HK1113475A - Tape printing apparatus and tape printing method - Google Patents

Description

Tape printing apparatus and tape printing method

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a tape printing apparatus and a tape printing method, and is applicable to, for example, a tape printing apparatus and a tape printing method that can easily adjust the size of a character string printed on a tape according to the intention of a user.

Background

For example, a character string, a pictorial character, or the like is printed, and the tape is cut to obtain a tape (this is referred to as a "mark" or a "label"), and a tape printing device is provided in a mark making device for making the mark, and the character string input by a user is printed on the tape.

The size of the character string printed on the tape by the tape printing apparatus is basically a default (default) character size determined in advance in accordance with the tape width of the tape cassette set by the user, and generally, the character size can be changed to a character size according to the intention of the user by a predetermined operation. When a character string having two or more lines is printed on the tape, the character size of each line of the character string can be automatically adjusted, for example, according to the number of characters input in each line, or determined using a format in which the character size is determined according to the number of lines.

Patent document 1 describes a technique for changing the size of input character data, and the technique includes: the input character data is stored, and the size of the stored character data is changed and displayed as full angle → double angle → 4 double angle according to the operation time (pressing time) of the character key.

Patent document 2 describes a technique for automatically determining a character size attribute of each line when a plurality of lines of character lines are printed by a tape printing apparatus, and the technique includes: according to the length information of the character columns of each row when the character size is the same, the length of at least two rows with the length information being long is made to be consistent, and the character size attribute of each row is determined.

Patent document 3 discloses a technique for automatically determining an optimum character size for printing characters based on a printing condition of a tape width of a printing medium and the number of lines of input characters.

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 10-49527

Patent document 2: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 7-125376

Patent document 3: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 5-84975

As described above, when a character string having two or more lines is to be printed on a tape, a method of automatically adjusting the number of characters input in each line or a method of using a predetermined format is used to adjust the character size of each line of character strings.

However, in order to realize the above-described functions, it is necessary to execute a predetermined operation method using, for example, a format setting button on an operation panel, and this operation method is not always easy for a user to operate, and therefore, a method capable of determining the size of each character string by a simpler method is strongly demanded.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tape printing apparatus and a tape printing method capable of changing the character size of character strings in each line in a simpler manner when character strings having two or more lines are printed on a tape.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention proposes the following solutions:

(1) a tape printing apparatus, comprising:

a character size type storage means for storing a plurality of types of character sizes;

a printable area information storage means for storing printable area information in the tape width direction of the tape on which the character string is printed;

a character size determining means for determining a character size of each line of the input character string from the character size type based on the line number of the input character string and the printable area information of the band;

a character size change instruction operation means for receiving a user's change instruction for the character size of the line designated by the user, from among the character sizes of the respective lines determined by the character size determination means;

a character size change processing means for changing the character size of the designated line from the character size type to a different size when the character size change instruction is received by the character size change instruction operating means;

tape printing means for printing the input character string on the tape in the character size changed by the character size change processing means.

(2) The tape printing apparatus according to the above (1), characterized in that:

after the character size of the designated line is changed, the character size change processing means compares the magnitude relationship between the total sum of the character sizes of all lines of the input character string in the width direction and the printable area information of the band in the width direction, and when the total sum of the character sizes of all lines in the width direction is large, changes the character sizes of the lines other than the designated line.

(3) The tape printing apparatus according to the above (1) or (2), wherein:

the character size change processing means changes the character size of the designated line or the character sizes of the lines other than the designated line one by one with reference to the character size type.

(4) The tape printing apparatus according to any one of the above (1) to (3), characterized in that:

and a display control means for displaying the information when the character size before the character size change processing means changes the character size is the maximum size or the minimum size stored in the character size category and the character size cannot be further increased or decreased.

(5) The tape printing apparatus according to any one of the above (1) to (4), characterized in that:

the character size change instruction operation means includes a 1 st operation unit for instructing to increase the character size of the designated line, and a 2 nd operation unit for instructing to decrease the character size of the designated line.

(6) A tape printing method, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of character sizes;

storing printable area information in a band width direction of a band on which the character string is printed;

determining the character size of each line of the input character column from the character size type according to the line number of the input character column and the printable area information of the belt;

taking a user's change instruction for the character size of the line designated by the user from among the character sizes of the respective lines determined in the character size determining step;

changing the character size of the designated line from the character size type to a different size if the character size change instruction is received in the character size change instruction operation step;

the input character string is printed on the tape in the character size changed in the character size changing process step.

(7) A tape printing program, comprising:

a character size type storage means for storing a plurality of types of character sizes;

a printable area information storage means for storing printable area information in the tape width direction of the tape on which the character string is printed;

so that the computer has the following functions:

a character size determining means for determining a character size of each line of the input character string from the character size type based on the line number of the input character string and the printable area information of the band;

a character size change instruction operation means for receiving a user's change instruction for the character size of the line designated by the user, from among the character sizes of the respective lines determined by the character size determination means;

a character size change processing means for changing the character size of the designated line from the character size type to a different size when the character size change instruction is received by the character size change instruction operating means;

tape printing means for printing the input character string on the tape in the character size changed by the character size change processing means.

According to the present invention, when a character string having two or more lines is printed on a tape, the character size of the character string in each line can be changed in a simpler manner.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an electrical overall configuration of a tape printing apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an external view of a tape printing apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a liquid crystal display according to embodiment 1 of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a drawing illustrating character size data according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating maximum printable area data for a tape according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the process of determining the character size of two or more input character strings according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing a character size changing process for increasing the character size according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIGS. 8A to 8E are explanatory views showing a modification of embodiment 1 of the present invention with a larger character size.

FIGS. 9A to 9D are second explanatory views showing the enlargement of the character size according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing a character size changing process for reducing the character size according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIGS. 11A to 11F are explanatory views of modifications of the embodiment 1 of the present invention with a reduced letter size.

Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing a character size changing process for reducing the character size according to a modification of the embodiment.

Fig. 13A to 13B are explanatory views showing modifications of the embodiment in which the character size is reduced.

Fig. 14A to 14C are second modified explanatory views of a modified example of the embodiment in which the size of characters is reduced.

Fig. 15A to 15B are third explanatory views of modifications of the embodiment in which the size of characters is reduced.

Detailed Description

The following describes in detail the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings, and in the following embodiments, various limitations are given to the components, kinds, combinations, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like, but these are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

(A) Example 1

Next, embodiment 1 of the tape printing apparatus and the tape printing method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Example 1 is an example in which the tape printing apparatus and the tape printing method of the present invention are applied to a tape printing apparatus provided in a marking device which is a dedicated apparatus.

(A-1) constitution of example 1

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an electrical overall configuration of a tape printing apparatus according to embodiment 1, and fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an external view of the tape printing apparatus.

In fig. 1, the tape printing apparatus according to embodiment 1 is composed of an input unit 10, a control unit 20, and an output unit 30. The control unit 20 receives information from the input unit 10, performs processing according to the processing stage at that time, and outputs the processing result or the like by display or print via the output unit 30.

The input unit 10 includes a key input unit 11 provided with a pressed key (touch panel) and a type detection sensor 12, the detailed configuration of which is omitted. The key input unit 11 generates a character code and various control data to the control unit 20.

In the configuration example of the key input unit 11 shown in fig. 2, the key input unit 11 includes character input keys and various control keys, and in embodiment 1, specifically, includes character size changing keys 11a and 11 b. The character size changing keys 11a and 11b are operation keys for instructing enlargement or reduction of the character size of the character string in the row at the cursor position, and are composed of two buttons, as shown in fig. 2, a character size enlargement button 11a for enlarging the character size of the row and a character size reduction button 11b for reducing the character size of the row. By providing the character size changing key including the character size enlarging button 11a and the character size reducing button 11b in this way, the user can change the character size with a simpler operation without performing a complicated operation for changing the character size. The position of the character size changing key is not particularly limited, but it is preferably arranged at a position where the user can operate the character size changing key with the intention of changing the character size, and is shown to be arranged at the lower right portion of the operation panel in fig. 2.

The tape type detection sensor 12 detects the width, color (including transparency), and the like of the loaded tape, and gives the tape type information to the control section 20. The belt type detection sensor 12 detects the belt type by: the tape cassette TC is mounted in a tape printing apparatus, and is provided with a physical identification element, for example, a hole for defining a tape width, a color, and the like, and the tape type detection sensor 12 reads the physical identification element to detect tape type information.

As shown in fig. 2, a cover 50 including a transparent window portion is provided in an upper portion of a space in an apparatus housing which houses the tape cassette TC, the tape cassette TC is mounted below the cover 50, and the tape type detection sensor 12 reads the physical identification element of the tape cassette TC in a mounted state.

The output unit 30 is configured by a printing structure and a display structure. In the present embodiment, the printing structure is a structure for printing the tape, and the display structure is a structure for displaying input information printed on the tape, information for guidance operation, and the like.

In the present embodiment, as a printing structure, a print head (in fig. 1, a thermal print head) 32 may be fixed, for example, and print the moving tape by thermal transfer. The tape/ink ribbon moving mechanism 31 is configured mainly by, for example, a stepping motor, a dc motor, or the like, and feeds out a tape or an ink ribbon (not shown) to be mounted to a set printing position or to the outside of the apparatus. The thermal head 32 and the tape/ink ribbon movement mechanism 31 are driven by a head drive circuit 34 and a movement drive circuit (including a motor) 33, respectively, under the control of the control unit 20.

The cutter 37 cuts the printed tape, and the cutter 37 is driven by a cutter driving circuit (including a motor) 38 under the control of the control unit 20. The cutting blade 37 is composed of a full blade 37a and a half blade 37b, and under the control of the control unit 20, the full blade 37a cuts the face paper and the backing paper together in the full cutting mode, and the half blade 37b cuts only the face paper without cutting the backing paper in the half cutting mode. In fig. 2, reference numeral 52 denotes a discharge port for discharging a printed tape, and a cutter 37 for cutting is provided in the vicinity of the discharge port 52.

In the present embodiment, a liquid crystal display 35 is provided as a display structure, and the liquid crystal display 35 is driven by a display drive circuit 36 under the control of the control unit 20 so that, for example, characters of a predetermined size are displayed in several lines (for example, 4 lines) to some extent. In embodiment 1, the liquid crystal display 35 is provided on the cover 50 of fig. 2.

The liquid crystal display 35 is composed of a dot display section 2 and attribute indicator sections 3(3-1 to 3-n), and the dot display section 2 indicates an input character string, a line number, a print image, length information, and the like, and therefore, the display drive circuit 36 may be roughly composed of a drive section 36a and a drive section 36b, the drive section 36a corresponding to the dot display section 2, and the drive section 36b corresponding to the attribute indicator section 3.

Fig. 3 shows a display screen of the liquid crystal display 35, and as shown in fig. 3, the display screen of the liquid crystal display 35 is composed of a text display area 35a, an instruction display area 35b, and a line number display area 35 c.

The text display area 35a is used for displaying an input character string, a menu screen display when a selection is input (for example, when the character size of a character string in a designated row is changed, when a kana-kanji conversion is performed, when a code is input, when a symbol is input, and the like), various warning displays, and the like. In embodiment 1, the character size of the character string in the designated row is changed for the input character string, and the changed character string is also displayed in the text display area 35 a. In fig. 3, a text display area 35a of 12 characters × 4 lines is shown.

The instruction display area 35b is used to indicate the attribute state of the character string described in the apparatus main body around the liquid crystal display 35. The line number display area 35c is used to indicate that the character column of the text display area 35a is actually the order of the input character column.

The control unit 20 is constituted by, for example, a microcomputer, and is connected to the CPU21, the ROM22, the RAM23, the character generator ROM (CG-ROM)24, the input interface 25, and the output interface 26 via the system bus 27.

The ROM22 is composed of one or more ROM chips, and fixed data such as various processing programs and a kana-kanji conversion dictionary are stored in the ROM 22. In the present embodiment, for example, the character size changing program 22a and the character size changing program 22b are stored in the ROM 22. The character size changing program 22a has a function of changing the character size, and when the character size enlargement button 11a is pressed, enlarges the character size of the designated line; the character size changing program 22b has a function of changing the character size, and when the character size reduction button 11b is pressed, the character size of the designated line is reduced.

The RAM23 is composed of one or more RAM chips, and is used as a work memory to store fixed data and the like related to user input. Although shown as RAM23 in fig. 1, the memory device includes other memory elements such as an EEPROM that can be used as a working memory. The RAM23 includes a print buffer for storing dot development of a print character string, a display buffer for storing a display image related to an input character string or the like, a document buffer for storing character data related to printing and input, a line number state holding buffer for holding a line number display pattern, an attribute indication state holding buffer for holding a display pattern of the attribute indicator unit 3, and the like.

The CG-ROM24 stores dot patterns of characters and symbols prepared by the tape printer, and outputs the corresponding dot patterns when code data for specifying the characters and symbols is given. Additional CG-ROMs may be provided for display and printing purposes. The font information may be stored in a form of outline font or bitmap.

The input interface 25 is an interface between the input unit 10 and the control unit 20, and the output interface 26 is an interface between the output unit 30 and the control unit 20.

The CPU21 uses the RAM23 as a work area, processes an input signal input from the input unit 10 and a processing program in the ROM22 set in accordance with a processing stage at that time, using fixed data stored in the ROM22 and the RAM23 as needed, and displays the processing state, the processing result, and the like on the liquid crystal display 35 or prints the processing state and the processing result on a tape.

(A-2) actions of embodiment 1

Next, a description will be given of a processing operation for changing the character size of a character string in a certain line when a plurality of lines of input character strings are printed on a tape in the tape printing apparatus according to embodiment 1 with reference to the drawings.

Next, an operation in a case where the user inputs a character string of 3 rows and changes the size of a character string of a certain row of the character string of 3 rows will be described as an example.

(A-2-1) automatic determination operation of character size of input character string

The tape printing apparatus stores the character size data 22c of the characters printed on the tape in the ROM 22. Fig. 4 shows an example of the character size data 22c, which is configured to have the same size in the width direction and the length direction, and can be printed on a tape in six sizes of 16 × 16 dots, 24 × 24 dots, 32 × 32 dots, 48 × 48 dots, 64 × 64 dots, and 96 × 96 dots, respectively. In fig. 4, the character size is represented as S, which is in dots (dot).

In addition, the tape printing apparatus stores maximum printable area data 22d in the ROM22, the maximum printable area data 22d indicating a printable area in the tape width direction corresponding to the tape width of the loaded tape cassette TC. Fig. 5 shows an example of the maximum printable area data 22d, which indicates that only 22 dots can be printed at maximum in the width direction of a 4mm wide tape, for example, with respect to the maximum printable area of the 4mm, 6mm, 9mm, 12mm, 18mm, and 24mm wide tape. In fig. 5, the maximum printable area is represented as R, which is a unit of dots.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a process for determining the size of each line of text when two or more lines of input text are printed on a tape.

First, in the tape printer, when a user loads the tape cassette TC, the tape type of the tape cassette TC is detected, and the tape width of the print character string is recognized (step S101).

Thereafter, when a character string input by a user operation is captured, the number of lines of the input character string is determined (step S102).

Then, the maximum printable area R of the data is obtained from the maximum printable area data 22D stored in the ROM22, and a character size (default character size, D) at which the character strings printed on the tape are equal in size is determined based on the maximum printable area R and the number of lines of input character strings (N) (step S103).

In this embodiment, the method for determining the default character size of each row of character columns is as follows: the maximum printable area R in the bandwidth direction is divided by the number of lines N of the input character string, and the maximum that satisfies the division result is set as the default character size in the character size data 22c stored in the ROM 22. That is, the largest character size among the characters satisfying the condition of D.ltoreq.R/N is set as the default character size with reference to the character size data 22 c.

For example, when the tape width of the tape to be set is 18mm, the maximum printable area R in the tape width direction is 96 dots (see fig. 5). In this case, when 3 lines of input text are printed, the maximum printable area of each line in the tape width direction is: since R/row number N is 96/3 is 32, the character size of each character column in this case is 32 × 32 dots, based on the character size data 22c (see fig. 4).

In the present embodiment, the unit of the default character size of each row character column may be other units, such as mm unit and inch unit.

As described above, when two or more lines of characters are input, a default character size is determined so that the character lines in each line are equal in size, and when the user permits printing in such a character size, the character lines in each line are printed on the tape in the default character size by a predetermined printing operation and printing process (step S104).

(A-2-2) processing operation for enlarging character size

When the character string printed on the tape is composed of two or more lines as described above, the character size of each line is determined, and the user can change the character size of the character string in a desired line as described below.

Next, a description will be given of a process performed when a user enlarges the character size of a character string of a desired row with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the case where the character size of the character string in the 1 st row among the character strings composed of 3 rows is increased will be described.

In order to start the character size changing process of embodiment 1, after the user inputs two or more character lines for printing on the tape, the user needs to designate a line for increasing the character size and press the character size changing key 11a shown in fig. 1.

In the present embodiment, various methods are applicable to the method of specifying a line having a larger character size, and for example, the cursor position may be specified by being placed on a line to be changed. In this case, when the cursor position is placed on the row, the cursor position may be placed at an arbitrary position in the character string, and for example, the cursor may be positioned at the head of the character string, may be positioned in the middle of the character string, or may be positioned at the end of the character string. In embodiment 1, if the cursor position is placed on the row, the character string range for changing the character size may not be designated. In the character size changing process of embodiment 1, foreign languages, numerals, and characters are also targeted.

When the user designates a line for increasing the character size, the user presses the character size changing key 11a by operating it. In embodiment 1, when the character size is increased, the character size enlargement button 11a shown in fig. 1 is pressed. Then, a character size change instruction signal from the character size enlargement button 11a is given to the CPU21 via the input interface 25, and the CPU21 executes the character size change program 22a to execute character size change processing for enlarging the character size.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart of a character size changing process for increasing the character size of the character string of the designated row.

When a character size change instruction signal for increasing the character size is given from the character size enlargement button 11a (step S201), the row where the cursor is located is detected, and it is determined whether or not the character size of the character string in the row where the cursor is located is the maximum size (step S202).

When it is confirmed that the line character size is not the maximum size (no in step S202), the character size of the character string on which the cursor is placed is enlarged by one step with reference to the character size data 22c stored in the ROM22 (step S203).

In step S202, at the time of the initial operation of the character size change instruction, the character sizes of the character strings in all the rows are the default size, and therefore the character size of the row in which the cursor is located is not the maximum size. Therefore, in the initial operation of the character size change instruction, the process proceeds to step S203, but if the character size of the character string on the line on which the cursor is placed is the maximum size ("yes" in step S202), the process proceeds to step S208, and since the character size of the line on which the cursor is placed, which is the line on which the character change instruction is directed, is the maximum size, a warning that the character size information cannot be changed is displayed (step S208).

When the character size of the character string in which the cursor is located is enlarged by one step, the maximum printable area data 22d based on the printable area information in the width direction stored in the ROM22 is referred to, and it is determined whether or not the sum Σ S in the width direction of the character sizes of all the rows exceeds the maximum printable area R (step S204).

When the sum Σ S in the bandwidth direction of the character sizes of all the rows is equal to or smaller than the maximum printable area R (no in step S204), the character size change in this state is permitted, the character size of the character string in each row is determined, and the process ends. That is, the size of the row where the cursor is located is enlarged by one step, the original character size is maintained in the other rows, and character columns of each row are expanded.

On the other hand, when the sum Σ S in the width direction of the character sizes of all the rows exceeds the maximum printable area R (yes in step S204), it is determined whether or not the character size of the character string of the row other than the row on which the cursor is placed is the minimum size (step S205).

When the character size of the character string in the row other than the row where the cursor is located is not the minimum size (no in step S205), the character size of the character string in the row other than the row where the cursor is located is reduced by one step with reference to the character size data 22c stored in the ROM22 (step S206). That is, the character size of the character column in the row where the cursor is located is one level larger than the initial character size, and the character sizes of the character columns in the other rows are one level smaller than the initial character size.

On the other hand, when the character size of the character string in the row other than the row on which the cursor is placed is reduced, if the character size before the change in the row other than the row on which the cursor is placed is the minimum size (yes in step S205), the character size cannot be further reduced, and therefore, the predetermined warning information is displayed (step S207).

When the character size changing process is executed in this way, the character string after the change of the changed character size is displayed on the liquid crystal display 35.

In step S204, when the sum Σ S in the width direction of the character sizes of all the lines exceeds the maximum printable area R, information that the change processing cannot be executed may be displayed on the liquid crystal display 35 or the like, and the user may select whether to continue the processing or to stop the processing. In this method, when the user selects the continuation processing, the character size of the character string in the row other than the row where the cursor is located is reduced by one step as in the processing of step S206. On the other hand, when the user selects the termination process, the process returns to the state before the character size change instruction signal for increasing the character size is given, and the process is terminated.

For example, fig. 8A to 8E are diagrams showing a change of 3 lines of input character strings printed on a tape having a bandwidth of 18mm, and show a configuration of 3 lines of character strings, in which the 1 st line is "あいう", the 2 nd line is "アイウ", the 3 rd line is "a B C", and the initial character sizes of the respective lines are 32 dots, as shown in fig. 8B, as shown in the display example of the liquid crystal display 35 in fig. 8A.

When the cursor is positioned on the 1 st row as shown in fig. 8A and an instruction to increase the character size is received from the character size increasing button in this state, the character size of the character string on the 1 st row increases by one step from 32 dots to 48 dots as shown in fig. 8C. Then, the total sum Σ S in the width direction of the character sizes of all the rows becomes 112 dots, and exceeds the maximum printable area of the band (R ═ 96 dots).

Therefore, the character size of the rows other than the row in which the cursor is located (i.e., the 2 nd and 3 rd rows) is reduced by one step. That is, the character sizes of the 2 nd and 3 rd lines are 32 × 32 dots (see fig. 8C), and the size is reduced by one step to 24 × 24 dots as shown in fig. 8D. Then, the sum Σ S in the width direction of the character sizes of all the rows becomes 96 dots and is equal to the maximum printable area (R: 96 dots) of the band, and thus the character size changing process is ended.

As described above, in this embodiment, the character size of the 1 st line is changed to 48 dots, and the character sizes of the 2 nd and 3 rd lines are changed to 24 × 24 dots, and character columns of each line are expanded in the character size, and displayed on the liquid crystal display 35 as shown in fig. 8E.

Thereafter, when the user presses the character size enlargement button 11a and receives an instruction signal for increasing the character size from the character size enlargement button 11a, the character size of the character string in the 1 st row increases by one step from 48 × 48 dots to 64 × 64 dots as shown in fig. 9A.

In this case, the sum Σ S in the width direction of the character sizes of all the rows becomes 112 dots, and exceeds the maximum printable area (R: 96 dots) of the band, so that the character sizes of the rows other than the row where the cursor is located (i.e., the 2 nd and 3 rd rows) are reduced by one step as shown in fig. 9B. Then, as shown in fig. 9C, the character size of the 1 st line is changed to 64 × 64 dots, and the character sizes of the 2 nd line and the 3 rd line are changed to 16 × 16 dots, and character columns of each line are expanded in the character sizes.

The minimum size of the character size data 22C stored in the ROM22 is 16 × 16 dots, and in the state of fig. 9B and 9C, even if the user further presses the character size enlargement button 11a, the user receives an instruction to increase the character size from the character size enlargement button 11a, and the character size of the rows other than the row where the cursor is located (i.e., the 2 nd and 3 rd rows) cannot be reduced, and therefore, a warning such as "the character size cannot be enlarged further" is displayed.

(A-2-3) processing action for making character size smaller

Next, a process performed when the user reduces the character size of a character string of a desired row will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following examples, the case where the character size of the character string in the 1 st row among the character strings composed of 3 rows is made small will be described.

The designation of lines of reduced letter size can be performed in the same manner as that described in (A-2-2). When the user designates a line, the user presses the character size reduction key 11 b. Then, a character size change instruction signal from the character size reduction button 11b is given to the CPU21 via the input interface 25, and the CPU21 executes the character size change program 22b to execute character size change processing for reducing the character size.

Fig. 10 is a flowchart of a character size changing process for reducing the character size of the character string of the designated row.

When a character size change instruction signal for reducing the character size is given from the character size reduction button 11b (step S301), the row where the cursor is located is detected, and it is determined whether or not the character size of the character string in the row where the cursor is located is the minimum size (step S302).

When it is confirmed that the line character size is not the minimum size (no in step S302), the character size of the character string on which the cursor is located is reduced by one step with reference to the character size data 22c stored in the ROM22 (step S303).

In this case, the character size of the character string in the row other than the row where the cursor is located is not changed. Since only the character size of the line on which the cursor is placed is changed, the sum of the width directions of the character sizes of all the lines is always equal to or smaller than the maximum printable area R.

When the character size of the character string in the row other than the row on which the cursor is placed is made smaller, and the character size before the change is the minimum size in the character size data 22c, the predetermined warning information is displayed because the character size cannot be reduced (step S304).

For example, fig. 11A to 11F show a modified diagram of 3 lines of input character strings printed on a tape having a tape width of 18mm, and show a configuration of 3 lines of character strings, as shown in the display example of the liquid crystal display 35 in fig. 11A, in which the 1 st line is "あいう", the 2 nd line is "アイウ", the 3 rd line is "ab C", and the initial character sizes of the respective lines are 32 × 32 dots, as shown in fig. 11B.

When the cursor is positioned on the 1 st row as shown in fig. 11A and an instruction to reduce the character size is received from the character size reduction button in this state, the character size of the character string on the 1 st row is reduced by one step from 32 × 32 dots to 24 × 24 dots as shown in fig. 11C. At this time, since the character sizes of the character strings in the 2 nd row and the 3 rd row are not changed, the total sum Σ S in the width direction of the character sizes in all rows becomes 88 dots, and is equal to or less than the band maximum printable region (R ═ 96 dots).

Then, the character size of the 1 st line is changed to 24 × 24 dots, the character sizes of the 2 nd line and the 3 rd line are 32 × 32 dots, and character columns of each line are expanded by the character sizes, and displayed on the liquid crystal display 35 as shown in fig. 11D.

Further, when the user presses the character size reduction button 11b and receives an instruction to reduce the character size from the character size reduction button 11b, the character size of the character string in the 1 st row is further reduced by one step from 24 × 24 dots to 16 × 16 dots as shown in fig. 11E. At this time, since the character sizes of the character strings in the 2 nd row and the 3 rd row are not changed, the sum Σ S in the width direction of the character sizes in all rows is 80 dots and is equal to or less than the band maximum printable region (R: 96 dots).

Then, the character size of the 1 st line is changed to 16 × 16 dots, and the character sizes of the 2 nd line and the 3 rd line are 32 × 32 dots, and character columns of each line are expanded by the character sizes, and displayed on the liquid crystal display 35 as shown in fig. 11F.

The minimum size of the character size data 22c stored in the ROM22 is 16 × 16 dots, and in the state of fig. 11E and 11F, even if the user further presses the character size reduction button 11b and receives an instruction to reduce the character size from the character size reduction button 11b, a warning such as "character size cannot be further reduced" is displayed.

(A-3) Effect of embodiment 1

As described above, according to embodiment 1, the character size of the character string of the row in which the character size is desired to be changed can be changed by a simpler operation than the conventional one by providing the character size enlargement button 11a and the character size reduction button 11b on the operation panel.

According to embodiment 1, the relationship between the total sum of the character sizes of all the lines in the width direction and the maximum printable area of the print data is also determined, and when the total number of character sizes exceeds the maximum printable area of the band by changing the character size of the designated line, the character sizes of the lines other than the designated line are also changed and can be adjusted so as to be located within the maximum printable area of the band.

(B) Other embodiments

(B-1) operation of character size enlarging button 11a or the like

One button may be provided as a character size changing key (not shown) in which an auto-repeat function is provided, and the functions of the character size enlargement button 11a and the character size reduction button 11b can be realized. In this way, when the user continues to press the character size change key 11 and the original character size is, for example, 32 × 32 dots, the character size can be changed by 32 × 32 dots → 24 × 24 dots → 16 × 16 dots, and when the character size change key 11 is further continuously pressed after the character size is changed to the minimum size, the character size can be changed to the original character size by 16 × 16 dots → 32 × 32 dots → … ….

In the above embodiment, the minimum size may be set to the maximum size. That is, for example, the number may be changed to 16 × 16 → 96 × 96 → 64 × 64 → … ….

For example, a "return key" may be provided on the operation panel, and the character size of each character string may be returned to the original character size or the character size before the latest change by pressing the return key. In this case, for example, the initial line character size and the line character size subjected to the character size changing process may be temporarily stored in the storage unit, and upon receiving a recovery instruction signal from the recovery key, the line character size may be read from the storage unit and displayed. For example, the character size combination may be arranged in advance as a table, and the character size may be retrieved by referring to the table so as to return to the original character size or the character size before the latest change. In this case, for example, the initial line character size and the line character size subjected to the character size changing process may be temporarily stored in the storage unit

As described above, the character size change instruction operation means described in claim (1) includes not only one operation key but also a concept including a plurality of operation keys.

(B-2) processing for changing character size

The character size changing process shown in the flowcharts of fig. 7 and 10 in fig. 7 and 10 according to embodiment 1 is not limited to the process shown in fig. 7 and 10, and other process contents may be added or the process order may be changed, and other contents may be widely applied as necessary.

For example, in fig. 7 to 9D, when the character size of the character string of the designated row is enlarged, the character sizes of all the rows other than the designated row are made smaller in accordance with the maximum printable area of the band. In this case, the line with the smaller character size may be specified by the user, and the specific line with the smaller character size may be a plurality of lines. In this case, a plurality of character size changing patterns may be formed by changing the lines for reducing the characters.

When the result of changing the character size is displayed on the liquid crystal display 35, the user may sequentially display the result of changing the character size of all the lines other than the designated line by performing a predetermined operation, or the result of changing the character size of a specific line among the lines other than the designated line by selecting the changed figure according to the preference of the user.

In the operation example of the above-described embodiment 1, only the case where the character size of the 1 st line is changed has been described, but the character sizes of a plurality of lines may be changed by repeating the same process, for example, by changing the character size of the 2 nd line after changing the character size of the 1 st line.

When the tape printer has a format function for determining the character size of two or more lines of character strings in a predetermined format, the user can give priority to either the format function or the character size changing function when selecting both the format function and the character size changing function of embodiment 1.

That is, for example, in the case of selecting a format function, the character size change processing function according to embodiment 1 may not be implemented, because the format function is ensured to be effective and the setting contents can be easily arranged. In addition, the format function may be preferentially executed when the format function is selected after the character size is adjusted by the character size change processing function of embodiment 1.

On the contrary, when the character size changing process of embodiment 1 is selected after the format function is selected, the character size changing process of embodiment 1 may be preferentially executed to end the format function process.

Next, a modified example of the character size changing process of embodiment 1 will be described. For example, a character size of a certain line is fixed, and the character size changing process of embodiment 1 is performed on other lines. Thus, the user can preferentially determine the character size of a desired line, fix the character size, and thereafter adjust the character sizes of lines other than the desired line.

In the case of the character size changing process for reducing the character size, the character size of the line other than the line may be changed as in the following modified embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing a modified embodiment. Similarly to the description of fig. 10, when a character size change instruction signal for reducing the character size is received from the character size reduction button 11b pressed by the user (step S301), it is determined whether or not the character size of the line on which the cursor is located is the minimum size (step S302), and when it is confirmed that the character size of the line is not the minimum size (no in step S302), the character size of the character string on which the cursor is located is reduced by one step (step S303).

When the character size of the row on which the cursor is located is reduced by one step, the sum Σ S of the character sizes of all the rows in the bandwidth direction becomes small, and therefore, in this modified embodiment, the character size of the row other than the row on which the cursor is located is made large.

That is, in step S303, the character size of the row on which the cursor is located is reduced by one step, and the process proceeds to step S401, and it is determined whether or not the character size of the row other than the row on which the cursor is located is the maximum size (step S401), and if the character size of the row other than the row on which the cursor is located is not the maximum size (no in step S401), the character size of the character string is enlarged in the maximum printable area with reference to the character size data 22c for the row other than the row on which the cursor is located (step S402).

Fig. 13A to 15B show a modified example of the modified embodiment, and show a modified diagram of 3 lines of input character strings printed on a tape having a tape width of 18 mm. Fig. 13A, 14A, and 15A show the character sizes of the respective lines before the change, where the 1 st line is 64 × 64 dots, the 2 nd line is 16 × 16 dots, and the 3 rd line is 16 × 16 dots.

In the example shown in fig. 13A to 13B, the case where the character size of all the rows other than the row where the cursor is located is enlarged so as to match the maximum printable area is shown. That is, the size of the characters in the 1 st line is reduced by one step, and then the sizes of the characters in the 2 nd and 3 rd lines, which are other lines, are enlarged as much as possible, and the enlarged sizes coincide with the maximum printable area R (96 dots).

For example, when the character size of the 1 st line is reduced from 64 × 64 dots to 48 × 48 dots, the sum Σ S of the character sizes of all lines in the bandwidth direction becomes 80 dots. Then, as shown in fig. 13B, the maximum printable area R (96 dots) is enlarged from 16 × 16 dots to 24 × 24 dots, with the size of the characters on the 2 nd and 3 rd rows as large as possible.

Fig. 14A to 14C show an example in which the size of characters in a specific line is enlarged among lines other than the line in which the cursor is located. That is, the character size of the 1 st line is reduced by one stage, and then the character size of a specific line is enlarged from among the 2 nd and 3 rd lines which are the other lines.

For example, when the character size of line 1 is reduced from 64 × 64 dots to 48 × 48 dots, the character size of line 2 or line 3 is enlarged from 16 × 16 dots to 24 × 24 dots as shown in fig. 14B or 14C.

For the line of the enlarged character size, a specific line of two or more lines may be enlarged, or a line may be specified by the user.

Fig. 15A to 15B show an example in which the character size of a line other than the line on which the cursor is placed is not changed. In this case, the operation flow is the flow shown in fig. 10, and the detailed description is omitted.

Here, the modified embodiments shown in fig. 13A to 15B may be realized as separate processes, respectively, but the above-described processes may also be combined. That is, the user can sequentially display the change result of fig. 13B, the change result of fig. 14C, and the change result of fig. 15B on the liquid crystal display 35 by a predetermined operation, and the user can select from them by the operation.

As described above, when the character size of a certain line is made small, the total sum Σ S of the character sizes of all lines in the bandwidth direction becomes small, the line interval becomes large, and an undesired space is generated when printing is performed on the band. In addition, the user can select a change figure from a plurality of character size change figures according to the preference.

(B-3) others

In embodiment 1, the tape printing apparatus and the tape printing method according to the present invention are applied to a tape printing apparatus provided as a label producing apparatus which is a dedicated apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the tape printing program according to the present invention may be stored in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or the like or a hard disk, and the tape printing program according to the present invention may be executed by a personal computer connected to a label printer. In this case, the line for changing the character size can be designated by a mouse or the like.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various modifications may be made within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, and they are within the scope of the present invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiments, the description has been given taking the characters (including foreign languages, numerals, pictorial characters, etc.) as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the present invention can be applied to, for example, symbols, signs, trademarks, figures, etc.

In the above-described embodiment, the character size data is constituted to have the same size in the width direction and the length direction, and may be printed on the tape in six sizes of 16 × 16 dots, 24 × 24 dots, 32 × 32 dots, 48 × 48 dots, 64 × 64 dots, and 96 × 96 dots, respectively.

Claims (6)

1. A tape printing apparatus, comprising:

a character size type storage means for storing a plurality of types of character sizes;

a printable area information storage means for storing printable area information in the tape width direction of the tape on which the character string is printed;

a character size determining means for determining a character size of each line of the input character string from the character size type based on the line number of the input character string and the printable area information of the band;

a character size change instruction operation means for receiving a user's change instruction for the character size of the line designated by the user, from among the character sizes of the respective lines determined by the character size determination means;

a character size change processing means for changing the character size of the designated line from the character size type to a different size when the character size change instruction is received by the character size change instruction operating means;

tape printing means for printing the input character string on the tape in the character size changed by the character size change processing means.

2. A tape printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

after the character size of the designated line is changed, the character size change processing means compares the magnitude relationship between the total sum of the character sizes of all lines of the input character string in the width direction and the printable area information of the band in the width direction, and when the total sum of the character sizes of all lines in the width direction is large, changes the character sizes of the lines other than the designated line.

3. A tape printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein:

the character size change processing means changes the character size of the designated line or the character sizes of the lines other than the designated line one by one with reference to the character size type.

4. A tape printing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein:

and a display control means for displaying the information when the character size before the character size change processing means changes the character size is the maximum size or the minimum size stored in the character size category and the character size cannot be further increased or decreased.

5. A tape printing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:

the character size change instruction operation means includes a 1 st operation unit for instructing to increase the character size of the designated line, and a 2 nd operation unit for instructing to decrease the character size of the designated line.

6. A tape printing method, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of character sizes;

storing printable area information in a band width direction of a band on which the character string is printed;

determining the character size of each line of the input character column from the character size type according to the line number of the input character column and the printable area information of the belt;

taking a user's change instruction for the character size of the line designated by the user from among the character sizes of the respective lines determined in the character size determining step;

changing the character size of the designated line from the character size type to a different size if the character size change instruction is received in the character size change instruction operation step;

the input character string is printed on the tape in the character size changed in the character size changing process step.