JP2012166511A - Printing apparatus, printing method, and print control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing apparatus that includes a photographing unit and a display unit to display an image photographed by the photographing unit, and makes a properly-sized label by displaying an object on which to stick a label and an image of the label before being printed on the display unit.SOLUTION: The printing apparatus includes: an input unit; a printing length setting unit; a cartridge determination unit; a tape width setting unit; a tape type selection unit; a printing direction selection unit; a photographing unit; a display unit; a display scale deriving unit for deriving a display scale of a real-time image; a resizing unit for resizing the tape image based on the printing length or width and the tape type in accordance with the display scale derived by the display scale deriving unit; a label image generation unit for generating the label image by synthesizing the inputted character image that is resized by the resizing unit and the tape image; a synthesized image generation unit for synthesizing the label image with the real-time image; and a printing unit.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for creating a label of an appropriate size, a printing method for producing a label of an appropriate size in the printing apparatus, and a printing control for realizing a printing method for causing the printing apparatus to produce a label of an appropriate size. Regarding the program.

  A tape cassette containing a tape member is set in the apparatus, and characters or the like input from an input means such as a keyboard or output from other devices are arbitrarily printed on the tape member. There is a printing device as a device that can create a label.

  When a label created by such a printing apparatus is pasted on an object to be pasted, the width and length may not be appropriate. Therefore, in Patent Document 1 shown below, a host device constituted by a PC (personal computer) or the like provided with editing means, display means, and print data generation means, and print data reception means for receiving print data from the host device. And a printing apparatus including a label creating means, and a label creating system is disclosed that can easily edit a print layout and can create a label that takes into account a balance with an object to be pasted.

JP 2008-158698 A

  However, the label production system of the above-mentioned patent document 1 is composed of a host device and a printing device, and print data is generated and edited while being confirmed by a display unit in the host device, and printed by a connected printing device. The device configuration was complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and includes an image capturing unit and a display unit, and an image of an object to be labeled on the display unit and an image of a label before printing. Printing apparatus for easily creating a label of an appropriate size by displaying them together, a printing method for easily creating a label of an appropriate size in the printing apparatus, and a printing method for easily creating a label of an appropriate size An object of the present invention is to provide a print control program for realizing the above.

  A printing apparatus according to the present invention is a printing apparatus for creating a label by printing on a printing tape, wherein an input means for setting an input character and a font size of the label to be created, and the number of characters and a font of the input character by the input means A print length setting means for setting a print length according to the size; a cartridge determination means for determining the type of cartridge for storing the print tape; and a tape width setting means for setting tape width information from the determined cartridge type; A tape type selecting means for selecting a tape type such as a color, pattern and material of the printing tape, a printing direction selecting means for selecting a printing direction on the printing tape, a photographing means having an autofocus function, and the photographing Display means for displaying a real-time image of the pasting object photographed by the means, and a real-time image displayed on the display means. A scale deriving unit for deriving an indicated scale, a resizing unit for resizing an input character image and a tape image based on a set print length, tape width, and tape type according to the display scale derived by the scale deriving unit; A label image generating means for generating a label image by combining the input character image and the tape image resized by the resizing means; a composite image generating means for combining the label image generated by the label image generating means with the real-time image; Printing means for printing characters input by the input means.

  A printing method of a printing apparatus according to the present invention is a printing method of a printing apparatus that creates a label by printing on a printing tape, and includes an input process for setting an input character and a font size of the label to be created, and the input process. Print length setting processing that sets the print length according to the number of input characters and font size, cartridge discrimination processing that discriminates the type of cartridge that stores the print tape, and tape width information is set based on the discriminated cartridge type A tape width setting process, a tape type selection process for selecting a tape type such as a color, pattern, and material of the printing tape, a printing direction selection process for selecting a printing direction on the printing tape, and an autofocus function. Photographing processing performed, display processing for displaying a real-time image of the pasting object photographed by the photographing processing, and the display processing Resizing the input character image and the tape image based on the set print length, tape width, and tape type according to the display scale derived by the scale derivation process and deriving the display scale of the real-time image to be displayed Resize processing, label image generation processing for generating a label image by combining the input character image and tape image resized by the resize processing, and combining the real time image with the label image generated by the label image generation processing A composite image generation process and a printing process for printing an input character by the input process are executed.

  A printing control program of a printing apparatus according to the present invention is a printing control program for realizing a printing method of a printing apparatus that creates a label by printing on a printing tape, and sets an input character and a font size of the created label Input processing, print length setting processing for setting a print length according to the number of input characters and font size by the input processing, cartridge discrimination processing for discriminating the type of cartridge storing the print tape, and discriminated cartridge Tape width setting processing for setting the tape width information from the type of the tape, tape type selection processing for selecting the tape type such as color, pattern and material of the printing tape, and the printing direction for selecting the printing direction on the printing tape A selection process, an imaging process performed using the autofocus function, and a real-time image of the pasting object imaged by the imaging process. A display process for displaying an image, a scale derivation process for deriving a display scale of a real-time image displayed by the display process, and a tape image based on an input character image and a set print length, tape width, and tape type. Resizing processing that resizes in accordance with the display scale derived in the scale derivation processing, label image generation processing that generates a label image by combining the input character image and tape image resized by the resizing processing, and the label image generation processing A composite image generation process for combining the generated label image with the real-time image and a print process for printing an input character by the input process are executed by a computer.

  According to the present invention, the printing includes the photographing unit and the display unit, and easily displays a label of an appropriate size by displaying the image of the object to be labeled on the display unit and the label image before printing. It is possible to provide an apparatus, a printing method for easily creating a label of an appropriate size in the printing apparatus, and a printing control program for causing the printing apparatus to realize a printing method of easily creating a label of an appropriate size.

1 is a plan view of a first printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the inside of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention and a perspective view of the tape cassette. It is a top view of the 2nd printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of generating a composite image data and creating a label by the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of generating label image data by the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing regarding the label production for the back cover of a pipe file by the printing apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing regarding the label production for the back cover of a pipe file by the printing apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing regarding the label image by the printing apparatus in embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first printing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows an appearance of a tape cassette 21 used in the printing apparatus 1 and a part of the internal structure of the printing apparatus 1. It is a perspective view shown. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a printing apparatus 100 mainly using a software keyboard type touch panel operation as the second printing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The printing device 1 is a device that prints characters and the like on a tape member 31 formed by laminating a printing tape having a printing surface on the front surface and an adhesive surface on the back surface and a peeling tape attached to the adhesion surface. is there.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the first printing apparatus 1 has an opening / closing lid 5 that covers the keyboard input unit 3, the touch panel display unit 4, and the cassette loading unit 8 on the upper surface of the housing 2. An imaging unit 70 is provided near the touch panel display unit 4. Although not shown, the housing 2 is also formed with an input terminal for connecting to an external device such as a personal computer, a power supply terminal to which a power cord is connected, an insertion port for inserting a storage medium such as a memory card, and the like. Has been.

  The keyboard input unit 3 is a character input key for inputting character data, a print key for instructing start of printing, a cursor key for moving the cursor on the display screen of the touch panel display unit 4, a print mode setting and various setting processes. It is composed of various control keys, a focusing key for instructing focusing of a photographed image, and the like.

  The touch panel display unit 4 is a color liquid crystal display panel or the like in the printing apparatus 1. The touch panel display unit 4 displays images related to input data, selection menus for various settings, messages regarding various processes, and the like. The

  The touch panel display unit 4 is a display panel in which a touch panel as an input unit and a color liquid crystal display panel as a display unit are integrated, and the printing apparatus 1 can perform various settings by screen touch. It has a touch pen 64 as possible.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a cassette loading portion 8 for loading a tape cassette 21 containing a tape member 31 and an ink ribbon 35 is formed inside the opening / closing lid 5. In the cassette loading unit 8, a tape printing mechanism 45 and a cassette receiving unit 15 for supporting the tape cassette 21 at a predetermined position are formed.

  The tape printing mechanism 45 includes a printing element arranged in a vertical direction, a thermal head 11 serving as a printing head, and a platen roller that sandwiches and transports a tape member 31 and an ink ribbon 35 between the thermal head 11 12, an alignment shaft 20 that engages and positions with the tape cassette 21, and a ribbon winding shaft 13 that winds the ink ribbon 35 used for printing into the tape cassette 21.

  In addition, a tape feeding portion 7 communicating with the outside of the housing 2 is formed at one end of the cassette loading portion 8, and the tape feeding portion 7 cuts the printing tape and the release tape of the tape member 31 in the width direction. A full cut mechanism 17 as a full cut means and a half cut mechanism 18 as a half cut means for cutting only the print tape of the tape member 31 are incorporated.

  Further, the tape cassette 21 includes a cassette case 22. Inside the cassette case 22, a tape core 23 around which a tape member 31 is wound, a ribbon supply core 24 around which an unused ink ribbon 35 is wound, used. Ribbon take-up cores 25 for taking up the used ink ribbon 35 are accommodated. The cassette case 22 of the tape cassette 21 is formed with a head placement portion 27 where the thermal head 11 is located when the tape cassette 21 is loaded in the cassette loading portion 8.

  In addition, an engaged portion 29 that is engaged with and supported by the cassette receiving portion 15 of the cassette loading portion 8 is formed at the corner of the cassette case 22. The engaged portion 29 of the cassette case 22 is formed with predetermined irregularities according to the type of the tape cassette 21 (not shown), and the cassette receiving portion 15 of the cassette loading portion 8 is provided with the tape cassette 21. A tape width detection switch 16 is formed which is a cartridge discriminating means for discriminating irregularities formed in the engaged portion 29 of the cassette case 22 when is loaded.

  Then, when the cassette case 22 is loaded into the cassette loading unit 8, the printing apparatus 1 includes the tape width detection switch 16 formed on the engaged portion 29 of the cassette case 22 and the cassette receiving unit 15 of the cassette loading unit 8. Some or all of them are engaged, and the engaged tape width detection switch 16 is pressed, so that the tape width of the tape cassette 21 can be identified by the combination of the tape width detection switch 16 that is turned on. It has become.

  In other words, since the type of the tape cassette 21 differs depending on the width of the tape member 31 incorporated in the printing apparatus 1, the type of the tape cassette 21 is identified to identify the width of the tape that is the print target. Thus, the control unit 40 can create print data suitable for the tape width.

  In this printing apparatus 1, when printing is instructed, the tape member 31 and the ink ribbon 35 are fed out from the tape cassette 21, and the tape member 31 and the ink ribbon 35 are placed between the platen roller 12 and the thermal head 11. It is sandwiched and transported in a superposed state.

  Then, the thermal head 11 is driven to generate heat based on the print data, the ink of the ink ribbon 35 is thermally transferred to the print tape of the tape member 31, printing is performed on the print tape, and when printing is completed, the full cut mechanism 17 or The half-cut mechanism 18 is actuated to cut the tape member 31 in the width direction, thereby creating a single tape-like label.

  Note that the printing apparatus 1 can be applied to apparatuses other than the above-described apparatus having a physical hardware keyboard. The second printing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 3 includes a touch panel display unit 4 that is configured by a color liquid crystal display device over the substantially entire upper surface of the apparatus main body 82 and displays a virtual keyboard using a software keyboard function. The photographing unit 70 and the tape discharge unit are provided.

  In the second printing apparatus 100, a touch panel, which is a transparent pressure switch, is disposed on the upper surface of the color liquid crystal display panel as a character input device. Furthermore, the display screen of the touch panel display 4 includes character / symbol input keys (hereinafter collectively referred to as character keys) such as alphabetic character keys, numeric keys, and symbol keys, conversion keys to Kanji characters, non-conversion keys, and A keyboard area 87 for displaying a virtual keyboard having control keys such as an execution key, and a character editing area 88 for displaying characters input from the keyboard area 87 and displaying captured images and the like are provided.

  The keyboard area 87 displays each key of the keyboard as an image and inputs the coordinate position data of each key by pressing the position of each key of the keyboard displayed on the display screen. This realizes the software keyboard function.

  Next, the circuit configuration of the printing apparatuses 1 and 100 will be described. The printing apparatuses 1 and 100 include a control unit 40 as shown in FIG. The controller 40 is connected with a ROM 41 and a RAM 42 as storage means. The control unit 40 is connected to a keyboard input unit 3 and a touch panel input unit 60 as input means for inputting character data, font size, and the like in response to a user's key operation. The control unit 40 is connected to a touch panel display unit drive circuit 63 that drives the touch panel display unit 4 that is a display unit that displays various information such as input information.

  Further, a head drive circuit 51 that drives the thermal head 11, a step motor drive circuit 52 that drives the step motor 46, and a cutter motor drive circuit 53 that drives the cutter motor 48 are connected to the control unit 40. Yes.

  The control unit 40 is connected to a tape width detection switch 16 which is a cartridge discriminating means for discriminating the type of cartridge.

  The control unit 40 is a CPU, which is a key input signal from the keyboard input unit 3, or a system program automatically stored in advance in the ROM 41, a control program stored in a memory card, and a control program read from an external device. And the operation of each part of the circuit is controlled using the RAM 42 as a work memory.

  The ROM 41 stores programs and print fonts for displaying and printing set character string data, etc., oblique lines, meshes and dot patterns used for painting, and programs readable by the control unit 40 are stored. It also functions as a recording medium.

  The RAM 42 has a print data memory area for storing print pattern data in which input print information is expanded, a display data memory area for storing pattern data to be displayed on the touch panel display unit 4, and the like. Registers and counters for temporarily storing data necessary for processing are also provided.

  The head drive circuit 51 controls the thermal head 11 as printing means in accordance with the printing information and the format setting information, and causes the tape member 31 to execute printing. The step motor drive circuit 52 is a circuit for driving the conveying means, and controls the step motor 46 such as a stepping motor for rotating the platen roller 12 and the ribbon take-up shaft 13, and the tape member 31 in the longitudinal direction at a predetermined speed. Transport. The cutter motor drive circuit 53 is a drive circuit that controls cutting means such as full cut means and half cut means, and is used in a stepping motor or the half cut mechanism 18 as the cutter motor 48 used in the full cut mechanism 17. A DC motor or the like as the cutter motor 48 is controlled.

  In the printing apparatuses 1 and 100, the control unit 40 controls the head drive circuit 51, the step motor drive circuit 52, the cutter motor drive circuit 53, and the like, thereby printing a character string on the tape member 31 and printing the print portion. A label can be created by cutting.

  In the present invention, the controller 40 is connected with an imaging unit 70 which is an imaging unit having an autofocus function. The imaging unit 70 includes image acquisition means 70b, distance measurement means 70c, and imaging control means 70a. The image acquisition unit 70b includes an imaging device such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) that is an image sensor, and a focus lens. The imaging mechanism includes a lens driving motor and the like, and performs focus adjustment.

  When shooting the object to be pasted, the shooting control means 70a, when the user presses the focus key for instructing the focus of the shot image, drives the lens driving motor, which is an imaging mechanism, to move the focus lens. Operate and focus.

  The distance measuring means 70c is a pulse of a photocoupler or the like that measures the stop position or drive amount indicated by the code board indicating whether the stop position of the focus lens driven by focusing by the photographing control means 70a is from the nearest end to the infinite end. The distance L (cm) from the photographing unit 70 to the subject is calculated.

  Then, the control unit 40 calculates the up / down or left / right imaging range H (cm) at the distance L (cm) from the imaging unit 70 to the subject obtained by the distance measuring means 70c, using the imaging angle of view. Then, the control unit 40 is an actual conversion value (pix / cm) indicating the number of pixels of the number of pixels of the CCD, for example, the number of pixels per 1 cm as a unit length of the subject. The value is calculated by dividing the number of pixels h (pix) in the vertical or horizontal direction of the CCD stored in the ROM in advance by the shooting range H (cm) obtained from the shooting angle of view and the subject distance. Then, the control unit 40 stores the obtained (pix / cm) value in a memory such as the RAM 42.

  Then, the control unit 40 derives the display scale of the real-time image captured by the photographing unit 70 and displayed on the display unit as a scale deriving unit described later using the value of (pix / cm).

  Further, the control unit 40 functions as a print length setting unit that sets the print length of a label generated according to the number of characters input by the input unit and the font size in the label creation mode.

  The control unit 40 functions as a tape width setting unit that sets tape width information from the cartridge type determined by the tape width detection switch 16.

  In addition, the control unit 40 functions as a tape type selection unit that causes the touch panel display unit 4 to display a tape type menu selection screen in order to allow the user to select a tape type such as a color, pattern, and material of the print tape. Further, the control unit 40 functions as a printing direction selection unit that displays a menu selection screen for the printing direction on the touch panel display unit 4 in order to allow the user to select a printing direction on the printing tape.

  Then, as described above, the control unit 40 functions as a scale deriving unit that derives a display scale of a real-time image that is photographed by the photographing unit 70 that is a photographing unit having an autofocus function and displayed on the display unit. When the zoom key is pressed, the control unit 40 enlarges the image by trimming image processing using electronic zoom, converts the value of (pix / cm) based on the enlargement ratio, and displays the enlarged real-time image. Deriving the scale.

  Further, the control unit 40, the input character image of the input character of the label to be created, the print length of the label generated and set according to the number of characters of the input character and the font size, the tape width determined by the cartridge determination unit and Each of the tape images based on the tape type set by the tape type selection unit functions as a scale deriving unit, and functions as a resizing unit for resizing in accordance with the derived display scale.

  Further, the control unit 40 functions as a label image generating unit that generates a label image by synthesizing the resized input character image and the tape image as a resizing unit. Further, the control unit 40 functions as a combined image generating unit that combines the label image generated as the label image generating unit with the real time image.

  Further, when the zoom key is pressed, the control unit 40 enlarges the composite image generated by the composite image generation unit by image processing by trimming as a zoom unit, controls the touch panel display unit drive circuit 63, and controls the touch panel display unit 4 To display.

  Further, the ROM 41 includes a tape type storage area 41a in which various image data of tape images such as colors and patterns of print tapes that can be used for selectable tape types are stored.

  The RAM 42 has an image data storage area 42a for causing the touch panel display unit 4 to display image data captured and generated by the imaging unit 70.

  Here, the flow of creating a label by the printing apparatuses 1 and 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of generating a composite image data by the printing apparatuses 1 and 100 to create a label. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the label image generation process (step S40) in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, and shows a flow of generating label image data. 7 and 8 are explanatory diagrams relating to the creation of a label for a back cover of a pipe file by the printing apparatuses 1 and 100. FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram regarding the label image data in the horizontal direction by the printing apparatuses 1 and 100.

  First, when the printing device 1 or 100 is set to the label creation mode by the user, the control unit 40 sets a label creation mode for causing the touch panel display unit 4 to display a menu that allows the user to set input characters and font size for the label. Processing (step S10) is executed.

  When the user sets the label character input and font size as shown in FIG. 7A, the control unit 40 sets the print length, which is the tape length, as the print length setting means. A setting process (step S15) is executed.

  Next, the control unit 40 detects, as the tape width setting means, the tape cassette 21 that is mounted by the cartridge determination means, and executes a tape width setting process (step S20) for setting the tape width.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 7 (b), the control unit 40 allows the user to select the tape type such as the color, pattern, and material of the printing tape in the tape cassette 21 that is installed as the tape type setting means. The tape type menu selection screen is displayed on the touch panel display unit 4, and the print direction menu selection screen is displayed as a print direction setting means for the user to select the print direction on the label print tape. A print direction setting process (step S25) to be displayed on the touch panel display unit 4 is executed.

  When the tape type and the printing direction are set by the user, the control unit 40 controls the imaging unit 70, which is an imaging unit, to change to the imaging mode and to image the pasting object to which the label is attached, The photographing process is executed and a message such as “Please photograph the object to be pasted” is displayed on the touch panel display unit 4.

  Then, when the user directs the photographing unit 70 toward the pasting object, the control unit 40 displays a real-time image display process for displaying a real-time image of the pasting object photographed by the photographing unit 70 as shown in FIG. Step S30) is executed.

  In addition, when the user presses the focus key, the photographing control unit 70a drives the focus lens to perform focusing, and the distance to the object to be pasted is based on the position of the focus lens driven by the distance measuring unit 70c. L (cm) is calculated.

  Then, the control unit 40 calculates the upper and lower or left and right imaging ranges H (cm) at the distance L (cm) from the imaging unit 70 to the subject obtained by the distance measuring unit 70c using the imaging field angle data. Then, the control unit 40 is an actual conversion value (pix / cm) indicating the number of pixels of the number of pixels of the CCD, for example, the number of pixels per 1 cm as a unit length of the subject. The value is calculated by dividing the number of pixels h (pix) in the vertical or horizontal direction of the CCD stored in the ROM in advance by the shooting range H (cm) obtained from the shooting angle of view and the subject distance. And the control part 40 memorize | stores the value of the calculated | required actual conversion value (pix / cm) in memory, such as RAM42.

  The control unit 40 uses the value of (pix / cm) as a scale deriving unit to derive a scale deriving process for deriving a display scale of a real-time image that is captured by the photographing unit 70 and displayed on the display unit (step S35). ).

  When deriving the display scale of the real-time image, the control unit 40 generates tape image data based on the previously extracted print length, the tape width determined by the cartridge determination unit, and the set tape type as the resizing unit, A resizing process is performed to resize and display the tape image based on the tape image data and the input character image in accordance with the display scale.

  Then, the control unit 40 executes a label image generation process (step S40) for generating a label image by synthesizing the resized input character image and the tape image. The detailed flow of the resizing process and the label image generating process (step S40) will be described later with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  Next, the control unit 40 executes a composite image generation process (step S70) for combining the label image and the real-time image as a composite image generation unit.

  Then, the control unit 40 causes the touch panel display unit 4 to display a composite image in which the label image is arranged at the center of the screen as shown in FIG.

  Thereby, for example, the user presses the zoom key in order to confirm in detail the print layout of the label image located at the center while viewing the composite image displayed on the touch panel display unit 4. When the zoom key is pressed by the user, the control unit 40 executes zoom processing (step S75) for enlarging the composite image by trimming as shown in FIG.

  Further, in order to match the pasting position of the pasting object with the label image located at the center while viewing the composite image displayed on the touch panel display unit 4, for example, as shown in FIG. To adjust the label image to the application position of the object to be attached, and confirm details such as the label size and print layout.

  The printing apparatuses 1 and 100 store a real-time image obtained by focusing and photographing a sticking object and display it on the touch panel display unit 4, and display a label image in the center to synthesize them. In the image, pick and move the label image freely on the touch panel display unit 4 by tracing, or touch the label image to enlarge the pasted target object and the label image as a composite image at the same time, etc. A configuration may be employed in which details such as the label size and print layout are confirmed by processing.

  Then, when the user determines that the set label image is arranged in a well-balanced manner with the object to be pasted while looking at the composite image displayed on the touch panel display unit 4, the user performs an operation indicating completion of setting in the label creation mode.

  In the setting completion determination (step S80), the control unit 40 controls the printing unit according to the setting completion instruction to execute a printing process (step S85) for printing the input characters and creating a label. finish. Since the created label is created in advance according to the print layout, as shown in FIG. 8C, it can be appropriately attached to the back cover of the pipe file.

  However, if the user determines that the set label image is not arranged in a balanced manner with the object to be pasted while looking at the composite image displayed on the touch panel display unit 4, an operation such as resetting in the label creation mode is performed. Do. In the setting completion determination (step S80), when a reset instruction is received from the user, the process returns to the print length setting process (step S15) for causing the touch panel display unit 4 to display a menu for setting the input character and font size again.

  Here, the detailed flow of the label image generation process (step S40) will be described with reference to the flowchart of the label image generation process (step S40) shown in FIG.

  As the scale deriving means, the control unit 40 executes buffer clear processing (step S41) for initializing the RAM 42 such as the print buffer and the image buffer when the display scale in (pix / cm) in the real-time image is derived.

  Next, based on the print length, tape width, and tape type selected and set by the user, the control unit 40 preliminarily stores the tape type such as the color and pattern of the print tape stored in the tape type recording area 41a of the ROM 41. The tape image search process (step S43) for searching the image data is executed.

  Further, the control unit 40 executes a print direction determination process (step S45) for determining whether the print direction of the input character of the label selected and set by the user is portrait or landscape. If the print direction is vertical, the control unit 40 generates an input character image having the input character as the vertical direction, and executes vertical print buffer expansion processing (step S47) for expanding the print character in the print buffer of the RAM.

  If the print direction of the input character of the label is horizontal, the control unit 40 generates an input character image with the input character as the horizontal direction, and expands it in the print buffer of the RAM 42 (step S48). ).

  When the input character data is expanded in the print buffer by the vertical print buffer expansion process (step S47) or the horizontal print buffer expansion process (step S48), the control unit 40 retrieves the image data searched by the tape image search process (step S43). The tape image expansion process (step S50) for expanding the image data in the image buffer of the RAM 42 is executed.

  Next, the control unit 40 executes a text image resizing process (step S52) for resizing the data of the input character image developed in the print buffer in accordance with the display scale of the real conversion value (pix / cm) in the real-time image. To do.

  Further, the control unit 40 displays the tape image data based on the preset print length, tape width and tape type developed in the image buffer according to the display scale by the actual conversion value (pix / cm) in the real-time image. A tape image resizing process (step S55) for resizing according to the scale is executed.

  The control unit 40 combines the images resized by the text image resizing process (step S52) and the tape image resizing process (step S55), and generates a label image as shown in FIG. 4 is executed (step S57), and the resizing process and the label image generation process (step S40) shown in FIG. 5 are terminated.

  In this way, since the printing apparatuses 1 and 100 have a function of combining and displaying a real-time image and a preview image of a label to be created, when the user captures an object to be pasted with a photographing unit, the image is displayed in real time on a color liquid crystal It is displayed on the display panel, and further, a preview image of the label created there can be synthesized and displayed.

  Then, the user can visually confirm the state in which the label is created by a preview image using a tape image that reproduces the actual design and color.

  Therefore, the user can visually confirm the state in which the label is actually affixed to the object to be pasted by superimposing the preview image on the position of the object to be affixed on the color liquid crystal display panel. This saves you the trouble of trial printing.

  And since a sticking target object can be displayed on a color liquid crystal display panel from various angles for a short time, the label for making it stick to various places can be created easily. In addition, the results of printing on printing tapes made of various colors, designs and materials can be confirmed in advance on a color liquid crystal display panel.

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the image capturing unit and the display unit are provided, and the image of the object to be attached with the label on the display unit and the image of the label before printing are displayed together and displayed in an appropriate size. Printing apparatus 1 and 100 for easily creating a label, printing method for easily creating an appropriate size label in the printing apparatus 1 and 100, and printing method for easily creating an appropriate size label for printing apparatus 1 and 100 And a printing control program for realizing the above.

  Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to check the print layout by calculating the distance to the object to be pasted, calculating the display scale of the real-time image, and appropriately combining the label image with the real-time image. So you won't make a wrong label.

  Further, according to the embodiment of the present invention, when photographing the sticking object, the photographing means drives the focus lens to perform focusing, and determines the distance from the sticking object based on the position of the driven focus lens. By calculating, an accurate real-time image display scale can be calculated.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, since the zoom operation of the composite image is possible, fine adjustment of details such as the size and the print layout becomes easy at the time of label creation.

  Furthermore, the processing shown in the flowchart in the embodiment of the present invention is applied to various apparatuses as a print control program that can be realized by a computer, for example, written in a storage medium such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a semiconductor memory. Alternatively, it can be applied to various apparatuses by being transmitted through a communication medium. As described above, by storing each processing described in the present embodiment in a desired storage medium and causing the print control program to be executed by another computer or the like, it is possible to obtain the same operation and effect as when the apparatus of the present embodiment is used. It is done. The computer is not limited to the computer built in the apparatus described in the present embodiment, and can read the print control program stored in the storage medium, and can perform the control operation according to the read print control program. It includes any computer equipped with a computing device such as a CPU.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

The invention described in the first claim of the present application will be appended below.
[1] A printing device that creates a label by printing on a printing tape,
Input means to set the input character and font size of the label to be created,
A print length setting means for setting a print length according to the number of characters and font size of the input characters by the input means;
Cartridge discriminating means for discriminating the type of cartridge for storing the print tape;
Tape width setting means for setting tape width information from the determined cartridge type;
Tape type selection means for selecting a tape type such as color, pattern and material of the printing tape;
A printing direction selection means for selecting a printing direction on the printing tape;
Photographing means having an autofocus function;
Display means for displaying a real-time image of the pasting object photographed by the photographing means;
Scale derivation means for deriving a display scale of the real-time image displayed on the display means;
Resizing means for resizing the input character image and the set print length, tape width, and tape image based on the tape type in accordance with the display scale derived by the scale deriving means;
Label image generating means for generating a label image by combining the input character image and the tape image resized by the resizing means;
Combined image generating means for combining the label image generated by the label image generating means with the real-time image;
Printing means for printing input characters by the input means;
A printing apparatus comprising:
[2] The scale deriving unit derives a display scale of the real-time image by obtaining an actual conversion value based on the number of pixels of the photographing unit per unit length of the subject in the vertical or horizontal direction of the shooting range. The printing apparatus according to claim 1.
3. The photographing unit according to claim 1, wherein the photographing unit performs focusing by driving a focus lens using an autofocus function, and calculates a distance from the subject based on the position of the driven focus lens. Item 3. The printing device according to Item 2.
[4] The printing apparatus according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the composite image generation means further includes zoom means for enlarging the composite image by image processing by trimming.
[5] A printing method for a printing apparatus for producing a label by printing on a printing tape,
Input processing to set the input character and font size of the label to be created,
A print length setting process for setting a print length according to the number of characters and font size of the input characters by the input process;
A cartridge discriminating process for discriminating the type of cartridge for storing the print tape;
A tape width setting process for setting the tape width information from the determined cartridge type;
Tape type selection processing for selecting a tape type such as color, pattern and material of the printing tape;
A printing direction selection process for selecting a printing direction on the printing tape;
Shooting processing using the autofocus function,
A display process for displaying a real-time image of the pasting object photographed by the photographing process;
A scale derivation process for deriving a display scale of the real-time image displayed by the display process;
A resizing process for resizing an input character image and a tape image based on the set print length, tape width, and tape type in accordance with the display scale derived in the scale deriving process;
A label image generation process for generating a label image by synthesizing the input character image and the tape image resized by the resize process;
A combined image generating process for combining the label image generated by the label image generating process with the real-time image;
A printing process for printing input characters by the input process;
The printing method characterized by performing.
[6] The scale derivation process performs a process of deriving a real-time image display scale by obtaining an actual conversion value based on the number of pixels of the photographing unit per unit length of the subject in the vertical or horizontal direction of the photographing range. The printing method according to claim 5, wherein:
[7] The photographing process is characterized in that a focus lens is driven by an autofocus function to perform focusing, and a process of calculating a distance to the subject based on the position of the driven focus lens is executed. The printing method according to claim 5 or 6.
[8] The printing method according to any one of [5] to [7], wherein the composite image generation processing executes zoom processing for enlarging the composite image by trimming image processing.
[9] A printing control program for realizing a printing method of a printing apparatus that creates a label by printing on a printing tape,
Input processing to set the input character and font size of the label to be created,
A print length setting process for setting a print length according to the number of characters and font size of the input characters by the input process;
A cartridge discriminating process for discriminating the type of cartridge for storing the print tape;
A tape width setting process for setting the tape width information from the determined cartridge type;
Tape type selection processing for selecting a tape type such as color, pattern and material of the printing tape;
A printing direction selection process for selecting a printing direction on the printing tape;
Shooting processing using the autofocus function,
A display process for displaying a real-time image of the pasting object photographed by the photographing process;
A scale derivation process for deriving a display scale of the real-time image displayed by the display process;
A resizing process for resizing an input character image and a tape image based on the set print length, tape width, and tape type in accordance with the display scale derived in the scale deriving process;
A label image generation process for generating a label image by synthesizing the input character image and the tape image resized by the resize process;
A combined image generating process for combining the label image generated by the label image generating process with the real-time image;
A printing process for printing input characters by the input process;
A printing control program for a printing apparatus, which causes a computer to execute.
[10] The scale derivation process is a computer process for deriving a display scale of a real-time image by obtaining an actual conversion value based on the number of pixels of the photographing unit per unit length of the subject in the vertical or horizontal direction of the photographing range. The printing control program for a printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the printing control program is executed by the printing apparatus.
[11] The photographing process is characterized in that a focus lens is driven by an autofocus function to perform focusing, and a computer is executed to calculate a distance to the subject based on the position of the driven focus lens. A printing control program for a printing apparatus according to claim 9 or 10.
12. The print control of a printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the composite image generation processing causes a computer to execute zoom processing for enlarging the composite image by image processing by trimming. program.

1, 100 Printer 2 Housing
3 Keyboard input section 4 Touch panel display section
5 Opening / closing lid 7 Tape feeding part
8 Cassette loading section 11 Thermal head
12 Platen roller 13 Ribbon take-up shaft
15 Cassette receiver 16 Tape width detection switch
17 Full cut mechanism 18 Half cut mechanism
20 Alignment axis
21 Tape cassette 22 Cassette case
23 Tape core 24 Ribbon supply core
25 Ribbon take-up core 27 Head placement
29 Engaged part 31 Tape member
35 Ink ribbon 40 Control unit
41 ROM 41a Tape type storage area
42 RAM 42a Image data storage area
45 Tape printing mechanism
46 Step motor 48 Cutter motor
51 Head drive circuit 52 Step motor drive circuit
53 Cutter motor drive circuit 60 Touch panel input section
63 Touch panel display drive circuit 64 Touch pen
70 Shooting unit 70a Shooting control means
70b Image acquisition means 70c Distance measurement means
82 Main unit 87 Keyboard area
88 Character editing area

Claims (12)

A printing device that creates a label by printing on a printing tape,
Input means to set the input character and font size of the label to be created,
A print length setting means for setting a print length according to the number of characters and font size of the input characters by the input means;
Cartridge discriminating means for discriminating the type of cartridge for storing the print tape;
Tape width setting means for setting tape width information from the determined cartridge type;
Tape type selection means for selecting a tape type such as color, pattern and material of the printing tape;
A printing direction selection means for selecting a printing direction on the printing tape;
Photographing means having an autofocus function;
Display means for displaying a real-time image of the pasting object photographed by the photographing means;
Scale derivation means for deriving a display scale of the real-time image displayed on the display means;
Resizing means for resizing the input character image and the set print length, tape width, and tape image based on the tape type in accordance with the display scale derived by the scale deriving means;
Label image generating means for generating a label image by combining the input character image and the tape image resized by the resizing means;
Combined image generating means for combining the label image generated by the label image generating means with the real-time image;
Printing means for printing input characters by the input means;
A printing apparatus comprising:   The scale deriving unit derives a display scale of a real-time image by obtaining an actual conversion value based on the number of pixels of the photographing unit per unit length of a subject in a vertical or horizontal direction of a shooting range. Item 2. The printing device according to Item 1.   3. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographing unit performs focusing by driving a focus lens using an autofocus function, and calculates a distance from the subject based on the position of the driven focus lens. The printing device described.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the composite image generation unit further includes a zoom unit that enlarges the composite image by image processing by trimming. A printing method of a printing apparatus for creating a label by printing on a printing tape,
Input processing to set the input character and font size of the label to be created,
A print length setting process for setting a print length according to the number of characters and font size of the input characters by the input process;
A cartridge discriminating process for discriminating the type of cartridge for storing the print tape;
A tape width setting process for setting the tape width information from the determined cartridge type;
Tape type selection processing for selecting a tape type such as color, pattern and material of the printing tape;
A printing direction selection process for selecting a printing direction on the printing tape;
Shooting processing using the autofocus function,
A display process for displaying a real-time image of the pasting object photographed by the photographing process;
A scale derivation process for deriving a display scale of the real-time image displayed by the display process;
A resizing process for resizing an input character image and a tape image based on the set print length, tape width, and tape type in accordance with the display scale derived in the scale deriving process;
A label image generation process for generating a label image by synthesizing the input character image and the tape image resized by the resize process;
A combined image generating process for combining the label image generated by the label image generating process with the real-time image;
A printing process for printing input characters by the input process;
The printing method characterized by performing.   The scale derivation process is to perform a process for deriving a display scale of a real-time image by obtaining an actual conversion value based on the number of pixels of the photographing unit per unit length of the subject in the vertical or horizontal direction of the photographing range. The printing method according to claim 5, wherein the printing method is characterized.   6. The photographing process according to claim 5, wherein the focus processing is performed by driving a focus lens using an autofocus function, and a process of calculating a distance from the subject based on the position of the driven focus lens is executed. The printing method according to claim 6.   The printing method according to claim 5, wherein the composite image generation processing executes zoom processing for enlarging the composite image by image processing by trimming. A printing control program for realizing a printing method of a printing apparatus that creates a label by printing on a printing tape,
Input processing to set the input character and font size of the label to be created,
A print length setting process for setting a print length according to the number of characters and font size of the input characters by the input process;
A cartridge discriminating process for discriminating the type of cartridge for storing the print tape;
A tape width setting process for setting the tape width information from the determined cartridge type;
Tape type selection processing for selecting a tape type such as color, pattern and material of the printing tape;
A printing direction selection process for selecting a printing direction on the printing tape;
Shooting processing using the autofocus function,
A display process for displaying a real-time image of the pasting object photographed by the photographing process;
A scale derivation process for deriving a display scale of the real-time image displayed by the display process;
A resizing process for resizing an input character image and a tape image based on the set print length, tape width, and tape type in accordance with the display scale derived in the scale deriving process;
A label image generation process for generating a label image by synthesizing the input character image and the tape image resized by the resize process;
A combined image generating process for combining the label image generated by the label image generating process with the real-time image;
A printing process for printing input characters by the input process;
A printing control program for a printing apparatus, which causes a computer to execute.   In the scale derivation process, the computer executes a process for deriving a display scale of a real-time image by obtaining an actual conversion value based on the number of pixels of the photographing unit per unit length of the subject in the vertical or horizontal direction of the photographing range. A printing control program for a printing apparatus according to claim 9.   The imaging process is characterized in that a focus lens is driven by an autofocus function to perform focusing, and a computer executes a process of calculating a distance from a subject based on the position of the driven focus lens. A printing control program for a printing apparatus according to claim 9 or claim 10. 12. The print control program for a printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the composite image generation processing causes a computer to execute zoom processing for enlarging the composite image by image processing by trimming.

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