JPH0830593A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To prevent the image from becoming a straight line even if many broken lines overlap. [Structure] When an image of a horizontal broken line is generated, a pattern position XX assigned to the left end position on the tape printing surface of the frame is calculated (S82), and this pattern position XX is calculated.
Is 0≤XX≤NL -1 (NL is the number of bits of the broken line image)
An image is formed only for the bits corresponding to, and NL ≤XX≤2N
The image of the bit corresponding to L-1 is not formed (S84).
~ S89). This process is repeated until the right end position. In this way, when the horizontal broken line is generated, it is determined whether the point is the colored part or the non-colored part according to the coordinates on the printing surface of the tape, and therefore many broken lines overlap each other to form a straight line. The image will not look like this.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of forming a broken line on an image forming surface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been considered an image forming apparatus having a broken line forming means for forming a broken line on an image forming surface by alternately arranging image forming portions and non-forming portions. In this type of image forming apparatus, when forming a broken line,
For example, a linear image forming portion is arranged over a predetermined length from the start position of the broken line, and then an image non-forming portion is arranged over the predetermined length from the end of the forming portion. After that, image forming portions and image forming portions are alternately arranged.

[0003]

However, in the image forming apparatus of this type, when a plurality of broken lines are formed so as to be overlapped with each other, they sometimes overlap each other to form an image like a solid line. For example, FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating lateral broken lines A and B formed by overlapping each other. In the broken line A, a linear image forming portion A1 is arranged from the start position A0 to the right for a predetermined length L, and from the right end of the forming portion A1 to the right for the predetermined length L. , A non-image forming portion A2 is provided. Further, on the right side thereof, a forming portion A3, a non-forming portion A4, ... And a forming portion and a non-forming portion are alternately arranged for each predetermined length L.

Consider a case where a broken line B, which is arranged such that the start position B0 is shifted to the left of the start position A0 by the predetermined length L, is superimposed on the broken line A. The part where this broken line B is formed is B
1, B3, B5, ... As shown in the figure, the forming portions B3, B5 ,.
Superimpose on ... Therefore, the two broken lines A, which overlap each other,
B becomes an image as if it were one straight line. Therefore, the present invention has been made for the purpose of providing an image forming apparatus capable of satisfactorily preventing the formation of an image like a straight line no matter how many broken lines overlap.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is arranged by alternately arranging image forming portions and non-forming portions as shown in FIG. In an image forming apparatus provided with a broken line forming means for forming a broken line on the image forming surface, the broken line forming means sets each point on the broken line according to the coordinates on the image forming surface to the image forming part or the non-forming part. It is characterized in that it is a forming part.

Further, the invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the image forming surface is a printing surface, the image forming portion is a colored portion, and the image non-forming portion is a non-colored portion. The gist is the image forming apparatus according to item 1. Further, the invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the image forming surface is a display surface, the image forming portion is a dark portion, and the image non-forming portion is a bright portion. The forming device is the main point.

[0007]

In the invention according to claim 1 thus constructed, when the broken line is formed, according to the coordinates on the image forming surface,
Each point is defined as an image forming portion or a non-forming portion. For this reason,
Regardless of the start position of the broken line, the coordinates of each point on the image forming surface determine whether the point is a forming portion or a non-forming portion. Therefore, no matter how many broken lines overlap, the forming portion and the non-forming portion do not overlap.

In the second aspect of the invention, similarly to the first aspect of the invention, the coordinates of each point on the printing surface determine whether the point is a colored portion or a non-colored portion. Therefore, no matter how many broken lines overlap, the colored portion and the non-colored portion do not overlap. Further, in the invention according to claim 3, as in the invention according to claim 1, whether the point is a bright part or a dark part is determined by the coordinates of each point on the display surface. Therefore, no matter how many broken lines overlap, the bright portion and the dark portion do not overlap.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the tape printer 1 of the embodiment. The tape printer 1 is a device that prints according to a key input on a tape wound and held in a tape cassette (not shown).

As shown in the figure, on the surface of the tape printer 1, a large number of key switches 3 for executing various inputs,
A liquid crystal display 5 for displaying input document data and the like is provided. The key switch 3 includes a print key 31 for instructing printing, an entire format setting key 32 for setting the length (tape length) from the cutting position of the tape to the cutting position, and a type of frame surrounding characters ( A line format setting key 33 for setting the frame type, etc., an image key 34 for roughly displaying the printing state of the document data on the tape on the liquid crystal display 5, a cursor on the liquid crystal display 5, and the like for moving the display up and down. A pair of up and down keys 35, a pair of left and right keys 36 for moving the cursor and display left and right, a return key 37 for confirming various data, an edit key 38 for inputting Japanese syllabary, alphabets, etc. It is composed of a cancel key 39 for canceling data. The entire format setting key 32, the line format setting key 33, and the image key 34 are configured to be usable as input keys such as Japanese syllabary.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 3, each key switch 3 and the liquid crystal display 5 are electrically connected to an electronic control circuit 41 built in the tape printer 1. The electronic control circuit 41 includes a CPU 41a and a ROM 41.
b, a well-known microcomputer having a RAM 41c as a main part, and an image buffer 41d for storing image data is also formed in the RAM 41c.
The electronic control circuit 41 drives the liquid crystal display 5 in response to a key input from the key switch 3. Further, the tape printer 1 has a tape printing mechanism 43 for printing on the tape, a tape feeding mechanism 45 for feeding the tape from the tape cassette to the outside of the tape printer 1 via the tape printing mechanism 43, and cutting the fed tape. The electronic control circuit 41 drives these mechanisms 43 to 47 to print the document data on the tape. Since the configurations of these mechanisms 43 to 47 are well known, detailed description of the configurations will be omitted.

Next, the operation of the electronic control circuit 41 will be described with reference to the flowchart. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a main routine of processing of the electronic control circuit 41. The electronic control circuit 41 starts this process at the same time when the power is turned on. When the process is started, R at S01
Initialization processing such as AM41c is performed. In the following S03, the state of key input by the key switch 3 is read, and S05
Then, it is determined whether or not it is a valid key input as described later. When a negative determination is made in S05, the key input is read again in S03. There is a valid key input, S05
If a positive determination is made in step S07, it is determined in step S07 whether or not it is an edit key input by the edit key 38 or the entire format setting key 32, the line format setting key 33, and the image key 34 as the edit key. In the case of editing key input, well-known editing processing such as addition of document data is executed in S09, and the process proceeds to S03.

If the valid key input is not the edit key input, the process proceeds to S11 to determine whether or not the print key 31 is the key input. If the input is the print key 31, the print processing routine described below is executed in S13, and the process proceeds to S03. If the valid key input is not the print key 31, the process proceeds to S15 and it is determined whether or not the frame setting key is input. Here, the frame setting key input is a series of key inputs including the operation of the line format setting key 33. If it is a frame setting key input, a frame setting routine to be described later is executed in S17, and the process proceeds to S03. Further, if the valid key input is any other key input, other processing corresponding to the key input is executed in S19 and the process proceeds to S03. For example, the image key 34
If it is a key input by, the image display processing for roughly displaying the print state of the document data on the tape on the liquid crystal display 5 is executed, and the process proceeds to S03.

Next, FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the frame setting routine of S17, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the liquid crystal display 5 at that time. When the processing is started, first, in S21, the frame setting screen illustrated in FIG. 6A is displayed on the liquid crystal display 5. In this frame setting screen, the block number 51, the line number 53, and the frame type 55 are sequentially displayed from the left side. Note that, in FIG. 6A, for convenience of explanation, other candidates of the block number 51, the line number 53, and the frame type 55 are shown outside the frame representing the liquid crystal display 5, but these candidates are actually Not displayed. Here, a block is a block in which the tape is divided in the longitudinal direction so that document data can be continuously arranged therein, and one or a plurality of lines are set in the block. In the example of FIG. 6A, two blocks, number 1 and number 2, are set, one row is set in the number 1 block, and two rows are set in the number 2 block. .

Returning to FIG. 5, in subsequent S23 and S25, the key input is read, and if the key input is valid, the process proceeds to S27. In S27, it is determined whether or not the key input is the left / right key 36. If the left / right key 36 is used, the process proceeds to S29, the display of the frame type 55 is changed to the next candidate, and the process proceeds to S23. The valid key input is the left / right key 36
If not, the process proceeds to S31 to determine whether the key input is by the up / down key 35. If the up / down key 35 is used, the process proceeds to S33, the display of the block number 51 and the line number 53 is changed to the next candidate, and S23 is performed.
Move to.

If the valid key input is not the up / down key 35, the process proceeds to S35 to determine whether or not the return key 37 is used. Return key 3
If it is based on 7, the process proceeds to S37, and the set frame type 55 is combined with the block number 51 and the line number 53 and stored in the RAM 41c, and then the process proceeds to S39. Also,
If the valid key input is not the return key 37, that is, if the cancel key 39 remains as a valid key of this routine, the process directly proceeds from S35 to S39. In S39, the edit input screen illustrated in FIG. 6B is displayed on the liquid crystal display 5, and the process returns to the main routine. The edit / input screen is a well-known screen for displaying the document data 57 or the like being input.

Next, FIGS. 7 and 8 are flowcharts showing the print processing routine of S13. When you start the process,
First, in S41, text information and frame information stored as document data are read. Here, the text information is a data group having information such as a character code, attributes, arrangement coordinates, height, and width for the number of characters, and the frame information is information such as arrangement coordinates of the frame and frame type for the number of frames. It is a group of data that we have. Subsequently, in S43, it is determined whether or not there is an error in the read information, and if there is no error, the subsequent S45.
Move to.

In S45, the pointer is set to the first character of the text information and the information is read. In subsequent S47, it is determined whether or not all text information has been processed. Initially, a negative determination is made here, and the flow shifts to S48, where a character is drawn in the image buffer 41d based on the text information. In the following S49, the pointer is set to the next character, and the process proceeds to S47. After this, the processes of S47 to S49 are repeated, and when all the characters of the text information have been drawn in the image buffer 41d, an affirmative decision is made in S47 and S51.
Move to.

In S51, the pointer is set at the beginning of the frame information and the information is read. In the next S53, a negative determination is first made, and in the following S55 and S57, the frame type is checked to determine whether or not it is a broken line. In case of broken line, S59
After executing the image generation routine of the below-described broken line frame, the process proceeds to S63. If it is not a broken line, S6
After shifting to 1, the frame is drawn in the image buffer 41d in accordance with the arrangement coordinates of the frame information and the frame type, and then proceeds to S63. In S63, the pointer is set to the next frame information and S5 is set.
Move to 3. After this, the processes of S53 to S63 are repeated, and when all the frames of the frame information have been drawn, an affirmative decision is made in S53 and the process moves to S65.

In S65, the tape printing mechanism 43, the tape feeding mechanism 45, and the tape cutting mechanism 47 are driven based on the contents stored in the image buffer 41d to perform printing, and then the process returns to the main routine. If an error is found in the text information, frame information, etc. in S43, an error message is displayed on the liquid crystal display 5 for several seconds in S67,
After the edit input screen of FIG. 6B is displayed in S69, the process returns to the main routine.

Next, FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the image generation routine of the broken line frame in S59. When the processing is started, the coordinates (X1, Y2) are first calculated from the frame information in S71.
Read (X2, Y2). Here, the frame information is configured as follows. As illustrated in FIG. 12A, the shape of the frame 99 is defined by a rectangle, and the coordinates of the lower left corner on the printing surface of the tape are (X1, Y1) and the coordinates of the upper right corner are (X2, Y2). To be done. The frame information is shown in FIG.
As illustrated in (B), a data group including X1, Y1, X2, Y2, and frame types is stored for each frame.

Therefore, the coordinates (X
1, 1, Y2) (X2, Y2) are the coordinates of both ends of the upper side 99a of the frame 99. In subsequent S72, the coordinates (X1, Y2
) (X2, Y2), an image of the upper side 99a is generated by the image generation routine of a horizontal broken line described later and is drawn in the image buffer 41d. Then, the process proceeds to S73, 74, and similarly, both end coordinates (X1,
Y1) (X2, Y1) is read and an image of the lower side 99b thereof is generated.

In the following S75, the coordinates (X1,
Read Y1) (X1, Y2). This is the coordinates at both ends of the left side 99c of the frame 99. Further, in the subsequent S76, an image of the left side 99c is generated by an image generation routine of a vertical broken line described later based on the coordinates (X1, Y1) (X1, Y2). Then, the process proceeds to S77 and S78, and similarly the frame 99
Coordinates (X2, Y1) (X2, Y2) on both sides of the right side 99d of
Is read, an image of the right side 99d is generated, and the process returns to the print processing routine.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a horizontal broken line image generation routine. It should be noted that this routine is a process for generating an image of a horizontal broken line by alternately defining points continuously arranged in the horizontal direction by NL bits as image forming portions or non-forming portions. When the processing is started, first, in S81, the bit pointer is set at the start position (left end) of the broken line. For example, when drawing the upper side 99a of the frame 99, the bit pointer is set to the position corresponding to the coordinates (X1, Y2). In subsequent S82, the pattern position XX assigned to the coordinates of the start position is calculated. Here, the pattern position XX is a variable assigned to each coordinate on the print surface of the tape, and is incremented by 1 each time the coordinate shifts to the right by one bit, and after increasing to XX = 2NL −1. It is a variable that is reset to 0 again. Therefore, 0≤XX≤NL-
Only the bit corresponding to 1 is turned on (image forming part),
If the bit corresponding to NL ≤ XX ≤ 2NL -1 is turned off (image non-forming portion), the image of the horizontal broken line can be formed.

After S82, the process proceeds to S83, and it is determined whether or not the broken line has been drawn. First, a negative determination is made here, and the routine goes to S84. In S84, it is determined whether or not NL ≤ XX. If NO, the bit at the bit pointer position is turned ON in S85, and if NL ≤ XX, that is, the bit at the bit pointer position is set to 0FF. The process proceeds to S86 while holding. In S86, the bit pointer is moved to the right by one bit. Subsequently, the pattern position XX is incremented (S87), and if the pattern position XX is less than 2NL (S88: YES), if it is 2NL or more (S88: NO), the pattern position XX is reset to 0 ( The process proceeds to S89) and S83. Thereafter, the bit pointer is gradually moved to the right while repeating the processes of S83 to S89, and when the process for the right end of the broken line is completed, an affirmative decision is made in S83 and the process returns to the image generation routine of the broken line frame.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a vertical broken line image generation routine. This processing is almost the same as the image generation routine of the horizontal broken line described above, and NL is set in the vertical direction.
This is a process of generating an image of a broken line by alternately defining points continuously arranged bit by bit as image forming portions or non-image forming portions.

That is, after setting the bit pointer at the start position (lower end) of the broken line (S91), the pattern position YY of the start coordinate is calculated (S92). Here, the pattern position YY is a variable that is incremented by 1 each time the coordinate on the printing surface of the tape moves upward by 1 bit, is incremented to YY = 2NL −1, and is reset to 0 again.

Then, after an affirmative judgment in S93, YY≤N
If it is L-1, the bit at the bit pointer position is turned on, and if NL≤YY, that bit is held at 0FF (S94, S95). Further, after the bit pointer is moved up by one bit (S96), the pattern position YY is incremented (S97), and if it becomes 2NL or more (S9).
8: NO) The pattern position YY is reset to 0 (S9
9) and proceeds to S93. After that, the processes of S93 to S99 are repeated, and when the process for the upper end of the broken line is completed (S
93: YES) The process returns to the image generation routine of the broken line frame.

By the processing of FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, it is possible to generate an image of a broken line by alternately defining points continuously arranged by NL bits in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction as image forming portions or non-forming portions. it can. Then, the above-mentioned S65
When shifting to (FIG. 8), the position on the print surface of the tape corresponding to the bit for which the bit pointer is ON is the colored portion, and the position corresponding to the bit for which the bit pointer is OFF is the non-colored portion on the tape. A dashed frame can be printed.

The processing of FIGS. 10 and 11 corresponds to the broken line forming means. Further, in this embodiment, N in both the horizontal and vertical directions.
The forming section and the non-forming section are switched for each L bit, but the switching cycle may be different in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. Such processing can be realized, for example, by replacing the constant NL in FIG. 11 with another constant ML.

As described above, the tape printer 1 of this embodiment
Then, when forming the broken line, each point is a colored portion or a non-colored portion according to the coordinates on the printing surface of the tape. Therefore, depending on the coordinates of each point on the printed surface, it is determined whether the point becomes a colored part or a non-colored part, and no matter how many broken lines overlap, the colored part and the non-colored part are It does not overlap. Therefore, it is possible to satisfactorily prevent the broken lines from overlapping and form an image like a straight line, and it is possible to satisfactorily print the broken line frame on the tape.

Although the printing process has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention can be applied to the image display process described above. In this case, the coordinates on the display surface of the liquid crystal display 5 substantially correspond to the coordinates on the printing surface of the tape. Therefore, when the liquid crystal display 5 is displayed based on the stored contents of the image buffer 41d, it is determined whether the point is a bright part or a dark part according to the coordinates of each point on the display surface. Even if many broken lines overlap, the bright part and the dark part do not overlap. Therefore, it is possible to favorably prevent the image of a straight line by overlapping the dashed lines, and to favorably display the image of the dashed frame on the liquid crystal display 5.

[0033]

As described above in detail, in the invention according to the first aspect, since each point is the image forming portion or the image non-forming portion in accordance with the coordinates on the image forming surface, how many broken lines are formed. Even if they overlap, the forming portion and the non-forming portion do not overlap each other. For this reason, it is possible to favorably prevent overlapping of the broken lines to form an image like a straight line, and it is possible to favorably form the image of the broken line.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the colored portion and the non-colored portion do not overlap each other no matter how many broken lines overlap. Therefore, the broken line can be satisfactorily printed on the printing surface such as paper. Further, in the invention according to claim 3,
No matter how many broken lines overlap, the bright and dark parts do not overlap. Therefore, the broken line can be satisfactorily displayed on the display surface such as a display.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a tape printer according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit of the tape printer of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a main routine of processing of an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a frame setting routine of processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the liquid crystal display in the frame setting routine.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a print processing routine of processing according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a print processing routine of processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an image generation routine of a broken line frame in the processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a horizontal broken line image generation routine of the processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a vertical broken line image generation routine of the processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of frame information in the processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a conventional broken line formed by being overlapped with each other.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Tape printer 3 ... Key switch 5
Liquid crystal display 41 Electronic control circuit 43 Tape printing mechanism 4
5 ... Tape feeding mechanism

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical indication location G06F 15/66 400 (72) Inventor Kengo Omura 3-46-15 Osu, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Prefecture Within The Systems Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising a broken line forming means for forming a broken line on an image forming surface by alternately arranging image forming portions and non-forming portions, wherein the broken line forming means forms the image forming portion. Depending on the coordinates on the surface,
An image forming apparatus, wherein each point on the broken line is a forming portion or a non-forming portion of the image. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming surface is a printing surface, the image forming portion is a colored portion, and the image non-forming portion is a non-colored portion. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming surface is a display surface, the image forming portion is a dark portion, and the image non-forming portion is a bright portion.