storage area 4041. The RAM 404 is provided with a plurality of storage areas such as a text memory and a print buffer (not shown). The individual information data table 82, which will be described later, is stored in the individual information data table storage area 4041. The CGROM 403 stores printing dot pattern data for printing characters.

The input / output interface 411 is connected to the mechanical sensor 23 (the index unit detection sensor 21 and the identification unit detection sensor 22), the input unit 2, the liquid crystal drive circuit (LCDC) 405, the drive circuits 406, 407, 408, 409, and the like. ing. The drive circuit 406 is an electronic circuit for driving the thermal head 10. The drive circuit 407 is an electronic circuit for driving the tape feed motor 24 that rotates the ribbon take-up shaft 9 and the tape drive shaft 11. The drive circuit 408 is an electronic circuit for driving the cutter motor 25 that operates a moving blade (not shown) that cuts the printed tape 50. The drive circuit 409 is an electronic circuit for controlling the optical sensor 28. The liquid crystal drive circuit (LCDC) 405 has a video RAM (not shown) for outputting display data to the display 5.

The type information data table 81 will be described with reference to FIG. The type information data table 81 is associated with type information, tape width, and tape length. The type information indicates a detection pattern (in other words, a combination of a surface portion and a hole portion in the index portion 801) that is an on / off combination of the index portion detection sensor 21 and is assigned to each type of the tape cassette 30. The tape width and the tape length indicate the tape width and the tape length corresponding to the type of the tape cassette 30 indicated by the type information.

In the example shown in FIG. 16, four types of information and the like are set in advance corresponding to all the detection patterns of the index portion detection sensors 21A and 21B. Specifically, the tape width “32 mm” and the tape length “800 cm” are associated with the type information “first pattern”. Similarly, the tape width “24 mm” and the tape length “800 cm” are associated with the type information “second pattern”. Corresponding to the type information “third pattern”, a tape width “12 mm” and a tape length “800 cm” are associated. Corresponding to the type information “fourth pattern”, a tape width “12 mm” and a tape length “300 cm” are associated.

The individual information data table 82 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the individual information data table 82, individual information and usage history are associated with each other. The individual information indicates a detection pattern (in other words, a combination of a surface portion and a hole portion in the identification unit 802) that is an on / off combination of the identification unit detection sensor 22 assigned to each individual tape cassette 30. The usage history is information relating to the printing of the tape, and includes the remaining tape amount and the printing history. The remaining tape amount is the remaining amount of the film tape 59 of the tape cassette 30 indicated by the individual information. The print history indicates print data that has been printed in the past by the printer 1 using the tape cassette 30 indicated by the individual information.

In the example shown in FIG. 17, as a result of the user using two different individual tape cassettes 30 in the printing apparatus 1, two pieces of individual information are already set. Specifically, as the usage history of the individual information “pattern A”, the remaining tape amount “790 cm”, the print history “File No. 1”, and “conference material” are associated. Similarly, the remaining amount of tape “794 cm” and the print history “confidential material” are associated as the usage history of the individual information “pattern B”.

Next, main processing of the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. The main process is executed by the CPU 401 when the user inputs an instruction to print using the input unit 2, for example.

In the main process of the present embodiment, first, the index unit 801 is detected by the index unit detection sensor 21 (S1). The detection pattern of the index part detection sensor 21 is set in the RAM 404 as type information (S3). In the example shown in FIG. 5, the “fourth pattern” in which the index part detection sensor 21A facing the index part 801A is off and the index part detection sensor 21B facing the index part 801B is on is the type information of the tape cassette 30. Is set.

Next, the identification unit 802 is detected by the identification unit detection sensor 22 (S5). The detection pattern of the identification unit detection sensor 22 is set in the RAM 404 as individual information of the tape cassette 30 (S7). In the example shown in FIG. 5, the identification unit detection sensor 22A facing the identification unit 802A is on, the identification unit detection sensor 22B facing the identification unit 802B is on, and the identification unit detection sensor 22C facing the identification unit 802C is off. “Pattern C” is set as individual information of the tape cassette 30.

Next, it is determined whether or not the start mark 591 is detected by the optical sensor 28 (S9). When the start mark 591 is detected (S9: YES), the tape cassette 30 mounted on the cassette mounting unit 8 is unused. In this case, the storage area of the individual information set in step S7 is set in the individual information data table 82 (S11). The tape length corresponding to the type information set in step S3 is acquired from the type information data table 81 (see FIG. 16) (S13). In the example shown in FIGS. 5 and 16, the tape length “800 cm” corresponding to the type information “third pattern” is acquired from the individual information data table 82.

The tape length acquired in step S13 is stored as the remaining tape amount in the storage area set in step S11 (S15). The remaining tape amount stored in step S15 is displayed on the display 5 (S17). In the example shown in FIG. 20, the individual information “pattern C” and the remaining tape amount “800 cm” are added to the individual information data table 82 shown in FIG. In this case, the remaining tape amount “800 cm” is displayed on the display 5.

When the start mark 591 is not detected (S9: NO), the tape cassette 30 mounted on the cassette mounting unit 8 has been used in the past. In this case, it is determined whether or not the storage area of the individual information set in step S7 is set in the individual information data table 82 (S19). When the storage area of the individual information is set (S19: YES), the use history corresponding to the individual information set in step S7 is read from the individual information data table 82 (S21). The print history included in the use history read in step S21 is displayed on the display 5 (S23). Further, the remaining tape amount included in the usage history read in step S21 is displayed on the display 5 (S17).

In the example shown in FIG. 17, when the tape cassette 30 used in the past in the printing apparatus 1 is mounted and the individual information “pattern A” is detected, the storage area of the detected individual information is the individual information data table. 82 is determined (S19: YES). In this case, the remaining tape amount “790 cm”, the print history “File No. 1”, and “meeting material” are read and displayed on the display 5 (S23, S17).

If the storage area for the individual information is not set (S19: NO), the storage area for the individual information is set as in step S11 (S25). A screen for inputting the remaining tape amount of the tape cassette 30 is displayed on the display 5 (S26). When the start mark 591 is not detected, the remaining tape amount of the tape cassette 30 cannot be automatically determined. Therefore, in step S26, the user inputs the remaining tape amount of the tape cassette 30.

Next, it is determined whether or not the remaining tape amount has been input (S27). For example, the user visually checks the film tape 59 through the opening 69 and inputs the remaining tape amount of the tape cassette 30 using the input unit 2. In this case, it is determined that the remaining tape amount has been input (S27: YES), and the input remaining tape amount is stored as the remaining tape amount in the storage area set in step S25 (S29). The remaining tape amount stored in step S29 is displayed on the display 5 (S17). If the remaining tape amount has not been input (S27: NO), the process returns to step S27, and the input of the remaining tape amount is awaited.

In the example shown in FIG. 17, when the tape cassette 30 used in the past in the printing apparatus 1 is mounted and the individual information “pattern D” is detected, the storage area of the detected individual information is the individual information data table. It is determined that it is not set to 82 (S19: NO). In this case, as in the example shown in FIG. 21, the remaining tape amount “787 cm” directly input by the user is added to the individual information data table 82 and displayed on the display 5 (S25 to S29, S17).

After execution of step S17, it is determined whether any of the print histories displayed in step S23 has been selected (S31). When the user selects the print history displayed on the display 5 (S31: YES), the transport amount of the film tape 59 necessary for printing the selected print history is calculated (S33). The carry amount is calculated using the character size stored in the ROM 402 or CGROM 403 and the length of the margin between characters.

On the other hand, if the user has not selected the print history displayed on the display 5 (S31: NO), it is determined whether print data has been input (S35). Even when step S23 is not executed (that is, when the print history is not displayed on the display 5), it is determined that the print history is not selected, and it is determined whether the print data is input ( S31: NO, S35). For example, when the user directly inputs print data using the input unit 2 (S35: YES), the transport amount of the film tape 59 necessary for printing the input print data is calculated (S33). If no print data is input (S35: NO), the process returns to step S31.

It is determined whether or not the remaining tape amount corresponding to the individual information set in step S7 is less than the transport amount calculated in step S33 (S37). In other words, it is determined whether or not the remaining tape amount corresponding to the individual information is insufficient for printing. If the remaining tape amount is greater than or equal to the transport amount (S37: NO), a printing process described later is executed (S39). On the other hand, if the remaining tape amount is smaller than the transport amount (S37: YES), a screen for inquiring the user whether or not to delete the individual information and the use history from the individual information data table 82 is displayed on the display 5 ( S41). The screen displayed in step S41 includes, for example, the text “Tape is insufficient. Are you sure you want to delete individual information and usage history?”

It is determined whether or not an instruction to delete the individual information and usage history has been input (S43). For example, when the user inputs an instruction to delete using the input unit 2 (S43: YES), the individual information set in step S7 and the usage history corresponding thereto are deleted from the individual information data table 82 (S45). ). After execution of step S39 or step S45, the main process is terminated. Even when the instruction to delete the individual information and the usage history is not input (S43: NO), the main process is terminated.

Specifically, when the individual information “pattern A” is detected as described above, the print history “File No. 1” and “conference material” displayed on the display 5 by the user are displayed as the print history “ It is assumed that “Meeting Material” is selected (S31: YES). In this case, the transport amount (for example, 10 cm) necessary to print the printing history “conference material” is calculated (S33). In the example shown in FIG. 17, since it is determined that the remaining tape amount “790 cm” corresponding to the individual information “pattern A” is greater than or equal to the carry amount “10 cm”, a printing process described later is executed (S39).

As described above, when the individual information “pattern C” is detected, it is assumed that the user directly inputs new print data “confidential material” (S35: YES). In this case, the transport amount (for example, 8 cm) necessary to print the print data “Top Secret Material” is calculated (S33). In the example shown in FIG. 20, since it is determined that the remaining tape amount “800 cm” corresponding to the individual information “pattern C” is greater than or equal to the carry amount “8 cm”, the printing process described later is executed (S39).

As described above, when the individual information “pattern D” is detected, it is assumed that the user directly inputs new print data “confidential material” (S35: YES). In this case, the transport amount (for example, 8 cm) necessary to print the print data “Top Secret Material” is calculated (S33). In the example shown in FIG. 21, since it is determined that the remaining tape amount “787 cm” corresponding to the individual information “pattern D” is greater than or equal to the carry amount “8 cm”, a printing process described later is executed (S39).

The printing process according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, the print history selected in step S31 or the print data input in step S35 is printed on the film tape 59 (S51). It is determined whether or not the printing executed in step S51 is completed (S53). When printing is completed (S53: YES), the latest tape remaining amount is calculated by subtracting the transport amount calculated in step S33 from the current tape remaining amount (S55). The print data printed in S51 and the tape remaining amount calculated in Step S55 are stored as a use history in the individual information data table 82 (S57). The remaining tape amount calculated in step S55 is displayed on the display 5 (S59).

On the other hand, if printing has not ended (S53: NO), it is determined whether or not the end mark 592 has been detected by the optical sensor 28 (S61). If the end mark 592 is not detected (S61: NO), the process returns to step S51, and printing is continued. If the end mark 592 is detected (S61: YES), the remaining amount of tape necessary for printing the print data is insufficient, and printing is terminated halfway (S63). In this case, as in step S45, the individual information and the use history are deleted from the individual information data table 82 (S65).

When the remaining tape amount input by the user in step S27 is smaller than the actual remaining tape amount, it is determined that the remaining tape amount is equal to or greater than the transport amount as described above, and the end mark 592 is detected. There is a fear (S37: NO, S61: YES). After execution of step S59 or step S65, the process returns to the main process.

Specifically, as described above, when the individual information “pattern A” is detected and the print history “conference material” is selected, “conference material” is printed on the film tape 59 (S51). In this case, in the example shown in FIG. 17, the transport amount “10 cm” calculated in step S33 is subtracted from the remaining tape amount “790 cm” associated with the individual information “pattern A”. The calculated “780 cm” is updated and registered as the remaining tape amount of the individual information “pattern A” and displayed on the display 5 (S55 to S59).

As described above, when the individual information “pattern C” is detected and the print data “confidential material” is input, the “confidential material” is printed on the film tape 59 (S51). In this case, in the example illustrated in FIG. 20, the transport amount “8 cm” calculated in step S33 is subtracted from the remaining tape amount “800 cm” associated with the individual information “pattern C”. The calculated “792 cm” is updated and registered as the remaining tape amount of the individual information “pattern C” and displayed on the display 5. The print data “Top Secret Material” is stored as the print history of the individual information “pattern C” (S55 to S59).

As described above, when the individual information “pattern D” is detected and the print data “top secret material” is input, “top secret material” is printed on the film tape 59 (S51). In the example shown in FIG. 21, the transport amount “8 cm” calculated in step S33 is subtracted from the remaining tape amount “787 cm” associated with the individual information “pattern D”. The calculated “779 cm” is updated and registered as the remaining tape amount of the individual information “pattern D” and displayed on the display 5. The print data “Top Secret Material” is stored as the print history of the individual information “pattern D” (S55 to S59).

As described above, according to the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, when the tape cassette 30 is mounted on the cassette mounting unit 8, individual information is detected from the identification unit 802 of the cassette case 31. A usage history is stored in the individual information data table 82 for each piece of individual information of the tape cassette 30 loaded in the cassette loading unit 8. That is, the usage history can be managed for each tape cassette 30 mounted on the cassette mounting unit 8. Since it is not necessary to provide a storage element in the tape cassette 30, the unit price of the tape cassette 30 can be suppressed. Since the printing apparatus 1 does not need to have a different storage device for each tape cassette 30, the number of cassettes that can manage the usage history is not limited to the storage device, and the usage history for each of the many tape cassettes 30 can be managed. .

Based on the type information of the tape cassette 30 detected from the index section 801 provided in the cassette case 31, the tape length that is the length of the unused tape is specified (S13). Based on the specified tape length and the transport amount of the tape, the remaining tape amount is acquired as a use history (S15). For this reason, the tape remaining amount of the tape cassette 30 can be acquired while omitting the user's trouble of setting the tape length.

When the remaining tape amount corresponding to the detected individual information is stored, a value obtained by subtracting the transport amount from the remaining tape amount is acquired as the remaining tape amount (S19: YES, S21). Therefore, the remaining tape amount can be more accurately acquired depending on whether or not the remaining tape amount corresponding to the detected individual information is stored.

When the tape remaining amount is smaller than the transport amount, the usage history associated with the detected individual information is deleted from the individual information data table 82 (S37: YES, S45). In many cases, a tape cassette with insufficient tape remaining is not used thereafter. Therefore, the free capacity of the RAM 404 can be ensured by deleting the usage history of the tape cassette whose remaining tape amount is insufficient.

When the instruction for deleting the usage history is input by the user when the remaining tape amount is smaller than the transport amount, the usage history is deleted from the individual information data table 82 (S37: YES, S43: YES, S45). Even when the remaining tape amount is insufficient, the user may not want to delete the usage history. For this reason, the convenience of the printing apparatus 1 can be improved by enabling the user to select whether or not to delete the usage history.

When the start mark is detected, the tape length is acquired as the remaining tape amount (S9: YES, S13). On the other hand, if the start mark is not detected and the remaining tape amount corresponding to the detected individual information is not stored, the remaining tape amount input by the user is acquired (S9: NO, S19: NO, S27). . Thereby, even when the tape remaining amount corresponding to the detected individual information is not stored, the current tape remaining amount can be specified.

When the end mark is detected, the use history is deleted from the individual information data table 82 (S61: YES, S65). Since the tape cassette 30 having no remaining tape is not used thereafter, the free space in the RAM 404 can be secured by deleting the use history.

In the first embodiment, the tape feed motor 24 corresponds to the “conveying means” of the present invention. The CPU 401 performing step S51 corresponds to the “printing unit” of the present invention. The individual information data table storage area 4041 of the RAM 404 corresponds to the “storage device” of the present invention. The CPU 401 performing step S5 corresponds to the “individual information acquisition unit” of the present invention. The CPU 401 that performs steps S13, S27, and S55 corresponds to the “use history acquisition unit” of the present invention. The CPU 401 that performs steps S15, S29, and S57 corresponds to the “storage control unit” of the present invention.

The CPU 401 performing step S13 corresponds to “tape length specifying means” of the present invention. The CPU 401 performing step S33 corresponds to the “conveyance amount acquisition unit” of the present invention. The CPU 401 that performs step S19 corresponds to the “remaining amount storage determination unit” of the present invention. The CPU 401 that performs step S45 corresponds to the “first deletion unit” of the present invention. The CPU 401 performing step S43 corresponds to the “deletion instruction determination unit” of the present invention. The optical sensor 28 corresponds to “start detection means” and “end detection means” of the present invention. The CPU 401 performing step S9 corresponds to the “start determination unit” of the present invention. The CPU 401 that performs step S27 corresponds to the “remaining amount input determination unit” of the present invention. The CPU 401 performing step S61 corresponds to the “end determination unit” of the present invention. The CPU 401 performing step S65 corresponds to the “second deletion unit” of the present invention.

The printing apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 23 to 32, the same components as those of the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. Below, the description about the same structure as 1st embodiment is abbreviate | omitted, and only a different point from 1st embodiment is demonstrated.

First, the structure of the tape cassette 30 according to the second embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 23, the tape cassette 30 of this embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment in that the identification unit 802 is not provided on the arm front surface 35.

As in the first embodiment, the tape cassette 30 is provided with an indicator 801 on the arm front surface 35. The indicator portion 801 of the present embodiment includes five indicator portions 801A to 801E each formed of either a surface portion or a hole portion. The combination of the surface portion and the hole portion in the indicator portions 801A to 801E shows a prescribed pattern according to the type information. The indicator portions 801A to 801E are provided at positions corresponding to respective switch terminals 231 (see FIG. 24) of mechanical sensors 23A to 23E described later.

Next, the structure of the printing apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 24, in the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the plurality of mechanical sensors 23 function as index part detection sensors that detect the index part 801. The mechanical sensor 23 of the present embodiment includes mechanical sensors 23A to 23E having switch terminals 231 arranged at positions corresponding to the indicator portions 801A to 801E, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 25, when the tape cassette 30 is mounted at an appropriate position of the cassette mounting portion 8, when the cover 6 (see FIG. 2) is closed and the sensor holder 19 moves to the identification position, A piece 192 is inserted into the locking hole 820. The switch terminal 231 of the mechanical sensor 23 faces the index portion 801 of the tape cassette 30. At this time, the switch terminal 231 facing each surface portion of the indicator portion 801 is pressed, and the mechanical sensor 23 is turned on. Since the switch terminal 231 facing each hole of the indicator 801 is not pressed, the mechanical sensor 23 is turned off. The CPU 401 refers to the type information data table 81 (FIG. 16) in the ROM 402 and can specify the type of the tape cassette 30 mounted on the cassette mounting unit 8 based on the combination of ON / OFF of the mechanical sensor 23.

The individual information data table 82 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the individual information data table 82 of the present embodiment, individual information and usage history are associated with each other as in the first embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 26, as a result of the user using the three different individual tape cassettes 30 in the printing apparatus 1, three pieces of individual information and the like have already been set. Specifically, as the usage history of the individual information “24A”, the remaining tape amount “790 cm”, the print history “File No. 1”, and “conference material” are associated. Similarly, as the usage history of the individual information “24B”, the remaining tape amount “794 cm” and the printing history “top secret material” are associated. As the usage history of the individual information “12A”, the remaining tape amount “795 cm” and the print history “customer list” are associated.

The individual information of this embodiment is given by the user for each individual tape cassette 30 in step S116 (see FIG. 27) described later. For example, in the individual information “24A”, “24” indicates that the tape width (vertical height) of the film tape 59 is “24 mm”, and “A” is distinguished from other 24 mm tape cassettes 30. It is an alphabet given for. Note that an individual label 501 on which individual information is printed is affixed to the tape cassette 30 shown in FIG.

Next, the main processing of the printing apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. In the main process of the present embodiment, first, a list of individual information stored in the individual information data table 82 (see FIG. 26) is displayed on the display 5 (S111). In the example shown in FIG. 26, individual information “24A”, “24B”, and “12A” are displayed on the display 5.

The user uses the input unit 2 to select individual information corresponding to the tape cassette 30 mounted on the cassette mounting unit 8 from the list of individual information displayed on the display 5. For example, when the tape cassette 30 with the individual label 501 of “24A” (see FIG. 3) is attached to the cassette attachment unit 8, the user selects the individual information “24A” from the list of individual information. As described above, in step S111, the individual information list is displayed on the display 5 to allow the user to select one piece of individual information from the pieces of individual information stored in the individual information data table 82. The tape cassette 30 used for the first time in the printing apparatus 1 has not yet been given individual information. In this case, the user uses the input unit 2 to input an instruction not to select individual information.

Next, it is determined whether individual information is selected from the list of individual information displayed on the display 5 (S112). When individual information is selected (S112: YES), the selected individual information is acquired from the individual information data table 82 (see FIG. 26) (S113). A print history corresponding to the individual information acquired in step S113 is acquired from the individual information data table 82 and displayed on the display 5 (S114). The remaining tape amount corresponding to the individual information acquired in step S113 is acquired from the individual information data table 82 and displayed on the display 5 (S125).

In the example shown in FIG. 26, when the user selects the individual information “24A” (S112: YES), the remaining tape amount “790 cm”, the print history “File No. 1”, and “meeting material” are read out. Is displayed on the display 5 (S114, S125).

After execution of step S125, the same processing as steps S31 to S45 (see FIG. 19) of the first embodiment is performed. That is, it is determined whether any of the print histories displayed in step S114 has been selected (S126). When the user does not select the print history displayed on the display 5 (S126: NO), for example, it is determined whether the user has input print data using the input unit 2 (S127). If print data has not been input (S127: NO), the process returns to step S126.

When the print history is selected (S126: YES), the transport amount of the film tape 59 necessary for printing the selected print history is calculated (S128). Similarly, when print data is input (S127: YES), the transport amount of the film tape 59 necessary for printing the input print data is calculated (S128). It is determined whether the remaining tape amount corresponding to the individual information acquired in step S113 or S116 described later is smaller than the transport amount calculated in step S128 (S129).

When the remaining tape amount is equal to or greater than the transport amount (S129: NO), a printing process described later is executed (S130). On the other hand, when the remaining tape amount is smaller than the transport amount (S129: YES), a screen for inquiring the user whether or not to delete the individual information and the usage history from the individual information data table 82 is displayed on the display 5 ( S131). When an instruction to delete the individual information and the usage history is input (S132: YES), the individual information acquired in step S113 or S116 described later and the corresponding usage history are deleted from the individual information data table 82. (S133). After executing step S130 or step S133, the main process is terminated. Even when an instruction to delete the individual information and the usage history is not input (S132: NO), the main process is terminated.

Specifically, when the individual information “24A” is selected as described above, it is assumed that the user directly inputs new print data “SAMPLE” (S127: YES). In this case, a transport amount (for example, 6 cm) necessary to print the print data “SAMPLE” is calculated (S128). In the example shown in FIG. 26, since it is determined that the remaining tape amount “790 cm” corresponding to the individual information “24A” is equal to or greater than the carry amount “6 cm”, a printing process described later is executed (S130).

The printing process according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, it is determined whether or not the individual information of the tape cassette 30 mounted on the cassette mounting unit 8 is newly input individual information (S141). More specifically, when individual information is input in step S116 described later, it is determined that the information is newly input individual information (S141: YES). When one piece of individual information is selected from the list of pieces of individual information in steps S111 to S113, it is determined that the piece of piece of information is not newly inputted (S141: NO).

If it is determined that the information is not newly input individual information (S141: NO), the print history selected in step S126 or the print data input in step S127 is printed on the film tape 59 (S143). . It is determined whether the printing executed in step S143 has been completed (S144). When printing is completed (S144: YES), the latest tape remaining amount is calculated by subtracting the transport amount calculated in step S128 from the current tape remaining amount (S145). The print data printed in S143 and the remaining tape amount calculated in step S145 are stored as usage history in the individual information data table 82 (S146). The remaining tape amount calculated in step S145 is displayed on the display 5 (S147).

On the other hand, if the printing has not ended (S144: NO), it is determined whether or not the end mark 592 is detected by the optical sensor 28 (S148). If the end mark 592 is not detected (S148: NO), the process returns to step S143, and printing is continued. When the end mark 592 is detected (S148: YES), the remaining tape amount necessary for printing the print data is insufficient, and printing is terminated halfway (S149). In this case, as in step S133, the individual information and usage history are deleted from the individual information data table 82 (S150).

When the remaining tape amount input by the user in step S123, which will be described later, is smaller than the actual remaining tape amount, it is determined that the remaining tape amount is greater than the transport amount as described above, and the end mark 592 is detected. There is a fear (S129: NO, S148: YES). After execution of step S147 or step S150, the process returns to the main process.

Specifically, when the individual information “24A” is selected and the print data “SAMPLE” is input as described above, “SAMPLE” is printed on the film tape 59 (S143). In this case, in the example illustrated in FIG. 26, the transport amount “6 cm” calculated in step S128 is subtracted from the remaining tape amount “790 cm” associated with the individual information “24A”. As shown in FIG. 30, the calculated “784 cm” is updated and registered as the remaining tape amount of the individual information “24A” and displayed on the display 5. The print data “SAMPLE” is added as the print history of the individual information “24A” (S145 to S147).

Referring back to FIG. 27, a case where individual information is not selected in step S12 will be described. For example, when the user inputs an instruction not to select individual information using the input unit 2, it is determined that the individual information has not been selected (S112: NO). In this case, a screen for the user to input individual information is displayed on the display 5 (S115). It is determined whether individual information is input by the user (S116). If the individual information has not been input (S116: NO), the process returns to step S116.

The screen displayed in step S115 includes, for example, a column for inputting the tape width of the tape cassette 30 and a column for inputting alphabets. The user uses the input unit 2 to input individual information different from the individual information displayed in step S111 according to the displayed screen (that is, individual information different from the individual information registered in the individual information data table 82). input. For example, when a tape cassette 30 having a tape width “12 cm” and a tape length “800 cm” is newly used, the user inputs “12 cm” in the tape width input field and “B” in the alphabet input field. Thus, the individual information “12B” can be input.

When the individual information is input (S116: YES), the storage area of the individual information input in step S116 is set in the individual information data table 82 (S117). Next, it is determined whether or not the start mark 591 is detected by the optical sensor 28 (S118). When the start mark 591 is detected (S118: YES), the type information is detected from the indicator unit 801 by the mechanical sensor 23 (S119) as in steps S1 and S3 of the first embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 23, the mechanical sensors 23A, 23B, and 23E facing the index portions 801A, 801B, and 801E are turned on, and the mechanical sensors 23C and 23D facing the index portions 801C and 801D are turned off. Is detected as the type information of the tape cassette 30.

The tape length corresponding to the type information detected in step S119 is acquired from the type information data table 81 (see FIG. 16) (S120). The tape length acquired in step S120 is stored as the remaining tape amount in the storage area set in step S117 (S121). In other words, the initial value of the remaining tape amount is set for the newly input individual information. Thereafter, step S125 described above is executed.

16 and FIG. 23, when the start mark 591 is detected, the tape length “800 cm” corresponding to the type information “third pattern” is acquired from the individual information data table 82. In this case, the individual information data table 82 shown in FIG. 26 is updated as shown in FIG. In the individual information data table 82 shown in FIG. 31, “800 cm” is set as the initial value of the remaining tape amount in association with the individual information “12B” input by the user.

On the other hand, when the start mark 591 is not detected (S118: NO), the remaining tape amount of the tape cassette 30 cannot be automatically set. Therefore, a screen for inputting the remaining tape amount is displayed as in steps S26 to S29 of the first embodiment (S122). It is determined whether the remaining tape amount has been input (S123), and the input remaining tape amount is stored in the storage area set in step S117 (S124). Thereafter, step S125 described above is executed.

For example, when the start mark 591 is not detected and the user inputs the remaining tape amount “250 cm”, the individual information data table 82 shown in FIG. 26 is updated as shown in FIG. In the individual information data table 82 shown in FIG. 32, the remaining tape amount “250 cm” input by the user is set in association with the individual information “12B” input by the user.

In the processing after step S125, it is determined that the information is newly input individual information (S141: YES), and the individual information “12B” input in step S116 is printed on the film tape 59, and a new individual information is obtained. A label 501 is created (S142). By attaching the individual label 501 to the tape cassette 30, the user can confirm the individual information “12B” of the tape cassette 30.

As described above, according to the printing apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment, among the individual information stored in the individual information data table storage area 4041 (specifically, the individual information data table 82) of the RAM 404, the user The selected individual information is acquired. A usage history is stored in the individual information data table 82 for each piece of individual information of the tape cassette 30 loaded in the cassette loading unit 8. That is, the usage history can be managed for each tape cassette 30 mounted on the cassette mounting unit 8. Since it is not necessary to provide a storage element in the tape cassette 30, the unit price of the tape cassette 30 can be suppressed. Since the printing apparatus 1 does not need to have a different storage device for each tape cassette 30, the number of cassettes that can manage the usage history is not limited to the storage device, and the usage history for each of the many tape cassettes 30 can be managed. .

If it is determined that the individual information has not been selected (S112: NO), the individual information input by the user is acquired (S116). The case where the individual information is not selected by the user is a case where a new tape cassette 30 whose individual information is not registered in the individual information data table 82 is used. In this case, the individual information of the new tape cassette 30 input by the user can be acquired.

The tape length input by the user is acquired (see S123), and the amount of tape transport when printing is calculated (S128). Based on the tape length and the transport amount, the remaining tape amount can be acquired (S145).

When the start mark 591 is detected (S118: YES), the unused tape length is acquired based on the type information detected in step S119 (S120). When the start mark 591 is detected, the film tape 59 of the tape cassette 30 mounted on the cassette mounting unit 8 is unused. The film tape 59 has a predetermined tape length in a state where the tape cassette is shipped (see the type information data table 81 in FIG. 16). Therefore, when the start mark 591 is detected, the current tape remaining amount can be accurately specified by acquiring the tape length corresponding to the detected type information as the remaining tape amount.

The transport amount is subtracted from the remaining tape amount registered in the individual information data table 82 (S145), and a new remaining tape amount is registered in the individual information data table 82 (S146). That is, each time printing is performed, the latest tape remaining amount can be stored in the individual information data table 82.

When it is determined that the remaining tape amount is less than the transport amount (S129: YES), the individual information and the use history are deleted (S133). The case where the remaining tape amount is smaller than the transport amount is a state where the remaining tape amount necessary for printing is insufficient. In many cases, the tape cassette 30 in which the remaining tape amount is insufficient is not used thereafter. Therefore, it is possible to secure the free capacity of the storage device by deleting the use history of the tape cassette 30 in which the remaining tape amount is insufficient.

Even if the remaining tape amount is insufficient, the user may not want to delete the usage history. Therefore, when a deletion instruction is input by the user (S132: YES), the usage history is deleted (S133). Thus, the convenience of the printing apparatus 1 can be enhanced by allowing the user to select whether or not to delete the usage history.

When the end mark 592 is detected (S148: YES), the usage history is deleted (S150). When the end mark 592 is detected, there is no remaining amount of tape (that is, a used state), so printing cannot be performed. Since the tape cassette 30 having no remaining tape is not used after that, the unused capacity of the RAM 404 can be secured by deleting the use history.

In the second embodiment, the tape feed motor 24 corresponds to the “conveying means” of the present invention. The CPU 401 performing step S143 corresponds to the “printing unit” of the present invention. The individual information data table storage area 4041 of the RAM 404 corresponds to the “storage device” of the present invention. The CPU 401 that performs step S111 corresponds to the “selecting unit” of the present invention. The CPU 401 performing step S112 corresponds to the “selection determination unit” of the present invention. The CPU 401 performing steps S113 and S116 corresponds to the “individual information acquisition unit” of the present invention. The CPU 401 performing step S145 corresponds to the “use history acquisition unit” of the present invention. The CPU 401 that performs Step S121, Step S124, and Step S147 corresponds to the “storage control unit” of the present invention.

The CPU 401 that performs steps S120 and S123 corresponds to the “tape length acquisition unit” of the present invention. The CPU 401 performing step S128 corresponds to the “conveyance amount acquisition unit” of the present invention. The optical sensor 28 corresponds to “start detection means” and “end detection means” of the present invention. The CPU 401 performing step S118 corresponds to the “start determination unit” of the present invention. The CPU 401 performing step S119 corresponds to the “type information detection unit” of the present invention. The CPU 401 performing step S133 corresponds to the “first deletion unit” of the present invention. The CPU 401 performing step S132 corresponds to the “deletion instruction determination unit” of the present invention. The CPU 401 performing step S148 corresponds to the “end determination unit” of the present invention. The CPU 401 performing step S150 corresponds to the “second deletion unit” of the present invention.

The present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments, and various modifications can be made. In both the first and second embodiments, the following modifications are possible.

In the first and second embodiments, the positions of the index unit 801 and the identification unit 802 are not limited. For example, the indicator portion 801 and the identification portion 802 may be provided on the side surface or the bottom surface 30B of the cassette case 31 different from the arm front surface 35. In this case, the type information and individual information of the tape cassette 30 can be detected by changing the position of the mechanical sensor 23 in accordance with the positions of the index unit 801 and the identification unit 802.

In steps S45 and S65 of the first embodiment and steps S133 and S150 of the second embodiment, instead of deleting both the individual information and the usage history, either one of the individual information or the usage history is deleted. May be.

In the type information data table 81 (see FIG. 16), the tape width and the tape length are associated with the type information, but the data associated with the type information is not limited. For example, the type information may be associated with a tape color, a tape type (a heat sensitive type, a receptor type, a laminate type, or the like). In this case, the tape width, tape length, tape color, tape type, and the like can be specified by detecting the type information indicated by the index unit 801.

The usage history stored in the individual information data table 82 (see FIGS. 17 and 26) includes the remaining tape amount and the printing history, but the data included in the usage history is not limited. For example, the use history may include the date of purchase, the color of the tape, and the tape type. In this case, the CPU 401 of the printing apparatus 1 can specify the remaining tape amount, printing history, purchase date, tape color, tape type, and the like from the individual information. Note that the individual information data table storage area 4041 may be provided in a storage device other than the RAM 404. For example, the individual information data table storage area 4041 may be provided in a flash memory.

In step S55 of the first embodiment and step S145 of the second embodiment, the remaining tape amount is calculated by subtracting the conveyance amount from the remaining tape amount. However, the remaining tape amount may be calculated by another method. . For example, the total transport amount of the film tape 59 used for printing is stored in the RAM 404. In steps S55 and S145, the remaining amount of tape may be calculated by subtracting the total transport amount stored in the RAM 404 from the initial value of the tape length.

In the first embodiment, the following modifications are possible. Although the pattern of the identification unit 802 can be changed by the push switch 90, the pattern of the identification unit 802 may be changed by other methods. For example, instead of the hole 95, the arm front surface 35 is provided with a surface portion in which perforations are formed along the outline of the hole 95. The user may change the surface portion into a hole portion by cutting the surface portion along the perforation. Thereby, the user can change the pattern of an identification part correctly and easily.

Instead of the mechanical sensor 23, an optical sensor may be used. In this case, for example, the surface portions in the index portion 801 and the identification portion 802 are changed to reflective surfaces that reflect light, and the hole portions in the index portion 801 and the identification portion 802 are changed to non-reflective surfaces that do not reflect light. Good. That is, you may change a surface part and a hole part into the two-dimensional pattern which shows identification information with the combination of a reflective surface and a non-reflective surface.

In this case, when the light emitted from the optical sensor is reflected by the reflecting surface, the light is detected by the light receiving unit of the optical sensor, and when the light is not reflected by the non-reflecting surface, the optical sensor Light is not detected by the light receiving unit The printing apparatus 1 can specify type information and individual information based on the detection pattern of reflected light. Even when the index part 801 and the identification part 802 are either a surface part or a hole part, the type information and the individual information can be specified by distinguishing and detecting the hole part and the surface part based on the difference in light reflectance. is there.

As described above, when the surface portion and the hole portion are changed to a two-dimensional pattern of a reflective surface and a non-reflective surface, a mark may be formed along the outline of the reflective surface. In this case, the user can change the reflecting surface to a non-reflecting surface by painting the reflecting surface along the mark. As a result, the user can change the pattern of an identification part correctly and easily.

In the second embodiment, the following modifications are possible. In step S116, the individual information input by the user is acquired, but the individual information may be acquired by other methods. For example, individual information different from the individual information already registered in the individual information data table 82 may be automatically generated. In this case, when a new tape cassette 30 is used, individual information can be acquired automatically.

For example, in the case of the individual information “24A”, it is displayed as a combination of the tape width “24 cm” and the alphabet “A”, but the individual information may be displayed as a combination of arbitrary characters. In step S142, the individual label 501 is created, but the individual label 501 may not be created. In this case, the user may manage the individual information of the tape cassette 30 by an arbitrary method.

When the start mark 591 is detected, the tape length specified in the type information data table 81 is acquired as the remaining tape amount (S120, S121). However, another method may be used to acquire the remaining tape amount. . For example, if it is determined in step S112 that the individual information has not been selected, steps S122 and S123 may be always performed to acquire the remaining tape amount input by the user.

In the second embodiment, an optical sensor may be used instead of the mechanical sensor 23. In this case, as described above, the type information is obtained by detecting the combination of the surface portion and the hole portion in the indicator portion 801 or the combination of the reflective surface and the non-reflective surface in the indicator portion 801 by distinguishing the difference in light reflectance. Can be specified.

Claims (19)

1. A cassette mounting portion that can be attached to and detached from a tape cassette having a cassette case that houses the tape;
   Transport means for pulling out and transporting the tape from the tape cassette mounted on the cassette mounting section;
   Printing means for printing on the tape conveyed by the conveying means;
   Individual information acquisition means for acquiring individual information that is identification information for each individual tape cassette;
   Usage history acquisition means for acquiring a usage history that is information relating to printing of the tape;
   And a storage control unit that stores the usage history acquired by the usage history acquisition unit in a storage device in association with the individual information acquired by the individual information acquisition unit.
2. The individual information acquisition means detects and acquires the individual information indicated by the identification unit in a state where the tape cassette having the identification unit indicating the individual information in the cassette case is mounted on the cassette mounting unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 1.
3. The type information indicated by the index portion is detected in a state where the tape cassette having the index portion indicating the type information which is identification information for each type of the tape cassette is mounted on the cassette mounting portion. Type information detection means;
   Based on the type information detected by the type information detecting means, a tape length specifying means for specifying a tape length that is the length of the unused tape;
   A transport amount acquisition means for acquiring the transport amount of the tape by the transport means;
   The usage history acquisition unit is a tape that is the remaining amount of the tape as the usage history based on the conveyance amount detected by the conveyance amount acquisition unit and the tape length specified by the tape length specification unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the remaining amount is acquired.
4. Remaining amount storage determining means for determining whether or not the remaining tape amount associated with the individual information acquired by the individual information acquiring means is stored in the storage device;
   The usage history acquisition means is acquired by the transport amount acquisition means from the remaining tape amount stored in the storage device when it is determined by the remaining amount storage determination means that it is stored in the storage device. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a value obtained by subtracting the transport amount is acquired as the remaining tape amount.
5. The usage history associated with the individual information acquired by the individual information acquisition unit when the remaining tape amount stored in the storage device is smaller than the conveyance amount acquired by the conveyance amount acquisition unit The printing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising first deletion means that can be deleted from the storage device.
6. Whether or not an instruction to delete the usage history is input by the user when the remaining tape amount stored in the storage device is smaller than the transport amount acquired by the transport amount acquisition unit. A deletion instruction determination means for determining,
   The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first deletion unit deletes the use history from the storage device when it is determined that an instruction to delete the use history is input by the deletion instruction input unit.
7. A start detection means for detecting a start mark provided at the downstream end in the transport direction of the tape in an unused state and indicating that it is in an unused state for the tape cassette mounted in the cassette mounting portion;
   Start determination means for determining whether or not the start mark is detected by the start detection means,
   The usage history acquisition unit acquires the tape length specified by the tape length specification unit as the remaining tape amount when the start determination unit determines that the start mark has been detected. The printing apparatus in any one of.
8. The remaining amount storage determining unit determines whether or not the remaining amount of tape is stored in the storage device when the start determining unit determines that the start mark is not detected;
   A remaining amount input determining unit configured to determine whether or not the remaining tape amount is input by a user when the remaining storage amount determining unit determines that the remaining tape amount is not stored in the storage device;
   The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the usage history acquisition unit acquires the input tape remaining amount as the usage history when the remaining tape input determination unit determines that the remaining tape amount is input. .
9. An end detection means for detecting an end mark provided at an upstream end in the transport direction of the tape and indicating that the tape is used, with the tape cassette mounted on the cassette mounting portion as a target;
   End determination means for determining whether or not the end mark is detected by the end detection means;
   Second deletion means for deleting, from the storage device, the usage history associated with the individual information acquired by the individual information acquisition means when it is determined by the end determination means that the end mark has been detected. A printing apparatus according to claim 2, comprising:
10. It has a plurality of switch terminals that can be advanced and retracted, and includes a mechanical sensor that determines the identification part of the tape cassette attached to the cassette attachment part,
    The individual information acquisition means detects the individual information based on the discrimination result of the mechanical sensor,
    The identification portion is provided at a position facing each of the plurality of switch terminals, and has a pattern according to the individual information, and a hole portion into which the switch terminal can be inserted, and a surface portion capable of contacting the switch terminal The printing apparatus according to claim 2, which is a combination of the following.
11. A selection means for allowing a user to select one piece of the individual information among the pieces of individual information stored in the storage device;
    Selection judging means for judging whether or not the one piece of individual information has been selected by the user by the selecting means,
    The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the individual information acquisition unit acquires the selected individual information when the selection determination unit determines that one individual information is selected by a user.
12. 12. The printing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the individual information acquisition unit acquires the individual information input by a user when the selection determination unit determines that one individual information is not selected by the user.
13. The individual information acquisition unit generates the individual information different from the individual information already stored in the storage device when the selection determination unit determines that one individual information is not selected by the user. The printing apparatus according to claim 11, obtained by
14. A tape length acquisition means for acquiring a tape length, which is the length of the tape, input by a user;
    A transport amount acquisition means for acquiring the transport amount of the tape by the transport means;
    The usage history acquisition unit is a tape that is the remaining amount of the tape as the usage history based on the conveyance amount detected by the conveyance amount acquisition unit and the tape length acquired by the tape length acquisition unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the remaining amount is acquired.
15. The type information indicated by the index portion is detected in a state where the tape cassette having the index portion indicating the type information which is identification information for each type of the tape cassette is mounted on the cassette mounting portion. Type information detection means;
    A start detection means for detecting a start mark provided at the downstream end in the transport direction of the tape in an unused state and indicating that it is in an unused state for the tape cassette mounted in the cassette mounting portion;
    Start determination means for determining whether or not the start mark is detected by the start detection means,
    The tape length acquisition unit acquires the unused tape length based on the type information detected by the type information detection unit when the start determination unit determines that the start mark has been detected. The printing apparatus according to claim 14.
16. The usage history acquisition means includes
    When the tape remaining amount associated with the individual information acquired by the individual information acquisition unit is not stored in the storage device, the tape length acquired by the tape length acquisition unit is changed to the tape As the remaining amount,
    When the remaining tape amount associated with the individual information acquired by the individual information acquisition unit is stored in the storage device, the transport amount is calculated from the remaining tape amount stored in the storage device. The printing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a value obtained by subtracting the conveyance amount acquired by an acquisition unit is acquired as the remaining tape amount.
17. The usage history associated with the individual information acquired by the individual information acquisition unit when the remaining tape amount stored in the storage device is smaller than the conveyance amount acquired by the conveyance amount acquisition unit The printing apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising first deletion means that can be deleted from the storage device.
18. Whether or not an instruction to delete the use history is input by the user when the remaining tape amount stored in the storage device is smaller than the transport amount acquired by the transport amount acquisition unit Delete instruction judging means for judging
    The first deletion means, when it is determined that an instruction to delete the use history is input by the deletion instruction input means, the use history associated with the individual information acquired by the individual information acquisition means The printing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the printer is deleted from the storage device.
19. An end detection means for detecting an end mark provided at an upstream end in the transport direction of the tape and indicating that the tape is used, with the tape cassette mounted on the cassette mounting portion as a target;
    End determination means for determining whether or not the end mark is detected by the end detection means;
    Second deletion means for deleting, from the storage device, the usage history associated with the individual information acquired by the individual information acquisition means when it is determined by the end determination means that the end mark has been detected. A printing apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 18.

Images