JPH06199002A - Tape printing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] A tape printer that can easily grasp the mutual positional relationship between the tape width and the text content of the tape used and create the tape as displayed on the display. provide. [Structure] The tape width of the tape used through the tape width detector is detected, and the reduction ratio when displaying text on the liquid crystal display corresponding to the detected tape width can be changed with the up and down cursor keys. Toshi (S16-
In step S21, the text content is displayed as a text image according to the selected reduction ratio on the liquid crystal display while clearly indicating the relationship with the tape width (S12, S13). As a result, the relationship between the tape width and the text content is always accurately grasped, and the tape as the image displayed on the liquid crystal display is created.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape printer capable of displaying the contents of text created by a text creating means such as a keyboard as a text image on a display, and more particularly to a tape printer having a plurality of tape widths. The present invention relates to a tape printer capable of displaying a text image on a display while controlling the magnification of a text image corresponding to each tape width on a lengthy tape.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing device such as a word processor is provided with an image display function for displaying the content of text consisting of document data such as characters input and created from a keyboard as a text image on a display. Is proposed. There is also a word processor having a layout function of displaying the layout of the text created as described above on a display.

Here, the image display function is to display the state after printing the text contents on the display before printing the text, and the layout display function is the same as the image display function. The layout state after printing the text contents is displayed on the display. According to these image display function and layout display function, it is possible to check the arrangement state and distribution state of the text contents after printing before printing the text, and it is easy to make documents etc. according to the operator's intention. It is possible to create.

[0004]

However, at the time of executing the image display function and the layout display function adopted in the word processor or the like, although the text content is displayed as a text image on the display, The image is always displayed on the display in the same display state regardless of the size (size) of the printing medium such as the printing paper on which the text is printed.

Therefore, depending on the conventional image display function and layout display function employed in a word processor or the like, a text image is not displayed in correspondence with the size (size) of a printing medium such as a printing paper on which text is printed. Therefore, when the size of the print medium is changed, the text image of the entire text contents including the print medium cannot be accurately grasped. As a result,
When the text is printed on the print medium, there is a possibility that a text different from the text image grasped by the operator via the display may be printed on the print medium, and the text needs to be recreated. It is a thing.

By the way, there is known a tape printer which prints a text consisting of document data such as characters on a long tape having a plurality of tape widths to create a tape with characters. In such a tape printer, since tapes having various tape widths are used, it is very convenient for tape production if the text contents can be displayed as a text image on the display corresponding to the tape width of each tape used. Is.

However, even if the conventional image display function and layout function described above are adopted for this type of tape printer, depending on the image display function and layout function, the tape of each tape used as described above. The text image of the text content cannot be displayed on the display according to the width, and the same problem as described above still remains.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and controls the magnification of a text image in correspondence with each tape width in a long tape having plural kinds of tape widths. A tape that can be displayed on the display while being able to easily grasp the mutual positional relationship between the tape width and the text content of the tape used, and create a tape as it is displayed on the display. An object is to provide a printing device.

[0009]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a text creating means for creating a text composed of document data such as characters, and a display means for displaying the text created by the text creating means. In a tape printer having a printing means for printing the text displayed on the display means on a long tape having a plurality of tape widths, a display instruction for displaying the content of the text on the display means as a text image. Means, tape width detecting means for detecting the tape width of each tape, and based on an instruction from the display instructing means, displayed on the display means in correspondence with the tape width detected by the tape width detecting means. And a display control means for controlling the magnification of the text image.

[0010]

According to the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, the text composed of the document data such as characters created by the text creating means is displayed on the display means, and the tape width of the tape used by the tape width detecting means is changed. To be detected. Then, when the content of the text displayed on the display means is displayed as a text image on the display means in accordance with the tape width detected by the tape width detection means, the display instruction means is operated.

When there is such an instruction from the display instructing means, the display control means controls the display means based on the instruction from the display instructing means, and the text corresponding to the tape width detected by the tape width detecting means. The magnification of the image is controlled, and the controlled text image is displayed on the display means. As a result, the text content is displayed on the display means in correspondence with the tape width of the tape used, and the arrangement state and distribution state of the text content on the tape after printing can be accurately grasped. After the text contents are confirmed on the display means in this way, the text is printed on the tape via the printing means.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tape printer showing the storage cover of the tape cassette storage unit opened.

In FIG. 1, a tape printer 1 inputs a character such as a character over a plurality of lines to form a plurality of texts composed of document data, and commands a printing of each text. Image display key 4 for displaying the text content created by the print key 3 and the character input key 2 on the liquid crystal display 7, and a cursor key for moving the cursor up and down, left and right on the liquid crystal display 7 to select the magnification of the image. C, a cancel key 5 for canceling various processes, a keyboard 6 provided with a return key R for issuing a line feed command and execution of various processes, a liquid crystal display for displaying characters etc. input from the keyboard 6 7 and a cassette storage portion 8 for storing a tape cassette 13 described later.

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

Further, behind the cassette housing portion 8, a film tape 15 stored in a tape cassette 13 is provided.
A tape width detector K for detecting the tape width of various tapes (the tape width of each tape is the same for one tape cassette 13) is provided.

The tape width detector K is composed of three photocouplers P1, P2, P3. The photocouplers P1, P2, P3 are attached to the back surface of the tape cassette 13 when the tape cassette 13 is mounted in the cassette housing portion 8. A discriminating member (not shown) provided in the disc is inserted and the discriminating member selectively blocks the photocouplers P1, P2, and P3 so that various tapes such as the film tape 15 stored in the tape cassette 13 can be stored. The tape width is detected.

Here, in this embodiment, the film tape 15 is used.
6mm, 12mm, 24mm as tape width type
There are three types of photocouplers P1, P2, P
3 is for detecting the tape width in the tape cassette 13 by the combination of the "H" signal and the "L" signal which are issued based on the selective interruption by the discriminating member. Regarding the structure of the tape width detector K, Japanese Patent Application No. 3-2178
Since it has the same structure as that described in Japanese Patent Application No. 60 and Japanese Patent Application No. 3-217861, the detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

Further, the cassette storage portion 8 is provided with a storage cover 1 rotatably supported rearward of the tape printer 1.
The tape cassette 13 is opened and closed by 2, and the tape cassette 13 is exchanged in the open state.

Next, the structure of the tape cassette 13 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the state where the tape cassette 13 is stored in the cassette storage portion 8 (the tape cassette 13 is shown excluding the upper case).

In FIG. 2, a tape spool 16 around which a transparent film tape 15 is wound in a lower case 14,
A ribbon spool 18 around which the thermal ink ribbon 17 is wound, and an adhesive tape spool 20 around which a double-sided adhesive tape 19 with release paper is wound with the release paper side facing outward are arranged. These spools 16, 18, 20 is rotatably supported by cooperation with a support portion provided on the lower surface of the upper case (not shown).

A ribbon take-up spool 21 is also rotatably supported between the spools 16, 18 and 20, and the ribbon take-up spool 21 is meshed with the above-mentioned ribbon take-up shaft 9 to take up the ribbon take-up shaft 9. By driving the take-up shaft 9, the thermal ink ribbon 17 used for printing is taken up.

Further, the thermal head 11 is arranged in a recess 22 provided in the lower case 14, and a platen roller 24 rotatably supported by a roller holder 23 is opposed to the thermal head 11 at a position where it can be pressed. It is arranged. The thermal head 11 includes a large number of heating elements (the thermal head 1 of the tape printer 1 according to the present embodiment).
1 has 128 heating elements), and prints characters and the like on the film tape 15 via the thermal ink ribbon 17.

Further, the tape ejection portion 25 of the lower case 14
The tape pressure roller 26 is provided near (on the lower left side in FIGS. 1 and 2).
Is rotatably supported, and a tape feed roller 27 rotatably supported by the roller holder 23 is arranged opposite to the tape pressure contact roller 26 at a position where it can be pressure contacted.

In the cassette housing portion 8, a roller holder 23 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 28 in front of the tape cassette 13 (lower side in FIGS. 1 and 2), and the roller holder 23 is not shown. It is possible to switch between the print position and the release position by a manual switching mechanism (FIGS. 1 and 2 both show a state where the print position is switched to the print position).

In the roller holder 23, the platen roller 24 and the tape feed roller 27 are rotatable, and the thermal head 11 and the pressure contact roller 2 are rotated when the roller holder 23 is switched to the print position.
It is arranged so as to be in pressure contact with 6. The tape feed roller 27 is rotationally driven by the tape feed roller shaft 10 described above, and at the same time, the pressure contact roller 26 is rotationally driven in conjunction with the tape feed roller 27 by a gear mechanism (not shown).

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

Next, the control system of the tape printer 1 thus constructed will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows a control block diagram of the tape printer 1, and the controller 3
It is configured with 0 as the nucleus. The control device 30 is the CPU 3
1, ROM 32, CGROM 33, and RAM 34, which are connected to each other via a bus 35 and also to an input / output interface 36.

Here, the ROM 32 stores various programs, and includes a text editing control program, a text image display control program, which will be described later.
In addition, various programs necessary for controlling the tape printer 1 are stored. Then, the CPU 31
Various calculations are performed based on various programs stored in M32.

Further, in the ROM 32, as shown in FIG. 4, the width of each tape (film tape 15 etc.) used in the tape printer 1 and the magnification (reduction ratio) of the characters (text) displayed in the image are shown. A table in which is associated is stored. In the table of FIG. 4, the tape width is 24 m
In the case of m, two types of reduction ratios, 1/64 and 1/16, can be set. When the tape width is 12 mm, three types of reduction ratios of 1/64, 1/16, and 1/4 can be set. Further, when the tape width is 6 mm, four types of reduction ratios of 1/64, 1/16, 1/4, and 1/1 can be set.

Further, the CGROM 33 stores dot pattern data corresponding to each character input from the keyboard 6, and the dot pattern data is CGR.
It is read from the OM 33, expanded, and then transferred to the image buffer 42 described later.

Further, the RAM 34 is for temporarily storing various calculation results calculated by the CPU 31, and the RAM 34 is provided with various memories as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, the text memory 41 stores code data corresponding to a character input from the keyboard 6 as document data (text). Further, the image buffer 42 expands and stores the dot pattern data read from the CGROM 33 corresponding to the text document data stored in the text memory 41.

Further, the print buffer 43 transfers and stores the dot data stored in the image buffer 42 at the time of printing, and the thermal head 11 performs dot printing according to the dot data stored in the print buffer 43. It is a thing. Also, tape width memory 4
Reference numeral 4 denotes a tape width detected by the tape width detector K when the tape cassette 13 is stored in the cassette storage portion 8 (a tape width of 6 mm, 12 mm, or 24 mm).
Is to remember.

Now, returning to FIG. 3 and continuing the description of the control block diagram, the keyboard 6 is controlled via the input / output interface 36, and the liquid crystal display 7 and the display controller 37 are controlled via the input / output interface 36, respectively. When a character or the like is input through the character input keys 2 of the keyboard 6 connected to the device 30, the document data is sequentially stored in the text memory 41, and the dot pattern generation control program and the display control program are also stored. A dot pattern corresponding to a character or the like input via the keyboard 6 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 7 based on the. Also, the tape width detector K
The detection signal from is input to the CPU 31 via the input / output interface 36 and stored in the tape width memory 44.

The thermal head 11 has a drive circuit 38.
The dot data transferred from the image buffer 42 to the print buffer 43 is printed via the
In synchronization with this, the tape feed motor 40 controls the feeding of the tape T via the drive circuit 39.

Next, the operation of the tape printer 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8.
FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of the text editing control program. In step (hereinafter abbreviated as S) 1, initialization such as clearing each memory in the RAM 34 is performed. In S2, the operator waits for key input, and in S3, it is determined whether or not there is a key input from any key on the keyboard 6.
If there is no key input (S3: NO), the process returns to S2 and waits for key input. On the other hand, if there is a key input (S3: YE
In S), it is determined whether or not there is a key input from the image display key 4 in the subsequent S4.

When there is a key input from the image display key 4 (S4: YES), image processing described later is performed. When there is no key input from the image key 4 (S4: NO), it is determined in S5 whether the key input is from the print key 3. If the key input from the print key 3 is (5: YES), the thermal head 1
The printing process is performed on the tape via 1 (S8).
On the other hand, if it is determined in S5 that the key input is not from the print key 3 (S5: NO), it is determined in S6 whether or not a key input from any other key than the above is performed, and if the determination is YES. The process corresponding to the operated key is performed in S9. For example, when there is a key input from the character input key 2 (S6: YES), a text composed of document data such as characters is created, and the created text is stored in the text memory 41.
If NO in S6, the process returns to S2 to wait for the next key input.

Next, the image processing performed in S7 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of the image display control program. First, the default reduction rate is set in S10,
Data instructing the reduction rate is stored in the RAM 34. Here, the default means the maximum reduction ratio that can be displayed for tapes having any tape width. For example, as shown in FIG.
In the table shown in (1), the reduction ratio of 1/16 corresponds to the default.

At S11, the tape width data detected by the tape width detector K is stored in the RAM.
34 in the tape width memory 44. And S1
2, the text corresponding to the characters currently displayed on the liquid crystal display 7 is read from the text memory 41, and the document data of the text is reduced by the data stored in the RAM 34 as described above. Rate 1
In accordance with / 16, it is expanded in the image buffer 42 via the CGROM 33.

Further, in S13, the image buffer 42
The image data developed on the LCD display 7
Displayed above. The display state at this time is shown in FIG. Here, in FIG. 8B, a tape having a tape width of 12 mm is used as an example, and the text “12345” is used.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a state in which is displayed on the liquid crystal display 7 while clearly showing the relationship with the tape width W at a reduction ratio of 1/16. When the image data is displayed on the liquid crystal display 7 in correspondence with the reduction ratio, for example, when the reduction ratio is 1 / n, n dots on the print are 1 on the display.
Display control is performed on the liquid crystal display 7 so as to form dots.

Next, in S14 and S15, key input from each key on the keyboard 6 is waited, and if there is no key input (S15: NO), the process returns to S14 and waits for key input. When there is a key input (S1
5: YES), it is determined whether or not the key input is from the up cursor key C (S16). Here, the up cursor key C has a function of designating enlargement of image display.

In the case of key input from the up cursor key C (S16: YES), the reduction ratio (1/16) currently set and indicated by the data stored in the RAM 34 is the tape width of the tape being used. It is determined whether or not the maximum reduction rate is satisfied from the relationship (S17). In particular,
The tape width of the tape is read from the data stored in the tape width memory 44, and based on the read tape width, the table (see FIG. 4) in the ROM 32 is referenced to make a determination. Since the value of the reduction ratio set in S10 is 1/16, the determination in S17 is YES when the tape width of the tape is 24 mm, and when the tape width of the tape is 12 mm and 6 mm. In case S1
The determination at 7 is NO.

When it is judged that the currently set reduction ratio is not the maximum based on the tape width (S17: NO),
After increasing the reduction ratio by one level (S18), the process returns to S12. In the above example, if the tape width is 12 mm,
Further, when the tape width is 6 mm, the reduction rate is set to 1/4, and the data indicating the reduction rate is RAM.
Stored in 34.

When it is judged that the currently set reduction ratio is the maximum based on the tape width (S17: YE
In S), the process immediately returns to S12 without passing through S18.
When the tape width is 24 mm, the reduction ratio becomes maximum at 1/16 as described above, so that S1 can be performed without passing through S18.
Return to 2.

On the other hand, when it is determined in S16 that the key input is not the upper cursor key C (S1
6: NO), and in S19, it is determined whether or not the key is input from the down cursor key C (S19). Here, the down cursor key C has a function of designating reduction of the image display.

When it is determined that the key input is made from the down cursor key C (19: YES), the currently set reduction ratio (1/16) is the minimum in relation to the tape width of the tape used. It is determined whether or not the reduction ratio of (S20). Specifically, the tape width of the tape is read from the data stored in the tape width memory 44, and based on the read tape width, it is determined by referring to the table (see FIG. 4) in the ROM 32. Where S1
The value of the reduction ratio set at 0 is 1/16, so if the tape width is 24 mm, the tape width is 12 mm.
In both cases, and the tape width is 6 mm, the determination in S20 is NO.

When it is determined that the currently set reduction ratio is not the minimum on the basis of the tape width (S20: NO), the reduction ratio is reduced by one level (S21) and then the process returns to S12. In the above example, the reduction ratio is 1/64 regardless of whether the tape width is 24 mm, the tape width is 12 mm, or the tape width is 6 mm. Data indicating the rate is stored in the RAM 34. If it is determined that the currently set reduction ratio is the minimum based on the tape width (S20: YE
In S), the process immediately returns to S12 without passing through S21.

When it is determined in S19 that the key input is not the down cursor key C (S19: NO), it is determined whether the key input is the cancel key 5 (S22). If it is not the key input from the cancel key 5 (S22: NO), S14 is executed to perform the process again.
Returning to step S4, if the key input is from the cancel key 5 (S22: YES), the present image process is terminated and the process returns to step S2 shown in FIG.

As in the case of FIG. 8B, as an example, a tape having a tape width of 12 mm is used, and S17 and S18 described above are used.
After performing the processing from S to S12, the state in which the text is displayed on the liquid crystal display 7 in S13 is shown in FIG.
It shows in (C). In FIG. 8C, the reduction rate is 1 / in S18.
After being increased by one level in 4, the text "1234
5 is an explanatory view schematically showing a state in which “5” is displayed on the liquid crystal display 7 while clearly showing the relationship with the tape width W at the reduction ratio ¼.

FIG. 8A shows a state in which the text is displayed on the liquid crystal display 7 in S13 after the processes in S20, S21 to S12 are performed using a tape having a tape width of 12 mm. FIG. 8A shows S2.
After the reduction ratio is reduced by 1 level to 1/64 at 1, the text "12345" is displayed on the liquid crystal display 7 while clearly indicating the relationship with the tape width W at the reduction ratio of 1/64. It is an explanatory view showing typically.

As is clear from FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C, the text is the tape width W of the tape used.
Is displayed on the liquid crystal display 7 with a reduction ratio corresponding to the tape width, and the content of the text and the text are always printed even when the tape width of the tape used is changed. It is possible to accurately grasp the mutual relationship with the tape.

As described above in detail, in the tape printer 1 according to this embodiment, the tape width of the tape used is detected through the tape width detector K, and the detected tape width is detected. LCD text 7
The reduction ratio when displayed on the upper side is made variable by the up / down cursor key C, and the text content is displayed as a text image on the liquid crystal display 7 while clearly indicating the relationship with the tape width W according to the selected reduction ratio. Even if the tape width of the tape to be used is changed, it is possible to easily grasp the positional relationship between the tape width and the text content, such as the mutual arrangement state and distribution state.

As a result, the relationship between the tape width and the text content can always be accurately grasped, and the tape as an image displayed on the liquid crystal display 7 can be created.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and it goes without saying that various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0055]

As described above, the present invention makes it possible to display the text image on the display while controlling the magnification of the text image corresponding to each tape width in the long tape having plural kinds of tape widths. It is possible to provide a tape printer capable of easily grasping the mutual positional relationship between the tape width and the text content of the tape to be used and producing the tape as displayed on the display. Industrial effect is great

[Brief description of drawings]

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

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

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

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the contents of a table in which the tape width of each tape used in the tape printing device stored in the ROM is associated with the reduction ratio of the image displayed text.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the contents of RAM.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a text editing control program.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an image display control program.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a state in which text is displayed as an image on a liquid crystal display while clearly showing the relationship with the tape width according to each reduction ratio.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 tape printer 2 character input key 3 print key 4 image display key 5 cancel key 6 keyboard 7 liquid crystal display 11 thermal head 30 controller 31 CPU 32 ROM 33 CGROM 34 RAM 41 text memory 42 image buffer 43 print buffer 44 tape width memory C Cursor key K Tape width detector

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A text creating means for creating a text composed of document data such as characters, a displaying means for displaying the text created by the text creating means, and a text displayed on the displaying means with a plurality of tape widths. In a tape printer having a printing means for printing on a long tape having the display instruction means for displaying the content of the text on the display means as a text image, and a tape width for detecting the tape width of each tape. A detection means, and a display control means for controlling the magnification of the text image displayed on the display means in correspondence with the tape width detected by the tape width detection means based on the instruction from the display instruction means. A tape printer characterized by being provided.