CN1049864C

CN1049864C - tape printer

Info

Publication number: CN1049864C
Application number: CN92100606A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 木村哲; 持永信之
Original assignee: Casio Computer Co Ltd
Current assignee: Casio Computer Co Ltd
Priority date: 1991-01-31
Filing date: 1992-01-31
Publication date: 2000-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 2007-01-31
Also published as: KR920014638A; EP0497352B2; CN1063641A; DE69203247T3; EP0497352B1; DE69203247D1; DE69203247T2; MY124305A; HK58496A; EP0497352A2; EP0497352A3; KR960010415B1

Abstract

A tape printer unit comprises a housing, a printer unit provided in the housing, a keyboard on the housing, and a cassette accommodating an adhesive tape and ink ribbon the cassette being removablely attached in the printer unit. The tape printer unit prints data input from the keyboard on the adhesive tape, and feeds the printed adhesive tape to the outside of the housing. The tape printer unit is capable of being used with several different cassettes respectively accommodating adhesive tapes which are of different width from each other, and can automatically print the data according to the width of the adhesive tape accommodated in the cassette which has been attached in the printer unit.

Description

Tape printer

The present invention relates to a kind of tape printer, be used for information is printed on the adhesive tape in the machine of being contained in, and printed adhesive tape is sent printer.

Can the tape printer that information is printed on the adhesive tape partly be come into operation.Usually, the adhesive tape of this printer is to be provided by the cartridge that is contained in the printer, and printed adhesive tape is sent printer.

In order to satisfy various needs of users, this printer just must be done to such an extent that can use the adhesive tape of different in width to come type information.

Yet if it is wideer than the width of adhesive tape to be printed the stamp with the size of information, misprint appears in so such tape printer possibly, and information is printed to beyond the adhesive tape border.That is to say that because the user might be assigned to stamp with the size the size of corresponding the wideest adhesive tape, this stamp with the size just may be wideer than the width of adhesive tape in the machine as a result.

In case this misprint takes place, owing to printhead is not only beaten on adhesive tape, and beat in the adhesive tape outside, printhead is exerted an adverse impact, that is to say that printhead will be damaged because printhead is beaten on non-printing purpose thing.Therefore, for technology in the past, when changing adhesive tape,, all to carry out pretty troublesome operation sequence in order to specify a suitable stamp with the size at every turn.And, before printing is carried out, be difficult to determine whether misprint can take place.

Consider the above-mentioned shortcoming that the normal tape printer is intrinsic, the purpose of this invention is to provide a kind of tape printer, it just can avoid taking place information is printed to the such misprint in outside, adhesive tape border no matter employed tape width how, all needn't at first print in advance.

Comprise according to tape printer of the present invention: outer box; The message input device of input information; Be arranged on the printing equipment in the outer box, be used for printing information by the message input device input; Can be contained in the adhesive tape box in the outer box, it has given width, so that by printing equipment input information is printed on wherein the adhesive tape; Be provided with the tape width checkout gear in the outer box, be used for detecting the width that is contained in the adhesive tape in the outer box; And print control unit, be used for according to the printing action of controlling printing equipment by the measured tape width of tape width checkout gear, so that information is printed on corresponding within the scope that is contained in the tape width in the outer box.

Tape printer with above-mentioned formation of the present invention can prevent from information is printed on beyond the border of adhesive tape, so the operation sequence that its great advantage is exactly the user be need not very to bother, printhead can not cause damage or deterioration yet beyond getting to the adhesive tape border.

Brief Description Of Drawings:

Fig. 1 is the perspective view according to the tape printer of preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is the perspective view of tape printer shown in Figure 1 when opening top cover.

Fig. 3 is the decomposition diagram of the printer part of tape printer illustrated in figures 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 A and 4B are the front views of printer part shown in Figure 3 and the tape drum that is loaded.

Fig. 5 is the circuit block diagram of each parts of tape printer shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 6 is the situation of canned data in file storage unit shown in Figure 5.

Fig. 7 is the situation in the information of operational data memory cell storage shown in Figure 5.

Fig. 8 is the partial circuit figure of the thermal print head shown in Fig. 5, print control unit and printing voltage generator.

Fig. 9 is the program flow chart when being appointed as printing model.

Figure 10 A-10E is that the information that the program circuit according to Fig. 9 obtains shows.

Figure 11 A-11E is when display shows the information of Figure 10 A-10E respectively, is printed on the information on the adhesive tape.

Figure 12 is the program flow chart when being appointed as automatic character size and setting pattern.

Figure 13 A-13C represents to be printed on respectively the type information that the program circuit by Figure 12 on the adhesive tape of different in width obtains.

The detailed description of preferred embodiment

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are the perspective views of the tape printer of the embodiment of the invention, and this tape printer has little the square outer box 11 that can pick up with a hand, and outer box size for example is: 120mm deeply, wide 190mm, high 60mm.Top cover 14 is connected the top of outer box 11 by hinge component 15.Keyboard 12 and display 13 are installed in the upper surface of top cover 14.

Keyboard 12 is made up of many alphanumeric keys and function key, is used for importing the information that requires printing, and printer is arranged on different printing models or other pattern.Display 13 comprises a LCDs, is used for showing the information by input such as keyboard 12 grades.

The front surface of outer box 11 has a power switch 16, and left-hand face has the outlet 17 of adhesive tape 101 (121) (below detailed description is arranged) and is used for promoting cutting off the manual slide block 19 of the cutter 18 of adhesive tape 101 (121).

As shown in Figure 2, printer part 21 is in the top of outer box 11, and top cover 14 is covered with printer part 21 usually, opens top cover 14 and just exposes printer part (shown in Figure 2 is this situation).Printer part 21 is made up of printer unit 22, and it is arranged in the opening 20 at outer box 11 tops.Tape drum 100 (120) the printer unit 22 of can packing into, information are just printed on the adhesive tape 101 (121) in the tape drum 100 (120) by printer unit 22.

As shown in Figure 3, printer unit 22 comprises a base plate 23 that is arranged on opening 20 bottoms of outer box 11, belt hold roller 24 and thermal print head 25 are housed on the base plate 23, they are outlet 17 (see figure 2)s of close outer box 11 all, belt hold roller 24 turns and is contained on the base plate 23, drive rotation by the motor 58 (shown in Figure 5, that detailed description is arranged down) that is contained in the outer box 11.

Adhesive tape 101 (121) and China ink that belt hold roller 24 transmits in the tape drum 100 (120) are with 102 (122), and tape drum 100 (120) is contained in the printer unit 22.Belt hold roller 24 also from export 17 printed adhesive tapes 101 (121) send outside box 11.

Thermal print head 25 can be printed the wide information up to 128mm, and it forms (shown in Figure 8) by 128 heat units, and (8 hot units/mm) are along the axially-spaced arrangement of belt hold roller 24 regularly in hot unit.Thermal print head 25 is installed on the base plate 23 movably, can and belt hold roller 24 position contacting (Fig. 3) and leave between the position (Fig. 2) of belt hold roller 24 and move.

Also be provided with an axis of guide 26 and one China ink band take-up spool 27 on the base plate 23, when tape drum 100 (120) installed to the printer unit 22 in, the axis of guide just was inserted in the interior adhesive tape feed reel 103 (123) of tape drum 100 (120).

China ink band take-up spool 27 turns and is contained on the base plate 23, rotate by giving fixed torque actuated by motor 58 (Fig. 5), tape drum 100 (120) the printer unit 22 of packing into, China ink band take-up spool 27 just is inserted in the China ink band machine reel 104 (124) that is located in the tape drum 100 (120), and drive 104 (124) rotations of China ink band machine reel, so that be with China ink 102 (122) to be rolled onto on the China ink band machine reel 104 (124).

Also be provided with tape drum stator 28, tape drum guide plate 29 on the base plate 23 and highly regulate pin 30, so that tape drum 100 (120) is fixed on the base plate 23.

When being contained in tape drum 100 (120) in the printer unit 22, tape drum stator or prerotation vane 28 be with regard in the fixing hole 105 (125) of snap-on on tape drum 100 (120), and tape drum guide plate 29 keeps with the tape drum side surface contact relative with fixing hole 105 (125).Highly regulate on the position that pin 30 is installed in base plate 23 corresponding to the angle of tape drum 100 (120).Highly regulate the lower surface that pin inserts the height adjustment hole 106 (Fig. 3) of tape drum 100 or withstands on tape drum 120, give on the fixed height face so that the top of tape drum 100 (120) is adjusted at.Like this, the use even the tape drum of different-thickness 100 (120) also can be packed into.

As shown in Figure 2, also adorning a tape width detector 31 and a China ink material detector 32 on the base plate 23.Detail drawing as shown in Figure 3.Tape width detector 31 is made up of movable platen 35 and resistance board 36, movable platen 35 is supported on the support plate 34 rotationally, support plate 34 extends upward out from the horizontal protrusion tab 33 of base plate 23, basic position is in the centre of protrusion tab 33, movable platen 35 is to use conductive material, make as metal material, and be electrically connected with voltage detecting joint 37.A helical spring 38 is arranged between one end of movable platen 35 and the protrusion tab 33, be used for an end of movable platen is added a downward bias force.One end of resistance board 36 is connected on the predetermined voltage source, other end ground connection.Resistance board 36 abuts in the side of movable platen one end that closes on it.When tape drum 100 (120) is packed printer unit 22 into, the lower surface of tape drum 100 (120) contacts with the other end of movable platen 35, because the tape drum lower surface moves down, make movable platen 35 overcome the elastic force of spring 38 and rotate, the side surface of the resistance board 36 that reclines changes a position along resistance board 36.The joint 37 that is connected movable platen 35 is going in the voltage output of the position that reclines of movable platen 35 corresponding to resistance board 36.Like this, tape width detector 31 is just exported the voltage corresponding to tape drum 100 (120) thickness, that is: the voltage of adhesive tape 101 (121) width in the corresponding tape drum 100 (120) that is contained in the print unit 22 of output.

As shown in Figure 3, China ink material detector 32 is made up of movable platen 41 and microswitch 42, and movable platen 41 is supported on the support plate 40 rotationally, and this support plate protrudes upward from the protrusion tab 39 of base plate 23, is in its center.Rely on the displacement of movable platen 41 1 ends to turn on and off microswitch 42.A spring 43 is set between the above-mentioned end of movable platen 41 and the protrusion tab 39, but is used for giving downward bias force of this end of moving plate 41, so that make microswitch 42 keep turn-offing.Have a groove 107 (127) from the lower surface to the first half on the tape drum 100 (120), when tape drum was packed printer unit 22 into, movable platen 41 just injected in the groove 107 (127).The upper position of groove 107 (127) is determined with 102 (122) China ink material according to various China inks.Be with 102 (122) if in the tape drum 100 (120) dystectic China ink is housed, movable platen 41 contacts with the top of groove 107 (127), and is rotated, and causes microswitch 42 to be connected.On the other hand, if what adorn in the tape drum is that the low melting point China ink is with 102 (122), movable platen 41 does not contact with the top of groove 107 (127), thereby does not rotate, so microswitch keeps turn-offing.Like this, by detecting the upper position of groove 107 (127), China ink material detector 32 just detects and is contained in the kind of tape drum 100 (120) China and Mexico with 102 (122) China ink material.

Below

tape drum

100 and 120 is described in more

detail.Tape drum

100 and 120 is used for holding adhesive tape 101 respectively, and China ink is with 102 and adhesive tape 121, and China ink is with 122.Tape drum 100 can hold the wide adhesive tape of 10mm and 16mm respectively and hold the high-melting-point China ink and be with 102, and the tape drum that holds the wide adhesive tape of 16mm is thicker than the tape drum that holds the wide adhesive tape of 10mm.Tape drum 120 is used for adorning the wide adhesive tape of 8mm 121 and the low melting point China ink is with 122.

Adhesive tape

101 and 121 is made up of tape base, binding agent and strippable adherent layer.Tape base is made by paper tape or plastic tape, and the binding agent coated is in the one side of tape base, and adherent layer sticks on the one side that tape base scribbles binding agent.China ink is made up of basalis and the coated hot melt ink material on the bottom one side with 102 and 122.Thermal print head 25 is transferred to the China ink material on the object that is printed from

basalis.Tape drum

100 and 120 comprises

cartridge

108 and 128, adhesive

tape feed reel

103 and 123, China ink

band machine reel

104 and 124 and China ink

band feed reel

111 and 131 respectively.Adhesive

tape feed reel

103 and 123, China ink

band machine reel

104 and 124 and China ink

band feed reel

111 and 131 be arranged on rotationally in

cartridge

108 and 128 respectively.Cartridge 108 and 128 comprises

aforesaid fixing hole

105 and 125,

groove

107 and 127, thermal print

head insertion section

109 and 129 and

adhesive tape outlet

110 and 130 respectively.

Fixing hole

105 and 125 is separately positioned on the rear surface of

cartridge

108 and 128, and

groove

107 and 127 is opened the side surface in cartridge.When

tape drum

100 and 120 was respectively charged into printer unit 22, thermal print

head insertion section

109 and 129 was in corresponding thermal print head 25 residing positions respectively.Outlet 17 places of

adhesive tape outlet

110 and 130 position boxes 11 outside correspondence.

Adhesive tape

101 and 121 on adhesive

tape feed reel

103 and 123, extends to

adhesive tape outlet

110 and 130 through thermal print

head insertion section

109 and 129 from adhesive

tape feed reel

103 and 123 respectively respectively.China ink is with 102 and 122 respectively on China ink

band feed reel

111 and 131, and passes through thermal print

head insertion section

109 and 129 respectively, is collected by

machine reel

104 and 124 respectively.Tape drum 100 (120) is packed into behind the printer unit 22, and China ink is between the adhesive tape 101,121 at thermal print head 25 and 109,129 places, thermal print head insertion section with 102 and 122.

Height adjustment hole 106 (Fig. 3) is opened on the angle of cartridge 108, and its predetermined degree of depth is corresponding with the thickness of cartridge 108.The cartridge 128 of tape drum 120 is not opened the height adjustment hole, because cartridge 128 is the thinnest a kind of cartridges that tape printer can use, so when using cartridge 128, be contained in height adjusting on the base plate 23 and sell 30 and withstand on the basal surface of cartridge 128 of tape drum 120.

Groove or

otch

107 and 127 extend upward from the lower surface of

cartridge

108 and 128 respectively, when

tape drum

100 and 120 is packed into,

groove

107 and 127 is in the movable platen 41 corresponding positions of China ink material detector 32,

groove

107 and 127 upper end respectively and the distance between the upper surface of

cartridge

108 and 128 decide according to the materials that are contained in China ink band in tape drum 100 and 120.This distance of tape drum 100 is bigger than this distance of tape drum 120, that is: tape drum 100 is equipped with dystectic China ink band, and this distance is so that the movable platen 41 that makes China ink material detector 32 is because of rotating with the last end in contact of groove 107.On the other hand, tape drum 120 dress be low melting point China ink material, this is apart from weak point, so as to make movable platen 41 not with the last end in contact of groove 127.

The circuit of apparatus of the present invention is described with reference to Fig. 5.

Other parts in main control unit 50 major controls and the management circuit calcspar.Keyboard 12 is received main control unit 50.Main control unit 50 is stored in the alphanumeric information of being imported by keyboard 12, line replace command (LF), printing halt instruction (STOP), character size information or the like in the file storage unit 51.As shown in Figure 6, file storage unit 51 stores alphanumeric information, line replace command (LF) and printing halt instruction character codes such as (STOP), and these information are all stored in couples with comprising the printing control instruction of character size information.

Arithmetic element 52 and operational data memory cell 53 all are connected on the main control unit 50, and canned data is delivered to arithmetic element 52 in the file storage unit 51 under the control of main control unit 50.Arithmetic element 52 is according to from printing halt instruction (STOP), line replace command (LF) and the character size information sign indicating number of file storage unit 51 or the like calculating print length, print span, line feed number, maximum character size etc.In addition, under the control of main control unit 50, the tape width information from tape width detector 31 is offered arithmetic element 52, judge by it whether tape width is bigger than print span.As shown in Figure 7, operational data memory cell 53 print length data, maximum character size data, print span data, line feed number, long dozen seal length, represent these data of calculating by arithmetic element 52 such as line character sized data of the maximum character size that occurs in each row completely to store.

On the other hand, the joint 37 of tape width detector 31 is connected to A/D converter 54, and A/D converter 54 converts the magnitude of voltage from joint 37 to corresponding digital information and outputs to control module 50.Then, according to the data from A/D converter 54, main control unit 50 outputs to print control unit 55, character size amending unit 56, indicative control unit 57 and arithmetic element 52 to control data respectively.

Print control unit 55 is controlled the printing action of thermal print head 25 according to type information with from the control data of main control unit 50, and controls the driving of motor 58, is with take-up spool 27 so that rotate belt hold roller 24 according to the printing action of thermal print head 25 with China ink.

Fig. 8 represents the part of print control unit 55 and thermal print head 25 detailed circuits.

Thermal print head 25 is made up of a large amount of

heat units

200, and 128 heat units 200 are spaced regularly on 16mm length.One end of each heat unit 200 all is connected on the printing voltage generator 59, and the other end is connected on the NOT-AND gate 201 of print control unit 55.NOT-AND gate 201 provides type information by the type information buffer (not shown) of main control unit 50 process print control units 55.Be connected respectively to the output that the NOT-AND gate 201 that is arranged in the heat of the 1st to the 64th on 8mm length unit 200 all is connected to the AND gate 202 in the print control unit 55.Being connected on NOT-AND gate 201 in 65-the 80th heat unit 200 in the 8mm-10mm distance range all is connected on the output of AND gate 203 of print control unit 55.The NOT-AND gate 201 that joins with 81-the 128th hot unit that is arranged in the 10mm-16mm distance range all is connected on the output of AND gate 204 of print control unit 55., AND gate 202,203 and 204 each all be added with the tape drum of having packed printer unit 22 into the signal of packing into from the print command signal and the expression tape drum 100 (120) of commander's printing of main control unit 50.AND gate 204 is added with packed into " 16mm " signal of printer unit 22 of the tape drum 100 that the wide adhesive tape of 16mm 101 is housed from the expression of main control unit 50.AND

gate

203 and 204 also is added with respectively from packed into " 10mm " signal of printer unit 22 of the tape drum 100 of the wide adhesive tape 101 of the expression of main control unit 50 dress 10mm or 16mm or 121.In addition, print command signal and the tape drum signal of packing into all passes through print control unit 55 and delivers to motor 58 as motor control signal.

According to the character information sign indicating number that exists in the

file storage unit

51,56 pairs of character patterns that produced by character pattern generator 60 of character size amending unit are revised, make the control data that character size meets to be provided by main control unit 50, the character size of the width that meets the adhesive tape of adorning (that is: be adapted to).

Indicative control unit 57 according to from the demonstration information of main control unit 50 and control information and from form the layout video data of indicative control unit 61 control the demonstration of display 13.Form indicative control unit 61 produces the layout video data according to the line feed data and the line character sized data that are obtained by arithmetic element 51.

Exercises to tape printer with said structure are illustrated below.

At first, can to pack into and hold width be the adhesive tape 101 of 16mm, 10mm or 8mm or 121

tape drum

100 or 120 to the tape printer of this embodiment.When

tape drum

100 or 120 is packed into printer unit 22, be contained in height on the base plate 23 in the printer unit 22 and regulate pin 30 and just be inserted in the height adjustment hole 106 or withstand on the lower surface of cartridge 128.Then, the printer unit 22 in

case tape drum

100 or 120 is packed into fully,

cartridge

108 or 128 lower surface just are in giving on the allocation of the adhesive tape 101 that meets in

cartridge

108 or 128 or 121 width.At this moment, the movable platen 35 of tape width detector 31 promptly rotates according to

cartridge

108 or 128 lower surface positions, and through one of joint 37 output and the relevant voltage of resistance board 36 and movable platen 35 contacted positions, arrives A/D converter 54.

The movable platen 41 of China ink material detector 32 is inserted in the

groove

107 or 127 on cartridge 108 or 128.If the China ink of cartridge 108 is made by high-melting-point China ink material with 102, the top of groove 107 is rotated movable platen 41 and is connected microswitch 42 so.Otherwise being contained in the cartridge 128 in the printer unit 22 is that the China ink that low melting point China ink material is made is with 122, and movable platen 41 does not just contact with the top of groove 127 so, is off state and keep microswitch 42.Like this, ON/OFF signal of microswitch 42 outputs is to main control unit 50.

Alphanumeric information by keyboard 12 inputs is existed in the file memory 51, and is being presented on the display 13 under the control of main control unit 50.Picture is also existed in the file memory 51 by this print control data of character size information of keyboard 12 inputs.Line replace command (LF) and printing halt instruction (STOP) by keyboard 12 inputs exist in the file storage unit 51 equally.

Below in conjunction with flow chart shown in Figure 9, the printing model program is described.

At first, after specifying printing model with keyboard 12, main control unit 50 is just comprising that cursor is indicated on the display 13, and two fileinfos of printing between the halt instructions (STOP) that are stored in the file storage unit 51 output to arithmetic element 52 (program A1) from file storage unit 51.Arithmetic element 52 judges that the fileinfo from memory cell 51 is character information or line replace command (LF) or prints halt instruction (STOP) (program A2).If character information, arithmetic element 52 is calculated print length (program A3) with regard to the paired character size data of basis and character information so.Further, arithmetic element 52 is added on the print length data of operational data memory cell 53 output (program A4 and A5) to the print length that calculates under the control of main control unit 50.Then, under the control of main control unit 50, the print length data of being revised by arithmetic element 52 are stored in (program A6) in the operational data memory cell 53.

Arithmetic element 52 also compares the max number of characters certificate of the character size data of file storage unit 51 outputs and 53 outputs of operational data memory cell on the print span direction, promptly compare the height (program A7 and A8) of printable character.Under the control of main control unit 50, the greater that is judged in the character size data of character size data and maximum by comparison program is stored in the operational data memory cell 53, as maximum character size data (program A9).According to said procedure, in order to judge in program A2, before file storage unit 51 first character size datas of output, the print length data and the maximum character size data that are stored in the operational data memory cell 53 have just been fallen clearly.

Therefore, in program A2, judge line replace command (LF) or printing halt instruction (STOP) before, file storage unit 51 is output character data continuously, needs repetitiousness repetitive routine A3 to A9 to obtain print length data and maximum character size data corresponding to delegation.

On the other hand, if are line replace commands (LF) or print halt instruction (STOP) that from the file data of file storage unit 51 outputs main control unit 50 is just delivered to arithmetic element 52 (program A10) to maximum character size data from operational data memory cell 53 so.Then, arithmetic element 52 is calculated print span (program A11) according to maximum character size data.Under the control of main control unit 50, arithmetic element 52 is added in the print spans of calculating on the print span of operational data memory cell 53 outputs (program A12 and A13).The print span data of revising through arithmetic element 52 are stored into operational data memory cell 53 (program A14) again.Be stored in maximum character size data in the operational data memory cell 53 after being stored in the operational data memory cell 53 corresponding to the line character sized data of the character size of the maximum of delegation, fallen (program A15) clearly as expression.Operational data memory cell 53 outputs to arithmetic element 52 (program A16) to line feed number data, and arithmetic element adds " 1 " (program A17) to these data, and the line feed number data of being revised by arithmetic element 52 deposit operational data memory cell 53 (program A18) in.After this, main control unit 50 is delivered to arithmetic element 52 (program A19) to the print length data and the maximum printing length data that are stored in the computing memory cell 53, and arithmetic element 52 is these two data relatively, judge bigger data (program A20).These bigger data of judging are stored in (program A21) in the operational data memory cell 53 as the maximum printing length data, and the print length data that originally were stored in the operational data memory cell 53 are fallen clearly.In above-mentioned program process, judged line replace command (LF) by program A2 first or printing halt instruction (STOP) before, the print span data, line feed number data and the maximum printing length data that are stored in the operational data memory cell 53 have just been fallen clearly.

According to the step of program A10 to A21, can obtain whole print span and the line feed number that is printed fileinfo, and the longest print length in each maximum character size of row of whole fileinfo and each line printing length.

Next, arithmetic element 52 judges whether print halt instruction (STOP) (program A22) by the file data of said procedure, if judge is " denying ", that is to say that file data is line replace command (LF), so main control unit 50 sense data (program A1) from file storage unit 51 once more; On the contrary, if judge it is "Yes", be that data are to print halt instruction (STOP), main control unit 50 is just delivering to arithmetic element 52 from the tape width data of A/D converter 54 with from the print span data of operational data memory cell 53 so, arithmetic element 52 is these two data relatively, and judge which big (program A23).If tape width is greater than print span, main control unit 50 is just delivered to form indicative control unit 61 (program A24) to line feed number data and line character sized data from operational data memory cell 53, and delivering to indicative control unit 57 (program A25) from the maximum printing length data of operational data memory cell 53.The form that form indicative control unit 61 produces line number and thickness shows that line number is corresponding to line feed number data, and thickness is corresponding to the line character sized data.

Otherwise, if print span greater than tape width, main control unit 50 is just delivered to indicative control unit 57 (program A26) to error message so.

The shown figure of display 13 when Figure 10 A～10E represents to carry out said procedure, wherein the actual print area of character size [1 * 1] expression comprises that the character pitch is [4mm * 4mm].The fileinfo of the display graphics that Figure 10 A represents " ABC CO., LTD.Japan (STOP) ", wherein specified file information " ABC CO., the LTD. character size of [1 * 1]; Specified file information " Japan " character size of [2 * 2].This file is designated as the information that is printed.In this example, adorning the tape drum 100 of 16mm adhesive tape 101 in the printer unit 22.At first, main control unit 50 produces video data [16mm] according to the tape width data that obtain from A/D converter 54, and is sent to indicative control unit 57.Main control unit 50 is delivered to indicative control unit 57 to the video data of respective symbols sized data [1 * 1] at the character of cursor indicator appointment again.Then, main control unit 50 is delivered to indicative control unit 57 to the video data [9.6cm] of the maximum printing length data that obtains corresponding to the flow process by Fig. 9, and delivering to form indicative control unit 61 by line number that obtains with quadrat method [1] and line character size [2 * 2].Form indicative control unit 61 produces the form video data, and these data are a line segment, and its thickness is corresponding to line character sized data [2 * 2].This video data is sent to indicative control unit 57.Under the control of indicative control unit 57, display 13 shows character size [1 * 1], maximum printing length [9.6cm], tape width [16mm] and formatted data from left to right on display top.

Figure shown in Figure 10 B is that typescripts information is " ABC (LF) CO., LTD.Japan (STOP) ", and other situations are identical with the situation shown in Figure 10 A, " LF " expression " line feed ".At this moment maximum printing length is 8.0cm.

Be " ABC (LF) CO., LTD. (LF) Japan (STOP) " and other situations when identical with Figure 10 A when the type information file data is designated, resulting display graphics is illustrated on Figure 10 C.At this moment maximum printing length is 3.6cm.

When file data " ABC (LF) CO., LTD.Ja (LF) pan (STOP) " is designated as type information and other situations during as Figure 10 A, obtain the figure shown in Figure 10 D.In this case, print span is 24mm, and is bigger than tape width 16mm, and therefore, the main control unit output error message is to indicative control unit 57.Under the control of indicative control unit 57, display 13 shows that [Err] ([makeing mistakes]) is to replace the form video data.

(wherein the designated character size of file " ABC CO.; LTD " is [1 * 1] when file data " ABC (LF) C O.; LTD. (LF) Japan (STOP) " is designated as type information, file " Japan " is designated with character size [2 * 2]), and when the tape drum 120 that holds 8mm width adhesive tape 121 was housed in printer unit 22, resulting display graphics was shown in Figure 10 E.In this case, print span is 16mm, and is wideer than tape width 8mm, so main control unit 50 is delivered to indicative control unit 57 to error message.Under the control of indicative control unit 57, display 13 shows that [Err] ([makeing mistakes]) is to replace the form video data.

Course of action is printed in narration below:

If print sign ons by keyboard 12 input, main control unit 50 is dress tape drum signals and the 16mm signals that obtained by A/D converter 54,10mm signal or do not have the signal of corresponding tape width to output to print control unit 55.In addition, 50 control informations corresponding to the ON/OFF signal of microswitch 42 of main control unit are delivered to and are printed voltage generator 59.Then, main control unit 50 is delivering to graphic alphanumeric generator 60 from the character code of file storage unit 51, so that obtain character graphics information.Character graphics information offers character size amending unit 56, and under the control of main control unit 50, character is adapted to the character size of requirement according to character size data.Then, the character graphics information of revising is sent to print control unit 55, and the latter controls the heating action of thermal print head 25 and the running of motor 58 according to the output data of main control unit 50.Thermal print head 25 is transferred to the hot melt ink material on the surface of adhesive tape 101 or 121 with 102 or 122 from China ink, thereby character graphics is printed on adhesive tape 101 or 121.Motor 58 orders about belt hold roller 24 and China ink band take-up spool 27 rotates, so that adhesive tape and China ink band are sent to the thermal print head insertion section of cartridge 108 or 128.Then, printed adhesive tape 101 or 121 from export 17 send outside box 11.

Figure 11 A-11E is illustrated respectively in adhesive tape 101 printed under Figure 10 A-10E condition and 121 appearance.

Under the situation of Figure 11 A-11D because in the tape drum 100 of the printer unit 22 of packing into dress be that width is the adhesive tape of 16mm, so main control unit 50 is 16mm signal and 10mm signal and adorn the tape drum signal and deliver to print control unit 55.Under the situation of Figure 11 E, the tape drum 120 of the printer unit 22 of packing into is wide adhesive tapes 121 of 8mm of dress, so main control unit 50 is only delivered to print control unit 55 to dress tape drum signal.

Under the situation of Figure 11 D and 11E, after character graphics of each outer row of

adhesive tape

101 or 121 print ranges print, main control unit 50 handles were delivered to print control unit 55 corresponding to the character graphic data of the row outside the print range of

adhesive tape

101 or 121.

Referring now to the flow chart shown in the accompanying drawing 12, description character size automatic setting program.

At first, when with keyboard 12 designated character size auto-set modes, main control unit 50 is delivered to arithmetic element 52 (program B1) to fileinfo from file storage unit 51, and arithmetic element 52 is judged maximum character size (program B2) from the character size data of file storage unit 51 outputs.Main control unit 50 is also delivered to arithmetic element 52 to the tape width data from A/D converter 54, then, is judged the width (program B3) of

adhesive tape

101 or 121 by arithmetic element.If tape width is 8mm, main control unit 50 control character size amending units 56 are adapted to maximum character size the character graphics (program B4) of 64 * 64 dot matrix.If tape width is 10mm, main control unit 50 control character size amending units 56 are adapted to maximum character graphics the character graphics (program B5) of 80 * 80 dot matrix.If tape width is 16mm, main control unit 50 control character size amending units 56 are adapted to maximum character graphics the character graphics (program B6) of 128 * 128 dot matrix.

Figure 13 A-Figure 13 C represents the

adhesive tape

101 or 121 that prints according to said procedure.

The fileinfo that is printed " TOKYO JAPAN (STOP) " comprises that designated character is of a size of the fileinfo " JAPAN " that the fileinfo of [2 * 2] " TOKYO " and designated character are of a size of [1 * 1].Under the situation of Figure 13 A, because tape width is 8mm, so fileinfo " TOKYO " is corrected to the character size of 64 * 64 dot matrix, correspondingly, file " JAPAN " is corrected for the character size of 32 * 32 dot matrix.Under the situation of Figure 13 B, because tape width is 10mm, so fileinfo " TOKYO " is corrected for the character size of 80 * 80 dot matrix, file " JAPAN " then correspondingly is corrected for the character size of 40 * 40 dot matrix.Under the situation of Figure 13 C, because tape width is 16mm, so file " TOKYO " is corrected for the character size of 128 * 128 dot matrix, correspondingly, file " JAPAN " is corrected to the character size of 64 * 64 dot matrix.

As mentioned above, because character graphic data is to revise automatically according to the width of adhesive tape in the tape drum of the printer unit of packing into, so, change tape drum at every turn and all need not manually to repair character size data.

Claims

1. tape printer comprises:

An outer box (11,14);

The adhesive tape parts (100,101,108,120,121,128) that can be contained in the described outer box (11,14), described adhesive tape parts (100,101,108,120,121,128) have given width;

The message input device of input information (12); Be used for that the information of described message input device (12) input is printed on adhesive tape parts (100,101,108,120,121,128) and go up, be arranged on the printing equipment (25,200) in the described outer box (11,14); It is characterized in that, also include:

Be arranged on the tape width checkout gear (31) that described outer box (11,14) is interior, be used for detecting the tape width that is contained in the described adhesive tape parts (100,101,108,120,121,128) in the described outer box (11,14); With

Print control unit (50,55), this device is controlled the printing action of described printing equipment (25,200) according to the detected tape width of described tape width checkout gear (31), so that described printing equipment (25,200) information of described input is printed on corresponding to the described adhesive tape parts (100,101 that are contained in the described outer box (11,14), 108, in the scope of width 120,121,128).

2. according to the tape printer of claim 1, it is characterized in that described printing equipment comprises a plurality of type elements (200) that are arranged in described adhesive tape component width direction; With

Described print control unit comprises the device (50,201,202,203,204) that is arranged in the one group of described type element (200) in the tape width scope of being measured by described tape width checkout gear that driving is selected.

3. according to the tape printer of claim 1, it is characterized in that described printing equipment comprises a plurality of type elements (200) that are arranged in adhesive tape component width direction; With

Described print control unit comprises the described drive unit (50 of printing unit of driving, 201,202,203,204) and stop to drive the holdout device that is arranged in the extraneous described type element of the adhesive tape of measuring by described tape width checkout gear (200) (50,201,202 that is selected, 203,204).

4. according to the tape printer of claim 1, it is characterized in that further comprising: the storage device (51) by the information of described printing equipment printing is desired in storage;

Detection is about the print span checkout gear (50,52) of the print span of the information that is stored in described storage device (51); With

Judgment means (52), this device comprise whether device that the print span of being measured by described print span checkout gear is compared with the tape width of being measured by described tape width checkout gear and judgement the information in the storage device of being stored in can be printed on the device on the described given width that is contained in the described adhesive tape parts in the described outer box device.

5. according to the tape printer of claim 4, it is characterized in that further comprising:

Whether can be printed on display unit (13) on the described given width that is contained in the described adhesive tape parts in the described outer box according to canned data in the described storage device of the judgment result displays of described judgment means.

6. according to the tape printer of claim 1, it is characterized in that further comprising:

The tape width of measuring according to described tape width checkout gear is set the stamp with the size setting device (50,52,56) of the stamp with the size of the information that is printed.

7. according to the tape printer of claim 6, it is characterized in that further comprising:

Appointment is printed the stamp with the size specified device (12) of the stamp with the size of information; With

Described stamp with the size setting device comprises and is used for the specified stamp with the size of described stamp with the size specified device is adapted to the stamp with the size correcting device (50,52,56) that meets the tape width that described tape width checkout gear measures.

8,, it is characterized in that described input unit comprises the device (12) of described input alphabet digital information according to the tape printer of claim 7; With

Described stamp with the size specified device comprises the device (12) that is used for specifying by the stamp with the size of each alphanumeric information of described input unit input; With

Described tape printer further comprises:

Detection is by the specified maximum printing size detecting device (50,52) that detects the maximum printing size in stamp with the size of described stamp with the size specified device;

The correction of described stamp with the size correcting device is by the specified stamp with the size of described stamp with the size specified device, make by the measured maximum printing size of described maximum printing size detecting device (50,52) and be suitable for by the measured tape width of described tape width checkout gear.

9, according to the tape printer of claim 1, it is characterized in that described adhesive tape parts comprise printing adhesive tape (101,121) and tape drum (100,108,120,128), printing adhesive tape has given width, and available described printing equipment comes type information on it, and described printing adhesive tape is arranged in the tape drum, the thickness of tape drum is relevant with the width of the described printing adhesive tape (101,121) that is wherein held; With

Described tape width checkout gear comprises the device (31) that detects described tape drum (100,108,120,128) thickness, so that be contained in the width of the described printing adhesive tape (101,121) in the described tape drum (100,108,120,128) with its detection.

10,, it is characterized in that further comprising according to the tape printer of claim 9:

Be arranged on the storing apparatus that holds tape drum in the described outer box, that can take out (22); With

Be arranged on the adjusting device (30) in the described storing apparatus (22), when described tape drum is packed storing apparatus (22) into, the upper surface of described tape drum or lower surface be adjusted to preposition with this adjusting device; With

Wherein said tape width checkout gear comprises, when described tape drum is packed described storing apparatus (22) into, is used for detecting the device (35,36) of another surperficial position in the described tape drum upper and lower surface.

11, a kind of tape printer comprises:

An outer box (11,14);

The message input device of input information (12);

Be used for that the information that described message input device (12) is imported is printed on described adhesive tape parts (100,101,108,120,121,128) and go up, be arranged on the printing equipment (25,200) in the described outer box (11,14); It is characterized in that, also include:

Be used for according to the measured tape width of described tape width checkout gear (31), automatically set the stamp with the size setting device (50,52,56) of the stamp with the size of the information that is printed.

12,, it is characterized in that further comprising according to the tape printer of claim 11

Be used for specifying the stamp with the size specified device (12) of the stamp with the size of the information of being printed; With

Described stamp with the size setting device comprises and being used for being adapted to the stamp with the size correcting device (50,56) that meets by the measured tape width of described tape width checkout gear by the specified stamp with the size of described stamp with the size specified device.

13,, it is characterized in that described input unit comprises the device (12) of input alphabet digital information according to the tape printer of claim 12; With

Described stamp with the size specified device comprises the device (12) of each alphanumeric stamp with the size that appointment is imported by described input unit; With

Described tape printer further comprises:

Be used for detecting maximum printing size detecting device (50,52) by the maximum printing size of the specified stamp with the size of described stamp with the size specified device;